Adoption Process

Adoption Process 1Congratulations on your decision to adopt a rescued animal! Animals bring immense joy and unconditional love into our lives, and rescued animals always appreciate you so much more, having spent time fending for themselves without shelter or food.

If you are interested in adopting a companion animal then please visit Cats and Kittens Available for Adoption Page to see our list of rescued animals currently looking for homes. For more information on their personalities and whether or not they would be suitable for your family or home please ring the number at the bottom of their listing, or email info@catrescue.com.au.

CatRescue NSW’s adoption process has been developed to ensure you make the right decision for both you and the animal you are interested in. When you have selected a cat or kitten the next step is to make contact with us so you can ask any questions and make a time to meet the animal and their foster carer.

Meeting Our Rescued Animals

CatRescue NSW does not operate a shelter, instead we have a large and growing network of trained, volunteer foster carers who provide care for a limited number of animals in their homes. All our foster carers are located within the Sydney area, and weekday evening and weekends are usually the best times to make an appointment with them.

Our foster care program is brilliant for people wishing to meet and adopt an animal. Because our rescued cats have been living in a home environment it means they are litter trained and have often been socialised with children and other animals. It also makes their transition into your home much easier. Another benefit is that foster carers provide a healthy disease free environment, unlike some shelters where there is there is a greater population of animals providing opportunities for sicknesses to spread.

What You Will Need

When you go to meet an animal it is important that you bring a secure carry box. A cardboard box or plastic container is not suitable. You can purchase a carry box cheaply from most discount variety stores, and they usually cost between $15 and $30. A carry box will not just be necessary for taking your new family member home, but also when you visit your vet for vaccinations and health checks.

You will need to have photo ID with you, such as a drivers licence, as you will be required to fill out a ‘Change of Owner’ form and a ‘Trial Adoption Form’.

It is important that you bring your family, flat mates, partner, or anyone else who will be living or spending time with the animal you wish to adopt. This is to ensure that everyone is comfortable with your decision.

No Gifts Policy

In order to adopt an animal, the primary carer for that animal must be present and consent to the adoption and the commitment it entails. CatRescue has a strict policy against adopting an animal as a gift.

Trial Adoptions

CatRescue has implemented a Trial Adoption policy, which means that if you decide to adopt an animal there will be a two week period where we still remain the legal ‘owners’.

Adoption Process 2 This period will give you the chance to ensure that the animal you have adopted settles into your home and adjusts to your lifestyle before finalising the adoption. This is especially important if you have children or other companion animals at home. Very rarely an existing cat or dog will not accept the new comer, however if there are unresolvable issues please contact CatRescue to arrange the return the animal to their foster carer.

Please be aware that for the first 48 hours after bringing your adopted animal home there will be difficulties. They will most likely be frightened, hide and will probably not be interested in food. They will probably also fight with any existing animals. This is completely normal, and it is only if there are no signs of improvement after several days that you should start to worry.

We do stress however that the Trial Adoption process is not a ‘try before you adopt’ program. It is always traumatic for an animal to be moved around and should be avoided unless absolutely necessary, so it is important that you take the decision to adopt seriously.

During the Trial Adoption it is essential that you remain in contact with CatRescue NSW via email or phone. We require contact with you on a weekly basis for an update on the animal’s progress, however if something occurs in the meantime, e.g. the animal requires veterinary attention, you are required to make contact with us immediately.

Finalising the Adoption

At the end of the two week (or nominated) trial period and you are happy that the animal you have taken home has settled in you may proceed with the adoption. Please contact CatRescue NSW to confirm your decision, and we will send you the desexing and vaccination certificates and adoption contract. You will then be required to pay the $100 adoption fee. You can do this via the CatRescue website or by posting us a cheque or money order, and we will forward you a receipt.

Returning Your Animal

Beyond the Trial Adoption period, CatRescue NSW is committed to the animals we have rescued for the remainder of their lives. This means that if something beyond your control happens once you have adopted, we will always step in and assist, even if it has been many years since you adopted the animal from us. In order for us to provide the maximum assistance it is important that you give us as much warning as possible.

But we do not take this lightly. When you adopt an animal it is a life time commitment, and they trust you to consider their well being in all of the decisions you make. We also trust you to assume this responsibility at the time of adoption. The animals we have rescued have already been betrayed by their previous family, and to repeat this would be a great injustice.

However, we always ask that if you have no other reasonable options and are no longer able to keep and care for your CatRescue NSW adopted cat that you return your cat to us, rather than abandoning your cat to either an inappropriate home, another rescue group (CatRescue NSW is the only true ‘No Kill’ group in Sydney), shelter or council pound system where we rescued them from death row in the first instance. If it’s been sometime and the phone numbers you had for us have changed, current contact details for CatRescue NSW can always be found on our website.