RSPCA - Trying to Rescue a Kitten, Refused?!
Discussion
This isn't new. Mum and dad got two cats before I was born and by 1995 they had both passed away. (Errm, not sure what is grammatically correct here but this means the cats were gone, not my parents!) The following year it was decided with great excitement that we were all ready to get two more. Just like the first pair, we'd be looking for a brother and sister pair.
We went to a local-ish RSPCA place who asked what we were looking for. It was a long time ago now so I can't remember his exact words but the RSPCA guy said something like "Don't bother, once they're neutered you'll never tell the difference between the male and female anyway". It seemed a very odd comment even to me at the time.
We did end up taking two cats from them - a brother and sister pair
They were 6 month old silver-grey tabbies who had been in the shelter for 3 months. They'd had a hard life up to that point and took LOTS of work but they were worth it a thousand times over. Both beautiful and wonderful, very different personalities.
RIP Mia and Django
We went to a local-ish RSPCA place who asked what we were looking for. It was a long time ago now so I can't remember his exact words but the RSPCA guy said something like "Don't bother, once they're neutered you'll never tell the difference between the male and female anyway". It seemed a very odd comment even to me at the time.
We did end up taking two cats from them - a brother and sister pair
They were 6 month old silver-grey tabbies who had been in the shelter for 3 months. They'd had a hard life up to that point and took LOTS of work but they were worth it a thousand times over. Both beautiful and wonderful, very different personalities.RIP Mia and Django
moorx said:
C70R said:
To be honest, I can see where they are coming from if you're looking to adopt a young kitten. They need contact time with humans, and probably need more attention/socialising than an adult cat. We got a similar line when adopting from Battersea, which I can absolutely accept and relate to.
If you're looking for a young kitten (<3mths), then you really need to be prepared to make a few sacrifices. If you're not able to make these sacrifices, then you should really be looking at a slightly older (and less cute/fluffy) cat.
It might be controversial of me to say it, but I feel like the RSPCA's guidelines are written with some idea of the animal's welfare in this instance. It's ultimately a case of trying to ensure that the right animals go to the right homes, and don't end up neglected or back on their doorstep (for myriad reasons).
Whilst I wish you the best of luck OP, I do have to agree with the above.If you're looking for a young kitten (<3mths), then you really need to be prepared to make a few sacrifices. If you're not able to make these sacrifices, then you should really be looking at a slightly older (and less cute/fluffy) cat.
It might be controversial of me to say it, but I feel like the RSPCA's guidelines are written with some idea of the animal's welfare in this instance. It's ultimately a case of trying to ensure that the right animals go to the right homes, and don't end up neglected or back on their doorstep (for myriad reasons).
Edited by C70R on Wednesday 25th May 11:24
Yes, leaving an animal in a refuge might not feel great, but it's infinitely better than sending them to a home which isn't going to benefit them.
C70R said:
Yes, leaving an animal in a refuge might not feel great, but it's infinitely better than sending them to a home which isn't going to benefit them.
Can't agree with that. It's ridiculously easy to buy dogs/cats and if someone is looking in a shelter they're already showing a bit more responsibility than many other pet owners.Unless there are major issues, getting an animal out of a cage and into a loving home while also taking business away from puppy/kitten farms is the right answer.
There are far too many unwanted animals - if one of them becomes "wanted" and has a chance at a loving home then it's the right thing to do, even if it's not 100% ideal and perfect in every way.
bigbob77 said:
even if it's not 100% ideal and perfect in every way.
We're comparing apples and oranges here. Human contact plays an essential role in the development of very young dogs and cats, and can often be the difference between 'good' and 'bad' pets. Leaving a young kitten at home alone all day is not good behaviour, for me.NB - I say that as someone whose OH had her heart set on "a kitten", but was persuaded (by me) to rescue a slightly older (18mths) cat as a compromise.
C70R said:
We're comparing apples and oranges here. Human contact plays an essential role in the development of very young dogs and cats, and can often be the difference between 'good' and 'bad' pets. Leaving a young kitten at home alone all day is not good behaviour, for me.
I agree 100% but I bet most people who are refused a pet from a shelter go and buy a cheap one, making kitten/puppy farms more profitable.Better to give an unwanted cat a chance at a better life than a brand new kitten a chance at becoming an unwanted cat.
If it's a young and pretty kitten at a shelter I suppose they can afford to be choosy because a better offer will come along. But while there are animals being destroyed through no fault of their own, it makes no sense to turn anyone away unless there are much more serious concerns than being alone for a few hours every day. Even at a no-kill shelter, if they free up a space that's one less animal being destroyed elsewhere.
Our two were home alone from 11 weeks of age and it was of no detriment to them. I went home every lunchtime to check on them.
We prepared a room at home for them with food, litter, playthings, etc. and they were absolutely fine. We took them to the vet to get them registered and checked. Their age was estimated at 11 weeks that that point.
At six months old they were chipped, spayed, immunised and allowed free run of the house and access to the garden via a cat flap. They're two happy, healthy and well adjusted cats and our both working full time was of no detriment to them whatsoever.
We originally rescued them back in October 2011. They didn't come via an official channel - they were two of five which had been brought into the house of my cousin's friend by her own adult cat which had apparently found them under her car. The friend kept one and gave the other four away as pairs. We had one of the pairs.
We prepared a room at home for them with food, litter, playthings, etc. and they were absolutely fine. We took them to the vet to get them registered and checked. Their age was estimated at 11 weeks that that point.
At six months old they were chipped, spayed, immunised and allowed free run of the house and access to the garden via a cat flap. They're two happy, healthy and well adjusted cats and our both working full time was of no detriment to them whatsoever.
We originally rescued them back in October 2011. They didn't come via an official channel - they were two of five which had been brought into the house of my cousin's friend by her own adult cat which had apparently found them under her car. The friend kept one and gave the other four away as pairs. We had one of the pairs.
LeoZwalf said:
RSPCA guy said something like "Don't bother, once they're neutered you'll never tell the difference between the male and female anyway". It seemed a very odd comment even to me at the time.
Indeed, there speaks a man who knows bugger all about cats; Toms and Queens have very different personalities, whether they've still got their bits or not.Time to re-visit this one.
We've just been to our local RSPCA rescue centre to look for a new friend or two for Mitzi, after her friend passed away after a short illness last week. She's not looking for her old friend, she seems to understand that she's passed on - but she is looking a little lonely.
The lady at the desk told us that cats are solitary and don't want or need company! - despite us telling her that we'd introduced our two to each other 15 years ago and they'd lived happily together until Willow died. Added to that, Mrs. Trabi's parents have always had cats - at a couple of points over the last 20 years they had 4 living together happily.
There were a pair of unrelated cats in the centre who'd come in together - seemed ideal! - but we weren't even allowed to go and see them.
She kept repeating the same line that they wouldn't allow us to have any of *their* cats, as we already had one!
Yet their facebook page has been running a diary of a cat they'd had for 205 days! - I can see why now.
It's like a feline prison, rather than a re-homing centre.
We've just been to our local RSPCA rescue centre to look for a new friend or two for Mitzi, after her friend passed away after a short illness last week. She's not looking for her old friend, she seems to understand that she's passed on - but she is looking a little lonely.
The lady at the desk told us that cats are solitary and don't want or need company! - despite us telling her that we'd introduced our two to each other 15 years ago and they'd lived happily together until Willow died. Added to that, Mrs. Trabi's parents have always had cats - at a couple of points over the last 20 years they had 4 living together happily.
There were a pair of unrelated cats in the centre who'd come in together - seemed ideal! - but we weren't even allowed to go and see them.
She kept repeating the same line that they wouldn't allow us to have any of *their* cats, as we already had one!
Yet their facebook page has been running a diary of a cat they'd had for 205 days! - I can see why now.
It's like a feline prison, rather than a re-homing centre.
holes.
I see this thread has popped up again!
I was hugely disappointed with our experience of the RSPCA. I wouldn't recommend them to anyone. There are plenty of other shelters that do not lack the common sense required to find an animal a new forever home.
On a happier note, it was Zelda's first Birthday yesterday and she was spoilt with lots of new toys, an indoor water fountain and food-hunting bowl, fresh duck and sashimi salmon for dinner! She is the most loving, affectionate, and attention-seeking cat I've ever known. Zelda will always welcome us when we come home, loves to play catch, 'meows' at us when we sneeze, or when we leave the house for work, and loves being in the same room as us. I couldn't imagine life without her!
I was hugely disappointed with our experience of the RSPCA. I wouldn't recommend them to anyone. There are plenty of other shelters that do not lack the common sense required to find an animal a new forever home.
On a happier note, it was Zelda's first Birthday yesterday and she was spoilt with lots of new toys, an indoor water fountain and food-hunting bowl, fresh duck and sashimi salmon for dinner! She is the most loving, affectionate, and attention-seeking cat I've ever known. Zelda will always welcome us when we come home, loves to play catch, 'meows' at us when we sneeze, or when we leave the house for work, and loves being in the same room as us. I couldn't imagine life without her!
We rehomed a year/2 year old cat from the RSPCA abut 18 years ago, no questions asked, we had her PTS 2 years ago at the ripe old age of 21.
A few years after rehoming the cat above we went to the same RSPCA centre to look for a second cat, however the rehoming criteria became far more stringent, one of the questions was; do you live on a side road or a main road, well we live on neither, basically because our road wasn't deemed to be a "side road" we were deemed unsuitable to take on a cat, even though we had taken on a cat a few years previously from the same centre.
In the end we bought a gorgeous kitten from a pet centre, she died last year at 16 years old.
Since the first cat we had taken on 5 others in total, none of which were from the RSPCA all of which (apart from 1 who had to be PTS as a kitten due to an illness he was born with) had great lives with us.
A few years after rehoming the cat above we went to the same RSPCA centre to look for a second cat, however the rehoming criteria became far more stringent, one of the questions was; do you live on a side road or a main road, well we live on neither, basically because our road wasn't deemed to be a "side road" we were deemed unsuitable to take on a cat, even though we had taken on a cat a few years previously from the same centre.
In the end we bought a gorgeous kitten from a pet centre, she died last year at 16 years old.
Since the first cat we had taken on 5 others in total, none of which were from the RSPCA all of which (apart from 1 who had to be PTS as a kitten due to an illness he was born with) had great lives with us.
After dong an Internet search for cat rescue centres in our local area, I found a local and small cat rescue charity just a few miles down the road between Pontypridd and Cardiff.
Really lovely people, did a quick home visit, then booked a time for us to visit them with no other people around.
We'd seen two pairs of young females on their website, so went to see them first... The first pair, black semi-feral youngsters were too nervous for us to contemate housing with an existing cat. However, a pair of black and white sisters, just 6-8 months old seemed to choose us... So we collect tomorrow.
Will get some photos when we get them home.
No cat can truly replace Willow, but this pair of live wires will keep both humans and feline occupied for a while!
Really lovely people, did a quick home visit, then booked a time for us to visit them with no other people around.
We'd seen two pairs of young females on their website, so went to see them first... The first pair, black semi-feral youngsters were too nervous for us to contemate housing with an existing cat. However, a pair of black and white sisters, just 6-8 months old seemed to choose us... So we collect tomorrow.
Will get some photos when we get them home.
No cat can truly replace Willow, but this pair of live wires will keep both humans and feline occupied for a while!
I had a similar experience back in 2010 when i went to the local animal shelter to look for a new dog/pup.
Must admit i was completely naive as to the process of adopting an puppy or dog, usually any dogs we had up until then came from sheepdog breeders in the case of the farm dogs or from family who bred terriers for our pet dogs.
Went in asking for a terrier type pup, and expecting to be shown a selection, instead i was handed a clipboard with a questionnaire profiling who i was, my experience with animals, my work routine and whether or not i was willing to make a donation ( or as i was later told..pay for the dog).
Filled out the form honestly and handed it back to the lady on the counter and she told me they'd be in touch.
Three days later i get a letter in the post from the shelter which said i was unsuitable to be a dog owner as i was not prepared to exercise the dog by taking it for three daily walks!!!
The thing is, we're farmers, the dogs have free run of the place, they know where to go and more importantly where not to go, sheep house, calving pens etc. I'm 35 and have been around dogs for all my life and I've never walked a dog on a lead ever...
The form asked how much exercise was i prepared to give the dog, i replied none as the dog would have free run of over 80 acres and would get all the exercise he/she needed themselves and walks would not be necessary.
Ended up getting a lovely jack Russell pup from a cousins new girlfriend's family who's the best thing to ever come about the farm, very friendly with our children, an excellent ratter and has absolutely no issues with our sheepdog or other westie terrier, and all three are male so we expected issues but in 7 years there's been none.
I understand we may not be a typical household when looking for a shelter dog but you'd think we offer a better quality of life to any dog than being confined to a rear garden or house in a town all day.
I recounted the above to the local dog warden when i was introduced to her about two years ago and she said basically you'd still have got the dog if you called to query their decision and said you'd pay for the dog...
Must admit i was completely naive as to the process of adopting an puppy or dog, usually any dogs we had up until then came from sheepdog breeders in the case of the farm dogs or from family who bred terriers for our pet dogs.
Went in asking for a terrier type pup, and expecting to be shown a selection, instead i was handed a clipboard with a questionnaire profiling who i was, my experience with animals, my work routine and whether or not i was willing to make a donation ( or as i was later told..pay for the dog).
Filled out the form honestly and handed it back to the lady on the counter and she told me they'd be in touch.
Three days later i get a letter in the post from the shelter which said i was unsuitable to be a dog owner as i was not prepared to exercise the dog by taking it for three daily walks!!!
The thing is, we're farmers, the dogs have free run of the place, they know where to go and more importantly where not to go, sheep house, calving pens etc. I'm 35 and have been around dogs for all my life and I've never walked a dog on a lead ever...
The form asked how much exercise was i prepared to give the dog, i replied none as the dog would have free run of over 80 acres and would get all the exercise he/she needed themselves and walks would not be necessary.
Ended up getting a lovely jack Russell pup from a cousins new girlfriend's family who's the best thing to ever come about the farm, very friendly with our children, an excellent ratter and has absolutely no issues with our sheepdog or other westie terrier, and all three are male so we expected issues but in 7 years there's been none.
I understand we may not be a typical household when looking for a shelter dog but you'd think we offer a better quality of life to any dog than being confined to a rear garden or house in a town all day.
I recounted the above to the local dog warden when i was introduced to her about two years ago and she said basically you'd still have got the dog if you called to query their decision and said you'd pay for the dog...
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