Our Adoption Process
Our aim is to ensure that we can continue to help as many cats as possible by matching them with their perfect family while freeing up more space in our centres for other cats in need in the local area.
When matching cats, we consider everything from your potential pet’s personality and personal need and how these fit with your lifestyle, to your home environment and location – looking to create the perfect match for both cat and owner and the start of a wonderful feline friendship.
How to adopt
Cats looking for their new homes are advertised on our website, providing an overview of their individual personality and what kind of home they are best suited to, including photos and a video. It is important to look at the information provided for each cat of interest to consider if they could be a match for your home before applying.
Once matched with a cat an appointment is offered to meet and if goes well and invited to proceed to adoption our process is generally very quick, often between 3-7 days, so it is important to apply for cats at an appropriate time, avoiding times when you may be having eg building work or a holiday pending.
NB: Due to the time frames involved (where applicable) please ensure you have your landlord’s written consent in place before applying to avoid disappointment.
Adopt with Confidence: Our usual policy of openness and honesty still stands – we will advise you of any medical or behavioural concerns, and carefully assess each and every application received when looking to match the cat.
Enquire
If you are interested in offering a cat a permanent home and see one you think could be a “good fit” for our home on our ‘Adopt a Cat’ page, you will need to send interest via the our ‘contact us about this cat’ form on their profile. If you are unable to use this method, please call our Centre on 03000 120 175.
NB: If you have submitted interest in another cat in the past few months we may have your details on file so please email enquiries@ferndown.cats.org.uk to express your interest rather than fill out another form.
Please be aware at times we receive multiple interests for the same cats. We look to ensure that all our cats are matched with potential owners who are able to provide the environment and lifestyle required to suit each individual cat’s needs, and we hope if unsuccessful, that we may be able to match you with another cat.
Reserve
If we think you could be a potential match, we will contact you to discuss the cat in more detail. At this stage we ask for proof of your ID and address and landlord consent (where applicable). Once this has been received and a match ascertained, we will offer an appointment for you to come to the Centre to meet the cat you wish to adopt.
A reservation is only offered following an introduction where deemed successful or a good match. Contacts through the website are purely submitting interest in the cat.
Adopt
Where a reservation has been agreed, we will discuss settling your new friend into your home, and where possible we will send you the Adoption paperwork via email for you to review and sign. Adoption is only finalised once this paperwork is received and the Adoption fee has been paid.
Adoption paperwork consists of a Medical Summary, Medical Record, Adoption Form, and PetPlan Terms for your free one month of insurance cover.
We will arrange a mutually convenient time and date for your new addition to come home, and a copy of the completed paperwork will accompany the cat(s).
Our adoption fees are £85 per cat / £105 per kitten, payable on collection, and preferably by card payment. There will also be options to purchase supplies, join our membership scheme and to make a donation to help us in the work that we do if you would like.
Post adoption support
Following adoption we will be in contact with follow up calls through the early weeks to see how your new addition is getting on in their new home. This normally starts from 7 days after your cat has come home. Once we reach 21 days, we will no longer contact you for updates unless additional support is deemed needed, but rest assured our help doesn’t end there. We are only a phone call away, so please do not hesitate to get in touch for any advice you may need!
You may also like to consider signing up to our Membership scheme which gives you access to the Vetfone line, and we may ask if you would be willing to participate in homing success stories articles.