CATS PROTECTION

When you first meet the cat of your choice, I would ask you to consider this, the cat has been taken from what its known, and no longer feels safe and secure, it could be upset by the nearness of other cats, so it isnt going to behave as it would once settled into your own home. Please, dont judge by what you see, yes by all means follow your instinct, but most importantly listen to our fosterers advice, they have handled hundreds of cats over the years, and know what they are talking about.  We cannot of course guarantee how a cat will settle, or whether or not it likes children or dogs, as we cannot allow them free roam in order to answer these questions. 

So just because a cat doesnt come to you, dont rule it out !

A stressed cat can show signs of aggression, but this doesnt mean it will be aggressive towards you once it knows you mean it no harm.

We cannot keep the majority of Cats in the 'Home Like' conditions, although many people believe we do, if we did that we would only be able to take in 3 or 4 at a time and spread them out among fosterers. It's not realistic when we have between 10 and 20 requests to bring cats into care daily. We have one main fosterer who takes adult cats, and they have 8 outdoor pens in their garden.

Every day we receive phone calls regarding our adoption procedure, hopefully I can cover some of the frequently asked questions here.

Q. Are the Cats up for rehoming neutered?

A: Yes, all adult cats are neutered before they are allowed to be rehomed

Q. Are they all healthy?

A: They are all as healthy as we can guarantee them to be. If we have any doubts at all we test our cats for FIV/FeLV, which is Feline Aids and Leukemia, we de-flea and treat them for worms, plus we Vaccinate. They are all given a full health check, and any illnesses treated to our Vets satisfaction before they are placed up for re-homing.

Q. What guarantees do we have the cat is healthy?

A: There are never any guarantees, but we do our very best to ensure that the cat you receive is in good health. We do this by keeping each cat a minimum of 14 days prior to rehoming to ensure that any virus that cat may be carrying will come forth during that incubation time. And as a act of good faith we provide 6 weeks free Insurance with PetPlan.

Q. I have a kitten already that I got elsewhere, will Cats Protection allow us to have one from them also?

A: Yes we will, providing that the kitten you have has been Vaccinated

Q. What should I buy in before getting my Cat/Kitten?

A: As all of our Fosterer's use covered in Litter Trays, it is safe to buy one of these. However, don't buy Cat Litter until you have asked the Fosterer what kind the Cat/Kitten is used to using. Changing litters suddenly can cause accidents on carpets.  Again, don't change the food the Cat/Kitten has been used to, so do not buy food until you know what food your chosen Cat/Kitten has been used to.  Sudden food changes can cause upset stomachs, and this can cause expensive Vet Bills.

Q. Will I need a Cat Carrier to take my Cat/Kitten home in?

A: Yes, we never allow a Cat to leave a foster home in any manner other than in a safe Cat Carrier. Again, speak to the fosterer regarding this, some have second hand Carriers, which they will sell to you for a very low fee. Remember you are going to need this for trips to the Vet, so a good strong Carrier is a must have. ( We often have carriers donated which we sell for low low prices to aid our fundraising, so email me for details)

Q. I have a Cat already do I need to tell the fosterer this?

A: Yes, its very important that you tell the fosterer details of all the animals in your home. They can then advise you of the Cats that are suitable, also advise you how best to introduce your new Cat/Kitten to the other animals.

Q. I live near a Main Road, is that a problem?

A: It can be, but if you tell the fosterer this, they may be able to offer advice on the keeping of a Cat/Kitten as a housecat, or how to cover over your garden,and tell you if your chosen Cat could adapt to that lifestyle.

Q. Can the family meet the Cat/Kitten before we take it home?

A: Yes, we actively encourage our potential owners to come along and meet the Cats before making a firm choice, and to bring the entire family along, that way, you can be sure that its the right Cat for you, and our fosterers are happy that the Cat will be welcomed by the entire family, not just one person.

Q. What if I cannot keep the Cat for any reason?

A: Cats Protection will endeavour to take the Cat back, as and when we have a space to do so. But, you will have to be patient, as we are a small branch and cannot create space until a cat is rehomed.

Q. You ask for a Donation, but how much do I have to pay?

A: We do not stipulate an amount, but we do ask you to consider the costs that the branch incur with each Cat we take into care, testing, worming, flea treatment, medication if needed, repeat Veterinary consultations, food, litter, and housing. A recent survey by our HQ showed the minimum cost to Cats Protection for each Cat in care is £180. However, in answer to the question, the average donation is £50

Q. Do you pay for the Cat/Kitten to be vaccinated?

A: We currently give our kittens a full vaccine at 9 weeks, we then advise you to take it to the Vet nominated by us for its second vaccine at 12 - 13 weeks which we at Cats Protection pay for. Because this is a full vaccine, and not just Flu and Enteritis, we do hope you will consider this when making your donation. 

Q. Do you recommend placing a collar on our new Cat/Kitten?

A. Only snap fastening collars with easy release, we see far too many Cats injured by collars. Often a Cat will try to release themselves from the collar by placing a leg through, this causes burns to the skin which can take up to a year to heal. A Microchip does not harm the coat, and remember the kitten of today could be the stray of tomorrow. All our adult cats leave our care with a microchip inserted in the neck area. They are chipped to Cats Protection, so should they go missing and end up being scanned we will be informed and we can ensure that the cat gets back to you safely.

Q. Do you microchip?

A: Yes we do. All adult cats are chipped before leaving the Branch, and everyone who adopts a kitten will receive a microchip voucher to take to a nominated Vet to have a chip inserted free of charge when the kitten is being neutered.

Q. What if someone in the House turns out to have an allergy to Cats?

A:  Before adopting a Cat/Kitten, go along and meet the Cat at the fosterer's home, tell the fosterer your concerns, then see if anyone shows symptoms within a few hours. Having an allergy doesnt always mean you cant have a Cat.  A product called Petal Cleanse, has proved to be effective in over 80% of those tested with it.  Its simple to use, and totally unharmful in any way to the Cat. Please visit our Hints & Tips page for more details on this product.

If you have any specific questions which are not covered here, please feel free to email me, I'm always happy to answer questions. 

NOTE:- We will not give details of availability by email.

If you want kittens or cats you should check the Cats for Adoption & Kittens for Adoption pages, then fill in an application form.

you must apply by application form, as we need to be sure you live in our catchment area.

Consider these facts before buying or adopting a Kitten!

Many people when they first decide a Pet would be nice, allow their decision on what to get to be based on photos of cuddly kittens and puppies. Not a good idea, as many of these animals end up discarded as these people haven't either thought it through properly, or talked with a Breeder or Organization such as ours for advice.

Im not saying everyone who decides on a Kitten is making a mistake, not at all. What I am saying is 'do your homework first.'

We rehome kittens at the age of 10 weeks, at that age they still need regular frequent meals, they can also get themselves into all kinds of trouble, so it isn't a good idea to take on a kitten if you are at work all day.

If you work part time, or can get someone to pop in regularly, then we recommend you consider taking a pair of kittens, that way, they keep each other amused, and don't get depressed. Yes, kittens do get depressed, and often the stress of taking them out of their familiar surroundings, away from litter mates and mother, can cause a depression, that can in turn make the kitten quite ill.

If you have small children, again its not a good idea to take on a young kitten, of course I am generalising here, but a lot of children under 5 or 6 years of age, are inquisitive as to what will happen if they pull kitty's tail etc. and that can lead to the kitten growing into a nervous adult.  So with under 5's we recommend taking on a slightly older kitten, one of 4 - 6 months of age, they can run away faster.                     

Nowadays Cats live so much longer, so a cat of 4 or 5 years of age is still a youngster. Between 1 and 2 years we class them as teenagers, so still a very suitable choice for a household with very young children.

Also, one last fact, kittens under 6 months should not be allowed outside. We say this for several reasons, the first being they should be vaccinated before even being taken into the garden, supervised, and secondly, hormones start developing around 4 months of age, so, if left unattended, they will wander off, most never to be seen again. So supply a litter tray and keep them indoors until they are neutered, which is done around 5 to 6 months.

Should you require any more information on this subject, please feel free to email us.

Introducing a New Cat or Kitten into the Household

Many people who have a Cat already want to get a kitten or young Cat as a companion. There is nothing wrong with this, although it must be understood, a Cat who has been the sole Cat in the household may not be totally appreciative of the idea of another Cat coming into their territory.

So to make sure its a trouble free as possible, we try and advise people to follow a few simple guidelines.

 If your existing Cat is a Queen, consider getting a Tom, as Queens accept Toms much more readily than they do another Queen.

 If you have a Tom, consider a Queen as a companion, two Toms in the house, could bring about territorial problems, and spraying to assert superiority can occur.

 Never bring another Cat into the household if your own Cat is unneutered, this can cause huge conflicts.

 Allow the newcomer its own territory, so don't be tempted to release the newcomer straight into your living room where your other Cat is, maybe, the kitchen, a spare bedroom, or a bathroom, and only take it into the living room while you are there to supervise. Once it knows its territory, it can retreat there, should it feel in danger from your other Cat.

 Exactly the same rule applies to having a Dog in the household. Dogs and Cats are not natural enemies, thats a situation we create. Dogs chase, cats run, it doesn't mean that the Dog is naturally going to attack the Cat, 99 times out of a hundred, once the Cat stops running the Dog will try to encourage it to continue with the game. But it is another reason why the newcomer should have its own territory.

 Always listen and follow the instructions the Fosterer gives you. They know the Cat and its likely reactions, they know what food suits it, what kind of litter it likes, don't change any of those things, unless you do it gradually.

 Keep your new kitten indoors until it has been neutered

Older Cats Have a Lot to Offer Too !

Can you give a home to an oldie? We always have lots of older cats whose owners have passed away or gone into homes, these cats have much to offer, perhaps you know of an elderly person who would like a cat, but not a young kitten, if you do contact us,  and I will be delighted to tell you all about the oldies we have. Remember these cats deserve a home too, they miss their owners and can't understand why they no longer have the one to one attention they have been used to.


One particular story I can relate is of Megan, she was found living with a feral colony, her long fur was so badly matted the Vet had no choice but to shave it off. He then confirmed Megan was well over 20 years old in fact probably nearer to 25 years. She went to stay with a fosterer, who made her a coat to keep her warm, and Megan spent the rest of her days there, happy and warm till she died 8 months later. We can't help but wonder, how did she end up living outside? Please help us to find loving homes for cats like Megan, most of them are not as old as her, most are between 7 and 13 years, but they deserve love in their twilight years too. Don't you think?

The most common problem we see are older cats with Thyroid trouble. Recently we have had 5 such cats in our care. Usually they are cats aged anything from about 8 years onwards. It appears that a lot of people who see their cats going thin, yet still eating in some cases, instead of taking them to the Vets, just dump them on the roadside, or in one case only yesterday, in the center of a dual carriageway.  We then get the cat, if its lucky enough to be spotted there,  have no history for it, so it means our vets need to do all kinds of tests and checks in order to establish the condition. Once established a simple operation usually puts the condition right, and the cats can then go up for rehoming, not needing any further treatment, nor pills.

Sometimes we are able to assist with Veterinary costs for oldies, so if all you are really worried about is cost, then dont be, we can help.

So come on, help an oldie, if you check the Archive page you will see Twiggy, she was recently rehomed, having been found with a thyroid conditon.