With more animals than ever in rescue centres up and down the country, now is as good a time as ever to rehome a cat. It is in the best interest of both you and your potential new pet that rehoming centres often have quite strict requirements that you must meet to be deemed suitable new owners.

Table of contents

Why rehome a cat? 

With the RSPCA alone rescuing over 20,000 cats every year, there are so many animals out there in desperate need of a new and loving home. With the right match, rescuing an animal can be extremely rewarding. Rehoming centres will ensure that any cats adopted are vaccinated, neutered and microchipped prior to heading off to their new homes.

Which cat is best suited to you? 

It is important to also think about what characteristics you would like in a new pet:

  • Personality 
    • Would you like a cat that is already very confident or are you happy to work with a cat that needs a little more time to come out of their shell?
  • Indoors or outdoors
  • Age
    • There may be younger cats and kittens up for adoption, but there are many golden oldies in rescue centres are still looking for loving homes 
  • Breed 
    • You might have to be less picky with this one – the most common breed tends to be Domestic Shorthaired cats!
  • How many? 
    • Many cats will be available to rehome by themselves but some will come as a bonded pair (or even three or four!)

What requirements do rehoming centres have? 

Rescue centres want animals to go to safe and loving homes; so they will have a loose criteria for what this should look like. The following may be taken into account in your application: 

Where you live 

It will be taken into consideration whether you live in a house or a flat, in a quiet area or next to the busy road. If you live in a flat but are applying for a cat that likes to spend a lot of time outdoors, this is unlikely to be suitable. You are also likely to be asked whether you are a homeowner or renter. If you rent, you will need to provide evidence that your landlord allows animals 

Whether you have young children, or other pets

Some, but not all cats will fit in well into a home with young children. The same can be said for households that already have pets, particularly dogs. It may not necessarily be a no, but introducing animals to each other can be a long and difficult process that you need to be prepared for. 

Whether you have experience owning or caring for cats 

Rescue centres would prefer to send any cats to an experienced home, but most will work with potential owners that are committed to a new pet’s care.

Are you able to take on the financial implications of owning a cat? 

Being a pet owner can be expensive – food, pet insurance and vet visits can all add up.

And if you’re wrong on any of these, they just reject you?

Very few rescues will consider these to be absolute nos. Mostly it’s a question of whether the rescue has a cat that would fit in with your household. For example, an elderly and anxious cat probably wouldn’t be a good fit for a house with two energetic under-5s, but a young adult or adolescent from a family background might be just fine.

The problem, of course, is that what animals they have available will, over time, tend to be the cats that are harder to rehome!

The rehoming process 

Most centres will have a good website where they have pictures and profiles of cats that are up for adoption. You will be able to find out age, breed, sex and a little bit more about their personality. Their profile may also suggest what type of home they would be most suited to. You may also be able to visit some rescue centres in person.

Getting in touch 

Fill out an application form online or in person. This will be screened by the rescue centre to see if you would be a good match for any of their cats.

The first meeting 

If your application is successful, some rescue centres will invite you to meet the cat(s) before rehoming them, as this can be a good way to start the bonding process in a safe environment. 

Home visit 

A representative from the rehoming centre will come and visit your home to ensure that it is suitable for your new pet. You will also be able to ask questions about helping your new pet to settle in, diet and healthcare. 

Bring home your cat! 

If you’ve made it through all the stages, you can bring your new furry friend home!

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