Cat rescue centres

[Paul_MTS]

We went about getting a cat today, as we sadly had to put ours down a few weeks back.

So we went to the 2 local rescue centres but neither on them would let us have young cats or kittens because we live on a main road, yet we have acres of fields behind our garden

Yet the rescue centres moan that there becoming over stocked

So Mum and myself are ......... off and still with out a kitten

 

[MAM]

most rescue groups have rules about what kind of home they adopt their animals into. the group i work for won't allow cats to go to homes iwth doggy doors or where the owners allow their cats outdoors (its hot here in arizona, theres the owl/hawk/coyote factor, etc). groups do this to ensure that this animal, that they are giving a second chance at life to, will go to a home where they will live the best life possible, safe from harm and well taken care of. its not much differnet than human adoptions, the parents, the home, the neighborhood are all checked out and must be acceptable. animal rescue groups today are working towards changing socieity's additude towards domesticated animals, that they aren't just somehing to leave out in your backyard but something to care for, and make a part of your family, treat it like a creature with feelings that it is.

i'm not saying you and your family wouldn't love and care for this cat and spoil it rotten, but there are many out there who would get it because it a cute little kitten or because theyre kid won't stop pestering them so they give in. then they discover that the kitten has kitten behaviors, it may not be immediately litter trained, it may scratch the furniature, etc. so they dump it off at the pound. or the owner lets it outside, and because of this, it wonders onto a road and gets hit (cats and dogs dont' understand the concept of roads and cars and that crossing a road while a car is coming could get them killed). this group is just trying to ensure that nothing like this happens to their animals when they leave the shelters care and go into a home. put yourself in the position of the shelter, think how protective you'd be if you rescued an animal, cared for it, nursed to health, and then the time comes to send it out into the world................... its tough, but knowing that the future forever home is the perfect, best home for this little animal, makes it a little easier to let it go..........................

 

[The-Wolf]

I'm sorry Paul that you haven't got this your way.
like Mam said re-homing centers are very selective
of the places that their animals go to.
Don't take this the wrong way, but why do you want a kitten?
They will always find a home, older cats are in more need of
good homes than kittens. All three of my cats are from rescue centers
and they were 5, 6 & 15 years old when I got them.
They are very affectionate and much more loving than any kitten I have ever had.
Please also consider cats that have long term medical conditions of that have missing tails limbs etc as well. I know that this can be a burden but it is very rewarding on a spiritual level. Gennie, now 18yrs old, has a heart murmur and kidney trouble. I was told that she would only live for 6 months tops when I adopted her, that was 3 yrs ago. I am posative that she is living because she is loved and has a nice home, rather than being kept in a cage at a re-homing center.
Please consider options other than kittens.

 

[MAM]

well said danio. adult cats and dogs can be even better tahn kittens and puppies, and certainly are more in need.

 

[plecoperson]

any animal in a rescue centre is in need of a home, whatever its age. It isnt a case of being more needy. Its a case of what animal would fit best in their lifestyle? what about a strictly indoor cat?

My sister wants a cat bt we live on the main road and we understand we cant have one. The cat won't know which way are the fields and which way the road is when it leaves your house. which is more upsetting - getrting told you cant have a cat now, or getting attatched to one and finding it all over the road in a weeks time?

Battersea are very good - we recently got a dog from them but had to take her back as she fought with our other one - I really, really didnt want to send her back but it was in her best interests - and thats what the animal centre is concerned about - or should be.

 

[MAM]

to clarify what i mean by more in need, kittens and puppies, statistically, are more likely to get adopted out quickly, whereas adult animals will take more time. everyone just always wants puppies and kittens it seems like.

 

[The-Wolf]

to clarify what i mean by more in need, kittens and puppies, statistically, are more likely to get adopted out quickly, whereas adult animals will take more time. everyone just always wants puppies and kittens it seems like.

Better put than I could've

 

[Paul_MTS]

I realise the homes want to make sure they go to good homes, but it's annoying and upset my mum alot being told twice today that we can't have a cat from them.

Mum went into town though and found a few cards and we now have a lovely 9 week old tortoise shell girl. This lady had been desperate to get rid of them and had been turned down by rescue centres to take them in, they even had the cheek to tell her her cats should be spayed, but my mum and her agreed that they should have atleast 1 litter.

Well I put some pictures up of Mitzi in the morning, she's already litter trained but seems very hungry all the time at the moment and is flea invested- even though the lady said she's just spent out on treatment, so Ived been brushing them out. She's very affectionate, and the reason why we wanted a younger cat is because is nicer to bring 1 up yourself and she'll be a working cat!! keeping rodent levels done where as a older cat would pass there catching by date sooner!!

I understand and take in all your points but some rules are ridiculous, coming to the point that plecoperson made I think keeping cats 24/7 inside is curel and un natural....in the UK, if there going to be meals in other countries then fair do's keep them safe inside. But why should a young cat be caged up in a horrible litle shed when they could have a loving owner.

 

[plecoperson]

I understand and take in all your points but some rules are ridiculous, coming to the point that plecoperson made I think keeping cats 24/7 inside is curel and un natural....in the UK, if there going to be meals in other countries then fair do's keep them safe inside. But why should a young cat be caged up in a horrible litle shed when they could have a loving owner.

who said anything about keeping cats in sheds, for pity's sake? an indoor cat is a cat who spends most of its life inside the house - and what is inhumane than that? I think is more inhumane to keep a cat and let it roam about when you live next to a MAIN ROAD than to keep it indoors. and what if a cat owner lived in a 4th floor flat? Is an indoor cat still cruel? or should everyone who doesnt live in the middle of the countryside be banned from keeping cats?


"This lady had been desperate to get rid of them and had been turned down by rescue centres to take them in, they even had the cheek to tell her her cats should be spayed, but my mum and her agreed that they should have atleast 1 litter."

I happen to agree with the rescue centre - that woman should have had her cat spayed. The most responsible thing you can do when you breed your animals is to find homes for them, ideally before they are born.
This woman obviously didnt do this. making her irresponsible, IMO. Why are the rescue centres "cheeky" for refusing to take her kittens? They have no obligations to clear up her mistakes. Bearing in mind this is MY opinion.

the following point worries me.

"and the reason why we wanted a younger cat is because is nicer to bring 1 up yourself and she'll be a working cat!! keeping rodent levels done where as a older cat would pass there catching by date sooner!!"

particularly the comment about the catching by date. what will you do with Mitzi once she passes her catch by date? trade her in for a younger model? Thats the way it appears to me.


"to clarify what i mean by more in need, kittens and puppies, statistically, are more likely to get adopted out quickly, whereas adult animals will take more time. everyone just always wants puppies and kittens it seems like. "

Thanks for clearing that up - was a little confused! Your right - when we went to get this dog, there were no puppies - but there were plenty of veterans. all gorgeous dogs though. xx

 

[Paul_MTS]

Looks like you have mis read alot of my post there....

Cat rescue centres keep them in sheds with no space to stretch there legs properly. Cats have a 3 mile territory so it doesn't really matter where you live really as the cat will see roam to a road somewhere. Hmmm whats wrong about keeping cats inside 24/7?........it's like keeping a fish out of it's water or in a tiny tank. Ok so some breeds stay inside but for your average cat they need outside space to catch prey and run about in.

I didn't say they had the cheek to refuse her but to suggest to spay her cats. some centres are spaying the cats with out them even have 1 batch of kittens, which is what we'll do, let her have a bacth then get the op done. And she did try to get homes ready for them she had cards up in several shop windows and was giving them away.

and NO this cat will now be our cat for life.

most families what a kitten or puppy to entertain the kids for a bit and to grow up with the animal to form a better bond.

 

[The-Wolf]

Cat rescue centres keep them in sheds with no space to stretch there legs properly. Cats have a 3 mile territory so it doesn't really matter where you live really as the cat will see roam to a road somewhere. Hmmm whats wrong about keeping cats inside 24/7?........it's like keeping a fish out of it's water or in a tiny tank. Ok so some breeds stay inside but for your average cat they need outside space to catch prey and run about in.

Hi paul
glad you have got what you wanted

Gennie my 18 yr old is a pedergree and there for was kept in a shed in someones back garden for most of her life I hate this pratice as much as you do.

It has taken me nearly two years to get her top go outside. but now she loves it and I have trouble keeping her in

 

[Paul_MTS]

Wahey some agreement here.

There was a cat there that just sat in her basket in the corner and if you took your hand towards her in a slow friendly fasion she would cower into the corner

 

[jacblades]

no one is advocating keeping an animal in a shed.

please do not let your cat have a litter of kittens unless you are going to keep them all.
the world is overrun with stray animals because people dont fix their animals and the offspring dont get fixed and the offspring of the offspring dont get fixed and soon you have 600 animals that came from one unspayed cat most of them will end up in shelters and will get put to sleep.
spaying/neutering is actually very cheap. its usually about $50. and it saves lives.

i work at the humane society and it breaks my heart to see all of the animals that have to be euthanised because of the lack of space for them.

in virginia-there is a law that says you have to fix your pet or buy a $50 permit to keep them unfixed. they have about 50% less animals that come into shelters because of the law. i wish everywhere would adopt a law like that.

it is certainly not cruel to keep cats indoors. i have 2 that stay inside 24/7 and 4 that stay in half of the time. i am about to move and i will be keeping all of my cats indoors 24/7 at my new house.
cats who live indoors live an average of 13 years where as cats that live outdoors live an average of 6 years.

 

[Paul_MTS]

We won't be keeping the litter but if we couldn't home them all I'm sure we would beable to keep the remainders.

It's £30 over here and we have just paid £70 for all the relavent vacsantions(sp) and worming treatment just in case.

That is quite a good law but i also think a cat should be allowed to have atleast 1 litter.

I still think its cruel keeping cats inside unless there some special breed. It's just wrong for a cat to be locked up in a house all day, you wouldn't do it to a dog.

oh and the past 2 cats we have had that i'ved known 1 lived until 11 and died on the road as she was slower with a litter, and our lastest lived to 13 and had to be put down due to a growth in her throat.

 

[rykitten]

I like that pic Jac, very clever.

Paul I feel the same way you do about letting a cat be outdoors. I have 2 cats that absolutely adore being outside. In fact, they stay in front of the house the majority of time and come in and out as they please. They have a 9PM curfew and abide by it most days. They know when to come home. They are good boys

The world is a dangerous place even for us bigger species. I love my boys and want them to be happy. I'm sure if you asked them "Squishy, you could get hit by a car. Still want to go outside?" Heck ya! would be the reply.

As for the spay/neutering thing, I see no reason why you should breed your cat. Being as you've just come from the rescue centers, you should have seen the animals that can't find homes. There's already way too many with no food and shelter. You don't need to add to that.