Surrendering Your Cat to Cat Haven
We are currently sitting at a 6 week wait for surrenders!
We know that there are many times when someone can no longer care for their cat. There are a number of options available, before bringing a cat in to our shelter.
Cats do not enjoy being in a busy shelter, and this can cause unnecessary stress. Our teams on site work very hard to keep all cats happy and relaxed, but it is simply not a natural environment for a territorial animal.
Every cat coming into our care costs us around $450, between food, housing, vet care and medication. With over 8,400 cats coming in every year, we are paying at least $3 million every year to care for cats.
Please also note that once a cat is surrendered to us, we cannot provide any further information on it. We receive between 8,000 and 9,000 cats and kittens every year, and do not have the resources to consistently answer these queries. We also cannot violate the privacy of your cat's new owner, should they be successfully adopted in to a new home.
For these reasons, we ask that you explore all of the following options before approaching us.
Alternatives to Cat Haven
- Friends and family : Asking friends and family to take the cat themselves, or to ask their own contacts if they would be interested to take in your cat.
- Vet clinics: Some vet clinics have adoption centres. It is best to ring around to see if any clinics would be in a position to look after your cat.
- RSPCA WA: Please contact them for the current wait time for surrenders.
- Gumtree or other selling sites: Assuming your cat is desexed and microchipped, Gumtree is a great way to rehome your cat. It will give you peace of mind to meet the new owner and you may be able to receive ongoing updates on your cat.
Once you have exhausted all other avenues, Cat Haven is here to support you. We cannot guarantee we will be able to rehome your cat; however, we pride ourselves in our high rehoming rate.
If you are relinquishing your cat for behaviour issues, please consider the following:
Behavioural issues are one of the most common reasons people may want to give up their cat. Fortunately, many behaviour problems can be easily treated. Problems such as inappropriate toileting or spraying, inability to get along with other household pets, scratching the furniture and aggression - these are often treatable.
Handling these concerns may include a combination of retraining, pheromones, and sometimes medications. We are lucky to have many options these days!
Has anything changed in your cat’s life?
A new pet, new person in the household, or a stray cat in the area? Consider the impact this may have on your cat. Cats are very sensitive to change, and may need some extra support and comfort in these times.
What should you do first before surrendering?
Many behavioural problems have an underlying physical cause. Have you taken your cat to a vet for a physical examination? For example, inappropriate urination around the house may be due to bladder or kidney problems, which can be easily treated. Nocturnal activity may be related to an overactive thyroid.
There may be an easily remedied reason for your cat’s unusual behaviour. All cats that have behavioural problems should have an examination, and preferably a blood and urine test, before they are surrendered as a last resort.
Have you talked to a vet about your cat’s behaviour problems?
Your local vet is likely to have quite a lot of experience in dealing with behavioural problems and will know your cat. It is very likely that your vet will be able to suggest some methods that will help you and your cat.
Have you considered speaking to an animal behaviourist?
There are a number of vets in Perth who have advanced training in the treatment of animal behaviour problems. Your usual vet may refer you to them, or you can obtain a list from the Veterinary Surgeons’ Board. Their skill and expertise may help you avoid having to surrender your cat.
Have you tried Feliway®?
Feliway is a synthetic version of a pheromone produced by the mother cat that kittens are exposed to early in their life, the Feline Appeasement Pheromone. This pheromone has a calming effect on many cats. It is available as a spray or a plug-in diffuser. It can be a very useful tool in helping cats with behavioural problems due to unidentified stress! We recommend cat owners to try Feliway for a month before surrendering your cat.
How do I surrender my cat to Cat Haven?
If you have tried all of the above, and we are your last resort, there is a standard surrender fee which helps to cover the cost of caring for your cat. If an appointment is made, this fee is $100.
Surrender appointments are made between Monday to Friday, 9.00 am to 11.00am - noting that we do not accept cats on weekends.
Appointments can be made by emailing us at admin@cathaven.com.au.
Please do not assume your cat is booked us until we have confirmed with you.
During the wait for surrender, please continue to speak with family, friends, work colleagues etc. and should you find a home, let us know and we will cancel your appointment. As we have so many cats coming in to our care, we will be thrilled to hear that your cat has found a guaranteed safe home.
How do I surrender a stray cat to Cat Haven?
Your local government is responsible for the management of stray cats, and should be your first contact if you find a stray cat or kittens.
If your council refuses to assist, let us know, so that we can help advocate for you. We will need to know the council and the name of the person/s you have spoken to.
If you bring a stray in for a surrender appointment, we ask for a small fee of $25. This helps to cover the vet work the cat will require: almost every stray cat we receive is not desexed, and not microchipped. With the average cat costing $450 to rehome, this stray surrender fee is a small portion of the amount we will be paying to make sure each cat finds a loving home.
Like owner surrendered cats, stray cats can be brought in to Cat Haven if an appointment has been made, Monday to Friday, 9.00 am to 11.00am.