Struggling to adopt an adult cat

[brogueish]

Hi. We've been looking for an adult (2 years +) rescue since January and although all of the local rehoming centres are really positive when I talk to them, we keep getting turned down. The reasons being that we have a 2 year old son and apparently there's too much traffic nearby. We have three independent rescues, RSPCA and CPL locally and it's the same with all of them. I don't really know what to do, I am an experienced cat owner and really do not want to go down the kitten route, but I've so missed having a cat around since my lovely old girl passed away a few years back.

Any suggestions for us (other than move!) or should we just give up? Thank you.

Can you cat proof the garden to make it safer? I would imagine that’s their biggest concern.

The only place that I could get a rescue cat from was Leigh Cats and Dogs home in Wigan. I live on a main road and have children. They don't do home checks. They just request that everyone you live with goes to the rescue centre. 🤷‍♀️

That doesn’t sound very responsible of them.

Another option might be to look for an indoor only cat e.g. one with FIV or something like that. Indoor only cats tend to be harder to home, so you'd be doing even more good .

Regarding the 2 year old son, maybe take photos along showing all the "escape" places up high that the cat could get to and a small child not be able to reach?

We had the same issues. First it was our calm 4 year old that was the problem. Then the road. Then when we said we would be happy with an indoor only cat they said they might escape and get run over. At that point we gave up on got two kittens from a breeder. They are a breed happy to live indoors and are pampered and have an absolutely lovely life with us. I wish we could have given that to a rescue but some rescue volunteers seem to want their cats to stay in rescue pens rather than living homes.

Your two year old child would narrow the field, but there will always be some child-tolerating cats to be had. The proximity of a dangerous road is another matter entirely and it wouldn't be a good idea to have an cat in that case. Can you cat-proof the garden as mentioned above?

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. It's frustrating because we're actually not particularly near a dangerous road. We are close to a school but that means we're in a 20 zone, which should be safer? We've never got as far as having a home check, it's just been a series of "nos" by phone and email, which is dispiriting as I've owned a cat at this address, and in fact boarded her at one of the rescues a few times so I would hope that they know I'm a responsible owner. I think next time I'll send photos of the garden to show that it'd be safe as possible, in case that helps, as well as the possible escape spots as @Allergictoironingallergictoironing suggests, thank you.

We have put ourselves forward for the very few indoor only cats, but our son's been the problem those times.

I really do understand that rescue centres are doing the best job for the cats in their care and I'm glad that they're diligent, it's just sad that we have a lovely home waiting and just aren't getting anywhere. Sad to hear that others have been in the same situation too @eurochick

May be go a bit out of your local area? I follow lots of smaller cat rescues on Facebook who sometimes are desperate to find homes for adult cats, especially those with minor medical issues. What sort of area of the country are you?

If you are in a block of terraced gardens for example, with gardens onto gardens, then what you describe sounds perfectly safe. What area of the country are you in?

Sorry, forgot my password and locked myself out...

I think you've both hit the nail on the head. We're in Dorset and thinking about it, we're in a town but there are probably lots of applicants from much more rural locations that we're "competing" with. Yes that's it exactly, we're in a terraced area with back to back gardens and lots of little one way roads too so there's not a great deal of traffic and definitely not fast!

It really sounds safer than most places. It's the terrace that makes the difference. I bet we would home to you (and as home checks are now virtual that isn't out of the question), however you probably wouldn't want to come all the way to London to collect your cat.

Thank you, and maybe! Not sure I'd want to transport a poor kitty all that way in the current heat but definitely would consider it. Thank you for the positivity, I was feeling quite down about the whole thing but this has cheered me up :)

Try the smaller rescues on fb or private rescues/rehomes on the internet.

I had to get my rescue cat privately (I wasn't asked for any money) as at the time I was renting. It was a lovely garden flat in a very quiet area with access to a massive garden and no other cats. The lady I got my cat from had rescued a litter of cats, but then needed to rehome them individually so advertised them online - preloved I think.

I did go to the RSPCA first, but they thought that as I was a renter I would abandon the cat if/when I moved, even though I was looking to buy as my next move (and had permission from my current landlord to get a cat) I got my cat as above and I have still got her 20 years and 3 house moves later. She's had a wonderful life with me and couldn't have been more loved.

I would respect the RSPCA rules, apart from when I tried to appeal to them I was offered a semi-feral very frightened cat which they obviously thought wasn't good enough for anyone else..... I walked away with no cat, but a massive hatred & distrust of the RSPCA!

We got our rescue cats when we had a two year old from cat protection and there was no issues with that at all. Our cats love our children and now they are older they actively seek out the younger children in our street. They like to be out in their doll prams and be wheeled around 🙄