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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

Experiences of cats protection league home visits?

12 replies

reallywantingacat · 14/11/2014 20:37

I've seen a lovely little cat on my local CPL website and going to call them to enquire. I've read a few threads about their home visits with scary/rude home checkers and people being declined, and now I am bit worried! Has anyone adopted from there before and how did it go? I am worried about being turned down because I work full-time, rent my house (got permission from landlord though) and don't have a cat flap. I live on a cul de sac, nearest main road is about two minutes walk away for a human. Really want to adopt a rescue cat rather than do what everyone else does and buy kittens from gumtree.

OP posts:

thecatneuterer · 14/11/2014 21:31

I suspect we only hear about the bad ones. There must be thousands of home visits that go perfectly well and pleasantly and so aren't thread-worthy. Of course all home checkers are individuals, and as we know some people are just nicer than others, but I'm sure CPL don't deliberately seek out rude people, or have rudeness as a policy.

As an occasional home checker for CHAT I can assure you that we really want to find homes for all our cats and wouldn't turn anyone down without very good reason. We certainly don't care about homing to tenants rather than home owners. And if people can't/won't have a cat flap then we just try to find them a cat that won't find it essential (shy/timid/semi-ferals absolutely must have one - others can manage without).

So try not to worry, I'm sure everything will be fine.

WalkingThePlank · 14/11/2014 23:20

We had a home visit recently. Went really well. The woman was very nice and full of information. I wish we had her number so I could call her back and tell her how fab our new cat is.

Good luck.

elinorjane · 15/11/2014 10:34

My cats are from Cats Protection and we didn't have a home visit so you might not need one. Good luck!

Dumbledoresgirl · 15/11/2014 10:38

I had a CPL home checker when I adopted my 2 cats 9 years ago. Yes, I read all the horror stories of obnoxious women criticising every little thing too, but the reality was a very friendly young woman who chatted for a while and raised no objection even though I live on a main road and had a 2 year old (which were what I thought were going to be the main obstacles).

Good luck.

WorriedMutha · 15/11/2014 10:40

They will team you up with a cat that best suits your home and circumstances. I found them very helpful. I know family who were asked to rehome an indoor cat as they lived very close to a main road. CP prefer cats kept indoors at night as that is when they come to most harm. It sounds like you have all the right instincts and they will surely have a match for you. Please stick with rescue and don't encourage the Gumtree profiteers.

Squeegle · 15/11/2014 10:40

I had a friendly home visit, no problems. Just go for it

ShatnersBassoon · 15/11/2014 10:43

We had a lovely home visit too. Nothing beyond general questions, and certainly no trying to catch us out. Just a friendly woman who was pleased that we'd adopted a moggy.

Original poster

reallywantingacat · 15/11/2014 12:07

Thank you, glad to hear some positive experiences! The cat i saw has already just found a home but will go see some others

OP posts:

fluffydressinggown · 15/11/2014 17:42

We had our home check from the RSPCA but the same thing I guess. It was very friendly, very laid back and very easy. We didn't (and don't) have a cat flap and she wasn't bothered at all, we also live near to a busy road and that was fine as well.

I hope you find your cat soon. I am so glad we adopted an adult cat.

Hoppinggreen · 15/11/2014 22:53

I used to be a CPL home checker and I was lovely!!!
I only ever turned one down and that was a very posh lady who hd no intention of letting the cat in the house in case it caused any damage and when asked why she wanted one it was because " little Portia ( or whoever) wanted one to play with " - child was 5!!
The main thing I was looking for was that the potential owner knew what cat ownership meant, both negative as well as positive.

PunkrockerGirl · 15/11/2014 23:12

I took a day off work and the CPL lady rang 30 mins after she was due to say she couldn't make it
The lady who eventually came a few days later appeared surprised that I didn't live in some sort of hovel and when questioned knew bugger all about cats
After gazing around my (average) home in wonderment and not bothering to check if we had a garden or outside space she said she would recommend us as being suitable to rehome a cat.

Jux · 15/11/2014 23:31

We were checked out by the CPL a month after we moved here. The house was in complete disarray, no one had hoovered for a week, we still had a million boxes waiting to be unpacked, we had workmen in and all their mess. I knew she'd say no.

But actually, she didn't give a stuff about any of that. She had a quick look at the catflap, asked questions about keeping a cat away from the front of the house and the very busy main road there, how fit we were to look after a cat (dh and I had both owned cats since we were veryvery young, and already had 2 who were getting on a bit by then), asked about dd - then 6 - and her behaviour towards our existing cats.

We had a nice chat for about half an hour and then she gave us the phone numberof a local chap who was looking after cats for them so we could arrange to go and choose one. Easy peasy. I think that dh and I both being experienced cat owners helped.

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