Getting A Cat

[237SJ]

How does one go about this when all of the rescue places are deplete of cats? Any ideas would be welcome

[calmck]

Where are you? Have you tried Mayhew? They are based in London but I think they are in other places. Just Google Mayhew

[divegirl]

Where in the country are you? Not one cat in rescue near you? That warms my heart if true x

[pastafreak]

Where are you? I just checked the 2 largest rescues near me...8 at one, the other has 23. I'm sure there are more not on the websites.
I had to stretch my net a bit further than those 2, and went county wide. I suspect small rescues might be better as they may have no staff and need to rehome quickly. With small staff/volunteers, they are also trying to do everything at once...collect/deliver cats, assess them, get necessary vet checks etc.
I'd say contact and register interest to as many as possible. Stress all the positives of you being a cat parent, plus any experience you have. Pester them...call every week.

[237SJ]

^ It's very true which is good I know but ..

[237SJ]

Sorry, my reply was to Divegirl

[237SJ]

We've tried everywhere around here. You can have an indoor cat, 10+ year old cat, fiv+ but there is just nothing around. I know someone who's daughter paid £500 for a kitten recently. That disturbs me because because those kinds of prices will fuel a market for stealing cats (as happened with dogs) Last time I bought a cat was in 1983 - a Blue Burmese that cost me £20. Always had cats that 'found' me since then.

[Hopkirk]

Register your interest and wait patiently.

[237SJ]

You can't always register your interest in a generic way. Some sites have you register your interest per cat and when the cat has gone, your details are wiped. It doesn't help that a lot of sites are lax about updating the cats that are available for adoption. So you get excited about a cat, give the story of your life and the next day, you find out that the cat is reserved. It makes you give up hope really.

[ubasses]

Try a farm, they usually keep barn cats and can have more than one having a litter at around the same time.
Years ago we had 2 litter mates, one sadly developed pancreatitis and we lost him quite young, the second lived for 15 years and was a soft and loving boy.

[237SJ]

^ Not many barns around here :)

[pastafreak]

It looks as if you are looking for a sort of "ideal" cat...but please consider an oldie...maybe along with a younger cat. Also, though they need to be indoors, FIV cats can still live long, healthy lives. I got frustrated because I *couldnt* find an indoor cat. That's how I found a lady who specialises in rescuing battered street cats.

[237SJ]

I`m not looking for an ideal cat. I`m quite happy to have a youngish cat - in fact I would prefer that to a kitten. I have a nice garden with a microchip catflap. I know this is contraversial, but I don`t actually agree with cats being indoor cats. I don`t think it's natural for them. Just my opinion though.

[shoota]

https://www.pets4homes.co.uk/search/?type_id=2&location=richmond_surrey&distance=30

[jakep]

Try Cat Chat....on line site where many small rescues advertise.

[pastafreak]

^^^That's where I found my little rescue and several others.

[Toorak]

Cats protection?


Www.Cats.org.uk
.

[237SJ]

Toorak. Tried that. And Battersea, RSPCA, and a million other places.

[MynameisLuca]

I don't like keeping my cat indoors all the time either, I'm in an apartment, I have a balcony and I've made it cat friendly for her, she loves it. I do think they need to be outside occasionally.

[Tuvok]

SSPCA?

[Buenchico]

Check the noticeboards in pet stores, such as Pets At Home and Jollyes (as well as at smaller independent shops). People seeking homes for cats and kittens often place ads there.

I'm surprised that you can't find any cats near to you though. You've not said where you live but, since you've mentioned Battersea, I'll assume that London's not out of your reach. If that's the case, the Hillingdon branch of Cats Protection is looking for homes for . . .

Darcie
https://www.cats.org.uk/adopt-a-cat/find-a-cat?id=288466

Django
https://www.cats.org.uk/adopt-a-cat/find-a-cat?id=293379

and Honey
https://www.cats.org.uk/adopt-a-cat/find-a-cat?id=293378

(If you provide a rough indication of your location, I'll try to find a few more suggestions if you need them)