Howard County Cat Club Give Up Policies
Leaving familiar surroundings is very traumatic for cats because they prize their territory above all else. They also form strong bonds with their feline, canine and human housemates and grieve for lost loved ones. So we urge you to try to resolve any differences you and your cat have so you can stay together. If that is not possible, we will work with you to find a new home for your cat. All we ask is that you make every effort to...
-- Keep the cat until we find a new home. If that is absolutely impossible, we will consider placing the cat in our group home..
-- Provide a picture of the cat (digital preferred)so we can advertise him on our Petfinder and 1-800-Save-A-Pet.com Web sites.
-- Bring your cat to our adoption days every Sunday at the Columbia PetCo store on Dobbin Road, or make the cat available to us so we can bring him.
-- Keep in touch with us so we know whether the cat will be attending adoption shows. We also need to know if you adopt the cat on your own or through another rescue. If three weeks pass with no contact, we'll assume you've made other arrangements and remove your cat's picture from our Web sites.
-- If you place your cat through our Web sites or shows, you must charge an adoption fee and deliver the cat to his new home. This is for the cat's protection!
Before we can help you with adoption, your cat...
-- Must be neutered/spayed
-- Must have current vaccinations
-- Must be tested for feline leukemia and FIV. While we will help find homes for positive cats, we cannot place them in foster homes.
Feral Cats
We follow Alley Cat Allies protocol for trap/neuter/RETURN. We believe this is the humane solution to the feral cat "problem." While ferals can be tamed and socialized by people with knowledge of and respect for cats, most are unhappy and afraid living indoors in close proximity to humans. So we do not place ferals in homes. Write to us for more information.
About Our Group Home
The cats in our group home are not in cages --- they're all out and about together. Unfortunately, this is not the ideal lifestyle for some cats. If your cat is older, has never been around other animals or has lived "strictly indoors" and hasn't had a variety of experiences, chances are adjusting to life with us is going to be very difficult. If your cat fits this description, we would urge you to keep him until he gets adopted.
Are you thinking about taking your cat to a shelter? Remember that all shelter cats are as beautiful and loving as yours is. And most of them don't come out alive.
