Are You Considering Adoption?
We have now moved to an appointments only system for adoption visits. This will make our adoption process even smoother for everyone involved, and will ensure that by the time you visit, we’ll know straight away which cats are puuurrrfect for your home!
If you would like to register your interest in adoption, learn more about the cats available who might suit you, and to book a time to visit our shelter, please complete our Adoption Application form (link below).
This form will then be checked by our staff, after which we will contact you to book in a visit (Please ensure you have provided us with any additional information required**). And remember, the more openminded you are about your new feline companion, the sooner we can match you with the right one!
Due to high demand for adoption, there may be a delay in processing your application, so please bear with us, we run on a very small team of staff.
If you require assistance with the online form, simply phone us on 0114 272 4441. Alternatively, we can send you a paper application in the post.
**Please note: If you are in rented accomodation, you will need to provide us with a written permission statement from your landlord/housing authority/property owner to support the progress of your application. If you own other cats, we will need proof of neuter and vaccine status in order to progress the application. We will not be able to progress your application until these have been provided.
Our adoption fee is £150 per cat (or £225 for two cats)
However, this amount only partially covers the essential costs of neutering, vaccinating, microchipping, and feeding each cat that comes to us, and any additional donation you are able to make is greatly appreciated.
If I live on a main road can I still adopt a cat?
Some cats or kittens are used to being kept indoor only and may be suitable for you. You can discuss this with Staff when you visit us. We do not allow cats used to going outside, to be re-homed as an indoor cat.
Can I borrow a cat carrier to take my new cat home?
Yes you can. You can also buy a new or used carrier at the same time you adopt. This will ensure you always have a carrier should you need it for vet visits etc.
What is pre-adoption and how does it work?
Sometimes cats or kittens are available to view and meet you but can’t be adopted immediately. This could be due to them needing medication, further vet visits or perhaps a period of monitoring or recuperation.
In these cases you can pay a non-refundable £10 pre adoption fee which reserves the cat until he or she is ready to come home with you. Please note that the £10 fee is in addition to the adoption fee.
Do I need my landlord/housing authority's permission to keep a cat at my home before I can adopt?
Yes, and we need to see proof of the permissions in writing from the landlord/housing authority, specifically, the Landlord name and address, your name and address and the statement of consent to have a cat in the household. For helpful information, please visit www.cats.org.uk/purrfectlandlords.
Why do you want to know if my existing cats are vaccinated?
Taking your cat for regular vaccinations is part of being a responsible pet owner in order to make sure your cat is protected from certain illnesses and diseases. The cats admitted to the shelter come from different backgrounds and may have come across viruses/diseases that they don’t necessarily suffer with, but which they could be carrying and therefore pass to other unvaccinated cats.
Can I take my cat home the same day I see them or can I reserve them
The majority of our cats can go home with you straight away. Unfortunately, cats that are available for immediate adoption can’t be reserved.
However, there are circumstances when cats or kittens can be pre adopted, see below.
Why can’t some cats be re-homed to a particular area of Sheffield?
If a cat is re-homed to an area it previously lived in, there is a chance he or she might try to return to their old home.
Is a cat the right pet for me?
We think a cat is the perfect companion for many homes, however there are a few things to consider before adopting a cat.
We recommend doing some research into cat care and what it entails, as well as looking into the costs associated with taking care of a cat such as food, litter, flea and worm treatment, insurance/vet bills, if you can find a sitter/cattery for holidays, and how much time the cat would be spending alone.
What is the adoption process?
All potential adopters must fill in the form at the top of this page. Once you have provided all the relevant information (e.g. landlord approval, vaccination records) we will look at your form and get in touch via email or phone to arrange an appointment to visit the Shelter.
On the day of your appointment we’ll introduce you to all the cats we think would be suitable for your home, and then if all goes well you can take the cat home that day!
Why adopt instead of shop?
Unlike sellers, all our cats receive a full veterinary check-up and are vaccinated, neutered, and microchipped prior to adoption. These services are covered in our adoptions costs as well, making adoption cheaper than buying in many cases.
As a reputable, ADCH registered cat shelter, committed to cat welfare, we go much further than many cat sellers to make sure our cats are healthy, happy, and suitable for your home, as well as providing support post adoption.
The Necessities For Responsible Adoption
Your current cats must be neutered and up to date with vaccines (vaccinated in the last 12 months)
Why? This is for the safety of your own cat and the new cat you will be adopting. Cats can be asymptomatic carriers of different disease and viruses, therefore vaccination ensures they have adequate protection against these.
If you are in accommodation not owned by the you, you will need to provide a statement from the landlord/housing authority/property owner granting permission for you to keep a cat at the property.
Why? Around 40% of cats on our rehoming list are due to the owners not obtaining landlord permission to keep the cats. We want to reduce the number of cats being rehomed for this reason and will therefore check this before any adoption process starts. We are also keen to offer additional advice to tenants and landlords about owning a cat in the rented home.
Allergies
If you aren’t sure whether you or any members of your household have allergies, get in touch with us before completing your application.
If you have any friends or family with cats, go spend some time with them and see if you have any reactions. Try to spend time with different cats, not just one. You can read more about cat allergies here.
Holidays or moving house
If you are moving house or going on holiday in the near future (ie. The next two months) it is advisable that you adopt after this time.
The same goes for if you are planning home renovations or decorating. Events like this can be very stressful for a cat who hasn’t had ample time to settle in, and it can be stressful for you too if you are trying to juggle a new cat with other events.
We strongly advise adopting once you are settled yourself.
Be honest, be thorough, and give us as much info as you can, it really helps.
Why? Optimal matchmaking! Meaning we will match a cat based on the home and care you can provide, your previous experience with cats, and the temperament and personality of the individual cats we have at the shelter to ensure the best possible match.
We do our best to ensure a good match so that we have minimal numbers of returned cats due to incompatibility. Any change in envirnment, routine and care is a very stressful for any cat, whether they show it outwardly or not, so we want to make the transition as smooth as possible and, as far as we can, try to make sure that will be the cats last ever move. Hence the term “forever home”.
Please don’t be disheartened or disappointed if you aren’t chosen for a particular cat, there will most likely being an area of incompatibility, or it could be that someone was matched up before you.
They say that good things come to those who wait, so our message to you would be to apply, express your interest, and then be patient. The right moggy (or moggies!) will come along and we are ready to match you up when they do.