See More Adoptable Cats- Give yourself as much time as possible - When it is clear that a change in your living situation means that you must find a new home for your cat, start spreading the word immediately. The more time you give yourself the more likely you will be able to find a new home.
- Advertise - You need to have as many people as possible hear about your cat. Some of the best online resources are www.petfinder.com and www.pets911.com. Another really great on-line resource is www.craigslist.org, in your town's pet section. You might also consider actual classified ads in your local newspaper or community paper.
- Great Photos and Great Descriptions are the Key - It is critical to submit a compelling photo and write a moving description of your cat for any on-line advertising. There are literally hundreds of thousands of cats being advertised on the internet; you need to make your kitty stand out. Be very detailed about all of the cute things your cat does, how important he or she has been to you, etc.
- Always charge an adoption fee - You NEVER want to offer your cat "free to a good home." Free cats are quite enticing to nefarious people who may be interested in selling animals for medical research (yes, it still happens) and in general a nominal fee is never an impediment to someone wanting to adopt your cat. If you do not want the funds, you can always let the adopter know you will donate their funds to Town Cats or another local shelter/rescue. A good, minimum adoption fee is $35 to $60.
- Send your on-line ad out to friends and family - After you've created your online ad on craigslist or a pet site, forward the ad to friends and family and encourage them to forward it to their friends. Don't be embarrassed that you are trying to find a new home for your cat; people will definitely appreciate the level of care and concern that you are showing towards your pet.
- Print your ad and post it at vet offices and pet store bulletin boards - Many vet offices and pet stores will allow you to post notices.
- Pre-screen candidates and be selective - Especially with outlets like Craigslist, you might get more than your share of oddballs calling you. Have a simple set of questions ready concerning issues of importance to you so you can screen out potential bad adopters. Questions such as "Do you plan to declaw?" "What would you do if the cat gets sick?" "Do you currently have a veterinarian?" "Do you rent or own?" "Do you have permission from your landlord to own a cat?" etc.
- Follow up on the adoption - Call the new adopter periodically after the adoption to see how it's going. Ask them if there are any behaviors that they are concerned about and offer help and suggestions.