Could we rescue a cat?

[wantacatplease]

Hi,

Namechanged for this as I might put some info specific to my location which I don't necessarily want attached to my main NN.

I am really missing having a cat in my home and grew up in a household where we always had a rescued cat from a shelter (from another country but process is relatively similar to here in the UK.)

I have a few issues to address and want advice please on whether you all kitty experts think it would, or should, be a standard no or whether it's possible at all?

First issue: we live in a mid-terraced, but fairly big, two story house which has a pretty busy main road out front but a very quiet, woodsy area in the back. There is no access to the front from the outside without going alllll the way around the block of houses iyswim. Growing up we primarily had house cats who were of the laid back nature and had little desire to "explore" outside. At most, they would sit right on the back porch and sunbathe but didn't want to wander too far from us. This is the kind of cat I'd want again, to ensure the cat's safety and completely restrict the cat from any access to the front. Even still, I notice that some local shelters state on their website that they will not re-home a cat to a house which is on a main road. Is this pretty much standard, blanket policy or will shelters sometimes have cats which are happy to stay primarily indoors?

Also, we have a little dog which has lived with cats in the past (dog was MIL's who had 2 cats, we inherited dog when she passed away) so I know she would be fine with a cat but again, almost all cats I see on rescue sites say they aren't happy to live with other pets.

Another thing, my dd is 18 months old...she is very good with our little dog so I'm confident with an older cat she will be fine. However, again most rescue sites state older children only?

Written down it seems I have a lot stacked against me in order to success adopt a cat but it's a shame because I have a whole spare room upstairs I could turn into a kitty haven with scratch posts and climbing shelves (catification!). I really want a laid back, snuggly type which is happy to have rubs and cuddles!

I'm quite happy and prepared to be told my environment isn't right, however. Maybe it would stop me obsessively looking at rescue cat websites all day!

Thanks for all advice.

[Rollypoly100]

Oh, meant to add I live on a fairly main road out front. He never goes out the front but since I've GPS tracked him I've discovered he goes all over the place at night. I reckon he's streetwise enough at his age so I try not to worry (too much!)

[wantacatplease]

Thanks, Roly, what a handsome chap! I'm very happy with going for an oldie!

How do you GPS track him?! I'm curious!

[wantacatplease]

Sorry, Rolly!

[Rollypoly100]

Sorry for delay - have a terrible habit of posting something then wandering off! I got my tracker from G-Paws. It was on sale through Anibase (a chipping firm). I'm afraid I don't know how to link for more info but I would highly recommend one. It's not a real time tracker, it records where they go. You just plug the wotsit into your computer and it downloads where he has been. It is fascinating and quite worrying as I had no idea how far he goes. It has had very mixed reviews on Amazon and their website but I think it's quite a clever little gadget.

[wantacatplease]

Oh interesting! Something to think about if we get an outdoor-happy, streetwise cat.