Suggestions on making cats sound adoptable
August 23, 2013 4:08 PM   Subscribe

I currently have two foster kittens that I'm returning to the Humane Society soon. They will then advertise these kittens for adoption. In order to help them find their "forever family", the Society has asked us to write descriptions of the kittens. They haven't provided any guidelines, just to "write about their personality etc".

I want to write the best possible description to give these kitties the best chance of finding a great home. The two have pretty different personalities, but I'm having trouble describing them and am also sure I'm missing out on certain facets that I should touch on.

Please help me! Things I think would help are:
- examples of great descriptions of cats to be adopted
- lists of different aspects of cat's personalities
- ways of describing cat traits in positive ways
- any things we should avoid mentioning
posted by mosessis to Pets & Animals (13 answers total)
 
Best answer: The ASPCA uses this meet your match profile to help people adopt cats that are right for them. The descriptions of the different types might give you an idea of what direction to go. a little more background here
posted by anastasiav at 4:21 PM on August 23, 2013 [1 favorite]


We adopted from the Humane Society. Things that we were helpful for us to know where how our kitties did with other cats, dogs, small children, being alone for more than an hour during the day, stuff like that. Also, cats are often very friendly, even more than dogs, and that's good to know.

As to their personalities, just be honest but nice. If one kitty is a little stand-offish, you can describe that as shy with strangers. If a kitty gets into trouble a lot, that's uh, curious.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:33 PM on August 23, 2013 [2 favorites]


Best answer: There is someone who posts insanely long cat descriptions on Craigslist here in New Haven. I've never actually read more than a few lines, but maybe you'll get some ideas?:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5
posted by eunoia at 4:48 PM on August 23, 2013 [9 favorites]


Best answer: As a potential-kitten-adopter, I'm swayed by specific descriptions, like "Z is a cuddler, he jumps up on the couch as soon as I sit down with a book," because they imply that someone has actually been spending time with the cat, which means that the cat has likely been well-cared-for and that someone has been paying enough attention to the cat that the rest of the text is likely to be true.

Also, do they have names? I worked with a rescue group where each cat would have a somewhat unique name (not Midnight / Tiger / Mittens) and the profile would include, "Meet Tallulah, a graceful lady who shines just like her namesake, Tallulah Bankhead" or some such thing. Didn't really mean anything, but it made the copy more memorable.
posted by orangejenny at 5:04 PM on August 23, 2013 [2 favorites]


Best answer: This is for a dog not a cat, but this description of Bruce the no-eyed pug is the most engaging adoption listing I've ever read. It has SO MUCH about his personality, I seriously thought about giving up my lease to just HAVE HIM. Two things really come through in that: First, the current humans clearly think he's great. (So make your kitties sound great!) And two, er...you ever pretend you're your cat? And talk in her voice? I feel like that idea comes through in the listing for Bruce. I vote corniness over clinical-ness.
posted by Charity Garfein at 5:09 PM on August 23, 2013 [3 favorites]


Best answer: The kittens posted on Daily Kitten usually have little accompanying descriptions.

There are also lots, written for the specific purpose of adopting them out, on Itty Bitty Kitty Committee. (You have to scroll down/back a few months.
posted by DestinationUnknown at 5:17 PM on August 23, 2013


I don't think there's any one gold-standard kind of kitty that will be adopted more than others. Some people want a quiet, independent sort of cat, while other people want a lap-warmer who will never let them sit on the couch alone. Some people want an energetic and curious cat who will make for lots of crazy stories to tell friends and family, while other people have vases and plants and would prefer a kitty who doesn't knock things over just for fun. Some people already have dogs or cats or kids, so it's helpful to know if your fosters have had good or bad reactions to any such creatures. The key to a successful adoption isn't making these kitties sound like the best kitties ever, it's being honest about their personalities so that potential adopters can take home a new buddy that fits the kind of pet they're looking for.
posted by vytae at 5:33 PM on August 23, 2013


Things that would be of interest to me, currently possessed by two cats:

1) As roomthreeseventeen said, the cat's attitude to people/other cats/dogs/children/etc.;
2) Age-appropriate shots/tests/spay/neuter;
3) Health issues, if any;
4) Behavioral issues, especially those that might be an issue if children are in the house (e.g., cat bites or is a bit too free with the claws);
5) Personality type (playful, cuddly, lap cat);
6) Comfort level with grooming/claw clipping/taking pills, if relevant;
7) Fun quirks (chatty, favorite toys, cute habits).

Think of it this way: you want the adopters to be pleasantly surprised, not unpleasantly so.

Eunoia's links are great, btw, even if they're probably much longer than you have in mind: the writer really conveys each cat's personality, including the potential sticking points.,
posted by thomas j wise at 5:36 PM on August 23, 2013 [1 favorite]


Best answer: When I was looking for my cat, I hardly paid any attention to the written copy (apart from skimming to check there were no health issues or other red flags). The descriptions usually say more about the fosterer than about the cat, in my opinion.

The most important thing to me is great photos. Do they let you provide the photos, or do they take them themselves? If you are allowed to do them, get a couple of different shots - a cute one of kitty asleep, a playful shot, one interacting with humans. Maybe try to have pretty backgrounds like flowers or nice wallpaper rather than clutter. A cat in a sink or playing with water is often a great picture. Make sure it is well lit and that the cat has its eyes open.

And try to avoid any red flags in the pictures. There was one cat I would otherwise have been interested in, but it was posed backed against a wall with its bottom and tail up, looking like it was thinking about spraying. I did not want a sprayer! If it's a picture of the cat playing with a human, make sure it doesn't have its claws showing. That will consciously or subconsciously put off people with young kids or nice furniture!
posted by lollusc at 6:38 PM on August 23, 2013


Best answer: I agree that it's best to be specific because that helps people imagine the kitten in their home. One kitten likes to cuddle? Tell us how - does she make herself at home in your lap or does she roll onto her back for you to scratch her belly? They're playful? What are their favorite games?

I think one thing that's great about the blind pug post above is that, by putting it in the first person, it helps the reader identify with the dog. I don't think you need to go first-person can be hard to do well), but I'd put some time into talking about what the kittens like, and what kind of home would be good for them.
posted by lunasol at 6:45 PM on August 23, 2013


I think honestly that photos are more important than words. Use a real camera, not just your phone. Even better if you have a friend who is a photographer with a few minutes to spare. Animals can be really tricky to take pictures of!
posted by radioamy at 9:20 PM on August 23, 2013


The animal shelter I used to foster for had great success adopting out animals that were dressed in costumes/outfits in their pictures. Even doing themed or staged photos would work well, I'd think.
posted by jaksemas at 11:00 AM on August 26, 2013


Response by poster: Thanks everyone for the suggestions! The links to detailed descriptions really helped, as did the ASPCA feline-ality profiles.

I'm still working on the descriptions, but in the meantime I realised I forgot to share photos. Here's Tippi (Love Bug / Party Animal) and Trini (Secret Admirer).
posted by mosessis at 1:27 PM on August 26, 2013


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