Adopt don’t shop: Meet the cats who need homes in East Sussex

If you are thinking of getting a cat, you’ll hopefully be planning to adopt from one of East Sussex’s wonderful rescue centres. With an increase to the number of animals surrendered to shelters each year, the message of adopt don’t shop has never been more relevant.

But there are many reasons to adopt instead of shop.

We visited Raystede, an animal welfare centre based in Ringmer, to find out more.

Meet the cats in need of a home

Raystede is rather unique, as it looks after a diverse range of animals. From rabbits, cats and dogs to terrapins, alpacas and geese, there is lots to see here. This safe haven for animals has a welcoming atmosphere, with a visitor centre full of pet essentials that can be purchased. There’s also a café, play area and more. Plus, it’s free to visit.

Today our focus was on the cats. Megan Shortiss, who is the Cattery Manager said: “We’ve seen a big increase to the number of requests to take cats in, while we’ve also seen a slowdown in the number of adoptions. Last year we had over 900 requests to take in cats.”

In the cattery, the cats that hadn’t seen much interest were older cats aged eight and over. Older cats are often overlooked, but they can be a great choice of pet. For instance, older cats need less supervision and energy than kittens. While younger cats are developing their likes and dislikes, you’ll have a clear understanding of an older cat’s character before taking them home.  What’s more, giving an older cat a second chance of happiness can be hugely rewarding.

Megan said: “We often see older cats staying longer, but they make wonderful pets.”

For example, while Poppet has had some interest, she is still waiting for her forever home. Poppet, who is nine years old, was first brought in as a stray before being homed. Sadly, her owner moved and couldn’t take Poppet with her. Shy yet affectionate, she watched us from her bed as we were told she was looking for a quiet, adult-only home where she could feel safe and loved. Megan explained: “Poppet loves a fuss now that she’s settled here again. She had bonded with her last owner and we’d love her to have that again with someone.”

Next, we met Frida, 13, who is a Burmese and Somali mix. “Frida has such striking features, we think it must be her age which keeps getting her overlooked. Her fur is incredibly soft and needs brushing, which she enjoys. She’s a very sweet cat who could live happily in a home with older children and a garden,” said Megan.

Then there was Sootica, 10, a lovely black cat with unique white markings. We were told she enjoys attention and loves a good tummy rub once she’s comfortable with you. She would also feel more at ease as the only pet in the house. Sootica enjoys spending time outdoors, so a secure garden away from busy roads would be ideal for her to explore and relax. Apparently, she likes to hunt, so new owners would need to be OK with the odd present!

It was lovely to see how well cared for the cats are here, with lots of attention and a veterinary clinic on site. Our heart strings were pulled for Gizz, who is 16 and came to Raystede after his owner passed away. He came out of his bed to greet us and have his head scratched. “He enjoys a slower pace of life and would be happy in a calm home with a comfortable bed.” Said Megan.

Of course, there are lots of cats of all ages at Raystede who are looking for homes.

We met Ozzy, who is only three years old. Unfortunately, Ozzy found herself at Raystede after her owner could no longer afford her. While she is a beautiful black cat, she’s also a shy soul which has meant she has been overlooked. Ozzy would flourish in a calm home where she can take things at her own speed. She is looking to be the only pet in an adult-only home, or with older teens who can give her the space she needs. She loves exploring outside so a garden would be ideal. In the right home, she’d make a wonderful companion.

These cats were available at the time of writing.

Find out more about the cats in need of homes at Raystede.

Why adopt

Here are our top three reasons to adopt:

1. When adopting you’ll get to know more about the cat before you take them home – so you’ll be confident that they will be a perfect addition to your family.
2. Many places will neuter and vaccinate a cat before re-homing it.
3. When you adopt, you aren’t just helping one animal but are allowing the shelter to take another into its care (and hopefully go onto find its forever home too).

Other ways to help

Megan said: “We have limited capacity at the cattery and a long wait list. The cattery may not always seem full, but many of our cats are out of sight, especially if they are nervous or settling in. We also hold cattery spaces for our Break Away service. This service means we can take in pets whose owners are fleeing domestic abuse for example.

“To help free up space and provide an animal with a temporary home, we use foster carers. This role can be ideal for people that would like the experience of pet ownership, but perhaps can’t afford it, or have other circumstances which mean having a pet long-term isn’t ideal. We provide our foster carers with everything they need, such as pet food, medicines and any equipment.”

Can’t adopt or foster but would like to help? Many local rescue centres are charities and rely on donations. We’ve shined a spotlight on Raystede in this article, and you can visit the Raystede website to donate. You can also explore other shelters in your area and volunteer your time or money to support them.

Local animal rescue centres

Here’s a round up of other rescue centres in East Sussex:

• Kit Wilson Trust
• Hollyview Animal Sanctuary
• People’s Animal Welfare Society
• Barby Keel Animal Sanctuary
• RSPCA Sussex East & Hastings Branch

Finally, please do not buy an animal as a gift. Always do your research before adopting and ensure you can provide a secure and loving home.

Read more about the wellbeing benefits of owning a pet: Celebrating the health and wellbeing benefits of pets.