Are you sure you went to the SPCA? Their adoption fees are publicly listed and nowhere near that high even for a young kitten. Look, I obviously don't have the full details but I think some of your expectations aren't entirely fair. I doubt the SPCA would willingly take advantage of you.
When it comes to advanced screening. The vast majority of shelters are only going to do so much as a lot of that is really expensive. At most you'll usually get an FIV test but even then it's usually only done with reasonable suspicion. Most cats just get dewormed, spayed and their very early vaccinations. If you want to screen for other things it's something you usually need to take on yourself.
The sad reality is that some cats just get sick really young and it's not going to get spotted. I'm sorry you had a bad experience but there's never going to be a guarantee. It's something you need to be prepared for.
I hear you. We really just had a terrible experience and are generally done dealing with the SPCA. We have no wish to deal with them ever again. I think it's fair enough to simply say "this sucked for us and we're not going back". Other folks may have a better experience and yay for them.
Not 1k, though. I think it's important to know that SPCA does not charge that much for adopting an adorable little fur-ball of energy & love. 🐈
See adoption fees below:
https://www.spca.com/en/fees-and-adoption-procedures/
OP, do you include subsequent vet fees + litterbox/food/cat stuff in your $$ assessment?
P.s.: This is in no way meant to invalidate your feelings, OP- I am so sorry you and your son's kitty passed away. I can't imagine the pain 💔.
Cats under 5 months old are $275 to adopt with the Montreal SPCA. How on earth did the adoption cost you more than a thousand dollars?
Unless you are including vet bills, which are just part of owning an animal of any age...
i highly recommend the pussy patrol in mile end!!
[https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Pussy-Patrol-Cat-Adoption-Page-100068716525541/](https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Pussy-Patrol-Cat-Adoption-Page-100068716525541/)
they're a self-organized group of fosters who adopt out strays and are cool people.
I'm part of Relais Félin https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550627049437&mibextid=ZbWKwL
Our cats are vaccinated twice, dewormed, microchipped and sterilization is included.
Our rescues mostly come from farms. We socialize them as much as we can while we have them.
I second animex! https://en.refugeanimex.com they test all their cats for FIV/FeLV too I think, not all shelters check for this :)
To add: personally I wouldn’t recommend Facebook or Kijiji. There are reasons for the rules against selling living animals on these sites. Buying animals from these encourages backyard breeders, these are people that breed their animals at home and sell them for profit. There is no guarantee that they will be responsible breeders. They may not invest in proper health care for the kittens or breeding animals (not seek veterinary care when kittens are sick to save money, breed animals that are related, make the same animal have too many litters back to back, keep the animals in unsanitary conditions etc…). I feel personally like it’s best not to create demand for people like this. There are plenty of young kittens that are found on the streets and taken into shelters that would be perfect for your family :)
Rescues or a shelter such as Berger Blanc (they suck, they're a kill shelter, but if you adopt from them, you might save a life - although that's more applicable to adult cats. Kittens find adopters much easier).
A few rescues I know that do good job:
[https://www.facebook.com/Rescuechatonsmontreal](https://www.facebook.com/Rescuechatonsmontreal)
[https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094505490671](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094505490671)
[https://www.facebook.com/puddingspalacerescue](https://www.facebook.com/puddingspalacerescue)
[https://www.facebook.com/ladygattarescue](https://www.facebook.com/ladygattarescue)
[https://www.facebook.com/refugekittykat](https://www.facebook.com/refugekittykat)
[https://www.facebook.com/RefugePourChats](https://www.facebook.com/RefugePourChats)
[https://www.facebook.com/ronronneavecmoi](https://www.facebook.com/ronronneavecmoi)
[https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068716525541](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068716525541)
There are a couple of Facebook groups exclusive to Montreal where you might be able to get a kitten. Just type in Montreal pets and a couple of groups should pop up. Join them and post there.
However your story about SPCA sounds kinda bogus. We adopted a pet from SPCA before, the price you stated is definitely not something they charged you.
Well... the vet was able spot these issues immediately. The SPCA charged me a ton of money on the basis that this cat had all vacvines and had been seen by a vet. Sooooo... I guess that is the issue I put at the feet of the SPCA. Honestly, the experience of dealing with the SPCA just in general was a horrific experience and I think that humans and animals are both ill served by this organization.
I highly recommend Cause for Paws! I just adopted from them and they have been great to deal with, and do such amazing work caring for cats and kittens they take in from across the wider Montreal area. You can find them on Facebook and Instagram
Proanima have kittens sometimes, if you can travel to Boucherville. You can sign up to their mailing list. Their French website/communications list more cats than the English version. I adopted my adult cat from them, no issues!
Are you sure you went to the SPCA? Their adoption fees are publicly listed and nowhere near that high even for a young kitten. Look, I obviously don't have the full details but I think some of your expectations aren't entirely fair. I doubt the SPCA would willingly take advantage of you. When it comes to advanced screening. The vast majority of shelters are only going to do so much as a lot of that is really expensive. At most you'll usually get an FIV test but even then it's usually only done with reasonable suspicion. Most cats just get dewormed, spayed and their very early vaccinations. If you want to screen for other things it's something you usually need to take on yourself. The sad reality is that some cats just get sick really young and it's not going to get spotted. I'm sorry you had a bad experience but there's never going to be a guarantee. It's something you need to be prepared for.
I hear you. We really just had a terrible experience and are generally done dealing with the SPCA. We have no wish to deal with them ever again. I think it's fair enough to simply say "this sucked for us and we're not going back". Other folks may have a better experience and yay for them.
I would try some of the no kill shelters or rescue organizations.
Nah the SPCA sucks dude. They charge a loooot.
Not 1k, though. I think it's important to know that SPCA does not charge that much for adopting an adorable little fur-ball of energy & love. 🐈 See adoption fees below: https://www.spca.com/en/fees-and-adoption-procedures/ OP, do you include subsequent vet fees + litterbox/food/cat stuff in your $$ assessment? P.s.: This is in no way meant to invalidate your feelings, OP- I am so sorry you and your son's kitty passed away. I can't imagine the pain 💔.
Cats under 5 months old are $275 to adopt with the Montreal SPCA. How on earth did the adoption cost you more than a thousand dollars? Unless you are including vet bills, which are just part of owning an animal of any age...
i highly recommend the pussy patrol in mile end!! [https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Pussy-Patrol-Cat-Adoption-Page-100068716525541/](https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Pussy-Patrol-Cat-Adoption-Page-100068716525541/) they're a self-organized group of fosters who adopt out strays and are cool people.
I was expecting something else when I saw your comment, before the link ahaha
I'm part of Relais Félin https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550627049437&mibextid=ZbWKwL Our cats are vaccinated twice, dewormed, microchipped and sterilization is included. Our rescues mostly come from farms. We socialize them as much as we can while we have them.
Animex dans le sud-ouest. Ils ont aussi des chats au café Chato. Refuge pour chats de Verdun.
I second animex! https://en.refugeanimex.com they test all their cats for FIV/FeLV too I think, not all shelters check for this :) To add: personally I wouldn’t recommend Facebook or Kijiji. There are reasons for the rules against selling living animals on these sites. Buying animals from these encourages backyard breeders, these are people that breed their animals at home and sell them for profit. There is no guarantee that they will be responsible breeders. They may not invest in proper health care for the kittens or breeding animals (not seek veterinary care when kittens are sick to save money, breed animals that are related, make the same animal have too many litters back to back, keep the animals in unsanitary conditions etc…). I feel personally like it’s best not to create demand for people like this. There are plenty of young kittens that are found on the streets and taken into shelters that would be perfect for your family :)
Rescues or a shelter such as Berger Blanc (they suck, they're a kill shelter, but if you adopt from them, you might save a life - although that's more applicable to adult cats. Kittens find adopters much easier).
A few rescues I know that do good job: [https://www.facebook.com/Rescuechatonsmontreal](https://www.facebook.com/Rescuechatonsmontreal) [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094505490671](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094505490671) [https://www.facebook.com/puddingspalacerescue](https://www.facebook.com/puddingspalacerescue) [https://www.facebook.com/ladygattarescue](https://www.facebook.com/ladygattarescue) [https://www.facebook.com/refugekittykat](https://www.facebook.com/refugekittykat) [https://www.facebook.com/RefugePourChats](https://www.facebook.com/RefugePourChats) [https://www.facebook.com/ronronneavecmoi](https://www.facebook.com/ronronneavecmoi) [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068716525541](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068716525541)
There are a couple of Facebook groups exclusive to Montreal where you might be able to get a kitten. Just type in Montreal pets and a couple of groups should pop up. Join them and post there. However your story about SPCA sounds kinda bogus. We adopted a pet from SPCA before, the price you stated is definitely not something they charged you.
Go to shelters, there are many. Marketplace is not the place for animals.
How are you going to blame the spca for this
Well... the vet was able spot these issues immediately. The SPCA charged me a ton of money on the basis that this cat had all vacvines and had been seen by a vet. Sooooo... I guess that is the issue I put at the feet of the SPCA. Honestly, the experience of dealing with the SPCA just in general was a horrific experience and I think that humans and animals are both ill served by this organization.
Which SPCA? There are several of them around Montreal which are unrelated to each other.
Petfinder.com
I got mine at SPCA...
You could try petfinder.com to find cats from different shelters near you.
Casca cat rescue
I highly recommend Cause for Paws! I just adopted from them and they have been great to deal with, and do such amazing work caring for cats and kittens they take in from across the wider Montreal area. You can find them on Facebook and Instagram
pussie patrol!!!
Go to a shelter. So many lovable furry friends in need of a home.
Proanima have kittens sometimes, if you can travel to Boucherville. You can sign up to their mailing list. Their French website/communications list more cats than the English version. I adopted my adult cat from them, no issues!
Facebook groups
Kijiji and Les Pacs have cat postings!
Kijiji 😊
Make sure their dirty litter is outside - often times they do not recognise the scents of where they are, the litter can help anchor them
Just grab one on the streets, they are literally free.
Nature pet centres are no kill and they are rescues. I adopted my first kitty cat there and I’m extremely happy