Adopting a rescue cat that is 3,000 miles away

Is it practical and sensible to adopt a rescue cat, which by chance, is 3,000 miles from where you live? Is it a folly to try to do this or is it heroic? An heroic effort to adopt an unwanted cat at any cost, almost. What an effort! How commonplace is this in America?

There would have to be a gigantic transportation effort. It is the sort of transportation challenge that many cat breeders don’t entertain mainly because it is too stressful and hazardous for the cat and what about the cost? Also arguably there is no need for this sort of long distance transportation because there should be someone who is local or certainly within a reasonable distance. For rescue cats that doesn’t apply, it seems. Are there guidelines on cat transportation amongst cat rescue organisations?

long distance rescue cat adoption
Long distance rescue cat adoption. Map from Wikimedia Commons (modified)

Well, a person living near the Pacific coast in California tried to adopt a rescue cat that was with a foster carer in North Carolina, which is the other side of the United States, almost 3,000 miles away. In this instance the kitten/cat was flown from Gaston County, North Carolina to LA, California (note: the cat was actually flown from Wilmington, North Carolina – sorry but not much difference). The last leg of the journey to Santa Rosa, California was probably planed to be by road.

The super long distance adoption failed when the 8 month old kitten, Cali, escaped the transportation container at Santa Clarita which is a suburb of Los Angeles (correction: Cali escaped a property where the person transporting the cat was staying – a “condo”). Cali had been transported across the entire breadth of America from East to West but tragically the last leg could not be made because she has gone, lost and cannot be found.

Tell me, was this:

  • (a) an adoption too far, too difficult or too risky or
  • (b) a tremendous effort that unfortunately failed to place a vulnerable and precious rescue cat in a good home in sunny California?

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72 thoughts on “Adopting a rescue cat that is 3,000 miles away”

  1. The author of the best comment will receive an Amazon gift of their choice at Christmas! Please comment as they can add to the article and pass on your valuable experience.
  2. Between the euthanasia lists and now all the dogs being neglected and starved and the police and courts failing to punish those responsible it’s a nightmare. The toughest thing to adjust to is realizing you do what you can and try to save them one at a time. Each save is a victory. If you think off the failures you’d go nuts.

  3. Gaston County tries but so many cats never make it out. One problem is there’s an over supply of cats in the south and many in the north have a shortage of cats. Rescues also have to factor in and deal with shelters who will work with them on pickup schedules. Gaston has a lot of supporters just as Greenville does. But it will never ever be enough to save them all.

  4. Because the adopter saw Cali’s photo and fell in love. When that happens distance doesn’t matter. I imagine you think it strange that’s local residents would allow acat to be euthanized but someone 3000 miles away is will to go to expense of adopting a cat they’ve never met. That’s just how much social media affects things these days.

  5. I don’t have stats but an 8-10 hour drive is fairly common. Especially up the I-95 corridor that’s a straight shot from south to north.

  6. I don’t think aircraft, airports and cats go together. As you say for a cat the whole experience must be frightening. My cat sh*ts himself going to the vet about 3 miles away 😉

    Isn’t there a better way to adopt a rescue cat and couldn’t all the resources, time and effort be put to better use? That is the question I am asking.

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