Cat adoption

[crazywiggy]

Some of you may have seen my earlier post about dog adoption - change of plan. My finace and I are moving into a flat rather than a house with garden, so for the time being a dog is out of the question.

We have agreed a cat would be the best pet for us. I consider myself a dog person but cats are a close second. My partner is the other way around, and has some experience of living with cats and kittens (his old house mates).

As we will be in a first floor flat the cat or cats would be indoors only. This is something I have only just started looking into, but I am a complete convert - even if I wasn't in a flat I would think twice about letting the cat out alone.

The problem in the UK is that many rescues will not rehome to flats, or anyone without a cat flap. Indoor cats are taboo over here, expect the pedigrees from breeders.

The next problem is that we have decided on a kitten or two. While some rescues will rehome elderly or disabled cats as indoors, kittens seem to be out of the question.

So I have 2 questions:

1) Does anyone know of any cat rescues in the greater london area that will adopt kittens to part time workers (left a few hours three times a week) to indoor homes?

2) If not - how can I tell rehomings from sales on the free ads?

I've got no problem when it comes to dogs or small furries but cats are far more complicated. There are hundreds of adverts for kittens - some very cheap (under £20) some "free to a good home".
Obviously I don't want to give my money to someone who is breeding deliberately, or just lets their unneutered cat get knocked up every season. If anyone has anyone tips for weeding through I could use the help!

Thanks all

[JD In Van]

Could you look on Kijiji or craigs list and get a cat from someone who has a litter of kittens? Those free to a good home ones would not be breeders, they'd be people with an accedental litter.

For indoor only cats it's best to start with kittens or get an older cat generally in my experience. Cats used to being out doors, while they can learn, it's a diffecult task and a noisy one, not something to do in an apartment.

[crazywiggy]

Those free to a good home ones would not be breeders, they'd be people with an accedental litter.

That's what I was thinking, wanted opinions though. What worries me is that these "accidental" litters are the idiots who simply can't be bothered to get their cat neutered, or are breeding "to teach the kids..." etc. Does getting a free kitten off such people encourage them? I don't know...

Kijiji is USA only, and craigslist here is useless - no pets at all as far as I can tell. We do have "preloved" etc, but most of these are breeders, despite the name.

I agree about the indoors / outdoors thing. I wouldn't expect to adopt a cat used to roaming, and just lock it up.
We figured a kitten would be the logical answer - kittens don't go straight out anyway - at least not for the first few months until they are big enough, vaccinated, neutered etc. If we adopt a kitten at the usual age (say 12 weeks) it will never have been out, so will not be shocked at being indoors 24/7. Pity most UK rescues don't see it that way.

[willow2]

You could see if a local rescue has any FIV (feline immunity virus) cats/kittens, they cant go outdoors in case they spread FIV to other cats. My local rescue will only re home FIV cats/kittens to flats, I think the kitten season is over now so you might find it hard to get one in a rescue anyway.