Skip to main content
Skip to main navigation
Skip to talk navigation

Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

1 2

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

The litter tray

Where do I get a cat from?

26 replies

LisaMed · 19/04/2013 15:40

I am NOT thinking of getting one until at least June, as we will be away at some point during May.

We have just lost 19 yr old evil cat. A few years ago we lost 18 yr old malevolent cat. Psycho cat only lasted 12 yrs, despite our best efforts, I suspect due to issues from before we rescued him. This is to show that we do look after cats. They have been mainly house cats (four floors, they get to do handbrake turns around the corners of the stairs) or 'playing in garden' which is a small yard. There are issues about rat poison being put down nearby and a very, very aggressive unneutered tom roaming around so I wouldn't like them to roam, but I would look to adopt a cat whose personality would find that okay. Psycho cat hated going outside. Next door's cats seem to roam without too much fuss, although I am always rescuing their tom from the roving aggressor, so I am not dogmatic about that.

I would love to adopt an older moggie, but all the cat rescues seem to have a 'not within 150m of a main road' rule. This would rule us out. Where would anyone recommend we got a rescue?

OP posts:

Report

HarrietSchulenberg · 19/04/2013 15:43

Not sure if you've tried Cats' Protection but that's where we got ours from. Din't know if they have a main road policy but if they have they might be prepared to relax it for an experienced cat owner, depending on how full they are.

LisaMed · 19/04/2013 15:49

I hadn't thought of them, I had googled local cat adoption.

It does look like they are more open to the idea of indoor cats. I wouldn't consider keeping a cat indoors in a small house but an older cat in a large house would be ideal. (our house is the opposite of posh, but is a tall, skinny, back to back so lots of opportunities for handbrake turns, ambushes and sneaking)

Thank you, that is really helpful.

OP posts:

ratbagcatbag · 19/04/2013 15:53

I think most rescues will consider rehoming a house cat. Give some a call, explain what you're looking for, house cats I would expect are harder to place so if they know your time frame then they may keep you in mind. :)

Phineyj · 19/04/2013 15:56

You could rehome a cat that has the Fel-V virus (I think that's what it's called) as they shouldn't be let outside so other cats don't catch it. Or an elderly cat not used to road who needs to live inside, etc. My sister adopted two cats that lived in her flat on this basis & all were very happy!

dobby2001 · 19/04/2013 15:56

Wherabouts are you Lisa? There are plenty of folk here with knowledge of local cat rescues who might be able to help. Wanting an older, indoor moggie would be a plus, as most folk want younger cats or kittens.

LisaMed · 19/04/2013 15:58

ratbagcatbag That is also a good idea. As far as I can see we are pretty good as owners - poor old evil cat was creaky at the end with her own cushions next to the fire, next to the radiator and a vast quantity of cat treats to try and get calories in her. All our cats have ruled with iron paws. I would love to be able to give that love and get that pleasure from another cat.

A kitten would not be right. My father lives with us and is elderly. He can cope with bigger cats under his feet but I remember the streak of greased lightening that evil cat was when she was a kitten and that isn't so safe. My son is 6, and very sensible but I want a cat that cat get out of 'third degree cuddle' range if necessary. I have always provided bolt holes since ds was able to crawl.

I've been thinking about this a lot in the last day and a half.

OP posts:

LisaMed · 19/04/2013 16:01

lots of xposts. I am in the Leeds Area. Any tips or pointers welcome.

We had evil cat pts on Wednesday and it is the first time we have been without a cat since 6 November 1990. I am used to being ruled.

Seriously, I think we could offer a good place for an older cat. DS knows better than to prod cats, and we are all used to having a furry being in our lives. We would definitely wait until after a holiday, though.

OP posts:

tabulahrasa · 19/04/2013 16:08

Yorkshire cat rescue, they're fab, no rules about what they do or don't allow for things like main roads, just match you with a cat to suit your household.

QueenStromba · 19/04/2013 16:14

Rescues always have cats that can't be let out for various reasons such as FIV, deafness, blindness or needing regular medication e.g. for diabetes. They also have cats who have never been outside and are happy with it or have been outside cats but are getting on a bit so are happier on the sofa than out prowling. If you can cat proof your yard so that cats can't get in or out then they'll be queuing up to give you FIV+ cats who used to be outdoor cats.

How many they indoor cats they'll have at any one time will depend on where you are in the country - indoor cats last less than a week in Battersea before being rehomed and Croydon cats protection have a waiting list for indoor cats because lots of people live in flats. I gather that in other parts of the country the situation is reversed and outdoor cats are easier to rehome than indoor.

cozietoesie · 19/04/2013 16:59

If Yorkshire Cat Rescue can't help at the specific time, have a look for the other rescues in your area on catchat.

\link{http://www.catchat.org/\catchat}

I'd recommend that you don't look until you get home from holiday though. I looked on tabulah's link just now and was very taken with old Sammy who is looking for a home. Fatal to start looking at pictures of them.

Have a good holiday and best of luck in getting a new puss when you return.

Lonecatwithkitten · 19/04/2013 22:17

You can successfully argue the road thing - I did. I never ever let my cats out the front of my house, I pointed out that cats are much less likely to attempt to cross a busy road and are actually more at risk on a quiet road where occasionally a car comes very fast so they cross regularly. The home checker agreed with me as she no longer had cats as she lived on a 'quiet road' and had lost 6 cats in 4 years. I have lived 7 years on a main A road with no problems. Plus I encourage my cats to stay in at night the biggest risk time.

cozietoesie · 19/04/2013 22:22

My Mum lived on an allegedly quiet country road which unfortunately (because it was quiet and out of the way) was used by occasional local cars at extremely fast speeds. After losing 6 or 7 cats to cars in fewer years she decided to have Seniorboy as a housecat.

So yes - a quiet road isn't necessarily safe.

sashh · 20/04/2013 03:39

Cats' Protection, you can have an indoor cat anywhere because they don't go out.

Are you prepared to take on a cat with FIV? They have to be house cats, but CP will pick up the vets bills for the life of the cat.

NandH · 20/04/2013 04:18

a wheelie bin

LisaMed · 20/04/2013 09:41

I'd be happy to take on an FIV cat.

The ginger gentleman, an un-neutered ginger tom with fluffy dice the size of cannon balls, seems to cross the dual carriageway without hazard. However I don't know how many lives he has left.

Personally I would rather have a housecat as I think I would fret if they roamed, but it would have to be okay for the cat. Ironically I never wanted cats, particularly because where we used to live was far busier, smaller and I thought unsuitable for cats. I got given one for a wedding present.

OP posts:

QueenStromba · 20/04/2013 10:01

Someone gave you a cat as a wedding present!?! How irresponsible!

I agree that quiet roads can be more dangerous, DP's parents live in a tiny village (think one pub and no shop sort of place) and they've lost cats from being run over. We're right next to a main road that I doubt a cat would go near. We had to get an indoor cat because of where we live and having read some of the threads on here lately I'm glad she's an indoor cat because I'd be sick with worry every time she went out otherwise.

cozietoesie · 20/04/2013 10:10

I quite like the idea of giving a cat rescue voucher for a present though - one that could either be given towards the fee for a cat (if it was known that someone wanted one) or nominated as to be for the rescue's food/litter/vet costs/whatever.

Just an initial reaction - I haven't thought the thing through.

QueenStromba · 20/04/2013 10:28

I do like that idea cozie

Fluffycloudland77 · 20/04/2013 10:36

I have a bengal who won't stop shouting his mouth off, would you like him?

I have a packing box and tape around here somewhere.

cozietoesie · 20/04/2013 11:05

Is he having one of those mornings?

Fluffycloudland77 · 20/04/2013 11:24

Yes. He's gone out now though.

issey6cats · 21/04/2013 16:32

OP i work for yorkshire cat rescue and while most of the cats that are adults are outdoor cats they do get cats in that have to be indoor cats so please when you are ready give them a ring they are a fantastic friendly bunch who go out of thier way to help people find the right cat for them, children no bar or where you live, all thier cats are neutered, chipped, vet checked deflead and wormed and thier donation is reasonable

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Email address

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

Sparklingbrook · 21/04/2013 16:37

And when you get one it's MN rules that a photo is put on your profile.

cozietoesie · 21/04/2013 16:43

Please let us know how Sammy gets on then issey. I've really taken to him!

issey6cats · 21/04/2013 16:45

cosie sammy is georgous i met him yesterday hes a lovebucket will do

Flip

1 2

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.