Cats Returned to Shelters

I apologize if this is the wrong forum for this question, but I couldn't find a better one.  My organization mostly works with people managing feral colonies, but, of course, one big consequence of trapping, neutering, and dealing with ferals is domestic cats wandering into feral colonies and the offspring of ferals.  For these cats, we have an adoption program and a policy of taking back any cat that is adopted.  We have had cats returned after many years of adoption.  These cats are always provided some kind of home, never euthanized unless terminally ill.  Anyway, my question is what can be done to reduce the number of returned cats, especially those returned after a short time period.  We want our adopters to have permanent homes and no immediate plans of moving, experience with cats and their problems, the finances to support pets, and so on, but people keep coming up with reasons for returning cats.  I suspect that many of them are not honest with us (or probably themselves) and just don't want the cats anymore.  No clue about what to do with those people, but I would like advice on other methods to reduce these returns.  For example, when people adopt kittens, I make a big deal about the fact that they'll only be kittens for a short time and try to determine if the adopter will support an adult cat.  Any ideas of other questions and methods? 

What a wonderful organization you help out with that allows the cats to be returned.  At least they are returning them to you instead of putting them outside and set free.  I also wish I had an answer for you.  If you are more selective in the people who adopt then you risk turning down a potential good home for a cat.  I wonder if some of the cats/kittens are shy and not the cuddly lap cat people were wishing for.  I also think that people don't realize that having a cat takes work.  Not only do you have to feed and vet them, but there is the litter box, counter surfing, howling, crying, playing, etc...  I think most people get a cat thinking the cat needs little attention and can be left home alone for long periods of time.  I guess I wonder if educating the potential adopters on everything that is necessary in cat/kitten care.  Maybe offering a class.  Also having a mentor to help with problems or questions.  The mentor might be able to make a home visit or at the very least discuss on the phone any problems.  The mentor could also call and check in every few months to see how the cat is adjusting.  Of course all of this demands time from volunteers which may also be a problem.

I commend you for your endeavors and what you are doing to help all of these cats!!

ShadowsRescue, I think you are spot on with people getting cats and assuming that they are aloof and do not require the time/energy that is necessary. And yes, after awhile, these people DO return the cat(s) because they no longer want them or the responsibility.

Our rescue has had cats returned because they are "too affectionate." I think any true cat lover would find this crazy.

We do have a more in depth adoption process and are very hands on. We do have a lower return rate; but, it does take us longer to place our cats. We use a foster-to-adopt process on ALL adoptions and require the cat to be in the home for, on average, 4 weeks before we finalize anything. We are very open about each cat's needs and personality and do periodic follow-ups.

To offset some of our "strictness" (all cats are required to be indoor only and we do not allow our cats to be declawed) the rescue pays for all kitten vaccines/check ups, as well as spays/neuters and microchipping.

@ShadowsRescue  A mentoring program is a great idea, though as you say, probably difficult to implement because of finding volunteers to commit.  There are probably lots of first time cat owners who have questions or doubts that a mentor could help them work through.

I believe that would-be cat adopters are often naive about care required for cats.  I'm pretty sure several of these returns occurred because people didn't introduce new cats to resident cats with enough patience and dedication, expected cats to adapt quickly, discovered they wanted a "different" kind of cat, and so on.  One of my adopters had been a vet tech for 20 years and had extensive experience with cats and yet returned a cat within three days because he hid too much!  And this after I counseled her that this kitty was very nervous in new settings, likely to hide, and needed patience.  Another returned a lovely, playful kitten (that we readopted in two days!) because he was too active!  Of course, we had stressed that he was a very busy boy and needed lots of playing time.  She also claimed that no one told her the cat was this active!  The mentor idea is a good one, but I find that most people don't want advice and think they already know it all as far as cats are concerned.  On a brighter note, several returned cats have gone on to much better homes.  Just this weekend, we adopted out the sweetest older snowshoe you have ever seen (or heard since his purr sounded like a rainforest!).  He had been declawed and then either strayed or was dumped.  He had several wounds from his days on the streets.  Now he has a loving family who will spoil him rotten as he deserves!  

DrBobCat said:

 
The mentor idea is a good one, but I find that most people don't want advice and think they already know it all as far as cats are concerned.  

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That's a good point.  I have a friend who thinks she's some kind of dog whisperer.  She adopted a dog when her first one passed and it's had socializing issues--but my friend would rather kill herself than call someone, ask for help and admit that she doesn't know everything!     Well, it's not that funny, it's a shame.  But you're probably right about people not wanting advice.  

I have had very few returns in my personal rescue although I also foster for a large rescue group and have seen a rise in returns there.  Part of this does seem to be due to the economy, people losing their jobs and then their homes and being forced to move in with relatives (who are allergic to cats of course).  There is one sad case I am working with now where the adopter died suddenly and unexpectedly (heart attack in a woman under 50, she left behind 4 cats and a 15-year-old son.)   Right now the cats are still living in their original home and being cared for but no one is living with them.  She is trying to find them good (indoor, no declaw) homes.  The oldest cat was adopted by a close friend of the family, and there have been applications for the others (they are in Charlotte, NC).  The other two have been together since they were about 6 weeks old and one of these is very sad.  We are hoping to find them good homes to go to without ever having to set paw in a rescue or foster home, but of course I would take the two that came from me back -- but they have been with her for oever two years and I only had them about 6 weeks, so I am hoping for a miracle.  The two we would like to place together are each 2 years old, one is a cream point shorthair, Siamese type, and the other is a pure white domestic shorthair with two liittle grey marks on his head.  You just can't predict heart attacks, or refuse to adopt to someone because their relatives have cat allergies.  I do think that slowing down the adoption process does weed out some of those who will just adopt a kitten because it's cute and then tire of it as it grows older.  I do admit to having long conversations with people first, and if the chemistry is right, I have a meet & greet with the cat at THEIR house.  I do finalize the adoption on paper then if they want to, but also make it clear that I want them AND the cat to be happy, so if there are any problems, please give me a call.  I do mentor those who could use a little guidance.  I come by and trim the nails the first time they need it (all cats leave here with trimmed nails) unless they are experienced.  And I do try to match the cat's personality with the adoptive family.  Many of them may find a cat on Petsmart that they lie the look of, but the personality isn't a fit.  If they have a noisy household with kids and dogs, I advise them to adopt a cat or kitten that comes from that background (they are bombproof!).  The larger rescues, like the one I foster for, have people adopting right at their shelter,  They do the best they can to screen, but it's hard.  They also take back cats (and dogs) at ANY time, for any reason, or no reason, which is best for the animal.  We just got two young cats (11 months) who were adopted from that rescue last spring.  The father lost his job shortly thereafter and has not been able to get another one.  Then they lost their house and now are moving in with relatives (allergic ones of course).  Mom was bawling her eyes out when she brought the kitties back.  The cats seem to be doing fine for now.  Not sure about the family.

I agree with you that life circumstances are the most important reason--lost income, home, illness, death.  Not much we can do about those.  I appreciate all the help you give adopters and the time you spend with potential adopters.  In my experience, most people are pretty much set on the cat they want, and I don't expect to influence their decision (probably too wussy on my part).  I have only had a couple of cases in which I talked someone into a different cat.  Before I started with this organization, they had an important meeting in which they clarified their policy, mostly stressing that they were in the business of adopting cats, NOT not adopting.  This may sound like a no-brainer, but some counselors can get pretty bossy about who should or should not adopt.  BTW, that snowshoe cat I mentioned fit in right away (I figured he would).  After a day, he made it clear he wanted out of his room.  I wasn't happy to hear that the resident cat was allowed to prowl around with the new guy, but it worked out remarkably well so far.  The resident cat hissed and spit as King explored, and then King turned and hissed at the resident, and that was the end of that.  Next thing, they were both sleeping together at the base of the cat tree.  Knock on wood, but I don't think we'll see King back here!

I think it is really important to have a "matchmaker" who knows the cats and can talk with people interested in adopting about their lifestyle and the cats that would fit in.

In our shelter the staff just tell people where the cat room is and if they found their cat to come to the front desk with the name.

As volunteers we started acting as matchmakers. For example we ask: Will your cat be indoors, outdoors or both? Do you have small children? Other animals? Will someone be at home with the cat during the day (if not we recommend having two cats). What are you looking for: Lap cat/cuddler? Play buddy? Mouser?

Of course it also takes time to know the cats in order to  give good information. And honesty about attitudes too. I´d never sugarcoat a cats personality. We had cats that were difficult and even a bit nasty and still got adopted, because not everybody needs a cuddler and some experienced cat people even like the challenge. Or someone just needs a barn cat / rodent patrol.

Our organization does all these things.  We have a three page application form, followed by an interview with a counselor, followed by a session of paperwork in which all the details of adopting a cat are discussed.  I'm sure all this attention to detail helps connect people with pets, but in spite of it, we still have returns that seem to reflect misunderstanding:  Cats don't always behave in their new settings the way people expect.  Some of this is inevitable, no guarantees in life, especially with cats, but I'm still trying to find ways to do adoptions more successfully.