Find Out About the Cat
Many people decide to take in a rescue cat purely on the basis of its looks or their own feelings and intuition. This can work with a kitten, but with an older cat the re-homer must be more careful. If possible, she should find out all she can about the cat, to ascertain whether it will stand a good chance of fitting into her household. How old is the cat? Is it used to children or dogs? Has it lived in a multi-cat household, and does it get on with other cats? Does it have any vices, such as lashing out when it becomes tired of being stroked? Has it been ill-treated in the past? It is best to find out these kinds of things sooner rather than later, as no-one wants to have to return a cat which simply cannot adjust to its new surroundings.
Do Consider an Older Cat
Every rescue organisation easily finds homes for kittens. But older cats are a different ball game; often they spend months or even years waiting for a new home. Yet these cats can be very loving, and are not as destructive as young kittens can be. These days cats can live into their teens or even twenties, and a cat of ten to fourteen years of age could be with the re-homer for a long time – and become a much-loved member of the family.
Keep the Cat Indoors at First
It is extremely important to confine the cat initially, even if you intend to let it out at a later date. The cat will not know its new home, may not know its name, and it might be very confused. One rescued cat escaped within 24 hours, and was not found until six weeks later. It was discovered in the same area, and was very relieved to come home, but had not had time to know where home was! Three weeks is probably the minimum length of time before the cat should be allowed out, and then only under supervision, until the re-homer is certain that the cat is familiar with its surroundings.
Have Patience
The re-homed cat may not fit into a household immediately. It may be upset or scared, or it may be grieving for an owner who has died. Cats react in different ways to new situations. One re-homed cat was returned by its new owner, since it had refused to come out from under the sofa for two weeks. A new, more patient owner, let the cat hide – it chose under the spare room bed this time. The owner fed it in its chosen room, and provided a litter tray. Eventually, after three weeks, the cat emerged, and gradually went further afield. Within a few months it was a happy member of a multi-cat household, joining the other cats at mealtimes and exploring the whole house and garden. All it had needed was time.
Finally, it is important to remember that each cat is an individual, with its own personality, likes and dislikes. Anyone rehoming a cat must be willing to be flexible and adaptable, and alter their household to a certain extent to suit the cat’s needs. But if they do this, they will probably be repaid a thousand fold in love and purrs!
Further Reading
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