Cat aquisition advice

sussexbaker

I'm looking for a cat for my new house and I wondered where would be the best place to get one. The house is rural, and has some mice so ideally looking for a farmyard cat (do such things exist?). It'll be a loving caring home for it (I've grown up with cats) but will be on it's own during the working day, would it be worth getting two (there's no other cats nearby)?

GlynD

You can try your nearest council run animal shelter or the Cats Protection League http://www.cats.org.uk/ or simply ask around at your nearest farms to see if they have any kitten litters.

sussexbaker

Thanks for that Glyn, discovered that our nearest Cats Protection League branch is the National Cats Adoption Centre so looks like a good place to start

GlynD

sussexbaker wrote: »

Thanks for that Glyn, discovered that our nearest Cats Protection League branch is the National Cats Adoption Centre so looks like a good place to start

Nice to have your enquiry resolved so quickly. Be aware now: they will charge you for the cat to cover their vet bills and microchipping but you can be sure the cat you get will be chipped, neutered and disease free. If you didn't have all the treatment given to the cat in advance it would cost you a few bob to have it done yourself.

gettingready

.. get the cat insured straight away, there is always an exclusuin perdiod of 2 weeks with new insurance..

and remember to post ohotos when you get the cat/cats

Mrs_Z

Celia Hammond trust also often has appeals for semi-feral cats which would be ideally suited to a farm environment. They are London based but I have a branch in Hastings - not sure if that's anywhere nr you?

bethie

may also be worth checking with RSPCA adoption shelters, or any other local shelters. often times semi-feral cats come up for adoption. if you were anywhere near cumbria i know of a place which frequently has farm cats available.

sussexbaker

Thanks all again. We're having a big family Christmas so we're going to put off looking for cats until the new year, but both Celia Hammond and CPL place look like good bets for us. Will post photos once we've got one/two!

Just for clarification, semi-feral means that they'll basically not live inside? The only out building we have it a very windy shed, which I fear wouldn't match up to the requirement for a warm dry building, we do have a cat flap though!

warehouse

Sadly, after Christmas will probably be the best time to find a good selection in the local rescue centre.

blueybug

Also be aware, not many trusts/homes will adopt cats till end of January/Feb due to the "I WANT A KITTEN FOR A CHRISTMAS PRESENT" crap, as the shelters ( inc mine gets full with returned cats from being given as christmas presents)

Also please dont buy a cat/kitten, go direct to a home. For every one someone buys from a breeder/selling sites, one little sad kitten/cat is sitting at a shelter wanting a new home.

I would always get from shelters and please remember the old boys/girls (over 7 yrs) get over looked and many are being PTS because of no one wanting older cats.

I adopted a 17 yr old, she was at deaths door and needed a new home for her last moments....... she stayed with us till she was 23!!.

Also black cats are getting over looked, everyone seem to want tabby/ginger.

rising_from_the_ashes

sussexbaker wrote: »

Just for clarification, semi-feral means that they'll basically not live inside? The only out building we have it a very windy shed, which I fear wouldn't match up to the requirement for a warm dry building, we do have a cat flap though!

Depending on their background, it's unlikely semi-ferals would come inside a house - they much prefer an outbuilding (such as your shed).

Is there anyway you could make it a bit less windy - it doesn't need to be the whole thing, but as long as there's an area where which is water tight and wind tight then that should be fine - somewhere for them to shelter / sleep and for you to leave water / food.

A couple of cardboard boxes (ideally with a cut at the front to get in out of) and some warm bedding (old blanket / fleece) will be fine.

If you're good at DIY then these are ideal http://www.catster.com/cat-chic/build-a-cozy-low-cost-cat-shelter-for-outdoor-cats - you can get cheap storage tubs at places like £stretcher, Instore etc