A few days ago I emailed the Cats Protection League about a lovely cat that had been available on their website for some months. Apparently it had been stray in someone;s garden for a year.

Anyway I told them about myself and I received a reply today telling me I had to have a home check first. I have no problem with this as I had a homecheck by the RSPCA before adopting my current cat. I then emailed back to ask if they could reserve the cat I wanted until I had had the homecheck done, and they pointblank refused.

They said "You must have the Homing Visit and be approved for adoption before we can consider what cat you would be matched with".
So it seems I wouldnt even be able to choose what cat I wanted, but could only have one they decided on. What an absolute cheek!

Why on earth would someone have a homecheck if they couldnt have the cat they wanted if they passed it?

No wonder there are so many animals without homes with such an unfriendly and unwelcoming attitude from these people.

My current cat lives the life of luxury. I only wanted to give that other poor animal the same opportunity, but unfortunately the CPL would rather keep it in a miserable pen somewhere.

Anyone else had a similar experience?

I think there's just been a breakdown in communication. They need to check out your home to see what kind of cat it's suitable for. For example, if you have another cat some of the cats in their care just don't get on with cats. Some cats hate children or a busy household, other cats love hussle and bustle and would be bored if left alone during the day. They are just saying they need to match the cat to the owner and home. Of course, you get to choose your own cat but it may be that the cat you want may not be suited, for a variety of reasons.

Cats Protection was very good to me when I re-homed 2 cats last year, both ones I had seen on their website and then went to view. Luckily, I was told that they both liked other cats (I had one already) and my home was deemed suitable, I live in a quiet area, have a cat flap and am an experienced and responsible cat owner. Both cats were reserved for me for nearly 3 weeks until I had returned from a scheduled holiday - I obviously didn't want to take them before my holiday.

Back in 1994, I didn't have such a good experience when I contacted them about adopting a kitten. I asked for a female tabby kitten and they 'reprimanded' me, they said I couldn't pick a cat to colour co-ordinate with my home . I also lived in a first floor flat (at that time) and they insisted that any cat I adopted from them must have access to the outdoors. Their attitude put me off so I didn't proceed with the home visit and I procured my Tabitha from a local ad. However, their insistence that cats should be let outdoors had struck a cord with me and I did later get 2 cat flaps installed so that my Tabitha could get out of my flat, when she wanted.

I think the volunteers (and they are just volunteers, people who really love cats) at Cats Protection do a really good job but, sometimes, their dedication to matching the cats to suitable homes, and the way they communicate this, can come across as being 'difficult'. I would rather this than cats being re-homed to unsuitable homes, they're just trying to do their best for the cats.

There has been a breakdown in communication because of their attitude. As for being reserved for you for 3 weeks, they told me straight that they do not reserve cats. I am an experienced owner, and had no problem when I adopted from the RSPCA 3 years ago. Frankly its ridiculous to tell people that you have to have a home visit and they cannot reserve the cat you want meanwhile. They need to remember that cats getting a good home is more important than their stuffy rules.

But how can they verify that the cat is getting a good home until they carry out a home check? They won't take your word for it, they didn't take mine. I can assure you that my cats were reserved, I even posted during the process last year - however, they were reserved after my home visit. The RSPCA rescue centre up the road from my home told me they didn't reserve cats, even after a home check, but most CP branches near me do - perhaps it depends on individual branches policies.

You may be unhappy with their attitude, I can understand that, I wasn't very happy myself in 1994, but their job is to ensure a good home match for their cats. There are other rescue centres you could try - but they'll probably have the same 'stuffy rules'.

I think it depends on individual branch policies. I also think there may be a bit of careful management going on behind the scenes. If someone is home-checked ahead of you, OP, and they too are in love with the same cat, then off the cat goes to its new home. However, understandably the CPL wouldn't want to lose you because a cat was already "under offer" after a home check.

It's not as if just one cat is perfect for an exact owner - if I went to the CPL or anywhere else I'd probably find half-a-dozen or more I'd be happy to adopt.

Best wishes for the home check when it happens and I'm sure whoever you eventually welcome into your home will be a much-loved addition.

And if I can say this gently: sometimes (only sometimes) people who are passionate about animals and welfare are not that good at communicating with people. Their empathy is best used for the animals under their care, not necessarily the sensibilities of the people who're looking to adopt. So occasionally the communication can go awry or not feel comfortable. But they still have the animals' best interests at heart.

I dont think you are understanding my point MarellaK. I am not against having a home check. As I have already said, I had one with the RSPCA before adopting from them, and completely agree that a homecheck should be done. My gripe is that if I am willing to undergo a house check in order to adopt a particular cat, that cat should then be reserved for me.
What on earth is the point of undergoing a house check if they wont reserve the cat, and even tell me that they will decide what cat is right for me! I've never heard such high handed nonsense. Again, as I think I said before, when I adopted with the RSPCA they were happy to reserve the cat whilst I had the home check, it only took a few days for goodness sake.

Normandie:
I understand the points you have made perfectly. Another person might want the same cat and be home checked ahead of me. I wouldnt have a problem with that, as long as I was told. At least I would be able to give them my details in case the adoption fell through.

They also have stricter rules than picking a cat up from an advert in a pet shop window.

I wouldn't bother with them as you have to live in a rural place before they even consider you suitable.

My two experiences with the CPL have been wonderful!
My mum loves grey cats and after having dogs we decided it was time for a cat- not a kitten but a cat.
We waited several months until one became available and homechecked and met the cat and loved him. Brought him home. He lived in luxury- fed off the table, slept on the bed etc. Until he passed away.

A few months later we rescued some kittens from them! Again no problems.

Unfortunatly the woman that we dealt with has stopped rehoming as she is ill. We still keep in contact! she lives 5mins away! and we both use the local vets!

You asked for our own experiences and I explained mine. Cats Protection was wonderful to me last year when I was grieving for my late Tabitha and they reserved the 2 cats I wanted with no problems at all. I even used a branch from outside my own area and they didn't mind sending one of the volunteers to carry out the home check. I know some branches won't re-home outside of area - again, it depends on their policies.

You may have had a good experience with the RSPCA but I didn't. The cat I viewed at the RSPCA centre, they wanted me to take immediately (I had been home checked) even though I was due to go on holiday in a few weeks. They wanted me to return (and pay) for boarding of the cat, alongside my other cat, while I was away. They could not understand why I felt this would be very disruptive and unsettling for both cats but they flatly refused to reserve the cat.

Rescue centres mainly rely on volunteers who love animals but, as Normandie has said, their people skills may be somewhat lacking. They do their best for the animals so I admire them for that, I'm sure if it was a properly paid 'job' some of these people would be sent for training on how to deal with the public.

I'm an upfront a fan of Cats Protection, but I think the issue here may be one email as as the medium of communication? It's so easy to misunderstand or even inject meaning (and insults) that aren't intended into the written word. Have you spoken to someone at CP or visited the cat, missfrizzy?

In all honesty, I don't see how an organisation can "reserve" an animal for someone they don't know, before they've gone through the necessary checks that form part of their standard procedures to ensure that the animal is going to an appropriate home and owner.

Now I concede that it would have been nice if they offered to keep you in the loop about the adoption process and any other potential owner interest. But then again ... how many folks email and say I want cat X, only to be never heard of again? They must get a lot of time wasters -- and I mean no offence to you by that observation, I believe you are sincere.

I'd see if I could chat to someone on the phone at least.

I think you are probably right there. Their priority seems to be keeping to their "rules" rather than getting the cat the best possible home.


We've been emailing back and forth. Like I said to "stud u like", they appear to have these steadfast rules that they would prefer to stick to, and if it means the poor cat loses out, well so be it.
It seems a strange way to go about things, but now I know what they are like I wont approach them again.

I notice from another thread that your current cat is a house cat with limited outdoor access. Cats Protection are strong advocates of letting cats outdoors so you probably wouldn't get the cat you wanted anyway, they may not perceive what you can potentially offer as ''the best possible home'' for that particular cat. They would have some cats suitable for indoors - but your choice would be limited.

It's a shame so many people criticise the 'strict rules' of some rescue organisations. We may not always like the rules, we may not feel they should apply to us because we obviously know ourselves, we know we would give the cats a good home. But the rescue centres don't know us, they need to be certain their cats are going to safe, good homes and, even with their current rules in force, many cats are still returned to the centres.

Most cats generally do get re-homed eventually or, if not, are kept in long term foster care. Even the RSPCA centre near me do not keep many cats long term in pens, they are returned to their pens from their foster homes, on certain days, for viewing purposes only.

When I was trying to adopt cats last year, I approached several local rescues - maybe 5 - because I specifically wanted a female tabby. After the initial e-mail enquiry, I always made sure I spoke to some one in person about my situation and requirements and I found everybody very helpful and sympathetic, they were then able to clarify their individual policies and rules. As Rooty has said, e-mail communication is not conducive to clarity and the general tone can easily be misinterpreted.

I'm a big fan of Cats Protection. Even after my previous not so good experience with them I still decided to make them the charity I would donate to monthly, for about 15 years now. It's a shame you feel as you do when they're really only trying to do the best for the cats in their care.

I can understand why they won't reserve the cat before your home check. If you fail for whatever reason or are deemed not a suitable home for this cat then that reservation could potentially prevent the cat from getting the right home by someone ready and able to take it there and then.

There is no reason for CP to work the same as the RSPCA, and indeed branches of both don't all work the same.

However - suppose you fail the home check? Not saying you will, but some people do. What then? They have to find the list of other people interested in the cat and get in touch with them. If a lot of people fail a home check, that's a lot of work for a voluntary organisation where almost all branches never have enough people to do the work.

If you think they should run waiting lists and so on, why not both make the suggestion and offer to do the work?

The rules have become established because of their past experiences. The last thing they want is to have to rehome a cat again. Their rules are intended to ensure that happens as little as possible. If you were already known to them then there might be some flexibility, but they don't know you from Adam until the home check.


Now that's what I call an attitude.

Having done a bit of animal rescue years ago, before there were so many organisations devoted to it and before it became so regulated, I was often gobsmacked by people who approached me. I had one lady who turned up with a zipped shopping bag, and expected I would let her waltz off with the cat in it, another who planned to put a large fully grown cat in her cycle basket and take it home along a busy road (It's for the kiddy') Another who refused a homecheck because he 'wont have anyone interfering with my animals' Needless to say all of these went home empty-handed, so I have alot of sympathy for what might seem an over-zealous approach that rescue organisations have now.

Things have changed so much in the past 14 years, when we went to get our cats all the RSPCA asked was whether we had had cats before and then when we said yes they said we were suitable for a kitten. Granted my parents have a garden that backs on to a playing field so the cats can roam all they like but the RSPCA didn't know that.

But all this house checks, cats need to be able to go outside/have a garden, not live near a main road etc has really put me off getting a cat from a rescue centre. I said to my partner once that if we went to get a cat we would be turned down, we live near a main road, don't have a garden, no cat flap (we have an enclosed porch so would have to have two cat flaps put in). However our cat is loved, goes out when she wants, she runs around like a nutter or sits at the bottom of the stairs by the front door or comes and meows at me until I get up to let her out, we don't have a garden but she sits out in the communal square or goes off on walks.

Also I find that when you find the one, you and it knows that you are likely to be friends for life, no one else can find that and if the rescue home is going to pick the cat they think is best for you then that special bond doesn't automatically happen. We looked at so many cats but it was certain ones that decided that they are the ones for us (they came and talked to you and let you cuddle them), a bit like that advert with the dog in the rehoming centre(can't remember which advert it was now).

Rescues don't pick the cat for you, but they will try to steer you to cats that they think will suit your cirumstances. If you are not at home most of the time most days then a kitten won't be for you - they need more attention than you have time for.

I'm sure they would have no problem homing a adult cat that had to have an indoor only home for whatever reason to you.

I don't agree that things have changed that much.....I approached Cats Protection about 17 years ago and they were very strict back then. As I posted previously, they insisted I would have to let their cat outside etc. I really wanted a kitten at that time and it didn't seem I met their criteria (I worked long hours and lived in a flat, albeit in a very quiet area) so I procured my beautiful kitten Tabitha through a small ad - and I'm so pleased I did, I really really loved her, right up to her death at 16 . I didn't hold any grudges against CP and took most of their very useful and sensible advice on board. I had 2 cat flaps fitted (I had to write to the other leaseholders for permission) to allow Tabitha outside access and I ensured she was neutered early and vaccinated yearly etc.

The rescues definitely do not choose your cat for you but, as Cats Five has posted, they take into account your individual circumstances. For example, I now live in a house in a very quiet area with a lovely garden and have a cat flap but, last year when I was adopting from CP, I also had a resident cat. Some of the cats in these centres just do not get on with other cats - sometimes this is the reason why they're in rescue in the first place. I also wasn't suitable to adopt kittens because of the hours I work (but I didn't want a kitten anyway). I most definitely chose my Millie and Lucy, they were the 2 cats I spotted on the website, I initially intended to take just Millie but Lucy had been with her for months so it seemed wrong to separate them. I also believed taking 2 cats would help with the integration and settling in process (it definitely did!). I had also been to the RSPCA cattery and was encouraged to look and interact with several cats there but I was particularly looking for a female tabby and the only one they had was very shy and not likely to get on with my other cat (and the RSPCA wanted me to take her immediately, which wasn't convenient). At no point was I ever told that the cat would be chosen for me but the cat(s) I chose must fit in with my lifestyle and individual circumstances.

Also, I know lots of people who have cats and live on relatively busy roads, but cats are statistically much more likely to be killed on a busy road than a quiet road. It would be a bit reckless to re-home cats (unless they were indoor cats) to houses on busy roads.

Rescues need to have rules but they also take individual circumstances into account - which is why a home visit is very useful. People may seem unsuitable due to where they live or the hours they work but the home visit isn't just about checking where you live, it also involves lengthy discussions about your responsibilities as a cat owner and your understanding of all that is involved - for example, the potential vet bills!

I have to agree with the majority of posters on here OP, the CPL can't reserve a cat for you until necessary home checks have been done because like others have said you may end up failing them and then the process would need to start over again with new potential owners.

I actually can't believe some people disapprove of places like CPL wanting to do home checks etc - i would much rather them be a bit stricter on rules than just let anyone go take a cat home without doing any sort of back ground check.
I have had nothing but positive experiences with CPL, and think they are a wonderful organisation.

However i have previously had a bad experience with RSPCA - 3 years ago when i moved out of home me & my fiance at the time decided we would like to rehome 2 kittens, and i phoned up RSPCA & was told that since i work full time i would automatically be declined for adopting kittens - even though i said i would be taking a week or 2 off work when we first got them & me and my fiance did different working weeks so they would only be alone 3 days a week at most.
I could totally understand and agree with this had it been a puppy.

CPL had no problem with me working full time but just stated that i would have to get 2 kittens rather than 1 which was the plan anyway.

I wouldn't say you have to live in a rural place, i live in a fairly busy little town & live one street away from a main road however i was allowed to take on 2 kittens.

Theres a similar thread on another forum where the potential owner admits she lives in a top floor flat, works all day and has never owned a pet before never mind a cat, and she's getting all sniffy because the CPL dared to ask for a home visit and to question her...