How to adopt
At The Mayhew Animal Home we believe in finding the right cat for the right owner. We consider every prospective adopter as an individual and look at the circumstances involved in each adoption to ensure that you are successfully paired with the right animal. Here is an outline of our five stage adoption process - Click each step for further details:
1. Fill in our adoption questionnaire
1. Fill in our adoption questionnaire
When you visit The Mayhew you will be asked to register with us by filling in an adoption questionnaire (please bring a photo ID with you), or to save you time this can be downloaded, printed and filled in at home.
This purpose of form is to understand more about you and your needs as a cat owner including things like your details, your family, your home and lifestyle, have you had cats before, what are your views on looking after a cat, your long term commitment etc. The aim of this is to get an idea of what sort of cat owner you are/will be and to ensure you adopt the right cat for your lifestyle.
FAQ's about the questionnaire
Do you adopt to families with small children?
We are happy to rehome our cats with young children providing the parent(s) are happy to teach the children how to respect and treat animals. It's also important the cats have previously lived with young children or our staff are confident the cats would be able to live in a household with young children.
Do you adopt to people who own another cat?
We are happy to rehome our cats to people who already own cats providing the cat has already lived with another cat in their previous home or staff have cat tested them and are happy they would be confident to live with another feline.
If you already have a cat which has not yet been neutered this will need to be done before reserving a Mayhew cat. If your cat has not been neutered due to his or her health problems you will need to provide a confirmation letter from your vets.
Do you adopt to families with a dog?
Providing the dog has been cat tested and the cat has either lived with a dog or staff are confident they would be able to live with a dog. We ask that the dog is introduced to the cat at The Mayhew so we can assess this too.
Do you adopt to people living in rented accommodation?
You will need to provide us with either proof that you own the home you live in, or provide us with a permission letter from your landlord, council or housing trust.
If you live in rented accommodation, the adoption process will be vastly speeded up if you can bring an approval letter to your cat viewing.
Do you adopt to people with no garden/outside access?
We occasionally get cats in which need to be kept indoors and are happy for these to be rehomed to people who live in accommodation with no garden/outside access.
These may be elderly cats, cats with health problems, or cats who have always lived an indoor life, we would not adopt a young cat or kitten without direct access outdoors as we believe they should be given the opportunity to explore and be independent.
Do you adopt to people outside London?
We are happy to rehome our cats anywhere in the UK providing potential adopters are able to carry out a minimum of two trips to The Mayhew Animal Home. However, please note, our home visits may take longer to arrange.
Is there any age restrictions for adopting a cat?
You need to be over 18 to adopt a cat from The Mayhew.
Also, if there is an increased chance your new cat might outlive you, we will ask to meet the person who would take the cat on, should this happen.
2. Come in and visit us
2. Come in and visit us
The Mayhew Animal Home, Trenmar Gardens, Kensal Green, NW10 6BJ is open for cat viewings Tuesday - Friday: 12 noon - 3.30pm with no appointment necessary though there may be a wait, and Saturdays 1pm - 3.30pm by appointment only. To book a Saturday appointment please call our reception on 020 8969 0178. (Please note our receptionists are unable to give you information about individual cats other than what is written on the cats' detailed website pages).
During the visit, you will have an informal interview with one of our adoption officers and be asked to read through our literature on caring for a cat properly.
FAQ's about your first visit to The Mayhew
All family members.
Why do I have to come into the Mayhew?
We cannot reserve a cat over the phone/email without first discussing and meeting the individual cat with you in person at The Mayhew. Due to the large number of abandoned cats we are dealing with on a daily basis we are unable to discuss individual cats over the phone/e-mail with every potential adopter, as we are a charity with limited resources.
If you are serious about adopting one of our cats we strongly recommend that you visit The Mayhew as soon as you're able during our opening hours. We will not reserve a cat for you, unless we feel it is the right match.
Do I get to meet all the cats at the Mayhew when I visit?
We have around 150 cats at any one time and we are happy to introduce you to the ones which meet your needs.
Will all the cats, up for adoption, be available to meet on the day?
Some of our cats can be out in a foster home rather than residing at the Home itself.
If the cat you are interested in adopting is in a foster home, you will be given the foster carer's details to arrange a meeting once you have discussed the cat with one of the adoption officers at The Mayhew. Depending on the foster carer's availability this may mean visiting the cat on a separate day. If the cat is on foster the details will be written on the individual cats' web page.
How much time will I get with my potential cat(s)?
There is no limit on the time you can spend getting acquainted with suitable cats before you reserve, and we would encourage you spend as much time with them as possible. Before you officially adopt and take your new cat home, you will be encouraged to spend time with him or her in their cabin.
Will my potential cat have any health or behavioural problems?
All of our cats are fully health checked and temperament tested. We are always completely honest with adopters and will make it very clear to you if the cat you are interested in has any health or behavioural problems. There are however no long-term guarantees. Any cat can develop a health or behavioural problem at any point in his/her life. If you adopt a cat from The Mayhew you will be required to register him/her with your own local vet and seek direct help from a professional behaviourist if needed at any point in the cat's life. Veterinary and behaviourist fees can be expensive, for this reason we strongly recommend pet insurance. We offer lifetime support for all of our cats and will be available to offer guidance throughout the cat's life.
Can I take the cat away with me that day?
Before you can take the cat home, will need to conduct a home visit (see below).and also the cat will need to have a final veterinary health check.
If you choose a cat you would like to adopt which we agree is a suitable match, we will reserve the cat for you. Payment is also taken at this time.
How much is the fee to adopt a cat?
It is £75. All of our cats and kittens are neutered, microchipped, vaccinated, health checked and behaviourially assessed before they are rehomed. We also provide you with a year's friend of The Mayhew membership.
Whilst this fee may seem high, this doesn't even cover the procedures/areas outlined above.
On average The Mayhew spends over £800 on each animal who comes in for rehoming. This cost covers things like veterinary treatment, food and care whilst it is with us. Some cats are very lucky and are only with us for a short time whilst others stay in our care for many months whilst they are recovering, before going up for adoption.
The Mayhew is a charity solely funded by the generosity of the general public.
If your visit is successful and you are introduced to a cat which you like, you will be asked to pay the adoption fee which is currently £75.00 this puts the cat on reserve for you (ensuring no one else can view or adopt the cat whilst it is still within our care).
3. Receive a home visit
3. Receive a home visit
Prior to collecting your new cat from The Mayhew, one of our team of volunteer home visitors will briefly need to visit your home. This is usually done within seven days from the date of reservation, dependent on availability. The home visitor will call you directly to arrange a mutual time.
This is usually a simple affair, confirming that all details in the adoption questionnaire are accurate, and that nothing has been overlooked, however it can occasionally bring up issues which will need to be addressed before adoption can take place.
Our home visits are extremely important, as we need to ensure that all potential owners and their environment is conducive to a happy life for our cats. It is also a second opportunity for you to ask any advice/information on how to care for your new animal.
4. Collect your new cat!
4. Collect your new cat!
Once you have had your home visit you will be required to collect your new cat on the following Saturday morning at 10am, unless advised otherwise. It is a group collection where you will be asked to read through our literature on stimulation, feeding etc. We will explain how to settle your new cat in and will go through the cat's vaccinations, microchip, vet treatment, insurance, etc. and answer any questions you may have. You will be asked to read and sign the adoption paperwork and our legally binding adoption contract. This process takes approximately an hour.
Whilst at The Mayhew, you may also wish to have a look at our fully stocked shop in reception where you can purchase bedding, food, toys and treats for your new companion.
Why does your adoption process have so many stages?
Our cats have already been given up once before by their previous owners, they are now looking for guardians who will be 100% committed to them for the rest of their lives. You will be taking on up to a fifteen year commitment, which must not be taken lightly. All of our procedures are in place for the benefit and welfare of our cats.
Whilst we understand it may be easier for you to 'buy' a cat or kitten, we would hope this is not something you would consider when hundreds of homeless cats are destroyed every week in the UK due to overpopulation. Please do not think our policies are in place to put you off adopting a cat. Instead look at them as an opportunity to prove your commitment to us. You'll be happy you did when find yourself living with your perfect companion and knowing you've helped save a cat's life in the process.
5. After care
5. After Care
Our commitment to both you and your newly adopted cat does not stop when you leave. We will give you some useful information to take home with you, on caring for your cat as well as having information in the Cat Care section of our website. If you have any further queries about looking after your new cat - we are here to support you - so please do call us on 020 8969 0178 and we will either be able to advise you directly or point you in the direction of someone who can.
We will also conduct a final home visit to see how you and your new pet are doing. This is a great opportunity for you to talk to someone about what's going well and any areas you need support on. These usually happen 3-6 months after the adoption date, as by this point the cat will have settled in and become a part of your family.
What if I can't cope with my new arrival?
It is normal to have some anxiety in the first couple of weeks following the arrival of a new animal in your home. Please call us on 020 8969 0178 to discuss any issues you may be experiencing and we will do our best to help and support you.
Due to our rigorous adoption procedures and advice given we rarely need to take animals back into the Home, but as part of our commitment to you and the animals we adopt out we will take in any animals which you can no longer care for.
Thank you for considering adoption - at any one time there are over 2.5 million stray cats in the UK - please help to give one of these a home.