Grrrr with pet adoption requirements

[milovany]

We have thought about getting another cat. We've gotten both of our dogs, in the past, from rescue/foster agencies and I'd love to get our next cat from one, too, because I see the value in giving an already-existing animal that isn't in a permanent situation a home. I've been looking at cats on Petfinder, specifically the Norwegian Forest Cat breed because that appeals to my husband.

 

But nearly all the agreements I see that adoptees have to sign have a stipulation on there that the cat will be indoor-only. I understand the philosophy behind this, kind of, but I also know that our current cat is SO much happier being indoor/outdoor. There's no way we could keep a cat indoors only when we're in and out all day long, and there are two lovely acres to roam with voles and mice to catch. So it seems we either have to lie on the application or wait for someone local's unfixed pet cat to have kittens they don't want to keep.

 

Your thoughts?

[Impish]

You can say "We INTEND for Senor Pussface to be an indoor cat" and leave it at that.

[jujsky]

I think it's a perfectly reasonable requirement. Indoor cats are generally healthier and live longer than indoor/outdoor cats. I have 3 indoor cats. We're in and out of the house all the time -- I don't see how that would be difficult or a problem. We go out, the cats stay in. We stay in, the cats stay in. They're in either way. None of them have been outside before, so they're happy being indoors.

[ApronMama]

I've wondered the same thing too. (Love those Norwegian Forest Cats...I want another Maine Coon.)

 

I think the agreements are ridiculous, unless the cat is declawed. Once you take it, its your cat. You would probably want to keep it indoors for a few days at least--wouldn't that fulfill the agreement ;) . I agree they are so much happy being indoor/outdoor. But I would also hate having to sign such an agreement to get a cat. That breed is hard to find, so you might have to sign it, or move forward hoping they don't actually make you sign it.

[Deniseibase]

I'd try looking places other than Petfinder, they seem to have the very strictest requirements, some of which are a little bizarre. I've owned dogs all my life & worked in a dog kennel for several years before my kids were born. But when I went to try to adopt a second dog from them, they turned down my application because I wouldn't promise to crate-train the dog. I have a large fenced back yard & just put my dogs out when we leave, which obviously is not that often with a homeschooling gamily where both the parents work from home!! :) But that was not acceptable to Petfinder. I had NO trouble whatsoever adopting a dog from the local Humane Society. You might try your local Humane Society.

[milovany]

I think it's a perfectly reasonable requirement. Indoor cats are generally healthier and live longer than indoor/outdoor cats. I have 3 indoor cats. We're in and out of the house all the time -- I don't see how that would be difficult or a problem. We go out, the cats stay in. We stay in, the cats stay in. They're in either way. None of them have been outside before, so they're happy being indoors.

 

Our current cat was trying to escape the entire time we had her in town. She just had it in her to be outside. When she'd get out, we'd try to get her back in and she'd fight and claw to stay outside. Once we bought this property, we let her be indoor/outdoor. She's SO much happier. She used to be pretty feisty, and we could never hold her. Now she jumps up on my lap every night. We all fully realize her life might be shorter in this situation, but we're fine with that because she's living a better life than if we kept her indoors. I realize not all cats are like this, but I don't think we'll ever make a cat be an indoor cat again.

 

Plus, litter boxes. Ew.

[jennsmile]

I would try craigslist. Adoption stuff for pets drives me batty too. We had a cat we adopted from a friend what was a barn cat. Try as we like we wanted her to be indoors. She wanted nothing to do with it. She would come home but she needed to roam and I think she kept our scorpian population in check. She got an abcess and my kids let her out while I was treating her leg and trying to get her to recuperate. But I agree some cats prefer outside.

[gingersmom]

I got our cat from our vet. She had been abandoned on their doorstep (with a note). You might want to check with some local vets.

 

I have only had indoor cats. But I can understand that some cats have a burning desire to be outside. My brother had a cat that lived his first 6 years of life in a NYC high-rise. They moved to suburbia and their was no way to keep that cat in the house. He was in heaven just being able to lounge outside or wander around.

[Jeannie in NJ]

I think 2 acres to roam in sounds great for a cat. When we move we are looking for a larger yard, fenced in so our cats can go out more but not bother the neighbors but wow 2 acres sounds great.

 

Some cats just want to be outside, one of my cats spends all day outside, if she doesn't she cries and cries and attacks my other cats. Three of the others like to go out sometimes and the last 4 have zero interest in the outside.

 

So maybe you need to lie in this situation at least a cat will be getting a wonderful home with you, outdoors and all instead of living in a animal shelter or being put down at the shelter.

[ktgrok]

the reason is that they see SO MANY cats injured/hurt/killed all the time, in that field, from being outside, that if they can find an indoor home they want to. That said, I have worked with foster groups that do get older, outdoor cats from time to time and will specifically place them as "barn cats" as they know those cats wouldn't be happy inside.