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Post by twelfthnight on Nov 11, 2009 0:42:50 GMT 1
I got a seriously gorgeous black and white cat from the RSPCA/Cats Protection League in August 2008 - I just fell in love with him. However, my husband decided to move away then and we had to rent a flat, renting our house out. My dad looked after my puss cat but he ran away (the cat not my dad!!) Anyway we're buying a house now and I want a cat but I'm really worried they'll think I'm an irresponsible owner. I was really upset about the cat going missing - I just hope he was a six dinner sid type who decided someone else's cat food was nicer. Do you think we'll have any problems? I hope not, I love cats
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Post by Claire on Nov 11, 2009 16:30:45 GMT 1
Thats so sad about your cat going missing. These things happen to us all and I would like to think that the RSPCA/Cats Protection wouldn't be judgemental, but I dont know their policies (garej would!)
You don't happen to want a lovely friendly tortie girl do you? My dad is looking for a home for a stray (see the pets welfare thread I posted for more details).
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Post by zoe on Nov 12, 2009 17:51:07 GMT 1
I wouldn't have thought the rspca would hold it against you - animals do,after all, have a mind of their own - sorry about your cat.
Six dinner Sid is my 3 yr olds favorite book at the mo - i have to read it twice most bedtimes!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2009 18:31:41 GMT 1
Sorry you lost your cat I hope you can re-home another.
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Post by garej on Nov 14, 2009 20:55:12 GMT 1
Sorry your cat has run away.
I dont know about the RSPCA but they can be awfully fickle about things like that (there are cases of them excluding a lot of people), so I would go to the Cats Protection or another charity (independent, Blue Cross, Battersea etc).
As far as Cats Protection goes, there is no policy about having lost a cat that prevents you from adopting from there. Just one thing is that unneutered cats (especially males) have a tendency to wander. You may be asked if your cat was neutered - but saying that neutered cats can still wander (your cat may have gotten into a van and someone drove off with him). So be aware in case the home checker or whoever shows you around may ask that question. It's just to see if you are a responsible owner: if you did get him neutered that is fine, if he was unneutered you may be asked if you are prepared to neuter your next cat (unless it is 6 months old or older, then it will be done automatically).
But yes, I would go to your local shelter (or phone your local branch as they may not have a shelter) and see what they have got. The only bit of advice I would also recommend is that you wait until you have moved and reasonably settled before adopting a cat - cats are stressed enough moving house without the general chaos of moving adding to it. Also you are looked on more favourably than if you are just moving.
Just another thing: do go for the adult cats! A lot of people these days want cute kittens and a lot of adults cats (especially older ones) are overlooked.
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Post by fizz on Nov 15, 2009 20:49:01 GMT 1
Whem one of my cats died I tried to rehome another from the local animal sanctuary, but they refused to let me have one due to my postcode. They were awful to me, I was upset at losing a much loved cat, which I stressed hadn't been killed on the road. I had a cat at home & had, had cats at the house for 15 years, none of them run over. The woman was so horrid she even suggested I gave up my cat for adoption because of my postal address. There was a Nisson hut with two rows of cages, 2 cats to a cage; I thought that even 6 months freedom of life would be better than years shut up in there. I know I could have given one of them a loving home. Some of these people are real "animal fascists" with no feelings for some of the people they deal with. I imagine you might have problems.
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Post by garej on Nov 15, 2009 22:16:57 GMT 1
The woman was so horrid she even suggested I gave up my cat for adoption because of my postal address. Some independent ones can be like that - for example there is one not that far away who are terrible. They dont bother checking the cats potential homes so someone convicted for animal cruelty could easily get one from them. For some strange reasons they dont offer full vaccinations or microchip their cats, but yet they do those for their dogs. The RSPCA can also be like that, on another (cat) forum, someone took a (stray) cat to the RSPCA, stating that if it was not rehomed within 3 months she would take it on. To cut a long story short, the RSPCA put them down (even though they were perfectly healthy, albeit a little feral) and banned her from even adopting any more! Even though she did nothing wrong - the only reason why she took them was because she had 4 cats of her own, and understandably did not want to take on any more unless necessary. Also, another branch of the RSPCA near me (about 2 hours away) earlier on this year were called to a house full of 50 cats! They put down half of them because they were suffering from ringworm (which is curable btw). Our branch of the Cats Protection would have helped - and other branches offered their support. The RSPCA just declined, and it is not the first time they have done that (and with dogs too). The majority of these cats would have been still alive if it weren't for them - if not all. So yes, steer clear of the RSPCA and go to either the Cats Protection or another charity. There is no reason why the Cats Protection should not rehome you. But yes, do be aware that if you do live too far then you cannot take one on. The only main reason is because they have to do a home visit - obviously with limited funds they usually have set areas. In our branch if someone (we share our territory with 6 other branches) is out of area we point them to the appropriate branch.
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Post by Claire on Nov 15, 2009 23:55:06 GMT 1
Awful stories! I remember years ago when I got Rosie she was a tiny feral kitten and as I already had cats my dad (who had found her) was gonna take her to the RSPCA the next day. I was just looking after her for that night. But by the next day I had fallen in love with her. Thank God! They prob would have put her to sleep as she was not weaned and had to be fed with a dropper. Fizz that really is unbelievable what the hell has the postcode got to do with anything?!!! Some independant ones are good. I have had dealings with really good ones in the past. Also it is worth checking in vets noticeboards, shops etc as sometimes people are looking for homes for cats that way.
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Post by fizz on Nov 16, 2009 9:22:17 GMT 1
I live on an A road, but if the charity had checked carefully they would see that our house backs on to playing fields that lead to a nature reserve. My cat has crossed the "big" road, but now he has made his terriotory at the back. My mum lost cats on rural roads, where due to less traffic they crossed & used it regularly, unaware of the dangers of an occaisional fast car.
The RSPCA would have put my Mum's healthy cat to sleep after she died. The cat was a bit wild & they gave me a trap to catch her; caught birds & hedgehogs, but no cat. Eventually my friend , who had been feeding her, encouraged her to follow her home. She still has her & she is now 17. Their attitude made me very angry, I certainly wouldn't take a stray to them.
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Post by Claire on Nov 16, 2009 15:48:54 GMT 1
I suppose its one reason to actually get a cat from the RSPCA as you might rescue a cat from having to be put down!
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Post by garej on Nov 20, 2009 21:02:38 GMT 1
The RSPCA would have put my Mum's healthy cat to sleep after she died. The cat was a bit wild & they gave me a trap to catch her; caught birds & hedgehogs, but no cat. Eventually my friend , who had been feeding her, encouraged her to follow her home. She still has her & she is now 17. Their attitude made me very angry, I certainly wouldn't take a stray to them. My cats had they been in the RSPCA hands would certainly be dead. Why? Because mine are FIV positive (the equivalent of AIDS in us). The RSPCA put down all cats automatically that test positive, even if they are perfectly healthy otherwise or have a minor complaint which could be easily treated. The Cats Protection (and the same goes for Battersea and the Celia Hammond Trust) only put down FIV positive cats only on veterinary advice. If you look at any decent information site, they say just because an cat tests positive there is no reason to put them to sleep. Unfortunately the RSPCA are these days just care about money. Yes I know money has been tight (especially over the past 18 months) and donations (of all charities) are down, but at the end of the day, other charities will take on cats that they simply dont have the time for (other than the lethal injection). Which annoys me, because if they passed their animals onto another charity, then it would relieve them financially. That animal could now have a loving home rather than be another statistic.
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Post by twelfthnight on Nov 26, 2009 1:11:36 GMT 1
Some of these stories are dreadful Claire, if you're still looking for a home for puss we could offer her one at the start of Jan if that is any good for you? Lovely quiet road, lots of cuddles on offer ;D
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Post by Claire on Nov 26, 2009 2:17:09 GMT 1
Ooh that would be fantastic!!!! I will PM you with more details
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Post by garej on Nov 27, 2009 21:18:23 GMT 1
I live on an A road, but if the charity had checked carefully they would see that our house backs on to playing fields that lead to a nature reserve. Just a note, that it is Cats Protection policy not to refuse because of the road issue. If you live on a busy road, they have to rehome a outdoors going cat to you. In previous years, that has been a reason to refuse a particular cat - we have had to say to them "well we suggest an indoor only cat". But last year it was changed - so not any more. If everything else is fine (which 9 times out of 10 it usually is) then you can take the cat as soon as you can collect it. I obviously can't speak for the RSPCA etc, so they may refuse you on that particular issue.
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