New Adopters Guide- Cats

A New Leash for Life Rescue

New Adopters Guidance- Cats

  Background information 

All of our cats like our dogs are rescued from lives we want them to leave behind; whether born on the streets, or abandoned by previous owners.Some of the cats we rescue have been through abandonment, abuse and  suffering before they are rescued, fostered and finally adopted so having a lifelong home filled with love and care is what we want for all our cats and what we expect our adopters to provide.We and our rescue partners with the help of our fosterers do not go through all the effort and heartache to save and start to heal them and start to show them trust and commitment only to be let down again.

When you adopt one of our rescue cats you understand that this is a commitment for the lifetime of your cat and that you will welcome them into your home to become one of the family.

Depending on their backgrounds some of our cats may enter their new home and settle down like they’ve always been there, others may take some time to adjust and settle in their new surroundings. They will need patience and understanding as they learn to adjust to living in a home environment and to become confident with all the new sights, sounds and smells..

We have produced some guidance and information for helping with what you need to get for your cat; settling your new cat in and our expectations as a rescue.

There is an expectation that all adopters will agree to our Cat Adoption Agreement when adopting one of our cats and we will ask you to sign this when completing the adoption of your cat.

Equipment needed

Essentials:

Water and food bowls; a bed or basket; cat food; Toys; treats; cat litter tray and cat litter. 

A secure Cat carrier

Feeding your cat 

Before you make arrangements to collect your cat from their foster home, it is advisable to discuss with them what brand of food and quantity the cat has been fed and stick to this diet for the first few weeks so as to keep as much as possible the same whilst your cat settles in and avoiding upset tummies. If collecting from transport stick with a complete food initially.

Collecting and arriving home with your new cat

When collecting your new cat you must arrive with a secure cat carrier for transporting your cat home. Your new cat may be frightened or anxious and might try to escape so, please be extremely careful. 

Introducing resident cats,dogs and other pets 

We do not recommend adopting a cat to live with a dog/s unless your resident dog is used to cats and not likely to chase them. If you have a resident cat, please introduce your cat/cats very slowly and carefully under supervision. Ensure your new arrival is able to escape to somewhere safe away from a resident dog i.e. a stairgate they can get through or in another room for the first few days until the pets have had time to get to know each other by just being around each other in the house. Do not allow resident dogs to chase your cat as it is likely to hide or try to escape. A safety gate that they can see through but not access is a really useful tool. Many of our adopters try to give the cat upstairs and keep the dog downstairs, so that both feel safe in their separate zones. Do not ever introduce them in open spaces where the dog can immediately give chase and ensure the other pet feels safe or can escape easily if frightened. 

NOTE: Even if you advise that a resident dog has been ‘Cat Tested’, we cannot guarantee how your new cat and resident dog will react and engage. However, in our experience, pets will find a new pecking order and will adjust their behavior accordingly, but please take precautions and be prepared that it may take time for all animals to adjust and get used to each other.

Small furries, Birds and other pets- Most cats will show some interest in small furries and particularly caged birds; some rescue cats may have a high prey drive particularly if they have lived on the street and had to fend for themselves. Please ensure any other pets are kept in very secure housing and your cat is introduced to them very carefully and when supervised even when in their cages or enclosures. Ponds should be fenced off or covered with secure, strong mesh.

Introducing children and other family members 

When introducing your adopted cat to any children please do this carefully and always under strict supervision. Do not leave cats with access to very young children or babies.

Please ensure your children know some basic rules before introducing a cat and how to behave when handling or petting the cat. 

  House training

During foster and when with our rescuers abroad prior to travel most cats/kittens will have been kept indoors and be used to using a litter tray. Cats will need to use a litter tray for the first 2-3 weeks whilst they are kept indoors to avoid them straying. Once your cat has fully settled and ventures outside many of them will start toileting outside. If you adopt a cat that is described as an indoor cat then a regularly cleaned litter tray will be essential.

If there are accidents in the house, make sure you clean the area properly as cats often return to the scent. If a habit is forming, try to block access to that area until your cat is better housetrained. 

How long should it take for your cat to settle

When your new rescue cat arrives, this can be a very exciting time for your family and you probably cannot wait to settle them in, play with them and give them lots of attention, however, it may take several days or even weeks for your rescue cat to start to relax and get used to their surroundings. It may hide initially until it feels safe to venture out into the open to integrate and socialize.

 Taking your cat to the Vet 

We would suggest you give your cat time to settle into your home, before you even consider taking your new cat to the vets. They have been through enough upheaval and need time to get to know you first. Going into a cat carrier and a vehicle is likely to remind them of their long confined journey.

The vets can be a scary environment, so it is best to wait until they trust you and are able to cope with the car journey, sit in a waiting room and be happy to be handled and examined by strangers. 

Of course, if there is an emergency then they must go but for general things such as registering them, general health check or itchy skin etc. please allow them time to settle and get advice over the phone from your vet or contact the rescue if you are unsure. 

Pet insurance 

Unless you are able to afford the cost of veterinary treatment or any potential 3rd party claims, we advise that all cats are insured with a comprehensive policy as soon as possible once adopted. 

Vet bills are expensive and can soon mount up quickly so Insurance is really important. .. 

If you don’t agree with pet insurance, please make sure you have adequate funds in place as vet costs can easily escalate into the £000s depending on what issues may arise. 

Once you adopt your cat, you understand that they become your responsibility which includes all the associated costs of owning a cat including feeding and grooming, insurance and veterinary treatments. 

***Please note*** Almost all insurance policies have an initial 14 day period where your pet would not be covered, so it's important that you take out insurance as soon as possible and read the small print about when you can start to claim and for what conditions you are and are not covered for under your policy. 

Neutering

As a rescue we do NOT agree with breeding, there are enough unwanted and abandoned cats and dogs both in the UK and from abroad where we rescue. Adult cats will already be neutered but kittens will not be neutered when offered for adoption due to their young age.If you adopt a kitten you must have in mind they will need neutering as soon as possible and you will need to have the funds available to pay to get them neutered. 

**All cats must be neutered as soon as possible when they are old enough** 

Passport and Microchip Registration 

Your cat will already be microchipped; this is a small implanted chip with a unique 15 digit number which is registered under A new leash for life rescue with UK Database provider Pettrac on arrival to the UK.

We will update your cat's microchip, adding you as the new Owner once adopted, the rescue’s contact details will always remain registered on their microchip as a safeguard measure for our cats. Once registered you will receive an email from pettrac to confirm your details and create an account. You can then download a certificate.

Once we have updated your adopted cat’s microchip with pettrac we will post their passport to you. The Passport will contain all vaccinations required to travel as well as microchip number, blood test results along with any neutering information, are usually on the last page. Please keep this document safe. 

Pre travel Preparations

All of our cats rescued from abroad will have undergone a period of preparation and possible treatment and recovery prior to them traveling to the UK. 

All cats are vaccinated against Rabies, herpes virus, calicivirus and feline infectious enteritis 

They will also have been treated for fleas and wormed just before travel.

Health and Welfare

We ask that you will do your best to take good care of your rescue cats’s health and wellbeing; ensuring they are loved, treated kindly and with compassion, have a warm bed, good nutrition, exercise and stimulation. 

You need to give your cat regular flea and worm treatment and make sure that booster vaccinations are carried out annually along with a health check. These treatments are necessary to keep your cat healthy.

If your cat is unwell or injured you will seek the advice of a vet and follow any treatments that are recommended to aid their recovery.

Do not taunt, harm or neglect your dog or allow anyone else to taunt, harm or neglect them.

  Lost Cats 

If your adopted cat ever escapes, goes missing or even if you suspect your cat has been stolen it is essential to contact the rescue immediately for support and advice.

. We can contact Pettrac and report your cat as missing so if found and taken to a vet someone should be notified.

We do expect you as the adopters to do everything in your power to look for and find out the whereabouts of your cat where possible by putting up posters, speaking to neighbours and using social media platforms to spread the word and see if anyone can help to find them and return them home safely. 

  Keeping us updated 

When adopting one of our cats we, our rescuers, fosters and other adopters are keen to see how our cats are doing and what adventures they may have been on so we ask that you keep us regularly updated on how your rescue dog is by posting regular updates on our Facebook Happy Endings page. You will need to become friends with one of the team so they can invite you to join the page. If you do not use Facebook then please make regular contact by email or rescue messenger or with a member of the team by text or telephone. 

If you are encountering problems, please do not leave things until they get out of hand and you feel you can no longer cope. We want all of our cats to be adopted into their “forever homes" so it is imperative that any issues are worked through and you please contact us for advice. 

Rescue Back Up 

A New Leash for Life Rescue provides our dogs and cats with lifetime support, and because we care for all our dogs and cats as well as have an emotional investment in them we provide rescue back up (RBU) and have a Rescue Back Up Policy.

Rescue back up means that we are here to support and advice and of course if the worst happens and you really cannot keep your cat for genuine reasons then we will take your cat back when we have the availability. However rescue back up doesn't mean that you can make unreasonable demands on us; using us as the easy option if things do get tough and demanding we take back your cat immediately without any prior insight to an issue you are struggling to deal with. Surrendering a cat should be the last resort

Ultimately we want all our rescue cats to be happy in a home where they are shown patience and understanding; are well cared for and loved; treated as one of the family and that they have their home for life. 

Finally…..

Thank you for choosing to adopt and provide a loving and safe home for one of our rescue cats and supporting our work.

We wish you every happiness with your newly adopted pet and look forward to seeing how they progress and what adventures they encounter with your updates on our Facebook Happy endings Group page.