This is the Bit that tells you How To Adopt from Us!

All our cats and kittens are precious and we want to ensure the very best for them.  They may have lost one or more of their nine lives already but we want to do our best to make sure that the remaining 8 are as healthy and happy as possible.

As soon as they come to us the cats and kittens are health checked by the vet and treated for fleas and worms.  If they are old enough they are neutered, vaccinated and micro chipped prior to adoption.  If they are not old enough, an agreement that you have this done as soon as appropriate will be a condition of adoption.  If there are any health or behaviour issues we are aware of these will be discussed with you prior to adoption. 

We always homecheck before adoption so please don't be offended when we ask to do this.   We're not coming to make sure you cleaned up properly or that your curtains match the cushions - we just want to ensure to the best of our abilitiy that you are able to offer a "good enough" home and that the kitten or cat you wish to adopt will fit in with your family.

So the kind of things we need to think about are how much space you have, whether you're close to a busy road, how long you're out of the house each day, what other pets or children you have, and, if the house is rented, whether the owner of the house is in agreement with you having cats.  Unlike some of the larger, busier charities, we have no hard and fast rules and are happy to look at each individual situation and help find the 'right' cat for you.

Homecheck is also an opportunity to discuss the specific cat you're interested in adopting, and to ask more about cat care.  If you're adopting a kitten or young cat it could be a 20 year commitment so its important to think through the implications of this.  It's the time to think seriously about the cost - not just of food but also insurance, vet bills, flea and worm treatment and the change to your lifestyle of having to be there for you cat, or make sure someone else is, whilst you're on holiday etc.  

Living with cats can be a delight - they make your house into a home, there to greet you when you get back from work, ready to purr and play and give the kind of unconditional love that only companion animals are able to give.  However, they can also turn your home into a disaster zone, shedding hair on everything, throwing up on your best rug, clawing the back of the sofa and hauling home all manner of birds and rodents in a variety of stages between life and death.  Just like us they get sick, grouchy and awkward.  Adoption has to be "for better or worse, in sickness and in health".

Donation: we do ask a minimum donation amount largely depending on what vet care the cat has had whilst in rescue - so if they've been neutered, vaccinated and microchipped  the donation will be more.  Rescues are sometimes accused of being greedy with their adoption fees, as people point out they can get a 'free' cat or kitten on gumtree.  Free cats and kittens often come with free worms and fleas and other undisclosed health issues (including pregnancy).   There really is no such thing as a free cat or kitten - once you've paid for worming, flea treatment, neutering, vaccination and microchipping its highly unlikely that it will have cost you less than the adoption fee.

If you are able to donate more than the minimum we would be very grateful as this will help towards the next cat in need.