Shelter hurt my feelings....?

Question

I have 4 happy, healthy, well-behaved cats. My vet references are exemplary, and I have successful adoption records at other shelters. This one would not let me have a kitten because I allow my cats to come in and go out as they please. In fact they were rather rude to me. I can't believe they would rather keep a kitten locked up in a cage than let it go to good loving home simply because the kitten would have the freedom to be cat there. I did adopt somewhere else but It's just killing me because I know I'm a great kitty mommy. Should I write them a letter or what should I do? I don't want to seem like a deranged lunatic but it did hurt my feelings. Also, I live in the country and have never had problems with my other kitties going outside.

They knew my history. I would never let a baby go out, but when they get bigger, I think it's cruel to keep them locked out.

Every day we take risks. Licensed drivers have fatal accidents, doctors fall dead from heart attacks, houses burn down with pets locked in them. It's the circle of life. I believe the best man or beast can hope for is to enjoy the time we are given here. If a human stays locked in the house, it is considered a psycological disorder. Danger is everywhere and while we shouldn't help it along, we shouldn't hide from it either if we want to experience life. I didn't mention that 2 of my cats almost never want to go out and I don't make them. But if they want to, they can go. All they have to do is go to the door. If something happened to them, I would be devastated but I would also know they were happy while they were here. Thanks to all of you for your help and concern. (Whew! Felt good to vent!)

Answer 1

Every shelter of every kind has their own standards. It's their shelter and they have their own way of doing things. They want things done their way. Period.
I'm sure that in your own home you have certain standards about how you keep house, how you want your cats treated, what they are fed. and as it is your house, you expect anyone visiting that house to respect your wishes. I have no doubt that you are an absolutely fabulous caregiver to your cats and that they adore you because even though thay have every opportunity to leave, they always return to their home because you have made it their home. That's terrific.
But at the same time, a lot of people who adopt cats do not have your high standards. They do not understand what it is to keep a good house, to take good care of an animal and simply don't have a clue. One of the standards that shelters rely on are basics that may not include your way of doing things but tend to protect their cats in entering a potentially dangerous situation at someone else's home. It's not personal, it's just a protective device keeping their cats out of homes where the people might think it's perfectly normal for their cat to get locked out of the house all night or all day.
I don't agree with their rudeness, but as it is their shelter they can set the standards the way they want.
May I suggest you find another shelter? There are tons of them and so many cats that need homes. Please don't let this one situation upset you.
Good Luck.

Answer 2

Well, I think they are a bit stiff in their adoption rules. That kitten would be better off in home than possibly being put to sleep. Possibly they think the kitten would run away and be picked up and back in the shelter again.

I would certainly write them a letter, mostly because it will help you get over your anger and possibly they will see the other side of this and change their rules a bit.

Let them know that not all cats can remain indoors or they go crazy. There is a controversy with comments of the group if a cat should remain indoors or have freedom to roam outdoors.

I personally feel, like I've just mentioned, some cats just can't stay indoors. I have a kitten that probably will never go outside just because she is a little spooked and feels fine indoors. My other kitten will eventually become indoor/outdoor because I can see in his eyes he will be very sad not to have the opportunity to be outside, with supervision of course.

Yes, do write them and I hope you can just put it under the rug someday and forget that shelter.

Answer 3

In my area, it is very common for shelters to deny adoption for that very reason. There is also no law regarding cats being on your property or on a leash. I got my Maggie from a rescue organization and I had to put it in writing that I would keep her as an indoor cat ONLY. I did that for a year and then one day she snuck out the door. She didn't go far and got a taste of the good life out in the sun. It has been 4 years since then and now Maggie is miserable if she's stuck in the house all day. I am lucky though that she listens when I call her.

And as for oldncrabby's comment...It is a cat's NATURAL INSTINCT to hunt! Survival of the fittest does not exclude domesticated animals. Sure, it's sad to find a dead bird on your doorstep, but that's life! Cats are after all ANIMALS. They are not stuffed animals intended to sit on your chair and look cute!

I would let it go. A letter will not get you anywhere if it's a policy. Now if they start blacklisting you to other adoption facilities, then I would do something about it.

Answer 4

Don't take it personally- some shelters have the philosophy that an indoor cat is the way to go. Actually they are correct- statistics show that outside cats (even part timers) live an average of 5-7 yrs. less than indoor cats. The reason being that often times a cat will eat a mouse or chipmunk or bird that is diseased or they eat a rat that ate poison from someone else's house- or they just get into all kinds of physical altercations with other animals and don't forget vehicular accidents. My cats are strictly indoor but I had one two years ago that got cancer and I had to put her down :( She was 14 and lived indoors her whole life. She may have only lived to 9 or 10 if I let her roam the hood but that's just speculation.
So don't take it personally if the shelter's philosophy is different from yours. There's one where I live that won't adopt out if you plan on declawing- which I no longer have done to my cats once I found out what it involved.
Have a great day and give a hearty "MEOW" form my cats Figaro and Rosina to yours!!!

Answer 5

When I did adoptions at our local shelter we certainly made sure that adopters were fully aware of the potential dangers in letting a cat be outside. We were certainly aware too of areas in the county which were particularly dangerous as to heavy street traffic etc. because animal control had statistics on places where they was a high incidence of cats being killed by cars. We did not refuse to adopt to people who would let cats go outside. That seems unnecessarily stringent to me.

So don't take it personally. I'm glad you could get another kitten and you know that it needs to be mature before encountering the outside world. I think it's wonderful for a cat to be able to enjoy both indoors and outdoors and that the cat will have a wonderful life in your care.

Answer 6

Sorry to say this, but nobody can help those snobs that don't have a life to be nice to other people. There is nothing wrong with letting a cat go in and out of a house as he/she pleases. In fact, that is a good thing, and they should know that. There is something wrong with keeping a cat locked up in a cage, though. That sounds like people I knew that didn't have any lives other than correcting other people's judgements and gossiping behind other people's backs. That is probably how the people in your case are, and it is best to leave them be and find another shelter with good people running it. You sound like a wonderful pet owner to me, and your kittens sound soooooo cute!!

Answer 7

Well, if that is their policy they have every right to do so. Though I really haven't heard about too many shelters that would deny you for that, especially if you are required to have them fixed as part of the adoption.

I agree with others, write them a letter.

PS...Letting your little ones out, even in the country is never a good idea. In the country there are hawks, cougars, (ok depends where you live, but you know what I mean.) Plus have you had them tested and vaccinated for FIV and Feline Lukemia??? They are both deadly diseases that are spread from contact with other kitties.

Neighbors who are not cat friendly can do some terrible things too...I remember a story here about an old grumpy man that got so pissed about all the loose cats in his area that he started putting tins of tuna out that were laced with that cleaner Comet!!

I take my guys (and gals) out on harnesses and only under supervision...or at least leave them be outside (on their harness) when I am in the kitchen and can see what they are doing and what else may be in the yard. I rig the leash to the clothes line so they can roam a fair bit.

This is my first year in a house and next summer I am going to make them a fully enclosed run with wire fencing walls and ceiling along one lenghth of my yard...put some pretty and safe bushes, a couple of perches and tree stumps..maybe some vines...they'll be in kitty heaven!!

PPS. Wet 405 is totally correct..I was shocked to learn that a no kill shelter in my area will eventually deem an animal "un-adoptable" and return it to a shelter that will kill them!!! So in theroy, they don't do it...but it still gets done.

Answer 8

if u try to adopt again, just lie to the ppl - say u only have 1 kitty or non at all and the baby will stay inside. Once u sign the papers, u can do whatever u want!
They shouldn't discriminate though. Cats have always been outside for thousands of years and the species have survived!

Answer 9

do you also think it's cruel that by being outside they can pick up MANY diseases? they can also get eaten by coyotes and get into fights getting many other kinds of diseases, virus's that kill and cat-bite abscesses. Ticks cause many diseases and fleas can bring on anemia and they carry diseases too. Cats outside can also be bitten by mosquito's and get Heartworm disease...they can get thirsty outside some where and drink contaminated water and get sick and die...they can get run over and geez I could name many other things that would cause the Shelter to not give you a kitty....I wouldn't allow it to bother me that much, if you feel you've been wronged, you're venting right here. also...I have two beautiful cats that I've had since they were babies, they never go outside and are happy, healthy and extremely active in the house. They have toys galore and kitty canvas blocks to attack all over the house and are allowed to take them into any room they want. I have fluffy beds and fluffy spreads for them to laze about on. I had them tested for all the normal kitty diseases when I got them and they've had their shots.....I don't think they mind being "locked up" at all.

Answer 10

Most shelters and rescues want the animals they adopt out to be kept indoors because it is a less dangerous enviornment. Some studies have shown the average lifespan of an outdoor cat to be little more than 3 years. I would also be concerned about adding another cat to your household because once you breach the 3 - 4 cat number, somebody usuallly stops using the litterbox.