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

Original poster

Rescue centres refusing to let us adopt

131 replies

kirinm · 11/10/2022 15:04

I have had cats for the last 20 or so years. Unfortunately my last cat died - about 3 years ago - from an aggressive cancer and because we had a very small baby at that time we didn't want to get another cat because we thought it would probably be unfair.

Anyway, fast forward 3 years and we are interested in adopting. We have a large garden, had french doors installed with a cat flap in them and I wfh 3 times a week.

We've contacted Celia Hammond (who haven't even responded to either phone calls or emails), Croydon animal samaritans and another South East London rescue centre along with Battersea. Only CAS has responded and said we live too close to a main road presumably to ever adopt from them.

I really do not want to buy a cat but what are we meant to do? Most of the centres won't even respond to us and if they're going to complain that we live too close to a main road, that is going to be the case for a vast amount of inner city London.

Our neighbours have cats, we had cats, I see lots of cats in and around our garden. Does anyone have any tips on how to get through to these rescue centres or make them see sense in letting a family adopt a cat because it is vastly better than living in a cage??

OP posts:
SheWoreYellow · 11/10/2022 15:06

Many years ago, but for me Battersea were not bothered by the main road, where RSPCA were.
Do you need an appointment? If not I’d just turn up and see how it goes. Maybe try and phone though.

ofwarren · 11/10/2022 15:06

I'd just buy one. Sounds like you would be giving a cat a lovely home.

Peterbear · 11/10/2022 15:11

We're trying to adopt from a cat sanctuary rather than buy one from ebay or whereever- it would be less hassle trying to adopt a child! The amount of questions and bits of paper needed is madness- just encouraging people to either lie/be economical with the truth or buy from an unknown source!

WannabeKittens · 11/10/2022 15:11

Having exactly the same issue. In fact I have a thread in AIBU. I won’t be buying cats from gumtree, but I can totally see why people do.

but I don’t believe for a second that these charities are overrun, and if they are they have no-one to blame but themselves.

Peterbear · 11/10/2022 15:12

I get that they need to 'vet' people but it's soo over the top!

Patienceisntvirtuous · 11/10/2022 15:14

Rescue one from someone who can't keep it? Gumtree/fb?

countrygirl99 · 11/10/2022 15:16

A friend wanted to adopt a feral cat for her stable yard. The rescue were appealing for that type of home.she was rejected as she had water troughs in the fields that the cat might fall in! Maybe they thought the horses carry water bottles to drink from 🤷‍♀️

Original poster
kirinm · 11/10/2022 15:21

@SheWoreYellow Battersea haven't said no but despite filling in an application form that was pages long, we haven't received any form of contact from them either (other than acknowledging our application form).

I was thinking about just turning up.

OP posts:
Original poster
kirinm · 11/10/2022 15:23

Unless you live in a rural area then a cat is always going to be at risk of being hit by a car. Do you just keep them caged up forever because of that risk? It seems ridiculous to me.

We were told Celia Hammond had received a colony of 50 cats but apparently that isn't enough cats to warrant the risk of a road. (Celia Hammond are based in Lewisham which is in an inner city part of London. There are, unfortunately, roads everywhere).

OP posts:
uhtredbebbanburg · 11/10/2022 15:28

I went to the SSPCA shelter on my birthday to get myself a cat. It was pre-Covid though so I’m not sure it’s allowed now but at the time I just showed up and filled out a form and they showed me their cats. Our youngest DC was 5 at the time and we went as a family.

WannabeKittens · 11/10/2022 15:28

Celia Hammond haven’t even acknowledged my emails or phone calls.

HollyBollyBooBoo · 11/10/2022 15:29

We were the same, ridiculous rules. Ended up getting 2 kittens from a friend of a friend.

Suprima · 11/10/2022 15:30

Why I ended up buying my cat from gumtree, to my
shame

i had a similar story from every rescue I encountered including celia hammond

gumtree cat is now 5 and has a lovely life as a house cat 90% of the time (we have supervised garden time)

Original poster
kirinm · 11/10/2022 15:31

WannabeKittens · 11/10/2022 15:28

Celia Hammond haven’t even acknowledged my emails or phone calls.

Their greenacres centre did but only to say they would prefer to have the cats adopted more locally.

OP posts:
Belladonnamama · 11/10/2022 15:32

I understand where you are coming from OP. I went through the same thing. We specifically wanted two kittens from the same litter. All they would offer me where older cats,semi feral cats or none at all depending on the rescue centre. We ended up buying two kittens, they are just standard moggies but they are wonderful and have brought us so much joy.

Original poster
kirinm · 11/10/2022 15:32

Oh well, I'm glad to see we are not alone. We aren't even being fussy. We will take two cats of any shape, age or colour because we like cats and want to rehome some!

OP posts:
Original poster
kirinm · 11/10/2022 15:34

WannabeKittens · 11/10/2022 15:28

Celia Hammond haven’t even acknowledged my emails or phone calls.

Same.

OP posts:
WireSkills · 11/10/2022 15:35

For a city based rescue centre to not want to rehome pets to homes on the very roads they themselves operate from is crazy. Some roads are busier than others, but a road is a road.

That said, we live more rurally (home counties) and my cat had two potential adopters, but the lady from the rescue centre did a home visit of both properties and chose us over the other potential adopter, because we lived on a quieter road.

Said cat barely ever leaves the garden, so it was all a bit pointless really!

You really can see why people end up buying pets, rather than adopting.

@kirinm try catchat.org - you may find other local rescue groups on there. Also, there may be a "lost and found" group on facebook for your local area. They inevitably attract the local neighbourhood cat rescuers, who may be able to help.

newtb · 11/10/2022 15:35

Have you thought of asking at your local vets ? Sometimes they have a noticeboard with details of kittens available.

sjxoxo · 11/10/2022 15:37

I’d just go to battersea and ask directly.
i always think shelters are crap at replying to emails etc! Agree the vetting is over the top for cats… I think dogs are a bit more of a commitment and there’s the safety/company aspect but cats really it shouldn’t be such a mountain to climb! X

StopGo · 11/10/2022 15:38

www.newmoonrescue.com/catsandkittens

Our DD's cat came from the above. They are local to you.

StrawberryPot · 11/10/2022 15:39

Unless you live in a rural area then a cat is always going to be at risk of being hit by a car.

I do wonder if very quiet roads give cats a false sense of security. One of ours was run over on a quiet suburban side road. I'd often see him loitering on the road - sunbathing etc. Maybe if it had been a very busy road he'd have had a better sense of danger?

My MIL lived in a rural area. House was well set back from a very quiet country lane. She also had a cat run over (may even have been 2 - long time ago) as a result of which she wouldn't let her other cats outside. I thought that was cruel - better to have a shortish happy life than a long miserable one.

Stripyhoglets1 · 11/10/2022 15:40

We got two cats via Blue Cross - no strict rules as far as I can recall but we were adopting indoor cats - that now go outside as well.

ParbadosBeach · 11/10/2022 15:41

Have you tried Cats Protection League?

Our branch has cats on their website that are ready to adopt. You then apply online and if they think you're suitable they'll call to discuss.

I found it really straightforward.

SleepySleepyByeByes · 11/10/2022 15:47

Have you tried some of the smaller rescues - possibly slightly out of area but not a million miles away? Romney House cat rescue, Foal Farm, RAIN (Rescued animals in need) etc. I’ve adopted from both Romney House (no real home check at all from what I remember) and Foal Farm (they did do a home visit but seemed relatively relaxed)