Cat adoption: when did it become so difficult?

[Anonymous]

Over the years I've adopted from both Fairfax and Loudoun Animal Shelters. I do not keep my cats inside 100% of the time and for that reason the rescue organizations would not let me adopt from them.

I have 3 cats now. One I got from the shelter, one from an ad on craigslist, and one from my neighbor who wanted to get a dog.

[Anonymous]

Where are you? I’m trying to find home for a cat abandoned by my neighbors. He needs to be an only cat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We haven’t owned a cat for about ten years and just began trying to adopt. Oh my goodness! We have now gone through two local rescue organizations that approved our applications, strung us along for weeks, and then flaked.

I’m so confused. We are reliable, well employed, and love animals. But I’m actually finding myself looking at breeders due to the disorganization and weird standards of local rescues.

Issues: our last pet was a gerbil. He was very happy and died of old age. But one rescue was upset with us for not having his vet records. He... was a gerbil. He had no health problems before passing of old age.

Second problem: We have no vet now because we have no pet now. This also seems to raise eyebrows, even when we reassured rescues that of course we would find a vet immediately upon adoption, and that we would love local recommendations from them.

Finally, one rescue turned us down because we wanted only one cat. I understand cats do better in pairs, but are cats no longer adopted as singletons?

I’m sad and frustrated. Aren’t there supposed to be millions of unwanted cats who need good homes? Why are we treated with such suspicion and lack of tact?

No, the problem is that rescue people are crazy. Anyone who has worked at a rescue knows this.

Got to a shelter, OP. There are plenty of cats.
Why do we have to read this type of question every other week? Look it up on here. There are PLENTY of reasons why it is difficult. Chronic understaffing just for starters.

These folks work VERY hard to place these animals in homes that they hope will keep them forever. Know what? Even then, they get returned, dumped, etc. You see the adoption days. You don't see the intake, vetting, training (for dogs), socializing, organizing foster networks, setting up/closing down adoption events, legalities, logistics, fundraising, recruiting volunteers. All done usually by a small number of people.

You want a cat fast and quick? Go to one of the rural shelters or pounds. You'll have your pick immediately. And I mean that sincerely. Those shelters have high kill rates. If you can help one out, I say go for it. Win-win.

[Anonymous]

I adopted an adult cat through Homeward Trails about six years ago. They bring cats to PetMAC on Wisconsin Ave NW and also to Crumbs and Whiskers for people to play with/ check out on the weekends. It was our first pet, so we did not have a vet and they never flagged that as an issue. The process was very straight forward and pleasant. So pleasant, that we adopted a dog through Homeward Trails about 2 years ago. I found the staff to have the right blend of caring about good placement without being overly nutty (the hamster remark slays me - do rodents seriously go to the vet???). Both of my experiences with HT were great and I always recommend them to friends and donate when their shelter pantry food supply runs low.

[Anonymous]

I've had 5 cats:

1. Backyard cat from a friend.
2. Shelter cat; 1990s, no trouble adopting.
3. Shelter cat on an overseas AF base
4. Backyard cat from a different friend
5. Sibling of #4 from another litter before the friend finally caught the mama cat and had her spayed

#4 and 5 are the best cats ...

[Anonymous]

Try going to the different Humane Shelters. They adopt and you don't go through the home visit nonsense and risk of giving too much personal information to a crazy person. Rescues are common places for cat hoarders and people with psychological problems. If you're running into places that put up so many barriers and don't seem to want to adopt out the cats chances are its an outlet for animal hoarders which is sad.

PetSmart and Petco usually have cats for adoption too ranging from older cats to kittens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We haven’t owned a cat for about ten years and just began trying to adopt. Oh my goodness! We have now gone through two local rescue organizations that approved our applications, strung us along for weeks, and then flaked.

I’m so confused. We are reliable, well employed, and love animals. But I’m actually finding myself looking at breeders due to the disorganization and weird standards of local rescues.

Issues: our last pet was a gerbil. He was very happy and died of old age. But one rescue was upset with us for not having his vet records. He... was a gerbil. He had no health problems before passing of old age.

Second problem: We have no vet now because we have no pet now. This also seems to raise eyebrows, even when we reassured rescues that of course we would find a vet immediately upon adoption, and that we would love local recommendations from them.

Finally, one rescue turned us down because we wanted only one cat. I understand cats do better in pairs, but are cats no longer adopted as singletons?

I’m sad and frustrated. Aren’t there supposed to be millions of unwanted cats who need good homes? Why are we treated with such suspicion and lack of tact?

No, the problem is that rescue people are crazy. Anyone who has worked at a rescue knows this.

Got to a shelter, OP. There are plenty of cats.
Why do we have to read this type of question every other week? Look it up on here. There are PLENTY of reasons why it is difficult. Chronic understaffing just for starters.

These folks work VERY hard to place these animals in homes that they hope will keep them forever. Know what? Even then, they get returned, dumped, etc. You see the adoption days. You don't see the intake, vetting, training (for dogs), socializing, organizing foster networks, setting up/closing down adoption events, legalities, logistics, fundraising, recruiting volunteers. All done usually by a small number of people.

You want a cat fast and quick? Go to one of the rural shelters or pounds. You'll have your pick immediately. And I mean that sincerely. Those shelters have high kill rates. If you can help one out, I say go for it. Win-win.

On the contrary, potential adopters waltz in and expect they are entitled to a cat. Um, no. And while some rescue folks are indeed crazy, the vast majority are not. But you know what? When You’re the one dealing with people who turn in neglected animals, turn in animals because their fur doesn’t match the new furniture color, picking up the animals at the shelter who no one wants, fostering the animal who has heartworm or who had been tethered his whole life by a chain THROUGH his leg . . . Then you can complain. Or when you are dealing with people who violate adoptions contracts by dumping the animals at shelters or returning a cat because “she wants tooo much attention” then you can criticize. Until then, zip it.

[Anonymous]

When I was a kid we got our cat from a neighbor whose cat had kittens.

I got my current cat in 2006 from someone giving kittens away on Craigslist.

Never used a rescue. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Go to the Humane Rescue Alliance in DC. It's exactly what you're looking for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We found the same thing. We used to have a neighbor with many, many cats. Sometimes one of his cats would show up at our house and announce that it was too crowded over there and it would be moving in with us whether we liked it or not. Then the neighbor died and eventually stray cats stopped showing up at our house. When I called the local pet adoption places, they said they would not let us adopt because we do not believe in keeping our cats in the house 24/7.

That's true. Cats who roam outdoors statistically are injured and killed at high rates. Adoption contracts require you to commit to keeping them indoors. I've learned to look for the ones that seem temperamentally suited to indoor living.

There's longevity and there's quality of life. I'm willing to look for the ones that are not temperamentally suited to indoor only life.

NP I believe cats can have a high quality of life and be an indoor cat. If you think being cold and chased by other animals/cars/kids is a good fun time than you should try it. Unless you live in a rural place I think it is cruel to let them go outside.

We rescued one kitty from montgomery county animal shelter and two from the Humane rescue league in dc ( we were able to adopt that day) The other kitties we have had were found as kittens on the street and were friendly and they have adapted to indoor living only.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can absolutely adopt a singleton cat, just not a kitten. Kittens suffer if they aren't socialized properly and are usually very active and playful. Thus the shift to requiring they be adopted in pairs. If you're not willing to adopt a cat that's one year old+, that's your issue and an indication that you're only thinking of your own interests vs. a baby animal's well being.

That is a myth that cats need to live in pairs.

My experience is that if they are in pairs they tend to bond more with each other than the human. The only thing is you have to be up for some serious kitten rowdiness (which I would have no problem with).

This hasn't been our experience. Our two kittens were adopted together and never bonded together. Flash forward to a few years later where we adopted two sister kittens off the street and our one kitty has bonded with them!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can absolutely adopt a singleton cat, just not a kitten. Kittens suffer if they aren't socialized properly and are usually very active and playful. Thus the shift to requiring they be adopted in pairs. If you're not willing to adopt a cat that's one year old+, that's your issue and an indication that you're only thinking of your own interests vs. a baby animal's well being.

That is a myth that cats need to live in pairs.

My experience is that if they are in pairs they tend to bond more with each other than the human. The only thing is you have to be up for some serious kitten rowdiness (which I would have no problem with).

This hasn't been our experience. Our two kittens were adopted together and never bonded together. Flash forward to a few years later where we adopted two sister kittens off the street and our one kitty has bonded with them!

Yep. You'd think I'd learn this ^ since I've had multiple cats for 30 years. You really can't predict which cats are going to be bonded partners and which aren't.

We got a 2nd cat to be a friend to 1st cat when 1st cat was 1-yr old and pestering the hell out of the dog to play cat games. 1st cat stopped torturing the dog, switched to provoking the new 2nd cat, and never bonded with 2nd cat.

2nd cat — alone, young, and without cat friends — bonded deeply with the …. dog. 2nd cat thinks he's a dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can absolutely adopt a singleton cat, just not a kitten. Kittens suffer if they aren't socialized properly and are usually very active and playful. Thus the shift to requiring they be adopted in pairs. If you're not willing to adopt a cat that's one year old+, that's your issue and an indication that you're only thinking of your own interests vs. a baby animal's well being.

Thanks for losing your wig, but we are in fact searching for an adult cat! Not a kitten.

Not losing my wig, simply stating a fact. 1+ year old cats can be adopted as singletons. I've worked with at least half a dozen rescue orgs where this is the case. So either you're lying or misrepresenting the fact that they found something else unsuitable about your application.

Believe whatever you want, then, angry person.

I’m here for useful information, not grilling from crazies. Run along.

A "crazy" with actual experience in this area. Sounds like you'll be the one running along, without a cat thank goodness!

Ah, I think we will do just fine. Unclench, you’ll live longer.

Catfight!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got my last two cats from the Fairfax County shelter over ten years ago. It was easy. Is it hard there now too?

Same. We got a cat there 8 years ago. It was easy. She had to be spayed but the shelter arranged it and then we picked her up from the vet.

[Anonymous]

OP, try the Montgomery County Animal Services on Muncaster Mill. I think they just did a big adoption event but there's always kitties who need homes.

Also, try the Howard County Cat Club if you want an adult. They're a great organization.