I don't know of any disadvantages (assuming you check out legal
arrangements/restrictions, as you stated).  In fact, a good way for you to
present the idea to a pet supply store is to point out that there is
actually a financial benefit to them.  We advertise our Adopt-a-Thons
through e-mail, flyers, etc., and they bring in a sizable number of
people -- including people who just want to look instead of adopt.  Those
same people then wander around the store and often make a number of
purchases.

It is important for you to be well organized.  Each cat or kitten should be
brought in a separate carrier, except for those that are normally kept
together.  Our local rescue group has portable wire cages that are used for
this purpose instead of the traditional carriers so people can get a good
look at all of the cats.  All cats and kittens brought in must be vetted and
innoculated *before* bringing them to the Adopt-a-Thons -- you don't want to
take any chances of spreading disease.  They also must be socialized in a
foster home first -- you also don't want any scratches or bites.  We always
have several people from the local rescue group on hand and bring chairs for
them to sit in.  Each of them will have a kitten or two out of the cage and
in their laps if there is not too much activity going on, and this gives
prospective "parents" an opportunity to pet and cuddle with the cats.  That
is a very good way to attact attention -- but they *must* be very calm cats
or kittens because we *also* do not want to take any risk that the cat will
become frightened and try to run away.  It would be a good idea to place the
cats in a harness with lead when they are out of the carriers.

We *never* simply send a cat home from the Adopt-a-Thon, and we also do not
make a definitive decision regarding the question of whether we will approve
the adoption.  Instead, we have paperwork available, conduct an informal
discussion with questions about experience and how the person intends to
care for his or her new furbaby, and a potential adopter can place a
temporary "hold" on a specific pet (or pets).  The paperwork includes
references (especially from vets).  We do a preliminary assessment of
suitability, later check all references, and then do a more complete
assessment later in the home of the foster parents when all parties can be
brought together in a more normal atmosphere.  We have had a great deal of
success, but it is not intended as an "instant" process -- we want good
homes, not future tragedies.

MaryL

You are absolutely correct about Holly.  I'm afraid I often overlook her
when I post to this group because this NG is "health+behav," so I tend to
emphasize Duffy because he is blind and has been so remarkable in living
without sight.  But Holly is truly a wonderful cat.  She is my little
shadow -- everywhere I go, Holly goes.  Everyone I know says she is clearly
a "one person cat," and there is no doubt of her love.  She is also gorgeous
with her beautiful eyes and glossy black coat.  I don't know anything about
Duffy's parentage, but I do have some information (although anecdotal) about
Holly's.  My previous cat had died (Amber, age 16-1/2), and I was ready to
adopt another.  I went to the animal shelter the day after Thanksgiving, but
they were closed.  So I went to a pet supply store that sometimes had
kittens (for adoption, not for sale) but there were none at that time of the
year.  I was talking to a woman who worked there and told her that I would
also be happy with an older cat, and she said, "Would you consider..." and
told me Holly's story.  According to her (but an account that I never
verified), a local breeder had deliberately mixed two breeds in an attempt
to get a specific type of cat.  She bred an Oriental shorthair and a
Persian.  Holly was one of the results, but this "breeder" also specifically
wanted gray and Holly is black.  The breeder planned to destroy Holly solely
because of her color, so the woman I was talking to talked her into letting
her take Holly and find a home for her.  I adopted Holly the next day, and
she has been my true love ever since!  She was born in early June, so she
was about 6 months old when I adopted her 12 years ago.  Incidentally, I
asked my vet if Holly's physical characteristics would fit the story I was
given, and he said they would.

I adopted Duffy on Jan. 31, 2003.  He was estimated by three different vets
to be between 3 and 5 years of age at that time.  He is much smaller than a
Ragdoll, but I can see how you might see that possibility from his pictures.
He weighs about 8 pounds, and Holly is 9 pounds.  He does not actually have
blue eyes.  In fact, there is no iris or pupil at all.  What you see in the
pictures is a blue glaze across his eyes caused by his blindness.  I took
Duffy to a feline ophthalmologist at Texas A&M University College of
Veterinary Medicine shortly after I adopted him.  I wanted an evaluation
because he could get along so well that I thought he might have some vision,
and I wanted to know if there was anything I could do to preserve it.  I
learned at that time that Duffy is completely blind. If there is any residue
of vision at all (which is "minimal to nothing"), it would only be the
merest light/dark perception. He would not even be able to see broad shapes.
His condition was described as "anterior cleavage syndrome." His eyes are
much smaller than normal. Since the eyes did not grow correctly, the eyelids
also did not grow. It seems that the eyelids grow to accommodate the eye. I
was shown a model of a cat's eye. There should be space between the iris and
the cornea, but there is no space in Duffy's eyes; the two components
adhered together. This probably happened in utero, and possibly was caused
by infection in the mother. However, Duffy does not have any infection; and
this was not caused by herpes (in Duffy) or anything similar.

Thanks for asking about Holly.  These are my two furbabies, and -- just as
you said -- each is equally special, in their own particular ways.

MaryL