To want to adopt a cat amidst all this??

[Honesttodog]

We couldn’t before because we had a few holidays booked meaning we wouldn’t be home for 8 weeks while the cat settled in. CElia H said they needed this plus injections at 4 and 8 weeks. Am now feeling quite stressed about elderly family and longing for a cat for comfort distraction and to cheer up the kids.

Please tell me all the reasons why this is a crazy idea

I applied to foster a cat yesterday!
I usually work but am isolating for 12 weeks now.
I can’t give a permanent home butI can provide a nice indoor respite home for a few months.

Absolutely do it. We have 2 cats and I said to DH now would be the perfect time to adopt another one while we're all home. They've been a great comfort and playmate so far and I couldn't imagine going through this with out them x

I will add that I am struggling to get my cat his normal food and cat litter has been hard to get for a couple of months now .
I have also cancelled his vets appointments for the foreseeable future,

I'm thinking the same op. Ideally we would like sibling kittens. No idea where to find them - local cat shelters seem to be all about older cats. Do they usually have kittens too? 🐈

However I am also stressing a lot about getting them their food, thinking up alternative ways to feed them if I can't get it.

Worst case scenario, they're quite good at self-catering

My Father is self-isolating he's an 82 year old stroke survivor with heart and Kidney issues who is still active in mind and body. Our two cats and the garden are a godsend to a man who went to his local cafe everyday and is really feeling bored and anxious at home. I'm always for giving a pet a kind home, as long as it's a forever home. This is Sooty (B&W) & Sweep (Tabby).

Although I have no symptoms, thank goodness, I tick several of the boxes to opt for isolation, and the two furry boys, completely oblivious of all the drama, have been a great blessing. I heard a lovely description of this: "Another heartbeat in the house".
If you were planning to adopt anyway, and can cater for them, I say go for it.

@TheClitterati Kittens are seasonal. There are two seasons a year - in Spring and late Summer. Cats are all giving birth, unfortunately, at the moment. Kittens are ready to leave their mothers at 8 to 10 weeks. So in another month or so shelters will be drowning in unwanted kittens.

Have to agree with @KisforKoala

I have had no issues getting food and cat litter for my cat in London so I would not let that stop you.

Our local small rescue appealed for temporary fosterers to get as many cats as possible out of the cattery while the lockdown/social distancing goes on since they are worried about being able to staff it reliably.

They were explicitly appealing to people stuck at home to take the opportunity to have a cat while this goes on - got lots of takers.

So I would say go for it and ring a charity and consider fostering as well - pregnant mother and kittens for example? The kittens go back when this is all over and you keep the mum :)

Definitely do it.

I recall being home checked by the charity before I got my cats.

How can someone be allowed to come out to your house, potentially endangering themselves, to check it?

Perhaps charities will be forced to stop rehoming temporarily or change their home check first requirements.

Have to say our furry animals are keeping me sane at the moment.

Saw last night a few animal charities, looking for foster families so think I'll add our name to their list.

How can someone be allowed to come out to your house, potentially endangering themselves, to check it? There are other ways to do this. Firstly it's the garden and access to roads that is the particular problem. This can often be looked at without entering the house and while keeping distance from the home owners. We now of course also have the ability to do virtual tours inside the house using Skype or Whatsapp. And of course if they do enter a home they would keep far apart from other people and not touch anything, also probably donning gloves and mask before entering. All this is being very carefully thought about and plans put in place. To stop adoptions for the foreseeable future would be calamitous for the charities and the cats needing their help.

We adopted a 6 month old kitten 1 month ago. She's already been spayed and had her first injection, we just needed to get the 2nd one which had already been paid for. She's settled in brilliantly and was going out in our garden after 2 weeks. Now is a great time to settle in a fur baby.

Lovely to see all these positive messages. I’m going look at costs, cat food subscription if poss, and see what age cats are available. I was hoping for 2 young cats 8m to 1yo hence the longer settling in period. But am flexible if we can just find friendly cats that like to be around people!!!

We’d happily take another cat if more than usual need homes right now. Should I look into this?

Cats protection league aren’t rehomimg.

another vote for adopt/foster if possible.

my DD is housebound for multiple health issues and so has effectively been social isolating for years....she couldn't survive without her cats.

She recommends older cats if you want snuggles and a younger cat if you want to play. We currently have one of each and I can definitely recommend a cat or two to help remember what's important...as far as my cats go that means no moving if they are using you as a soft place to sleep!