I WOULD like to tell my recent experience of trying to give an unwanted cat a good home.

After many years of pleading by our daughter to get a cat we decided to get one as a surprise for her ninth birthday.

We contacted the Cats Protection League and after looking at three cats we chose a young female.

We had a home visit and they first of all said they do not agree with surprises and said that our daughter would have to choose the cat in case she did not like it. (As if a cat-mad nine-year who longed for any cat for years would not like our choice of cat!)

Anyway, we were then told that we lived too near the main road, even though we live at the end of a cul-de-sac two roads away from the main road.

We could go for an older cat, they said, as they do not tend to wander so much. So we therefore decided on our second choice of cat which was about five-years-old.

We then received another telephone call to say that as we did not intend to have a cat flap put in and I was working (part-time) they would not allow us to have the older cat either.

I explained that we had a house alarm fitted and it would not be practical but I agreed to have a flap fitted to the garage side door.

This was turned down as it was not their policy to allow cats to sleep in the garage even though I explained that the boiler kept the garage warm.

Also, the cat would sleep indoors at night time and would only be outside while I was at work for four hours.

What would happen when we were on holiday, they asked? I told them that we have a neighbour who has already agreed to look after her, feed and let the cat in at night.

As with many of our neighbours she works full time, goes on holiday, hasn't got a cat flap and has still managed to keep a happy and healthy cat.

We were still refused.

It means that the only way to adopt one of their cats is to move house, give up work, have a cat flap and never go on holiday.

I felt I was doing the right thing contacting a charity first but feel someone has gone power crazy.

We only wanted to offer a good home to a cat not adopt a baby!

PS: I've just been offered any cat from the RSPCA without any of the above conditions!

Mrs J A Coles

Gables Drive

Saunderton