Considering getting cats from private rehoming - anything to look out for?

[crummyusername]

Hi, a post has gone up on a local neighbourhood site about rehoming a cat. The person trying to rehome is local to me, and says it's because her young child has an allergy. I spoke to her on the phone and am going there over the weekend meet the cats. They're adult and she says they've been microchipped and neutered, and she's not asking any money for them. Any red flags I should look out for or things I need to check? What paperwork ought to be in place?

Is the cat up to date on flea/worm medication?
Does she have a copy of vet records and vaccination details?
Make sure she has the microchip details so you can swap ownership.

We re-homed an adult cat privately - paid nothing and it's been fine, but we don't have DC or anything like that - do you?

Thanks, she mentioned they have regular flea medication. I’ll ask about worming. Yes I have DC but secondary school age. I think it’s all legit, this is just very new to me!

"Allergies" is a very common reason for re-homing but it's often an excuse too. I'd have a think about what you'd do if it turned out the cat peed everywhere, or was destructive, for example.

Have you owned cats before?
Allergies might be true, or maybe the cat doesn't fit for some reason. Cats are pretty easy to re-home generally as they're pragmatic animals and will make themselves at home.
If you like them and decide to take them, get them vet checked and have your house ready. Keep them indoors for a few days/couple of weeks so that they get used to their new surroundings and how they smell before you let them out.

I agree that 'allergies' is a very common excuse. However it's usually an excuse for simply not wanting the cat anymore/finding them inconvenient/being bored of them etc, it's rarely because the cat is doing anything wrong, so I wouldn't worry about that.

Keep the new cat inside for three weeks ideally (not 'a couple of days' as pp said!). If the cat is very, very relaxed then you could perhaps shorten it to two weeks, and if nervous then wait until he or she relaxes. During this time do not have any open windows in the rooms they will have access to. It doesn't matter how high up, how small the gap, how stiff the window, how hot it is - no open windows. At all.

And if it's a young female cat don't take their word about the neutering. People often lie. Ask which vet she was done at and check with them. Also ask for chip number and get the chip changed. If not chipped, get it done.

I’d hope she’d also want to know her cat’s going to a good home, and would ask you questions about your family, experience with cats, whether you have a garden etc.

Yes you would hope, although really all the more reason to take the cat if she doesn't, as who knows where else it could end up.

I brought a cat into our shelter this week. He had been rehomed privately (the owners had a new baby and decided they no longer wanted the cat too). A man was put in touch with the owners somehow and came to collect the cat. When he took it home his wife said it was too big, she wanted a kitten 'for the children' and he had to take it away. He original owners weren't answering their phone for some reason so he took the cat to his internet shop on a busy main road in North London. He hadn't prepared - hadn't bought any food, litter tray, anything and knew nothing about cats. As he didn't want the cat after all he decided to put it outside the shop, onto the busy A road, to fend for himself! Luckily a customer in the shop was horrified and called us and I had to go out at 11pm to collect the poor thing. And the man asked when I was going to bring him a kitten to replace it as he understood we had kittens ....

The cat was chipped so I did manage to speak to the original owners who didn't seem as upset as they should have been about what had happened and are refusing to take the cat back. So we have yet another unwanted cat in a shelter bursting at the seams.

So yes, I'm not sure what the moral of that story is, but I'm sure there is one.

Hi, I have the cats! (Actually a brother and sister pair). They are currently hiding (as I believe is normal). I’ll do a full vet check as soon as I’m able to get them there. All windows closed and I’ve got a kind of porch at the front, so everyone under strict instructions to close one door before opening the other.

A little update. My cats are setting in and I am totally and utterly in love with them. Thank you all for your advice!

That's lovely

On the litter tray you have to post pics

It's the law

Great news, i agree we need some photos.

Hi @thecatneuterer , is this cat still waiting to be rehomed?
I can’t believe that story - some people are just lacking common sense. Imagine letting the poor cat go on a busy A road in London! Mad.
If you have a link to the rescue he is in I would love to potentially consider him for rehoming, I’m in zone 2 south London (feel free to PM me if easier)

@blueblueelectricblue28 Here he is. He's a real sweetie but hates shelter life
www.celiahammond.org/canning-town/index.php/animals-needing-homes/canning-town-london/8-animals-needing-homes/2652-pacino
If you are interested in him, or in any of the others, please pm me.

OP: glad it's going well.

Cats bring so much joy, enjoy your new cats.