Lymington Cat & Kitten Rescue Centre may have to close (From Daily Echo)

So people get rid of their pets when they're down a few quid, how disgusting is that? I bet they still drink, smoke and buy takeaways. If you're that hard up you give your cat/dog what you're having to eat and you take it to the PDSA when its sick. Why have a pet if you're constantly looking for an out-clause

When I was younger, we used to drown each litter on the farm. Still feel bad about it, but that was a different time. Today, you'd just get the cats neutered.

Compulsory neutering of all pet cats and better vigilance in picking up strays (by local authority and the community generally) would reduce the burden on the hard work that people put in at charities such as this.

The fact is, though Britain has a much lauded reputation as an animal loving nation, it is simply not true anymore. It's all about convenience and doing it on the cheap - sod the consequences.

Another deterrent would be fines for litters born to cats that had not been neutered and whose owners were not registered to breed them. It won't eradicate the problem but it may reduce it.

I have offered to take in a kitten/cat to several animal shelters but as I live in a flat I would not even be considerd to rehome.Surely a cat would be better off roaming safely round a flat than being kept in a cage or small kennel and wait for a new home?I have a cat already and have made my home cat proof,i have safety latches on my windows, a vet round the corner,I sometimes take my cat out on a lead.....yeah crazy but I love my pet!

Huffybear wrote:
So people get rid of their pets when they're down a few quid, how disgusting is that? I bet they still drink, smoke and buy takeaways. If you're that hard up you give your cat/dog what you're having to eat and you take it to the PDSA when its sick. Why have a pet if you're constantly looking for an out-clause

I agree giving up a pet ahead of cutting down on drinking, smoking etc is disgusting. Trouble with the PDSA is they are only free if you are on benefits so anyone struggling and working can't take advantage.

A better option would be for vets to stop charging ridiculously excessive fees for treatment - I was quoted over £100 for a simple blood test recently.

wilson castaway wrote:
I have offered to take in a kitten/cat to several animal shelters but as I live in a flat I would not even be considerd to rehome.Surely a cat would be better off roaming safely round a flat than being kept in a cage or small kennel and wait for a new home?I have a cat already and have made my home cat proof,i have safety latches on my windows, a vet round the corner,I sometimes take my cat out on a lead.....yeah crazy but I love my pet!

A few years back I wanted to adopt a dog but was told I wasn't suitable because the dog would be on it's own for 2 hours a day!

I know animal welfare has to be considered but common sense surely plays a part - would the dog rather be in a welcoming home and on it's own for 2 hours a day or in a kennel on it's own probably 22 hours a day!

sotongirl wrote:

wilson castaway wrote:
I have offered to take in a kitten/cat to several animal shelters but as I live in a flat I would not even be considerd to rehome.Surely a cat would be better off roaming safely round a flat than being kept in a cage or small kennel and wait for a new home?I have a cat already and have made my home cat proof,i have safety latches on my windows, a vet round the corner,I sometimes take my cat out on a lead.....yeah crazy but I love my pet!

A few years back I wanted to adopt a dog but was told I wasn't suitable because the dog would be on it's own for 2 hours a day!

I know animal welfare has to be considered but common sense surely plays a part - would the dog rather be in a welcoming home and on it's own for 2 hours a day or in a kennel on it's own probably 22 hours a day!

That's crazy, 2 hours a day is nothing. We used to leave our labrador up to 4 hours but absolutely no more than that. Common sense should play a part and perhaps these rescue places should exercise a little more flexibility or at least, assess each case on its own merits. I have a friend who lives in a flat and she has 2 cats that she rescued and they're as happy as larry so it can happen. I know there are nerds out there, there will always be nerds but we shouldn't all be treated the same.

If money-grabbing pedigree breeders and people buying "designer pets" stopped, and neutering was compulsory, there'd be far less of a problem. What's wrong with good old moggies? And I agree totally re people using any excuse to get rid of a pet when they're bored with it (often when a baby comes along, or they move house & leave it behind to fend for itself). All pet ownership should be licensed and people vetted and annual checks made on their pets as part of a compulsory health check, and common sense should prevail (eg an "indoor" or elderly cat would be fine in a flat!). People also need to know how much keeping a pet actually costs re food, vets bills, cat litter etc.

So sorry to read that this wonderful rescue centre may have to close. We got our beautiful cat from there four years ago and were very impressed by how it was run. All the best Janette and here's hoping Lymington Cat & Kitten Rescue Centre is rescued.

If Susan Hampshire is the patron why dont they ask her for some money to help keep the place open? As you all say, animal resuce centers are too strict about where they place their pets. I had to fib about my situation to get my cat and she now lives on the Hudson River and sits on a balcony overlooking Manhattan. Cant get much better than that!

wilson castaway wrote:
I have offered to take in a kitten/cat to several animal shelters but as I live in a flat I would not even be considerd to rehome.Surely a cat would be better off roaming safely round a flat than being kept in a cage or small kennel and wait for a new home?I have a cat already and have made my home cat proof,i have safety latches on my windows, a vet round the corner,I sometimes take my cat out on a lead.....yeah crazy but I love my pet!

I'd always offer again as circumstances are changing, they might well consider you now. As you've already got an indoor cat, and as you said your flat is cat proof, I can't see there being a problem! Give Janette at Lymington Cat and Kitten a ring, we got our two cats from there a couple of years ago (one of them is an indoor cat) and she's one of the most accommodating people we've met!