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

Trying to adopt

19 replies

noarguments · 13/06/2020 08:00

We’ve always had rescue cats/kittens and we’re (sadly/happily) in a position to take two new cuties. Ive found that those rescues which are open have a really long waiting list. DH wants us to buy through somewhere like Gumtree but I’m not keen. Any ideas?

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Fluffycloudland77 · 13/06/2020 08:20

I wouldn’t buy through gumtree either, I bet there’s cats on there who have had their 14th first litter providing tax free side income.

Is the long waiting list due to covid? Or is it that kitten season hasn’t really kicked in yet.

noarguments · 13/06/2020 08:48

Exactly Fluffy, that’s why we’ve always had rescues. Not sure when kitten season is really? I think lots of people have adopted during lockdown though as they’re at home to settle a new cat in.

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Fluffycloudland77 · 13/06/2020 08:51

Google says April to October. Would you consider an adult rescue?.

Loads must’ve lost their owner due to covid.

CazzaCat · 13/06/2020 08:58

@noarguments please don’t use gumtree. As someone who has rescued before this should absolutely not even be a considered option for you.

For me gumtree and rescue are opposite ends of the spectrum. Gumtree fuels the issue, rescue fixes it.

Have you tried more than one rescue? Just remember the reason why rescues have a waiting list at the moment is due to Covid as they can’t do homechecks. Gumtree sellers don’t give a shit about home checks.

I’m sure your home is lovely and will will get your cat vet checked etc but thousands who buy from gumtree don’t so you are fuelling the issue.

AintNobodyHereButUsKittens · 13/06/2020 09:20

We’re only just entering the time period when kittens will be ready for adoption and of course there is more demand than usual this year. But if you can be a bit patient I’m sure there will be kittens in need of homes from reputable rescues in the near future - register your interest with everyone, keep an eye on the rescues which are closed at the moment because they’ll probably reopen, and keep the faith.

Vinorosso74 · 13/06/2020 10:45

Definitely avoid Gumtree and the like. The rescue rehoming process is taking a bit longer at present. Kittens are generally rehomed quickly. There are always young adults wanting homes, often the young mums to these kittens.
It may be worth waiting for a while as I have a feeling rescues will be overrun with cats and kittens people bought during lockdown then don't have time for.

thecatneuterer · 13/06/2020 13:34

This is what I recently posted in reply to a thread called 'is it bad to get a kitten in a private sale?'

Yes, very. Because you are encouraging people to bring more cats into a world where there are already far too many. If no one bought privately there would be fewer irresponsible people allowing their cats to breed.

Yes there are waiting lists at the moment, but that's because we are still at the start of the season really. There are two seasons - Spring and late Summer. The Spring ones started appearing in March, and gathered pace in April and are still being born now. BUT, they can't leave their mum until they are at least 8 weeks old and preferably ten. So the earliest ones are only just becoming available now. And of course there is always pent up demand over the last few months. However as time goes on, more and more of the April and then the May ones will become available, the pent up demand will fall, and by late June there will almost certainly be more kittens than homes.

Then, when the late Summer ones come along, most of the people who wanted kittens will already have got them and it will be even more difficult to find homes for those. So I know it appears at the moment that there aren't too many kittens being born, but it's an illusion. If you buy, you are being part of the problem and not the solution.

So just be patient, or try other rescues. You can find a list of all of them, including smaller ones, here www.catchat.org

noarguments · 13/06/2020 16:40

Yes I agree with all this. I’ve dug my heels in successfully and we’re waiting a few weeks to see what the position is then. Phew!

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GorgeousLadyofWrestling · 14/06/2020 07:50

Thanks for this thread OP - we’ve been trying to adopt a cat or kitten since we moved into our new flat. Ceilia Hammon in Lewisham have said we live too close to a busy road, which is hugely disappointing. We live in a private estate which is large and quiet. The main road is about 100 metres away and blocked off by a high fence all the way around the estate. There’s lots of cats round here that keep to the confines of the estate as it’s so large. I’ve grown up with cats my entire life and understand the risk but on balance, against rehoming a cat into a loving home of experienced cat owners, I think it’s worth taking.

It’s frustrating because I absolutely do not want to buy and feed the kitten making machine. We also actually have a cat who - for reasons to do with renting - went to live with my mother in law. We’ve now bought our own home and are stable but it’s not fair on our cat to insist she comes back. As much as we love her, she’s settled where she is now and happy. It would be incredibly unfair and selfish to take her back. But we miss her so much, and miss having a cat. When I think of all the cats and kittens needing a home, it’s frustrating.

NoMoreFlowers · 14/06/2020 18:12

I’ve just adopted from the RSPCA via the new hands free adoption process. It took less than a week. PLEASE don’t buy an animal from Gumtree. Maybe look at Catchat for local rescues

blossomsarepretty · 16/06/2020 21:28

We adopted just over a month ago from a small local rescue.

Fluffycloudland77 · 16/06/2020 21:32

@GorgeousLadyofWrestling

Could you cat proof the garden?. It doesn’t have to be expensive.

Catsrus · 16/06/2020 21:34

be aware that scammers are making a fortune on fake ads for puppies and kittens ATM. A friend just lost a LOT of money thinking she was buying a couple of maine coon kittens that were going to be delivered to her.

FuckThisWind · 16/06/2020 21:47

I'm currently trying to rehome a cat. The places I've spoken to are trying different ways of rehoming. So far, I've had a chat on the phone, sent photos of my house, I'm getting the vet to send a reference. Home visits aren't possible, but so far this proves that rescue places are still trying to ensure people are actually serious about rehoming a cat. I wouldn't dream of using Gumtree as an option personally.

Wolfff · 16/06/2020 22:51

Have you tried Cats Protection? They are doing online adoptions from certain centres. From seeing the cat online, they delivered him to our door in three days. Excellent service.

GorgeousLadyofWrestling · 17/06/2020 14:44

@Fluffycloudland77 unfortunately no private gardens, just huge communal gardens.

noarguments · 23/06/2020 08:23

Quick update, we have reserved 2 babies that are ready in 3 weeks from a small local rescue. Pics to follow. Very excited and so glad I persevered and didn’t give in to the dreaded Guntree!!

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Extrapepperoni · 23/06/2020 11:56

Delighted you found some! I'm in a similar boat. We are looking to adopt an adolescent rather than a kitten as at some point may need to be working from the office a few days a week - thinking anywhere up to few years old. We need a cat that is child friendly as the sprog is three and a half and ideally dog friendly (or at the least dog accepting) but it feels like I might as well be trying to adopt a unicorn. Been stalking the CatChat page and also about eight or nine other rescues including the RSPCA and Cats Protection... No luck so far :(

OohKittens · 23/06/2020 20:23

I'm so pleased Smile. What I'm shocked at is people selling moggy cats or half breed cats for up to £600! So irresponsible especially because some popular breeds like ragdoll are prone to health conditions.

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