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Original poster

Why is it so hard to adopt a cat?

101 replies

Bubbinsmakesthree · 25/11/2022 19:48

Trying to adopt cats at the moment…why is it such an ordeal?!

I’ve filled in application form after application form.
Had to supply multiple forms of ID
Been given the third degree over my motivations
Questions upon questions upon questions
And after jumping through all the hoops the applications go into a black hole and we hear nothing in response.

I thought rescues were overflowing with cats - but when you want to adopt it feels like you’re fighting over access to a rare commodity. Why is it so hard?

OP posts:
GreekDogRescue · 02/12/2023 13:02

verdantverdure · 01/12/2023 22:06

The short answer is that most cat rescues aren't a public service or a business with staff.

They are charities staffed by unpaid volunteers who have jobs and kids just like you do.

So they are often looking at your forms after work, after the kids have gone to bed. Or at 5am before everyone else is up.

And then, before they get back to you they do checks on your ID and your address.

Then, if they don’t have a cat suitable for you they can’t give you one.

It's not like ordering something in Deliveroo or Amazon Prime.

Edited
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The problem I’ve seen in dog rescue and this applies to cat rescue, is that rescues can become despotic and be run in an illogical and arbitrary way that don’t benefit the animal.

Not all of course, but far too many.

One Greek charity based in the UK is well meaning but refuses to rehome dogs to anyone in the London area. The rehoming was run by an elderly 80 year old lady who would refuse to rehome to anyone with an ethnic surname for example.

I have an endowed charity that donates to various rescues but I’ve had to stop sending funds to quite a few charities because although well meaning, are simply not putting the animals first. Fortunately there are plenty of sensible and pragmatic bed to help but they can take some finding.

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