How to maximise adoption enquiries with your Cat Homing Page...
1. Update your Page Reguarly
This may sound obvious, but if you want Cat Chat to help find homes for your cats - put them on your page! A regularly updated page with a good selection of cats, will draw more people to your page. People will be encouraged to come back regularly, to look for any new cats you have added - resulting in more adoption enquiries. Whenever you update your page (even changing just one word of text), the 'Last Updated' date on your page will change to today's date, letting people know that those cats are still seeking a home. You can have as many cats on your page as you wish. When you add a cat to your page it will automatically appear on our central Cats Needing Homes section.
If you need help updating your page, contact our Help Team - see Useful Links at the bottom of this page.
2. Honest Descriptions = Better Homings
When writing a cat's description, be completely honest about the cat's needs and character - no matter how hard-to-home this may make them seem. That way, it will attract exactly the right kind of home for that cat. Cat Chat is visited by a high number of experienced, rescue-minded cat lovers (many of whom seek out the 'less easy' cats), and the right homes are frequently found for the more tricky-to-place cats, so tell it like it is! We often hear from shelters who have had a cat 'for ages', then eventually put them on their Cat Chat page and find they are homed in a flash. We firmly believe there is a home out there for every cat, so give them all a chance... put them on your page!
3. Use the 'Help' guide within your page
When you log in to your Cat Chat page, visit the 'Help' section for an easy guide to using your page. You will also find handy hints; such as how to change the order of the cats on your page, how to temporarily 'Hide' a cat from view, and how to move a cat in to your 'Homed Cats' section.
4. Use a Good Photo!
A good photo really helps to promote a cat! People 'connect' much more with a cat if they can see it. You can include up to 6 photos on each listing; one 'main' photo, and if you wish, up to 5 additional photos. A good close-up photo is best, with the cat(s) central in the photo, with not too much unnecessary background. Check out our blog post with top tips from a professional cat photographer, to help you get the best photos of your cats here: How to Take Great Cat Photos. For more help, see the 'Help' guide within your Cat Chat page.
If you need help adding photos to your page, contact our Help Team - see Useful Links at the bottom of this page.
5. Detail, Detail, Detail!
The more detail about each cat you can include on their entry, the more interest it will attract. Homing Pages with plenty of detail about each cat consistently have a higher rate of enquiries and homings. Potential adopters like to read about how the cat came to be in rescue, as well as about the cat's personality, their likes/dislikes, any special or unusual habits, and what kind of home they would like. If the cat has a particularly sad history, include that too; whilst it may feel as though you are pulling on people's heartstrings, it may help to find that perfect, caring home. Feel free to have fun with your entries; Imagine you are the cat telling their story, you'll be surprised what a difference it makes!
6. Harder-to-Home & Overlooked Cats
Rescue shelters with a Cat Chat Homing Page can also have any long-stay or harder-to-home cats featured on our Overlooked Cats section, to give them extra publicity. The 'Overlooked' section has a good track record of finding homes for previously 'un-homeable' cats. To suggest a cat for our 'Overlooked' section, log into their article in your admin area, and choose 'Yes' in the 'Request: add cat to 'Overlooked' field. Or, email overlooked@catchat.org and we'll do the rest.
7. Review your Entries periodically
It's a good idea to review the entries on your page every so often, updating them where needed. For example if a shy cat has become more confident and friendly, update the text to let people know. If a cat was rescued in a bad condition, update their listing as they improve in health and looks, so that people can follow their story. If your cats are fostered, ask the fosterer to provide progress reports, which can be added to their entry. Reviewing your entries every few weeks ensures that potential adopters have the up-to-date story, and you won't miss out on that perfect home! There are 'Preview' options within your page to show you how your cats' listings, and your whole page looks to the public, or visit our main Cats Needing Homes section to see your cats, and your page.
8. Your 'Homed Cats' section
When a cat is homed, simply change the 'status' in their article to 'Homed' which moves them into the 'Homed Cats' section of your page. People love to see cats who are now happily homed, and it reassures them that you are actively and successfully rehoming. It can also be further encouragement to adopt from you, and will enhance your page.
9. Ask us for a Short Page Address
We offer free short page addresses, in this style: www.catchat.org/sheltername linking directly to your Cat Chat Homing Page. Short page addresses help greatly when you want to publicise your Cat Chat page (on emails, Facebook, X/Twitter, newsletters, on your own website etc.) or when telling someone where to view your cats. A short page address is easy for people to remember, (or to write down). We do all we can to promote your page, but any extra promotion your can do yourself will all help. To get a short page address, email freepage@catchat.org stating what you would like your page address to be.
Useful Links
Cats Needing Homes section: This is where the cats on your page will appear: Cats Needing Homes
Overlooked Cats section: This is where your Overlooked cats will appear: Overlooked Cats
Help Team: If you need us to add cats to your page for you, use our Submit a Cat form
Help Team: For any other help with your homing page email: help.team@catchat.org
Logging in: Log in to your Cat Chat Homing Page here (or click the purple button below).
Got Overlooked Cats?: To contact our Overlooked Cats team, email: overlooked@catchat.org
Homing Successes?: To contact our Homed Cats team, email: homed.cats@catchat.org
Want a Page?: If your shelter doesn't yet have a free Cat Homing Page, apply here: Free Cat Homing Page
