Science Diet's breakthrough nutrition supports ultimate digestive well-being & healthy microbiome for dogs age 7+
Supports energy level and beautiful coat in mature dogs
This weight management and mobility support dog food was created with Hill’s unique understanding of the biology of overweight dogs.
Over 70% of cats lost weight within 10 weeks when fed this nutrition
Precisely balanced nutrition with the delicious taste of savory minced chicken to help fuel the energy needs of cats during the prime of their life
Science Diet's breakthrough nutrition supports ultimate digestive well-being & healthy microbiome
Learn what a pet's microbiome is, how it contributes to your pet's gut & overall health, and why nutrition is important in maintaining healthy microbiomes.
Discover how and where to store your dry, as well as canned, dog and cat food. Learn how to find the "best before" dates on all Hill's pet food packaging.
Discover why water is the most important nutrient for your dog or cat to live a healthy life. Find out how much water your pet should consume each day.
Jean Marie Bauhaus
|May 21, 2018
A free kitten can be hard to pass up. Crossing the parking lot on the way to the grocery store, you spot someone sitting next to a box with a sign that reads, "Free to a good home." Against your better judgment, you peek in the box, and see a litter of tiny kittens. Their high-pitched mews begin to tug at your heartstrings and melt your resistance. Should you seize the opportunity?
Keep reading to learn why offers of free kittens for free should make you think twice.
On the surface, accepting a kitten someone wants to give away might seem like a good thing. The kitten needs a home, the person making the offer can't or doesn't want to keep them, and you're in a position to help. But the truth is that there are many hidden costs to adopting a free kitten from a stranger. Here are a few that you should consider:
If you think you're ready for a cat, a much better alternative is to adopt from a reputable shelter. Shelter cats are fully vaccinated, spayed or neutered, and given a clean bill of health. They are also screened for any behavioral issues.
All of these services are covered by an adoption fee that is much less than the cost of having each of these things done on your own. Another advantage of adopting a shelter cat is that shelter staff are trained to match the right cat to the right home. Not to mention, not only will you be giving a kitty a new home, you'd also be creating space at that shelter for another kitten to be saved.
Deciding to adopt a kitten should never be a spontaneous decision. It should always take careful consideration and research. So, while you might be tempted by the allure of a free kitten, consider the hidden costs of "free," and weigh that against the good you can do by adopting from a shelter instead.
Jean Marie Bauhaus is a pet parent, pet blogger, and novelist from Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she usually writes under the supervision of a lapful of fur babies.
Over 70% of cats lost weight within 10 weeks when fed this nutrition
Feline Adult Perfect Weight Variety Pack
Precisely balanced nutrition with the delicious taste of savory minced chicken to help fuel the energy needs of cats during the prime of their life
Science Diet's breakthrough nutrition supports ultimate digestive well-being & healthy microbiome
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Our low calorie formula helps you control your cat's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavorful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.
Our low calorie formula helps you control your cat's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavorful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.