Both of our kitties came from the rescue associations. One from the Animal Shelter, and another from the County Rescue League. Neither pet was free. Neither pet had any shots of any kind. The animal shelter did give us a coupon to use for free spaying. The League does not do this.
Anyone taking a pet should realize that adoption is not inexpensive and it carries with it much responsibility. But, it is soooooooooo worth all the contentment you get from giving and receiving love. Animals are a precious gift to mankind. Those that we can keep near us in our homes, become almost like extended family members. You make concessions for pets...and pets can damage your property.
We got our first very sickly kitten a year ago this past November. We named her Ginger. She had a very bad cold, worms and roundworm, which took several months and a couple hundred dollars to get under control. The second one we got last summer, and named her June. June will soon be a year old, and she has been a very healthy specimen since the very beginning. Ginger is six months older than June and both are indoor cats. We got the second kitten to "help" the first one, because she did not know how to be a cat. She didn't even "meow". It really has helped her and they love to play together. I think pets get lonely too, when their owners are gone all day long.
I've had a variety of dogs and cats as pets during my lifetime, but I favor the feline.