How To Rehome A Cat Responsibly
If you’re looking for a good responsible home for a cat, follow the CWS (Cat Welfare Society) guidelines for rehoming.
Don’t just pass the cat to anyone who wants them because there are cat abusers and illegal backyard breeders lurking in the cat groups looking to “adopt”. You do not want the cat to suffer in the wrong hands or be used as breeding machines, or fall from a high rise flat because the adopter did not cat-proof their windows.
First, is the cat sterilised?
CWS offers a free sterilisation programme ONLY for strays or rescued cats, not for pet cats. Register here.
A faster alternative is engaging a cat trapper and transporter: CY (87522134) or Damy (93390481).
Sterilisation wards off illegal home breeders looking to “adopt”, and also has long term health benefits for the cat. Sterilisation makes sure that from this rescued cat on, there is zero chance of:
- the cat used for illegal breeding, and a whole cycle starts again of another litter of kittens or abandoned cats needing rescue
- turning into a cat hoarding situation (mothership.sg/2019/09/cat-hoarder-sengkang)
This would defeat the purpose and worsen the cat situation.
For kittens younger than 5 months, follow up with the adopter to ensure they are sterilised at 5 months old. Female cats that are sterilised before their first heat are 7 times less likely to develop hormonal related cancers. Sterilisation, for both male and female cats, has numerous other health benefits and prevents behavioural problems.
Second, screen the adopters.
*Adoption Questionnaire here!*
Use an adoption questionnaire to screen adopters before passing the cat to them. This will differentiate the sincere adopters who can provide a loving and responsible home. Do not pass the cat to anyone who is not financially stable, or who does not cat-proof or mesh their windows. The cat’s safety and well-being is at stake.
Ensure adopters are who they say they are. Do a home visit before or on the day of adoption (check that cat-proofing is indeed done). Keep in touch with adopters on the cat’s well-being. Most serious adopters will oblige.
Do not ask for fees except to cover vet fees incurred for the cat. Selling animals in Singapore without an AVS license is a crime.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
CWS (Cat Welfare Society) guidelines can be found here, under ‘FOR FOSTERS’.