Ok, so there were two potential cats I was looking at; one at my local CP and the other at Cat Action Trust. Thankfully the cat at the CP has been reserved and is going to his forever home today. They don't have another cat in their centre who gets along with other cats but asked me to come by tomorrow when they may do so.

So I called the Cat Action Trust regarding one of their kittens. The lady told me her friend 'may' come over from Spain and she had kind of reserved this cat as her friend 'may' want the cat. i.e. the kitten has NOT been rehomed or even reserved.

She then asked me my family situation so I told her we have two 8 month old cats that we have had since 9 weeks and a husband and a 4 year old son who will be 5 in a month's time.

She then proceeded to tell me that my son would cause upset to a kitten and that she is a school teacher and children's movements scare kittens and she couldn't let this kitten go to me. I told her I would bring my son to meet her so she could judge for herself, as he is a super calm child but she wasn't interested. She didn't mention any other cat or kitten she had that may be more suitable even though I know there are LOADS - so many that they cannot take any more cats/kittens in - and then says "All the Best" and hangs up.

So basically she slags off my son and groups all children in the same basket, (great teacher eh?!) even though I told her that my son does not run around like a headless chicken (which I know some kids do), and that he never approached our kittens until he felt confident not to hurt them. Neither does he make sudden movements around them still, as my husband & I have told him they are still babies, even though they are 8 months old now.
Also are you telling me adults don't made sudden gestures. If you want to group into one basket, how about men watching football for God's sake?
And all kittens/cats are not the same either for that matter!

My cats feel so comfortable with my 'nasty 4 year old' that they both cuddle up with him when I read the bedtime story, and last night Wilbur allowed him to have both arms around his neck and nuzzled into him. Oscar gives him nose kisses - yes I can totally see what she means by kittens and children not mixing

I am SO angry that I even bothered to contact them. No wonder rescues like hers are overrun. She reserves kittens for friends who aren't even in the UK, doesn't 'sell' older cats to potential rehomers even though I had mentioned I may want an older cat who would get along with mine.

She is one of those charity workers I despise. (used to work for a children's charity but much the same issues) Supposedly acting in the welfare of cats, but her actions simply keeping more depressed in rescue homes than in loving forever homes.

From now on I will only contact my local CP/RSPCA. Sod the smaller places (no offence to Rushden as Patsy sounds fab).

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*hugs*

I wish you had Karen my local Cats Action Trust lady - she allowed me to foster and adopt Loki and she's marvelous where for me CP didn't let me adopt as I have indoor only

just shows individuals are of no help

This makes me angry too. They won't home a kitten with a child, but what about the countless people without kids who then go on to get pregnant and decide they no longer want the kitten/cat. I'd have thought people who already have kids would be less likely to discard the cat if a new addition came along.

I've reserved kittens from the RSPCA and they were happy with me having a 3.5yr old. They were more concerned about my existing cat being an issue.

My 3.5yr old is a handful and can be loud and boisterous but I'm not stupid and well aware that he could be a danger so will be watching him very closely. I think it's only really an issue when the parents aren't aware of the dangers or don't care.

I was refused a kitten when my eldest was a 1yr old by the CPL, hence why I ended up with Kane aged 2. (He's now 9).

I do think it's a bit of overkill. Rather than banning kittens from homes with kids they should look at each case individually. Otherwise they'll just be encouraging people to buy kittens from BYB.

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Also mum to Mr Kane, a 9yr old ginger boy

I know it's really bad as if I didn't know better I would have rejected all rescue centres off the back of her. I am sure I spoke to the same rude woman before getting Oscar & Wilbur, except this time I had asked about older cats too, not just kittens. If I was rude and pushy I could perhaps understand it, but I wasn't.

I wish I could get angry and forget it, but it has upset me as I KNOW what a good owner of a cat my son is growing up to be, and that we as a family have really nurtured our Furbies into wonderfully content Juniors. How can someone dismiss us without even offering to meet us?

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It bugs me too! When we were looking for dog we were turned down even though they never spoke to or met us, was all odne via email from requests due to my daughters age mainly and the small back garden even though we live next to countless parks . We adopted other animals and they didnt even take that into consideration.

We still got a dog, as Im sure many people do.. first option was a rescue but we had thought long and hard and still got one, meaning some of the rescue animals that get pts or are in for years could have been adopted, if they just looked at each case individually. I know they are busy but at the end of the day, all the animlas need a good home, and many good homes are just overlooked. sad

Then they wonder why so many people use the likes of preloved, gumtree etc.

Hope you manage to get a new cat soon

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I know of two people who, over the past couple of years, have been turned down by different rescues. Both of them went on to get pets anyway (one via a dubious advert) and both have given brilliant homes to their animal companions. I feel sad for the rescue animals that could have had such wonderful homes.

I don't think this is an isolated issue. I fully understand the need for rescues to have rigorous vetting procedures and take into consideration the needs of the individual animal - but it seems like there's too much personal prejudice from some rehomers. Is it any wonder people go elsewhere when looking for an animal friend? It must be helping to fuel the trade in baby animals on Preloved etc as well as keeping rescues full to bursting

Lumboo - can you not contact the head office of the CAT and find out if this is their official policy or just some jobsworth being difficult?

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Harry: Ginger & White b. September 2002
Oscar: Black b. 7th May 2011
Kitty: Grey Tabby b. 7th May 2011

Our lovely cat family

Thank you - I will wait until my CP has a suitable cat as I know they home check properly, only let the cats go when they are ready, find out as much as they can about the cat/kitten, or state clearly that they don't know.

They have staff that care about the individual cat, not group them all under one umbrella, so when I say I need either a kitten that will grow to be used to our boys, or a cat already happy with other cats, they will actually take note.

Also they have met my son on numerous occasions; prior to getting our kittens, at the home check and a few times afterwards when we donated toys and he went into each pen (washing his hands in between each pen as he "didn't want to spread cat disease"), and playing with each cat/s in turn. Even the kittens approached him.

Never mind...just like these Furbies, our new cat will just fall into place with us. I get that feeling....

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So sorry to hear about your experience Lumboo, it is really sad that a cat/kitten has missed out on a good home because of this - although of course it has created an opportunity for another cat/kitten so I suppose the worst thing is how it makes you feel. This is why BYBs thrive. We were so lucky when we adopted ours (from Lothian Cat Rescue), they said they knew our area and thought it was ideal and they didn't balk at the fact that we both have full time jobs. I know it would be better for the mogs if one of us was at home more often but they are out and about all day (if they want), can come in to snooze when it suits and have each other for company (and the various neighbours they have chatted up). As you say, we could decide to have kids and that will change things but we are not the type of people who are going to dump our pets, they were there first and I couldn't bear to part with them. Some kids are boisterous but surely it is up to the parents to make sure they are ok with the pets? I'm sure my two have a far better life than if they had been left in rescue. The point is that there is no perfect home, if the charities are holding out for those it is no wonder they are overrun!

I might do that, as I don't think that a kitten or cat should be kept off a rehoming list because a friend 'might' move to the UK and 'might' be interested. What kind of rehoming policy is that?!!

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I've read (in Your Cat magazine ) letters from people who were refused by the CPL for dubious reasons - CPL investigated and basically said their policies weren't being adhered to by some local rescues. Cue apology to the people refused and "re-training" for the person making the errors. It might help other cats in the future if you highlight this to the people in charge?

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Harry: Ginger & White b. September 2002
Oscar: Black b. 7th May 2011
Kitty: Grey Tabby b. 7th May 2011

Our lovely cat family