Finding Homes for Cats

If you keep your eyes open, we’re sure you’ve seen stray cats around your neighborhood and all around town. Every city and town in this country has scores of homeless cats and kittens, and compassionate people who are trying to find good homes for them. Here are some tips to place homeless cats:

• Make sure they’re homeless! Cats can often wander away from loving homes. Make sure an owner isn’t looking for this cat by: 1) bringing them to a shelter or vet to scan the cat for a microchip; 2) posting an ad in local newspapers or social media sites (be sure to screen people who might call to claim the animal, to make sure it’s really theirs!); 3) calling local shelters to make sure an owner hasn’t reported the pet as lost.
• Call local shelters. Have a list of local shelters that take in cats, and start making calls! There are numerous shelters in the Greater Cincinnati area to try.
• But don’t expect them to do all the work! Most no-kill shelters are all-volunteer run, and funded solely by donation. They are limited by time, space and resources – there are far more cats that need help than spaces in shelters to keep them. If they tell you they’re full, what they really mean is they have double the number of cats they have spaces for, and they could not smoosh another cat in their shelter if they wanted to! Don’t be frustrated if you hear this response.
• Foster the cat. Often a shelter can’t take the cat in simply because of space restraints. Offer to foster the cat in your home for the shelters you call, if they’re willing to help out by letting you use their adoption outlets. If they can help list the cat on their website, Petfinder, or let you bring the cat to their adoption events, you’re able to reach a bigger audience.
• Market the cat. Take a wonderful photo of the cat, and write a fitting description of the cat’s personality. Tell friends, family, co-workers, church members, acquaintances, kids’ teachers about the cat -  maybe someone you know is looking to add a furry friend to the family. And use social media – list the cat on websites like Facebook and Petfinder.
• But be careful about who responds. If you have a potential adopter, make sure you meet them, and trust your instincts. You have rescued this cat from a rough life; do all you can to ensure you don’t send them into a rougher one!
• Consider letting them be. Some cats are better left outside. If you have cats living in your neighborhood who seem to be doing just fine, consider making this a “managed colony” – make sure they’re spayed/neutered and healthy, and, if you can, provide nutritious food and makeshift shelter for them. Many cats lead long, healthy lives on the streets!