"I'm looking for (insert purebred cat breed here)" - Shelters occasionally get purebred cats brought in to them, but this tends to be more of an exception than a rule. Shelters are not breeders - the cats they have were trapped, rescued or surrendered to them by the community. This means the shelter cannot plan what types of cats they have, and they cannot arrange to get a particular breed of cat for you.
"I'm here to get kittens" - This is two-fold. Kittens are very popular, but shelters cannot control how many kittens they have at any given time. Many times there are more adopters than there are kittens, and often this leads to a waiting list. Kittens are also kept in foster homes, not in the shelter, so if you stop in unannounced, you are unlikely to see any kittens. If you are interested in getting kittens, it is best to submit your adoption application with the knowledge that you will likely be on a waiting list, but that the kitten adoption team will work with you to find the kittens that are right for you.
"Why do I need to fill out an application, can't I just take this cat?" - Shelters have adoption processes for several reasons, but primarily we want to make sure that you are a good home for the cat, and that the cat is a good match for your home. Unfortunately there are many people out there who are cruel to animals, and we do not want to send an animal into a home where they will be abused, or worse.
"I want to let the cat outside"** - Shelters that have indoor only policies on their adoptions do so for the welfare of the cat. Cats who are let outside have reduced life expectancies, higher medical costs, and can bring disease into your home. Living in a quiet area, or out in the woods can actually increase the odds of your cat becoming sick, or being attacked/killed by another animal.
"If you don't let me take this cat, I will just get one free elsewhere" - Although getting a cat from a neighbor, friend, family, or stranger might cost less than adopting one from a shelter initially, it can actually end up costing more. Shelter cats have been spayed/neutered, are up to date on vaccinations and are in good health. A cat that you get from someone else could potentially cost you $300 or more, depending on their health and if they are spayed/neutered. A significant portion of cats surrendered to shelters also come from people who got the cat from someone else - most commonly because the cat wasn't the right fit for their home.
Just as a personal example - when I was a kid we wanted to get a kitten. My mom knew someone with a barn cat that had kittens, and they said we could have one. We got the kitten, but our older cat would have nothing to do with her, and hissed every time the kitten was near. We had the kitten for a very short time, because as it turned out, the kitten had such a bad case of intestional worms that there was nothing the vet could do to save her.
The staff at the shelter is there to care for the cats, but also to get them adopted to the right homes. If you have questions about the adoption process, please, ask!
*This is written based on my experience at HART, I cannot speak for all shelters.
** Not all shelters have an indoor only policy.
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