Please, before you go slamming the cats protection, an organisation that unlike some refuse to put a healthy cat/kitten to sleep unless it's really necessary, i strongly suggest you read up on them first!.
Sadie already has the e-mail that my branch sent to me about her situation but here's a copy of it which Chris said i could show.
Cats Protection Newcastle
Hi Susan,
Unfortunately each branch of CP and RSPCA work to guidelines, but create additional rules themselves, just as we at Newcastle have done. However, remember they are being run, with the exception of Adoption Centres, by volunteers, and our knowledge comes from experience. Not all volunteers have been 'at it' as long as those at our Branch.
We too made many mistakes at the offset, and have learnt the hard way.
Adoption Centres have paid staff, so now you come up against the opposite problem, the staff are trained to guidelines, and don't cater for the individual cat, hence they use rulings that may apply to strays to cover relocated domestic cats.
Its very much a no win situation.
Up here in the North East, we see problems that people down south wouldn't understand, we have the highest cruelty rate, and why? Mainly because we have no shelters and no educational program in operation.
We actively encourage people to retain their cats as housecats, and if they can to do as we have, cover over an area of garden. That way the cats are safe from road accidents and unpleasant neighbours who wouldn't think twice about placing poison down for cats.
This ruling about children under 5 is ridiculous, some kids arent fit to have a cat around at the age of 15 never mind 5, others are fine at the age of 2, so its a mistake to generalise. In fact I did a home visit today in Blyth, and the family had two kids, one aged 3 and one 10, both kids were gentle and listened to what I had to say, so I am sure they will be fine with a cat.
And think about it, how are children going to learn to respect animals if they never live with one, so again, that's a stupid ruling.
It sounds to me as though your friend visited Adoption Centres who simply have a set criteria to follow. She would be better going to a Branch rather than a Centre.
One observation I have is that if a cat has spent a long time as a stray, they often don't want to repeat it. They so often make wonderful house cats, as they don't want to have to hunt, they don't want to have to seek shelter. Ok some will want out, but the Centre should know which ones they think wouldn't adapt.
When a cat comes into us, it has to remain in the pen, it cant go walk about, so we know its going to have to stay put for at least 3 weeks. However, Adoption Centres don't keep them as long as we do, they put them up for adoption within a week or so of them arriving.
Anyway, hope that gives you my side of that argument.
Feel free to post any of this on your website.
Chris
