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I voted this morning and now have time to post a response :)
I have no problem with the cage thing. Here's a few observations:
1) MANY cats come out of their shells in the cage. I've seen many shy kitties develop funny personalities while in there. They aren't terrified for long in there.
2) They gets LOTS of loving. I step in whenever I'm there. I know the managers and other employees do too. Some of the managers of the store develop personal relationships with the cats. Many cats have been adopted to Petsmart employees because they've gotten to know the cats during their stint in the cages.
3) They gets lots of socialization with countless people and the other kitties in there.
4) We've had 300+ cats adopted out of those cages in just under 2 years... the majority of our cats are adopted through the exposure of being in the cages. Many who don't go to the cages get adopted simply because someone saw a cat in the cage and called to inquire about more... maybe a special black and white when all we showed in the cage were black ones? A calico when there was only torties?
5) The best for last: Whats one or two weeks in a cage if it means a lifetime of love with a new family?
I haven't been able to clean the cages like I used to, and these are observations from when I did cages twice a week. I see the kitties every week when I am working though.
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See, the PetSmart that I voluteered at with The Cat Shack, it got to the point where if you weren't on the list that day to clean, you were not allowed in. The store staff were not allowed in there with the cats, and only the people cleaning twice a day were allowed back there. Maybe it's all in who runs the store. To me, the PS by me is just lonely.
I like the idea about how people can come back again and again, and so at an adoption day it's not an impulse "buy". Didn't think of it that way when I was thinking about adoption days.
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I would rather Petsmart give the space to adoption programs as opposed to selling kittens outright. When I see the cats in the cubbies I want to bring them all home!
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How about taking Zachariah to adoption events but telling people that they can only fill out the adoption questionnaire and must wait a week to see him again and finalize the adoption? Someone who seriously wants him will go along with this. The shelter I volunteer for would allow me to do this for any of my fosters, and Zach is a special case so yours should go along with it. Can you require a home visit or vet references? I know you are extremely concerned about him going to a home where they will appreciate him forever, I would be also with his history, but you do need to get him out there so that people can see him. No gain without some pain.
Calloway could do with losing some weight for the sake of his health so a cage with restricted food intake might be just what he needs. As Catnapper said, cats often show other sides of their personality when they are at the centers though it can take a few days or even a week. They really are good places for the shy cats to get used to being handled and come out of their shells in ways they didn't have to in our homes. That being said, I sent out one kitten who had been hell on wheels in my home, so much so that I called him Puck after the rather naughty character in "A Midsummer Night's Dream", only to see him become completely introverted at the center. He's all black and I was afraid he'd be there forever and then be adopted by someone who completely misread his personality, no matter what my bio on him said. I emailed his eventual adopter and told him about my concerns. I got a wonderful email back saying that yes, they'd been very surprised when Puck suddenly changed after a week in their home, but they adored him and didn't mind cleaning up the chaos he leaves behind - whew!
Is there someone you know near the adoption center so they can check on Calloway frequently and given you honest updates?
