How do I find some ethical cats or kittens?

[Smoomins]

Having just moved into a new place with a garden I'm looking forward to getting a pair of feline friends. However all the rescues locally have nothing and I feel weird getting a kitten from gumtree. Not interested in pedigree really so no use looking for a certified breeder.

Where do I go?

Where are you?

Ask at your local vets - they may know of some kittens. Otherwise just wait, it's breeding season shortly.

You could them a quiz about their views on Brexit, capital punishment etc?

You might only get vague Miows though

Have you tried CatChat - this has a wide directory of rescues including breed rescues.

Sorry, on a serious note, the ethical thing to do would be not to insist on a kitten. I rescued a lovely pair of two year olds from my cats protection, they were already cat flap and litter trained. So glad I got them and not the fuss of kittens!

I was going to suggest grilling them about Kant or Bentham ... come to think of it two great kitty names!

Four Paws Cat Rescue in Oxfordshire?

Do the rescues not have any adult cats at all? I got my two at 2 years old and they are the most affectionate girls ever and no training or dealing with scratching etc. Will never get a kitten again.

I will call too but I’m finding that all the cats on the local rescue website say no families with children.
I would actually prefer a young cat to a kitten so you have an idea of personality but just doesn’t seem like it’s going to happen

Local fb? We have a small rescue with details on fb. I got a kitten in December from a fosterer. The dm was feral and the kittens had been found..

All our rescues are empty too.
I'm about to adopt a friends cat who doesn't get on with her other cats, she is lovely, very timid though but cuddly.
Put it about on your facebook and I'm sure someone will know of a cat or kittens for adopting.

I strongly recommend a cat rescue place. We got our boys from one. They were 9-month-old identical twin toms, and have been adorable members of the family for well over a decade.

Kitten season is just starting. In a month to six weeks rescues will have loads of kittens and the number will continue to increase right up until October. And, because when kittens are available adult cats tend to be overlooked, rescues will also soon have loads of adults available too. This has been a strange year and demand for pets has never been so high, yet still no demand will ever be able to keep pace with kitten season.

So just hang for for another month or two maximum and go to a rescue. All the rescues local to you can be found here: www.catchat.org

WaterBottle123

You could them a quiz about their views on Brexit, capital punishment etc? “

Our kittens are remainers - can’t get whiskas kitten for love nor money atm.

Our adult boy is most definitely in favour of capital punishment 🙄

Post lockdown the reacue centres will be heaving. I'd suggest you wait a few months and hopefully you'll then be able to adopt quite easily. When I wanted my last pair I just kept in contact with the rescue regularly until they gave in - so keep nagging them anyway.

Following on from the misreading of the title - I believe that an 'ethical cat' is an oxymoron.

Rescues empty??!!??
Bullshit

A decent rescue will ask about your lifestyle, your house and garden and try and match what they have to you.

Don't go and ask for kittens.

Rescues may well have cats who aren't ready for rehoming just yet-often they need some sort of vet treatment which may just be neutering or a dental. Also, websites aren't always up to date. A lot of places are running on reduced numbers of humans.

@theMoJareajoke

Rescues empty??!!?? Bullshit

A decent rescue will ask about your lifestyle, your house and garden and try and match what they have to you.

Don't go and ask for kittens.

Why so nasty?

It's not bullshit just because you don't believe it!

Our local rescue hasn't been regaining for months. The rescue is empty. The cats they had/have taken in recently have been fostered into homes and the rescue is empty. The rescue has had to be slightly more limiting when taking on cats, some that they would have been able to regime in the past but were not in an urgent situation haven't been accepted.

Volunteer here btw. Sadly no foster kitties and my household doesn't suit.

Hasn't been rehoming

I also think you are probably a bit early yet. Wait a few months for kitten season to start.

Approach individual breed rescue & welfare places.

Nearly all cats prefer to live alone so unless it's an existing bonded pair just get one cat.

Find your local rescues on Facebook. Then let them know your situation and they should try to match you with a suitable cat. Whatever you do don’t go on gumtree, like you say. It ethical and perpetuates the problem.

Our rescue certainly hasn't been empty, however the nice, easy, friendly cats have been going out as soon as they come in. We still have plenty of nervous ones, but in a few weeks we will be heaving. February/March has always been the quietest time, but by April we can't move for unwanted kittens. And I have a feeling that with all the new cat owners around, many of which won't have bothered to spay, this year will be worse than most.

@BlackCatShadow

I also think you are probably a bit early yet. Wait a few months for kitten season to start.

It's not too early to rehome a cat

We still have plenty of nervous ones

My experience is that, with the right care and plenty of time/space, a nervous cat can become a very loving cat, so don't be put off if this is the only type of cat you can find, OP.