Companion Cats in Residential Aged Care Facilities

Companion cats in residential aged care facilities (Nursing homes)

 

 

Studies have shown that regular interaction with animals has a positive effect on mental health and also helps to combat feelings of loneliness, particularly in the aged community.

Cat Haven encourages Perth residential care facilities to adopt older, more sedate cats to become a communal cat at the facility bringing companionship and joy to the residents.

We currently have 17 cats happily living in care facilities across Perth and can provide glowing testimonials from staff and residents who are currently living with one (or two!) of our cats who will attest to the benefits of adopting a cat.

Due to the generous contributions of an anonymous donor Cat Haven can provide the following :

  • Approved organisations can adopt a cat for free (aged 7 and above) Cat Haven staff will assist in finding you a cat with a suitable temperament that will fit into your organisations living environment.
  • On the day of adoption Cat Haven will provide 12 months’ worth of flea and worm treatments and one 6kg bag of suitable Hill’s Science Diet food which is the diet we recommend.
  • We provide a comprehensive guide to go home with the cat with information regarding how to help your new cat settle in, feeding guidelines and general care to name a few.
  • We will also provide full and ongoing support - if you have any issues or questions you can reach out to us for advice and assistance for as long as the cat is with you.
  • Cat Haven will offer a 10% discount off any future purchases of food, litter, etc from our retail store while the cat is in your care.
  • Cat Haven will offer 6 monthly health checks of the cat at no charge, including one annual vaccine each year (health checks to be made by appointment with Cat Haven).
  • Cat Haven will contact you to remind you when the health checks are due and you can make an appointment at our vet clinic for a time and date that suits you to bring the cat in.
  • On top of the two annual health checks, if the cat becomes unwell at any time, you can contact Cat Haven to book your cat in to be assessed and treated at no charge.
  • If at any time you can no longer keep the cat, Cat Haven will happily take it back for rehoming.

We understand that taking on a companion cat also brings some additional responsibility for staff. We offer the adoption with an obligation free 6 week trial basis so if you feel as though a companion cat is not right for your organisation, Cat Haven are happy to take the cat back for rehoming.

If you would be interested in discussing any of the above in more detail or have any questions we would love to hear from you, please email us at: eac@cathaven.com.au

We are aware of an emerging issue regarding the HomeSafeID microchip registry.

From 2011 cats adopted from Cat Haven had their microchip registered with HomeSafeID.

If your pet is microchipped, ensuring your contact details are up-to-date with the microchip registry is crucial. If your pet ever goes missing, a microchip significantly increases the chances of being reunited - but only if your details are correct! With the HomeSafe ID microchip registry shutting down, now is the time to act and transfer your pet’s details to another microchip registry.

If your pet is registered with HomeSafeID, you will need to change your microchip registration to another company.

What you need to do:

  1. Find your cat’s microchip number. This will be located on your adoption paperwork from Cat Haven. If you need to get your cat’s microchip number from Cat Haven please fill in the form below.

*Please note if you adopted before 2013 we will not be able to find your cats microchip number, Please contact your vet as they will also have their number on file.

  1. Once you have your cats microchip number, visit Pet Address by clicking here and login, once logged in you can check where your cat’s microchip is registered. If it happens to be HomeSafeID you will need to re-register their microchip with another service.
  2. Using one of the services below please apply to have your cat registered
  3. We also recommend that your pet wears a visible ID tag at all times. This means If they are found the finder will be able to contact you and return your cat to you directly
AUSTRALIAN ANIMAL REGISTRY visit their website here
  • Australian Animal Registry’s charge for registration is $15.00
CENTRAL ANIMAL RECORDS visit their website here
  • Central Animal Records is offering a discounted rate of $11.99
GLOBAL MICRO ANIMAL REGISTRY visit their website here
  • Global are accepting re-registrations from HomeSafeID clients in Australia and are reducing fees
PETSAFE visit their website here  
  • Petsafe has a $10 admin fee.
FAQ
What is my pet’s microchip number?
If you don’t know your pets microchip number or have lost their paperwork with their registration details, you can click here to fill our form and we will check our database and send you your cats microchip number. Alternatively you can contact your vet as they will have your cat’s microchip on file too.
Why do I need to change to another microchip registry?
HomeSafeID has closed down and is no longer working, if your cat goes missing and is brought to a vet clinic or shelter, when they are scanned your details won’t come up, which makes it very difficult to find and contact you when we receive your cat.
How do I change my details on my cat’s microchip?
If you don’t have a HomeSafeID microchip but need to update your details you can still use Pet Address here and check where your cat is microchipped, then log into the subsequent company cant update your phone, email or address.
What does it cost to change to another microchip registry?
Changing to a new microchip registry can cost $10 and over. Its usually a small fee, but if your cat goes missing and their microchip isn’t registered, it can be very hard to reunite them with you.