Thank you for completing a successfiul home visit. Arrangements will shortly be made for you to adopt your new cat but there are a few things we would ask that you do and consider before the adoption date.

Please do read the information carefully and if you have any other pets or are adopting a more timid cat, please ask our team for a leaflet pertaining to those circumstances. We are here to help.

When you first bring your new cat home you will need to help them settle into their new home. Any change of environment is always stressful to a cat and it will often take a few weeks for them to feel relaxed.

Put aside one room which is secure. The room should include:

• Separate area for food and water
• At least one litter tray (ask the fosterer the type of litter they use)
• Somewhere for the cat to hide (cardboard box usually does the job)
• Access to high spot – top of the wardrobe?
• Cat bed, scratching post and a few toys (ask the fosterer if you can take a known toy as this helps with providing reassurance and scent)

• Cats rely heavily on scent so please take an item of clothing or a blanket from your home and leave it with the cat for a few days before you bring them home. When you bring the cat home, bring the same item home along with a toy of the cats. All helps get them settled.
• Feliway a plug in synthetic form of feline facial pheromones may also help provide aclam and reassuring environment.

• Cats are independent by nature and have their own routine. They tend to have 4 x 6 hour cycles where they sleep, play and feed. So if you hear your cat early in the morning and mid afternoon and then again around mid morning and late evening don’t be surprised. This is the natural routine.
• Be patient and please do not rush your cat into doing anything. Cats learn by consequence and predication. If they follow a routine and nothing bad has happened to them they know its safe to keep doing it. If they get scared it will take a little time for them to try something again. Give them lots of love, time and patience.
• Check your house is safe for them, think what checks you would do if young children were visting. Is there anything of value that you don’t want them jumping over or furniture you would prefer to perserve? If so move the ornament to a safe place and put a throw over the sofa.
• Catflaps are great but not with new cats. Keep it locked and covered with a chair or box so the cat cannot see it. They will try and escape and have been known to break catflaps that are locked.
• Please ensure that your cats mircochip details have been up-dated .
• When you arrive home, leave the cat alone to explore the room.
• Do not introduce the cat to any other pets take immediately to their room.
• When you go into the room, sit on the floor, if the cat shows interest in you put our your hand and call their name softly. If they are hiding or refusing to look at you, just sit in the room and talk softly or read a book.
• Work with the cat on their terms, please leave the cat to hide and do not attempt to pick the cat up or move it to another room whilst in the early stages of introduction.
• Your new cat may not eat for a day or two or use the litter tray. There is nothing to be concerned about. Try coaxing with chicken or tuna. You just need to break the cycle of them not eating. If you think the cat might eat without you being in the room, leave the room. Or sit further away without making eye contact. If you are at all concerned contact the fosterer.

Once your cat is confident with you, has eaten, used the litter tray and perhaps even played in the room its time to introduce them to other family members.

• Children are likely to be exicted but they need to keep calm.
• Let the cat come to you.
• Show children how to treat cats with respect.
• Do not let your new cat be pushed, pulled or yelled at.
• If your children want to play with your new cat use a fishing rod toy.

If you have no other pets in the house and your cat is comfortable you can gradually let them explore the other rooms.

• It may help if you wipe your cats cheek with a soft cloth and rub their scent (which is on the cloth) onto other points in the house like the bannister, wardrobe door etc.
• If at any time your cat is spooked and wants to dash straight back into their room, let them.
• It could take a few attempts before your cat is completely comfortable in the house.

If your cat is comfortable in the house and has been with you for 3-4 weeks then you can consider letting them out. If the kitten isn’t old enough to be neutered do not let them outside unsupervised.

• When you let your cat out, make sure that they are hungry and let them out a few minutes before its time for the routine meal.
• Once they have gone outside for a few minutes call them back for food.
• Keep this routine going until they are coming back into the house freely.

Introducing a new cat to a current cat in your household, unsure of what steps you should follow? 

Step 1 – Before you take your new cat home

• Scent is incredibly important to cats, so this should be done prior to adoption. – Before your new cat arrives, start swapping bedding and toys between the cats. Giving them some time to adjust to the new scents.
• You can place these things in your current cats favourite resting place and also encourage treats during the times they are around the new scent. Allowing them to determine a positive reaction of being around this smell.

Step 2 – Bringing your new cat home

• When bringing a new cat into your household, it is important that you do not immediately put them in with your existing cat.
• Set up a separate room for your new cat, with bedding, food, water, etc they should go straight in here once adopted and remain in there for a few days. This is encouraged whenever a cat enters a new environment, it gives them time to adjust to their new surroundings.
• This gives your cats time to adjust to stronger scents, while they can still maintain a distance.

Step 3 – Scent swapping

• Continue to keep swapping scents throughout the household.- Once a few days have passed, you can introduce them visually, but this must be done slowly.
• Try starting off with each cat at one end of a long corridor or room. – Distraction techniques, such as a food and toys, can be used.
• Each time increase the visual contact, ensuring you make a fuss of both cats, keeping them comfortable.
• If at anytime they show signs of stress or aggression, remove the new cat and repeat the process after another few days.

Some cats may never accept each other into their household. However, you have the best possible chance following this method.

There are a lot of items within our homes, that can be extremely hazardous to cats. To ensure our furry friends are protected, it’s important we know what items to look for and what we need to do in the worst case scenario.

HUMAN MEDICINES – Do not leave any medication lying around the house, if consumed these can be fatal to your cat.

HUMAN FOODS – They are a lot of foods that we can consume without any harm caused. However, the following list are hazardous to your cats.

• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• Garlic
• Chocolate
• Chives
• Grapes
• Onions
• Raisins
• Xylitol
• Yeast dough

INDOOR & OUTDOOR PLANTS – A lot of common plants kept either in or around the household can be potentially harmful to cats.

• Aloe
• Lillies
• Misteltoe
• Poinsetta
• Chrysanthemum
• Azalea
• Rhododendron
• Tulip

INSECTICIDES AND CHEMICALS – Cats can often find the taste of many chemicals appealing. Be careful where you store these products and your use of them around your cats.

• Antifreeze (EXTREMELY FATAL)
• Bleach
• Detergents
• De-icing salts
• Dog flea and tick medication
• Fertilisers
• Herbicides
• Insect and rodent bait

If you think your cat has been poisoned, please call your veterinary surgery immediately. If it is out of normal hours, please contact your nearest emergency vets. Catching poisoning as quick as possible is vitally important.

SYMPTOMS – Things to look out for.

• Breathing problems
• Confusion
• Coughing
• Diarrhea
• Dilated pupils
• Excessive drinking and urination
• Vomiting
• Seizures 

Firstly, is it dead, or injured?

In some cases, it may be obvious that a cat has sadly died. If the cat is found curled up or stretched out in a shed or garden, however, it can be difficult to tell. As upsetting as it may be to look for these signs, knowing what to look for could ensure a cat receives urgent medical attention in time to help. If you spot a cat lying by the side of the road it might not be dead, but could be in pain and afraid. So stop if it’s safe to do so, and check for signs of life:

• Look for signs of breathing. Is the chest moving up and down, can you see the stomach move?
• Look at the cat’s eyes. Cat’s eyes usually remain open after death, since it requires muscle control to keep them closed. The pupils may appear larger than usual if the cat has died. To check whether the cat is unconscious, try shining a light briefly in the cats’ eye (use the torch on your phone). If the pupil’s react, the cat is unconscious, but still alive.

If the cat is alive, but seems hurt or unwell.

• Call National RSCPA on 0300 1234 999

If the cat has passed away.

We understand that it may be difficult to do, but if you can. Please wrap the cat in an old blanket and place it into a cardboard box or cat carrier. Take the cat to your local vet. The vet will be able to contact the owners to let them know their cat has been found if they are microchipped, and they are usually prepared to look after the body even if there is no chip.

I have hit a cat while driving. What should I do?

If you hit a cat with your car then the Road Traffic Act 1988 doesn’t require you to report to the police (if it was a dog, got, horse, cattle, donkey or sheep you have a legal obligation to notify the police).  

Whether you choose to report the accident or not, it would be kindest to take the following steps to ensure the cat’s owner is notified:

• If the cat is alive then follow our advice under “lost and found cats”.
• If the cat is dead and you can do without risk, follow the advice above for dead cats.

I’ve seen a dead cat but I can’t stop / I can’t take it to a vet.

If you find a dead cat and aren’t able to stop, or aren’t able to take it to the vets, then the kindest and responsible thing is to let someone else know so they can instead.

Can I report it to MK Cat Rescue?

We can go out and collect a dead cat, but as we’re all volunteers with day jobs, we aren’t able to respond quickly. We usually find that by the time a cat has been reported to us and we have arranged a volunteer to go out, that the cat has already been collected by someone else as its been reported via social media. So to get a quick resolution, try one of the options below:

Local heroes – Animal Helpers MK, and other facebook groups:

There is a fantastic group on Facebook called Animal Helpers MK, please consider reporting the cat on here, and on other lost and found pages on Facebook. Explain you have found a dead cat, and give the date, time and location, and include a description of the cat (a picture can be helpful to offer to someone who responds with questions, but bear in mind it might be distressing for others if you posted it directly onto a group).

Environmental Team at Milton Keynes Council, Highways Agency

If the dead cat is on a busy road please notify the Environmental Team at MK Council, or the Highways Agency if it’s on the A5.

Needs Rewrite

Is the cat showing signs of sickness or injury and requires immediate veterinary attention?

Call National RSCPA on 0300 1234 999, or visit the RSPCA site to report cruelty > 

Is the cat healthy and friendly?

If you can get close enough to the cat, make up a paper collar. The paper collar should be put around the cat’s neck with a small piece of sellotape. Please DO NOT put the sellotape all the way around the collar, as this can be dangerous. The collar should contain a note on it saying “If this is your cat please call this number: ….”.

If no one calls within 24-36 hours you can be fairly certain that it is lost or stray.

Take a picture of the cat and put up some ‘found cat’ posters. Download a template >

Contact your local animal rescue groups, to ask if they have been reported as lost – contact details on here: Cat Rescue Organisations – UK and Ireland, and check Animal Search UK.  

If the owner cannot be traced, and you are unable to adopt the cat yourself, contact your local rescue centre, so that they can arrange to take the cat in for rehoming. If you intend to keep the cat, take him to a vet for a health check, and to arrange for them to be neutered and microchipped.

If the cat is hungry, please feed it, but please do apply some common sense.

Cats can do a very good impression of being stray or hungry, so pop that paper collar on! You can provide clean water, (not cows milk, as many cats and kittens are lactose intolerant).

If you cannot take it into your home, please make sure there is somewhere dry and waterproof outside for shelter. This can be as simple as a cardboard box covered with a bin liner or clingfilm, and weighted down against the wind, or tucked under a bush for stability. Ideal bedding to put inside is a thick layer of straw, which acts as a heat-conserving ‘nest’. Alternatively, a jumper or towel will do, but this should be changed regularly as these retain moisture and can encourage mould or mildew.

If you need further advice, please contact us.

Losing your cat can be a worrying and traumatic time, and we hope the following tips and advice will help to reunite you with your cat. When you do find your cat, please inform any organisations that you told about its disappearance.

Microchipping – the single best way to be reunited with your missing cat is to microchip them.

Things you can do to help find a lost cat:

• Have a good look round in the house and any sheds or garages, and in less obvious places like the washing machine or the loft, and ask your neighbours to do the same.The average neutered cat roams the distance of approximately 5-10 houses either side of their home, so we recommend you ask at least this number of neighbours.
• If your cat is not neutered, especially if they are male, they are likely to roam much, much further in search of a mate. We highly recommend neutering your cats, both for their general wellbeing and for their safety during mating season.
• Go out at dusk and dawn with freshly cooked chicken or smelly fish and quietly call your cats name, stop and listen for any movement or sounds. If you see your cat but cannot get close enough to handle it, contact us so we can provide further advice.
• Rattle that favourite packet of treats or tap their food bowl… call their name and see if they come running back.
• Post photos on social media and ask your friends to share.
• Create “Lost Cat” posters with a photo, post through letterboxes in the local area and display them in local vets, shops and other local business (asking permission first).
• Consider what you may need if you find your cat – You will want to bring your cat home, so we recommend taking a cat carrier with you to safely transport your cat if you find them.

Contact all local vets and other local organisations, such as:

• MK Cat Rescue (us!)
• RSPCA 01908 611179 or [email protected],
• HULA on 01908 584000 or [email protected],
• Cats Protection on 01908 984799 or [email protected]
• and Milton Keynes Council on 01908 252570 or [email protected], as they keep records of animals collected.
• Visit Animal Search UK – they have specialist teams who will help you search for your cat, and they have an 80% success rate. Visit AnimalSearchUK.co.uk

Part of being a cat owner, is ensuring they are kept as safe as possible. Especially, with cats who can access outdoors and may wander or go missing. Ensuring your cat is microchipped is a legal requirement. 

Key reasons for microchipping your cat:

• Provides a very safe, permanent form of identification
• Increases the chance of being reunited with your cat if they go missing.
• Procedure is quick, painless and inexpensive.
• Increases the chance of being informed if they are involved in an accident.
• Reduces the number of unidentified strays.

The month of June is dedicated to raising awareness for microchipping. Whilst it is not currently a legal requirement for cats to be microchipped. But it is essential to ensuring your peace of mind and a safety aspect for your cat.