Ready To Adopt?

At Shetland Cats Protection we always have cats available for adoption by responsible, caring individuals and families. The cats vary in age and colour and each has a unique personality. They may also require different levels of attention and, in a few cases, may need long-term care for chronic health problems. We try to match the right cat to the right owner.

Some examples are as follows:

A farm cat

Feral or semi-feral cats make excellent farm cats. They are independent, hardy and hunt - although dried food and adequate shelter must still be provided. All our cats are neutered to avoid the cats around your farm proliferating, and contrary to popular belief, neutered cats are even better hunters than unneutered cats.

A family cat

A family cat needs to be confident around adults and children, with a friendly personality. Family cats are usually younger cats or kittens, as older cats can have a hard time adapting to the hustle and bustle of family life. Some family cats will not tolerate other cats in the home - we can usually tell how sociable our cats are in advance of homing them. Children will need to be made aware of their responsibilities toward a cat well in advance, especially if it is a kitten.

An older person's cat

An older person requires a calm cat that will not jump on them or rush around the home. This usually means an older cat. This also reduces the worry of having a much loved pet potentially outlive its owner. If the owner passes on, and we are iformed, we will endeavour to re-home the cat.


A special needs cat

The special needs can take many forms and may not even be undesirable to the owner. For instance, some cats are very loving and require constant attention in return. Such a cat would suffer if left alone for more than a few hours. Another cat culd be perfectly normal behaviour wise but might require medication twice a day, every day without fail. Being there for a cat 365 days a year is a big commitment - you can only leave such a cat for holidays etc. if you can ensure that someone else will tend to its needs in your absence.

Before starting the process of adopting one of our cats, please take a few minutes to consider the following :

  • You could be committing to your new cat for up to 20 years. Can you offer continued stability?
  • Veterinary fees can be expensive. You should expect to visit the vets at least once a year for a health check and vaccination. Other preventative health care measures include de-fleaing (usually a monthly treatment) and de-worming (typically a three-monthly treatment); seek advice from your vet on frequency. Pet insurance will help with the cost of major illness and emergency treatment. Please note that you get four weeks FREE pet insurance when you adopt one of our cats or kittens.
  • You will need to make arrangements for your cat when you go on holiday, this may involve boarding cattery fees.
  • Feeding a cat will cost you a minimum of £5 per week, plus the additional expense of other items such as a litter tray and litter, toys, bowls, bedding etc...
  • If you get a long-haired cat, you will need to set time aside for grooming.

If you feel that you can give one of our cats the love and stability they need please get in touch.