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Could we rescue a cat?

30 replies

wantacatplease · 19/07/2014 10:13

Hi,

Namechanged for this as I might put some info specific to my location which I don't necessarily want attached to my main NN.

I am really missing having a cat in my home and grew up in a household where we always had a rescued cat from a shelter (from another country but process is relatively similar to here in the UK.)

I have a few issues to address and want advice please on whether you all kitty experts think it would, or should, be a standard no or whether it's possible at all?

First issue: we live in a mid-terraced, but fairly big, two story house which has a pretty busy main road out front but a very quiet, woodsy area in the back. There is no access to the front from the outside without going alllll the way around the block of houses iyswim. Growing up we primarily had house cats who were of the laid back nature and had little desire to "explore" outside. At most, they would sit right on the back porch and sunbathe but didn't want to wander too far from us. This is the kind of cat I'd want again, to ensure the cat's safety and completely restrict the cat from any access to the front. Even still, I notice that some local shelters state on their website that they will not re-home a cat to a house which is on a main road. Is this pretty much standard, blanket policy or will shelters sometimes have cats which are happy to stay primarily indoors?

Also, we have a little dog which has lived with cats in the past (dog was MIL's who had 2 cats, we inherited dog when she passed away) so I know she would be fine with a cat but again, almost all cats I see on rescue sites say they aren't happy to live with other pets.

Another thing, my dd is 18 months old...she is very good with our little dog so I'm confident with an older cat she will be fine. However, again most rescue sites state older children only?

Written down it seems I have a lot stacked against me in order to success adopt a cat but it's a shame because I have a whole spare room upstairs I could turn into a kitty haven with scratch posts and climbing shelves (catification!). I really want a laid back, snuggly type which is happy to have rubs and cuddles!

I'm quite happy and prepared to be told my environment isn't right, however. Maybe it would stop me obsessively looking at rescue cat websites all day!

Thanks for all advice. Thanks

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wantacatplease · 19/07/2014 10:15

Blah sorry for typos, the storms kept me up half the night!

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Preciousbane · 19/07/2014 10:23

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wantacatplease · 19/07/2014 10:24

Sorry for drip-feeding but also wanted to explain we didn't take on MIL 's cats because she promised them to her best friend who really wanted them.

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phoebeflangey · 19/07/2014 10:25

It sounds like you need to ask the shelter your questions, as each one is different, even each cat has different criteria. I rehomed my first cat on New Year's Eve, live in a bungalow near a new estate close to woods and a motorway! I originally wanted a house cat as I can't have a cat flap. I ended up with a cat that was originally house only, but now asks to go out (yep!) each morning and comes back in every eve. He gets the best of both worlds then! I remember having the same questions and I just emailed the shelters my worries and they told me to go in and have a look :) (my dd is 12)

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wantacatplease · 19/07/2014 10:28

Oh thanks for the reply! I wasn't sure if it was ok to just turn up as none of our local shelters seem to state this...they either ask you to click on the cat you're interested in and fill out a form or ring them directly. Will they have more cats than listed on their website available? Because most listed ones seem like they don't want to live with small children or dogs.

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MrsMaturin · 19/07/2014 10:29

I would go to your local Cats Protection rescue and talk to them OP. Cats protection will rehome suitable cats with young dc. Dd3 was 2+ when we got ours from them. They will come and do a home visit and let you know what they think. It sounds like your set up would be good for an older cat - however this may mean you get less years with the cat than you would like. You need also to find a cat who is used to living with dogs. I think it could take a while but CP get lots of cats coming in to them from elderly people dying or unable to live in their own home and I have a hunch that's where your sort of cat could come from. You can only talk to them anyway - and then see whether they think they will find you a cat at some point. You'll need to be patient.

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wantacatplease · 19/07/2014 10:30

Yes I suppose I need to ring but wanted to check here in case others advised me there would be no point considering our criteria. Thanks!

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wantacatplease · 19/07/2014 10:33

Happy to be patient! We are booked for a holiday end of August so would want that out of the way, plus would give me time to get the little spare room ready. I would absolutely want to take time to make sure cat is right for us and we are right for him/her!

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thecatneuterer · 19/07/2014 10:34

It really depends on the shelter. That set up is relatively quite safe and even though you are on a busy road a cat wouldn't be able to get near it, nor have much inclination to try if they have so much to explore. If the cat is a bit older (say over 4 years) and has perhaps previously been stray and so is fairly street-wise then that should practically eliminate any risk.

Again some shelters have blanket bans on things while others look at things case by case. Our shelter wouldn't home small kittens to homes with small children, but will certainly home 'children-tested', confident adult cats.

Have you looked at //www.catchat.org to find shelters/cats near you?

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wantacatplease · 19/07/2014 10:42

Yay, thecatneuterer, you're practically a celebrity in my mind as I've followed some of your rescue adventures in the past.

I have looked at catchat, yes, and the closest shelter is literally 5 minutes away from us, but is one that seems to list cats with very specific needs (I.e. no small children, other pets). We are in the SW and there aren't loads of options locally it seems but we are willing to travel to neighbouring towns/villages if need be.

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wantacatplease · 19/07/2014 10:43

Thanks for all advice, it seems the next step is to ring and ask. Really happy no one has given me a blanket "no!" Grin

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MrsMaturin · 19/07/2014 10:47

Good cat rescues want to home cats where they are safe and will be loved. Different cats suit different situations. The casual enquirer with 8 under 5s Grin who isn't too in to cats will be put off by the website statements. Good - because somebody like that isn't the right person for a cat who may have been through a tough time. Genuine cat lovers raise kids who are cat lovers too and those ARE the people rescues will want to rehome to if they have a safe place for the cat. Those people will do what you're going to - ring up and ask and outline how you think you can make it work.

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Preciousbane · 19/07/2014 10:47

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wantacatplease · 19/07/2014 10:53

Yes as much as kittens are incredibly cute I know they wouldn't be right for us so I'm happy to adopt an older cat. My most favourite cat growing up was adopted by us when she was around 4 or 5 by estimation and lived with us for 13 years! If I could find another quite like her it would be a dream come true!

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Preciousbane · 19/07/2014 11:03

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Preciousbane · 19/07/2014 11:03

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wantacatplease · 19/07/2014 11:09

Aww, lovely! Smile

I'm a bit biased towards female cats because that's all we had growing up as my mum thought boy cats spray everywhere. Happy to have a boy if he's right for us, though!

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Jenda · 19/07/2014 12:09

it might be frowned on but have you looked on sites like preloved? That's where we got our boy from, he was 3 and the owner had had a baby who was allergic, she was about to give him to the rspca but was concerned because he is all black and they don't get snapped up quickly. Personally if I had to rehome a pet I would never do that but im glad I went and got him because he is lovely!

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wantacatplease · 19/07/2014 12:20

Hi Jenda I have looked a little under the misguided notion that I would need a specific breed to fulfill my laid back, happy to be indoors requirements. However, my gut tells me I need the advice and reassurance of a rescue centre behind me because I'd be devastated if I took on someone's cat thinking the cat had certain personality traits and then got him/her home only to discover they are a wrong fit for us or vice versa. I'm thinking with a rescue I can bring my dd in to interact with the cat we have in mind, for example.

I really wouldn't want to dash anyone's hopes if they were desperate to re-home and I had to bring the cat back iykwim.

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Fluffycloudland77 · 19/07/2014 21:26

Rescues usually have the measure of the cats they have.

It doesn't mean that they won't decide they want to out door cats after all, they can be very contrary creatures like that.

You'll be buying up the cat aisle at pets at home before you know it.

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wantacatplease · 19/07/2014 21:37

Fluffy Grin I hope so!

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Scarletohello · 19/07/2014 21:43

Oh good luck, I hope you find the perfect cat for you!

Just wanted to show mine off ;)

Could we rescue a cat?
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wantacatplease · 19/07/2014 21:48

Envy I need a cat sleeping in a plant pot right now!

Lovely cat, btw.

I love looking at all your cats so if anyone else wants to show of their babies, please go right ahead!

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foreverforaging · 19/07/2014 21:55

Doesn't sound like an issue to me. You just need a cat who is used to children and dogs (or a kitten). If you have a nice wooded area at the back that sounds fine too. My parents lived on a busy main road and although they had a garden at the front the cat used to stick to the back gardens.

There are so many rescue cats I am sure the rescue centre will greet you with open arms. You just need to find the right match for you.

Best of luck

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Rollypoly100 · 20/07/2014 08:36

I've had my 14 year old cat for 8 months. He's from a rescue centre in South East Kent but he was chipped in London. The rescue centre said he was picked up in London as his owners moved house and left him behind! I say adopt an oldie, he is the most affectionate and loving cat.

Could we rescue a cat?
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