We pride ourselves on finding the best homes for our cats and kittens so please just ask yourself a few questions – the checklist isn’t to put you off adopting, it’s simply to make sure you understand the commitment you are making.
⇒ Can you commit to a cat for life …
A well cared for cat can live 20 or more years … are you in this for the long term?
⇒ Are you able to afford a cat …
Decent food, cat litter, regular parasite treatment, yearly booster vaccinations, vet consultations when they fall ill, a cat sitter or cattery when you go away – they can all add up. It can quite easily be hundreds of pounds – there is a breakdown on Battersea’s website
⇒ Will you commit to yearly health checks …
The Animal Welfare Act 2006 makes it a legal requirement look after your cat (for example, getting it medical attention if injured or ill) we can’t recommend too strongly yearly health checks and booster vaccinations and ask any new adopter to make this commitment.
⇒ Do you have safe outdoor access …
We don’t rehome ‘indoor only’ cat unless there is a specific reason for this. Once you allow your cat outside, do you have a cat flap or a window that be left open so the cat is never stuck out in bad weather (or a suitable outdoor cat house?)
⇒ Are you prepared to keep your companion in at night …
Contrary to tradition of putting the cat out before going to bed, cats are much, much safer if kept in after dark so you need to be prepared to keep them in at night.
⇒ Do you live away from busy roads …
Safety is a huge concern for us not only because of the pain and suffering road traffic accidents bring, but also because our volunteers have invested a lot of time and effort preparing cats for rehoming.
⇒ If you have children or other pets, will they accept a new arrival …
Dogs must have been ‘cat tested’ prior to getting in touch. We will home to families with children no younger than five but we are selective and always expect that parents will teach children to fully respect all pets.
⇒ Do you rent your home …
Not all landlords allow cats so, unless clearly allowed in your tennancy agreement, we will ask to see written permission from your landlord that pets are allowed.
⇒ Do your working hours allow time for any new cat to settle ….
In particular, young kittens should not be left alone for more than a couple of hours at a time since they are in their formative period and learn a lot about their human companions.
⇒ Are you able to keep your new cat indoors only for at least a month ….
This is to give time for them to learn where they live – in some circumstance we may ask for an even longer acclimation time. Kittens are not to be allowed out until they are at least six months old.