Cat Information

Would you get offended if someone asked you to fill out an application for a pet cat?

I have a part time job in which I do cat adoptions for a local shelter. We usually bring cats to local pet stores to do more adoptions. One of the rules if someone wants to "see" or "handle" a cat is for them to fill out a screening application first. The reason why the person in charge made this rule was made for the following reasons: (1) To stop it from becoming a petting zoo. Most kids or kid's parents just want to pet cats or kittens just for their child's entertainment. (2) Not to distract the staff/volunteers if people are not truly interested in adopting. We leave the cats in the pet store all the time and we (the shelter) is responsible for keeping the cat cages clean. We come in during posted adoption hours and have usually twelve cages to clean. We are more than happy to talk to interested adopters, but can't stop what we are doing to take cats our for people to pet. Keep in mind there is usually only one person on duty each shift. (3) We look for certain criteria For example, we do not adopt to anyone who lets cats outdoors. We do not want to spend 20 minutes letting someone hold a cat and then have them fill out the application and then tell them sorry you can't have it. When I first started volunteering, I never really enforced this application rule because I wanted to avoid conflict with people. But I ended up spending so much time with people that weren't really interested and not having enough time to clean cages. Also, sometimes if I let one kid pet a cat, I attracted a whole boatload of kids who wanted to pet/hold cats and it turned into a petting zoo/day care center. Now, I have been seriously enforcing it. And I get a stunned reaction every time I tell people they have to fill out a screening application before they can hold a cat. Why? Don't people understand that cats are not merchandise? And we are not going to just sell (adopt) a cat to anyone just because they have the money? How do you feel about this rule?

Public Comments

1. No I filled out an application when we got our first cat, at the animal shelter. The second we got through the vet and since she knows us pretty well there was no application process.
2. I am on board with what you are doing. It's in the animals' best interest and a good policy. I even filled out an application for the cat I adopted at the humane society I work with.
3. No, I would not. If a person is seriously interested in adopting a cat they would understand that you care about the home the cat will go to.
4. I wouldn't be offended at all. I do guinea pig rescue, and bird rescue and there's been a few times where a pig was going to have babies soon, or a bird was sitting on eggs already. I never just give the babies away. I always make people fill out a thing and then when they come to see the animal if they don't "feel right" to me I simply tell them that I don't think they're right for the animal. There's a pet rescue in the mall by where I live that wont even let people into the doors until they fill out the whole paper work, and unless they fill out for one perticular animal they don't let people bring their kids in either. Personally I like the idea as it's easier for me to look at the animals I might adopt without kids and parents poking at the animals and scaring them when I'm trying to figure out the temperment of the animal compared to the animals I already have. I wish more shelters would have things people need to fill out.
5. not at all,,, i would even go so far (as a manager) to post a sign say "This is not a petting zoo,, animals will not be removed for your entertainment,,, only serious adoption offers will be entertained".....
6. I volunteer with Project Pet, who finds cats and dogs new homes. We do the exact same thing! We look for certain red flags on the application that might mean that is not a very good home. Don't feel guilty about making people take the time to fill one out. Every rescue that I know of use these to place the right pet in the right home.
7. I think it should be mandatory for every shelter, pound, ect. At our local PetsMart they have adoption days and people always bring their kids in to the pet the animals. There are also too many people that walk by and say oh they're so cute I'll adopt one. Well, they get home and a few days later realize they didn't really want the animal. Applications are great and there should also be a waiting period before you take them home.
8. As long as its short I wouldn't mind filling it out, and then if I decide to adopt then fill out a more detailed one. I would think you would also need to consider that the more people you have visiting with the cats the more opportunity for someone to get attached and want to take the cat home, so you have to make sure you aren't deterring too many people.
9. At the shelter where I got my cat, the reason for not letting people pet cats to their leisure was to help with the spread of possible diseases. You're not allowed to poke your fingers threw the cages. They only let us take out the cat we're interested in after signing the papers. We are allowed to take them to a room to play with them for a while to see if we like their temperament. Signing the papers is a good idea :)
10. I can understand all you said, but at the same time, yes I feel I would probally be affended too. (only a little thou). Sometimes the criteria is a little too much, this defenetly affends me alot. Sometimes adoption is just a little too much of a hassel and pet lovers usually just end up going somewhere eles to get a good pet. Pet ends up losing out of what could have been a good home. I realize all this is done for the basic good intentions of the animal. Do the best you can do is all you can do. You can't please everyone. God bless
11. i can understand it.. however im also thinking about how the animals probably enjoy being petted and played with.. so i think the application is a little much, but maybe a verbal agreement that they are seriously looking for a cat, and not just there to pet and leave.
12. That sounds really reasonable and in the best interest of the animal. Personally, I wouldn't ask to handle the animal if I wasn't considering adopting it, and the fact that you guy screen potential pet owners is quite a relief--I'd hate to think of those poor creatures getting stuck with abusive or neglectful people.
13. Most people are caring, enjoy talking to adoption personnel about the cats, and don't get put off by filling out an application. Anyway who is "offended" could be a bit doubtful and there are plenty of potential adopters who will be happy to comply with the rules. The rules are excellent. I am sure the criteria include past history of pet ownership, veterinarian referral info by which you can get an idea of the quality of life and protection the cat will have in a new home. All adoption cats are "second chance" cases and the humans doing the adoptions and setting the standards for the new home are the only voice the cats have to insure that they will find forever homes and not be dumped or abandoned again in their lives.
14. I understand the reasons behind an application. It seems like more and more people are trying to use animals (cats in particular) in rituals. Many times harming or killing the animals in the process. Also many people are just not suited to own a pet. They do not have the money or the space to have one. I would never be offended and I in fact did personal interviews several years ago when we had a couple of cats that got pregnant and had too many kittens to try and keep or take care of. Anyway I do understand and if the people coming to you do not then maybe they are not really the people who need to have a cat. Cristina
15. First, I want to commend you for your volunteer work with the shelter. It is a great cause and there should be more people like you. Your time is valuable, just like everybody else's. I personally like the application process for pet adoption. By filling out the application, a person is sorta forced to consider whether or not it is important enough to take up some of their own valuable time by filling it out. (And hopefully reading it carefully too). And that's what it boils down to, weeding out those who aren't ready for a new pet. This is good for all involved-- the animal and the human. Sometimes we get all caught up in the cuteness factor that we forget about the considerable amount of time and money that go with pet ownership. I think that stopping for a few minutes, collecting your thoughts, and filling out paperwork goes a long way toward avoiding hasty decisions that may later be regretted.
16. Several cat rescue societies bring for adoption cats to local shopping centers. I have stopped to admire the cats, and I noticed a sign saying that the cats cannot be removed from their cages, for insurance reasons, but if you are really interested in getting to know one for adoption, you can fill out a form and the society will contact you to arrange a on-on-one get-acquainted visit with the cat. I think this sign weeds out the "petting zoo" problem and also the problem of impulse adoptions. And it's true that the cats are not their normal selves when they're in cages in a shopping center with lots of strangers around.
17. Angry Girl, LISTEN to me. In my 62 yrs.old.I've seen FAR too many people getting fuzzy little kittens & pups because they are SO soft & cuddly. Walk thru any animal shelter & you'll find a population of UN-WANTED pets.Half or full grown & no longer cute & cuddly because the owners don't wish to own up to the responsibility of taking care of these critters. Thoughts are,that I'm glad that there is some more stringent paperwork involving the adoption of pets
18. I am very willing to let anyone ask me to fill in any form, the more, the more I know they care, and the more I know they have taken good care of the animals. I agree it's not a petting zoo, and picking up young animals the whole time causes diarrhoea and suchlike - not something you should have to counter just for the joy of them picking it up - for that they can go visit a friend. HOWEVER, having worked professionally with selling animals through a petshop, there is a good thing on the flipside, if the person has filled in the form - sometimes the animal does not like the human, and I respect that. It's not merchandise, as you say, and just cause it's up for adoption or sale does not mean any human who thinks it's cute should be it's owner when the animal does not like them, when the animal reacts negatively to the person, that's it - no sale on that animal to that person, sorry. Talk about stunned, but that also tells me who sees the animals as being 'property' like all animals should like every human. Animals have a sixth sense that one can and should trust. You can tell so much from that interaction abou the humans that paperwork just does not cover. It's every bit as important as the form itself.