The Cat Corner receives an overwhelming amount of calls and emails from people who, for whatever reason, can no longer keep their cat(s).
We ask that you read this page through entirely before contacting us for advice. Please keep in mind that The Cat Corner's primary focus is on finding forever homes for strays and cats from shelters that have run out of time.
Going to a rescue for help should be your absolute last resort.
We ask that you read this page through entirely before contacting us for advice. Please keep in mind that The Cat Corner's primary focus is on finding forever homes for strays and cats from shelters that have run out of time.
Going to a rescue for help should be your absolute last resort.
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Maybe Rehoming Isn't Necessary:
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Each year, around 15 million pets are turned into animal shelters across the country. Only 25 to 30 percent of these animals are reclaimed by their owners or adopted into new homes. The rest, some 11 million dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens, must be put to death because no one wants them. Here are many of the reasons that people choose to give up their pet. Many of these do have solutions and we encourage you to do everything possible to accommodate your pet or the stray into your household. If you need advice from us, please email us before you are to the point of total frustration.
Here are our local statistics: Click here |
Allergies
If a member of the household becomes allergic to cats, or if a new partner is allergic, many people assume the only solution is to rehome the cat. This is not necessarily so. Some people may develop allergic symptoms when living with a cat for the first time, but many find that after a few weeks their symptoms subside, and often disappear altogether once their system becomes accustomed to the allergen. Reduce risk of reaction by:
If a member of the household becomes allergic to cats, or if a new partner is allergic, many people assume the only solution is to rehome the cat. This is not necessarily so. Some people may develop allergic symptoms when living with a cat for the first time, but many find that after a few weeks their symptoms subside, and often disappear altogether once their system becomes accustomed to the allergen. Reduce risk of reaction by:
- Regularly applying flea treatments;
- Limiting the pet’s access to certain areas
- Low allergen shampoo
- Allerpet/D, available in many pet stores and by mail order. Apply to pet's fur using washcloth once a week. It neutralizes the dander. Nature's Miracle works in a similar manner.
- Grooming the cat in the garage or on a screened-in porch;
- Wiping a damp cloth over the couch and the carpeting after vacuuming.
Behavioral Problems
In most cases, the problems are quite solvable if you make a little effort. An animal is like a child. Set no boundaries, ignore him, give her nothing to do, teach him nothing...the child will not be well-adjusted and will not learn to behave. It is up to you to teach your animal kindly and consistently what is expected of him or her. If you need to re-home your cat because of behavior problems, please click here. This will take you to an organization which will answer your questions by telephone or email free of charge. Please contact this organization before deciding to give up your cat. They may be able to help you solve the problem.
Many common behavioral problems can be exasperating if the cause is not apparent. Sometimes this can lead to people feeling that the problem is insurmountable and that rehoming is the only solution. If you are having difficulties with your pet’s behavior, Dumb Friends League has information on just about every kind of animal behavior issue that may help you solve the problem.
Click a link below:
In most cases, the problems are quite solvable if you make a little effort. An animal is like a child. Set no boundaries, ignore him, give her nothing to do, teach him nothing...the child will not be well-adjusted and will not learn to behave. It is up to you to teach your animal kindly and consistently what is expected of him or her. If you need to re-home your cat because of behavior problems, please click here. This will take you to an organization which will answer your questions by telephone or email free of charge. Please contact this organization before deciding to give up your cat. They may be able to help you solve the problem.
Many common behavioral problems can be exasperating if the cause is not apparent. Sometimes this can lead to people feeling that the problem is insurmountable and that rehoming is the only solution. If you are having difficulties with your pet’s behavior, Dumb Friends League has information on just about every kind of animal behavior issue that may help you solve the problem.
Click a link below:
8 Common Cat Problems and How to Solve Them
By Wendy C. Fries
WebMD Pet Health Feature
Litter box issues.
This is "numero uno by far" of problems people report with their cats, says Linda P. Case, MS, author of The Cat: Its Behavior, Nutrition, and Health. And no wonder. It can be extremely frustrating when your kitty decides that the litter box is off-limits. But there's usually a reason cats avoid their box, and fortunately there's a lot you can do to address the issue.
Scratching.
It may seem like kitty is scratching your couch and curtains to annoy you, but she's really doing it to work off energy, to play, to mark her territory, even to get rid of frayed bits of claw. Good news: "Scratching is easy to prevent," Case tells WebMD. So you don't have to settle for raggedy furniture or stop kitty from expressing her natural behavior. To prevent scratching damage:
Cat aggression.
A cat may become aggressive for all kinds of reasons, including illness, overcrowding, lack of socialization, maternal protection, even simple play. To help you deal with aggression between cats:
Too much nighttime activity.
Until their domestication cats were nocturnal by nature, so it's easy to see why too much nighttime action is a common complaint of many new pet parents. To help the kitty who doesn't understand that nighttime is for sleeping -- not for playing with your nose -- try these tips.
Play-induced biting and scratching. Cats and kittens love playing. Through each swat, pounce, and kick they are enhancing physical coordination and honing social skills. Yet sometimes felines can get too frisky with their people playmates, leaving behind bites or scratches that can get infected. Fortunately, you can still play with your cat -- and not need stitches later. To minimize kitty's rough play:
Foiling fleas.
If your kitty is chewing, scratching, or licking often, if she's losing hair, or has irritated skin, she may have fleas, the most common external parasite troubling pets.
It only takes one flea hitching a ride inside to start an invasion, but fortunately you can tackle fleas easily. Talk to your vet about flea control options, then be sure to treat all the cats in you house: If one has fleas, they probably all do. And because some flea control medications for dogs can be fatal to cats, be sure you use only drugs made specifically for cats.
Tackling tapeworms.
While fleas are the most common external parasite on your cat, tapeworms are the most common pest inside kitty. That's because where there's fleas there's almost always tapeworms, since cats usually get tapeworms by swallowing a flea. The end result eventually appears at kitty's end: Look at your cat's feces or around their anus, if you see tiny wiggly white worms, or something that looks like dried grains of rice, your kitty has tapeworms.
Tapeworms aren't dangerous, but they can lead to weight loss, tummy pain, and other problems in your cat if left untreated. While garlic has been a popular home remedy for foiling tapeworms and fleas, there's no proof it works -- and it's very hard to get kitty to eat it! Stick to the to tried-and-true tapeworm treatments offered by your vet.
Yowling of a cat in heat.
When a female cat is in heat, she'll often become very affectionate and vocal, meowing and yowling as she attempts to alert a potential mate of her fertile status. Likewise, a male cat may become talkative when he's hearing or smelling a female cat in heat. This yowling and other mating behaviors may repeat themselves every 18-24 days throughout a cat's eight month breeding season.
You already know the most foolproof way of coping with a cat in heat (or one responding to a cat in heat): Get your feline friends spayed or neutered! A female cat can become pregnant when she's as young as 16 weeks, but fortunately she can be spayed at 8 weeks old.
If your cat is meowing a lot and your kitty is spayed or neutered, it's a safe bet to assume something is wrong: Perhaps fleas are biting, the litter box is dirty, or the water bowl is empty. Unless you know kitty is just trying to be a mooch, never ignore these vocal pleas -- and never punish them, which results only in making kitty afraid and doesn't address the real reason he or she is meowing.
There's probably isn't a single issue you'll have with your cat that your veterinarian or a veterinary behaviorist hasn't seen -- and helped to overcome. You don't have to live with frustration and you don't have to give up your cuddly companion when things go awry. Armed with a little help from the pros and a bit of patience, you and your cat companion can live together in perfect harmony.
By Wendy C. Fries
WebMD Pet Health Feature
Litter box issues.
This is "numero uno by far" of problems people report with their cats, says Linda P. Case, MS, author of The Cat: Its Behavior, Nutrition, and Health. And no wonder. It can be extremely frustrating when your kitty decides that the litter box is off-limits. But there's usually a reason cats avoid their box, and fortunately there's a lot you can do to address the issue.
- Talk to your vet first. Bladder stones, urinary tract diseases, and crystals in the urine are all reasons your cat might start avoiding the litter box. To rule these and other health issues out, be sure to have your cat checked by your veterinarian.
- Have at least one litter box per cat. If your kitty has to stand in line before she can relieve herself, she may decide to take her bathroom break elsewhere. Try test-driving a few kinds of litter and litter boxes. Some cats prefer covered boxes, some don't, and some cats prefer one litter over another.
- Always keep the litter box clean -- even clumping litter has to be changed regularly. A rule of thumb: Clean the box at least once daily, twice if there's more than one cat in the house.
Scratching.
It may seem like kitty is scratching your couch and curtains to annoy you, but she's really doing it to work off energy, to play, to mark her territory, even to get rid of frayed bits of claw. Good news: "Scratching is easy to prevent," Case tells WebMD. So you don't have to settle for raggedy furniture or stop kitty from expressing her natural behavior. To prevent scratching damage:
- Buy one or more scratching posts for your cat, then dab a bit of catnip on the posts to entice your feline friend to use them.
- Trim your kitty's claws. It may seem daunting, but trimming is easier than you think. Get a quick tutorial from your veterinarian, who can probably do the deed in 10 seconds -- a skill that can be learned.
- Turn your cat into a fashion plate with colorful claw caps (also called nail caps). These small, vinyl sleeves fit over kitty's claws, preventing them from doing damage when they scratch.
Cat aggression.
A cat may become aggressive for all kinds of reasons, including illness, overcrowding, lack of socialization, maternal protection, even simple play. To help you deal with aggression between cats:
- Discuss your cat’s aggression with your vet. Pain and sickness can put anyone in a bad mood, so you'll want to rule out any physical causes for kitty's bad temper before you do anything else.
- Unfixed male cats are more prone to aggression than other cats, and it only takes one intact male to affect the behavior of all the other cats in your house. The solution is simple: spay or neuter your feline friends.
- If your furry household is often in a snit, it could be because there aren’t enough resources to go around. Keep the peace by making sure there are enough litter boxes, food and water bowls, toys, beds and perches, then spread them through the house to reduce congestion.
- You never want to hit an aggressive cat -- it may just lead to more aggression -- but you do need to stop a cat fight in progress. To do that, squirt the cats with water, make a loud noise, or toss something soft at them. Never try pulling fighting cats apart.
- If you or your vet cannot figure out why kitty is being antagonistic, talk to a veterinary behaviorist, who may be able to help you get to the source of your cat's aggression.
Too much nighttime activity.
Until their domestication cats were nocturnal by nature, so it's easy to see why too much nighttime action is a common complaint of many new pet parents. To help the kitty who doesn't understand that nighttime is for sleeping -- not for playing with your nose -- try these tips.
- First, make sure your cat has no medical problems. An agitated, active feline could be one that's in pain, so talk to your vet if you think there might be something wrong.
- If kitty is just rambunctious at night, you can help tire and relax her with a good play session before bedtime.
- Make sure kitty's environment is enriched so there is plenty to do during the day, making your cat more inclined to sleep at night. You might create a cat enclosure; offer your cat a variety of toys; mount bird or squirrel feeders near a window out which kitty can see; or leave out items for your cat to explore, such as boxes, bags, and packing paper.
- If your feline friend is the social sort, get him his own kitty companion to pal around with.
- Because cats tend to sleep after a big meal, feed your cat her main meal at night. You can also entertain her at the food bowl by purchasing a timed feeder, one that pops open at preset times. Your cat is entertained by watching her bowl and waiting for her snack at 3 a.m., while you're in blissful dreamland.
Play-induced biting and scratching. Cats and kittens love playing. Through each swat, pounce, and kick they are enhancing physical coordination and honing social skills. Yet sometimes felines can get too frisky with their people playmates, leaving behind bites or scratches that can get infected. Fortunately, you can still play with your cat -- and not need stitches later. To minimize kitty's rough play:
- Provide your cat with lots of enrichment: toys, perches, and outdoor enclosures, as well as paper bags and boxes to explore. You may even think about getting your cat a kitty companion.
- Play with your cat for at least 10 minutes twice a day. Use dangly toys, balls, catnip toys, wadded up paper -- the sky's the limit.
- Don't encourage your cat to play with your hands or feet. Kittens who grow up playing with and nibbling on fingertips often grow up to be powerful cats who play bite -- hard!
- Don't punish your cat for play bites and scratches -- it's easy for kitty to interpret a slap as rough play, or to become afraid of you.
Foiling fleas.
If your kitty is chewing, scratching, or licking often, if she's losing hair, or has irritated skin, she may have fleas, the most common external parasite troubling pets.
It only takes one flea hitching a ride inside to start an invasion, but fortunately you can tackle fleas easily. Talk to your vet about flea control options, then be sure to treat all the cats in you house: If one has fleas, they probably all do. And because some flea control medications for dogs can be fatal to cats, be sure you use only drugs made specifically for cats.
Tackling tapeworms.
While fleas are the most common external parasite on your cat, tapeworms are the most common pest inside kitty. That's because where there's fleas there's almost always tapeworms, since cats usually get tapeworms by swallowing a flea. The end result eventually appears at kitty's end: Look at your cat's feces or around their anus, if you see tiny wiggly white worms, or something that looks like dried grains of rice, your kitty has tapeworms.
Tapeworms aren't dangerous, but they can lead to weight loss, tummy pain, and other problems in your cat if left untreated. While garlic has been a popular home remedy for foiling tapeworms and fleas, there's no proof it works -- and it's very hard to get kitty to eat it! Stick to the to tried-and-true tapeworm treatments offered by your vet.
Yowling of a cat in heat.
When a female cat is in heat, she'll often become very affectionate and vocal, meowing and yowling as she attempts to alert a potential mate of her fertile status. Likewise, a male cat may become talkative when he's hearing or smelling a female cat in heat. This yowling and other mating behaviors may repeat themselves every 18-24 days throughout a cat's eight month breeding season.
You already know the most foolproof way of coping with a cat in heat (or one responding to a cat in heat): Get your feline friends spayed or neutered! A female cat can become pregnant when she's as young as 16 weeks, but fortunately she can be spayed at 8 weeks old.
If your cat is meowing a lot and your kitty is spayed or neutered, it's a safe bet to assume something is wrong: Perhaps fleas are biting, the litter box is dirty, or the water bowl is empty. Unless you know kitty is just trying to be a mooch, never ignore these vocal pleas -- and never punish them, which results only in making kitty afraid and doesn't address the real reason he or she is meowing.
There's probably isn't a single issue you'll have with your cat that your veterinarian or a veterinary behaviorist hasn't seen -- and helped to overcome. You don't have to live with frustration and you don't have to give up your cuddly companion when things go awry. Armed with a little help from the pros and a bit of patience, you and your cat companion can live together in perfect harmony.
Pregnancy
The risk of toxoplasmosis contracted from animal feces during pregnancy is still a major reason why many cats are put up for rehoming. The truth is that inadequately cooked meat is the main risk factor for infection with toxoplasmosis. Contact with a cats' feces has been found to be a very low risk factor. The basic rules of hygiene should naturally be observed, and to be absolutely safe, rubber gloves should be worn when cleaning litter boxes, or get a non-pregnant member of the household to take litter duty. Keep the cat's vaccinations current and ensure kitty is regularly dewormed and treated for fleas if he goes outside.
The risk of toxoplasmosis contracted from animal feces during pregnancy is still a major reason why many cats are put up for rehoming. The truth is that inadequately cooked meat is the main risk factor for infection with toxoplasmosis. Contact with a cats' feces has been found to be a very low risk factor. The basic rules of hygiene should naturally be observed, and to be absolutely safe, rubber gloves should be worn when cleaning litter boxes, or get a non-pregnant member of the household to take litter duty. Keep the cat's vaccinations current and ensure kitty is regularly dewormed and treated for fleas if he goes outside.
New Baby in the House
If simple, sensible precautions are taken and proper introductions are made, there should be no need to consider rehoming your cat due to the arrival of a baby. And, indeed, having a cat in the family can be of immense benefit to the child's development, allowing them to form an early bond with an animal, to learn to respect and care for the pet, and to lay a lifelong foundation of love for animals. In addition, recent studies have shown that children who have pets in their homes, especially during the first year of life, build antibodies that lead to a reduced risk of asthma and allergies. Take precautions such as: closing the nursery door when baby is on her own; keeping litter boxes out of reach of crawling and toddling babies; keeping baby food and pet food separate; cleaning litter boxes regularly and washing hands after doing so; and keeping kitty current on her vaccinations.
If simple, sensible precautions are taken and proper introductions are made, there should be no need to consider rehoming your cat due to the arrival of a baby. And, indeed, having a cat in the family can be of immense benefit to the child's development, allowing them to form an early bond with an animal, to learn to respect and care for the pet, and to lay a lifelong foundation of love for animals. In addition, recent studies have shown that children who have pets in their homes, especially during the first year of life, build antibodies that lead to a reduced risk of asthma and allergies. Take precautions such as: closing the nursery door when baby is on her own; keeping litter boxes out of reach of crawling and toddling babies; keeping baby food and pet food separate; cleaning litter boxes regularly and washing hands after doing so; and keeping kitty current on her vaccinations.
Please, if you cannot immediately find housing that accepts pets, do NOT abandon your pet in the hope that someone else will find and care for him, or in the hope that you’ll be able to come back later and get him. Pets depend on us for their care. If you absolutely cannot find a pet-friendly rental, bring your pet to a reputable shelter or rescue group.
Finding a Pet Friendly Rental
Finding a pet-friendly rental has never been easier due to resources now available through the internet. Simply type “pet friendly apartments” into your search engine. The following common apartment-finding websites include filters for housing that accepts pets:
Finding a Pet Friendly Rental
Finding a pet-friendly rental has never been easier due to resources now available through the internet. Simply type “pet friendly apartments” into your search engine. The following common apartment-finding websites include filters for housing that accepts pets:
- http://www.apartments.com/pet-friendly-apartments
- http://www.rent.com/pet-friendly-apartments
- http://www.apartmentfinder.com/ – use the “Pets allowed” filter at the top of the home page
- http://www.peoplewithpets.com/
- http://www.apartmentguide.com/ – use the “Pet friendly” checkbox under Community Features
- http://www.rentlingo.com/ – under “More,” select “Allow cats” and/or “Allow dogs”
- Show an interest in cleanliness. Let the landlord, manager or condominium board know that you share any concerns about cleanliness.
- Point out that your pet is housetrained or litter-box trained. Emphasize that you always clean up after your dog outdoors and that you always properly dispose of your pet’s waste.
- Offer your new landlord the opportunity to visit you after you’ve moved in so they can meet your pet and see how well you care for your rental unit.
- Try to take a few days off when you move into a new place to help your pet adjust. It’s new for your pet too, and sometimes even the most quiet and calm pets will get anxious in new surroundings and make excessive noise, disturbing the neighbors. It often helps if you can be there to help your pet adjust to the new home.
- Be a good neighbor. Make sure your pets don’t disturb your neighbors, whether it’s with noise, wandering loose or unsightly messes. Remember that your landlord has to deal with complaints and won’t be happy if it keeps happening.
- Be diligent about addressing any concerns your landlord may have. If an issue arises about your pet, make sure you understand what the problem is and take immediate steps to address it.
Moving Successfully with Pets
Moving to a new home can be just as stressful on your pet as it is on you. Following are some tips to help you help your pet through this change of address:
Moving Successfully with Pets
Moving to a new home can be just as stressful on your pet as it is on you. Following are some tips to help you help your pet through this change of address:
- Talk to your veterinarian at least three weeks before the move to determine if your pet will need medication for nervousness or car sickness.
- Gather the supplies your pet will need during the move – food, water, medications, medical records, bedding and toys. It also helps to bring along some of your dirty laundry because the familiar scent of these belongings is comforting to your pet.
- Keep your pet away from the moving-day activity by confining him to a room where he feels safe, otherwise, your pet could become frightened and bolt out the door unnoticed. It’s difficult to pack, move furniture, and keep an eye on your pet at the same time. Maybe you have a friendly place where your pet can stay during the packing and moving, like a neighbor, friend or boarding kennel. As much as possible, try not to disrupt his daily routine.
- Be sure your dog or cat has a tag with your new phone number or the number of a friend so there will be someone to contact if your pet gets lost during the move.
- Move small animals, like birds and hamsters, in their cages, covered with a lightweight fabric. Remove water and any other objects that might loosen and injure them. You must keep the temperature constant for these small friends to survive.
- Unpack and settle in a bit before turning your pet loose in the house. Keep the doors to your extra rooms closed and slowly give your pet access to them as they become accustomed to their new home.
- Orient your dog or cat to the new surroundings. If possible, try to place their favorite resting place (dog bed, chair or cushion) in the same position or area, as it was in your old home. Put their food and water bowls and toys in familiar places as well.
- If you have a dog, walk him around the house, yard and block. If you have a cat, sit quietly and pet her, preferably while sitting in a familiar chair. Provide a place for your cat to hide (she’ll do this anyway). Make sure she’s eating, drinking and using her litter box.
- Be patient, loving and reassuring with your pet, and they’ll adjust quickly to their new home.
Alternatives to Giving Up Your Pet
Pets are a lifetime commitment and your pet depends on you to ensure that they are happy, healthy and loved. Before making a decision to give up your pet, we ask that you explore every other alternative first. Above are many of the reasons that people choose to give up their pet. Many of these do have solutions and we encourage you to do everything possible to accommodate your pet or the stray into your household. If you need advice from us, please email us before you are to the point of total frustration.
For Military Personnel who have been deployed to active duty, there are programs that can help you keep your pets!
For Military Personnel who have been deployed to active duty, there are programs that can help you keep your pets!
Re-Homing Your Pet
You are your pet’s best chance of finding a new loving home. It will be much better for your pet to go from your home directly to a new home rather than coming to a shelter. Remember it may take a bit of time, but ultimately your pet will be much better off. Here are some steps to follow:
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Adopt-a-Pet has a program specially created to help pet owners that need to rehome their pets. Adopt-a-Pet.com is a trusted non-profit organization with a dedicated team of pet experts that is here to support you throughout this process. With their help, you can create a great adoption profile for your pet (with pictures and information about your pet) and help to get them seen by potential adopters. Your pet will posted on their adoption site to be seen by millions of visitors each month. They provide you with pointers, questions to ask, an adoption application and even an adoption contract! Their dedicated team will even help you select the best applicant! There is no charge for this service. Click here to go and get started.
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- Take a few photos of your pet. Remember — a picture is worth a thousand words. Make sure your picture is clear and shows the good nature of your pet.
- Write a short paragraph describing your pet and the type of home that would be a good match for him/her.
- Share all of the above information with all of your family, friends, and neighbors and all your online friends on Facebook and Twitter and let them know why you must find your pet a new home. Often through word of mouth (a friend of a friend) you will find the perfect home.
Place an ad:
Place an ad in the newspaper or other online pet section; the ad should be short and include a picture. Be very careful when reviewing responses and potential adopters. Conduct a home visit with a friend and ask for references. Here are some rehoming groups on Facebook to list pets:
Place an ad in the newspaper or other online pet section; the ad should be short and include a picture. Be very careful when reviewing responses and potential adopters. Conduct a home visit with a friend and ask for references. Here are some rehoming groups on Facebook to list pets:
- Hampton Roads and NENC Dogs & Cats to Re-Home (No Breeders)
- SOS Pets, Hampton Roads, VA
- Hampton Roads, VA and NENC Barn Cats
- The Heart of the Rescue
- Pet Adoption Virginia
- Adopt Don't Shop - Greater Hampton Roads Pet Adoption Option
- Hampton Roads Pets
- Rehome Your Pet- Hampton Roads and Surrounding Areas
- Rehome Responsibly Virginia
- HR Pets
- Pets and Supplies For Sale Hampton Roads
- Pet Adoption Of Williamsburg Va
- Hampton Roads Pets and Supplies
- Lost & Found Pets - Hampton Roads, VA