Finding a cat to rehome

[todaywasfun]

I have contacted all local cats protection leagues, RSPCA, vets etc, and there are only a handful of cats anywhere around, mostly 6 or 7 years old. The cats who are 2 or 3 years are being snapped up. I understand that it is not the right season for kittens, and would be happy not to have a kitten (avoid the curtain climbing phase). But why can't I find anything under 6 or 7? Should I give in and get an older cat or should I wait a few months and get a kitten?
I never imagined it would be so hard to find a cat to rehome!

ah i am on kitten hunt
ours is waiting netuering

i think normally kitten are in spring os wait a month or so

We're looking, too!

We would like a 6-7-year-old cat, though.

Don't want a kitten.

I love older cats, well, we both do.

What we're having trouble finding is a cat who likes other cats, as we have an approximately 7-year-old female in residence.

where are you? The Bath Cats and Dogs Home definitely has kittens - but then you might be in Newcastle... (Cod, might not be too far for you tho')

Bath is a bit far from here - unless they do home checks with a 2 hr round trip!
What are the benefits of a 6-7 yr old?
I suppose I just wanted the cat to be around with us for a bit longer, so thought aged 1-ish would be good.

no i haev one
salisbury have some

wow I wish you lived near me, there are so so so many stray cats, really lovely ones, that need homes here. The cat and dog home won´t even accept any new ones as it´s so full to bursting

6 or 7 isn´t so old for a cat, my parents´ cats are still going strong and will be 19 this year!

All depends on whether you can wait or not....

ask your local cats place what day they put out new cats for rehoming. Our local Cats Protection league advised us what day & time (basically opening time!) so as to be in with a shout of first look at the new cats. I found the CPL to be a lot more helpful than the RSPCA

We adopted our two cats (Ronnie and Charlie) from a mner over three years ago. They wre then 7 and 8. i can honestly say that having oldr cats has been lovely. They come and go as they please, don't us the house as a toilet, are both affectionate and don't seem to live a house full of young children. They're now 10 and 11 and still going strong and remain the best of friends.

Thanks for the tips. Maybe we will just go along and see all the cats no matter what age and see which ones we get on with.
Our cats protection has only had 2 cats for the last couple of weeks. The cats of this town must be a happy lot!
Maybe an older cat would suit us, I don't want one who is always out hunting, would much rather have a home-body cat.

Please consider getting an older kitty -- they tend to get left in the catteries and it's so unfair. It is very common for cats to live to 16/17 and even older. I love old cats (mine is 10ish)

We're on our 2nd cat rehomed both of them when they were 7ish. They've been fab their personalities are really clear by then.Believe me 5 years was long enough to be heartbroken when the first one died so in some ways the shorter the time the better IME. It's also then only around a 5-10 year commitment that you're making IYSWIM

We will be looking at cats of all ages now. But the 2 in the cats protection here are not suitable for homes with children. Hopefully some other cats will become available soon ...

Look in your local vets, peple are usually advertising them. Also, maybe google animal shelters in your area? We have some round here that I never even knew existed - just small ones, and they could probably do with your help more.

If there are any MNers in Scotland with a non-kitten to give away who likes other cats, we're ready and waiting!

So true, Maveta, my ILs' 19-year-old ginger thom just died at home of natural causes a fortnight ago.

Our own moggie is around 7, and in October of last year we said goodbye in this life to our Persian, who was about 15 - he came to us as a stray.

The most rewarding experience I had in adopting a cat was 'Danner', whom I adopted from Boulder Valley Humane Society.

His age was listed at 13.

Well, my marriage had broken down, and I thought, 'Hey, we're both rejects, let's hang.'

We had a wonderful three years together until Danner died of cancer - his age was thought to be older than the shelter had said, but still, I thought, 'Who gives away such an old cat?'

Our cats are all for life, once they come into our family.

We currently have a black and white female, Pepsi, who likes other cats but NOT dogs.

I agree expat, I feel so sorry for old cats who have bee left homeless. A sad situation recently was a cat who was adopted by the friend of a friend say 5 years ago. shortly after she left and the cat stayed with our mutual friend by default, although she didn´t really want the commitment of a cat. a couple of years ago she too moved on and poor kitty was passed on again. also to a friend who took her just kind of by default.

This last friend recently had to go home due to a family bereavement and after searching and searching completely failed to find a place for her, and she had to be put down I already have 2 and this was not a cat who could have been taken in by us, she was very insecure and highly strung and wouldn´t have coped with other cats so I felt so sad that we couldn´t take her.

There´s so much about not getting dogs ´just for xmas´ but it seems much more acceptable to just get cats without thinking it through..

I just wouldn't consider getting a kitten it's a 13-17 (possibly longer!) committment, like having another child - eek!

I think I've been convinced - now I just have to show dh the thread and hope he considers it too.
Cargirl - good point. One factor in not getting a kitten is we don't have time/energy for the 'baby' thing right now, even a cat baby.

Also I found ours took about 6 months to really settle and becoe a bit cheeky! Our current cat cried for the first week at night when we shut him in the kitchen but he got over it (improving each day etc) and is happy about it now, we get harrassed to put him to bed!

I adopted my cat from a local RSPCA animal shelter. She was a year and a half old and I got her in August. She was also brought in with a kitten who sadly had also been adopted else |I would have loved to have kept them together

May be worth phoning local catteries - people sometimes "dump" cats with them - that's how we found ours

Well, Maveta, you'd be hard pressed to find a vet in the US who'd put a cat down just because it didn't suit the owner, BUT, you also find quite a few no-kill shelters and even in kill shelters you cannot adopt a cat or dog who has not been neutered or spayed and with a microchip.

Fines for 'cat at large' or 'dog at large'.

But we are not there.

So we are looking for that special 6+-year-old cat who wants to be a part of our lives.

Our life is crazy.

You may have to move with us. Well, you will have to move with us.

But we're a family and if you join it, you are, too, and we will protect you the best we can. We won't abandon you!

So come our way and meet Pepsi and be a part.

Expat, I have a lovely cat that I'm looking for a new home for, poor boy just isn't getting the attention he needs at home. He's a black and white, neutered, six year old male, used to other cats, (his companion died in November last year) and very, very affectionate. Its breaking my heart to give him up, but I feel at this stage that it would be for the best. He also seems to be getting on ok with dd (11 months) quite well so far. If you are interested you can mail me [email protected]. I'm in the central belt of Scotland. His pic is on my profile, lol, he's a bit evil looking! But very cuddly really. He's also very much a cat who likes to get outside to stretch his legs.