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?

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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.

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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 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).

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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.

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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 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.