If you are an individual, or represent a vet's clinic, rescue, or shelter, with a diabetic cat that needs rehoming, please feel free to post about the cat on our Facebook page. Please:
- Include a photo with your post so that we may share your post into our timeline and newsfeed. Without a photo, Facebook does not allow us to "share" only text; there has to be a photo.
- Consider creating a Facebook (or other Internet) site for your cat. That way you can include in your posts a link to that site and your cat can get "friends" to follow and share from your cat's site. Also you can post lots of photos, information, and stories about the cat, and answer questions that people have about the cat.
- Include all relevant information you can about the cat in the post or on your cat's site. There are questions that many people ask about cats that need rehoming. Of prime importance to many people here is the cat's location--city, state. Also helpful is the kind of insulin the kitty is on and what dosage along with the diet he is eating. (Please scroll down and see the Rehoming My Cat - Biography section.)
- Do not type your post in ALL CAPS. Sparingly used CAPITALIZED phrases are ok, but otherwise ALL CAPS is considered yelling.
- Include contact name and information. Be careful about posting an email address or phone number that you don't want compromised. Consider opening a new Yahoo.comor gmail.com email address solely for this rehoming purpose.
- Do not request donations for the cat or your situation. If there are funding needs, please contact one of the DCIN case managers to discuss how we may be able to help. The DCIN case managers and their emails are listed on our Facebook page's "About" page.
- Post about your cat weekly, and more often if the situation is urgent--for example, if there is an upcoming date for the cat to be destroyed or for you to move to a location where you cannot take the cat.
- Return to your post and to DCIN's sharing of your post to answer questions that are asked.
- If you need to rehome your cat solely for financial reasons, consider talking to DCIN about its compassionate assistance program.https://www.facebook.com/notes/diabetic-cats-in-need/compassionate-assistance-program/888531524510205
Rehoming My Cat - Biography
Please use these as a guideline for writing your cat's biography.
- Contact info for person placing cat (email or phone number)?
- Name of cat?
- Location?
- Breed/markings?
- Age?
- Declawed?Neutered/spayed?
- Picture?
- Weight and body build?
- Indoor, outdoor, both?
- Discussion of general disposition, including where the cat usually sleeps, whether s/he is a lapcat, and how the cat is at the vet (easy or fractious).
- How does the cat get along with other cats, with dogs, and with children?
- Will the cat be leaving/has the cat left a home where s/he was particularly bonded with another pet or with a person?
- When and how diagnosed diabetic?
- History of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)?
- History of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)?
- Past clinical symptoms of diabetes?
- Current clinical symptoms of diabetes?
- Current insulin (type/amount/frequency)?
- Accustomed to hometesting with a glucometer?
- History of blood glucose readings? (If a spreadsheet isn't available on the web, perhaps a general description of the cat's readings.)
- Food being fed, including whether it is wet or dry? How is her/his appetite?
- Other health issues, including any recent or current dental, urinary tract, or upper respiratory problems?
- Any behavior problems (such as spraying or inappropriate urination)?
- Results of testing for FIV/FeLV (and when last tested)? Status of vaccinations?
- Are vet records available? Can a potential adopter speak to the cat's current vet? Contact information for current vet.
- Why is/has the cat been surrendered for euthanasia or adoption?
- Is the cat at risk for euthanasia? If so, what is the timeline?
- Was the cat adopted from a rescue/shelter that the owner is required to return it to if the owner can no longer care for it? If so, name of rescue/shelter and contact information.
- Anything else you think a potential adopter might want to know?
Choosing a Family for My Cat - Questions to Ask
Please use these as a guideline when talking to someone interested in adopting your cat.
- Get the full name, address, phone number and email address of the interested person.
- Ask about diabetes experience
- Have they ever had a diabetic cat?
- Do they test blood glucose (BG) before every shot and run curves every month or more often if needed?
- What insulin do they use?
- What food do they feed?
- Do they understand what an appropriate diabetic diet consists of?
- How many other pets are in the home? What kinds are they? What are the personalities like?
- If there are other cats, are they indoors only, outdoors only or indoor/outdoor?
- Do they have children?
- Do they declaw their cats?
- How many litter boxes do they have?
- How do they plan on introducing your cat to any resident cats?
- Do they smoke (important for cats with respiratory disorders)?
- What is the name, address and phone number of their vet?
- Are they familiar with their closest 24-hour emergency facility?
- Are they financially able to take on a diabetic cat?
- What will they do with the cat (and any other pets) if they move?
- What will they do with the cat (and any other pets) if they can no longer care for them?
- Will they provide you with regular updates about your cat (if you want that)?
- If the cat dies, would they be willing to give you the ashes (if you want that)?
