Timeliness to Adopt from Battersea

[cupboardday]

Hi. We went on a tour of Battersea earlier in the year and fell in love with the cats. After much thinking we've decided a cat is right for us snd I sent in the adoption form yesterday. I'm very excited but also think we may be in for a long wait! We've said we'd like a young adult but apart from that we're pretty open to anything. Has anyone adopted from Battersea recently and is able to say how long it took? And also appreciate any other advice as we get our first cat!

They seem to have quite a few cats available? Why do you think it will take a while?

www.battersea.org.uk/cats/cat-rehoming-gallery

I adopted from Battersea but it was 3 years ago. I left it until the New Year rather than pre-Xmas as thought I'd avoid the noise of fireworks. All the available cats I had earmarked were gone by then. They said they had only one available that was suitable for a first time owner so I went with my carrier, met her (she wouldn't even look at me let alone touch her), and brought her home.

Happily she blossomed into the most loving cat,

That's good to hear 3LittlePiggs. I read the stuff on their website about it may take time to find a match and thinking about the worst case scenario so it would be great if it's quicker than that

It might also be worth having a look at other reputable rescues nearby - have a look on Catchat for places near you. I got mine from a very well regarded independent rescue in my county, and DSis was so impressed with them she got her latest 2 there as well.

If you say what part of the country you are in - I know you said Battersea but there's Central London, Old Windsor, and Brands Hatch - there may be local places that Litter Tray users can recommend to you?

My sister applied for a small dog , fully adult home , someone in most of the time and a pet visitor ( me) when she has to go into work and she never heard back . We were quite disappointed as we’ve had several Battersea dogs over the years and I still have one . In the end she got Siamese cats instead . I don’t know why these rescues haven’t gone back to the way they used to be where you could view , pick , get a home check , take pet away . The way they do things now I think puts people off .

I’d say you will have an easier time adopting a child. We were rejected by Battersea for not having a cat flap, despite having had cats who loved happily to old age with us for 30 years. We work from home and just open the door for them to come and go as they like. We adopted gorgeous kittens from Celia Hammond instead. I found them much more pragmatic. We had a home visit, were approved and picked up our kittens the following weekend. They are now busy destroying my house. Love them 🥰

I adopted an older cat a few years ago from Battersea.

Before looking at the cats, I had to fill the form, have a brief interview and then arrange a home visit.

Once the admin was done, the adoption itself was really quick: went in. Went in, chose a cat and they wanted me to take her with me the same day but I said I would come for her a day later when I had the time to sort out all the supplies needed to care for her :).

Thanks Allergictoironing. We're in the Gatwick area if anyone has recommendations for local rescues.

Have you looked at Last Chance at Edenbridge

Looong trek for you, but I got mine from Rolvenden in mid-Kent. Ruth is brilliant, loads of cats to choose from be interviewed by.

I'm be got a young adult in need of a new home. I'm desperate to avoid him having to back to the rescue. He's a beautiful cat. My other cat just hasn't coped with him.

See magnificent moustache thread

We recently went to Battersea and it was made clear we'd be expected to take the cat within 48 hours! Sadly allergies precluded it.

Paddington

We went to Battersea in January and were approved quickly and told we could come in and choose a cat to take home whenever we wanted. We went in to visit them but they would only show us a select few that all seemed to have health issues. We ended up going with Cat's Protection who also said we could take a cat we went to see there and then but we waiting a week to prepare the house.

I found Cats Protection very easy to adopt from. I contacted both Battersea and the Mayhew a few years back and found their process almost impossible.

We are adopting from the RSPCA and they have been super efficient and supportive. Filled in a form then was asked to fix an appointment to visit the cats. Organised a home visit within 2 days of me confirming we wanted to adopt the cats, and got approval through the same afternoon. Home visit lady was extremely helpful and sensible. They may vary by local branch though as I get the impression each branch is run independently so you may not have the same experience.

Battersea turned me down, without even speaking to me. Just said I wasn't suitable.

I had a very well loved and well cared for cat who had just lost his friend. Had they bothered to speak to me they would have known he's a big softie who doesn't fight and needed feline company.

I went to the RSPCA with all the same comments on the adoption form, they called me a week or so later, I went to see her, sent photos of my flat and garden instead of a home visit, and she's currently sat at the foot of my bed after playing with my resident cat.

She doesn't like me yet but at least her and the resident cat get on and she's actually brought his playful side out.

I would second this. I got my two gorgeous gingers from Rolvenden. Rolvenden would be about 1-5 hours from you I would guess.

You're only half an hour away from the National Cat Centre (Cats Protection) in Chelwood Gate. There’s also Paws & Claws down the M23 at Albourne, and the Kit Wilson Trust are excellent.

Have you seen the Magnificent Moustaches thread, Paddington is looking for a new home, would you consider a Persian?