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Original poster

Rescues which claim to be overrun.

121 replies

WannabeKittens · 08/10/2022 18:08

Have been looking to adopt some kittens. I have registered with multiple charities, all of which claim to be overrun as it is now kitten season.

I have even put in a query about some kittens which are being shown on the Celia Hammond site.

And none of them ever return my enquiries. Chat actually did send me an email asking for my details in order to do a home check, and I never heard from them again.

I’ve known several other people who have been through the same, charities claim to be overrun, but when push comes to shove they either never return calls or claim that they no longer have any cats available.

Same with dog rescues.

So if these centres are all so overrun with rescue animals, why is it virtually impossible to rescue one?

If I can’t rescue then I just won’t bother as I have no intentions of buying kittens on the internet. But it’s easy to see why so many people do.

OP posts:
Justfortherandomquestions · 09/10/2022 08:12

PS there is telephone number to speak to someone directly

WahineToa · 09/10/2022 08:12

It’s the major design flaw in our feline friends - so furry and purry but only on their terms always.

Isn’t it just!! We adopted one years ago who sadly passed during lockdown, but he was unbelievably cuddly and affectionate with everyone he saw, he knew all the neighbours well. whereas my next rescue was and still is very nervous and doesn’t like anyone but me.

RewildingAmbridge · 09/10/2022 08:17

Do you know anyone in the countryside OP? We had similar issues with rescues, because there would be one day a week where neither of us were at home for around six hours. This was for a cat not a dog, but apparently not suitable, even with a cat flap and a garden. Both DH and I grew up in houses with rescue animals and PIL foster dogs.
In the end MIL spoke to the farmer where she keeps her horse, they have some unneutered cats because they need them for mousing, they also seem to go off to other local farms when there's a litter. We got ours for free, and he's a brilliant hunter which helps in a very old house that's impossible to keep mice out of otherwise. Said cat lives a life of absolute luxury, high protein, grain free, organic food. Huge climbing tower, big fluffy bed in front of the fire (although he often sleeps with/on us), toys and scratching posts, regular vet checks, and thousands spent on a cat cardiologist etc for his heart condition to make sure he had the best treatment plan. But we were rejected for having the temerity to work.

Caiti19 · 09/10/2022 08:21

You can use the internet without the nastiness of actually paying breeders for a kitten. There is a pet supply place near us that provides a matching service - kitten wanters with kitten givers. They do not do the vetting. As the kitten giver, I had to use my cop on to vet the people and homes. I only had the kittens because a cat brought her 5 babies to my garden. I waited until they were 13 weeks before rehoming. There are loads of people like me who prefer to find homes for kittens directly rather than submitting them to a "rescue", where they could languish for God knows how long.

DinosaurPyjamas · 09/10/2022 08:29

To be honest, if you’re getting an average cat, either adult or kitten, and wherever you get them from, it’s basically lucky dip if you get one who’s ‘a lovely family cat’ or one who’s aloof and doesn’t see you for dust unless food is involved

I disagree with this actually. We visited chat back when you could, and spent time with several different cats. Their personalities were quite apparent. Some were very playful, one was beautiful and charasmatic but bit me 😯. Our boy just lay in his cardboard box waiting for each passing visitor to run his tummy and purring loudly when they did. Not much has changed!

Rescues which claim to be overrun.
MeowMeowPowerRangers · 09/10/2022 08:35

That is not the only issue.

My local rescue refuses to rehome cats/kittens to anyone who works full time, yet you cannot be on benefits (even if your disabled?)
Anyone who has outdoor cats as their cats must be indoor cats.
Anyone with young children that's fine - but they count young children anyone under ten! (My 6 year old is great with our cats!)
You must own your own home, no rentals.

It's ridiculous the hoops you must jump through I was ready to rehome two senior cats and was refused - had to get kittens off breeder even though I've had cats my entire life and I treat them like the little spoilt darlings they are. Angry

MeowMeowPowerRangers · 09/10/2022 08:35

Oh and she also refuses to rehome any cat to anyone over 50 - incase you die and she has to take the cats back! 50! I'd understand at say 80...

Pugdogmom · 09/10/2022 08:38

@WiddlinDiddlin , the rescue that is in Portugal, Spain or UK? Yes, I am pretty sure I know the rescue you mean. If not, it's very similar. They have many charity events to raise money, and I refuse to give them a penny now. I was going to adopt a dog from them of a breed in my username, and was told I would never get one because of the diet I feed one of my dogs due to severe allergies that he has 😡

Original poster
WannabeKittens · 09/10/2022 08:40

MeowMeowPowerRangers · 09/10/2022 08:35

Oh and she also refuses to rehome any cat to anyone over 50 - incase you die and she has to take the cats back! 50! I'd understand at say 80...

And I bet she has about 15 cats of her own ;)

All the ones she refuses to actually rehome.

OP posts:
Original poster
WannabeKittens · 09/10/2022 08:43

DinosaurPyjamas · 09/10/2022 08:29

To be honest, if you’re getting an average cat, either adult or kitten, and wherever you get them from, it’s basically lucky dip if you get one who’s ‘a lovely family cat’ or one who’s aloof and doesn’t see you for dust unless food is involved

I disagree with this actually. We visited chat back when you could, and spent time with several different cats. Their personalities were quite apparent. Some were very playful, one was beautiful and charasmatic but bit me 😯. Our boy just lay in his cardboard box waiting for each passing visitor to run his tummy and purring loudly when they did. Not much has changed!

Absolutely. And tbh I’m not always sure that the rescues are the best judge.

I went to Battersea a few years ago, and they would only show me one cat which they claimed would be ok to rehome with a dog. As soon as I went into the pen the cat leapt at me and sank its teeth into my thumb. It was clearly terrified, and there is absolutely no way it was suitable to be rehomed with a dog.

I left without it.

OP posts:
MeowMeowPowerRangers · 09/10/2022 08:44

@WannabeKittens oh more she has twenty she refuses to rehome, and 60 she's trying to rehome and then rants and raves on a weekly basis on Facebook that she can't take in more because she's struggling to rehome the ones she has. 🫣

Original poster
WannabeKittens · 09/10/2022 08:45

Pugdogmom · 09/10/2022 08:38

@WiddlinDiddlin , the rescue that is in Portugal, Spain or UK? Yes, I am pretty sure I know the rescue you mean. If not, it's very similar. They have many charity events to raise money, and I refuse to give them a penny now. I was going to adopt a dog from them of a breed in my username, and was told I would never get one because of the diet I feed one of my dogs due to severe allergies that he has 😡

I’d never rehome an animal from abroad tbh.

OP posts:
Original poster
WannabeKittens · 09/10/2022 08:46

MeowMeowPowerRangers · 09/10/2022 08:44

@WannabeKittens oh more she has twenty she refuses to rehome, and 60 she's trying to rehome and then rants and raves on a weekly basis on Facebook that she can't take in more because she's struggling to rehome the ones she has. 🫣

Which part of the country do you live? She sounds remarkably like my local rescue woman…

OP posts:
catmad31 · 09/10/2022 08:51

Have you tried Foal Farm in Biggin Hill? All our rescue cats have come from there. You can look around but I think you may need to make an appointment to see the kittens

AgapanthusandAcers · 09/10/2022 08:59

I found it hard to adopt a cat as the ones in my local rescue weren't suitable for living with children. I found it frustrating, I did get a kitten from an unwanted litter, though a colleague, but I would have preferred an older cat. Would you not consider an older cat.

Redqueenheart · 09/10/2022 09:05

Are you able to try Battersea Dogs and Cats Home?

They were really good when I adopted my cat. Home check was done quickly then I visited them, chose a cat and picked her up two days after that. She was an adult cat though.

I wish you good luck with adopting a new furry friend.

AgapanthusandAcers · 09/10/2022 09:06

I should add that I wanted to be be able to see their 'personality' before I committed which, is easier with older cats imo. My cat was a challenging kitten with biting and scratching, and despite being a floof ball now, I'd have happily missed out kitten stage.

WahineToa · 09/10/2022 09:06

@Redqueenheart I also had a fantastic experience with Battersea, really nice rescue centre too.

bailarbailar · 09/10/2022 09:15

We've been trying with Battersea, rspca, cats and a local charity for 6 months. We have a garden, quiet road, no other pets, no kids etc and it's just impossible! I've rung, left messages, filled out forms, applied for new cats when they've appears on websites...
we aren't fussed in age or colour, just want a cat!
I'm probably going to buy one now, which goes against my principles (have had two previous rescues) but I want a cat before the winter and this is totally ridiculous now

Original poster
WannabeKittens · 09/10/2022 09:20

Have rescued from Battersea in the past but have had no luck this time.

I have registered on their site and they say they rarely have kittens up for adoption. Would take an older cat but most of their cats aren’t suitable for rehoming with dogs.

OP posts:
Whycanineverever · 09/10/2022 09:26

WannabeKittens · 09/10/2022 02:56

For those who ask,I’m in Bromley and theCHAT branch I’m looking at is lewisham.

And sorry, while I think that in some instances the right home needs to be found, I think in so many cases this is just a power trip, evidenced by the thousands of people who are turned down by rescues only to go on and have happy healthy animals, many of which would probably have ended up in the same rescues had those people not bought them, for many years.

Millions and millions of cat owners have children. To flatly refuse to allow parents to adopt is ludicrous.

To the PP who asked whether I was just ranting about rescues or about the fact I can’t get a cat, it’s a bit of both. I would like a cat/s. And I would like to rescue one as I’m not up for buying them online because people should be encouraged to neuter their animals rather than allow them to breed. But the rescues, which claim to be busy,appear to just talk the talk given that when enquiries are made they are non responsive.

in short, rescues wouldn’t actually be overrun if they made the effort to genuinely try to find homes for the animals they claim to have. I understand that it’s potentially harder with dogs as most people don’t want to adopt staffies or lurches which is pretty much what goes into most of the bigger rescues. But cats are far less complicated, and unless they’re complicated breeds such as Bengals which aren’t easy to rehome, they need to actually do something about rehoming if they don’t want to be overrun by moggies.

Some years back when I adopted my (now deceased) cat, I enquired about Siamese, and was told that the Siamese cats they have in are never offered for rehoming as they automatically go to one of the staff who already has 11 cats and who felt she would be more suitable than your average member of the public. This was a large rescue.

Croydon animal Samaritans are lovely and I know they have plenty of black kittens in at the moment.

SophieJo · 09/10/2022 09:29

My cat died after 18 loving years with us. We buried him in the garden and after a couple of months decided to adopt one.
I was heartbroken at the way in which we were roundly refused by all the shelters we tried because we live on a main road yet had just buried a cat that died of old age , not being run over..

Trinkethearth · 09/10/2022 09:36

I was refused a kitten from cats protection because we live too near the road. I am well aware of this which is why I wanted a house cat. In the end I got a kitten from someone at work. That kitten was pampered and died at 14 years old. My new kitten came from a private person too.

Lemons1571 · 09/10/2022 09:39

Reminds me of when I was instantly turned down for adopting by a (presumably) well meaning volunteer, because I worked full time. I was enquiring about adopting a hamster!!

RosieRiveting · 09/10/2022 09:47

I would also suggest Croydon Animal Samaritans OP. You ring their fosterers directly in most cases so it's not a matter of emailing and hoping one appears.

I've rehomed via Feline Friends, which is a cross London one. I'd recommend sending them an email too.