Kindred Kitties focuses its efforts on the stray population but occasionally is able to take in owner surrenders. More often than not, our foster space is full, and we are unable to accept owner surrenders. WE DO NOT DO DIRECT INTAKE OF CATS INTO OUR ADOPTION CENTER.
We understand that some owners have to re-home their pets due to unexpected circumstances and we hope that the information provided below will help you to find a suitable new home for your cat. It is important to start looking for a new home as soon as possible—it can take weeks or months to find an appropriate home for your cat. We are happy to courtesy post kitties in need of new homes on our website provided the kitty is spayed or neutered.
Preparing Your Cat to be Rehomed
It is important that your cat is up to date on vaccinations and spayed/neutered. You will have better luck in finding a new home for your kitty if you are able to provide vet records regarding the kitty’s health status. A responsible adopter will want to know this information.
Looking for a Home
Check with your friends, family, and coworkers. Are any of them able to give your cat a home? Do they know anyone looking to adopt a kitty? Please do not contact a rescue until you have exhausted every option. Rescues and shelters are already overcrowded—every cat surrendered takes away from a stray cat on the street.
Screening Potential New Homes
It is important to thoroughly screen any potential adopter. Ask lots of questions and do not agree to give your cat to someone until you have screened them. A home visit is a good way to get an idea of where your cat will be living and whether it is an appropriate place for the cat. There are many resources online about questions to ask when screening adopters. Our adoption application is an example of some questions to ask. Checking public records and verifying housing will help to ensure the kitty is going to a stable home.
Kitties with Behavior Problems
It is extremely important to be upfront with potential adopters if you are rehoming a kitty with a behavioral problem, such as litter box issues or aggression. You do not want to adopt your cat to someone who later rehomes the cat or surrenders it to a shelter because they were unaware of a known behavior problem. If possible, rehome the cat with the caveat that you will take the kitty back if it does not work out. This may prevent the cat from being put outside or otherwise harmed.
Other Resources for Rehoming
The internet provides many different outlets to look for a home for cats. Sharing information about your kitty on Facebook can help reach a larger group of people. It is important to use any online resource with caution, especially sites like Craigslist.org. Vet offices can be a good place to advertise your kitty.
Do not post your cat as “free to a good home”. Ask for an adoption fee—even a small one. Make it clear in your advertisement that you will be screening potential adopters. Post pictures of your kitty to generate more interest. Also be sure to include information about your cat’s personality and whether or not he/she is good with other cats, dogs, or children; if known.
Senior Cats
Senior cats generally do not do well in shelter environments. They do best with a home to home adoption. We realize that unexpected situations arise, but if you must rehome your senior kitty, please try to plan ahead and begin diligently searching for a new home as soon as possible to avoid the shelter route. Senior kitties are much harder to find homes for, especially in shelters, and will often become depressed in a shelter environment.
Purebred Cats
Oftentimes, purebred cats have certain personality traits that may make a shelter environment even more stressful than your average kitty. If you have a purebred kitty, try searching online for purebred rescues. While they often have waiting lists, some may take in owner surrenders depending on space. It is important to keep in mind that purebred kitties may attract people who may not have the knowledge or experience that is needed to care for a purebred cat and the behavior or health problems that may accompany them.
It is an amazing new tool designed through the Petco Foundation to help pets go from their current home directly to their new adopter without ever entering a shelter, placing additional burden on a rescue, or ending up in dangerous hands via a classified site. It guides individuals who are rehoming a pet and gets their pet seen by thousands of potential adopters on Adopt-a-Pet.com. Please visit the link above and they will guide you through the process of finding a new home. We hope your pet gets the happily-ever-after that every pet deserves
Kindred Kitties knows that surrendering your cat is a very difficult decision, but sometimes - it is the only one to make. If you choose to surrender your cat, you'll be asked to complete a surrender contract. Your signature on this contract represents a permanent decision on your part. This legally binding contract gives full ownership of the cat to Kindred Kitties. This allows us to provide veterinary care and down the road, legally adopt out the cat to a carefully pre-screened 'forever' home. Please note: We consider adoptions through our organization to be closed, meaning that we do not reveal the identities of either the surrendering or adopting parties. This ensures your privacy, as well as the privacy of the adopter, will be protected.
Complete the Surrender Form.
Our Team will review your application to determine if we have an open foster available and whether or not your cat is a fit for our rescue.
We will contact you to let you know our decision.
If it has been determined that your cat is a good fit for our organization and we have the foster space available, we will contact you to make arrangements to get the cat
If your cat is not a good fit or if we do not have room at this time, we will provide you with alternative resources.
