If you’ve made the difficult decision to rehome your pet, we offer support to ease the transition and honor the one-of-a-kind bond between you both. You love your cat, you know your pet, and no one is better suited to find their next family. We can do it together — here’s how:
With home-to-home adoption, your pet can go directly from your home to their new home, skipping the stress of a shelter and getting right to settling in with their new family.
You’ll have the peace of mind of knowing — and choosing — who will be caring for your pet, and the option of staying in touch with them if you want.
Give yourself grace: you’re doing your best for your pet, and you’re holding space for other animals in our community who need help!
It can seem daunting to look for a new home for your cat yourself. That’s why we’re here to help! Follow these steps to get the word out and find a loving new home for your cat.
- Reach out to your network. Ask everyone you know if they are interested in adopting a cat or if they know anyone who is. You’ll often find a friend, relative, coworker, or neighbor who was thinking about getting a cat and is interested in meeting your kitty.
- Use social media. Post your cat’s information and photos to your own social media pages and ask friends and family to share your post. You can also post on online rehoming groups on social media too.
- Make a good impression. Create a compelling pet profile that shows off your cat’s great personality traits, and shares any challenges they may have. you can create a flyer to post at your veterinary clinic or local pet supply stores, or you can use it online. Check out Lifeline Animal Project’s tips for creating your cat’s profile.
- Use advertising. Post your pet’s photo and bio to self-rehoming platforms like home-home.org and www.adoptapet.com, where owners who need to find new homes for their pets can match up with potential adopters who are looking for pets..
- See your vet. Make your cat desirable to adopters by getting a current cat health exam. Other vet care that can help your cat find a new home includes spay/neuter, getting your cat current on vaccinations, have your cat tested for FeLV and FIV; brush your cat and trim their nails. A cat who is already spayed/neutered and vaccinated has a greater chance to find a new home!
If you are in crisis and in need of urgent assistance, send an email to helpline@catadoptionteam.org or call (503) 925-8903 ext. 5. We may be able to help you with temporary emergency boarding, assistance with pet rental fees, or other support.
