Adopting a Cat/ Cats Protection Home Visit

[Butterflywings168]

So I have phoned local CP and they are coming to do a home visit soon
May I pick your brains...

What do I need to know?

What are CP looking for? I am having visions of a JUDGEY middle-aged/ old dear
For a start I am a slob not the queen of cleanliness and tidiness. I have moved into my current flat quite recently and am still not straight, and have still not got everything (moving is expensive, have been waiting for paydays etc and juggling when I have had time as well). I have definitely not got cat stuff. It seemed like tempting fate in case they say no. Of course if they said yes I would go out and get the essentials (plus probably a million cat trees and toys) before the cat came home. Are you expected to be ready though?

Thoughts. My flat is on a quiet road, suburban, but not very far away it joins a main road. CP don't like you to be near roads, right? But they do like cats to go out (which I agree with).
I am undecided whether I would let a cat out the front. I am not only worried about cars, but (more so) about dogs and evil psycho neighbours who hate cats and would harm it.
I have a small garden (ground floor flat) which cat could go out in. It is shared with 2 other flats. (I don't know the neighbours yet so am going to hope and pray they are not evil cat haters!) Garden fences are the standard ones so a determined cat could certainly climb over - how cheap and easy (or not) is it to put up wire?
If cat was going outside there is obviously a communal hall - would CP expect a cat flap? There is no way to install one (doors opening into garden are glass). Cats IME let you know when they want to come out and in...
I rent, is that an issue? Landlady is definitely OK with cats but I don't know about going modifying the garden fence.

Finally I am getting neurotic - OMG what if I am a bad pfb cat mum?! I have had cats before but more in family of origin and flatmate settings, never had sole responsibility. I am addicted to Jackson Galaxy's website and programmes know what I am doing though.

Advice please!

[thecatneuterer]

I do occasional home visits - not for Cats Protection though. I'm certainly not an old dear I may be a bit judgy though.

I'm thrilled to see places that are untidy and not particularly clean. They are likely to be much more cat friendly than places where the owners are very obviously a bit precious about their homes.

We certainly don't care if you are renting.

It's really all about the location. Without seeing it I can't say what I'd say about your situation = but access to the back is generally better than at the front.

You may be better off with an indoor cat though. There are plenty of cats that can't go out for one reason or another or don't particularly want to.

And finally, all rescues want to find homes for their cats. They are really not looking for reasons to turn you down.

[Vinorosso74]

When we had one from CP (few years back now) she didn't nose around, it was more checking we understood how to care for and live with a cat. We had to offer for her to see garden and cat flap-not sure if that was a test.

[shaska]

I was worried about our visit but it was a lovely man who sat for a chat, asked a few questions about how we were going to do things, and then basically said oh of course you can have a cat, as though it had been a foregone conclusion all along. I'd sort of forgotten that obviously anyone doing home visits was likely to be a cat person and thus really nice. Don't fret!

[Lovesabadboy]

The lady who did our CP Home visit was lovely.

We were worried because we have no cat flap and not really anywhere that one could be put without cutting into windows.

She was not at all bothered about that and didn't have one herself.
She asked us a few questions, looked into the back garden, looked in our bedroom (as that was going to be the first stopping point for the cat for a few days) and that was it really.

The house was relatively tidy, but it certainly wasn't (and never is) show-home clean and tidy.

Like Shaska's man, this lady too seemed as if it was a foregone conclusion and just said to us that, actually, she could tell that we would be suitable candidates as soon as she drove up and could see the location of our house. (end of a quiet close, no passing traffic).

It was such a massive deal to us and we were frightened to death that we might not be approved.

Badboycat has been with us just over a year now and has truly stolen all our hearts.

[Butterflywings168]

Thanks everyone for helpful responses, feeling reassured.
thecatneuterer - no offence, didn't mean everyone who does this is an old dear and yes, you'd think they want to find homes.
True shaska, all cat people are lovely

[Butterflywings168]

It went fine! Very nice lady, liked garden. Thought they have a few suitable cats. They'll let me know.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Well done, how long do you have to wait? Will you get a pair?.

[Butterflywings168]

Thanks
Didn't really get a timeframe. They need to hurry up obviously as I want kitty now
Just getting one (for now), wanted a fairly independent adult cat anyway as will be out at work etc.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

That's good, we also live in a quiet road close yo a busy road, but CPL visitor was fine. We only let ours out the back but they fo occasionally escape through the open front door or climb fences but we keep them in at night. We intended getting one but ended up with two!

[Butterflywings168]

That's good to know. Y she asked me to keep it in at night and sensibly pointed out it would need to be happy staying in while I'm out due to not having cat flap (and nowhere to put one).
Note I said for now...I'm going to end up with a whole cattery aren't I

[Fluffycloudland77]

What about an older cat who has been overlooked because it's a house cat?

[Butterflywings168]

Oh no I didn't rule out entirely indoor or older! I couldn't be around enough at the moment to deal with a cat with a lot of special needs/ that needs loads of attention though as I am out at work, sometimes 8am-8pm so wouldn't be fair to take that on. Think we said 2yo plus, no upper age limit.

[Hoppinggreen]

I used to home check for CPL.
The main thing was whether it was a cat friendly home - the only ones I ever turned down lived in an immaculate show home ( not the only reason but one of them).
Show that you understand what a cat needs and that you are prepared to make changes if necessary and you will be fine.

[Hoppinggreen]

And I not an old dear - possibly a bit judgy and middle class though!

[Butterflywings168]

Haha, already regretting the 'old dear' comment!
Yes several people have said a somewhat messy home is better than a show home, think I did OK there . Cow didn't even look in my newly immaculate bathroom not sure why I thought she would and spent time on it instead of living room ah well, it's all done and hopefully OK now!

[Hoppinggreen]

Well I'm 42 so you aren't too far off the Mark!!!
Glad it went well, hope you get your cat soon

[Butterflywings168]

Haha, but 42 is still young

Update: FUCK.
I discovered earlier that a neighbour has a large aggressive dog. By discovered, I mean it ran at me barking and growling, did its best to escape from behind their gate.
I can't let a cat out to risk it getting into their garden

[thecatneuterer]

Oh no.

Can you cat-proof your garden? (It costs a bit mind). Or maybe consider a middle-aged indoor only cat.

[Fluffycloudland77]

I'd just get a house cat.

[Jenda]

A house cat be good. my friend has one in a flat who is very happy to be in, her owner works long hours and she pads around and sleeps. She does have around habit of walking into the lounge, making eye contact and peeing though!

Excited for you, I couldn't imagine life without my lad!

[Butterflywings168]

Thanks all.
I will look into cat-proofing the garden. If landlady is ok with that.
I guess cats vary - hopefully it will have enough of a sense of self-preservation to avoid said garden! Once I know its personality and have let it out at first under supervision I guess I will be able to make a decision.
Local CP don't currently have any indoor cats...they like to let out unless additional needs...but the ones I'm going to view are all middle-aged females and won't go out loads or roam far. Dog people are only 2 gardens away though
Is it worth going to chat to neighbours?
I guess it's a case of see what happens...

[thecatneuterer]

Cat-proofing a normal-sized London terrace garden, assuming you already have six foot fences all the way round, costs around £300 if you do it yourself and up to around £1000 if you get the company to do it. So not a cheap endeavour at all.

I think a middle-aged girl would be a fairly safe bet though. They tend not to roam too much. It is still a worry though. And yes, I would perhaps speak to the dog owners to get their take.

[Butterflywings168]

Hi tcn, thanks. It's naiceville small-ish garden. I do not have a spare £300. I think I am reassured and yes will talk to dog owners.

I am going to meet a lovely 8yo girl tomorrow - there are a few middle-aged girls but she's my favourite really so excited.

[chockbic]

Hope it goes well for your feline friend.

[Butterflywings168]

Connected my pfc cat is coming home on Weds