Guide to Adopting a New Pet

As so many of the animals that come into our care have had a tough time, it is important that their next home will be the right one - and their home for life.

This is why it is important that adopters consider carefully how a new pet will fit into their life. 

Can you offer a cat a good home?

* Can you provide the love, patience and time needed to settle a rescue cat into his or her new home?

* Can you offer the right environment to keep a cat happy and comfortable, and part of your family and home?

* Can you afford the cost of food, veterinary bills and equipment that a cat may need?

* Can you ensure your cat is cared for when you go away on holiday?

* Can you care for a cat - or make sure he or she is cared for - every single day?

If you can answer a definite yes to all these questions then a cat could be the right pet for you.

Can you offer a rescue dog a good home?

* Can you provide the love, patience, time and commitment needed to settle a rescue dog into his or her new home?

* Are you prepared to provide a dog with the exercise he or she needs to keep happy and healthy?

* Can you provide the right environment to keep a dog happy and comfortable, and to be part of your family and home?

* Can you provide the time and companionship that your dog will need every day?

* Can you afford the cost of food, veterinary bills and equipment that a dog may need?

* Are you prepared to act as a responsible pet owner in the community? (Regular use of poop scoops and keeping your dog on a lead in public places for example)

* Can you care for a dog - or make sure he or she is cared for - every single day?

If you can answer a definite yes to all these questions then a dog could be the right pet for you.

Can you offer a pair of rabbits, or a companion for an existing pet rabbit, a good home?

* Can you provide the love, patience, tine and commitment needed to settle a rabbit, or two rabbits, into a new home?

* Can you provide the right housing that will allow rabbits to express normal behaviour?

* Have you found out everything you need to know about caring for rabbits?  For example, that one rabbit shouldn’t be kept alone, but will be much happier if he or she has a rabbit companion to live with.

* Can you afford the cost of food, veterinary bills and housing that rabbits need?

* Will you be able to care for your rabbits - or make sure they are cared for - every single day?

If you can answer a definite yes to all these questions then rabbits could be the right pets for you.

So many rabbits and other small animals end up in RSPCA care because they are cheap to buy and parents may buy them for children on a whim.  Children can get
bored and parents may find that their pet is too difficult to look after.  For this reason we go through the same adoption process for a small pet as we would for a dog
or a cat, just so we can be sure a small pet is right for you.

The same care is needed in deciding to adopt guinea-pigs, hamsters and gerbils as it is for rabbits.  All the species have varying needs of home environment, housing,
companionship and food.

For more information there is excellent information available about what each type of pet needs on the RSPCA’s national website, so please visit www.rspca.org.uk/animalcare  When you have carefully considered then please get in touch with us in Peterborough to see if we have the sort of pet your family is looking for.

We have many animals, particularly cats, waiting for new loving owners to take them home.