Considering adopting a rescue cat

Hi everyone,

I already have two beautiful little girls and I'm considering getting a third. I'm happy with my two little girls, but it makes me sad to think there are unwanted cats out there with no home and that nobody seems to want. I ideally want a kitty who is having some trouble finding a new home. I'm not majorly eager to just bring any other cat into my life, and would prefer one who is having some difficulties finding a loving family, so I can at least help one who may otherwise be forgotten for even longer.

Today I spoke to a rescue centre about it and they told me they have a 3 year old cat called Libby who has been with them some time, not because of anything wrong with her, but because people tend to overlook black and white cats, so I think it'd be a great opportunity to give a chance to a kitty who might otherwise be without a loving family for a long time. My little girls are roughly 8 - 9 months old now, so it worries me a little that they may be too playful for Libby, but the woman at the rescue centre told me she's used to having other cats around her and if they are too playful, she'll just find a quiet place away from them.

Most rescue centres here in the UK are also against keeping cat's indoors only, but the woman I spoke to told me that all her cats are indoor only and so there wouldn't be any problems with me planning to keep her as an indoor only cat.

I already read up about proper introductions when I got Chloe, although the process was quite easy then, probably because Sophie and Chloe were still very young at the time, so I imagine I'll have to follow it a bit more strictly with Libby.

I'm just wondering if people here could advise me about any risks I need to look out for. If I do decide to adopt Libby, she'll definitely be having a vet check before she has any close contact with Sophie and Chloe but are there other things that may need to be tested for?

Thank you,

Sarah

Yes unfortunately the black and white kitties get overlooked, especially the tuxedo cats.  If this is a rescue with a good reputation she is probably healthy but a vet check would still be a good idea.

The main thing is a slow introduction.  One thing you need to be aware of, every once in a while kitties just don't get along even when you do everything right.  Usually though you can at least get them to the point of peacefully coexisting even if they aren't the best of friends.

Sometimes stress from being in a new home can cause some health issues, usually a UTI or URI.  It sounds like she is a pretty laid back easy going kitty so this probably won't be an issue.

It sounds like a lovely idea.  Most rescue groups have unlimited return policies should it not work out, and I would ask about this plus what if anything they cover medically post adoption.  Sometimes when a cat comes home it develops an URI and the adopter wants the rescue group to cover it, but they often don't and then point to the fine print in the contract that states this. Know exactly what they do to the cat medically pre-adoption (testing, de-worming, age appropriate vaccinations, spay/neuter etc) and what they cover post-adoption, and then there won't be any surprises.

Here are some good links on doing the introductions, especially if they prove harder this time around.

Congratulations in advance!

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/introducing-cats-to-cats

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/cat-behavior/introducing-your-cat-new-cat

http://www.catbehaviorassociates.com/a-simple-little-trick-to-use-during-new-cat-introductions/

yay! they'll be able to tell you Libby's temperament, how she'll fit in with your crowd... I got my Grisou that way (was at a loss because the Rogue used me as a chew toy and needed a playmate desperately). The rescue lady showed me her garage stuffed with cats in cages and told me this sweet little guy needed a home pronto as he was being bullied by a crowd of girl kittens. Now he sits on my lap (or keyboard) whenever possilbe... I'm so glad I got him 

In addition to what everyone else said, there's nothing wrong with Libby never fully embracing your 2 girls as her new sisters.  Peaceful cohabitation is OK too.  Good on you looking for the older kitty needing a home in a time when kittens are usually the ones most people look for!

Thanks for all the replies and info everyone I spoke to the woman at the rescue centre again this afternoon and I'm going tomorrow afternoon to meet Libby. There's no pictures of her on their website unfortunately to show you all, but I've been told she's black and white and tomorrow when I go to meet her I'll try take a picture or two if she'll let me.

I'm not sure how long the whole process of adopting her would be though. I want to meet her first and then take a couple of days to really think it through before I bring her home. If everything goes well though maybe later in the week or next week depending on what the whole adoption process is like.. I imagine they'll want to do a home visit and stuff first like most seem to want to do.

peaches08 said:

 
In addition to what everyone else said, there's nothing wrong with Libby never fully embracing your 2 girls as her new sisters.  Peaceful cohabitation is OK too.  Good on you looking for the older kitty needing a home in a time when kittens are usually the ones most people look for!

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When I got Sophie and Chloe they were both young kittens and I do feel a little guilty about getting them over cats that would have more difficulty finding homes. Even though I feel guilty about it, I'm still very  glad I have them both! They're my little angels and I love them very much and wouldn't trade them for the world.

Right now I'm happy having just Sophie and Chloe and have no real need for another cat but when I think about all the cats there are who are struggling to find homes it makes me quite sad, and I have the space so I'd like to be able to help at least one of them. I asked the woman at the rescue centre specifically about ones they're having trouble rehoming because if I bring another cat into my life, I want it to be one who might not otherwise get the chance of a loving home. With the cute little kittens and things, they'd have a much easier time finding them a loving home, so by adopting one of them, it wouldn't really make much of a difference to the cats who are struggling to find somewhere, and I don't want to just bring any new cat into my life, I'd rather find one that needs it more.

Great idea, although be forward when it comes to asking pertinent health questions. 

In my case, when I adopted a cat from the local humane society, I specifically asked about any health issues I should be aware of.  The girl behind the desk looked at her computer files and said no, there was nothing and that she was supposed to tell me, if there were issues.

At the time, I didn't know much at all about cats, so I accepted her answer at face value.  Yet, if I look back at my cat's photographs pre-adoption, there is clearly an eye issue that I was not informed about, nor was I aware of since I didn't know at the time to look for such things.

There was also a Level 4-5 heart murmur that I was not told about upon adoption.

I discovered this when I took my cat to my Vet, within a few days of adopting the cat. 

Having said that, I called the humane society back and informed them of my disappointment in missing such obvious issues; I spoke directly with the Vet. tech who looked at my cat and basically he apologized and said I could return the cat.   

I asked what would happen to my cat and he wasn't at liberty to say, so I made the decision to keep him.

My point being - try to be proactive and informed, unlike me who took the clean bill of health comment, at face value.

Some places are just so busy, that health issues apparently get over looked.  Yet - in my opinion it's very sloppy.

If I were ever to do this again - I would adopt a cat, upon condition of my own Vet. looking him/her over, before committing/bonding with him/her.  I don't think there would be a problem with that request. 

I just spoke to the woman from the rescue centre again to check if there's anything she needs me to take with her such as id, utility bills, etc or if it'd be dealt with on another visit and found out some more about Libby. Yesterday when I asked she wasn't certain of Libby's background without checking with someone else but she'd found out now. She told me that Libby was abandoned by her previous owner after having some kittens and has been with them for 9 months now.

It makes me so sad that a 3 year old cat has been overlooked for 9 months of it's relatively short life and it makes me want her even more. Hopefully when I meet her everything will be fine, and I can give her a much deserved home where she'll be loved and cared for.

She also told me that if I like Libby and she likes me I'd be able to bring her home today too. I didn't expect it'd happen so quickly since most places like to do a home check, but it'll be nice to get her out of a rescue centre and into a loving home a little quicker

SarahD1987 said:

I just spoke to the woman from the rescue centre again to check if there's anything she needs me to take with her such as id, utility bills, etc or if it'd be dealt with on another visit and found out some more about Libby. Yesterday when I asked she wasn't certain of Libby's background without checking with someone else but she'd found out now. She told me that Libby was abandoned by her previous owner after having some kittens and has been with them for 9 months now.

It makes me so sad that a 3 year old cat has been overlooked for 9 months of it's relatively short life and it makes me want her even more. Hopefully when I meet her everything will be fine, and I can give her a much deserved home where she'll be loved and cared for.

She also told me that if I like Libby and she likes me I'd be able to bring her home today too. I didn't expect it'd happen so quickly since most places like to do a home check, but it'll be nice to get her out of a rescue centre and into a loving home a little quicker

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Good luck with all of it, be prepared for the possibility that she won't be the cat you want to bring home, but there might be others, and please separate and do a very slow introduction. Your resident cats might get very upset at first. Please keep us updated! :-)

Well it's official.. Libby now has a forever home where she'll be loved very much! I wont take a picture just yet since she's only been home around 15 minutes so I'll wait until she's settled a little.

She's also a very sweet girl. I heard the saying before that you don't choose the cat, the cat chooses you, and that's so right! When I got there she was sitting on a work surface thing and I petted her a little, and within minutes she was leaning up on me with like her paws on my shoulders and rubbing her face all over me and licking my neck and I thought it was so adorable and couldn't just leave her there to be overlooked by people forever!

The woman from the rescue centre said when she introduces new cats, she keeps them in a crate thing for a few days while the cats get used to it. I decided I'm going to try that with Libby and if things seem to be going badly or in the wrong direction, I'll completely separate her and do a slow introduction. So far things seem ok though.. She's in the crate I got for Sophie after her accident and sitting in her bed happily. Sophie and Chloe hisses a little at her when they first noticed her but now Sophie is in the other room and Chloe is busy eating. I think Libby is used to having strange cats around though since the rescue centre has over 100 cats in their care currently and so she's not been any trouble and there's been no hissing or anything from her.

Part of the reason for also trying the crate thing first is because I'd feel very guilty leaving her in a room on her own with nothing to do! At least in the crate she can be here in the living room with me and have some background noise.

Anyway thanks for reading and I'll get a picture of her a little later once she's settled in a bit more.

congratulations... pictures, please!

Congratulations! What a great thread. 

Sometimes I find myself looking through these Cat Health threads and there's so many sad stories and problems but I love reading these where people like you do such a great thing by taking in a kitty who needs a home!

Sending good vibes that your other twins take to Libby like a sister    

Congratulations!!!!

And if you have introduction issues, please see:

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/introducing-cats-to-cats

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/cat-behavior/introducing-your-cat-new-cat

http://www.catbehaviorassociates.com/a-simple-little-trick-to-use-during-new-cat-introductions/

It's not the same thing but I used a large wire dog crate after my kitties had been separated for a month because of illness.  My little girl, who was not the ill kitty definitely was not happy she even hisses when my little boy comes back from a regular vet visit.  It actually worked very well.  Alice would keep inching a little closer before hissing each day.  I would put her in the bedroom a couple of times a day with the door closed so Patches could have time out of the cage.

How she is going now? No problems with resident cats?

She's doing really well. She's not aggressive at all. Since I woke up, she's been out of the cage and mostly cuddling with me on the sofa.. Sophie and Chloe aren't too happy and keep hissing at her, but there's been no fights and to be honest, I don't think they'd dare get into a fight with her since she's so much bigger. I do feel a little guilty about it though, since Sophie and Chloe are similar ages and really close friends and I've always read that in a house there'll always be one dominant cat, but with them two, I've never been able to figure out which it is if its either of them.. I think though that because of Libby's size and age, she's going to end up being the dominant one, and I feel so bad for messing up the little structure the two of them had.. I am glad to be helping a cat though who didn't have a permanent home, so they'll need to get used to the situation.. Hopefully soon though, they'll all be best of friends and Sophie and Chloe will be happy to have a new big sister.

Also Libby is booked into the vets for Monday for a checkup to make sure everything is well with her. Hopefully there's no problems because money is a little tight right now and there's no way I'd consider taking her back just because of some health issues. I feel like I've already bonded with her and she's a part of the family I also think she's overweight but i'm not certain if it's just that she looks overweight because of being quite a bit bigger than Sophie and Chloe, but I'll find out from the vet on Monday, and if she is overweight I'm going to have to put her on a diet because I'd like her to be a healthy weight so it reduces the chance of weight related problems later on..

I'll try get a picture of her on here some time this evening! Right now I'm getting ready to go to the shop and get some different cat food, since she hasn't eaten anything I've offered her since she's been here. She's used to an all wet food diet and so she wasn't really very interested in any of the kibble I have for Sophie and Chloe and at the moment I only have the Whiskas wet food pouches in that I bought a while back but Sophie and Chloe didn't like, and Libby also wont touch, so I'll go get some of the canned wet food from the shop nearby. Ideally I'd like her to be on a mostly dry food diet with occasional wet food as a treat like Sophie and Chloe because it's much cheaper and also helps keep their teeth clean (Libby has quite bad breath at the moment), so I'm going to try gradually transition her to dry food. I've read that you shouldn't mix wet food and dry food because it makes bacteria grow on it quicker, so I'll probably start with a 100% wet food diet with dry food constantly available and then gradually reduce the amount of wet food I give her. Eventually though, if the vet also thinks she's overweight, I might have to start doing set meal times/portions with them all rather than allowing them constant access to the dry food.

Libby had a little bit of a scare just now! I was about to go out to get some more cat food and she was in the hallway so I went to bring her into the living room to put her in the cage while I'm out, and she just suddenly ran away and when I followed her she started jumping around trying to escape from me.. I'm not sure what set her off, but for now I'm going to give her a little time to calm down. Going to go out now and instead of putting her in the cage, I'll just close Sophie and Chloe in the living room so she can have a little bit of a break from them and some time alone..