It is one of the most complex decisions pet owners has to make, especially when forced to give up their pet due to life circumstances.
Relocating to a new home, where the landlord does not accept pets for reasons such as noise or hygiene, is one of the most prevalent reasons people give up their pets. That’s why they are looking for How to Deal With Giving Away a Cat? Here in this post, I will explain a brief guide on this matter.
Pet owners who cannot afford or manage the added expenditures of caring for their pets’ kids often give their pets’ offspring away to others, such as shelters. Because of pet allergies, some people are compelled to give their pets away.
If you have a long-term emotional tie to your pet, releasing it can feel like giving up a beloved companion. Your pet will get increasingly tough to part with as the years go by.
Is It Wrong of Me to Get Rid of My Cat?
After giving up your cat, it’s normal to feel guilty or remorse. Indeed, many owners believe it speaks volumes about their character or sense of self. Even if you only rehome your cat, you might feel guilty about abandoning it, which would make you look terrible in the eyes of others.
You don’t have to be the wrong person when you give away a cat. That said, there could be several explanations for this. It’s the best option for you and the cat in some situations.
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For example, you may not provide the cat with the attention it requires. ‘ A new home here will allow it to lead a more fulfilling and healthy existence. The cat may also be putting your health or the health of your loved ones at risk.
It’s better for everyone if it’s rehomed. When an owner decides to give away a cat, it is only deemed a wrong decision if the following conditions are met:
- When a cat is abandoned on the street or in nature, it can die or be damaged.
- abuses the cat so severely that it has been found a new home
- On a whim, or intending to get rid of it later, he gave away the cat.
- An owner with compassion is unlikely to find themselves in this position.
Inevitably, grey areas exist. If you didn’t abandon the cat, you might have given it to a shelter that was already overflowing. You may have cared for the cat well, but you couldn’t tell if the new owners were the right fit for the pet. Isn’t it possible that you only had the cat for a short period, deciding to give it away on a whim?
There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Whether or not the cat is pleased with your efforts is entirely up to you. It’s of no consequence. The following is a list of things to keep in mind. There is no reason why rehoming a cat should reflect poorly on your character if you can check all the boxes:
- To ensure the cat’s safety and well-being, you did everything in your power to save it from being euthanized. Before letting it go, you ensured all of its essential requirements were being addressed.
- There’s no doubt you tried your best to make sure it ended up in a good place.
How to Deal With Giving Away a Cat
#1: Keep a Positive Mindset
Because people who give up their pets often face discrimination from other pet owners, the most important thing to do in the early stages of grief is to prepare your mentality. Getting rid of your cat may make you appear to be a careless pet owner who doesn’t want the best for your pet, but this isn’t always the case.
Giving up your pet requires making a decision based on their best interests.
The best thing you can do for your pet is send them away to a new house or owner. When you give up your pet, it’s natural to feel guilty. Giving them away doesn’t mean you’re abandoning them.
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Adopting your pet is the most excellent option for you and your pet, even when it’s the most difficult one to make because you’re relocating, your pet has behavioral issues, or you’re dealing with other personal severe challenges.
#2: Get your cat a good home.
Your cat may be better off in the hands of a friend or family member that you know and trust to look after him.
The following are some possibilities for a new possible residence:
- You have a close family member who is a cat lover (such as your parents or siblings)
- A close friend from work or school
- A stranger you know is a cat lover
- A neighbour you know to be one, such as your aunt, uncle, cousin, or your niece or nephew.
- A veterinarian, a veterinarian’s assistant, a physician’s receptionist
There is a good chance they know someone who can take in the cat, even if they cannot do so.
Kindhearted people sometimes foster cats and kittens until they find permanent homes. It’s also possible that they fall in love with their foster cats and kittens and decide to adopt them.
#3: Send Your Cat a Letter
Write down everything you want to say and what you may have left out before you parted ways. It is an excellent method to examine your feelings. As a symbolic act, it might help you begin to move on at your own pace and allow you to grieve in your own time. As long as it’s done promptly, you don’t have to worry about it. Everyone moves forward in their unique way.
In our role as pet parents, we would frequently find ourselves conversing with our pets in their language. Even though we don’t speak the same language, we can still interact with them in this fashion.
Letter-writing might give you that familiar feeling of having communicated with your former pet in the form of a written message. You can better manage grief by writing a letter to express all of your feelings.
As an extension of this, you can consider keeping a notebook or diary in which your cat serves as the recipient. A journal can hold everything you’ve done in a day, as well as your thoughts, secrets, and anything else that comes to mind.
Cats can be a great source of support for those who have lost a pet. A healthy form of coping is one in which you express yourself openly and deal with your feelings simultaneously. Even though it’s strange at first, the more time you spend with it, the more comfortable it will seem.
#4: Join an Online Pet Support Group
It’s easier to accept that your cat is happy with its new owner if you read the experiences of others who have been in your shoes. They have first-hand knowledge of how to help you cope with pet loss.
Many people increasingly turn to online forums for emotional support. It’s possible to find online support groups for pet owners dealing with grief and loss. Nobody can genuinely comprehend how you feel unless they, too, have endured the heartbreak of losing a pet.
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Another benefit is that it might help you advise others debating whether or not to surrender their pet. The emotional support of others who have gone through a loss comparable to yours can be excellent assistance in getting through the difficult times of grief.
#5: Engage in Emotional Awareness
When you’re sad, let yourself feel sad. Holding in your feelings will only make you feel worse. Don’t be afraid to cry if you need to express your grief. You need to deal with your grief and analyze your feelings during this time.
In the first few weeks, you’re likely to experience some odd bouts of melancholy because your time spent with your cat is still so fresh in your mind. Because the loss and grief you’re experiencing are usually transient, doing so can help you heal faster. As long as it’s cathartic, you can cry as much as you like.
It is keeping in mind that this is a normal human reaction, and a crucial part of recovery is essential. Try to take a day off and rest if you can’t function normally.
What to Do if You Can’t Find a New Home for Your Cat?
Regardless of what someone tells you, don’t ever abandon your cat in an alley or parking lot!
Take a look at these alternatives instead:
- Ask your pet’s caretaker for suggestions. Pet owners can recommend them even if you’ve never worked with them before.
- Do not hesitate to hand out flyers at your local vet, shelters, and pet stores! (if they allow it).
- Consult with a rescue or a shelter for assistance.
- Make sure to check with animal shelters to see if they have a foster home for your cat.
- The Humane Society has a list of helpful hints on its website.
- Find the most up-to-date information on where to rehome your cat by searching for “rehome my cat near me” on Google. Be cautious and only use credible sources when doing your research.
When You Give Away Your Cat, Do They Feel Sad?
When cats are given away, their initial emotion is usually one of fear and defensiveness rather than one of joy.
New people, smells, and you will introduce sights to your cat throughout this trip. It will have no idea who to trust or where it is. Good news: This reaction will fade in the next few days, despite its terrible nature. As a result, the cat and its new owners will form a vital link to make it feel safe and at home.
The cat may withdraw and become melancholy once the first anxiety has passed. It could refuse to eat, hide, or play. A few weeks of being carefree and lighthearted can be necessary. Some new and previous owners may see this as a sign that the cat misses its old home and is depressed about it.
There aren’t any formal studies to back this up. The cat may miss you before moving on. It may also be troubled by losing its previous sense of safety.
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On the other hand, we know that even years after being separated, cats can still recognize their former owners. Even if the cat is reintroduced two weeks later, it may still avoid the previous owner. It will be apprehensive and wary of remaining a safe distance.
It’s best not to try to see your cat once it’s been placed in a new home. Your presence will have no soothing effect on it. A new sense of security will take time to develop.
FAQs – How to Deal With Giving Away a Cat
Is it bad to rehome a cat?
Moore adds that a cat’s transition to a new home would undoubtedly be stressful. It will be difficult for you to adjust to life in a new country for some time. According to Cat Team Rescue, it is a good idea to introduce your cat to the potential new home.
Do cats adapt to new owners?
Cats of all ages can benefit from a gradual adjustment into a new environment, but kittens are more adaptable. A few hours after moving in, some cats can be peacefully purring away in their new owners’ laps, while others may take days or even weeks to adjust.
How far can a cat smell its owner?
From 1.5 to 4 miles away, domestic cats have been discovered to be capable of finding their way back to their homes, as well as being able to detect their scents from this distance. It’s easy to find their way back home if they don’t go too far.
Conclusion
I hope you find this information on How to Deal With Giving Away a Cat will be helpful for you. Cat owners have given up their pets due to serious causes. Always keep in mind that your cat is OK. Trust the people you’ve entrusted with caring for your cat and allow them to convey the affection you once had for your pet.
Keeping this in mind is the most crucial thing to remember you did your best for your cat till the very end by doing what was best for them and considering their future in the care of others who share your passion for cats.
