TNR Handbook - Neighborhood Cats

The Neighborhood Cats TNR Handbook
animal companion. You, as the cat’s guardian, need to recognize who will give the cat a
loving, secure home, and who may not. There are good homes out there. There are also
people who get an animal on an impulse that won’t last, give the animal away as a gift
without asking if the recipient wants one, want the cat only to keep away mice or are
unable to adequately care for themselves or the dependents they already have, let alone a
new cat. There are also unscrupulous types known as “bunchers” who sell tame animals
to laboratories for experimentation.
In order to protect the cat and guarantee he ends up in a good place, there are certain
procedures that should always be followed in every case. To ensure a terrible mistake is
not made, these procedures must be adhered to, regardless of how good a first impression
a potential adopter has made on you. In the end, no matter how careful you are, you’re
making a decision that will affect the rest of the cat’s life based on relatively little
information from someone who is often a total stranger. Following the basic steps
outlined here will greatly enhance your ability to make the right choice.
First, ask lots of questions and don’t be afraid to get personal. You owe it to the cat
and the right person will understand that and appreciate it, not be put off. Here’s a list
you could follow:
1. Is the cat for you or is the animal a gift? If a gift, you’ll want to speak directly to the
person due to receive the cat – who may end up not wanting her.
2. Do you have a cat now? If so, ask about his/her health (FIV/FeLV negative), age,
spayed/neutered, personality, diet, etc. Get a veterinary reference and call.
3. Have you had cats in the past? If so, what happened? Don’t accept “died of old age.”
Ask specific questions. Again, get a veterinary reference and check on it.
4. If you don’t have a cat now and never had one, how do you plan on learning how to
properly take care of one?
5. What would you do if your cat scratched the furniture? This question is designed to
see if a person would immediately think to declaw the cat. At Neighborhood Cats,
we strongly recommend cats NOT be declawed. The procedure involves amputating
bones and cutting ligaments and tendons, and can cause permanent physical and
psychological damage. Often people don’t realize how extensive the surgery is, so if
someone mentions declawing, explain why it’s such a risk and see how they react.
6. Do you have roommates? Children? Is anyone allergic to cats? If there are
roommates, who will have ultimate responsibility for the cat? Avoid “shared”
situations unless the adopters are in a long-term intimate relationship. Otherwise,
trouble inevitably looms down the road when roommates part ways. If there are other
household members, you’ll want to meet them.
7. Are there screens on all the windows, terrace, balcony? (Yes!) Will the cat be allowed
on the fire escape? (No!)
8. Pets are a lifetime commitment. Cats can live to be 20 years old! Are you prepared
to care for the cat for her lifetime? What if your situation changes (a baby,
boyfriend/girlfriend, move, etc.)?
9. Will the cat go outside? Under what circumstances? Closely supervised/fenced-in or
not?
10. Are you employed? Occupation? How long?
11. References (job, personal, veterinary)?
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