Are You No Longer Able To Care For Your Cat?
Here's what you can do...
We understand that for some pet owners, situations occur or life circumstances change and you feel you are no longer able to care for your cat. This can be a really challenging time. Wanting to give them a loving home, but no longer being in a position to do so. We know that making the decision to give up your pet is an incredibly hard one, but at this stage the most important thing is making sure you find it another loving home to go to.
There are many different reasons people decide they can no longer take care of their pet, and we sometimes find that there are ways to manage these issues without having to rehome your cat. So before we get further into how you can responsibly rehome a cat, let’s first chat about some of the reasons you might be considering rehoming and if there’s any solution for it.
Moving House
It’s inevitable that we're all going to move home from time to time, and for anyone who is renting a home you might feel a little more limited with rental options when you’re trying to accomodate for a cat as well.
Spend some time researching what’s available and don’t hesitate to ask the question, some rentals may not say they’re pet friendly but if you speak to the real estate agent or landlord and discuss your cats behaviour and cleanliness, they may be inclined to change their mind.
Getting some references together for this can be useful as well; past rentals that allowed you to have your cat, family or friends who visit your home regularly, past rental reports, and even confirmation from your vet that your cat is vaccinated, wormed, flea treated regularly and is de-sexed can look really good to a landlord!
Behaviour Issues
Rehoming a cat with behaviour issues can be a tough challenge in itself. However, training your cat isn’t too challenging and you will find lots of resources online for dealing with particular behavioural issues and resolving them. If you speak to your vet they should be able to provide some recommendations with training or point you in the direction of a professional who can help.
Allergies
To help reduce your allergies it’s best to reduce exactly what is causing the allergy right? Rehoming your cat doesn’t necessarily need to be the answer. There’s something known as animal dander, it’s the skin dandruff that flakes off your pet naturally and is normally the cause of most cat allergies. Keeping your cat regularly groomed and brushing its coat will reduce the amount of dander in the house. Along with that, regular vacuuming, dusting and using an air purifier will also help to reduce the allergen particles in your home. Taking these steps might just solve your allergy issues with your cat before you decide to rehome it.
Unexpected Kittens
If your cat’s not desexed, chances are it’ll get pregnant and you’ll have up to six new kittens to look after! First thing to do is desex your cat so you’re not caught out again. If you aren’t able to look after a new litter of kittens, rehoming is the best solution. Remember that kittens need to stay with their Mum for at least the first 8 weeks. Contact your local vet or cat management facility to find out if they can assist with rehoming. If you’re planning to sell or give away kittens or cats, they must be microchipped and desexed first. Cats can be desexed from around 8 weeks old.
We understand there are circumstances which can’t be solved and rehoming your cat is the only remaining option. So how do you rehome a cat and ensure it gets a new loving family?
Prepare
Rehoming a cat won’t be instant and it’s important to make sure you reduce the stress as much as possible for this change in your cat’s life. Firstly, to increase your cat’s chances of being rehomed it’s important to have it up to date with its vaccines, ensure it’s nicely groomed and most importantly make sure it is desexed.
Contact The Breeder
If your cat is purebred and from a breeder, you can try contacting the original breeder first. They may offer to take the cat back, or they may know a family who is looking for a more mature cat, like yours.
Family & Friends
Sometimes, the best homes are found with people your cat or you already know. Reach out to family, friends and colleagues to see if any of them might be interested in giving your cat a loving home. You could even get to see your cat from time to time in this situation!
Surrender
Still no luck finding your cat a new forever home? You can surrender it at your local cat management facility or rescue centre. Give them a call and you can start the process of organising your cat for surrender.
Never
By no means should you ever abandon your cat, leave them in a foreign neighbourhood or out of town by themselves. Your cat isn’t a wild animal, it can’t fend for itself and it relies on humans to keep it alive. If you leave your cat alone, it may be hit by a car, attacked by other animals or starve. Abandoning cats is illegal in Tasmania and you may be fined.
We know it’s an incredibly difficult situation to be in when you have to make the decision to rehome your cat. Just know that following the right steps will ensure your cat can continue to live a happy and healthy life with another family who will love it just as much as you do.
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