Yet, another moan about rehoming from rescue charity

[Manyindigowings]

Responded to an ‘urgent’ and long list of cats requiring a new home - all ages, pairs and singles. Surely one would suit my home but no. I work 4 days a week - out of the house 8:30 to 5:00. This precludes me from being a suitable home - even for a pair of 14 year olds.

I’m really reluctant to go private but also have a calm setting for an older cat. It’s such a shame.

Moan over.

Honestly it's oar for the course. Even the Dog house on channel 4, you'll see them lol about the breed if the dog and acknowledge they are stretching the truth. It's ingrained in rescue culture.

It must depend on the rescue.

We rescued 2 kittens when our kids were 3 and 5.
Rescued 1 recently kids 10 years older. Only requirement was how not near fast road, outdoor space, enough room for all the cats. We both work long hours, but the kids are usually home by 4.

If anyone's in the east midlands, I've had cats from Lina's cat rescue. They foster all theirs so decisions are based on the individual cats. I work ft and that didn't bother them, don't have a cat flap etc. They do ask no outdoor cats on busy main roads but I think that's fair.

This really worries me for if I want to rehome a cat after my old girl is gone. I have lived here 35 years, and had cats all that time and have never had a cat flap. The last 2 times I have rehomed a cat this question wasn't even asked. Even if I wanted to fit a cat flap (which I don't) I don't have a suitable door.

When current senior kitty is gone, I had intended rehoming an older cat as I am old myself, but maybe it would just be better not to bother. Such a shame as I live alone and love the company of my cat (even though she is a grumpy, bitey old thing).

Why do some insist on cat flaps? I let my cat in when he shouts, or climbs up the door. If we're not in he'll find somewhere. He's out in all weathers and mostly happy to be so - he obviously has somewhere to hide on occasions as we call for him in rain and he's not around.

He's not a huge hunter, but there's been times he's sat outside with a live creature, and I'd rather not have them running around my house! So no cat flap thanks!

I've had cats since I was a child and we never had cat flaps.

Good point about cat flaps.

I wonder if we could gather a register of rescues who have an attitude that a reasonable home is a realistic home for a homeless DCat.

Maddening isn't it?

My Brother and SIL got there's from a little local place. Them not having a cat flap was fine and them working (they are retired now). They originally adopted a family which eventually sadly all died of a heart condition. They have two other cats now, presumably from the same place. However now my SIL is retired she is there to open and close the conservatory door for them as and when they want!

Two great rescues near Blackpool if that is reachable.....

I would just lie about it in this case. Say you have a cat flap if that’s what they’re insisting on. You know you would be providing a loving home. That’s enough

Don't most people live on a ROAD?!

My cat was a stray and free.
She's 15 now bless her.
We don't have a cat flap. We had one on our old place and she'd sit outside and meow to be let in!
Now she asks to he let in and out 150 times a day.

If you're in Essex/East London then please try pussycat Lodge trust. I adopted my cat from them 3 years ago, lovely people and realistic about rehoming

Despite always being cat people, we’ve never had a cat flap as I actually like having some control over their comings and goings. We have a curfew where our cats are in at night, and let out in the morning when the rush hour is over - although we’re semi rural anyway. I know you can’t rule out any risk, but I feel it just reduces them getting into bother late at night or in the early hours.

We tend to feed later in the evening so they’re keen to come in at the start of curfew and have worked out the routine, so coming home isn’t an issue. Rattle their treat box and they’re back! I’ve just got used to doing door duty in the winter and in the summer, they’re in and out during the day through open door of windows.

If I’m going to be out all day, I tend to keep them in, which doesn’t go down too well, but after a bit of moaning at the back door, they seem to accept.

I had a lockable cat door once, and when I had two cats that wanted to go out when it was locked, they just broke through it.

Despite having cats my entire life, I've never lived anywhere with a cat flap. Until we got a new back door and I got one put in.

Changed my life. No longer am I slave to moggies or have filthy window sills! They come and go as they please and, added bonus, the litter tray has also gone.

Only downside is not being able to monitor their gifts.

Harry never broke a cat flap but did batter it if it was locked against his wishes. Once we had to keep him in so we put 2 full cases of Budweiser in front of the cat flap so he couldn't keep thumping it. We heard a strange noise coming from the kitchen and when I went to have a look there he was towing the 2 cases across the floor!

FFS! How irksome!

We are always told 'adopt don't shop!' It's the same with dogs. Yet it's the same every time! They place every obstacle in your way when you want to adopt.

No wonder some people just buy privately.

I never get the 'adopt don't shop' thing. Surely as long as an animal is being given a warm and loving home, that's all that matters....???

I posted about this before, but about a dog, and one poster tried arguing with me that I must be lying 😂

Childfree home, no cats, no visitors, WFH, someone always home, country walks on the doorstep, experienced dog owners. Not good enough. They wanted me to alter my already-secure garden then video it and send them the video.
Then I was allowed to meet the dog, they failed to mention is was feral and absolutely terrified of everything (literally shitting all over itself). I wouldn't have the capacity to take on a dog with such high needs and distress, so wouldn't have applied if they'd bothered to include this in the bio.

So after a bit more tedious interaction with the 'rescue' I bought a dog from a breeder and have zero regrets. She's a dream.

Rescues of course need high standards to prevent further trauma to the animals, but there comes a point where they're just sabotaging themselves.

Cats Protection in the early 1990s refused to let my mother re-home a cat because we lived 'near a main road'.

The two cats she ended up getting from a colleague ended up living till age 18 and 22.

I am facing this now too.

I would like to adopt another cat after the loss of my boy. I have a large house, large garden, quiet village location, cat flap, work from home full time ( in fact rarely leave the house) , no children or visiting children. I have owned cats for over 30 years.

Think the issue is my two older resident cats- both are used to living with a third, and are neither shy nor aggressive. I am used to introducing a new cat slowly into a household.

I've been turned down three times already, and backed out of one once having had second thoughts ( a Bengal)

It's madness for charities to nitpick when there are thousands of cats needing a loving home.

At my local rescue there are no home visits but they choose the cat for you rather than you choose the cat you like. I got my first wonderful cat from there before they started this ridiculous policy.

Because of this I reluctantly bought pedigree kittens from a registered breeder instead of having a rescue.

My current girl came from Cats Protection. No home visit at all. I asked about it but the woman said that she used to live on my road so knew the area and houses.
We were looking for an adult cat but they kept on about having a kitten. I said I wasn’t sure as we only wanted one and we are at work all day. They didn’t care and virtually forced her on us. I think it was because we wanted a black cat and she was the last of the litter to need re homing. We worked close enough that we could pop home at lunch time when she was still little.

They did get really funny when we had her spayed at our local vets though.

If anyone in West or South London is looking for a cat, pm me & I’ll give you the name of the rescue I’m involved with. I’m not posting it on here because combined with my cat photos it would be too outing, & I don’t want to appear to be speaking for them. And obviously I can’t promise anything. But try us.

Yep. In the UK at least which is why it was so baffling