Rehoming guidelines

For responsible and successful rehoming

JAPAN CAT NETWORK’S FACEBOOK PAGE
GUIDELINES FOR REHOMERS / PRIVATE RESCUERS

For the past decade, Japan Cat Network has connected private rescuers with potential foster and adoptive homes, continuously fulfilling our mission to “help people help cats.” While we’re thrilled by the many rescues, a rise in animal abuse in Japan and Asia makes it vital for rescuers to ensure kitties are placed in safe, loving environments.

Since JCN can’t screen group members, it’s up to rescuers and rehomers to do their due diligence. As difficult as your current situation might already be, please work to find a safe and happy solution for the animal you’ve welcomed into your home. Stay persistent in reaching out, following up, and interviewing responders. We can advise on screening, and our Facebook group can be a great venue for reaching potential adopters. Your post should feature good photos for attention.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask!

FACEBOOK GROUP MINIMUM EXPECTATIONS FOR REHOMING ANIMALS

  1. Screening and interviewing potential adopters or fosters


    It's very important to carefully screen potential adopters, including an interview and an in-person home visit, (rather than just accepting photos). Some people mean well, but are not prepared or able to provide a responsible long term home. Others might sadly be collecting cats for unkind reasons. This goes for individuals as well as groups or organizations who offer to take your pet – be sure to actually visit the place the animal will be kept. Please understand that members of the JCN facebook group are NOT pre-screened.

    We have experience with tragic situations that have happened as a result of cats being given away without caution, so we want to be sure that we make the need for good screening very very clear.

    Some good cautions for screening can be found in these articles:
    https://www.kittenlady.org/pickingadopters
    https://www.tabbysplace.org/resources/screening-potential-adopters/
    https://www.nokillpimacounty.org/tips-for-screening-prospective-adopter/

    You can also check our adoption application for good issues to review with potential adopters:
    https://www.japancatnetwork.org/apply

  2. Rescuers/Re-homers must arrange and conduct a Home Visit IN-PERSON, BEFORE or at the time of delivering an animal to a new home


    In-person home visits are critical in making sure that cats are placed in safe, secure homes with responsible families, and to prevent them from falling victim to hoarding scenarios. Most foster and adoptive families will appreciate the chance to meet and share information to help the kitty start off well. Additionally, in-person home visits are a strong deterrent for those posing as adopters with less than admirable intentions. Cats are not to be exchanged at train stations or other public places unless the home of the recipient has already been checked in-person.

  3. Rescuers/Re-homers must ensure that, whenever possible, cats are spayed/neutered PRIOR TO PLACEMENT in a foster/adoptive home


    When this is not possible prior to placement (eg. very young kittens, nursing mom, cat is too ill, etc.), the rescuer must ensure there is a plan for the cat to be spayed or neutered as soon as it’s medically feasible.

    This may mean waiting to re-home cats or kittens until they can be spayed/neutered. Clinics and hospitals specializing in TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) offer spay/neuter surgery weighing over 1+ kg (the international standard) at lower costs than regular veterinary clinics. Please contact Japan Cat Network if you need help finding a TNR clinic in your area.

  4. Rescuers/Re-homers MUST ask for an adoption fee for animals listed in the JCN FB group


    A minimum of 10,000yen, per animal, is required. Free animals, fee ‘optional’, or fee ‘negotiable’, animals may NOT be advertised or exchanged through the JCN Facebook group for the purposes of adoption.

    So, why does JCN insist on adoption fees?

    FOR RE-HOMERS/RESCUERS:
    This may seem counter-intuitive, but “free to a good home” animals are among the most vulnerable to abuse. People value what they pay for, and responsible pet care costs money. Experience shows us that those willing to pay adoption fees are more likely to provide responsible veterinary care and cover the expenses involved in bringing that animal back to their home country. There are also individuals that may pose as adopters and then go on to sell the animal to a lab for experimentation. An adoption fee goes a long way to ensuring a cat ends up in a responsible home.

    FOR PROSPECTIVE ADOPTERS:
    Responsible rehomers should provide age-appropriate veterinary care PRIOR TO adoption whenever possible. When adopting from a private rescuer, you can and should inquire about the medical care the cat has received thus far. In most cases, this involves vaccination, parasite treatment, FeLV/FIV testing, and spay/neuter at a minimum. The expenses involved in animal rescue typically far exceeds an adoption fee.

  5. By advertising an animal for rehoming on the JCN FB group, you are agreeing to the above expectations


    If you agree to all of the above, submit your rehoming post including a statement that you will follow all JCN Rehoming Guidelines, and outline them.

    Example:
    “All JCN Rehoming Guidelines will be followed! This includes:
    - Screening interview
    - In-person Home Check
    - ____ yen adoption fee, per animal”

    While it is not required, we highly recommend also including the following:
    - [cat’s spay/neuter status]
    - [cat’s age, sex]
    - [cat’s FIV/Felv test result]
    - [cat’s vaccination status]

Please note that, from time to time, members of the JCN administration team MAY contact those rehoming an animal to seek clarification of the cat’s situation. Failure to provide a timely response to such queries or to follow the above guidelines may result in an individual being removed from the group.