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?

Well , Orange IS The New Black

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

I am regularly gobsmacked by how gorgeous our two mini panthers are , they don't often get together (except meal times , of course ) but if they are both in the garden just romping about being wild cats but in a tiny domestic cat body , they are stunning .

Though when I wrestle the big George vacuum out and do the stairs then less than 12 hours later the carpet is covered in moulted fur and looks a bit "ruffled" where they like to groom and harass the stairs ............... hmmm

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

I can take them or leave them tbh. 🤣

I think it's safe to assume that you'll take them @Grumpyoldpersonwithcats

Even adding on a 4th cat who is a light black (she;d call herself grey . Or Blue if she's feeling snazzy )

I've had cats my whole life. I've only vague memories of some of them when I was very young. I do remember (to my shame!!) being 4 and meeting our black and white girl at the back door, and cutting off her whiskers!!!! It wasn't an entirely cat-centric attack though as I also butchered my little brother's hair... and took a few chunks out of my own...!

I also had a pure white kitten when I was 5. I recall I was waving my dad off to visit my mum and new baby sister in hospital. The kitten was on the wheel arch and he didn't know, and ran over her. That was quite traumatic!

When I was 6, we got a farm kitten, a little tabby and white. She was wild, but I tamed her. I used to read her stories. I think she was in-bred or something, because she died before she was a year old, sleeping out in the garden in the sun, with no signs of any illness.

My next two were farm cats again, tabby and white brothers, then a tortie and white kitten my mum's cousin gave her. She'd had a stray tortie and white girl give birth to 5 kittens. All of our next cats were their descendents! I'm old, and back in my day, neutering and spaying wasn't a 'thing'.

When DH and I got married and had our own home, we got a tortie and white and a dilute tortie and white, two kittens born to the tabby mum owned by a family friend. After my experiences of having multiple cats killed on our (country) roads, I kept them indoors. They both lived to be around 17.

The Cat Distribution Network then stepped in!! A gorgeous ginger boy just appeared on our windowsill one day, and moved in, and was swiftly neutered! He was a fighter though, he was indoor/outdoor, and he contracted FIV, dying of kidney failure when he was just 10. We'd also acquired a blue tabby boy, whose horrible owners neglected him and left him behind when they moved house. He died aged 14. We lost the last three of them in the space of 11 months and I swore, never again.

However, the CDN had different ideas and within months, our darling tuxedo boy had found us! It took a while, but we had him neutered in his early teens, he moved from totally outdoor to practically totally indoor as he got older, and he was at least 20 when we lost him just over two years ago.

Since then, we've adopted a tortie and white girl (then aged 5) from Cats' Protection, a long-haired tortie and white girl (with some Maine Coon) from a local rescue, and a cream coloured Maine Coon/Ragdoll boy from the same rescue. It's all fun and games!!

I don't want a 'cute fluffy kitten' and I have definitely been turned down. The main issue is because I have my garden cat proofed and cats have the right to roam apparently. Unless I agree to take the cat proofing down Battersea for example will only consider me for an elderly or disabled cat and then expect me to be responsible for the vet fees. The RSPCA and Cats Protection have similar views. After losing Harry last year I'm not ready to take on a sick cat, and to be honest I can't afford to. I don't want to take the cat proofing down as I don't want my cat to roam and I don't want other cats in my garden.

I have also tried independent rescues. Some are great, I completely agree. Others are nuts. I found one I couldn't apply to as I don't have a spare room for the cat. Another one told me I 'must' have a room I don't use as if I don't know my own home! I refused to apply to another because they wanted potential adopters to sign to say they won't be trying for children in the next 10 years, as if my reproductive choices are any of their business!

I'm looking for an adult cat up to the age of 8 that's reasonably healthy so I can insure him, male, preferably black or black and white although not with similar markings to Harry, I couldn't cope with that. One day I'll find him!

Oh and one other thing, I'd like to be able go and meet some cats, not choose one from a picture online and then go and collect it. I remember going to the RSPCA with my Mum and being able to see the cats before making a choice. I don't know if it's the same everywhere but round here it seems that you pick the cat, reserve it and then collect it within 48 hours. It's a living creature, not something from the Argos catalogue!

Pink. We all know you cared deeply for Harry and gave him the best possible life - and at a very considerable financial cost.

Many rescues are ridiculous and I hope that you find your perfect match soon.

I don't see viewing cats by picture as shopping for cats via Argos I was able to look and discard those that didn't suit . I don't meet them, so no impact on them.

We met the cats in their foster home , rather than a load of pens .Female was relaxed and playful , Male hid !

I wouldn't have a fancy breed , or one that had to be indoors .Not kittens.Not long haired
It was a choice between 2 pairs .
Both young adults M/F (ours were siblings , the other were bonded non-related)
One confident /one shy in each.

It was mainly that the male in the other pair was fluffy that put me off him.

I agree fully with thus. Battersea Old Windsor closed to the public as a result of covid and has not re-opened. Our last four cats came from there.

We used to go over there occasionally to have a look round (paying a small entry fee), and would usually buy a toy from the shop, and donate at the same time. I believe they've lost some good will and funding as a result of this.

I don't see viewing cats by picture as shopping for cats via Argos I was able to look and discard those that didn't suit . I don't meet them, so no impact on them.

When I spoke to Battersea they told me I could choose the cat and go along and collect it within 48 hours otherwise it would readvertised as available. There wasn't an option to see another cat if this one wasn't suitable (at least I wasn't told there was) so it back to the website to repeat the procedure. Not that it's going to affect me as I won't remove the cat proofing!

When we got Harry I saw him online and met him in his foster home with no pressure to have him, in fact they wouldn't let us take him the same day, we had to go back and collect him.

@YetAnotherSpartacus, thank you so much. As you can probably tell I'm still missing the grumpy little bugger a lot

One from a breeder, one from rescue place and one found us.

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

But you weren't turned down by every rescue and did manage to adopt from one of them. So saying that you haven't been able to is misleading and may make others reading your posts not even bother trying to adopt in the UK.

And I don't agree that choosing a cat online is like Argos shopping. Personally I don't have to meet a cat to be able to offer him/her a home. I love all cats and choose the ones who most need a home.

But you weren't turned down by every rescue and did manage to adopt from one of them.

A very, very long time ago.

@YetAnotherSpartacus

It was only last year. I remember the posts.

I did adopt another cat but it didn't work out. Not something I'm proud of and will regret forever. Losing Harry broke me and I thought having another cat would help. It didn't.

However, I haven't said I've been turned down by every rescue so please don't make is sound as though I'm lying. I have been turned down by the RSPCA, Cats Protection and Battersea for refusing to let a cat roam by removing the cat proofing. Various other smaller rescues have had such restrictive conditions that I haven't applied or have been turned down, e.g. must have a spare room.

You might be happy to take any cat and that's great but it's also not wrong to want a cat who will fit in with our lifestyle and home.

@PinkSparklyPussyCat your special future baby is out there somewhere, the cat distribution system will be working it out for you already. And precious Harry will have his paw on the dial of fate. Just like the amazing story @user1471548941 told of her FIV babies which actually made me teary.
❤️

Current, from Facebook, someone couldn't take cats with them to new rental

Previous, Cats Protection.

Rescues both times. While some pedigree breeds are beautiful I don't need the stress of wondering where they are constantly and I'm not locking them in the house.

Thanks LostCats. I'm honestly not lying and certainly not proud of what happened last year.

While I would ideally like a cat I can insure I would consider an FIV+ cat as I know they can live long and healthy lives. I just never want to be in the position where money is what decides the cat's treatment and the cost of Harry's treatment has made me wary of not being able to insure.

I dread to think what we'll end up with if it's left to Harry, I can imagine him over the Rainbow Bridge having a laugh at our expense!