Should rescues loosen their criteria?

[TheOGCCL]

I'm a cat lover and involved remotely with supporting a few rescues get their cats online. I also know how many cats are killed on the roads each year. And that if you've gone to the trouble of rescuing a cat, you don't want it coming to harm. Of course some cats are also not suitable for outdoors.

But there seem to be so many cats in care at the moment and more coming via the cost of living crisis and rescues are still so strict. My parents are open to having a cat and one rescue said 'we can see you live in a built up area' so not safe. My parents live in London, the whole place is built up and they have a big terraced house and leafy garden. People like that this are likely to get a cat privately, which perpetuates the idea that this is OK and there'll always be people to give kittens to.

Are there enough perfect homes?

Perhaps for some cats, better a new home, with some level of risk, than a shelter cell?

Ah ha ha ha - Our local CPL turned us down for exactly that! We live in a rural village, 2 miles off the main road, but with a cut through that gets busy morning and evening. The CPL turned us down because of this and the fact that there is a field opposite that the cats would cross for.

Arthur is 8 now, bought from a school friend, and sits patiently watching up and down the road in order to cross. I have watched him from our bedroom window and he won't cross unless there is nothing coming from top to bottom. He often spends all day out on the field hunting, and is very happy and healthy.