To not want to facilitate collection of a cat

[Catlover196]

Hello, I volunteer for a charity where I foster cats until they are adopted. The benefits of this for the charity is the cat stays with me for free rather than they pay by day for a cattery, and the cat enjoys a loving home rather than being in a cattery.

I’ve currently got a little cat who has required some serious health issues investigating. Apparently during this time someone became interested in adopting him but I was not told. I went away for a weekend so placed the cat in the cattery and the prospective adopter visited and reserved him during this weekend.

Yesterday he had the all clear from his test results so I was given the number of the prospective adopter to make contact so that they could come to my house and collect him. I made contact today advising I was free any day next week from Monday onwards.

The man then phoned me and unleashed a barrage of anger saying if he couldn’t collect him tonight he wasn’t going to have him at all and that he has been messed around for three weeks. I stated he hasn’t been messed around - the cat was undergoing tests!

I ended up having to hang up on him due to the angry arguing that I did not want to participate in.

I informed the charity saying I had concerns and wouldn’t let this man in my house. They asked if they could collect him Saturday which is not convenient for me due to a family commitment. They then asked if I could drive him 20minutes to the vet on Monday at a specific time that would require me to leave work early.

I normally drive him everywhere and don’t have an issue but am I just being unreasonable not wanting to facilitate anything to do with this meeting?

If it is CP then I would be reporting them to Head Office. That's who I fostered through and this would be completely unacceptable.

Please look out for this cat. I am so worried for it. Tell the vet?

Sadly you don’t own the cat when you foster it so you can’t keep the cat. That’s theft. But you can make a huge noise and keep making a noise. They shouldn’t be adopting it without a diagnosis and treatment plan at the very least.

The shouty thing is a hard one. Most charities are so strapped for space, they physically can’t manage to fit the cats they have into their premises. I guess they are weighing up the options and have decided to take that risk.

It’s kitten season soon so that will only get worse.

I know I don't own the cat and cannot keep it. Nor am I in a position to adopt this cat and I also enjoy fostering.
I know they have limited premises I guess that is where I come in by fostering. This has been a real sour experience for me and it does make me feel I may be better placed fostering for another charity - I feel that is the risk this charity have decided to take as they know exactly how I feel.

I have made a complaint using the online form but don't know if that goes to head office or when it will be read.

Could you privately message the charity on Facebook or Twitter and revoice your concerns.
Sometime they are more responsive on social media.
This man sounds like he could be a danger to this cat if it has an accident etc.

What a nice thing to do - I hope this doesn't put you off.
If it were me I would liaise with the charity to get the cat back to them at a time convenient to you, I'd make it clear that you have concerns about this man, if they go ahead anyway then I think the ball is in your court as to whether you continue working with them or not.

I am eternally grateful to the lovely fosterers who cared for my rescue cats (I've had several) until they came to live with me, and I don't know how you can ever part with them. The charity should be more appreciative of the sterling work you are doing, and take the concerns you raise far more seriously. For the cat's sake, please continue to make a fuss on behalf of this defenceless moggie; it sounds as if he needs a new owner who is prepared to take on a pet with ongoing health problems, and I think your instinctive suspicion is well -placed.
It's one of those cases where you 'd be delighted to be proved wrong, and if it's a good home - so much the better.
Perhaps if you asked a few penetrating questions about which named person at the charity is specifically taking responsibility for handing this animal over, it might give them pause for thought.
I have a standing order supporting one of these charities (yes, I'm a hopeless softie!) and sponsor a pen; I'd me horrified to think that I was inadvertently supporting irresponsible placements.

I dont think yabu and i hope he doesn't get the poor cat.
What if it gets ill? Will he have a go at the vets for messing him around with cost etc?
Will he even take it to the vet?
Will he take his uncontrollable anger out on the cat?
My cat hates loud noises and shouting and would run off if faced with someone like that. Fortunately we are a quiet family.

I’ve fostered for two local charities from two different homes and they’ve been great. It’s a lovely thing to nurture a little cat so they are ready for their forever home and I totally empathise with you.

I agree - try another charity. The two I worked with would have listened in these circumstances I think.

And some people are nasty to others but nice to animals. Fingers crossed he is one of them.

You are right not to let him in your house and I'm not surprised you don't want to go out of your way to facilitate this adoption with someone who was verbally abusive on the phone. It's a disgrace that the charity aren't taking this seriously and "protecting" their volunteers.

Definitely find another charity - I bet there are lots needing fosterers.

OP, you do an amazing job fostering.

Do you feel able to make more fuss on behalf of this cat? Maybe speak to someone else at the charity who may listen to your concerns.

Really hope you can as share your concerns about this little cat who has no control over who adopts him.

I don't know how you can ever part with them

It's heartbreaking and lovely all in one. I always cry my eyes out as soon as the door shuts and they have gone off to their forever homes, even though I know I have handpicked the perfect place for them and they will be loved there for the rest of their lives.

That said, I would still massively massively recommend fostering if you can, because in the long run, the upsides far outweigh that bit of happy-sadness. These cats need us.

They don't sound like a great charity. I'd have expected screening of adopters to be better than this. Also veterinary care for adoptive cats. He doesn't sound like someone who's going to deal calmly with a pooey cat.

Just let them know when you are available and don't put yourself out.

The branch has just phoned me. They said the man isn't tactful but he was just so excited to get the cat home and love him, he was just frustrated at having to wait. She said she has had many conversations and he's alright really. I brought up again about the diarrhoea and she said all the cats that they took from that household have had this issue and there is talk about giving him a steroid. He goes to the new owner on Monday and is booked in to see the vets in 6 months time.

That's appalling.

Talk about downplaying. This man was aggressive.

Yes, I would tell them that thanks to their handling of this you no longer have confidence in them as responsible re-homers and you don't want to foster for them any more.

And make that complaint!

I think you’re great to foster and right to be cautious in the circumstances. He doesn’t sound that stable. It’s never good to be “talked into” trusting someone rather than just being able to go with your own gut based on your experience.

The charity don’t sound very competent or thorough though. Six months til the cat sees the vet again? I wouldn’t fancy six months with a cat with tummy troubles or as a cat with tummy troubles.

I'm considering contacting the cat charity which I support with my reservations about giving them future financial support; I'd be horrified to think they were enabling the passing on to an unsuitable home.
But I don't want to withdraw my support from a charity which has acted in good faith.
Without naming names, could you let them know that concerns have been raised? I think a volunteer at a local branch has been bulldozed.

Evening, OP. I was wondering if this little cat has improved and has he now been adopted?