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Bathing cats is possible if you start early enough…and some breeds are more cooperative than others. This is a great example of a kitten who is relaxed during bath time.

Fortunately, it cuts off before the anal gland clearing!

Over the years I’ve listened to people complain about the adoption and rescue practices of various groups and today it is a hot topic.

During the time I worked as an adoption counselor I was mortified at just how difficult the shelter made it to adopt animals.

Suitable households would often be denied an animal because of one minor flaw in a long list of criterion and many, many rules.

This did not prevent animals from being brought back once they were adopted either–which I think was the goal but that doesn’t guarantee anything.

Over the last month two of my close friends have shared experiences with me.

The first works for a cat rescue group. She had three siblings that SHE wanted to go to the same home. In the end, that did not happen and the cats remain in her care.

Not to say that they don’t have it good–they have it better than most animals I know–but her expectations were unrealistic.

From the behavior end, I would never recommend that sibling animals be placed together (in most cases) for a variety of reasons.

And just how many people want to take on three new animals at once?

While many animals sit in cages or abnormal conditions waiting for homes–people are denied adoption rights because someone or some group has to “sanction” the adoption.

Personally, I think some screening is a good idea but would rather see an animal get into a home instead of sitting in a cage for six months as was the case with another pal’s new animal.

This person has been a cat owner for over fifty years. She has spent thousands of dollars on her senior cats–including periodontal work.

However when she went to adopt her newest cat–it was a circus.

First, the cat was in a small cage where he could barely stretch or move around and had been there for over six months.

Her visitations to this cat were no less than four AND she also had a few of her closest friends to go and check him out too.

Once that was done, two adoption agency people came over for home inspections.

But they were amazingly anal and stupid when it came to handling their new human client. I certainly would not want to recommend anyone adopt from that agency based on the behavior of the volunteers and staff–and what was said to my friend.

Ultimately, that cat is happily living in a home where he is loved and is adjusting to life outside of the cage.

He is happy and my friend is thrilled–but is it really necessary to make animal adoptions so difficult?

So, my questions to you are: how extreme do you think agencies and people adopting out animals should get? Do you see a need for change or are you happy with such adoption practics as they stand today?

Finally, I’d love to hear your experiences.

Despite hurdles to find a pet friendly place–it seems as though the rental industry may need to change to accommodate the demands as pet owning households increase.

Look what a recent survey of renters around the country found:

Nearly 90 percent of the renters who responded said they have a pet.

Of the renters surveyed that do not currently own a pet, more than half plan to become pet owners within the next year.

More than 80 percent of respondents said a pet-friendly policy played a major role in where they chose to live and 30 percent sought out an apartment in close proximity to desirable pet amenities such as dog parks, walking trails and a veterinary office.

As devoted pet owners, renters are holding on to their felines and canines even when faced with obstacles during their apartment search. While the majority of respondents experienced difficulty finding an apartment that allowed pets, 89 percent said they were not put in a position where they had to choose between their beloved animal and a place to live.

Apartments.com has seen an upward trend of more and more properties welcoming pets. For survey respondents who said they were forced to give up their pet(s), the two main causes were identified as not being able to find an apartment with a pet-friend policy (65%) or not being able to afford the pet deposit (27%).

More than half of renters surveyed said they paid more than $200 for a pet deposit, and nearly 60 percent said they would be less likely to rent an apartment requiring a pet deposit.

Millions of renters from around the country are in need of pet-friendly apartments. In 2008, more than 11 million searches for apartments that allow cats and dogs were conducted on Apartments.com.

I’ve discussed this issue previously and suggested renters construct a Pet Resume.

In addition, you might want to read this post on the Mortgage Crisis & Homeless Pets.

To be successful in finding a rental, make sure you ask permission. Many landlords will accommodate you but some have a strict policy of “no pets allowed.”

If you have plans to get a pet make sure to check that it is okay before signing the lease.

If you are seeking a pet-friendly place, begin your search online. Most online apartment search sites allow users to conduct a pet-friendly apartment search.

Be sure to ask your potential landlord if there are any size or weight limitations. Some buildings may even prohibit specific breeds.

Plan on paying a pet deposit. Some properties charge an additional deposit to renters with pets, or may even ask for a monthly fee for pet rent.

When visiting a potential rental, confirm any additional costs associated with owning a pet. Remember to also ask if the deposit is refundable or non-refundable.

Will this mean that the rental industry will change?

Let’s hope so.