Rehoming Your Pet

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At Kitty Co. Cat Rescue, we focus our mission and resources on the underserved, stray, abandoned, sick, neglected, and abused cats and kittens in our community. Since we do not have a shelter facility, our organization depends on the availability of space in a foster home to help a kitty in need. Sadly, our foster homes are almost always at capacity and because of this and other limited resources, we are only able to accept owner surrender animals on rare occasions.

Giving up a pet is never an easy decision, and we hope you will try some of these suggestions before surrendering or rehoming:

• Local pet food pantries:
  • Happy Tailz Grooming's pet food pantry
  • Nose 2 Tail Cat Rescue's pet food pantry
  • Washington Area Humane Society's quarterly Pet Food Bank distribution
  • Humane Animal Rescue's Ellie's Pet Pantry
  • Animal Friends's Chow Wagon Pet Food Bank
  • Hancock County Humane Foundation's pet food pantry
• Utilizing local low-cost spay/neuter services
• Utilizing local low-cost veterinary care
• Applying for CareCredit and/or Scratchpay for financial assistance with veterinary bills
• Starting a GoFundMe and sharing it with friends, family, and others on social media to raise funds for veterinary bills or food
• Resolving behavioral issues:
  • The first step to resolving behavioral issues is to have your pet seen by a vet to rule out any underlying health concerns that would result in those behavioral issues
  • Watching cat expert, Jackson Galaxy's, informative Youtube videos on ways to resolve any behavioral concerns
  • Using pheromone plug-ins and sprays, such as Feliway
  • Giving your pet Rescue Remedy drops or CBD/Hemp treats or oils, such as 
  • Applying a calming collar to your pet
  • Asking your vet to prescribe behavioral medications to your pet, such as Trazodone, Gabapentin, or Fluoxetine
  • Reducing or removing any stress in the home that could stem from uncleanliness, conflict/arguments, high levels of activity/noise, and any changes within the environment, including bringing new animals in the home, rearranging furniture, remodeling, etc.
• Managing cat allergies:
  • Applying dander-reducing rinse-free shampoos such as Allerpet and Purina Pro Plan LiveClear
  • Applying dander-reducing sprays and/or wipes
  • Adding air purifiers throughout the home
  • Regularly vacuuming, sweeping, mopping, and dusting the home
  • Switching cats to a dander-reducing food such as Purina Pro Plan LiveClear dry food
  • Talking with your doctor about allergy-relief medications or monthly allergy shots
• Contacting other local shelters and rescues for assistance
• Rehoming resources:
  • Animal Friends's Home-2-Home Rehoming program
  • Adopt-a-Pet's Rehome service
  • Craigslist and Facebook are also options, but we strongly encourage charging a rehoming fee, asking for vet and personal references, and having your pet spayed/neutered prior to using these services.

Once you've exhausted all other options, and rehoming your pet is truly your only choice:

• Notify your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers first  they may be able to help you find a new home for your pet!
• If you can keep your pet in your home, consider using Adopt-a-Pet's Rehome service, which is an online service to help you find a home for your pet! If using Adopt-a-Pet's Rehome service, you may use code KITCOCAT237607 for 90% off your pet's listing fee!

*If you have found a lost cat or kitten, please contact your local animal shelter first. Animal shelters are generally the first stop for pet owners who have lost their pets, and many people without access to the internet or those who are unfamiliar with social media depend on shelters to be reunited with their beloved pet.