Support & Advice
All cats and kittens in our care are micro chipped and neutered before re-homing. We strongly advise the same with your cat(s). If you have any further questions, please contact us and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
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Microchipping is a virtually painless procedure where a tiny chip, no larger than a grain of rice, is inserted under the skin at the back of a cats neck. This chip contains a unique number which can be read using a hand-held scanner. All veterinary practices and cat rescue organisations routinely scan any cats brought to them as strays.
From 2024, microchipping will become law. If microchipped, the veterinary practice or rescue service are able to look up the owners details registered against the microchip number on the microchip database. So even if your cat has hitched a lift in a removals van and ended up on the other side of the country, their home can be immediately identified and the owners contacted. Without a microchip, finding a cats owner is as much down to luck as anything else.
It is vital that you keep the microchip database updated with your new details if you move house, or change any of your telephone numbers (there may be a charge for this service).
Obviously, every cat and kitten has its own personality, likes and dislikes. Some cats settle into their new surroundings very quickly and with ease whilst others may not be as confident and take a bit longer. During this settling in time, it is important that you allow your cat to take things at their own speed as they get used to the new people in their lives, the sights, smells and any other pets you may have.
On occasion a cat may suffer a bit of an upset stomach which will usually be down to stress and/or a change in diet. Although this is generally nothing to worry about and an adult cat will settle after a couple of days, a kitten will need to be watched carefully as they can dehydrate quickly and reach a critical condition within hours. If you are at all concerned, an immediate visit to the vet will be essential to ensure your kitten’s well-being.
Kittens should be kept indoors until they have been neutered and are at least 9 months old. Older cats should not be allowed outside for at least 12 weeks. Rehabilitated ferals/ timid cats will need much longer.
This enables them to get used to the sights and smells of their new environment and makes them more able to return to their new home when out exploring their new-found territory.
Due to our roads being so busy, more and more people are investing in catios and cat proofing to keep their cats safe. We think this is a fantastic idea.
If you find a cat you think is a stray we advise the following:
If the cat seems in good health, it may live locally and is just wandering around a larger area. Do not assume every new cat you see is a stray. It is always worth knocking on doors in the local area; It could just be that a neighbour has a new cat.
Keep an eye on it and if its health does not appear to deteriorate then the chances are it is not a stray.
If you are still worried about the cat, any vets will scan for a microchip free of charge.
Putting ads in local shops or other cat welfare charities websites, may prompt the owners to come forward.
Advertising a found cat is free in the local press / facebook and if often the first place owners of missing cats will look.
Putting flyers through doors in your local area may ‘find’ the owner.
If all else fails and you are convinced the cat is a stray, or it is definitely deteriorating in health, get in touch with us or any other cat welfare organisation, who will try their best to take the cat into care.
If the cat is microchipped and the details are up-to-date, the owner can usually be found quite easily and be reunited with their cat.
Neutering a cat is a simple procedure and financial help towards the cost is offered by some cat welfare organisations. At certain times of year, all cat rescue organisations get a large influx of unwanted pregnant cats and families of kittens with or without the mother cat. This is obviously a huge drain on time, resources and cash which diverts attention from the everyday work we do.
If more cats were neutered, the problem of so many cats having multiple litters and the detrimental effect this has on them would be eradicated. The number of kittens being given away to unsuitable homes by the mother cat’s owners or indeed just abandoning them is a real problem, one which could be solved if the owners took the responsible step of neutering their cats.
PLEASE get your cat neutered both for its own sake and the sake of the unwanted kittens that an un-neutered cat will produce. It is as important to have males neutered for their own well-being as it will reduce the chances of injuries through fighting.
If a cat has been microchipped, when found it can be returned home immediately. It is vital that you update your details with the microchip company if you move house or change telephone number, otherwise, even with the microchip, it may still be impossible to reunite you with your cat.
If your cat has gone missing from home we advise the following:
- Get in touch with all the vets and cat rescue organisations in your area, or the area in which you lost the cat if you were away from home when the cat went missing. We can provide these details for the Lincoln area.
- Put up ‘missing’ posters in the local shops and, if possible, around your local area. Also check these placed for ‘cat found’ posters. Local radio stations will also often put out ‘cat missing’ notices. Also, place adverts in local press and internet / facebook lost and found pages.
- Tell as many local people as possible that your cat is missing and show or give them a photograph. Quite often the cat will not stray very far from where it was lost. Putting flyers through local letterboxes could also help.
- If you have had your cat microchipped make sure your contact details are up-to-date with your microchipping company.
Most feral cats were once either a domestic pet or are a descendent of domestic cats that have learnt to fend for themselves. We are passionate about trapping and rehabilitating feral cats. We believe every cat deserves the chance of a home-life.
We have humane traps which we use to trap ferals that can be left in any location as long as they are monitored regularly. Some cats will go in the trap straightaway but others may take weeks or sometimes months. Once caught the cats can be taken into care and receive the veterinary treatment necessary. Each feral cat is assessed on an individual basis, dependent on their needs.