Applied to adopt a cat

[Anonymous]

The Humane Rescue Alliance doesn't require a site visit--just an application and interview.

We adopted a cat through their foster program, and we met the cat, went in to fill out the paperwork, then picked up the cat. Very straightforward.

[Anonymous]

We adopted a cat from Fairfax County Animal Shelter. Filled out the forms, paid a fee, and took her home right away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Now we have to go through the vetting process.

They don't make this stuff easy.

Any idea how long this process typically takes?

Depends on the rescue. And, please give them a break. They are doing their due diligence. They are inundated with requests to take in cats whose owners no longer want them, and from shelters where they are literally lifesavers for the lucky ones to be rescued. AND it's kitten season. They will get thousands of requests a year. On top of that many of the cats have health issues and/or need "regular" vetting. They pay for ALL OF THAT. And in between, they are finding fosters, cleaning cages, and vetting potential applicants. Just to name a few of their duties.

They have to ensure the people have the ability and means to care for a cat, which can live 20 years. Even then, they get cats returned from assholes who say things like "the cat tries to snuggle me in bed so I'm returning him" (that's a true story.) These cats get traumatized from being abandoned.

So if they ask questions, if it takes longer than you think necessary, take a breath and be patient. Remember what you are seeing is a teeny tiny fraction of what they actually do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Now we have to go through the vetting process.

They don't make this stuff easy.

Any idea how long this process typically takes?

Depends on the rescue. And, please give them a break. They are doing their due diligence. They are inundated with requests to take in cats whose owners no longer want them, and from shelters where they are literally lifesavers for the lucky ones to be rescued. AND it's kitten season. They will get thousands of requests a year. On top of that many of the cats have health issues and/or need "regular" vetting. They pay for ALL OF THAT. And in between, they are finding fosters, cleaning cages, and vetting potential applicants. Just to name a few of their duties.

They have to ensure the people have the ability and means to care for a cat, which can live 20 years. Even then, they get cats returned from assholes who say things like "the cat tries to snuggle me in bed so I'm returning him" (that's a true story.) These cats get traumatized from being abandoned.

So if they ask questions, if it takes longer than you think necessary, take a breath and be patient. Remember what you are seeing is a teeny tiny fraction of what they actually do.

I now feel scolded.

Thank you for talking to me like I'm 8 years old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Now we have to go through the vetting process.

They don't make this stuff easy.

Any idea how long this process typically takes?

Depends on the rescue. And, please give them a break. They are doing their due diligence. They are inundated with requests to take in cats whose owners no longer want them, and from shelters where they are literally lifesavers for the lucky ones to be rescued. AND it's kitten season. They will get thousands of requests a year. On top of that many of the cats have health issues and/or need "regular" vetting. They pay for ALL OF THAT. And in between, they are finding fosters, cleaning cages, and vetting potential applicants. Just to name a few of their duties.

They have to ensure the people have the ability and means to care for a cat, which can live 20 years. Even then, they get cats returned from assholes who say things like "the cat tries to snuggle me in bed so I'm returning him" (that's a true story.) These cats get traumatized from being abandoned.

So if they ask questions, if it takes longer than you think necessary, take a breath and be patient. Remember what you are seeing is a teeny tiny fraction of what they actually do.

I now feel scolded.

Thank you for talking to me like I'm 8 years old.

The poster is correct. Lots of irresponsible people adopt animals and then give them up for frivolous reasons, or just when they get old.

Don’t be a baby. You don’t mature enough to care for a fish let alone a cat or dog.

[Anonymous]

I think someone who is not willing to go through a mild, week-long vetting process should not have a cat. So the process is doing what it's designed to do, ensure irresponsible people do not take home the cats they've put in so much time, energy, and $$ (estimates are each cat rescued costs about $500) to rescue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sadly, it's easier to buy an AR-15 than to adopt a cat.

SO TRUE!

A lot of the animal rescues are pretty intense about the background checks. I had to provide 3 personal references and a vet reference, and the rescue people met my (then) small child, but there was no home check, so I figure I got off easy.

My brother was deemed unsuitable by a dog rescue because he and his wife both worked full time. I haven't run into a cat rescue requiring a stay at home pet parent...yet.

I know. The rescue people are a strange kind of cranky intense.
My son and I were playing some with some kittens at a rescue event at the Petco and I was told to ‘take my son away from the cats because he’s too loud and energetic’. Okay, he’s autistic but this boy literally just raised 5 kittens (we allowed a pregnant kitty to come live with us. street kitty. very easy adoption process - she begged to come live with us and we said sure) . They love him so much they wake him up in the morning and follow him around all day long - he’s hardly harmful to cats.
But yea - if you’re a cranky, boring middle aged lady you’ll be put right to the top of the cat adoption list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think someone who is not willing to go through a mild, week-long vetting process should not have a cat. So the process is doing what it's designed to do, ensure irresponsible people do not take home the cats they've put in so much time, energy, and $$ (estimates are each cat rescued costs about $500) to rescue.

$500 a cat? There are SO many homeless cats, spending $500 a cat is not very efficient.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Now we have to go through the vetting process.

They don't make this stuff easy.

Any idea how long this process typically takes?

Depends on the rescue. And, please give them a break. They are doing their due diligence. They are inundated with requests to take in cats whose owners no longer want them, and from shelters where they are literally lifesavers for the lucky ones to be rescued. AND it's kitten season. They will get thousands of requests a year. On top of that many of the cats have health issues and/or need "regular" vetting. They pay for ALL OF THAT. And in between, they are finding fosters, cleaning cages, and vetting potential applicants. Just to name a few of their duties.

They have to ensure the people have the ability and means to care for a cat, which can live 20 years. Even then, they get cats returned from assholes who say things like "the cat tries to snuggle me in bed so I'm returning him" (that's a true story.) These cats get traumatized from being abandoned.

So if they ask questions, if it takes longer than you think necessary, take a breath and be patient. Remember what you are seeing is a teeny tiny fraction of what they actually do.

I don’t know - I think that plenty of those cats are pretty pleased to be away from the morons that they used to live with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think someone who is not willing to go through a mild, week-long vetting process should not have a cat. So the process is doing what it's designed to do, ensure irresponsible people do not take home the cats they've put in so much time, energy, and $$ (estimates are each cat rescued costs about $500) to rescue.

Who said they aren't willing to go through a week long vetting process? A week long is short and fast, this is going to be much longer.

I'm a monster for wanting to adopt. Simply a monster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sadly, it's easier to buy an AR-15 than to adopt a cat.

SO TRUE!

A lot of the animal rescues are pretty intense about the background checks. I had to provide 3 personal references and a vet reference, and the rescue people met my (then) small child, but there was no home check, so I figure I got off easy.

My brother was deemed unsuitable by a dog rescue because he and his wife both worked full time. I haven't run into a cat rescue requiring a stay at home pet parent...yet.

I know. The rescue people are a strange kind of cranky intense.
My son and I were playing some with some kittens at a rescue event at the Petco and I was told to ‘take my son away from the cats because he’s too loud and energetic’. Okay, he’s autistic but this boy literally just raised 5 kittens (we allowed a pregnant kitty to come live with us. street kitty. very easy adoption process - she begged to come live with us and we said sure) . They love him so much they wake him up in the morning and follow him around all day long - he’s hardly harmful to cats.
But yea - if you’re a cranky, boring middle aged lady you’ll be put right to the top of the cat adoption list.

We had a similar experience at a pet store rescue event. The women did not want us to adopt kittens with a then 4 year old and a 2 year old (who is also ASD). I'd been a cat owner for over 20 years at that point. We got two alley cat rescue kittens later that year from our neighborhood listserv. Ten years later, we still have both cats who sleep ON TOP of my son with ASD every night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think someone who is not willing to go through a mild, week-long vetting process should not have a cat. So the process is doing what it's designed to do, ensure irresponsible people do not take home the cats they've put in so much time, energy, and $$ (estimates are each cat rescued costs about $500) to rescue.

$500 a cat? There are SO many homeless cats, spending $500 a cat is not very efficient.

NP. I think you have misunderstood what PP was saying about the $500.

[Anonymous]

If you go to a shelter, you will in all likelihood be able to adopt a pet on the spot.

If you go through a rescue group, the process can be more onerous. That's due to a number of functions. It's not what those in more progressive animal welfare/rescue circles would say is best practices: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/animalia/wp/2018/02/02/millions-of-dogs-need-homes-why-is-it-sometimes-hard-to-adopt-one/

(That piece is about dogs, but the same principles apply.)

Anyway, I am sorry that the rescue group is making this a difficult process. There are reasons for it - good and bad reasons. Go to a shelter, if you want to bring home a cat today - or an adoption fair at PetSmart or another venue.

It's great you are adopting. Shelters are very full this time of year and really need your help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Now we have to go through the vetting process.

They don't make this stuff easy.

Any idea how long this process typically takes?

Depends on the rescue. And, please give them a break. They are doing their due diligence. They are inundated with requests to take in cats whose owners no longer want them, and from shelters where they are literally lifesavers for the lucky ones to be rescued. AND it's kitten season. They will get thousands of requests a year. On top of that many of the cats have health issues and/or need "regular" vetting. They pay for ALL OF THAT. And in between, they are finding fosters, cleaning cages, and vetting potential applicants. Just to name a few of their duties.

They have to ensure the people have the ability and means to care for a cat, which can live 20 years. Even then, they get cats returned from assholes who say things like "the cat tries to snuggle me in bed so I'm returning him" (that's a true story.) These cats get traumatized from being abandoned.

So if they ask questions, if it takes longer than you think necessary, take a breath and be patient. Remember what you are seeing is a teeny tiny fraction of what they actually do.

I now feel scolded.

Thank you for talking to me like I'm 8 years old.

If the shoe fits . . .

I'm sick of people coming on here bitching about the adoption process. If you want to do whatever you want, I suggest going out to the country, or one of the vile rural shelters that will literally give you any animal you want, for nothing more than a fee. But, those animals will not have the same level of vetting, socialization, etc. that the rescues get. They are in need of saving, as well, however. And so that may be a better fit for your whiny ass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Now we have to go through the vetting process.

They don't make this stuff easy.

Any idea how long this process typically takes?

Depends on the rescue. And, please give them a break. They are doing their due diligence. They are inundated with requests to take in cats whose owners no longer want them, and from shelters where they are literally lifesavers for the lucky ones to be rescued. AND it's kitten season. They will get thousands of requests a year. On top of that many of the cats have health issues and/or need "regular" vetting. They pay for ALL OF THAT. And in between, they are finding fosters, cleaning cages, and vetting potential applicants. Just to name a few of their duties.

They have to ensure the people have the ability and means to care for a cat, which can live 20 years. Even then, they get cats returned from assholes who say things like "the cat tries to snuggle me in bed so I'm returning him" (that's a true story.) These cats get traumatized from being abandoned.

So if they ask questions, if it takes longer than you think necessary, take a breath and be patient. Remember what you are seeing is a teeny tiny fraction of what they actually do.

I don’t know - I think that plenty of those cats are pretty pleased to be away from the morons that they used to live with.

I've fostered cats. A lot of cats. And, while this may be true, it's also quite stressful for them to change situations, routines, etc.