What type of shelter cats are the most commonly overlooked?

If you have decided to get a new cat, there are a whole range of places to find one! For pedigree cats there are dedicated breeders and breed organisations, while for both pedigree and non-pedigree cats you can look at online adverts, local notices, word of mouth and of course, rehoming shelters.

Making the decision to adopt a cat from a rehoming shelter is one of the best ways to do a good thing while gaining a new best friend, as well as avoiding contributing to the unchecked breeding of non-pedigree kittens that leads to a surplus of homeless cats in the first place. You may already have a good idea of what type of cat you wish to own when you go along to visit the shelter, but you can of course simply go for a look around and see what catches your eye!

Whether you have a clear idea of what you want your future cat to look like or not, there are several different types of cats that can commonly be found in rehoming shelters in greater numbers than other types of cat, and which are commonly passed by and overlooked by the majority of the cat-browsing public.

Before you discount one of these cats, consider finding out more about them and why they are so often ignored, and think about whether you could offer a home to one of these harder to place felines. In this article, we will look at some of the types of cats that are most commonly passed by at rehoming shelters, and why you should give them a second look. Read on to learn more!

Older cats

All rehoming shelters have a regular throughput of kittens each year for rehoming, and while these kittens are as badly in need of homes as other cats, they are also the easiest to find homes for, as everyone loves a kitten!

This means that older cats, particularly those past the age of five often stay in the shelter for much longer, however, there is a lot of merit to considering adopting an older cat, as their personalities will already be apparent, they have likely already lived within a home environment, and they will not need the same type of constant attention and supervision that kittens need. It may also mean that you can get a pedigree cat for the price of the adoption fee, rather than the several hundred pounds or more that they generally cost.

While pedigree cats don’t tend to end up in shelters as often as moggies, most shelters will nevertheless have several pedigrees awaiting rehoming at any one time, including some of the most common pedigree breeds like the British shorthair or the Siamese.

Black cats

If you divided shelter cats up according to their colour and markings, pure black cats tend to be the most commonly overlooked when it comes to finding new homes! The reasons for this can be variable, ranging from simple superstition about witches’ familiars to the fact that black cats are less noticeable due to their dark coats, but you should definitely consider getting to know a black cat and thinking about offering one a home.

Black cats almost without exception tend to be incredibly sweet, very loving and hugely rewarding to own! Incidentally, the most popular cat colours and those that tend to be the easiest to rehome include ginger cats, and black and white cats.

Cats with physical ailments

Cats that have some form of physical flaw or ailment are also among the most regularly ignored, which is sad because most cats like these manage perfectly well regardless of their problem, and also make for excellent pets.

From a missing eye to a three legged cat to a folded ear or a snaggle tooth, cats that have visible ailments or disabilities are often passed by at the shelter, and are definitely worth a second look. While some physical ailments may require a little extra effort or care on the part of the owner, the staff at the shelter will be able to tell you all about the cats in their care, and how their problem affects or does not affect their day to day life and care needs.

Cats with health conditions

It is understandable that people looking for a new cat will wish to pick a healthy one, and plenty of online articles are dedicated to telling you exactly how to do just that.

However, if a cat has a pre-existing health condition that is manageable and under control, they may still be perfectly adoptable and in some cases, be able to lead a relatively normal life with a normal lifespan. While some feline conditions such as FIV may mean that you should not adopt the cat if you have other, healthy cats as some conditions are contagious, many health issues such as diabetes or skin problems are very manageable day to day, and will not place other cats at risk.

Some shelters will even fund or help to fund the ongoing cost of treatment for such cats after you have adopted them, and if you wish to keep an indoor-only cat, a cat with FIV, which means that they should be kept away from potential contact with other cats, may be a good choice.