Homechecks - what do you look for?

[caledonia]

I would go with the advice already given - I have just started volunteering as a homechecker with my local CP branch but so far not put theory in to practice!! However I know from my own home checking worries that it is really about seeing how prepared you are for a cat and your living arrangements.  Obviously with a child and dogs there will only be certain cats they can re-home with you but I am sure they will discuss all that with you.

Good luck and let us know how you get on

[blackcat]

jaffa cakes are always welcome 

[Beth]

The main thing I'd be concerned about is the dogs. Have they lived with cats before?  They may be friendly but will they chase if they spot something running away from them? 

A lot goes on the quality of the tea and biscuits supplied as well. Or if you really want to wow the homechecker invest of a box of Ferrero Rocher. 

One dog has lived with cats before, the other hasn't but is fine visiting houses with resident cats, he usually goes up for a sniff, gets swiped at then keeps a few feet away.

I'll remember to keep stocked up on biscuits too

[Pinkbear (Julie)]

The main thing I'd be concerned about is the dogs. Have they lived with cats before?  They may be friendly but will they chase if they spot something running away from them? 

A lot goes on the quality of the tea and biscuits supplied as well. Or if you really want to wow the homechecker invest of a box of Ferrero Rocher. 

[blackcat]

most rescues won't home over Christmas, so if they say yes you will have time to get stuff in. I am afraid I went silly and bought endless climby things, toys, fancy litter trays and a selection of litters and trays and ....... well, the list was endless really  I got the cat (she is my namesake and avatar  ) but she was a bit older than what you are looking for.

It is always nerve-wracking - I had my house as spotless as possible with a large dog in it, and lots of yet--to-be-unpacked boxes of stuff, but I was assured that myhousekeeping skills (or lack of them) were not a primary concern (although obviously there are limits ...). Good luck hun, and when your furry baby comes aboard, we would love to see her picture and also help you to help her settle in.

YOu are being smart about the food/litter thing. I just bought one of everything ...

[Beth]

Beth, most of us prefer to not answer questions like that so that less genuine people can't read them and try to use it to get a cat when they normally wouldnt pass.

Totally understandable, and i hope no one thought i was asking for that reason it's just not something i've done before so wanted some idea of what to expect.

[Beth]

mainly attitude I think, as you seem to have covered off a fair few options well. If you give the right answers, then you should be fine. Is this your first cat? and what age group are you looking for?

This will be my first cat, tis a 4/5 month old kitten i'm hopefully going to be homechecked for. I guessed that they'd be using the opportunity to have a chat and ask questions about my life and routines etc. so that'll be fine. I just didn't want them to turn up and waste their time if i'd missed something glaringly obvious.

Would i be expected to have all the stuff ready for the cat? As i wouldn't be wanting to buy anything until firstly it was a certainty and secondly i knew what food litter etc the cat's used to and also until i'd had a chat to the fosterer and figured out what sort of toys/bedding they like.

[Mark]

Beth,

Don't be overanxious. When we do homechecks, we are hoping people will be OK, not looking for ways to say no 

By the sounds of it, everything will be fine.

[Desley (booktigger)]

Beth, most of us prefer to not answer questions like that so that less genuine people can't read them and try to use it to get a cat when they normally wouldnt pass.

[blackcat]

mainly attitude I think, as you seem to have covered off a fair few options well. If you give the right answers, then you should be fine. Is this your first cat? and what age group are you looking for?

[Beth]

I'm 99% sure my house is set up fine for a kitty, i have stairgates which a kitten should get past but dogs and toddlers can't, i'm not on a busy road and have a fairly large garden. Both dogs are friendly and toddler is reasonably well trained so is that pretty much everything? What other sort of things would you look for with a home check?