A home should be the right home

ADOPTION

Adoption gives a rescued cat the opportunity to become part of a safe, permanent and caring household.

At Nairobi Feline Sanctuary, our priority is not to place cats as quickly as possible. It is to match each cat with a home suited to their health, temperament, history and individual needs.

Not every NFS cat is suitable for conventional home adoption. Some may be returned safely through TNVR, placed through Paka Mkazi or remain in sanctuary care. Adoption is reserved for cats that can thrive as household companions.

Our adoption approach

Every adoption is considered individually.

We assess the needs of the cat alongside the adopter’s home, experience, household, existing animals and ability to provide lifelong care. Adoption decisions are based on the best interests of the cat and are not made on a first-come, first-served basis.

Home-access requirements are also decided case by case. Some cats may require an indoor-only home, while others may be suited to carefully managed access to a secure outdoor environment. Any conditions specific to a cat will be discussed during the application process.

Who can adopt?

To adopt from NFS, you must:

  • Be at least 21 years old
  • Provide valid identification
  • Have the agreement of all adults in your household
  • Be permitted to keep animals where you live
  • Obtain consent from your landlord or property manager where relevant
  • Be willing to complete a telephone interview and home visit or video tour
  • Have the time and financial ability to provide food, veterinary care and daily attention
  • Be prepared to make a lifelong commitment to the cat
  • Follow any care or home-safety conditions attached to the adoption

Where a household already has pets, they must be vaccinated and sterilised unless a veterinary professional has advised against sterilisation for medical reasons.

An application does not guarantee approval or reserve a particular cat.

The adoption process

1. View the available cats

Visit our external adoption platform to see cats currently ready for adoption. Each listing will provide information about the cat’s personality, needs and preferred type of home.

2. Submit an application

Complete the application linked to the cat you are interested in. Please provide accurate information so that we can assess whether the match is likely to work for both you and the cat.

3. Application review

The NFS team will review your application. We may contact you for additional information before proceeding.

4. Telephone interview

Suitable applicants will be invited to a telephone conversation to discuss the cat, the household, previous animal-care experience and expectations about adoption.

5. Home assessment

NFS will arrange a home visit or video tour. This helps us identify any safety concerns and determine whether the environment meets the needs of the cat.

Identification and landlord or property-manager consent may be requested where relevant.

6. Meeting and matching

Where possible, the applicant will meet the cat before the adoption is approved. NFS may recommend a different cat if another individual appears better suited to the household.

7. Approval and collection

Approved adopters will sign an adoption agreement, pay the current adoption contribution shown in the adoption app and arrange a suitable collection date.

The contribution supports the care of NFS animals. It is not a purchase price.

A black, white and ginger cat resting and looking toward the camera.

Before taking your cat home

Please prepare the home before collection.

You will need:

  • A secure animal carrier
  • Food and water bowls
  • An appropriate litter tray and litter
  • Suitable food, preferably consistent with the cat’s current diet during the transition
  • A quiet room or protected area where the cat can settle
  • Safe bedding and hiding places
  • A scratching surface and suitable enrichment
  • Secure windows, balconies and other possible escape points
  • A plan for ongoing veterinary care

If there are other animals in the household, introductions should be gradual and carefully managed. NFS will share any known health, behavioural or care information needed for the cat’s transition.

NFS cats are sterilised, vaccinated, dewormed and assessed before adoption. Any individual medical needs or continuing treatment will be disclosed before approval.

Your responsibilities after adoption

By adopting from NFS, you agree to:

  • Provide appropriate food, clean water, shelter and daily care
  • Arrange veterinary attention whenever the cat is ill or injured
  • Maintain recommended vaccinations and parasite control
  • Keep the cat in the type of home environment agreed during approval
  • Protect the cat from avoidable danger, neglect and abandonment
  • Give the cat sufficient time to adjust to the new home
  • Contact NFS if serious health, behavioural or settling concerns arise
  • Cooperate with reasonable post-adoption follow-up
  • Inform NFS if your address or contact details change

The cat must not be sold, abandoned, given away or transferred to another person without written approval from NFS.

If you can no longer keep the cat

Adoption is intended to be permanent. However, circumstances can change.

If you are no longer able to care for an NFS cat, you must contact us and return the cat to NFS. You may not privately rehome, sell or transfer the cat without our approval.

Please contact us as early as possible so that a safe return can be planned.

Ready to adopt?

Adoption is a lasting commitment, but it can transform the life of a cat and the household that welcomes them.

Browse the available cats and apply through our external adoption platform.

Adoption listings, applications and the current adoption contribution are managed through the external adoption app.