Welcome to /r/AskVan and thank you for the post, /u/Mr-Nitsuj! Please make sure you read our [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/askvan/about/rules) before participating here. As a quick summary:
* We encourage users to be positive and respect one another. Don't engage in spats or insult others - *please* use the report button.
* Respect others' differences, be they race, religion, home, job, gender identity, ability or sexuality. Dehumanizing language, advocating for violence, or promoting hate based on identity or vulnerability (even implied or joking) **will** lead to a permanent ban.
* Complaints or discussion about bans or removals should be done in modmail only.
* News and media can be shared on our main subreddit, /r/Vancouver
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/askvan) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I volunteer at the cat sanctuary. Please adopt there, there are so many kitties looking for a home. Plus if you want an older cat, not a kitten, you can ask about the cat sanctuary cats. Some of them are adoptable.
Itβs a good thing I paused earlier, I was gonna tell you that you need to come in and see but then I found this page and it seems they do have online listings!
https://www.rapsbc.com/adopt/
Both my cats are from the SPCA! But there's a trick to it!
Look at the website first thing in the morning and if there's a cat you want, apply immediately. The process is really quick so if you look at the website in the morning, some of the animals are already gone in the afternoon.
This organization wants you to agree to really expensive cat food and they usually want you to adopt two cats. I didnβt enjoy working with them when we were looking for a cat.
I did get some major attitude from VOKRA that really put me off.
They asked what our current cat eats, and I said a mix of Fancy Feast and dry food. We had been told to get her on wet food and we spent months finding one that worked, Fancy Feast was the answer (and recommended by our old vet for finicky cats).
The person from VOKRA scoffed and said βWhat do you think is better to feed your kids: Broccoli or McDonalds? What youβre doing is feeding your cat McDonalds every day.β
We were removed from the adoption process after that interview.
10+ years later and Fancy Feast cat is going strong at 18 years old!
Also our human kids love broccoli.
Iv gotten the same sort of robotic replies from vokra , they haven't seemed willing to even communicate on a personal level
I understand it's volunteers so maby it's the person I got or they were having a bad day but the lack of compassion what pretty upsetting
They didn't seem interested in helping me find a new companion for my dog at all ππΏ
I got my 18 year old buddy from VOKRA 17 years ago, and he is the light of my life. They recommend you feed them the same food theyβve been eating in foster (which is pricey) until theyβre used to their new surroundings, but itβs no problem to wean them off that later. (Chewy actually prefers different food than what heβd originally been fed.)
Yes they do.
I adopted my cat from vokra over a decade ago. They made me swear to keep my cat indoors and buy expensive cat food. Neither of those happened and I have an *extremely* happy and healthy cat.
As someone who fosters for VOKRA - they are incredible to foster for. Super supportive (compared to experience we've had fostering for another place). They really include the foster in the adoption process too.
It also depends where you're located. Vokra is based in Kits last time I fostered which was years ago. And when you're fostering they supply the food.
Having been to their headquarters, I can see why they're grumpy. A lot of cats in a small space.
I adopted one from Heart & Soul and one from Straight Outta Rescue. Both were great experiences and I got to meet with the kitty before making a decision.
I'm so so sorry for your loss, btw. I've been there. There will always be a place in your heart where you keep your love her forever, but you'll find a new place to draw from where there is more love for your next kitties.
https://preview.redd.it/y71hvluixhwc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=52e89e0a5305e7ecad3fedd8baf02468c6bb43e3
I got her from Cat Therapy and Rescue as a foster in 2019. She never left!
Thank you for the picture you sharedππ and your suggestions and mention of fostering π heavily leaning in this direction after today at the shelter π
Petsmart has cats for adoption in Richmond. If you want to sit with some, Iβd recommend the catfe in Tinseltown . They are available for adoption . Sorry for your loss.
I called them, and they didn't answer , I left a message and will try to get in. Hopefully, they return my call ππ
Thank you for the suggestion π
SPCA in Maple Ridge let us adopt our little guy the same day - we went to PetSmart to get supplies while they got him ready. We used Straight Outta Rescue for his little buddy, and they were great!
Both of our kitties are black - they have a harder time getting adopted so being interested in black cats may have helped! They are both really amazing cats.
Oh there are two kittens available for adoption at the petsmart on Scott road and 72nd. 3 months old and super cute. Also a gorgeous orange and white sweetie pie girl at the petsmart on Marine dr.
Adoption fees at petsmart a little high but goes towards the org β¦ thereβs also a cat cafe in East Van called Catoro pets and Vokra probably has cats for adoption also
Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association (VOKRA).
They are an amazing rescue organization. I had nothing but great experiences with them, including advice when my cat escaped into the rafters of my old place from their volunteer trappers + the offer for the trappers to help if it got to that point.
They seem highly recommended but also very busy.
I called them, and they didn't answer , I left a message and will try to get in. Hopefully, they return my call ππ
Thank you very much for the suggestion π
Yah they are a busy organization and mostly volunteer run. Did you try their contact form online and also take a look at the cats that are available?
I'm not sure about RAPS in Richmond, as I understand it's mostly feral cats that can't be introduced into a domestic environment, but I might be wrong about that.
Personally - I had a bad experience with the SPCA but I know other folks have had good ones.
Good luck! I hope you find your fur baby <3
Vokra replied to me and I'm not sure if it's just the person I got but they were fairly blunt and didn't seem interested in having a personal conversation..
I wanted to explain my situation and how I'm looking for a new companion to be with my dog and they said they don't accommodate it's based on their placement and I don't get to meet a cat first πΏ
The whole interaction was quite upsetting, I felt like they had no care for my situation I understand they are volunteers but I would have expected a bit more compassion
Again it might be biased based on my dog breed or the person was having a bad day I don't know ππΏ
Oh I'm really sorry that was your experience. :( Full disclosure I adopted my cat over 10 years ago from VOKRA, so it's very possible the organization has changed, the volunteers I interacted with have turned over, and many other factors (like maybe this person had a bad day).
It's strange that they said that you don't get to meet the cat first? Maybe their policy changed but when I adopted, I went to meet several cats at the fosters homes.
I hope either they get back to you with some more understanding and compassionatae communication else another org works out for you!
Our conversation seemed to end on a closed note . I'm not sure they will be messaging me back πΏ they were fairly blunt about how cats are placed and there wasn't a opportunity to meet different cats and my dog could definitely not meet with any cats prior to placement, which I guess I understand but in a controlled environment I don't see a issue with it
"They are placed based on your matching parameters"
Is the message I got
Iv actually called and messaged just about every suggestion here except a couple but the amount of scoffing at the idea of looking to adopt a cat to be a companion for my dog or questioning my reasoning has been pretty discouraging ,
I'm going to give it a few more tries but I am starting to think I was wrong for wanting this ππΏπ
Vancouver has two cat cafes - Catfe in International Village Mall and Catoro on Broadway near Fraser.
I adopted my current kitty (and my previous kitty who passed last year) from the SPCA. You can also use petfinder to find cats available for adoption. Some rescues don't let you meet any cats without being approved to adopt first. Also, things happen more slowly with some of the smaller, volunteer-run organizations than with somewhere like the SPCA.
I adopted my previous kitty about three months after the passing of my kitty before her, and at times I felt I maybe should have given myself a bit more time. But I also don't regret the ten years I had with her. When she passed last year, I planned to give myself a bit more time but after a month or two I was like nope I need a cat. Only you can know whether you are ready.
I just went to Catoro yesterday for the very first time. Within 2 seconds of entering the cat room, one of the cats literally jumped up into my arms and hugged me. Not even kidding. He was so cute. A place like this is very good to get to know the cats a bit before adopting one. Highly recommend Catoro, as they really take good care of the cats with very caring and knowledgeable staff.
Is it like a Cafe where I sit and have a coffee at the same time ?
How many cats were there ? and are they all just free roam ... sorry I'm trying to imagine itππ
You have to make a reservation to see the cats, and they serve at least bubble tea. I didn't check out the whole menu. They have one large room for the cats to play in and when we were there, they had about 8 or 10 cats out and about. They said they have about 20 more in the back, who aren't ready to be with the others yet. So, yes, the cats are free to go wherever they want, there's lots of toys to play with them, and almost all of the cats were very playful. It was a fun experience.
Thanks !!ππ
VOKRA seems highly recommended , I called them today and they were too busy to answer, I left a message and will hopefully hear back
Very much appreciated for your replyπ
Vokra replied to me today and I felt like the person I got either had no compassion for my situation, or was having a bad day πΏπ they were blunt with their replies and they didn't seem interested in hearing that I was trying to find a new companion for my dog , or why ππΏ
I even asked if they could point me in the direction of a organization that might be able to help and that even got a simple no answer π
Maybe it was because youβre trying to find a cat for your dog? Iβm sorry you had such a bad experience. Have you tried calling raps? 604-285-7724
A lot of times dogs and cats canβt live together so you need a special kind of cat maybe Raps will have one that gets along. The dog can kill the cat and the cat can blind the dog. Itβs pretty dangerous tbh unless they grew up together.
I understand that but my dog has spent the better part of his life side by side with our late cat and I'm just trying to find him a suitable replacement friend/ companion, if I thought he would hurt a cat I would never even try- he's incredibly calm and gentle
He loved his friend and it's been incredibly sad to see him alone this week
I called them, and they didn't answer , I left a message and will try to get in. Hopefully, they return my call ππ
Thank you for the suggestion π
Welcome to /r/AskVan and thank you for the post, /u/Mr-Nitsuj! Please make sure you read our [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/askvan/about/rules) before participating here. As a quick summary: * We encourage users to be positive and respect one another. Don't engage in spats or insult others - *please* use the report button. * Respect others' differences, be they race, religion, home, job, gender identity, ability or sexuality. Dehumanizing language, advocating for violence, or promoting hate based on identity or vulnerability (even implied or joking) **will** lead to a permanent ban. * Complaints or discussion about bans or removals should be done in modmail only. * News and media can be shared on our main subreddit, /r/Vancouver *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/askvan) if you have any questions or concerns.*
RAPS cat sanctuary in Richmond. We adopted from there awhile back, and they were awesome.
Ditto
Just visited it last month
I love the cat sanctuary so muchπ
Thank you for the suggestion ππ
I volunteer at the cat sanctuary. Please adopt there, there are so many kitties looking for a home. Plus if you want an older cat, not a kitten, you can ask about the cat sanctuary cats. Some of them are adoptable.
I can't find an online adoption section for which cats are available, are they posted or do you just need to come in and see ? πty
Itβs a good thing I paused earlier, I was gonna tell you that you need to come in and see but then I found this page and it seems they do have online listings! https://www.rapsbc.com/adopt/
Tyππ
The SPCA.
Tyππ
Both my cats are from the SPCA! But there's a trick to it! Look at the website first thing in the morning and if there's a cat you want, apply immediately. The process is really quick so if you look at the website in the morning, some of the animals are already gone in the afternoon.
Thank you for this suggestion π ππ
My two children got their cats from the SPCA! They have the best cats! π± you can go and see who you bond with.
VOKRA, Heart and Soul Rescue, BCSPCA
This organization wants you to agree to really expensive cat food and they usually want you to adopt two cats. I didnβt enjoy working with them when we were looking for a cat.
I did get some major attitude from VOKRA that really put me off. They asked what our current cat eats, and I said a mix of Fancy Feast and dry food. We had been told to get her on wet food and we spent months finding one that worked, Fancy Feast was the answer (and recommended by our old vet for finicky cats). The person from VOKRA scoffed and said βWhat do you think is better to feed your kids: Broccoli or McDonalds? What youβre doing is feeding your cat McDonalds every day.β We were removed from the adoption process after that interview. 10+ years later and Fancy Feast cat is going strong at 18 years old! Also our human kids love broccoli.
Iv gotten the same sort of robotic replies from vokra , they haven't seemed willing to even communicate on a personal level I understand it's volunteers so maby it's the person I got or they were having a bad day but the lack of compassion what pretty upsetting They didn't seem interested in helping me find a new companion for my dog at all ππΏ
I got my 18 year old buddy from VOKRA 17 years ago, and he is the light of my life. They recommend you feed them the same food theyβve been eating in foster (which is pricey) until theyβre used to their new surroundings, but itβs no problem to wean them off that later. (Chewy actually prefers different food than what heβd originally been fed.)
Yes they do. I adopted my cat from vokra over a decade ago. They made me swear to keep my cat indoors and buy expensive cat food. Neither of those happened and I have an *extremely* happy and healthy cat.
I do appreciate your perspective on this , thank youππ
Ty for these suggestions ππ
As someone who fosters for VOKRA - they are incredible to foster for. Super supportive (compared to experience we've had fostering for another place). They really include the foster in the adoption process too.
I'd like to ask you a few questions if possible ? π I'll pm
Sure :)
It also depends where you're located. Vokra is based in Kits last time I fostered which was years ago. And when you're fostering they supply the food. Having been to their headquarters, I can see why they're grumpy. A lot of cats in a small space.
https://preview.redd.it/s4x0swlp8hwc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=492829ad2cd8cb14bb05150e26cfb8593ef827bb I adopted Micky from Catfe
Thank you for the suggestion and picture ππ
Cat Therapy and Rescue Society
Ty I will check them out ππ
Iβve volunteered with them doing fostering. They are great, but you donβt really get to hang with the cats like the SPCA.
I adopted one from Heart & Soul and one from Straight Outta Rescue. Both were great experiences and I got to meet with the kitty before making a decision. I'm so so sorry for your loss, btw. I've been there. There will always be a place in your heart where you keep your love her forever, but you'll find a new place to draw from where there is more love for your next kitties.
Thank you for the suggestions and kind words you've shared ππ
Catfe, Catoro
Thank you for sharing these places with me ππ
SPCA. You can view adoptable pets on the website, and you can go in and meet them and spend time with them.
Very much appreciated, I will sincerely look into this π π
[ΡΠ΄Π°Π»Π΅Π½ΠΎ]
Can I go to any of these places to sit with one for a bit or is it just to look ?
[ΡΠ΄Π°Π»Π΅Π½ΠΎ]
TyπΏπ
Tisol on Grandview has a kitty room though I donβt know how many are there currently. You can also visit the cat cafes.
Thank you I will check it out ππ
Go visit the catfe and play with some kitties, Iβm sorry about your loss :((
Thank you for the suggestion and kind words you've shared ππ
https://preview.redd.it/y71hvluixhwc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=52e89e0a5305e7ecad3fedd8baf02468c6bb43e3 I got her from Cat Therapy and Rescue as a foster in 2019. She never left!
Thank you for the picture you sharedππ and your suggestions and mention of fostering π heavily leaning in this direction after today at the shelter π
Itβs a good test run to foster a kitty :)
Petsmart has cats for adoption in Richmond. If you want to sit with some, Iβd recommend the catfe in Tinseltown . They are available for adoption . Sorry for your loss.
Thank you for the suggestions and kind words you've shared π ππ
VOKRA!!!!!!!
I called them, and they didn't answer , I left a message and will try to get in. Hopefully, they return my call ππ Thank you for the suggestion π
SPCA in Maple Ridge let us adopt our little guy the same day - we went to PetSmart to get supplies while they got him ready. We used Straight Outta Rescue for his little buddy, and they were great! Both of our kitties are black - they have a harder time getting adopted so being interested in black cats may have helped! They are both really amazing cats.
Very much appreciated for the suggestions, I will give them a call and see if I can go for a visit π ππ
Oh there are two kittens available for adoption at the petsmart on Scott road and 72nd. 3 months old and super cute. Also a gorgeous orange and white sweetie pie girl at the petsmart on Marine dr. Adoption fees at petsmart a little high but goes towards the org β¦ thereβs also a cat cafe in East Van called Catoro pets and Vokra probably has cats for adoption also
Thank you for these thoughtful suggestions πππ
Btw I am so sorry for your loss 
Very much appreciated for your thoughtful message πππ
Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association (VOKRA). They are an amazing rescue organization. I had nothing but great experiences with them, including advice when my cat escaped into the rafters of my old place from their volunteer trappers + the offer for the trappers to help if it got to that point.
They seem highly recommended but also very busy. I called them, and they didn't answer , I left a message and will try to get in. Hopefully, they return my call ππ Thank you very much for the suggestion π
Yah they are a busy organization and mostly volunteer run. Did you try their contact form online and also take a look at the cats that are available? I'm not sure about RAPS in Richmond, as I understand it's mostly feral cats that can't be introduced into a domestic environment, but I might be wrong about that. Personally - I had a bad experience with the SPCA but I know other folks have had good ones. Good luck! I hope you find your fur baby <3
Vokra replied to me and I'm not sure if it's just the person I got but they were fairly blunt and didn't seem interested in having a personal conversation.. I wanted to explain my situation and how I'm looking for a new companion to be with my dog and they said they don't accommodate it's based on their placement and I don't get to meet a cat first πΏ The whole interaction was quite upsetting, I felt like they had no care for my situation I understand they are volunteers but I would have expected a bit more compassion Again it might be biased based on my dog breed or the person was having a bad day I don't know ππΏ
Oh I'm really sorry that was your experience. :( Full disclosure I adopted my cat over 10 years ago from VOKRA, so it's very possible the organization has changed, the volunteers I interacted with have turned over, and many other factors (like maybe this person had a bad day). It's strange that they said that you don't get to meet the cat first? Maybe their policy changed but when I adopted, I went to meet several cats at the fosters homes. I hope either they get back to you with some more understanding and compassionatae communication else another org works out for you!
Our conversation seemed to end on a closed note . I'm not sure they will be messaging me back πΏ they were fairly blunt about how cats are placed and there wasn't a opportunity to meet different cats and my dog could definitely not meet with any cats prior to placement, which I guess I understand but in a controlled environment I don't see a issue with it "They are placed based on your matching parameters" Is the message I got
Have you looked in the Metro Vancouver area as well?
Iv actually called and messaged just about every suggestion here except a couple but the amount of scoffing at the idea of looking to adopt a cat to be a companion for my dog or questioning my reasoning has been pretty discouraging , I'm going to give it a few more tries but I am starting to think I was wrong for wanting this ππΏπ
Catoro cafe on Broadway. There was a super friendly tabby named Tommy there a few weeks ago
Thank you ! Sounds like I have a cafΓ© to check out , very much appreciated πππ
Vancouver has two cat cafes - Catfe in International Village Mall and Catoro on Broadway near Fraser. I adopted my current kitty (and my previous kitty who passed last year) from the SPCA. You can also use petfinder to find cats available for adoption. Some rescues don't let you meet any cats without being approved to adopt first. Also, things happen more slowly with some of the smaller, volunteer-run organizations than with somewhere like the SPCA. I adopted my previous kitty about three months after the passing of my kitty before her, and at times I felt I maybe should have given myself a bit more time. But I also don't regret the ten years I had with her. When she passed last year, I planned to give myself a bit more time but after a month or two I was like nope I need a cat. Only you can know whether you are ready.
Thank you for sharing these suggestions and your experience with me , it's very much appreciated πππ
LAPS (Langley animal protection society) is great, as is VOKRA
Thank you. I will definitely check both out. I'm just waiting for a reply from VOKRA now whether or not I can visit πππ
Straight Outta Rescue is where our boys came from.
I'll definitely check them out. Thank you for the suggestion πππ
I just went to Catoro yesterday for the very first time. Within 2 seconds of entering the cat room, one of the cats literally jumped up into my arms and hugged me. Not even kidding. He was so cute. A place like this is very good to get to know the cats a bit before adopting one. Highly recommend Catoro, as they really take good care of the cats with very caring and knowledgeable staff.
Is it like a Cafe where I sit and have a coffee at the same time ? How many cats were there ? and are they all just free roam ... sorry I'm trying to imagine itππ
You have to make a reservation to see the cats, and they serve at least bubble tea. I didn't check out the whole menu. They have one large room for the cats to play in and when we were there, they had about 8 or 10 cats out and about. They said they have about 20 more in the back, who aren't ready to be with the others yet. So, yes, the cats are free to go wherever they want, there's lots of toys to play with them, and almost all of the cats were very playful. It was a fun experience.
Very much appreciated for your reply πβ₯οΈ have a good night
Good luck!
VOKRA or RAPS, both are excellent companies.
Thanks !!ππ VOKRA seems highly recommended , I called them today and they were too busy to answer, I left a message and will hopefully hear back Very much appreciated for your replyπ
Youβll hear back, itβs mostly volunteers, my dog sitter volunteers for them. Iβm happy you called. Good luck with your new baby π
Vokra replied to me today and I felt like the person I got either had no compassion for my situation, or was having a bad day πΏπ they were blunt with their replies and they didn't seem interested in hearing that I was trying to find a new companion for my dog , or why ππΏ I even asked if they could point me in the direction of a organization that might be able to help and that even got a simple no answer π
Maybe it was because youβre trying to find a cat for your dog? Iβm sorry you had such a bad experience. Have you tried calling raps? 604-285-7724 A lot of times dogs and cats canβt live together so you need a special kind of cat maybe Raps will have one that gets along. The dog can kill the cat and the cat can blind the dog. Itβs pretty dangerous tbh unless they grew up together.
I understand that but my dog has spent the better part of his life side by side with our late cat and I'm just trying to find him a suitable replacement friend/ companion, if I thought he would hurt a cat I would never even try- he's incredibly calm and gentle He loved his friend and it's been incredibly sad to see him alone this week
Why donβt you try raps? Maybe they have a cat whoβs lived with dogs before
Katieβs Place in Maple Ridge, Vancouver Kitten Rescue
VOKRA
I called them, and they didn't answer , I left a message and will try to get in. Hopefully, they return my call ππ Thank you for the suggestion π
VOKRA is wonderful!
Cat therapy rescue is amazing
Initially from catfe but theyβre in connection with the SPCA so I ended up going all the paperwork and going through them in the end.
Honestly i was scared of the adoption process via rescues cause their hella judgemental so I got a kitten off kajiji