Need to Re-Home a Cat

RHC hears often from people needing to re-home a cat. When that decision is unavoidable and there's no relative or friend willing/able to offer a new home, it can be difficult to figure out what to do. Summarized below is some advice and information that RHC offers.

If you adopted from a rescue group, get back in touch with that group to see if they can take the cat back into their care or offer suggestions.

If you have a regular veterinarian call the vet office. Some vet offices will offer to post a "New Home Needed" notice in their waiting area or be able to connect you with a local rescue group.

If you're thinking of taking the cat to "the Shelter," it's important to be aware that, while housed in the same building and appearing to offer the same services, HBSPCA and Hamilton Animal Services (HAS,) are NOT the same. Here's how they differ:

     HBSPCA is an animal welfare charity with a mandate "to protects animals from people." Their long-established shelter-based adoption service is geared to matching cats with the right adopters; so, in some cases, applying to surrender a cat to HBSPCA is a good option to consider. For information about the HBSPCA Pet Surrender Program, click here .

     HAS is a municipal service with a mandate "to protect people from animals." Their shelter/pound accepts, for a fee when space allows, pets brought to the door in cat carriers. It is the last resort option. While your cat may qualify for their adoption service or get transferred to a rescue group, there is no guarantee of a "happy ending." For information about surrendering to HAS click here. 

If you're trying to connect with a rescue group, be aware that rescue groups are often swamped with pleas for help and that it can be helpful to provide the following information in your initial message:

• The reason you need help, including why you can't keep your cat, what you've done to deal with the issue and whether, if the issue could be effectively and affordably resolved, you'd be wanting to keep the cat.

• A description of the cat - age, male/female, & a pic (or description). Also include infor on how friendly/shy/playful the cat is and let the rescue know whether the cat is likely to get along with other cats, other animals, children and what type of new home would be best.
  Health Summary - spayed/neutered? vaccines up-to-date? any health issues? and can a vet record be provided?

• Situation & what you can offer to do - Let the rescue group know what area of Hamilton you are in, whether you're able to transport the cat (in a carrying case) to a vet office or foster home, provide a phone number where you can be reached. And, if you are able to offer to foster (ie. continue caring for the cat while the rescue group covers vet cost and finds an adopter) &/or make a donation to cover some of the rescue's costs, be sure to mention that.

You'll find below a partial list of groups that rescue in Hamilton. While all are foster home based, volunteer operated & donor funded, they differ in many ways; so, it's a good idea to take a look at the websites and facebooks to an idea of how they operate, before deciding which rescue/s to try contacting.

Action Volunteers for Animals (AVA) - has a very active group in Hamilton which is run by Beth. For contact information click here

Abandoned Cats Rescue (ACR) - is a local group which is run by Darlene. You'll find direct contact info for Darlene (both email & phone #) here

Pantry Four Paws - is a local group which is run by Mary. You can reach her directly at info@pantryforpaws.ca

NCWL - which is run by Lori. You'll find direct contact info (both email and phone #) here

Ninth Life Rescue - while based in Oakville rescues many cats from the Hamilton area. You can email them at  info@ninthlifecatrescue.org .

Animal Adoptions of Flamborough -, while based in Flamborough, accepts surrenders in the Hamilton area. For contact information and animal surrender application form click here

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