Thinking about offering a home to a CP cat or kitten? That's great! There is a lot to think about but we are here to make the process as smooth as possible and hopefully to take some of the worries away from what can be an emotional time.
One of Cats Protection's main objectives is to find good homes for all the cats in our care. We want to make sure that the cat coming into your life is the right cat for you, your family, your lifestyle and your plans for the future. That way, the process of settling your new family member into his new home will be that much easier and means you have the very best chance of a long and happy life together.
Unfortunately, some cats do get returned to us after being rehomed so we want to make sure that everyone, puss included, is happy with the arrangements!
HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN?
When you contact us, our homing officer will ask you some questions which will help to guide you towards the best cat for you and your home. Some of the cats in our care have to live indoors for instance, so if you live near a particularly busy road or in a flat with no access to a garden, then one of these cats may be more suitable.
We want to match you to a cat that will be happy in your environment. We will know the history and temperament of most of the cats in our care, so by talking to you we can help ensure a good fit and offer good advice on possible matches before the home visit takes place.
We also need to check that if you have a landlord they will allow you to keep pets at your address. So if you rent it is likely we will need to see a written statement from your landlord confirming this.
We will endeavour to carry out a home visit as soon as possible after your initial enquiry to us. And there really is nothing to worry about - we just want the best for you and for our cats.
THE NEXT STEP IS TO VISIT YOU AT HOME. The main aims of this meeting are to:
offer advice and information about cat ownership and in particular discuss the needs of your new pet
discuss how to manage your new arrival, eg how he may interact with small children who may live in the house or visit you
offer advice on introductions to other cats and dogs that may live with you
discuss the local area around your home with you and how this might affect your cat's behaviour
help you think about your working day and your lifestyle - will you be away from home for long periods of time? You can have a cat in your life despite having a busy daily schedule!
INFORMATION AND ADVICE
From a new adopter's point of view, you will have access to expert cat welfare resources and you can be assured that we will be on hand to offer ongoing support as your cat arrives and starts to settle into his new home.
We will be able to pass on our tips about:
registering with a vet - worming, de-fleaing, feeding and vaccination
the settling in process - also see our Essential Guide: Welcome Home (available from your home visitor)
neutering - providing they are old enough, we neuter all cats before they are rehomed
keeping your cat in at night - safety first!
feline health matters
pet insurance - we offer a period of 4 weeks' free insurance with Petplan for your CP rehomed cat
getting your cat home - eg how to safely transport your cat in your car
boarding - what to do when you go on holiday
how to contact us - we'll be in touch to see how you and puss are getting along!
We can also try to answer any questions that you or your family might have.
If all this sound daunting, then please don't worry! Our meeting at your home will be arranged to suit you and will be carried out as soon as possible. It is all part of us working together to ensure you and your cat can relax and enjoy getting to know each other.
We wish you and your new Cats Protection pet a long and happy life together!
A cat can cost Cats Protection around £200 whilst he is in our care, more if he needs veterinary treatment - so please consider making a donation to your local Tenterden & District Branch today.