A British animal rescue organisation, which I can’t name today, insists that cats adopted from them are allowed to roam outside entirely freely. On what I have heard first hand, it makes no difference if you live in London or if you live in a place where there are many other dangers for a cat.
And it also appears to make no difference if your cat is 4 months of age, still not fully socialised and not fully grown despite the fact there are unneutered toms, foxes and dogs in the area. Of course, there is always the possibility of being run over even if the road is 400 yards away.
I have discovered that where I live there have been a number of attacks by an unneutered tomcat on other cats including my late and loved Charlie. A neighbour has lost two cats. In the past, many years ago I have lost a cat on the road, which has altered my views. I think a cat caretaker has to experience that to fully understand the potential dangers to free-roaming cats in urban areas in England. This is not a criticism of people who allow their cat to roam because each owner makes their own decisions and those decisions should be respected.
The rescue organisation’s spokeswoman told me that if they’d known my plans for Gabriel, they wouldn’t have allowed me to adopt him. This was deeply upsetting to me. I was his foster carer when he first came to me at about 6 weeks of age. He was semi-feral. It took countless hours of play and interaction to socialise him. I achieved a lot and praise from the rescue organisation. In fact my cat is better socialised than his sister who is being cared from by the organisation’s senior employee. However, he is still not fully socialised and he may never be fully socialised in the way we would like cats to be (relaxed with anyone and other animals).
Because of the genuine dangers for a cat where I live, despite the wonderful and extensive grounds, I plan to keep my cat inside until he is a few months older and thereafter, leash train him (if possible) and simultaneously build a decent sized mobile-enclosure outside in the back garden until I can move to a house with a good sized enclosed garden (quarter acre). That is what I consider to be a thoughtful plan with cat welfare uppermost in my mind at my expense.
I have plans to move to the country in the summer where I can ensure my cat has a good-sized, safe outside space. If the area where I buy is obviously safe for a cat and if my cat behaves in a way which reassures me that he will be as safe as possible, I’ll let him wander outside but even then I will supervise to a certain extent.
All this is unacceptable to the rescue organisation. They simply insist on free-roaming outside cats. For me this is a ridiculous policy which lacks refinement. Whether a cat is allowed free access to the outside depends on where the cat lives. That is obvious but from the organisation’s spokeswoman’s perspective “accidents happen” and even if Gabriel were to be killed roaming outside within the first 6 months this is preferable, according to her, than doing what I plan to do. That cannot be correct and tens of millions of Americans would agree with me.
In addition, provided the adopter complies with the contract (and I have) the organisation have no right to lecture a cat caretaker/guardian on day to day cat care after the adoption has taken place.
They have the responsibility to make a decision on adoption at the time of the adoption. They can’t go back on that. There are no rights to do that under the contract.
So, having had a nasty experience at the hands of what I consider to be a strident, argumentative and even bullying spokesperson for the animal rescue organisation, I am deeply despondent. It has undermined the whole foster/adoption process and even my relationship with my cat.
I realise that many people will say I am being overly protective but each cat guardian must make their own decisions based on the circumstances that they face. Provided the decisions are well thought through and respect for the cat respect and the cat’s welfare are a priority, they should be accepted.
The photo, taken today by me, is of Gabriel.
This is crazy! They are saying that Gabriel must be allowed outside no matter that he might get attacked or run over or lost, what sort of organisation stipulates that! Kittens should never be let outside before their vaccination course is complete and before they are neutered. Then in a safe place they should be accompanied into the garden to learn the scents and then a bit further so that they know exactly where home is and will return if they wander a bit further. But in a busy place like London this can’t apply, surely a large, secure, cat friendly garden with high perches and plenty of stimulation is the next best thing. Yes it’s depriving cats of their right to roam but more importantly it’s keeping them safe and this world is becoming more unsafe every day.
I agree with Babz, tell those people and their chosen vet who wanted to neuter Gabriel too young, to sod off, go to your own vet and pay yourself for what he needs and what you are happy with for him.
Michael, good to hear the contract is in your favour.
As you are the legal owner of Gabriel, surely they cannot neuter him unless you sign the vet’s consent form for the surgery to go ahead? Perhaps you should have a friend accompany you to the next appointment for moral support.
If the situation becomes confrontational when you take him for his 2nd booster or you feel they are ganging up on you, another option is to simply walk away and find another vet. I realise this would mean that Gabriel would probably have to start his round of vaccinations again. However that’s not necessarily a bad thing. There is strong evidence to suggest that many kittens don’t mount sufficient immune response after the usual 2 rounds of injections. Having this 3rd injection ensures kittens are protected and also increases their chances of being immune for life.
Surely at this stage when Gabriel has been legally adopted by you it is nothing to do with the rescue organisation he came from, it would be different if you were still fostering him but as he is now your cat they should have no say in his future. Every cat carer has to decide for themselves of it is safe to let their cat outdoors, and when, we have never let any of ours out under 6 months and not until neutered, at around 6 months of age. We have been lucky to live in cat friendly places, but I cannot imagine letting a cat, kitten in fact, roam free in London under any circumstances. Your idea for an outdoor enclosure sound the safest until you find your dream home, better he be enclosed than lost and frightened or attacked by another cat or animal. Please don’t deprive yourself of Gabriel and don’t sentence him to being returned to the regime of whichever organisation you had him from, if it was me I would gently but firmly tell the spokesperson to sod off, and go to a different vet for the second vaccination.