Having been turned down by the CP in our new area
It is very sad that good fosters sometimes cannot foster for CP however their reasoning is:- Too many cats at a single premises may excite the interest of the local Authority who may insist on reducing numbers.
Branches with a purpose built Shelter with local Authority consent and planning permission will already be aware of the maximum numbers of cats permitted at those premises.
Where private homes are being used to foster cats without planning permission then Cats Protection recommends that there should be no more than twelve cats at the premises, including the fosterer's own cats. This figure seems to be acceptable to most Authorities, although it should be stressed that there is no guarantee that all. Authorities will adopt the same policy.
If the number of cats exceeds that stipulated by the local Authority then the Planning Officer may conclude that there has been a change of use at the premises and may serve an enforcement notice. Further information on planning issues for volunteers is available from Headquarters.
It may be that in rural areas, where potential problems with neighbours are less likely to occur, Authorities may be more flexible, although, again, there is no guarantee. Equally, some modern urban accommodation is so small that twelve would be an unacceptably high number.
It is though when the new animal rights rule are actual law authorities may well crack down on multi cat households and of course there are always the jobsworth sort of people.
Unfortunately in too many case Fosterers have needed to reduce the number of cats due to the authorities.
