From moving home and relationship break-ups to changes in the family or bereavement, there are many reasons why you might have to make the difficult decision to rehome your cat to another owner. While some situations are unavoidable, there are circumstances where you may be able to keep your cat. For example, if you're having a baby and are concerned about your cat, did you know that there are plenty of ways to ensure your pet and new arrival get on well? Allergy sufferers will also be surprised to hear that there are easy ways to curb your symptoms.
There are many reasons you might make the decision to give up your cat to Cats Protection. Here are just some of them.
Do you, or someone in your home, suspect that you may be allergic to your cat? Don't panic. Visit your GP in the first instance to determine whether your symptoms are related to your feline companion. Other allergens could include pollen, dust mites or even perfume. If your GP confirms a cat allergy, you can discuss treatment and work out what to do next.
Find out more about keeping allergies at bay when you have a cat in our guide.
Cats and allergiesCats make excellent companions for children but it is perfectly understandable that you might worry about your cat when you find out you're pregnant. There's no reason that you should have to rehome your cat due to a new arrival, however - with our advice, your cat and baby should live in harmony.
If you're wondering how to prepare your cat for your new baby, download our pregnancy planner to count down to your due date.
You can find out more about preparing your cat for your new baby in our guide.
Cats and your pregnancy
If the issue is with your cat's behaviour and you have considered giving them up, it might be worth visiting your vet to see if they can help. They can refer you to a registered cat behaviour, who will be able to advice on how best to improve your cat's behaviour. Cats are aggressive or anxious for a reason and helping solve the issue can result in a happier household.
To find a registered cat behaviourist, visit the websites of the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB) or The Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC)
Find out more about cat behaviour in our guide.
Cat behaviourBefore looking into cat rehoming due to expensive medical bills, do some research. Some veterinary practices offer payment plans or financial assistance, and other organisations such as the PDSA or Blue Cross may be able to assist with medical bills. For neutering your cat, you may be eligible for financial help from Cats Protection.
Find out if you are eligible to receive financial assistance to neuter your cat.
Financial assistance with neutering
If you find that you, or someone you know, can longer cope with a pet, there may sadly be no other option but to rehome the cat. If this is the case, it is important to remember the following steps to ensure the cat you are rehoming is safe and well.
If you need more advice on cat rehoming, speak to our National Information Line.