If in an unfortunate position to need to re-home a cat, say, for instance you are moving and unable to take a pet with you, then there are several steps and precautions that need to be taken to guarantee the best possible outcome for a beloved pet. It also helps to give plenty of time to re-home a pet as it shouldn't be something that is rushed into.
Re-homing a cat is often achieved using one of these methods -
• Local Advertisements - Place an advert in local vets' surgeries and groomers - in fact anywhere you're likely to find pet lovers. In the advert include as much detail as possible - including the type of home you're looking for and were permitted include a picture. Also, if there is more than one cat, state this and make it clear that the cats cannot be split up. This route offers a perfect way to market a pet yourself which can eliminate a need to reply on a short-term fostering service.
• Animal Charities - An animal welfare charity or cat shelter is often the first place people go if needing to re-home a pet. Although, these charities can soon become inundated with requests to help so it is best to avoid leaving things until the last-minute. You can try to find a no kill shelter or even a rescue that will rehome your pet directly from your home.
Be wary of some of the un-official websites where you can place an advert for re-homing a pet, as a worrying trend is for people to scout these sites in an attempt to take in a free cat and then to immediately sell it on for profit.
If you are lucky enough to find someone to express a keen interest, it is always a wise precaution to vet a potential new owner by asking several questions relating to prior pet ownership and also to do a quick home-inspection. Make sure you are completely satisfied with the would-be living conditions before agreeing to re-home. It also helps to give the new owner information on the cat's character, eat habits and health history to ensure it gets the best possible start in their new surroundings. If a cat is ID chipped, remember to have the details updated, this often needs to be done by the original owner.
Also before attempting to self advertise an adult cat it is important to make certain that he or she has already been neutered. However, as this isn't possible for kittens, the best you can do is to make certain that the new owner has the ability to cover the cost of neutering once old enough. A reference from their current vet, if applicable, may be a good idea.
