A guide to our new hands-free homing process

We’re keen to help as many cats as possible, both during the current crisis and beyond. Offering our cats a home will help to free up more space to take in emergency cases.

We have put in extensive procedures to make sure that our homing process is in line with current government guidance, without putting adoptees or our volunteers at risk.

Here is our guide to adopting a cat using hands-free homing

  • Checkyou are within a reasonable distance of our branch. You can find your nearest branch by at www.cats.org.uk/find-us
  • Enquire.
    If you’ve found a cat on our website that you’re interested in homing, send an enquiry email through to adoptionteamleader@oxford.cats.org.uk. Please give as as much detail about yourself, your property location, numbers of people and other pets etc..
  • Viewing.
    Please note that unfortunately you will not be able to visit your chosen cat due to Covid 19 regulations. We will ask the fosterer to send photographs, and possibly a bit of video, to you via email to help you make a final decision.
  • Reserve your cat.
    If you’re found to be a match for your chosen cat, you’ll be contacted via phone or email. You may be asked for proof of your address and the consent of your landlord (if you live in a rented property). At this point, and at any time during the process, you’ll have a chance to discuss everything you need to know about your cat with the Homing Officer or current fosterer.
  • Adopt.
    Once you have reserved your cat, you will be contacted by a member of the team to arrange a suitable time for us to deliver him/her to you. On the day you’ll be given paperwork to sign and you will receive the cats vaccination records. The adoption fee (£90 per cat and £110 per kitten) will need to be paid at the point of delivery either by cash or cheque. If you would rather pay by BACS in advance please let us know when we arrange the delivery date.
  • Bringing your cat home.
    Once all this is finalised, one of our designated driverswill bring your cat safely to your home, keeping to government guidelines and social distancing. We will use a CP carrier to do this which cannot be taken back on the day. Therefore, you will need to agree to return the carrier at a later date when the situation has improved, or keep the carrier but make a donation to CP funds.
  • Be supported.
    You’ll receive a follow-up call or email around three, seven and 21 days after the adoption to check that your new arrival is settled in. You can also find help and advice on the Cats Protection website at www.cats.org.uk/advice
  • Returns.
    In the unlikely event of the cat not settling in, or you deciding that perhaps it isn’t the cat for you, there will be a two week cooling off period in which the cat may be returned and monies refunded. Hopefully this will not be the case.