ADOPTION GUIDELINES

Lucky Cat Rescue (LCR) wants our rescued cats placed in homes where they will be considered a member of the family for the rest of their lives which, with care, can be for 15 or more years. If you do not agree with our guidelines, we suggest that you reconsider whether or not adopting a cat is right for you. When you adopt a cat, you must sign a legal contract stating that you will comply with our requirements, which are to give the cat a long healthy life in a loving home.

Member of the family

  • A cat is not a possession, but a member of your family to be treated with love and respect. He/she should share the house and must not be locked in a crate, or in a room separating him/her from the people in the family, except for the first few weeks after adoption or the time recommended by LCR, while they become accustomed to the new environment.
  • Reason: A cat who is not an accepted member of the family will not be happy and may become withdrawn or exhibit other behavioral problems. The cat may even become sick if he or she is stressed and unhappy.

Indoor cats

  • Unless we are adopting the LCR cat as a barn cat, we require our cats to be indoor cats unless in a carrier, halter or screened in area.
  • Reason: Domestic cats left outdoors without supervision face dangers including other cats, wild animals and toxins.

Medical Care

  • Your cat will need to visit the veterinarian at least once a year for his/her annual check up. A cat is subject to the same kind of ailments we are, and when ill, he/she needs to be treated by a veterinarian. You are responsible for future medical bills, except for the vaccinations we supply prior to adoption. Kittens receive age appropriate vaccinations at the time of adoption. All cats and kittens are spayed or neutered prior to adoption.
  • Reason: The FVRCP booster prevents your cat from catching distemper and other cat ailments. Rabies vaccinations which prevent your cat from contracting rabies are required in Maryland. Expect your cat to catch an occasional cold, ear infection, etc., and to develop some ailments as he/she ages.

Children

  • You should adopt a cat or kitten six months of age or older, if you have a child under six years of age.
  • Reason: Young kittens have not yet learned to retract their claws and could scratch if handled improperly. The younger a kitten is, the more fragile, and the easier he/she could be accidentally injured by a small child. No matter how good your young child is with animals, children are often unable to properly carry and handle kittens. Also, children frequently have high-pitched voices which can frighten a young kitten.

Cats must be permitted where you live

  • You must be sure that cats are permitted in your residence. If you rent your home, apartment, or live in a condominium, your lease or bylaws should specifically state that you are allowed to have cats. Cats are a life-long commitment, so you must always live in situations where cats are permitted.
  • Reason: Many people get a companion and are then told by their landlord or condominium association to give up the animal or move out. Rental housing permitting pets is becoming harder to find.

Pre-Adoption

  • Lucky Cat Rescue will conduct an  in-house visit before an application is approved.

Post-Adoption

  • Lucky Cat Rescue reserves the right to investigate the living conditions of your new cat through follow-up telephone calls and/or visits.
  • Reason: LCR wants our cats placed into loving, caring homes as members of the family. The vast majority of people provide excellent homes for their cats. Occasionally, there will be a personality conflict between a cat and a person. If this occurs and is not resolved in a couple of weeks, it is best to return the cat to LCR. Follow-up phone calls and visits help us to ensure that our cats are being treated with the love and respect spelled out in our guidelines. LCR wants to help you through your adjustment period with your new companion and we will be happy to answer any questions that you may have.

Relinquishment of your cat

  • If you must give up your cat, he/she must be returned to Lucky Cat Rescue. You may not surrender the cat to a shelter or another person without our express permission. Shelters euthanize over 70 percent of the cats that come to them.
  • Reason: LCR will accept your cat at any time if you must give him/her up. We want to know that our cats are cared for all their lives, so we will take them back and find a new home if necessary. Do not, for any reason, leave one of our cats at an animal shelter. They may be killed before we can rescue them.

Resources

The internet is an excellent resource for answering any questions you may have about your cat.  There are also books available on cat care and behavior at the library and/or book stores.  Lucky Cat Rescue will be happy to offer assistance to help your new family member transition to his/her new home.

 

Cats and kittens are available for adoption by contacting us through our website https://luckycatrescue.com/

Please take some time to learn about our adoption process and read the adoption guidelines before filling out an adoption application form.

Click on “Contact Us” to schedule an appointment to meet a kitty.

Please consider making a donation today. 100% of each donation is used to support kitties in our program (vet bills, food, litter). Lucky Cat Rescue does not have a facility and is strictly a volunteer organization with limited foster care. Thank you for your support of our furry felines who depend on us for help.