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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

Cat adoption

26 replies

TheWinterOne · 30/09/2013 12:14

As most of you know - I'm eager to adopt a 3rd cat. Preferably an older black one. DH has given the green light yay! With added pressure from the mini's.

Anyway, I've never really gone through the adoption process. Both mine were stray kittens taken in. One actually born in my neighbours hedge. (4 houses took on a kitten each).

So what does an adoption entail exactly? I know a house visit will be needed - which is fine. Does the fact I already have 2 help or not? Also have kids but they're pretty good with the ones we have so they shouldn't be a problem with a new addition

OP posts:

thecatneuterer · 30/09/2013 12:28

Yay!!!

When I do home checks I look for:

(Most importantly) proximity to roads; ease of access to said road; what said road is like.

Other pets and children. Not that either are problem per se (although a vicious dog probably would be), but it will give me an idea of the sort of cat that would suit that household. So, if you already have cats, then it will need to be a cat that likes other cats. And if you have young children, then it will need to be a cat that is quite laid back and tolerant.

To check that the prospective owner understands about litter trays, neutering, flea treatments, etc etc

To discuss cat flaps and where they should go and, if they can't be fitted, to discuss how this will work

And really that's about it. The home visit isn't generally to find a reason to turn people down, it's more about helping the rescue to judge what sort of cat would fit in best.

Home checkers have little interest in the tidiness of the house. Even messy and frankly grubby houses are fine. In fact one of the things that worries me when I do home checks are homes that look like show homes as I will be concerned that the family won't be tolerant of the inevitable muddy paw prints and cat hair on furniture.

But you already have cats, so that won't be an issue.

So yay again!!!

cozietoesie · 30/09/2013 12:36

An older black one? Excellent news.

Original poster

TheWinterOne · 30/09/2013 12:38

Ha no risk of a show room here but between DH and I we have 6 so its tidy with a hint of untidiness with the kids.

Currently no cat flap as both mine have been fine with me opening the door and letting me know they want to come in by waiting on the window sill. But I'm going to order one of those micro chipped flaps today.

Yay I'm so excited. I'm like a child at Christmas haha!

OP posts:

Original poster

TheWinterOne · 30/09/2013 12:41

Yeh Cozie, I've always wanted a black one and I know how easy kittens are to home so want to give an older one a chance. I have my eye on two 13 year old boys but as I have children and cats already it's going to depend on their tolerance and acceptance of others. :)

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 30/09/2013 12:45

Black cats are notoriously difficult to rehome. (thecatneuterer will tell you about that.) And so many people want kittens as well. Going to a rescue and asking for an older black cat will likely have them breaking out the brandy!

NicholasTeakozy · 30/09/2013 13:29

Quite right Cozie. DD2 went to get a black cat and they practically cheered her.

Original poster

TheWinterOne · 30/09/2013 13:42

Well it's definitely a black I'd prefer. I think they're gorgeous and can't understand why they're so difficult to home. It's not part to superstition is it?

OP posts:

thecatneuterer · 30/09/2013 14:00

Superstition is a very small part of it and I only seem to encounter that when talking to potential adopters from the West Indies and parts of Africa. It's mainly down to the fact that people see black as a bit boring and not very 'pretty'. Grey (also known as 'blue') are the most popular, followed by ginger, torties, tabbies and pure white, then come black and white and, last on the list, plain black.

Lovethesea · 30/09/2013 22:05

I had two gorgeous black panther like cats when I lived in London. One sleek hunting female who had a perfect look of disdain when she chose to use it. And her brother who was a fat sofa cat who fell off low surfaces and then jumped up and pretended he hadn't.

Brilliant pair who slept on my bed, hid and jumped out on each other and kept us wonderfully entertained.

Oh. I want another cat. We have two. If we had more money I'd be straight off to the rescue to get another. Grrr.

bootsycollins · 01/10/2013 09:18

Our first cat was black, absolutely beautiful boy, like a scaled down minature panther, I loved his little black nose. We went to our local Cats Protection to donate some food last weekend and met a beautiful white and tabby boy called Panda. He's huge! 10 years old and quite possibly the friendliest cat I've ever had the pleasure of meeting, just a massive hunk of burning lurve waiting for his new forever home. I've had Panda on the brain but our 8 year old boy would go atomic if we brought Panda home

cozietoesie · 01/10/2013 10:05

And that's no fun - I've been there.

Are you spreading the word about Panda among friends and family? (Not quite the same as having him yourself but at least a good home for him would help your yearning.)

bootsycollins · 01/10/2013 10:33

I'm championing Pandas plight, I have a close friend who could really do with some cat love but her dd is allergic . I've suggested it's high time her 21 year old dd move out . He really is the most gorgeous cuddly boy, he radiates good vibes, I'd be thrilled if I could find his perfect new family. Might try and convince mil

cozietoesie · 01/10/2013 10:39

Best of luck, then. Panda deserves a nice sofa, good nosh and some love.

KepekCrumbs · 01/10/2013 19:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cozietoesie · 01/10/2013 19:44

I'd maybe start a separate thread, Kepek. I'm sure that issey6cats and thecatneuterer could give you some valuable tips which could also be borrowed by lots of people with new kits.

Original poster

TheWinterOne · 02/10/2013 10:56

We're going for a visit on Friday! Excited!! :)

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issey6cats · 02/10/2013 21:31

KEPEK the two fosters i have at the moment are with me because they were very timid, what i have done is when it came to food time they didnt get their food till i had cuddled them for a couple of minutes, they hopefully start to associate food with cuddles a crafty way of rewarding them good with good,

lots of playing with them dangly toys on sticks and chucking ping pong balls (12 for a quid from poundland)

every person who comes in my house gets a kitten plonked on them for a quick cuddle, gets them used to other people, lots of baby talk ( i know i am the mad cat lady) lots of looking at them and blinking slowly which is friendly to a cat,

the result is that one of them is now such a lap kit that hes actually a pain in the bum when i want to do something on my computer, his brother however will come and sit by me for a fuss but still dosent really like being picked up and cuddled, some cats are just that bit aloof and dont really ever become lap tarts like some of mine,

of my four adult cats two are lap monsters and vie to see who can get prime position, and the other two will sit next to me for fuss but daggers looks if i try to cuddle them

issey6cats · 02/10/2013 21:35

winter good luck on friday and im sure your next master or mistress will find you, the center should show you cats that are suitable with other cats and kids and when you meet the one you will know, dont worry if no one stands out as most rescues would rather you look more than once to find the right cat for you , not just adopt one because you feel sorry for all of them , end up with the wrong cat for you and either dont like the cat but keep him/her or return the cat back to them

KepekCrumbs · 02/10/2013 21:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

issey6cats · 02/10/2013 21:49

kepek your welcome i am by no means as much of an expert as catneuterer she is awsome, but have had cats all my life and have worked for the rescue i work for about 6 years now so have picked up a lot of bits and bats about cats

Original poster

TheWinterOne · 05/10/2013 12:22

Well we went for a visit yesterday. It is SO hard going to a rescue centre - I wanted to take them all home (so much so I've been thinking of putting my name forward as a fosterer but not sure how to go about this.) but we eventually settled on a gorgeous black boy of 14 named Alfie. He's been there a while and was adopted out but brought back because his 'new family' said he just wouldn't settle in. He wasn't even with them long enough to call it a settling in period. Home visit is next week! :)

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 05/10/2013 12:49

Good luck - I'm sure it will be fine.

(issey6cats and thecatneuterer will be able to guide you on the joys and perils of fostering.)

KepekCrumbs · 05/10/2013 12:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

thecatneuterer · 05/10/2013 13:00

Oh that's lovely Winter. And I'm so pleased that my thread about adopting Simon was part of the spur for you to think about taking on another cat. If you've seen my other thread you will know that Simon died suddenly last night after only a week with me. So it helps me to think that he has indirectly helped another homeless cat in desperate need if you see what I mean. Best of luck with him.

And Kepek, Issey's advice seems great. I hope it helps.

Issey - I'm not a kitten expert at all. I have very, very little direct kitten experience and deal almost exclusively with older/feral/problem cats. So I'm very glad that you're around to help out answering kitten-based problems:)

SilverApples · 05/10/2013 13:02

One of the local CPL ladies I talked to said that they were reluctant to house a black cat if there were roads nearby, as they had a much higher chance of not being seen by traffic.
I agree that adopting an older cat is fantastic, I love the way that they have their own, well-established personalities.

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