Surrendering a Cat: The Almost Home Cat Rescue MKE Process
We recognize there are certain situations where surrendering a cat is unavoidable, and we know that saying goodbye is incredibly difficult. Our goal is to support you through this transition if it becomes necessary.
Before moving forward with a surrender, there are a few considerations that may help keep your family together.
Considerations Before Surrendering a Cat
Giving up a pet is a difficult choice. Before you decide, please take a moment to review the following:
Environmental Shifts: When you surrender a cat to any shelter, the transition can be difficult. Shelters are stressful environments for even the most well-adjusted animal.
Check Your Adoption Contract: If you adopted your cat from another rescue, shelter, or breeder, please contact them first. Most adoption contracts require you to contact them before surrendering or re-homing your cat.
Consult Your Vet: Undetected medical issues can often cause sudden behavior changes. Contact your veterinarian to rule out possible medical issues your cat may be experiencing.
Behavioral Support: Consult a trainer or behaviorist for help with common behavioral problems.
Phone a Friend: Reach out to friends and family members to determine if they would be willing to take responsibility for your cat or offer assistance to help you through a difficult time.
Surrender Process
-
1. Complete the surrender form.
If you’ve exhausted all other options, you can submit a request to surrender your cat to Almost Home Cat Rescue MKE. Please complete a surrender form for each cat that you’re requesting to be surrendered.
-
2. Provide the surrendering fee.
There is a $30 surrender fee (per cat) to offset the cost of care while they are with our rescue. This must be paid for us to review your request and add you to our waiting list.
We are not an emergency shelter, and all intake appointments need to be scheduled. Upon accepting your request, we’ll work with you to schedule an intake time.
-
3. Attend the intake appointment.
On the date of your scheduled intake, please keep your cat in a secure carrier for transport and arrival, and bring the following documentation:
- Current photo ID
- Your cat’s veterinary records and/or the name of the vet where they were last seen
- Any behavioral or training records
- Proof of payment
During your appointment, please provide as much information as possible about your cat. This helps us make an informed decision about the most compatible new home. Rescue staff can also provide you with more information about the evaluation and adoption process.
Request to Surrender Form
Please fill out the form below in its entirety. Upon submission, a member of our rescue team will contact you with the next steps. (Note: submitting this form is a request for review and is not a guarantee of intake.)