How do you even get started with approaching shelter

[Echobelly]

I'm starting a search for a new cat, maybe two, after our last one sadly died in September. A possible lead via a friend has come to nothing as the person looking after the cat has complicated life circumstances and we basically wouldn't be able to meet them before claiming any of them.

It seems like all shelters are 'approach via email and wait and wait and wait until they get in touch and eventually they might choose a cat they'll let you meet' which is a pain, I kind of hoped one might make an appointment and just meet them, but that doesn't seem to be the case anywhere.

I'm in London and have approached Celia Hammond Trust so far. We want to have an outdoors cat or cats - we are in a house with our own garden, teenage kids, no other pets. A few shelters seem to indoor only, or primarily indoors.

Any tips to get started, or do we just have a wait on our hands whatever we do?

Pity you're not in North Yorkshire. Our local cat rescue centre has around 300 cats and rehome as quickly as possible. I think maybe smaller rescues might be quicker than say the RSPCA.

We got our boy from Cats Protection last April. It might vary from branch to branch but I saw him on their website and thought, oh, yes, that’s him - our lovely girl cat had recently been pts and I knew she would send me a new wee chum. I filled out an online form, the CP lady rang me the next day and we had a chat, then I had to do a video tour of the house/garden (although they do have lots of indoor only cats, ours was advertised as probably would enjoy outdoor access). I then had to persuade DP who was reluctant to get another cat so quickly, but also out of the country… I met our boy the following week, and then he was delivered in a CP van a few days later, hissy but hopeful. DP loves him just as much as I do!

Here the CP website has “dating profiles” for each cat and you apply for a specific animal, but if you apply for a cat which has been adopted or they don’t think is a good fit they will suggest an alternative or keep you on file. I know our branch has a huge waiting list of cats coming into care when there’s space 😭

Celia Hammond Trust has a great reputation. I got my rescue from battersea and waited a couple of months for them to do a screening call then they invited us in.
we didn't get to look at all of ths cats, we met a couple that were a good match.
We have an indoor outdoor cat who is the sweetest fury baby.

@Echobelly, is it ok if I PM you the details of the West London shelter I volunteer for?

Are you North East London? Very good shelter locally you go and view all the cats.

@EmpressaurusKitty - please do send details

@purser25 - I'm sort of middle-to-west North London but can travel East, which shelter is that?

Very surprised at you saying so many cats up for adoption are indoor only - I had the devil of a time getting indoor only cats! Just about everywhere would say "must have access to outdoor space", the few that could be indoor only had to be an only pet too - bit unfair if I'm out at work every day so I wanted 2.

Eventually found Rolvenden, down in the heart of Kent. Told Ruth (who runs it) roughly what I was looking for on the phone then went down there for the selection. I saw loads of lovely cats, she only showed me to the ones suited to the life I had planned for them, and I was lucky enough to be chosen by a gorgeous pair of ex feral bonded siblings. When I sadly lost the brother I went back, and she introduced me to a smaller number of cats than before for interview by them, as they would need to be a companion to the resident Empress Girlcat. One of those she recommended kindly offered to come home as Girlcat's personal servant, and they get on extremely well.

@EmpressaurusKitty - thanks for the link, I can see 3 or 4 cats of which one might be right for us, I'll show DH when he's less tired.

Have a look at feline friends London (instagram). N London based shelter with some famously cat loving celeb backers (eg David baddiel). Lots of adoption ads!

I've adopted from Celia Hammond, Cats Protection, and Feline Friends. All great and realistic about requirements (e.g. not insisting 95% of cats cannot live with other cats, like every RSPCA branch I've encountered).

Both my boys are separate RSPCA shelters. For one I filled out the form to apply and then called them the next day to say how interested we were. When I didn’t flinch at “are you sure, he’s a biter?!” we were all systems go.

For my other boy I sent a heartfelt email to their special appeal for a home for him saying how gorgeous he sounded and explaining why I thought he’d be a good fit.

Both boys are complex enough that they were long term residents and needed a specific type of home. Both have health needs, one has some “unique” behavioural issues that needed an experienced owner and is definitely not child friendly and the other is older and needed lots of attention and someone home due to his understanding that he a piece of velcro, as opposed to a cat who is a sentient being.

I think the personal touch and an understanding of why a particular cat is a good fit for your household and vice versa. Focus on how you are fulfilling the cats needs rather than why you want them.

Small independent rescues can be more flexible. You can search by cats looking for homes in your area or by local rescues:

https://catchat.org/adopt-a-cat

https://catchat.org/find-a-shelter

But do bear in mind that they're run by volunteers, most of who are doing it alongside their own jobs and have to self-fundraise as well as rescue and rehome. If you don’t get an immediate reply, that’s likely why. The more cats they have in to care for, the less time they have to deal with the rehoming side.