Cat adoption: when did it become so difficult?

[Anonymous]

OP, we had the same experience. Tried to adopt through a shelter and the hoops they made us jump through were ridiculous. We ended up getting a sweet stray a neighbor found that has been the best pet ever.

[Anonymous]

I really can’t relate to people saying a *shelter* is making them jump through hoops. I have adopted 4 cats from different area shelters (one just a few months ago) and the process consisted of filling out a one page form with my information and a few silly leading questions. Then poof, my application was “approved” and I walked out with a cat.

If you rent you had to show a lease proving you could have a pet, but I own so I didn’t need to show anything. Of course, they are looking for you to say “no” for the question about keeping your cat entirely indoors. If you choose to have that be the hill you die on (or don’t just say yes and then do whatever you want once the cat is in your possession) then you are not very smart.

Again, I have easily walked out of multiple area shelters with multiple cats with no issues whatsover. Every time this comes up, I can’t help but think it’s all a little hyperbolic.

[Anonymous]

I've adopted 4 cats over the years from the rescue out of PetSmart and it's so easy. I've gotten both kittens and adult cats and they let me stay as long as I needed getting to know the cats to make a decision and they have all been wonderful pets with very long, healthy lives.

[Anonymous]

Go to the new MoCo shelter:
https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/animalservices/

Many of the cat rescue groups are over the top and require home inspections and everything else. It is crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go to the new MoCo shelter:
https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/animalservices/

Many of the cat rescue groups are over the top and require home inspections and everything else. It is crazy.

We had a couple of crazy cat rescue ladies scream at my SN son to get away from their kittens at the Petco - but my son has raised numerous stray kittens and they love him. Dumbasses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I foster all the time and I’m not nuts or hostile. If you are you should find a new hobby.

[Anonymous]

+1 to Humane Rescue Alliance in DC or Animal Welfare League of Arlington or rescues that work with Petco/Petsmart.

All of these often have adult cats that are known to need to be the only cat (see above poster who offered you such a cat!).

I have one kitty from Animal Welfare League of Arlington--a magnificent cat.

When I adopted him, I think they said they might need to do a home visit or something, but they sent him home with me that night when I already had a carrier in my car and was already on the phone with my vet (this was long enough ago that cell phone calls were somewhat less common).

But yeah--I think they like to try to check potential owners out some just to avoid problems down the road.

[Anonymous]

Petsmart or Petco should be pretty easy. I adopted from Petco years ago - brought homecat same day. I imagine it’s the same process.

Also, there’s crumbs and whiskers in DC; it’s a cat cafe where you pay to hang out with their cats for an hour (to support their organization) and all cats up for adoption. I do t think you can bring them home the same day, but I doubt they make you jump through hoops - they were very nice.

[Anonymous]

^^ meant *don’t* think you can bring cats home same day

[Anonymous]

Following this thread with interest as I hope to get a cat or kitten in coming months. Does anyone have first hand experience with the organization Four Paws, based in Virginia? I'd like to hear how adopting from them worked out for you. I would prefer a kitten for many reasons (beyond cuteness....) so if you adopted a kitten/kittens from them or anywhere is like to hear about what hoops you jumped through.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I understand both sides of this issue. Certainly in terms of longevity, cats do best indoors. Some cats are unhappy being indoors only, and we have tried being flexible. But here are the results: our indoor only cats are still with us, our indoor-outdoor cats have all died prematurely. Three (one older, two young) hit by cars when they wandered too far from the house, one got into something toxic that poisoned him. My DH felt for a long time that we should respect cats' instinct to go outside, but he now agrees we should commit to indoor only. It's not always easy, but we believe it's the better choice for the cats' wellbeing. Many (most?) shelters feel strongly about this, because they know the statistics and have seen lots of bad stuff.

[Anonymous]

Lots of cats currently available at the Montgomery County animal shelter: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/animalservices/adoption/cats.html

Adoption process:
https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/animalservices/adoption/howtoadopt.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I understand both sides of this issue. Certainly in terms of longevity, cats do best indoors. Some cats are unhappy being indoors only, and we have tried being flexible. But here are the results: our indoor only cats are still with us, our indoor-outdoor cats have all died prematurely. Three (one older, two young) hit by cars when they wandered too far from the house, one got into something toxic that poisoned him. My DH felt for a long time that we should respect cats' instinct to go outside, but he now agrees we should commit to indoor only. It's not always easy, but we believe it's the better choice for the cats' wellbeing. Many (most?) shelters feel strongly about this, because they know the statistics and have seen lots of bad stuff.

When I grew up we had a cat that used to be an outdoor/indoor cat, it lived a long life. The cats getting hit by cars and being poisoned is a worst case scenario. I was in my 20's before I heard of cats staying indoors 24/7. As an adult I had two cats which I let out into the backyard, they loved it. When I brought them back inside they would sit by the patio door wanting to go back out. The only real problem I had with my cats being outdoors is I didn't want them to poop on the neighbors property. One of the reasons I no longer have cats is because I don't want to keep them locked up in my house all the time. Sorry if people have a problem with that, but it just doesn't sit well with me. I have a co-worker who has a dog that he never takes out for a walk. It stays in the house all the time except when he lets it out into the backyard. That's weird to me.

[Anonymous]

An FYI about kittens. Most rescues and shelters do now require that kittens be adopted in pairs. Also, most young kittens will bond just fine (we've never had an issue) but if you're concerned look for 'bonded pairs.' You'll see a number listed this way on Petfinder.

We were recently looking for a kitten to bond with our young cat after his playmate died. When we looked at the shelter, we zoomed in on the kittens that were cuddled together. If you see a kitten in a cage alone, you can ask if the shelter will let that one go as a singleton. There is sometimes a reason they're not sharing with 1-2 others when space is obviously in demand. For example, we looked at a sweet little boy, Hutton, at the Moco shelter but didn't move forward with him because he'd be best adopted alone since he was not socialized properly (came from a hoarder's house). So it is harder to adopt a single kitten but not impossible.

Adopting a singleton one year old and up is not a problem. And in my experience they're still pretty kitten-like at that age .

[Anonymous]

we had the same experience with adopting a dog. We've had dogs, we're two professionals (one works from home), we have a relationship with a vet.
The rescues had us driving all over the DMV for "meet and greets" for dogs and we after a few such events we weren't chosen to adopt.
I had enough of that and bought from a breeder. Our dog has been with us for 3 years and is like a child. Sleeps by my feet every day when i work.