Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Pets

Join our community on the Pet forum to discuss anything related to pets.

Original poster

Would like a rescue cat - but..

38 replies

dimmu · 19/04/2020 21:16

..we have kids, the youngest is three, AND we live fairly close to a busy road. I have been browsing lots of rescue websites and this combination seems to make it impossible to find one that would accept us.

We have a small garden but it is not enclosed and it would be difficult to catproof it. Our house is fairly big, so we could potentially adopt a pedigree that has to stay indoors (was thinking maybe a ragdoll), but again it seems difficult to find any that would be ok with young children.

What would you do, is rescue really not an option? I would rather avoid buying a kitten or cat just from someone on gumtree or similar and would prefer to rescue.
Thanks.

P.s. With regards to the busy road, our neighbours have cats and they seem fine to go outside.

OP posts:
Oldestchild90s · 19/04/2020 21:57

I personally wouldn't like to live near a busy road with my cats just in case. Just because the neighbours cats are street wise doesn't mean yours would be! But mine are mostly indoor cats that have a bit of freedom when i come back from work in the evenings and weekends but always make sure they are in before i go to bed!

I think rescue cats are a great option though.

Shouldbedoing · 20/04/2020 08:48

We got ours from.a smaller shelter and they didn't ask the main road/kids under 5 question. Certainly no home check. Females wander less than males. Our girl cats have abundant quiet space to the rear and I've seen them cross the side road, but never the main road.

Original poster
dimmu · 20/04/2020 08:50

I think you are right. Wish I could have a cat like my mum's, she goes outside but just stays next to the house and sunbathes.

I am now thinking an indoor cat would be best, specially as our house is fairly spacious. Just wonder where would be the best place to get one? I've been looking at rescues but it's difficult to find an indoor one that would be happy to live with kids. Will keep an eye on pedigree rescues, but if that fails is it (morally) better to buy one from a breeder rather than one advertised online?

OP posts:
YesItsMeIDontCare · 20/04/2020 08:54

I have an indoor cat from a rescue. He's FIV+ so needs to be kept indoors. Could that be an option for you?

Shouldbedoing · 20/04/2020 08:56

Ours walk away in the distance over people's garages and fences. One looks both ways before she crosses the road.

kikisparks · 20/04/2020 09:02

Have you checked all the rescues near you? Try searching through this www.catchat.org/index.php

A smaller rescue may be your best bet.

kikisparks · 20/04/2020 09:04

Also may be worth phoning them as they don’t always have all cats on the website.

Original poster
dimmu · 20/04/2020 09:33

Thanks everyone, it's encouraging to hear that others have managed to rescue even with kids/roads nearby.
I would be up for adopting an FIV cat but OH is reluctant.
Will check the catchat link for rescues. We are in SW England if anyone happens to know a rescue that isn't that stringent with their policies.

OP posts:
JorisBonson · 20/04/2020 09:34

Seconded on an FIV cat!

I had my FIV boy when I lived in a third floor flat. He was the biggest, mushiest boy I've ever met and lived until 16.

EarlGreyT · 20/04/2020 09:36

Thirded on FIV cat. I was coming on the thread to say exactly the same thing.

mostlydrinkstea · 20/04/2020 09:46

The small rescue I foster for does not allow cats and kittens to go to houses near or on main roads. The breed rescues generally don't want their indoor cats to go to homes with children. I really wanted a rag doll but all the cats that came up were no other cats and no children.

Original poster
dimmu · 20/04/2020 09:46

Are FIV cats likely to have more health issues or anything else that we should consider? Would for instance catteries be reluctant to look after them if we went on a holiday?

OP posts:
Shouldbedoing · 20/04/2020 09:47

What's a FIV cat?

JorisBonson · 20/04/2020 10:19

@dimmu I'm not sure about catteries I'm afraid.

You can't get them insured but we put a little away every month just in case, never really had to dip into it until the end.

My vet said the perfect line - "they don't die of FIV, they die with it".

JorisBonson · 20/04/2020 10:19

@Shouldbedoing it's the feline equivalent of HIV

Shouldbedoing · 20/04/2020 10:29

Oh. I don't generally approve of the idea of indoor cats but that sounds like a good compromise

YesItsMeIDontCare · 20/04/2020 10:33

Would for instance catteries be reluctant to look after them if we went on a holiday?

They shouldn't be. FIV is transmitted through contact and cats in a cattery should obviously not be able to have any kind of contact.

Personally though I'd opt for a pet sitter. I worry that mine will think he's back in a rescue 😱🙄😂🤷🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

JorisBonson · 20/04/2020 10:33

Same here! They tend to stay in the shelter longer as well 😭 it's not only keeping them in for their own sakes, but the virus can be transmitted through biting if they fight another cat.

What area are you in OP?

CayrolBaaaskin · 20/04/2020 10:33

I don’t think you can cat proof a garden - cats roam. They are usually smart enough to avoid traffic though but accidents do happen. I think it’s a bit cruel to keep a cat inside unless there is a good reason. They should be allowed out to express their natural behaviour.

I got a kitten when dd was 3. None of the rescues would let me have one so we got a kitten. He’s a great wee guy - goes in and out his cat flap when he wants, chooses to comes for a walk with us sometimes like a dog, roams the area as he chooses. Don’t dismiss getting a kitten out of hand.

catfeets · 20/04/2020 10:54

I have a Ragdoll and she is an indoor cat. They are very very social so would be happy to be around a family.
Mine was bored alone and she's actually better behaved now we have a baby.
She occasionally goes into the garden with us but has to be watched as she tries to get out of the gate!

PaulinePetrovaPosey · 20/04/2020 11:11

I have an immensely lazy cat who can't get up fences so stays in our garden. Other cats come to visit snd she seems unbothered by them.

She's a British Shorthair which are famous for their torpor, and end up in rescues quite often because idiots people buy them for their looks then can't be bothered to look after them.

Original poster
dimmu · 20/04/2020 11:50

Thanks everyone for your input.

Not being able to insure a cat is little bit worrying. I used to have two rescue rabbits and the insurance saved me thousands over the years, but I assume the vet bills for rabbits might be more expensive in general as they as classified as exotic pets.

Yes that's my experience so far with rescues as well, that quite often having a young child is on it's own enough of an obstacle for many of them.

I really would prefer a rescue ro buying a kitten but maybe it's not feasible. Will try and contact some of the smaller local rescues.

Ah will check British shorthair too if we have to go with an indoor cat.

I am in SW England.

OP posts:
mostlydrinkstea · 20/04/2020 12:09

We had British shorthairs when the children were little and they were great. We waited until the children were bigger before we got the Maine Coons as they are big and a swipe from a hacked off MC can be significant.

JorisBonson · 20/04/2020 12:09

The Cat Chat website is really good OP

JorisBonson · 20/04/2020 12:10

@mostlydrinkstea I still have a scar on my neck from trying get a Maine coon in a cat carrier 🤦🏻‍♀️