So much hastle to adopt a rescue cat!!?

yep way too much hassle,i understand they need to find good homes for the cats,but this is a big turn off to go to this much hassle.Yes would definitely put me off getting a cat.

I've done animal rescue work for years. Let me explain a few things about shelters and rescues to you that you're not aware of.

First, I am sure their hours were clearly posted on their web site. You could easily have checked their hours, the same as you'd check the times prior to going to see a movie, etc. No difference. And also note that a good number of the people who work at shelters are unpaid volunteers. They do this out of their love for animals, and generally have full time jobs and families. You can't expect shelters to be open at all hours.

When you first go to apply for a cat, they have you fill out an application, and go on from there. No, they do not hold a cat for you until you're approved. No shelter or rescue does. What if you*don't* get approved? Then they have missed out on placing the cat(s) you wanted in a good home while they are waiting on you.

After all of this, shelters rarely do "on the spot" adoptions. Hassle to you - the assurance to the shelter that this isn't some sort of impulse on whim, meaning the cat comes back to them and they're back to square 1. And many shelters have a policy where returned cats are euthanized, as they 'had their chance' and now it's time for another cat to get a chance.

And of course there is an adoption fee - just because they are rescue cats, it doesn't mean it's free to vet/house/feed them! Most of the adoption fees don't even begin to cover the cost of vaccines, spay and neuter, and other vetting.

If adopting a rescue or shelter cat is too much hassle for you - then by all means, you can get one someplace else. Policies are in place for reasons, and they do have the added 'benefit' of weeding out people.

Yes, it is too much hassle.

I have made enquires several times about pets requiring adoption due to them having been at the shelter for years and they seem to make it as difficult as possible.

I think that if they took a deposit on the day to reserve and sent them home with a sheet about what is needed. Then they go around to deliver the pet and check the house on the day referring to the checklist.

If they don't pass they either lose their deposit or pay a further amount to cover the wasted trip and then they get one more chance before losing the deposit.

It happened the same thing to me few years back when I wanted a dog (for which they would have charged me £ 130), I think they want to see how hard do you want to rescue an animal, so they test you, what shocked me the most was how rude they were. I eventually didn't pass the home visit, living on 50 acres of land was an hazard for the dog, much safer keeping him in one foot square cage! Shocking!

If I can advise you, don't give up on the rescue, try to see if there are other shelters around you!

I'll answer this with my rescue hat on....

firstly , I'm sure all relevant info. is on the website. As you say, your first day was your fault for not checking opening hours.

Secondly, having worked in a CP shelter for several months.

We start work at 8, empty trays from runs, clean any bad messes. Then we feed and medicate. After this each pen and run is washed and disinfected down and trays / feeds as necessary. Cats are taken to vets.

Behind the scenes there are litter trays to wash and scrub, deliveries to sort out. Cats to move, bedding to wash, most of this going on thoroughout the day.

It is usually a rush to get everything done by 11am for opening for viewing.

At 3 pm when the doors close there is feeding, quick cleaning and medicating before going home....

Hence the short opening hours.

Home visits are essential. I am now a trustee of Coventry Cat group. I also do the co-ordination so take in the calls for people wanting rid of cats.... As much as I really want to find homes for the cats I have I am not going to home a cat to an unsuitable home. The amount of cats that come in because people have not checked with their landlord, or the children have got bored with and a whole host of other reasons means there are several factors we look for. Also we are not going to home an outside cat to a house on a main road or a nervous cat in a house with three young children... and we will want to know about previous cat experience. Even with this we sometimes get it wrong and hate ourselves for it.

Depending on where you live I am surprised you have to travel over 2 hours to a rescue especially in the UK. There are many small local rescues such as ourselves that work from our own homes and as such do not have opening hours. If you came to my house early, the cleaning may not be done and the house will smell - tough! I am amazed that the rescue will even think of doing a home visit 2 hours away - I'm assuming its a well known rescue.

For a list good list of UK cat rescues including the smaller ones see

http://www.catchat.org/adoption/index.html

a lot of people only think Cats protection or RSPCA but the truth is that all the small independents probably have more cats combined that they do.

Ans as for paying £25, that seems awfully cheap. You must remember it is not really a payment for the cat but a donation to help the charity continue to exist. I assume the cat will come neutered if old enough, treated for fleas and worms and possibly even vaccinated. We 'ask' for a minimum of £40, more if vaccinations have been done as we have to pay vet prices for these things.

Even without the expense of a rescue centre to run and getting this level of donations we run at a £10k loss per year - funded by mad days fundraising that earn us little and surviving from one legacy to another.

Even though bigger rescues need to fund care staff, they rely heavily on volunteers to do a lot of work and keep costs down.

Small rescues are manned purely by volunteers, I am often on the phone at 8 am, cleaning and feeding my foster cats, trapping, fundraising , doing admin, finance and vet and home visits and sometimes still at it 12 hours later and sometimes 7 days a week.

And yes you can get cats via other sources than rescue for free. You won't have the back up of a rescue if something goes wrong, you do not know the history of the animal you end up with. These people tell all sorts of lies to get rid of their pets. You may even be supporting the growing number of back street breeders who sell kittens to make some money on the side and don't really care that there are just too many cats around to find homes for.

I'm sure you'd be the first to moan if animal rescues did not exist.

so there, venting some of my frustration - I too could write an essay.

If you want less hassle do you homework, go to a local rescue and read what someone has bothered to spend time writing on the website.

Again, as far as cost is concerned, considering how much it will cost you for the lifetime of the cat , getting one for free or paying a few hundred quid for it will not ultimately make much difference.

I think it's too much hassle. I understand them wanting to make sure the cats go to good homes, but it seems excessive to me. Here in the states at the shelter I volunteer at, prospective adopters are free to come in and see the cats. If they find one they are wanting to adopt, they fill out an application, and if you don't own your home they will call your landlord to make sure you can have pets. They also ask a few other questions concerning how well you will be able to care for the pet (is your yard fenced, are your other pets spayed and neutered, etc.). If that checks out, you can adopt the pet. Our shelter charges $85.00 for a cat, but that includes spaying or neutering, vaccinations, and micro-chipping. Most people don't want to pay that price for a pet they aren't going to take care of. The fee separates those who really want a pet that they'll take care of, from those that want a freebie pet they can't really afford to own.

Yes. Definately too much hastle. I didn't know they were so picky. One thing is to wanna give the cats to responsible persons that will take good care of them and another is too make such a long process to get the animal.