Cat Protection League blacklist 'poorer' roads

[Jeremyess]

I phoned the local Cats Protection to ask a few questions about the possibility of re-homing a cat. I was told that they will not let us re-home a cat because there have been incidents of FIV near us. Fair enough I thought.

Then, a couple of days ago I got talking to a lady who has recently re-homed a cat from the same orgasnisation, she lives 5 minuets walk from us! Her street is full of large, victorian houses and our street is full of 2 up, 2 down terraces. Am I right in thinking that 'FIV in your area' is an excuse given to people instead of telling them 'your area is too poor/rough'?

Weird! Phone than and ask? (I live in a two-two terrace as well)

Seems a bit unfair. Do they not vaccinate against FIV anyway? Or they could ask you to. It does sound like there are other reasons.

I called up to enquire about adopting a cat from a breed rescue once, and was told no, because I was a military wife and "cats get left behind when you move"
I tend not to leave my pets when I move, sometimes I even let the kids come with me too...

I don't want them to push the point as they gave a firm no when I asked originally. You cannot vaccinate against FIV, so if it were a high risk area I could understand. But to then find out that my nearly neighbour is ok, as if cats only stick to the street they live in. I would love to find out if the reason of FIV is genuine as I would like a cat, from CPL or elsewhere. Do you think it is worth ringing around local vets?

I don't think cats do wander very far in urban areas. I think it would be unlikely to be a poverty issue so you may have to take their word for it as they genuinely are keen to home cats if they possibly can.

There are lots of animal welfare shelters who may not have such a strict policy or, if you just ask around locally, there always seems to be someone who is moving and can't take their cat, or whose new cat doesn't get on with the old one or something. The (slight) problem is that CP include all the vaccinations/sterilisation etc in their admin fee so it might be more expensive to do it this way.

I am a bit about FIV area!!! It is rife and cats do wonder off quite a why so i think they are being unfair and short sighted.

Cats protection league around here are nutcases anyway. They tend to be mad cat ladies and not very objective at all. I used to work in a vets and they were very put out one time when they came in because i didn't wet myself because they had some kittens in a basket. You know how it is, rushed off your feet, headless chicken etc, no time to coo over kittens. The woman got really huffy with me and asked me why i worked in a vets if i didnt like animals .

What i also found when i worked in the vets that it was always the people from the poorer areas who were vigilant about making suretheir bills were paid, where the more affluent people seemed to think they could pay when they felt like it!

Where abouts in the country are you? Battersea dogs home is now battersea dogs and cats home and have thousands of cats needing rehoming. If it turns out your area is a high risk for FIV, i have never heard this but im out of the loop now, why not consider taking on a FIV positive cat. They can lead fulfilling lives but they absolutely must be kept indoors all the time and that can be difficult for people.

Good luck - i am as my DP is allergic hates cats so i can't have one :(

I was once really upset as a rehoming centre said we couldn't have the cat I had fallen in love with and been to visit on a few occasions. The rehoming visitor had already decided before she came that I couldn't have the cat (she phoned to say so), I convinced her to come and have a look anyway to no avail. She said our road was busy. It is a residential road that is used locally (20mph limit). There are about 10ish cats who hang around and all seem to do very well, they tend to stay in the back gardens anyway. I was devastated (big softie) and sobbed for a few days.

We got a cat in the end, from a different rehoming place and he's gorgeous, we love him. I guess these centres do their best but I don't really know how they can accurately predict who will be responsible enough to care for an animal.

The same place also said to me they'd think twice about giving me a cat as I was planning to ttc and the cat would be neglected when baby came along . FIV cats should be indoors anyway, ask at the vets if there is a high incidence in your area as they will know best. TBH probably best to try a different rehoming place as the CPL will probably just fob you off now and you might never find out the real reason.

Can you go back and say you think they've made a mistake? Might it be that the area up the road has a slightly different postcode and they've not realized you are so close?