FCCRSNC Rehoming

Rehoming Your Pet

Can no longer keep your cat? Perhaps medical bills are overwhelming, you are moving, or you don't understand your cat's behavior. Please take some time to look through our advice to help you do what is best for your cat.

Solving behavior issues
Resources and websites with answers that can help
Advertise for a new home
Advice on re-homing your pet
Rescue groups
FCCRSNC intake process (taking names for a waiting list for adult cat intake)
Intake form/appointment
Found a feral cat

Intake is by appointment only - we are unable to accommodate walk-ins. Solving Behavior Issues:

Sometimes, a behavior issue will raise thoughts of getting rid of a family pet. The first step should be to solve this issue and keep your pet with the family he/she loves.

Please visit FCCRSNC's cat care section for information on common feline behavior issues.

Seek advice from your veterinarian to rule out any medical conditions that may be the cause of undesirable behavior in your cat. For information on finding a veterinarian, contact the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association.

Advertise for a New Home:

Since most cat owners obtain their family feline from sources outside a shelter, chances are good that you can find a new home for your cat through various forms of advertisement.

Word of mouth. Ask friends and relatives if they know anyone interested in adopting a cat or if they are looking for a kitty themselves.

Dial into the power of your social network. Post information and photos on your Facebook, Twitter, etc. pages to let your friends know.

Create a compelling flyer with a photo of your cat that describes all your cat's great personality traits, as well as any challenges he/she may have. Post this flyer on community boards, pet supply stores, or veterinarian offices.

Be sure to post your cat for private adoption on Craig's List and other pet-friendly message boards.

Place an advertisement through your local paper's classifieds. Remember to check into the Nickel Ads and other alternative newspapers as ways to increase the exposure of your advertisement.

Post your cat on our Other Pets in Need Page. E-mail pictures and biography to

Advice on re-homing your cat:

Charge a fee: FCCRSNC recommends that you charge a fee for your cat. You invested time, energy, and love, as well as provided for your cat's basic needs and medical care. Asking a fee will not deter good families from inquiring about your cat; it may stop unscrupulous folks from answering your advertisement.

Ask questions: Don't be shy about asking questions. You want to make sure your cat goes to the best possible home. Ask if they have children (does your cat do well with kids); do they have other cats or dogs; have they ever had a cat before; are they able to provide for your cat's medical needs; will they keep your cat inside; can they provide a veterinarian reference; will they allow you to visit their home prior to placing your cat with them.

Make your cat desirable: Spay/neuter your cat; groom and trim your cat's nails; have your cat current on vaccinations; get your cat tested for FeLV; make sure your kitten is older than 8 weeks.

Other: Ask for a valid form of identification and record the driver's license number for your records.

Rescue Groups and Animal Shelters:

Rescue groups generally keep animals until they can be placed in loving, permanent homes. In some cases, rescues work only with animal shelters and might not accept pets directly from owners.

Be sure to find out as much as you can about the rescue group, and always carefully screen an organization before relinquishing your pet. You should make sure the current animal residents appear well cared for, that the group screens potential adopters, and that the group offers post-adoption support services. Do not be afraid to ask questions. Animal shelters may be able to take your cat more quickly. Many shelters work with other organizations, like FCCRSNC, to provide the best options to find your cat a new home. However, most county shelters have limited space. Please discuss their holding period before you relinquish your cat to the shelter.

Please do not abandon your cat at any shelter or veterinary clinic. It is extremely dangerous for the animals that may get caught in inclement weather or may escape their containers and roam very busy streets.

NOTE: FCCRSNC received animals by appointment only and does not take walk-in relinquishments. This is to better help the animals by not overloading the shelter and to provide pet owners with all the information necessary to make the best decision on re-homing your cat.

FCCRSNC's Intake Process:

Right now, we have a waiting list for adult cats. There is no waiting list for mother/lactating cats with kittens.

We accept cats from the public on a limited basis. As cats are adopted, space is then available to bring in new cats to find homes.

If you have a stray cat please try to find the cat's owners by using tips found on our lost/found web page or find a new home for the cat using the tips below.

Intake Form and Making an Appointment

NOTE: FCCRSNC is not scheduling new intake appointments for adult cats. Adult cats will be placed on a waiting list.

For pet cat owners unable to find a home for their cat or for Good Samaritans helping a stray, please complete the FCCRSNC Intake Consultation Form and submit it online. Completing this form does not guarantee FCCRSNC can take in your cat; it does notify our intake counselors to contact you, however.

To help cover medical costs and general costs of caring for the cat while in our shelter, we do ask for a $30 intake fee when you relinquish a cat to our shelter.

Because of the high number of intake requests, we are scheduling limited appointments. After you complete the FCCRSNC Intake Consultation Form (only one cat or litter of kittens per form) and speak with an intake counselor, you will be given available options.

Cat Intake Consultation Form

Found a Feral Cat:

Is that cat or kitten a stray or feral cat?

When you come across outdoor kittens, you may feel the need to immediately pick them up and bring them home with you, but that might not be the best thing for the kittens-or for you. Here are some guidelines on how to decide if kittens in a colony should be removed and socialized for adoption, and how to care for them should you choose to remove them and raise or socialize them yourself.

Please read and consider this information from Alley Cat Allies: click here.