Cat adoption: when did it become so difficult?

[Anonymous]

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?

[Anonymous]

drive to a rural area with lots of horses and cattle. plenty of kittens beung guven away. best pets we've ever had.

[Anonymous]

We adopted from a rescue last year. We had just moved to the area and they wanted three local references. Plus the name of our local vet. I pushed back hard. I said I wouldn’t provide any local references because I didn’t know anyone well enough to ask. And I told them we would get a vet as soon as we adopted. I told the women I could probably find a kitten in the newspaper and that if she wanted my $160 adoption fee she would work with the information I provided.

I left with a kitten.

[Anonymous]

Have you tried going to a shelter? Particularly one that is NOT a no kill shelter? There are too many animals that need homes to be so picky about it. Rescue orgs that don’t have to take in every cat and then figure out what to do with them can be unrealistic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you tried going to a shelter? Particularly one that is NOT a no kill shelter? There are too many animals that need homes to be so picky about it. Rescue orgs that don’t have to take in every cat and then figure out what to do with them can be unrealistic.

I would love to try this. But when I’ve contacted local shelters in Fairfax, they’ve referred me to cats housed at private rescue organizations. One of which wanted ongoing home visits plus a friend to sign a contract agreeing to take the cat if we should suddenly, I don’t know, die or dematerialize? The other wouldn’t adopt out any singleton cats.

Which shelter did you visit? Would love to hear about happy adoption experiences....this is so depressing.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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

[Anonymous]

Animal Welfare League of Arlington. Same day adoption. Couldn’t be easier. Or find one of the Wolftrap events at Petsmart and also get a same day adoption.

I can’t believe the Fairfax Shelter is turning you toward a private organization? And the rescues are being so stringent about cats? I’d like to believe you but these stores all seem a bit dramatic. Cats are a dime a dozen and shelters are constantly overrun with them.

[Anonymous]

Craigslist

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

OP, have you tried the Montgomery County animal shelter?

You can also browse on Petfinder, the kitties come from all different organizations.

[Anonymous]

Adopted a single kitten from PG County animal shelter about a year ago. Spring is kitten season so try waiting a couple months.