Circumstances change, even for the happiest of families. Here's some advice on finding a new home for your cat.

Please note: If you adopted your cat from AdvoCATs, you MUST contact us if you cannot continue to care for it. This is part of your contract. If you adopted from another rescue group: you may be required to return the cats to the original group.

"I need to move and I can't take my cat..."

We hope that our pet parents will keep their promise to love and care for the cats they adopt until the end of their lives. When the contract is signed, they're taking the responsibility to shelter, feed, love, and care for them for what should be, in the best circumstances, 15 to 20 years.

Unfortunately, groups like ours receive requests everyday from families who, for whatever reason, can no longer care for the cats they adopted. Before you call, here are some alternative suggestions.

Behavior issues may be health issues

Spraying, urinating, or defecating outside of the litterbox is, very likely, a health issue rather than a behavioral issue. Have your cat evaluated by a veterinarian before making the decision to give him up. A simple urinary tract infection could be all that has changed his behavior. Your vet can also recommend behavior modification for other issues like aggression, chewing or scratching, or other issues which cause pet parents to surrender their cats.

Move somewhere else

If your landlord or building manager will not allow you to keep your cat, look for pet-friendly housing. The Pet Lover's Companion (www.petloverscompanion.com) lists pet-friendly apartment buildings in the National Capitol Area. If you're not in DC, call your local shelter or rescue group, they may know of a similar resource.

Address your allergies without abandoning your cat

Many people suffer from animal-related allergies. Those who are allergic to cats are allergic to a particular protein the cat's skin. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (www.aaaai.org) recommends keeping exposure to a minimum: keep cats out of the bedroom, where we spend at least one-third of our lives, especially beds, closets, and dressers; wash hands immediately after handling your cat; bathe your cat regularly (veterinary opinions differ on this, but allergy sufferers report good results). Vacuuming can stir up more than it sucks up, but a HEPA filter may help. Talk to an AdvoCATs volunteer and check this article from PetFinder for more solutions!

If, after considering these options, you truly cannot continue to care for your cat, consider the following:

Find a friend

Suddenly changing homes and families is going to be traumatic for your cat. It is especially hard on cats five years or older. Ask your friends and family members if they can care for her instead. You can ease the transition by visiting for several days. You can also keep in touch and make sure your friend is providing the same loving care you did.

Get the word out

Talk to coworkers, fellow parishioners, folks at the gym, etc. Tell them about your situation. Someone in your circle may be able to help. Look for community boards in your church, gym, or office where you can place an ad.

You're going to entrust the care of your friend to someone: ask lots of questions. Make sure they can have pets where they live. Ask about their experience with cats. Do they have a regular vet? Take a look at our application for some pointers on what to ask.

Shelters and rescue groups

You can, of course, contact a shelter or rescue group. Be prepared to hear "I'm sorry, but we just don't have room." These groups work very hard to pull unwanted pets from area shelters or off the streets and find them loving, permanent homes. Certain times of the year, rescue groups will be full to or above capacity. Shelters will take your pet, but there is a very good chance he or she will be put to sleep if they are not adopted within a few weeks.

If you do find a group that can take your cat, please make a donation. Rescue groups operate on donations and adoption fees alone to provide food, veterinary care, clean living space, and all the other necessities while their adoptees await their families. Your donation will help care for your cat.

Please note: At this time, we sincerely regret that we are unable to take any cats or kittens that were not originally adopted from AdvoCATs. If your cat was adopted from another group, we strongly urge you to contact the originating shelter or rescue group as you may be contractually obligated to return the cat to them.