What Is The Best Way To Rehome A Cat
When you need to rehome your cat, you must do everything you can to make the process as easy as possible.
The first consideration is finding a home that is a good match for your cat. You need someone who can love and take care of your cat, but you also need a home that works well. If you are rehoming multiple cats and they get along, you should try to rehome them together.
You should also consider whether your cat is a good match for a house with children or other pets, or whether they would do better as an only pet.
Once you’ve found a good home, ask your cat’s future owners to give you a towel or blanket. Pet your cat with these items to help them get used to the scent of their future home and associate it with a positive experience.
Suppose your cat’s new owners are planning to change your cat’s diet. In that case, you should also ask what brand of food they are considering and starting transitioning your cat over as soon as possible—rehoming it hard enough without adding digestive problems into the mix.
Offer to buy pheromone dispensers for your cat’s new home. The pheromones will help reduce their stress and make the transition easier. Chances are, after the first dispense charge is done, your cat won’t need it anymore.
Lastly, when it comes time to rehome your cat, you should provide your cat’s new owners with some of your cat’s favorite toys and treats. You should also send one of your blankets or towels with them without washing them. That way, your cat can hang on to your scent for a little longer.
They’ll be comforted by having something to remind them of you, even if you can’t be with them.
You should also recommend that your cat’s new owners keep them in a small space, preferably a single room, for a few days to start their transition. Giving your cat a smaller area to start will help make the whole process less intimidating.
Your cat’s new owners can also use the smaller space to help teach your cat to associate them with food, playtime, and attention, which will help them develop a positive bond early.
How To Cope With Giving Up A Cat
We know that giving up a cat is difficult, and as much as we hope you can make the transition easier on your cat, we also know that you need to be taking care of yourself at the same time.
Consider taking extra photos of your cat in the days leading up to rehoming them. Make a photo album or scrapbook to remember them.
Some cat owners will even take videos of their cats playing, or of them purring, or even sleeping, to help remember their cat and to have something to hold on to.
Try to keep your cat’s life as healthy as possible, leading up to rehoming them. It will help both of you. Don’t try to withdraw from your cat to make their transition more comfortable, it will just stress and confuse your cat, and you’ll likely regret not getting those last precious days together.
If possible, ask your cat’s new owners if you might be able to visit your cat. You can even consider video calling your cat if you’re giving them to a willing friend or family member. Your cat might not be able to see you clearly on the video, but they can often hear and recognize your voice.
Just be careful, visits and video calls can help some people and their rehomed cats, but they can also make the process harder for others.
Mostly, do whatever feels right to you. Give yourself extra time and attention after rehoming your cat, and listen to what your heart says it needs.
