The Adoption Process

 

 

How can I adopt a cat from your rescue?

 

Please take a look at our Meet the Cats page, where we cover the adoption process. You'll also be able to view the cats we currently have available. 

 

 

What is the adoption fee, and what does it include?

 

We ask for a minimum donation of £125 per kitten/cat. They will go to their new homes:

• vet checked
• deflead and wormed with prescription products
• microchipped
• with at least the first part of flu and enteritis vaccination.
• kittens and cats over six months old will also be spayed/neutered
• four weeks introductory insurance with Petplan.

 

 

What are the benefits of having a foster network? 

 

The great thing about our cats being in foster care is they get used to being in a home environment and have much more stimulation (and love!) than if they are stuck in a pen.

 

It also allows our fosterers to really get to know the cat and their likes, dislikes and personality traits. This means they will be able to tell you all about the cat and be honest about whether they think you would be a good match. 

 

And we find what our adopters really appreciate is the personal relationship they build with the foster carer and the knowledge that somone is there to offer support and answer any of their questions before, during and after adoption. 

 

 

Can I meet the cats available for adoption?

 

Of course, and in fact, we would say it's a must! Once you have decided which cat you would like to adopt, we will put you in touch with the fosterer who will arrange a suitable time to visit and answer any questions you have about the cat.

 

 

What is your policy on returning adopted cats?

 

If you need to return an adopted cat, we will first see if we can help resolve any issue. This will be done remotely or if necessary via a visit to assess the issue in situ. 

If the issue cannot be resolved, we would then suggest a different cat who may be a better fit for your household. Failing this,  yes we will accept the cat back,  however like all other rescues the donation is non-refundable.

 

 

Do you provide any post-adoption support or resources?

 

Yes, we will provide as much support and guidance as you want – it really depends on how much you would like. 

 

Fosterers are happy to create a WhatsApp group with you, so you can ask any questions you need, and of course, share lots of photos! 

 

We’re also happy to send photos of any litter, food, toys etc that the kitten/cat had in foster care, so they can feel comfortable in their new home. 

 

Facebook is another great way of staying in touch with us, and meeting other new cat parents to share tips and experiences. 

 

 

Health And Wellbeing

 

 

Are the cats spayed or neutered, and are they up-to-date on vaccinations?

 

Yes, all our cats are spayed or neutered and have received the necessary vaccinations before adoption. The only exception is kittens who are too young to have been neutered or fully vaccinated. Part of the conditions of adoption is that you ensure your kitten is neutered at the right time to help break the cycle of unwanted cats and kittens.

 

 

What is the cat's history and health condition?

 

We will tell you as much information as we can about a cat's history but as many have been rescued this might be limited. All our cats have a full vet check before they are sent to their forever homes and come with four weeks introductory insurance with Petplan to give medical cover.

 

 

Do you offer any behavioural information about the cats?

 

We will do our best to provide as much behavioural information as we can about the cats, but as many have been rescued this might be limited. But what we would say is that shy and nervous cats often blossom when they are in a home of their own, so please don't be put off if a cat doesn't immediately show you lots of affection.

 

 

What should I feed my cat/kitten?

 

The foster carer will be able to tell you what their current diet is and how often to feed them. It is normal for them to go off their food whilst they settle in so don't worry if they don't eat much at the beginning, they will soon settle into their new environment.

 

Cats need to drink water and they should have free access to fresh water. They typically prefer not to have food and water in the same location so a couple of bowls of water in different locations works well. Cats often prefer to drink running water and water fountains can encourage them to drink more.

 

Avoid giving cow's milk to your cat they as they don't tolerate lactose well leading to stomach upsets.

 

 

What is the best way to change my cat/kitten's diet?

 

It is best to keep them on the diet they have been used to for the first month. Any change to diet should be done gradually to avoid upsetting their stomach. Some cats have more sensitive stomachs than others and it may take a while to find a diet that your cat can tolerate. Poached chicken and rice is gentle and can be given in place of cat food to help settle any upsets and you can buy Pro Kolin from your vet or pet supplier if needed.

 

 

How often should I clean the litter tray?

 

Any accidents away from the litter tray are nearly always due to the litter tray being dirty and so keeping them clean is vital. Remove solid waste as soon as possible and at least every day or they may refuse to use it. Change all litter and wash out the tray at least once a week. If possible, have one tray per cat placed in different locations.

 

Litter trays with enclosed lids get very smelly inside and this can put cats off using them. We recommend using open trays along with their usual litter (the foster carer can advise you which type they use). Most cats and kittens are naturals at using litter trays and shouldn't need any extra help but, if this is your only cat, the foster carer can provide you with a small bag of litter from their old tray to add to your new tray to help with scenting. If your new cat/kitten has an accident away from the litter tray you can soak a tissue in the urine and place this into the litter tray to help guide them with the scent.

 

 

Why does my cat have runny/sore eyes and how can I treat it?

 

The stress of the move can sometimes cause the cat to display symptoms such as upset stomach, a slight cold, or sore eyes. Any stickiness or soreness can be bathed using cold black tea. If it doesn't clear up, or if it shows signs of infection, you should seek treatment from a vet.

 

 

Introducing Your Cat/Kitten To Their New Home

 

 

What do I need to do to prepare my home for a new cat?

 

Give your home a clean and lay out fresh food, water, litter and bedding. To prevent your cat/kitten feeling overwhelmed you can prepare an enclosed room for at least the first day and night, a bedroom or home office is perfect. From this safe place they can gradually explore their new environment.

 

Inquisitive kittens need lots of stimulation and to keep them out of mischief you should remove hazards from your home. Many cut flowers and pot plants are poisonous to cats. An older cat will ignore them but a young cat may try to eat them. Long cords from window blinds need to be tied up as they can present a hazard if they get caught around the cat's neck. Cleaning products should be put away in cupboards and food bins should be secured. Keep any toys with strings safely out of reach when you can't supervise them. Airwick type fragrance plugins should never be used as they can cause serious illness. The fragrance oil in diffusers will damage furniture if knocked over and the oil can burn delicate kitten skin. Make sure lit candles are not situated where they are at risk of coming into contact with long tails.

 

 

Why is my cat hiding? 

 

It may take time for your cat/kitten to get used to their surroundings and become more confident and they may appear to be shy and/or nervous. Putting pressure on them to come out may make them more nervous and take longer for them to settle in. Feliway or Pet Remedy plugins can be bought from supermarkets and pet suppliers and can help settle nerves. They may just need a bit more time and patience.

 

 

How do I make sure they feel at home? 

 

Your cat/kitten may feel a bit stressed after the journey home and this stress may lead to minor illnesses (runny poo/slight cold/sore eyes etc.) This usually passes quickly and can be treated at home if necessary.

 

Continue to use the food and litter they are used to. Make sure they have various places to sleep, including ones that are up high, as this will help them feel safe. Provide them with some toys. You might also want to think about using something like Feliway or Pet Remedy that will help soothe them while they get used to their new surroundings. 

 

 

What is the best way to introduce my cat/kitten to my existing cats? 

 

In the wild cats are usually solitary animals but it is possible for cats to become used to each other and for very friendly relationships to develop. It can take a while for cats to develop mutual acceptance but there are several steps you can take to slowly introduce a new cat into your household to minimise the natural territorial response.

 

Your new cat should have a room that is just for them with everything they need, and a little time to get used to this space.

 

The next step would be to scent swap between the cats. One way to do this would be to use a flannel or small cloth to wipe around the cat's face including the cheeks (where the scent glands are) and leaving the cloth for the other cats to find and investigate. It may take a bit of time for the cats to stop reacting to the scent of each other but once this has been achieved you can move on to the next step.

 

This next step might be easy or difficult to achieve depending on the set up of your home. The idea is that the cats can see each other but not be able to ineract and this can be achieved by viewing each other through glass. An internal glass door or perhaps a patio door would work well.

 

Once any negative reactions have stopped the next step will be where they can see, smell and hear each other. A baby gate or a mesh barrier would be suitable.

 

When you are confident that the cats are used to each other it is time to make the face to face introduction. It is important at this stage that the cats can escape from the situation and, if they are not reacting well to each other, you may need to step in and physically remove one of them from the environment.

 

It is sensible not to rush any of the stages and you may find it a very quick and painless experience but do be patient with them, it may take a few months for them to fully integrate, or at least to put up with each other.

 

 

What is the best way to introduce my new cat/kitten to my children? 

 

It is really important that children learn from the very beginning how to safely and respectfully interact with cats. The more calm, gentle, and careful the child is around the cat, the more relaxed and less likely the cat will be to bite or scratch. It is a good idea to supervise all interactions until both are comfortable, and the child behaves well towards the cat.

 

For the first interaction, encourage your child to sit down and be still, make sure they know to be patient and not to grab. You can use treats to encourage the cat to come near to the child and allow it to approach and sniff the child if both are happy for this to happen. Don't force interaction as this can be stressful for both the cat and the child.

 

Children should be shown that the cat likes being tickled around the face and stroked down its back, but the tummy area and the tail should be left alone. If the cat is purring and nudging the child let them know that this is because they are happy, if the cat runs away or growls make sure the child knows that is the cat saying they want to be left alone.

 

Playing with the cat is a great idea but using hands and feet as toys is a bad idea as claws and teeth are sharp and scratches/bites hurt skin and feelings.

 

 

What toys should I buy? 

 

A scratching post is a good idea. Scratching posts enables cats to remove broken claws, stretch their muscles, and mark their territory. Providing a scratching post in the form of a cat tree, post, mat, or cardboard scratching box is a good way to save your furniture and carpets from being damaged by their natural behaviour.

 

Having a variety of toys is a great idea - keep some in a box and change them round so they don't get bored. If you keep spare toys in a box with some catnip in it, then they should be more attracted to them (catnip is attractive to cats after the age of around eight months old).

 

Cats are all teeth and claws and don't realise that it hurts! It is best not to encourage them to bite and scratch your hands and feet, using toys on long strings or fishing rod toys means they won't associate your hands/feet with playing and help avoid them scratching and biting you.

 

Young cats sleep a lot so they should sleep all night and have long naps during the day, but they may start playing in the night and wake you up. If they are more awake during the night try to keep them active and awake during the day more so they get into the habit of sleeping at night instead, they are naturally active in the evening and this is a good time to wear them out. Be aware that cats usually wake up around dawn which can be a bit too early for their owners, especially during the summer months!

 

 

When can I let my cat out? 

 

You'll need to keep your new cat inside for the first six weeks to make sure they have settled in and are familiar enough with their new home to find their way back. Before letting them out for the first time it is a good idea to train them to associate the sound of a treat bag/box being shaken to receiving a treat so that you can recall them to the house easily if they are not keen to return.