To think rescue centres don't actually want you to adopt their pets?

[lurchersforever]

One of my cats had to be out to sleep suddenly in the summer and I would now like to adopt a young cat to keep us all company - me, ds and our remaining cat. I've only ever had rescue pets so looking at local centres. All have banners like please adopt/1000s of unwanted pets etc, but it is impossible to go and see any.

I have no issues with vetting and saying only certain types of households are suitable, but my issue is none of the centres are actually open. I've looked at about 6 near me and they are a mixture of not open to the public, don't answer the phone, say they're shut while Google says they're open, want you to fill in an application form and drop it off in person but you won't be able to even see a pet until your application has been assessed, don't reply to emails... The most success I've had is a centre that 'might' be able to arrange a video appointment to 'meet the cat' at some point and then I might be able to adopt 'when they open,' - no idea when that might be. This is for a specific cat they currently have - no sense of urgency to get her in a home. What on earth is the point of a video appointment with a cat?! What will it reveal that a picture doesn't? Just more time wasting.

I appreciate they are run by volunteers but this is ridiculous. Last time I adopted (10 years ago) you could go into local centres without an appointment and make the arrangements there and then. Obviously they weren't just handing them out to anyone but you could get the process moving.

At this rate I'll be on Gumtree, which I really don't want to be. What's going on?

Can you say roughly where you are based? It might be possible to point you towards a good local rescue.

Yes, I'm in the East Midlands - looked at Derby, Notts, Leicester, Chesterfield and even Sheffield.

Absolutely agree. My friend was declined because she had children, so they wouldn't let her home any cats. Ridiculous. We live rurally and families have cats, dogs and often other animals cohabiting happily, but they also rule out dog owners.

Aren’t there any independent rescue charities. Lots near me struggling with the number of kittens this year.

After being ignored by a couple of rescues when looking for a dog, we went and bought a puppy. Despite having cats all her adult life, my granny was turned down for adopting so she got a cat privately (when neighbours moved and had to re home when he was 2). He loved to 19 and it was only the last 2 years that he came to us because granny went in a home. They were concerned she lived by a road (30mph limit and had a massive garden backing onto tennis courts).

in short, I agree. It’s weird.

Why are you against filling in the application before seeing the pet? Makes way more sense then introducing you before establishing if you're suitable or not.

I find that many animal "charities" are an excuse for the owner to hoard animals and have other people donate to fund their hobby.

I agree. I've had 10 either feral or otherwise disabled, incontinent or very elderly and sick cats over the years from shelters some of whom have lived into their 20's, have my own home in the country well away from a road yet its like pulling teeth.
They say they will get back to me and they do about 6 months later. My last two one came from a friend who was moving abroad and the other I got from a friend whose cat had a litter.
Why would they be so difficult when Im so experienced.i don't bother with shelters anymore. They rebuff me because I work full time 9 to 5. None of my cats have required me to be around 24/7 and I'm retiring in 4 years.
Who the hell has a nice house and garden off the beaten track and doesn't work ffs.

I'm from the East Midlands. I found Mansfield Cat Rescue pretty responsive- and they let you go and meet the cats in the foster homes. I think the whole thing took about a month for me. I goty boy Nero from them.

Cat-ching Sheffield are also fairly responsive- you can video call the cats, providing you meet their house criteria for kids, other pets, etc :) I'd avoid th RSPCA and national rescues; they are too picky and never get back to you!

I'm from the East Midlands. I found Mansfield Cat Rescue pretty responsive- and they let you go and meet the cats in the foster homes. I think the whole thing took about a month for me. I goty boy Nero from them.

Cat-ching Sheffield are also fairly responsive- you can video call the cats, providing you meet their house criteria for kids, other pets, etc :) I'd avoid th RSPCA and national rescues; they are too picky and never get back to you!

No issue with filling in a form but there are some where they ask you to drop it off and we are talking 20 miles! And there is no strolling around the cattery. Emails seem to get no replies - with forms attached. Also, it seems you normally need to fill in a new form for each specific cat you are interested in instead of them just seeing who you might be a match for. It's really annoying! You used to be able to drop by, see some cats (not touch - I get you don't do a proper meet until you've been assessed), have a chat, fill in a paper form and just get the ball rolling, Now you can't even do that.

I was turned down by a dog rescue who said all occupiers of the household needed to visit the centre, despite me saying one member was house bound. I'd have taken any needy dog regardless of age/health, experienced owner, rural, fenced garden. Then tried online and nearly got scammed. Ended up buying a puppy from a breeder.

Have a look at Mansfield cat rescue. There are lots of small rescues in Nottingham.

The business of cats not being able to left is ridiculous - I'm sure they didn't used to ask that. They're not dogs.

Unless you are childless, unemployed / retired, and live in a house far from a road with a large 6ft fenced garden - they don’t want you to adopt a pet.

Where are you based OP?

I live in that area and had the most luck with the cats protection league. They were very good.

Have you tried Loughborough kitten rescuers? Here's their FB page https://www.facebook.com/groups/112478729353573/?ref=share

We got our cat from there 4 years ago. It was very straightforward. Filled in a form by email. Arranged appointment to go see the cat we were interested in. Paid about £70, agreed to insure her. Left with her the same day

Our local rescue is always looking for volunteers. I am free all day every other Saturday and offered to volunteer 9-4 every second Saturday but they said no as they only want people who can volunteer every weekend 🤔.

I remember the days when you could just wander around the dog's home and think it must have been very unsettling for the animals and time consuming for the volunteers.

This. Several friends have been refused by cat charities for reasons that are just mental - including people in London who live near a main road, people who work - it's a cat ffs.

My cat died of old age at 18. I was given her as a kitten and she roamed around freely.
I live in South Manchester on a ,not so busy now after a bypass was built, main road and was refused by EVERY adoption centre in the area including Cats Protection League. Still feel very sad about not being able to adopt one so yes might look at Gumtree etc in desperation.

My dad wanted to adopt a rescue for company after my mum died. He as a child and we as a family have grown up with various dogs. He found one that was older had been in the rescue for over 2 years and the rescue were constantly pleading for a home. Dad was denied application as he was 70 and too old for a 10 yr old dog. They were rude condescending and it really put me off.

Our cats are from a rescue and I would hope we’d always take in an unwanted animal rather than facilitate more breeding but the centres make it hard.

Have you tried Loughborough Cat Sanctuary?

Yes, we couldn’t adopt a cat because we had a dog, a doodle, who had lived perfectly with our old cat for 6 years.

Ended up getting one off Pets4homes which was really not what I wanted to do.