Where did you get your cat/s from?

[OutOfTheHouse]

I grew up with loads of cats (22 across my childhood to be exact) and they all came from rescues or someone whose cat had surprise kittens.

I’m seeing lots of people on here saying they have got cats from breeders. Am I unusual in always adopting?

When I was a child we had kittens, usually from friends' cats when they had been lax about spaying.
Since I've been choosing my cats, I've always gone to rescues & got black adult cats.

Harry came from a local rescue. We're catless at the moment but we may end up looking at adopting from Dubai as so many UK rescues have completely batshit ideas and have turned us down. I've actually fallen in love with a cat in Dubai and I'm hoping he'll still be there when we're ready to adopt in May.

DH stole her from my sister because she obviously loved him more, and had decided he was her person.

Dcat came from a local rescue. She is our first cat.

We didn’t have any issues actually getting a rescue cat. I had read of people having difficulties but we registered with 2 rescues and were offered cats from both. It was during COVID so we were offered ragdoll Dcat first and ‘met’ her via WhatsApp video call.

It was love at first sight and the quirky little shitbag has ruled over us for the last 2.5 years😻

I wouldn’t buy from a breeder, Dcat was a badly treated ex breeding queen so it has clouded my view of breeders somewhat.

I had never had a cat before but when my stepson died last year I couldn’t see his little cat go to strangers so we took her and it was the best thing we ever did. I started looking at the SPCA and cats protection for a little friend for her just before Christmas but every cat I found had to be an only cat, needed outside access or couldn’t live with a dog. I decided to leave it until after Christmas then my son was offered a kitten by a school friend. Her cat had got out and now had 4 kittens. I hadn’t really wanted a kitten but when I saw her little face I was completely sold. She has fitted perfectly into our madhouse and she’s actually really well behaved for such a little one.

Cat 1- from a rescue that did mainly TNR but ours was a pet cat handed in 2yo on her 4th litter She was spayed (Vet was unaware she was pg) and lived with us till 17yo

Cat2+3 - CPL.
DH wanted a black cat (we decided 2 cats but one must be black) . I saw these 2 young siblings (1 year old) M/F jet black . The photo of her swan like neck sealed it .

There are 6yo now . She adores DH . He adores DD
They tolerate DS but like his bedroom
I am treated with utter contempt by both. He looks at me like I'm a turd he stepped or or I;m going to skin and wear him.

We all rub along happily (DH wfh , I;m out ) but MaleCat will jump on the bed and purr at me but I'm not to try any nonsense like touch him. Only if he's in his tower .I can touch his paws and chins .

Good job we love these little furballs

Ours have always either been adopted or adopted us.

@Notgoodatpoetrybutgreatatlit

We weren't consulted

Love it!

You are so kind 😽

Same. Absolutely no need to be breeding cats when shelters are so full.

I do wish that people on here would stop suggesting that they can't possibly adopt from a UK cat rescue as they're too strict with their homing regulations. It totally depends on which rescues you approach, the type of cats that they are looking to home and the cats that you are willing to provide a home for.

For example, if all you are interested in is a 'cute fluffy kitten' then yes, I don't think it's unreasonable for the rescues to state that they expect you to have some sort of safe, outdoor space for the kittens to enjoy. And some older cats may have been used to being outdoors previously too. But there are so many cats, all shapes and sizes, looking for a home in rescue centres across the UK yet many people walk on by these poor things because they're 'too old', 'too quiet', a 'boring colour' or have a disability. There are MANY cats looking for a happy, indoor home for a variety of reasons but no, people want the cute kittens. Then berate the rescue centres when they are turned down as not suitable.

If more people would just open their hearts to the amazing, over-looked cats then I think you'd find that you absolutely COULD adopt.

If more people would just open their hearts to the amazing, over-looked cats then I think you'd find that you absolutely COULD adopt.

Were happy to take any cat - we didn't care about colour or age or breed. We didn't have children or any other animals in the home to worry about either.

We were turned down by every single rescue because of a 60mph road that runs relatively close to our house. We couldn't even take an indoor cat "in case it got out and run over".

We went for a farm kitten instead and now we have three well-loved, healthy, happy adult cats. Sadly our original cat died last summer from some heart issues, but the others are thriving. Two of them came from farms and the oldest was a private re-home via Gumtree (we didn't pay anything for him).

But not all rescues are the same. And there are some that will home all over the UK. I live near a busy road. I have never been turned down. I've heard places like Cats Protection and RSPCA are quite strict but I would only ever use an independent rescue anyway as I don't like the policies of these larger 'rescues'.

Current cat - from a breeder. Have had both rescues and pedigrees throughout my life and I have seen the benefits of both. This time I needed a breed who would be happy with children and tolerant. Small flat, no room for an aggressive cat nor a timid one, so I was deliberate in my choice to avoid 15 years of regret (I've had some amazing but troubled rescues)

It was also during lockdown and I also couldn't get one anywhere from a shelter as they were v scarce in London at that point (live near Battersea so assumed i could but didnt' meet their requirements due to having young child in the house?!)

These were independent rescues. Three of them. We were still turned down.

You're clearly very pro-rescue which is great, but please don't dismiss the experiences of people who have tried to go down that road and have been repeatedly turned down.

It can be very, very difficult to rescue even as a pet/child-free home. Add on the fact that many people have children and other animals and you can see why they find it impossible.

It's not that I'm dismissing their experiences but I am suggesting that many people can be very narrow-minded when it comes to wanting to offer an animal a home (not saying that this is you).

I think that is true in some circumstances, but it's also understandable in others.

Using one of your examples of a disabled cat - they can come with expensive medical bills, you may need to adapt your house and you could be dealing with a complex routine of medication or regular vet visits. I can understand someone not wanting to sign up for that - especially if they have no experience.

And yes, I know any cat can develop a disability but there's a big difference between a loved animal becoming disabled and choosing to take on that commitment.

Similarly, if you have children or other animals than a cat who is nervous or aggressive isn't going to be a good fit either.

I agree that age/colour shouldn't come into it though. We've had multiple black cats over the years!

@lifebeginsaftercoffee

I'll never understand why black cats are the last to find a home! They're stunning aren't they.

And I agree with you that some people don't have the financial circumstances to perhaps take on a cat with medical needs but there are some amazing independent rescues out there who have lots and lots of cats that are suitable for just about any true animal-loving person. But ultimately, the cat's welfare has to come first and there will always be people (again, not you, I think you were just unlucky in the three you approached) who they will turn down, especially where a request for kittens or a particular colour/breed is made x

My 13 year old moggy moved in with my late DH, and he's been healthy all his life. I wouldn't be surprised if he's still here 10 years from now 🙂

I lost my little pedigree a year ago. He also appeared healthy, but died at only 8 years, due to a congenital heart defect common in his breed. It was never picked up on, his bloods were done a month before he died, came back v healthy. I beat myself up about not asking for ultrasounds as a precaution, but hindsight eh. Either way, he had the disease from kittenhood, which is incurable. Palliative care only, but he went downhill within 5 days of diagnosis and died. I felt the loss very deeply and am having a sniffle now actually. He was the sweetest cat I've ever met. He lives in my heart for sure.

I would love another of his breed, but have realised that breeding animals for £ is pretty distasteful

They really are @AllTheOtherCats - we currently have two black boys and we previously had a black girl too. Our current kitten is orange and definitely lives up to their reputation as he regularly struggles to find his brain cell

We were going to go for a third black cat but the farm only had black girls and we didn't want to feel like we were replacing our old girl. So orange it was! They make a lovely trio.

@lifebeginsaftercoffee

They sound so sweet. What a lovely trio. Bet they keep you on your toes too! 😂

Haha, the little once is definitely a bad influence - I caught the 4yo trying to follow him up the curtains the other day

@lifebeginsaftercoffee

Oh my GOD. Look at their faces!! So sweet. I love them. First two, like butter wouldn't melt but the chap on the end doesn't give two figs 😂😂😂

@AllTheOtherCats yep, that sums them up pretty well!

The one on the right will be nine in a few weeks (he was our rescue) and mostly ignores their nonsense, lol. He will play occasionally but when the orange lunatic goes too far, he doesn't hesitate to give him a bop on the head

We're so lucky though - they've never fought or had any issues. We had about 24 hours of the odd hiss from the oldest, but after that he was bathing him and protecting him - it was very sweet!

@lifebeginsaftercoffee

That's pretty good-going with three of them. It's always so nice when your kitties get along. What a lovely life they've got 🥰