Acquiring a cat.
Discussion
3 months ago we said good by to our cat, she lost a lot of weight, vet couldn't find a cause so it was time to say good buy. We got this animal some 8 years ago from an old lady who was going into accommodation that would not allow pets.
We, the family, have decided its time to get another cat. In the past we have contacted Cats Protection, RSPCA, Blue Cross and another now defunct local organisation. As soon as we gave them our address, a busy main road, no chance we were told. The CP were really quite rude, we really should know better than to ask living where we do. Over the last few days we have contacted these organisations again, much the same result although the RSPCA were more understanding and said if the right cat came (indoor cat) along they would contact us.
Once again CP were very vocal as to why we cannot have a cat living with us. It was like we would wake up to a scene from some horror movie every morning, animal body parts spread all over the road. At this point i just put the phone down.
I've inquired at our vets, the road will not cause a problem in their view, cats are not stupid, there words!
So, what I am after is suggestions as to where else could I try for a cat?
We, the family, have decided its time to get another cat. In the past we have contacted Cats Protection, RSPCA, Blue Cross and another now defunct local organisation. As soon as we gave them our address, a busy main road, no chance we were told. The CP were really quite rude, we really should know better than to ask living where we do. Over the last few days we have contacted these organisations again, much the same result although the RSPCA were more understanding and said if the right cat came (indoor cat) along they would contact us.
Once again CP were very vocal as to why we cannot have a cat living with us. It was like we would wake up to a scene from some horror movie every morning, animal body parts spread all over the road. At this point i just put the phone down.
I've inquired at our vets, the road will not cause a problem in their view, cats are not stupid, there words!
So, what I am after is suggestions as to where else could I try for a cat?
super7 said:
People just like being obstructively perfect..... Just lie to Cats Protection and tell them you live in a country mansion! If roads were bad for Cats there would be carnage all over London and most major cities and towns!!
CPL do a home visit...so that would be tricky. And as far as they are concerned, there currently is carnage all over London and most major towns and cities.OP, I'd stick with the local vets. Eventually a stray will be handed to them. Probably a bit broken. They'll be obliged to patch it up, flush it out, and be happy to see someone care for it.
Sad to hear of the CP view - they are all ran locally and the different branches seem to have differences in opinions.
Mrs Buzz volunteers for our CP and her branch would obviously still have concerns over busy roads, but would have gladly homed you an indoor cat - in fact our branch has always got loads of cats needing indoor homes.
unfortunately with those options off the cards for you it ends up being places like gumtree or preloved to rehome from people direct, or even getting a kitten from various sources.which of course arent great options
Some dont, if you've been to a rehoming show or rehoming centre and provided details and physically met them, some branches use google maps and streetview to check out addresses... (again branch dependant)
Mrs Buzz volunteers for our CP and her branch would obviously still have concerns over busy roads, but would have gladly homed you an indoor cat - in fact our branch has always got loads of cats needing indoor homes.
unfortunately with those options off the cards for you it ends up being places like gumtree or preloved to rehome from people direct, or even getting a kitten from various sources.which of course arent great options
Munter said:
super7 said:
People just like being obstructively perfect..... Just lie to Cats Protection and tell them you live in a country mansion!
CPL do a home visit...so that would be tricky.Edited by Buzz84 on Wednesday 6th February 16:57
Munter said:
super7 said:
People just like being obstructively perfect..... Just lie to Cats Protection and tell them you live in a country mansion! If roads were bad for Cats there would be carnage all over London and most major cities and towns!!
CPL do a home visit...so that would be tricky. And as far as they are concerned, there currently is carnage all over London and most major towns and cities.OP, I'd stick with the local vets. Eventually a stray will be handed to them. Probably a bit broken. They'll be obliged to patch it up, flush it out, and be happy to see someone care for it.
Seriously though...... they'd rather have a cat in care than living in a home. Really makes sense. Especially as the OP's cat has been quite safe living next to this death trap road for 8years!!!!
Try a ‘local’ cats rescue home, rather than the big charities - even one in a neighbouring town. They are often pleased to get the cats into a loving home, rather than ask too many questions about how busy a road is. Some cats will always find danger even in the countryside, others are more cautious - just pot luck in my experience - some cats are fine to live by roads, others are not.
Not sure where I heard it, and it could be b
ks, but quieter roads can be worse for cats than busier roads as they get used to being very little traffic around.
Edit - We got one of our cats from https://www.margaretgreenanimalrescue.org.uk/. Might be a bit of a drive for you though as its in Dorset and Devon.
ks, but quieter roads can be worse for cats than busier roads as they get used to being very little traffic around. Edit - We got one of our cats from https://www.margaretgreenanimalrescue.org.uk/. Might be a bit of a drive for you though as its in Dorset and Devon.
Edited by LosingGrip on Wednesday 6th February 17:14
super7 said:
People just like being obstructively perfect..... Just lie to Cats Protection and tell them you live in a country mansion! If roads were bad for Cats there would be carnage all over London and most major cities and towns!!
I have two cats from CP - it was like being questioned by the Gestapo.I live in a house with a half mile private drive - which runs from a small country lane. I have no neighbours and acres of my own land.
They turned up and said it was unsuitable for cats because we had fireplaces and a cat "could crawl up the chimney" could we "block up the fireplaces?". A cat "could get lost in your woodland". All an absolute load of b
ks. I explained that our last cats lived until they were both 20 years old - such is the peace and quiet here.We got the cats in the end, but no thanks to CP who are peculiar people.
MIL didn't get a visit from cats protection, probably because she lives 30 miles from our local centre, they sent her home with a great wee cat who has sadly outlived her. The cat never leaves the garden even though there are plenty of roads around.
find a suitable address on streetview that is an inconvenient distance for them to travel?
find a suitable address on streetview that is an inconvenient distance for them to travel?
OP here, thanks for the replies. Considering the the charities are seemingly desperate to re-home cats they do make it difficult.
I did think of asking mum to "adopt" a cat, she lives on a quiet road. Two problems with that, firstly she cannot keep a secret(!) so that wouldn't work. Secondly, her neighbour tried to get a cat from the local CP. The neighbour got so annoyed with them they were told to leave the house midway through the home inspection! They did eventually get a cat, same way as our last one.
The search continues, if anyone knows of a cat that needs re-homing, south Oxfordshire north Wiltshire area, that does not involve some well meaning but misguided charity group then please let me know.
I did think of asking mum to "adopt" a cat, she lives on a quiet road. Two problems with that, firstly she cannot keep a secret(!) so that wouldn't work. Secondly, her neighbour tried to get a cat from the local CP. The neighbour got so annoyed with them they were told to leave the house midway through the home inspection! They did eventually get a cat, same way as our last one.
The search continues, if anyone knows of a cat that needs re-homing, south Oxfordshire north Wiltshire area, that does not involve some well meaning but misguided charity group then please let me know.
NDA said:
super7 said:
People just like being obstructively perfect..... Just lie to Cats Protection and tell them you live in a country mansion! If roads were bad for Cats there would be carnage all over London and most major cities and towns!!
I have two cats from CP - it was like being questioned by the Gestapo.I live in a house with a half mile private drive - which runs from a small country lane. I have no neighbours and acres of my own land.
They turned up and said it was unsuitable for cats because we had fireplaces and a cat "could crawl up the chimney" could we "block up the fireplaces?". A cat "could get lost in your woodland". All an absolute load of b
ks. I explained that our last cats lived until they were both 20 years old - such is the peace and quiet here.We got the cats in the end, but no thanks to CP who are peculiar people.
Similarly, we have a drive that is 100m long (to a B road) and a few acres. We were told our house was "on a road" and therefore unsuitable. Every house is on a road and 99.9% or them will be closer than ours. FFS.
We were told that we had small children and therefore were unsuitable. When asked what they thought our children would do, we were told that "they might sit on the cat". They stared at us open mouthed when we explained that our children were born when we had a cat and had never know life without a cat. They were yet to sit on one though. FFS
We were told that we all had to be there when we chose the cat. This was during the working week, so I took a Friday off work. We chose a cat but were told that it wouldn't be ready till Tuesday. My wife agreed to pop over to pick it up on her own. They said we all had to be there. FFS
In the end, we got two lovely kittens from a mad cat lady.
And the charities were running local radio ads begging for homes for cats as they were inundated with cats needing new owners. FFS.
Before we moved to our present house we lived on the edge of Epping, with nothing but fields and trees behind us. We were at the end of a cul-de-sac too, so perfect cat territory. We had a pair of cats there, both of which lived nearly 20 years.
The closest we ever got to losing one of them was when it had to be rescued from the field where it was spotted running around with a cat food tin stuck on its head.
When they popped their clogs we got our present feline friend, Buddy, who lived there for 10 years and never developed any road sense at all. He thought the road outside was where you sat to attract the admiration of passing neighbours.
Then we moved to our current house, which is on a busy road in Chelmsford. I feared for his safety, but he took one look at the traffic, thought 'sod that for a game' and never makes any attempt to go anywhere near the road or even pavement.
The closest we ever got to losing one of them was when it had to be rescued from the field where it was spotted running around with a cat food tin stuck on its head.
When they popped their clogs we got our present feline friend, Buddy, who lived there for 10 years and never developed any road sense at all. He thought the road outside was where you sat to attract the admiration of passing neighbours.
Then we moved to our current house, which is on a busy road in Chelmsford. I feared for his safety, but he took one look at the traffic, thought 'sod that for a game' and never makes any attempt to go anywhere near the road or even pavement.
We have had many cats in our time; the last one popping off at 15 years old, about 2 years ago.
One of them lived to 21, she was from the RSPCA, went back a few years later after getting her, with a view to getting a second cat but we weren't allowed as we "lived on a main road"; we were asked the question "do you live on a side road or main road", we said it was neither (it isn't), however as it wasn't a side road it had to be deemed a main road so we weren't allowed one, I explained that we had a cat from them a few years ago who was happy and healthy and it wasn't an issue then, to be met with the response "policy change".
In the end we found a kitten elsewhere (can't remember where but she wasn't a rescue) and she was the last cat we had who lived to 15.
One of them lived to 21, she was from the RSPCA, went back a few years later after getting her, with a view to getting a second cat but we weren't allowed as we "lived on a main road"; we were asked the question "do you live on a side road or main road", we said it was neither (it isn't), however as it wasn't a side road it had to be deemed a main road so we weren't allowed one, I explained that we had a cat from them a few years ago who was happy and healthy and it wasn't an issue then, to be met with the response "policy change".
In the end we found a kitten elsewhere (can't remember where but she wasn't a rescue) and she was the last cat we had who lived to 15.
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