Adopting a cat in a flat

rising_from_the_ashes

It's something many of the charities seem to have "jumped onto" in the past few years - even one local to me (which used to be fairly open minded) now won't rehome to full time workers & has signs on the pens "has lived indoor until now but needs to get out" (it's near a city so many cats have always been kept in):(

When I got my first cat, I was looking for an indoor one (3rd floor flat in the middle of a city) and found one no problem. He was more than happy indoors - as he never knew any different and, as long as you're willing to spend more time with them, play with them etc they can lead just as fulfilling lives as cats that go out.

Best of luck

scaredy_cat

you can get netting to place across the window frames to stop cats getting out.

have you looked on the Preloved site?

antw23uk

Agree with a couple of posts and also from first hand experience. My OH calls them the crazy cat women, lol .... they demand the impossible and we got so frustrated working/ fostering for the charity because they wanted the impossible.

You could have a cat if you lived in a detached house in the middle of knowhere with no roads, a secure garden which must be an acre at least, NO children ..... you must not work, even from home because the cat might wake up from sleeping 20 hours a day and need you to stroke it ... :eek:
Obviously im being OTT joking but you get the idea and you also get the impression they just dont want to rehome the cats and would prefer them to live in a cage until the above home was found :mad:

gettingready

Cazs - pls register here and have a good look, post that you woull like to adopt a cat:

http://www.purrsinourhearts.co.uk/

Loads of cats needng homes there, all the time...

All the best

I have 4, sometimes 6 cats, in a 1 floor flat. 3 boys go out quite a lot (I walk them down and out and then walk down again to bring them back in - massive communal garden), 1 of my by boys is not keen on going out at all, he sigs his claws into the floor to stop me taking him out LOL

2 girls (my daughter's cats, here for a short time) never go out....

All depends on a cat....

antw23uk

We had a feral cat once, 'he' was black, terrified and had been stuck in a cat room (spare bedroom) for about 4 months after being trapped.
We took Joey on and got 'him' home, locked him in the bathroom (the only room he couldnt hide) and 'forced' him to socialize ...... Now i use the word 'force' but trust me it was far from it but what we did was put the cat in a situation where it couldnt run or hide, it had to see that we were not going to hurt it .... anyway ... long story cut short (happy to share the blog experience for those interested) Joey turned out to be a girl and within a few weeks had full roam of the flat and was so friendly and a real lap cat. She never showed interest in going outside so she went to a new home with a guy who worked from home and lived in a flat ... we get the odd email, its maybe two a year, with an update and Joey still doesnt want to go out and is still super friendly

Mrs_Z

Hi, you could also try Celia Hammond - they often have cats that need to be rehomed as indoor cats only.

http://www.celiahammond.org/

Why not consider an elderly cat? They get often overlooked as people tend to want cute kittens. However, they will be just as lovable and will not be as crazy as kittens.

gunsandbanjos

I got my cat mouse from the cat protection league in Edinburgh last year and they were quite happy for her to be an indoor cat. No hassle from them at all, no house check nothing.

Went in, picked the one we wanted, filled in some forms and left with her 10 minutes later!

RosaBernicia

CPL consider me unsuitable as I work four days a week, don't have a cat flap - and - live too far away from the shelter!! Almost put me off but after that last point I decided they were just bonkers and asked elsewhere.

I went to the local independent sanctuary who have a much more sensible approach and were happy for me to adopt provided it would suit the cat. As I turned up having thought through all the possible implications of a ten year cat life span and the likely things in my life during it, I had a pretty clear idea of the kind of puss I wanted to match up with and the rescue centre thought I was obviously a responsible owner. I now have a very laid back adult tom who will be going out, but isn't too bothered by being indoors and won't be distressed or wreck things if he is in while I'm at work. I'll probably get another one soon to keep him company but will be looking for another fairly relaxed adult moggie.

It does depend on the cat and the situation - my parents' little spitfire was an indoor cat for the last few years of her life though she would have hated it when younger, and a friend has kept her cat in for years after almost losing her to people nearby who fed her despite the collar. Even among the moggies that I met at the shelter there were some who would have been very unhappy at being kept in and others who were fine with it. I also think it would be great if you could give a home to one that is already used to being an indoor cat, especially as you say you haven't had pets before, as then it takes pressures off both of you.

Also, can you go and visit your local sanctuary just so you get to meet different cats, ask questions, etc?


Rosa xx

spike7451

Same here Rosa,CPL turned me down after Orbit,who I had for over 14 years,passed away.Ironically I'd passed a home visit a year or so before when I was looking for a chum for Orbit.Yet with ASSISI the was no problems,so I got Daisy,who's a house cat due to her health,and I also live in a 1st floor flat.

paddypaws101

I don't know which area of UK you are in, but take a look at this rescue
http://www.rushdenpersianrescue.co.uk/
which specialises in Persian and other pedigree cats, most of which would be perfectly happy in an indoor setting.
In fact many pedigree breeders/rescues will actually stipulate an indoor home!