Open Letter to Cat Lovers on This Site Who Offer Cats for Adoption

Dear cat lovers who offer cats for adoption in Taiwan: 

I am a foreigner who has tried several times to adopt a cat in Taiwan, but with no luck. I have not even been allowed to visit a cat up for adoption. 

It seems that for some reason, people in Taiwan who are offering cats for adoption on sites like this are very restrictive and do not seem to trust foreigners. When I've tried to adopt in Taiwan, the cat lovers who are offering the cats for adoption have set many preconditions: For example, they have told me they want me to send pictures of my apartment, they want to visit my home even one or two years after the adoption, and they want me to sign contracts. 

Where I come from, the USA, there are many cats in need of good homes and one only needs to go to the animal shelter to adopt one. The people at the shelters are happy to find homes for the cats there. 

But here in Taiwan, the government shelters I have visited seem to have few cats and many of those up for adoption are, unfortunately, sick. I suspect that many of the healthy cats are taken home by people like you--cat lovers--who then set many restrictions on whom they will allow to adopt the cats.

I, therefore, wonder how many cats find good homes in Taiwan. I'm very frustrated with this process. 

I believe your intentions are good, dear cat lovers, but if you don't mind my saying, your primary goal should be to find good homes for cats. I would imagine that with all these restrictions, many cats never find permanent homes. 

Again, I don't understand this system, but I would guess there are thousands of cats in need of good homes there. I welcome your responses. 

Sincerely, 

Dan Balaban