Three Successful Adoptions So Far -- What Worked

I realize it's been quite a while since I've made an entry. It's not for lack of feline activity on the home front. Three of the kittens have been adopted out -- through different services. First, I posted an ad on the Petfinder main site (through a rescue group that is a member of Petfinder), and within a week I had a call about Tango. He was adopted by a couple with two young kids. The dad brought his 6-year-old son with him to meet Tango and take him home -- the little boy was very good with cats and immediately made friends with Jaguar (my adult, all black, very friendly male). Found out they even go to the same Vet's office.

There was also an ad in the main section on Petfinders for Charlie, which I didn't get any takers on. But, I posted ads in the Petfinders Classified section - people who go on the site have to look a little harder, and go through more links, to get into that section, so you're less likely to find homes that way. But, as luck would have it, I received an email from a lovely woman who lives in Orange County and fell in love with the photo of Oscar (Charlie's brother, they're in the photo below, cuddled up). She wanted to adopt Oscar alone, but I told her they were so attached that I would only give them up together. Then I sent another recent photo which I took that morning.

Winning Adoption Photos
What I was learning is that the photo makes a big difference in the connection people feel with the cats -- and it's much better to have the cat pictured next to a window with the sun streaming in and plants just outside the window. Sounds funny, but it works. (Tango's photo was in front of a window and Sierra's photo was like that, and she got a flurry of calls after the ad was posted.)

So, the newest picture of Charlie & Oscar was on the couch next to the front window. She saw that and agreed to take them both. We emailed back and forth and spoke on the phone, and she and her daughter were very excited about welcoming them into their home. I drove the boys down to Orange County and got them settled.

I checked in with both families afterwards and they seem to be attaching very nicely. I prepare a simple adoption contract that asks them to keep the felines indoors, agree to not declaw them, and to let me know if there are any problems so I can take them back. I also ask for an adoption fee (around $70) to apply towards the Vet costs that have been spent and to make sure the family is serious about providing a home.