Responsibly Rehoming a Cat
City Kitties gets lots of emails from folks who can no longer keep their cat, or who are trying to find a home for a relative's cat, for a variety of reasons. We ask that you read this page all the way through before asking us for advice. Please keep in mind that City Kitties' primary focus is on stray and feral cats in the West Philadelphia area. As a general rule, we do not accept owner surrenders, and going to a rescue should be a last resort.
Only you know the circumstances that have led to searching for a new home for your cat, and City Kitties is not here to judge that decision. However, please think carefully before you hand over responsibility of your pet to someone else. Make sure this is the right decision for you and your pet, and that the person taking your cat is responsible, loving, and will provide appropriate veterinary care.
When to Start Looking
As soon as possible! Responsibly rehoming a cat can take months. If you only have a week to find a new home, you will not have much luck, and you will probably end up settling for a home that isn't right for your pet out of desperation. If you know you're moving overseas in six months, start looking now! Take as much time as possible to find the right home--don't just give your pet to the first person who offers. This rarely results in a happy arrangement.
Preparing Your Cat
Make sure your cat is up to date on vaccinations, FIV/FeLV tested, and spayed/neutered. You will have much more luck finding a home for it if you can provide veterinary records showing the cat's health status. A responsible and informed adopter will want to know all of this information.
Where to Look First
First look to your circle of trusted friends, family members, and coworkers. Are any of them willing to give your cat a loving and responsible home? Please do not contact a rescue until you've exhausted every other option. Rescues are already overcrowded, and for every cat surrendered to a rescue, another remains on the street or in a shelter.
Screening Potential Adopters
City Kitties strongly recommends thorough screening for any interested party. NEVER agree to give your pet to someone until you have properly screened them and visited their home! This should include:
Vet record check if they have had pets in the past five years.
Call the vet office and tell them you want to check on the applicant's vet records for every animal they have recently owned. Ask the vet office about spay/neuter status, FIV/feline leukemia status, vaccination history, and if the pets are up to date on all medical care. If the person does not have vet records for their pet or cannot give you a straight answer about it, that is a BIG red flag. Do not adopt to anyone who gives you the run-around concerning their vet records or pet ownership history.
Personal references for those who do not currently have pets.
A home visit--you'd be surprised how many people will back out of an adoption when they find out you want to meet them in their own home. Make sure the home is safe for a cat (screens on windows, doors to the outside close properly, no holes in the walls or floors, or other safety concerns). If you don't get a good feeling, leave.
An interview with probing questions (see our Adoption Action Pack for a sample)
An adoption contract (see our Adoption Action Pack for a sample)
This should state what will happen to the cat if the new arrangement doesn't work out.
Questions from the potential adopter.
If they are truly interested, they should be asking about your pet's health, behavior, likes/dislikes, and why you are giving up your pet.
Go with your instincts.
If something doesn't feel right, do not adopt your cat to the person. You will regret it later and may find that your instincts were right.
About Animal Shelters
City Kitties does not recommend taking any cat to a shelter unless the only other option is putting the cat out onto the street or into an unscreened/inappropriate home. Philadelphia shelters have a very high kill rate and your pet will most likely be euthanized.
Online Resources
Websites like Craigslist.org, if used appropriately and cautiously, may be a good resource for those rehoming a cat. You can also post a free classified on Petfinder.com. However, use these websites with extreme CAUTION. Some tips:
Do not post your cat as "free to a good home."
This will attract adopters who do not value your pet. City Kitties recommends an adoption fee, even if it is as small as $25. Message boards like Freecycle are nice for old couches, but not for cats.
Make it clear in your advertisement that adopters will be screened.
Use a picture or two of your kitty to create more interest.
Tell potential adopters about your cat's personality, likes/dislikes, favorite toys, and what type of food/litter you use.
About Behavioral Problems
Behavioral problems are rarely a good reason to rehome your pet, because you're just passing the problem along to someone else. If your cat has health or behavioral problems, be up front about it. The last thing you want is to adopt your cat to an unsuspecting person who later rehomes the cat again due to an an unanticipated problem.
Purebred Cats
Is your cat purebred or mixed with a purebred cat? (No, this doesn't mean your gray cat is really a Russian Blue, or your longhair cat is really a Maine Coon or a Ragdoll!) If so, try searching for purebred rescues online. Some of them will take owner surrenders, depending on how much room they have. However, again you should exhaust every other option first. Keep in mind that purebred cats also attract a lot of people who may not have the experience or knowledge needed to deal with a purebred cat and the health problems that may come with it.
Rescues: The Last Resort
While rescues often cannot accept owner surrenders, depending on the resources available, they may be able to help you advertise your cat. Very rarely, a rescue will accept a previously owned cat under dire circumstances if they have the room.
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