Successful homing show :D

[clarenmax]

Excellent, well done 

[Desley (booktigger)]

Thats wonderful, and it does sound very interesting.

[Debsymiller (Rufus' mum)]

Well done, and thanks for explaining it, all sounds very well planned and must be a lot easier than arranging times for foster visits. How do the cats cope in the environment?

We do individual foster visits too but this is a way of homing several cats in one go. People also quite often like a choice of cat so this is a good way for them to see several puds and then fall in love with one!
We even had some people who had just come along to have a look and weren't actually planning on adding to the household but who fell in love with one of the puds and then gave them a home 

[Debsymiller (Rufus' mum)]

You have to carefully choose the cats you take so need to have a good idea that they will cope with the bustle. It's never more than 3 hours as any longer could really stress the cats and every care is taken to make things as calming as poss. Feliway is used as well as having cloths that cover the sides of ther cages so the cats can't see eachother. Some of the cats must get a bit stressed but at the 2 shows I have been to, I haven't seen any where teh stress has been obvious. It's also prefereble to have the fosterers with the cats too cause then they are a face the the cat knows and trusts and they can also talk to prospective owners about what the cats are like.
Nearly all the cats that go to a homing show get homes so it really is worth the bit of stress in the longrun.
I also got another 5 enquiries to follow up on for people who want kittens once kitten season starts... again, a positive way to get our name out there!

[Debsymiller (Rufus' mum)]

It's brilliant. The branch that run them who kindly let us come always home at least 20 cats each time so it's definately a good way to do it! Once we are a bigger branch we will start doing our own but it's great to be able to go along to someone elses in the meantime.

It's just a shame we couldn't have taken Belle but it would have been her worst nightmare being around all those other cats!!!

[Millys Mum]

Well done, and thanks for explaining it, all sounds very well planned and must be a lot easier than arranging times for foster visits. How do the cats cope in the environment?

[Janeyk]

Well done everyone, that is good news 

[blackcat]

Golly, all sounds very organised - well done you! and a great way of increasing the chances of babies who might otherwise not be noticed in the scrum....

[Debsymiller (Rufus' mum)]

Because our neighbouring branch do a homing show every month they will usually homecheck all prospective homes before the people come and then let them know there's a homing show coming up. If someone hasn't had a home check and wants one of the cats there are 2 options... you can either take details and reserve the cat pending the homecheck or get one of the volunteers to go and do the homecheck there and then so the people can take the cats the same day.
As it happened the majority of people who came today had already had their homechecks done so were able to choose their cats and take them home today. That's the preferable thing to do cause then the foster soace becomes free for a cat on the waiting list straight away.
The homing shows are also a good way to raise funds as there are stalls and refreshments available. There are always lots fo cat goods sold

[blackcat]

Well done you! How does it work. Do you take the names of people and organise home checks before they can have the cat?

[Indys Mamma]

yaaaay 

[Debsymiller (Rufus' mum)]

Well today was a real success. We homed all of the cats we took apart from one and he is reserved subject to a home visit this week. What a good day! :D

[Indys Mamma]

I would if close enough... but sending 'great day' wishes

[Debsymiller (Rufus' mum)]

I am taking a couple of our cats along to our neighbouring branch's (Crawley and Reigate) homing show on Sunday. It's a great way to home cats but also for the public to learn about the charity and to buy cat goodies which again raises money for the charity. If any of you are in the area and fancy a bit of a trip out, even if it's just to coo and the puds then please come along!

Winter Sale & Cat Homing Show
Sunday 22nd February 2009
11am- 3pm
‘Colman-Redland Centre'
(Next to Fire Station)
Croydon Road, Reigate, RH2 0NA
Refreshments available.
Entry free or a tin of cat food!