Adopting Animals
Viewing times | Adopting a cat | Adopting a small animal | Disclaimer
We are always pleased to welcome people who are thinking about adopting one of our animals and aim to provide you with the right information to make an informed decision. Not all the animals are available for adoption as one of our functions is to be a Sanctuary for our permanent residents.
Please Note: You have to be 18 years old or over to adopt one of our animals.
Viewing times
We are open for viewings between 11:00am and 4:00pm every day except Thursday when the Sanctuary is closed all day. Our adoption fees rarely cover the full cost of the care and treatment your chosen animal may have received whilst at the Sanctuary and we always welcome additional donations!
Adopting a cat
The cats in our care come to us through no fault of their own. They may have been found straying, their owner may have died, or they may simply have been abandoned. The cats available for adoption are kept in secure accommodation in our Cat Barn. You will see other cats at the Sanctuary but these are permanent residents and are not up for adoption.
Please consider the following before taking on a new cat:
- Do you have the time to look after your new pet?
- Will it fit into your circumstances or will you have to adapt your lifestyle?
- Where will your cat go when you go on holiday?
- Can you afford routine vet bills, vaccinations and pet insurance?
- Can you commit to caring for your cat long term? A cat can live for many years, in some cases 15 years and over?
If you do not see a cat you like on your first visit please make a return journey as new cats are taken in all the time. We will help you complete a form and give you more information about the cat you are interested in and assess its compatibility with your personal circumstances.
If you live in rented accommodation we require you to have written consent from your landlord/housing association that they are happy for you to have a cat at this address. It is also usually unsuitable for a cat to be rehomed on a busy main road. It may sometimes be necessary for a member of staff or one of our trained volunteers to make a home visit.
Adoption fees - Cats: £60
All of our adult cats are vaccinated, neutered/ speyed, wormed, de-flea’d and micro-chipped before they are adopted. Kittens that are too young to be neutered/speyed are eligible for a neutering voucher, to be used at the veterinary surgery authorized by the Sanctuary.
Adopting a kitten
We frequently have kittens available for re-homing but please note we do not home kittens to households with children of 5 years of age or under or to where the kitten will be left for longer than 4 hours per day.
Adopting an older cat
Cats find themselves at the sanctuary in their old age for many reasons. Often their owners have died or gone into nursing care which is sad and distressing for all concerned.
Older cats are difficult to rehome because they have to compete with cute kittens or younger and more playful cats and are often overlooked for many months.
An older cat still has so much to offer. They are generally less demanding than youngsters – already litter trained and not likely to run up your curtains or scratch the furniture. They are often content to relax in your company unlike young cats who may get into mischief.
Most older cats are only looking for a warm lap, shelter and regular food and love in their senior years.
Please consider the following before taking on a new small animal:
- Are you aware of the general needs of this small animal?
- Do you have the time to look after your new pet?
- Will it fit into your circumstances or will you have to adapt your lifestyle?
- Where will your small animal go when you go on holiday?
- Can you afford routine vet bills, neutering and any vaccinations that some need?
- Small animals are best kept in pairs for companionship
A member of staff will show you round the small animals and rabbits areas. Once you have found an animal you like, we will help you complete a form and give you more information about the small animal you are interested in and assess its compatibility with your personal circumstances.
If you live in rented accommodation then we require you to have written consent from your landlord/housing association that they are happy for you to have a small animal at this address.
Adoption fees
- Rabbits (neutered, must live in pairs): £20
- Ferrets (neutered and micro-chipped): £20
- Hamsters/Rats/Mice: (minimum donation) £5
- Guinea Pigs (neutered): £15
Disclaimer
There may be occasions when an animal appearing on the website has already been rehomed. We are unable to confirm by telephone, fax or e-mail if a particular animal is still available, but we do urge you to visit as we always have many animals waiting for new homes. We cannot accept responsibility for the temperament of any animal once it has been rehomed.