Common misconceptions about adopting a rescue animal – Cats

Not necessarily, but it will depend on the cat. If they are a known to wander far and wide and don’t stick to their own garden, then living on a busy road might mean we suggest you consider another cat. Once again, we have the welfare needs of the cat at the heart of every decision we make and if there is a high likelihood of a cat having an accident or sadly worse on the road, then it is unlikely you’ll be able to adopt that cat.

But if the cat you are interested in doesn’t wander far or is likely to stay close to home then a busy road may not preclude you from adoption.

Not necessarily. Sometimes there are cats that are unable to go outside due to health reasons, and so having a garden wouldn’t necessarily be a prerequisite. We sometimes also consider indoor only homes for our very senior cats who don’t like going outside.

Some flats still have access to outside space, such as communal gardens, and if you can show that the cat would have free and safe access to this space then your application would be considered.

Finally, while living in a flat may reduce your chances of adoption, have you considered fostering cats instead? If you foster with Raystede then we ask that these cats are kept inside while they are in your care, and so it can be an appealing option to cat lovers who live in flats. Find out more about fostering - https://www.raystede.org/adopt/foster-an-animal/

Sometimes we will have a cat in our care that needs to stay indoors for health reasons (see above question) but this isn’t particularly common. Some cats we receive into our care have been kept as indoor cats previously. However, each of our cat pens has a safe outdoor space that they can use and many have enjoyed being outdoors and we would advise on their profile that they might be interested in exploring the outside world a little more in their new home.

Yes, we would just need to see the landlord’s permission to have a cat at the property before reserving an animal to you.

When we invite you in to meet the cat you’re interested in adopting then we do encourage as many family members who will be living in the home to come along. If you have children then we do suggest that at least one of them should attend the meet and greet as it allows you to see how the cat interacts with each member of your family and enables us to observe how the cat behaves around them too. Usually meets last about 30 mins to 1 hour and we might also suggest a follow up visit, just so everyone is happy that the match is the right one.

We don’t ask for ages on our application form. As long as you are over 18 and your home set up works for the cat you are interested in, then we are fine with the adoption. Often older cats are looking for quiet, adult only homes and are just seeking a comfy lap to sit on. They can make perfect companions for older adopters.

We can receive a lot of applications for cats and do try to get back to everyone that has expressed an interest in them. However, if you are unsuccessful, once you have registered with us, please keep checking our website for new arrivals.

If you spot another cat you think might be a match, there is no need to submit another application form, just email us at info@raystede.org to highlight your interest.