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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

325 replies

lurchersforever · 20/09/2025 11:29

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?

OP posts:
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5
OwlIceCrem · 20/09/2025 14:54

We were desperate for two kittens last year- experienced cat owners, nowhere near busy roads, older kids, needed cats to keep mice out as we live rurally. I approached all the shelters I could find and none got back to me- even a couple who had put out news articles saying they were overrun. Ended up getting two from Pets4Homes 🤷🏻‍♀️

Tunacheesequesadilla · 20/09/2025 14:55

LandSharksAnonymous · 20/09/2025 13:50

Ah, I'm sorry that you think we should send a dog to a home with young children (a home that probably cannot commit to giving the dog their all) instead of to a home where the dog will be treated as it deserves.

None of our 'animals' are denied 'good homes.' They all get adopted - usually within a month and in the meantime are in foster placements. And they are never re-homed afterwards (we do six monthly home checks for the first two years and then yearly home-checks after to make sure everything is going well). Why are they never rehomed? Because we pick the best homes rather than 'good' homes.

Show quote history

I'm not talking about you or your rescue though. I'm glad your dogs are all adopted quickly.

You can see from this thread, that many people have been turned down by rescues, who are supposedly overrun with animals, for nonsensical reasons.

TrousersOfTime · 20/09/2025 14:56

You mentioned you'd tried Sheffield - it's worth giving South Yorkshire Street Cats a go. Their cats are all in foster, so there isn't a single cattery you can visit. Kittens under 6 months can only go in pairs or to a household that already have cats. They do a home check (often by video) and once there's a cat you're interested in, foster carers are generally happy for you to visit.
We got our kittens from them, and they were happy to re-home them to a house with existing DCats, with a microchip controlled cat flap so we could keep the kittens in until they were big enough.

YeOldeGreyhound · 20/09/2025 14:56

Rescues centres exist to provide homes for animals, not animals for homes. By being picky, they are ensuring the best home for the animals in their care and not have them returned after a few weeks.

I think Covid has affected how they operate now. Many don't even do proper home checks, they just ask for photos and videos of your home. Years ago, you could rock up to the local cats/dogs home and have a browse.

FitatFifty · 20/09/2025 14:56

Our cat was from Blue Cross. Sent an enquiry, they rang me back after a few hours, I cried down the phone about our cat who had just died, went to see him the next day and we brought him home.
They did watch us interact with him for a while. I know my friend was shocked they didn’t do a home visit.
Hes a pain in the arse, I love him.

HolidayInCambodia25 · 20/09/2025 14:58

Is it possible the type of person interested to run an animal shelter, is the kind of person who really, really loves making rules for other people?

There's someone who would fit that description at our local pets at home, infuriating woman.

SoddingSoda · 20/09/2025 15:08

I was told I was too young at 26. I got in touch with a friend who volunteered for said charity to vouch that I was in fact a mature 26-year-old (they presumed I was probably renting) with my own house.

They then got back in contact with me that I had been matched with an antisocial 6-year-old cat with FIB. Apparently they matched the cat to the owner not the other way around.

After giving up searching for a rescue I went online, sent a text to an unknown and picked up a kitten (and his brother) an hour later.

The rescue is always going on how they’re inundated with kittens/cats and not enough homes/needing emergency foster carers etc.

PourMeABrose · 20/09/2025 15:14

OP, have you tried Cat Patrol in Nottingham? I hope they’re not one you’re having trouble with, they have so many kitties waiting :(

YeOldeGreyhound · 20/09/2025 15:18

HolidayInCambodia25 · 20/09/2025 14:58

Is it possible the type of person interested to run an animal shelter, is the kind of person who really, really loves making rules for other people?

There's someone who would fit that description at our local pets at home, infuriating woman.

Edited

I think it is difficult when you love animals and only want the best for them.
The lady that runs the rescue my dog is from can be strict but it is always justified. A few years ago, she had to turn away someone who was terminally ill from adopting a dog from her rescue. The family of the person absolutely blasted her on social media.
She is all about the best interests of the dogs in her care, and not people wanting to adopt. She has dogs returned for pooing in the house in their first month in their new home. She wont rehome to people with kids if the dog has no known history with kids.
She had a dog have a litter of puppies a while back, and she ensured each pup had the very best home. Part of their breed was an active one and she wanted homes where they would be active dogs, things like agility etc.

When I adopted from her, she rang me every other day for a few weeks to check how my dog was. The back up and advice was amazing.

kittenkipping · 20/09/2025 15:24

A year or so ago I was rejected by a rescue. I’d offered to have mittens* not real name as the advert for him seemed to match my home. They said no- mittens wouldn’t be happy with an indoor only home. Ok- how about kitty? He seems a match and is indoor- oh no, they responded. He’s too shy for a house like yours (teens and other pets). Alright I say- put me on the list, I’m in no rush, I just want to rescue a cat that will be happy in my home. You know what I’m offering so any match will be able to find love in my home. - they rejected me and informed me that I clearly didn’t feel a real bond with any of their cats and such indifference means they can’t home to me. Absolute madness imo!

another rescue was thankfully happy to home one of their cats to me (who is very happy, and who I have bonded well with despite my indifference!)

Whyherewego · 20/09/2025 15:36

I have found smaller resuces a bit better if you can speak to a human ! Hopefully one of the PP suggestions will yield fruit. The other option is to let your local vets know that you'd be happy to take a stray. Ours often get strays dumped on them so they are grateful for folks offering to foster (or adopt).

Bellyblueboy · 20/09/2025 15:59

I was declined because I work and live in a city. My parents would have visited the cat every day while they settled in.

Quiet area, big back garden. But they said no - and while there are no children in the house, the women was horrified that children occasionally visit!

I got a kitten from a farm. She is very well looked after - vaccinated, neutered, vet check ups every year, god quality diet, access to outdoors but sleeps inside every night on my bed.

I could have given a pet in need a very good home.

Original poster
lurchersforever · 20/09/2025 16:03

Well, I feel a bit silly now as earlier on I got a call from one of the places I'd emailed in a form to last week. The cat I had named is still available and they're doing a phone call with me on next week and then I can collect the following week! This is without an in-person meeting even with the cat. They have looked up my house on Street View and are happy with that.

So I take it all back and I'm happy, though a bit taken aback as if anything it's too easy as I haven't even met the cat...

OP posts:
Sportsdaywinner · 20/09/2025 16:11

Try Leicester Animal Aid if you haven't already.

largeprintagathachristie · 20/09/2025 16:22

Yes I agree - I need to steel myself for another round of trying to adopt a cat but suspect it will come to naught.

I can’t remember all the things I failed on last time. I think having a job was a problem - you know, to earn money to buy the bloody cat food with! And I work from home three days a week! And a road was too close, but I live in London, so …

Thank goodness in 2006 it must have been easier to adopt - I had many happy years with my gorgeous and clever rescue cat.

SixtySomething · 20/09/2025 16:34

Where I live, Cats Protection League is really good.

PuppyMonkey · 20/09/2025 16:35

lurchersforever · 20/09/2025 16:03

Well, I feel a bit silly now as earlier on I got a call from one of the places I'd emailed in a form to last week. The cat I had named is still available and they're doing a phone call with me on next week and then I can collect the following week! This is without an in-person meeting even with the cat. They have looked up my house on Street View and are happy with that.

So I take it all back and I'm happy, though a bit taken aback as if anything it's too easy as I haven't even met the cat...

What a happy ending! 😻

Glitterbugsy · 20/09/2025 16:42

We adopted our cat when be turned up as a terrified hungry youngster in our garden and ran into our house.He wasn’t chipped and was full of ticks. We live on a busy road and touch wood he doesn’t go near it ( according to his air tag) We’re in a city so gardens are terraced and back to back and he ‘s happy to just patrol them it seems ! He chose us and thankfully so because I doubt we’d have been allowed to adopt him if not.

user1471548941 · 20/09/2025 17:20

a bit of a drive but we were willing to drive 2 hours to collect our boy from the wonderful people at Cotswold Dogs and Cats Home! We phoned interested in a specific cat, were interviewed and provided a house tour virtually, met him on Zoom and collected him 10 days after the first call.

GrandHighPoohbah · 21/09/2025 11:12

I do find it odd when you apply for say, a kitten pair that's advertised on their website. That goes to someone else, fair enough. But they then take umbridge when you decline their offer of a one eyed three year old with diabetes, saying you're not a serious adopter if you don't want that one. Matching has to work both ways, but some of the shelters seem to think adopters aren't allowed any kind of preferences.

MomsGotInk · 21/09/2025 12:17

My best mate had this trouble & the lady she contacted at one rescue kept coming up with ridiculous excuses as to why it was taking so long (she had already filled in all the paperwork & completed various checks only to be told it could take 6 weeks before she could collect the cat)
In the end she ended up rehoming a cat who belonged to a family member that could no longer care for him. He’s a lovely cat who’s very happy & well looked after.

Onegingerhead · 21/09/2025 12:25

GrandHighPoohbah · 21/09/2025 11:12

I do find it odd when you apply for say, a kitten pair that's advertised on their website. That goes to someone else, fair enough. But they then take umbridge when you decline their offer of a one eyed three year old with diabetes, saying you're not a serious adopter if you don't want that one. Matching has to work both ways, but some of the shelters seem to think adopters aren't allowed any kind of preferences.

I think in their eyes matching is offering a pet that has much less likely to get adopted in general to as many families as possible in the hope someone will take it. I think this is what their matching is about

DeadMemories · 21/09/2025 12:26

I got a kitten last week from Cats Protection, they answered quickly and were keen for me to meet the kitten before adopting her. It was just over a week from filling in the form to actually taking her home.

hididdlyho · 21/09/2025 12:28

I don't think it's in the animal's best interests to have the general public milling around looking at them; some people would treat it as free entertainment and go and have a nosey with no intention of adopting. I've had a couple of rescue dogs since the rules about looking around changed, and didn't find it difficult to fill in the application form. After meeting us, both rescues were happy with photos as proof of garden being secure.

I sure even if the cat you go to look at isn't a good match, they would let you enquire about others without going through the full application again. Good luck!