New kitten....questions & advice (merged)

mynameiscatherine

I already have a cat and I made very very sure that my landlord wrote into the contract that he was allowed. We overlooked sooo many beautiful houses because we couldn't and wouldn't give up our kitten.

I also know that if the landlord kicked us out/changed his mind then my Mum, friends, OH's Mum and even my boss would take our cat in in a heartbeat.

It's just sad because we love our cat so much, give him a lovely home and we want a friend for him but we have been turned down by people who make assumptions just because we rent a house. We haven't been given a chance (a home visit, a copy of our tenancy agreement that says we are allowed cats etc) and that's sad because we are very good pet owners! The kittens we would have homed could have gone to someone with a mortgage who would treat them horribly!

It's just out of the rescue centres I have phoned up (bar one) I have been snapped at that it isn't kitten season, or given a hasty questionnaire and cut off very quickly once they know I am living in a rented house.

I can understand rescue centres being careful (and busy!), I have seen the photos of the poorly animals they take in and it brings tears to my eyes so I want to help...I just wish they would ask to see my tenancy agreement or do a home visit before refusing my help.

But perhaps 'snobby' is the wrong word to use so I apologise

Kylie

Wish I could be more help! Guess the suggestion about calling around vets to see if they know about any unwanted kitties av.?

moggylover

mynameiscatherine wrote: »

I already have a cat and I made very very sure that my landlord wrote into the contract that he was allowed. We overlooked sooo many beautiful houses because we couldn't and wouldn't give up our kitten.

I also know that if the landlord kicked us out/changed his mind then my Mum, friends, OH's Mum and even my boss would take our cat in in a heartbeat.

It's just sad because we love our cat so much, give him a lovely home and we want a friend for him but we have been turned down by people who make assumptions just because we rent a house. We haven't been given a chance (a home visit, a copy of our tenancy agreement that says we are allowed cats etc) and that's sad because we are very good pet owners! The kittens we would have homed could have gone to someone with a mortgage who would treat them horribly!

It's just out of the rescue centres I have phoned up (bar one) I have been snapped at that it isn't kitten season, or given a hasty questionnaire and cut off very quickly once they know I am living in a rented house.

I can understand rescue centres being careful (and busy!), I have seen the photos of the poorly animals they take in and it brings tears to my eyes so I want to help...I just wish they would ask to see my tenancy agreement or do a home visit before refusing my help.

But perhaps 'snobby' is the wrong word to use so I apologise

Hey! Don't worry, I really wasn't offended. Nor do I think that all rescues treat the public well (although in defence, they are often dreadfully busy at this time of year and also usually only volunteers) and I agree that some of them are too harsh and too quick to decide against a home, but often that is because of bad experiences they have had in the past.

The truth is that in my estimation, for every one really good pet owner out there: there are two who are okay, but irresponsible or downright not suitable:o . I wish it were not true, but I fear it is: and the constantly full and under pressure rescues throughout the Country are testament to it.

BTW, to me a really good pet owner does not necessarily have to be well off or feed "premium" food, or have all the vacs done, or treat their pet as a child: they just have to ensure that their animal is well looked after and fed, goes to the vets when necessary, given LOADS of companionship, and kept as safe as possible from the dreaded automobile:D

foreign_correspondent

already have a cat and I made very very sure that my landlord wrote into the contract that he was allowed. We overlooked sooo many beautiful houses because we couldn't and wouldn't give up our kitten.

I also know that if the landlord kicked us out/changed his mind then my Mum, friends, OH's Mum and even my boss would take our cat in in a heartbeat.

Tell the rescues this - perhaps pop in and see them personally?

mynameiscatherine

Kylie wrote: »

Wish I could be more help! Guess the suggestion about calling around vets to see if they know about any unwanted kitties av.?

That's what we're going to do tomorrow:D
I'm going to the rescue centres first, if there's no joy there then I'm going to the vets/pet shops. If not then we'll wait til it is kitten season I suppose?

The next challenge is making sure the meeting between Phillip (our cat now) and the new kitten goes well, I've been on so many websites getting hints and tips about how to introduce them. I'm turning the spare room into a kitten heaven (because Phillip never goes in there so hopefully he won't take offence at his scent being covered up:p)

Phillip is a mongrel cat too and he destroys the place (climbs curtains and scratches the sofa even though we play with him LOADS and he has a huge scratching post tree bed climbling thing) and is very moody - even though he is neutered! But I wouldn't have him any other way:D

mynameiscatherine

moggylover wrote: »

Hey! Don't worry, I really wasn't offended. Nor do I think that all rescues treat the public well (although in defence, they are often dreadfully busy at this time of year and also usually only volunteers) and I agree that some of them are too harsh and too quick to decide against a home, but often that is because of bad experiences they have had in the past.

The truth is that in my estimation, for every one really good pet owner out there: there are two who are okay, but irresponsible or downright not suitable:o . I wish it were not true, but I fear it is: and the constantly full and under pressure rescues throughout the Country are testament to it.

BTW, to me a really good pet owner does not necessarily have to be well off or feed "premium" food, or have all the vacs done, or treat their pet as a child: they just have to ensure that their animal is well looked after and fed, goes to the vets when necessary, given LOADS of companionship, and kept as safe as possible from the dreaded automobile:D

Your rescue centre isn't anywhere near Stoke is it

spookylukey

What a classy name for a cat - Phillip! He sounds great, hope he likes his new brother or sister

Please do persevere down the rescue/vet route, pet shops are not a good place to get a kitten. They're often poorly and lack socialisation. I know you may feel like you're rescuing him/her but in reality it only encourages the unscrupulous owners to carry on their money making scheme with no thought for the cats (Mum or kittens) welfare

mynameiscatherine

spookylukey wrote: »

What a classy name for a cat - Phillip! He sounds great, hope he likes his new brother or sister

Please do persevere down the rescue/vet route, pet shops are not a good place to get a kitten. They're often poorly and lack socialisation. I know you may feel like you're rescuing him/her but in reality it only encourages the unscrupulous owners to carry on their money making scheme with no thought for the cats (Mum or kittens) welfare

I'm definitley going to priorotise going to the rescue centres. I don't want to encourage people who breed kittens for money after seeing the pictures of the "not perfect" kittens on lots of rescue websites. Phillip was from a "breeder" (before I'd researched rescue centres properly) and he had so many fleas when we go thim, poor thing.

I think I'll take photos of my garden/cul de sac and a copy of my tenancy agreement then I can prove that I will be a good pet owner

foreign_correspondent

mynameiscatherine wrote: »

I'm definitley going to priorotise going to the rescue centres. I don't want to encourage people who breed kittens for money after seeing the pictures of the "not perfect" kittens on lots of rescue websites. Phillip was from a "breeder" (before I'd researched rescue centres properly) and he had so many fleas when we go thim, poor thing.

I think I'll take photos of my garden/cul de sac and a copy of my tenancy agreement then I can prove that I will be a good pet owner

:T :T :T

good for you - please do not be put off at the first hurdle!!

moggylover

mynameiscatherine wrote: »

Your rescue centre isn't anywhere near Stoke is it

I'm afraid not, I'm down in Wales. However, if you decide to wait until the kitten season, Wales is a good place to get a moggy because of all the "breeders" who dumped beautiful pedigrees when they no longer wanted to breed from them:mad: . There are some of the most beautiful and unusual looking "mogs" down here - everything from long furs to obvious oriental crosses to manx tailed.

However, whilst I no longer actually take in rescues myself (although I do home checks and sort finances and transport and so forth still, I know that most of the rescues here would be a touch "worried" about long distance re-homing so not sure it is an option.

Trouble with getting one from a farm or something of that sort is that they often have illnesses and are usually full of worms and fleas (so not nice to have to sort that whilst on holiday) and farm cats can be really difficult to litter train as they are used to being .........well, somewhere where sho*te abounds, and their mums do not seem to care as much about clean beds and nests as most felines do:o . They come clean, but it is hard work getting them there.