Thanks to the CCCP, increased adoption and desexing of cats, the number of cats euthanased annually has dropped substantially in the last few years.
However, many lovely cats still need homes. Cats come to the SPCA from several sources: surrendered by owners, friendly street cats or kittens brought in by CCCP carers or rescued by inspectors and members of the public
Well adapted to indoor living and perceived to be lower maintenance than dogs, their needs should not be underestimated. Cats require daily care and interaction, and potential owners must consider their needs not just in the short term, but for the rest of their lives.
FIRST THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:
Potential pet owners must consider whether they can dedicate themselves to their pet cat for this period of time.
Family agreementFamily agreement is important because pets often are the first to go when there are major life changes, e.g. cats are often surrendered when there are pregnancies or newborns in the family.
Though thousands of people care for their cats (and dogs) throughout their pregnancies and raise children successfully alongside them, we still see tearful expectant mothers who bow to family pressure to surrender their cats.
If there are cat allergies in your family, the decision to own a cat and strategies to manage the allergy must be discussed.
Though cats are allowed in most residential areas, there are still buildings that do not allow residents to keep cats.
Cat-safe environmentif you open your windows and live on the 2'nd floor or above, please make your house cat safe: put up sturdy window netting (or bars) that allows your cat to enjoy the view from your window but allows you to have peace of mind.
Our inspectors are often called to rescue pet cats that have trapped themselves on window ledges and are unable to get back to their homes.
Sadly, we also encounter many "flying cats" - cats that have managed to get out of apartments and fall to their deaths.
TO KEEP YOUR CAT HAPPY ON A DAILY BASIS - YOU WILL NEED YOU TO PROVIDE:
Cats like their own space and should have an area in a room where they can feel safe and rest undisturbed. Some owners with allergies find it helpful to have a cat-free room as well, where they can retreat to.
Cats like a clean and private toilet too! The litter tray should have absorbent cat litter. This must be cleaned regularly and many different types of litter are available to suit your cat's requirements. For multi-cat households, it is recommended that each cat has its own litter tray. Keep its tray clean and locate it somewhere quiet, where your cat can do its "business" in peace. If not, you may find that your cat will choose a place on its own, usually one not be to your family's liking!
Cats are carnivores and will do well on a quality commercial diet. Cats do well with small, frequent meals. Some cat owners leave food out the whole day for their cats to nibble. However, the amount should be monitored carefully as cats can easily become obese. Ensure that your cat also has a constant supply of fresh water.
Cats use smell to communicate and have scent glands on their face and paws for this purpose. They will often mark their territory by rubbing against objects or scratching. Provide your cat with several securely anchored scratching posts. Place these in your cat's preferred areas to encourage their use (instead of your furniture).
Cats may be considered unobtrusive pets but benefit greatly from stimulation and human interaction. Provide your cat with a variety of cat toys for your cat and play with them often.
Cats should be groomed regularly to reduce the amount of hair shed in your home, especially for long hair breeds. Many cats enjoy grooming. Grooming builds trust and makes them more amenable to handling. With prolonged gentle handling, you should be able you to check your cat's ears, mouth and paws.
YOUR CAT'S LONG TERM NEEDS INCLUDE:
A typical surrender at SPCA.Cats should be desexed by 6 months of age. Undesexed cats have particularly anti-social mating behaviours - yowling, marking territory with pungent urine, resulting in complaints from family members as well as neighbours. They will also make attempts to escape to find mates.
Many cat owners surrender cats at the SPCA when they get overwhelmed by the offspring of their un-desexed pets. Consult your vet -
get your cat desexed as soon as possible!
Given the contagious nature of common cat diseases such as cat flu, cats should be vaccinated against Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus and Panleukopenia (FVRCP) at 8 weeks, 12 weeks and have a yearly booster vaccination. More information: FVRCP vaccination
Cats should also receive preventative health treatment, especially if they go outside. More information on preventing: Fleas and ticks, Worms
Please bear in mind that as your cat ages, it could develop diseases that may entail high veterinary bills. Particularly if your pet is a pedigree it maybe prone to specific illnesses or conditions which might require long term veterinary care. Non-pedigree cats, having stronger genetic makeup, in general tend to be healthier long term.
ADULT CATS MAKE GREAT PETS!
Many people have the misconception that adult cats are not as lovable or trainable as younger animals. For this reason, they stay much longer in our Homing Centres than kittens.
In fact, adult pets make excellent companions, simply because they are older, more mature and easier to manage. Many have already lived in a home and thus are more socialized than a kitten.
Most importantly, adult cats will love you just as much as a kitten!
An adult pet is especially suitable for:
KITTENS
Kittens are usually re-homed at the SPCA after they reach 8 weeks and have received their first vaccination. Some may have graduated from our foster parent programme.
THERE ARE MANY WONDERFUL CATS WHO NEED SOME EXTRA TLC
"Special needs" cats may have health or behavioural tendencies that require extra attention but still deserve to be in a loving home. Please let our homing staff know should you be interested in meeting some of these special pets.
Beautiful Hector has only one eye and would qualify as having special needs.If you are interested in adopting one, our veterinarians and trainers will explain their special needs and requirements to help you with your decision.
Examples of what these "special needs" might include:
Many adopters who have special needs cats have found they make just as wonderful pets!
As a Homing Centre our objective is to help as many animals as possible, and in order to do that we aim to find homes for animals within a 2 week period. Any animal that has been with us for longer than 2 months is considered to be a Long Stayer.
Most of our Long Stay Cats have come to us already fully grown. Kittens and younger cats usually find homes quickly. Adult cats may have been surrendered by their owners or friendly cats rescued from the streets by our Inspectors or members of the public or Cat Colony Care Programme volunteers.
We do our very best to keep our cats in the best possible conditions while they wait for new homes, however, a kennel situation is not the best environment for a cat. For example at night, the staff go home and the cats do not see anyone until the next morning, which is far from ideal. Cats need to be in a loving home and SPCA is committed to finding our cats the loving homes that they so deserve.
If you are looking for an adult cat, do ask about our Long Stay Cats!
Your adoption will mean the world to them!
Visit our adoption centres or call our Homing Department at 
2232 5529 for more info!
The SPCA operates adoptions centres and veterinary facilities in many districts throughout Hong Kong.
Registered charity number: 91/62
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