FAQ

Where is Cat Rescue Christchurch located?  
We are based in Christchurch, New Zealand. We do have a private intake center but predominately have our dedicated volunteers working from home. All of our rescued cats and kittens are cared for by our volunteer fosterers in their own homes.

Leo

What is ‘No Kill’?
This means that no cat or kitten that enters our care will be put to sleep simply because it is deemed ‘unfriendly’ or ‘non-adoptable’. However, in extreme causes where a cat is sick and suffering and there isn’t hope of a treatment or if the treatment itself will put the cat through more pain than we feel is justified, we are sometimes forced to make the more humane decision to euthanise. Cat Rescue Christchurch is proud to have a no kill policy.

What is Trap Neuter Return?
One increasingly popular option is to spay/neuter (desex) stray cats and then return them to the location where they were found. These programs are known as trap neuter return (TNR). The fact that a cat is in good condition is considered evidence that it has a source of food and shelter; essentially it already has a “home” in the community and is likely to continue to do well if it is returned to that home. Desexing improves the health and welfare of cats and reduces problematic behaviours such as fighting, vocalising and of course, reproducing. Please see our TNR page for more information.

Why choose TNR?
It helps to reduce populations of homeless cats by preventing new litters. It also helps to eliminate problems caused by homeless cats in the community, such as territorial spraying, fighting and mating. Cats that have been desexed show an improvement in health because they are no longer having litter after litter of kittens, and are fighting less.

I need to rehome my cat; what should I do?
There are many different reasons why people decide to rehome their cat. Some are sadly unavoidable, but in many cases rehoming is avoidable with a little help and encouragement. We aim to give hope and advice in both situations; please see our avoiding rehoming article.

I’ve lost my cat; does Cat Rescue have him/her?
It is very unlikely that Cat Rescue has your cat. We focus on desexing unsocial colony cats who are not friendly enough to rehome, and rescuing their young kittens whom we can socialise and rehome. Please see our lost cats information page.

What is an unsocial cat?
An unsocial cat is a free-roaming cat who is not socialised to people so cannot be touched or picked up. Unsocial cats can be captured in cage traps to be desexed so they cannot breed and add to stray cat overpopulation.

Where do unsocial cats come from?
Cats have been living among us here in the New Zealand for hundreds of years. Most unsocial cats are offspring of abandoned or lost domesticated house cats where the kittens have had none or very little interaction with humans. Unsocial cats thrive in every type of environment: urban, suburban and rural.

What is the difference between a stray cat and an unsocial cat?
Stray cats are socialised to people and can be adopted into homes, but unsocial cats are not socialised to people and are happy living outdoors.

  A stray cat: Is a cat who has been socialised to people at some point in her life, but has left or lost her indoor home, as well as most human contact and dependence. A stray cat can become unsocial as her contact with humans dwindles. Stray cats can, under the right circumstances, become a pet cat once again. Stray cats that are reintroduced into a home after living outdoors may require a period of time to re-acclimate; they may be frightened and wary after spending time outside away from people.

  An unsocial cat: Is a cat who has either never had any contact with humans or her contact with humans has diminished over time. She is not socialised to people and survives on her own outdoors. Most unsocial cats are very unlikely to ever become lap cats or enjoy living indoors, and find it stressful to be put in this position. There is a critical age when kittens must be socialised to people. If kittens are handled when young, generally 3-8 weeks of age, they can be socialised to become companion cats. 

 

If you require help with a stray cat, please see our Stray Cat Assistance page.