Thinking about adopting a cat at our Rescue Cat Rehoming Day on Sunday 31 May? Brilliant news. Before you walk in and lock eyes with a little furry friend who'll live in your house for the next two decades, here's a quick kitchen-table check.
No wrong answers. Just an honest look at whether right now is the right time, and what sort of cat will suit your actual life (rather than the Pinterest version of it).
Lifestyle
Cats are wonderfully self-contained, but they're not furniture.
- Out a lot? Skip the tiny kitten. A bonded pair or a chilled senior cat will suit you better.
- Home a lot? You've got the bandwidth for a more interactive cat, or a shy rescue who needs patient coaxing out of their shell.
The question worth answering: in a normal week, how many hours is the house actually empty?
Time commitment
A healthy indoor cat lives 15 to 20 years. That's high school, a uni degree, and even a first job all rolled into one.
Day to day, expect a bit of time on feeding, fresh water, litter trays and play. Yearly vet visits at minimum, and a few extra if your cat decides to eat a hair tie at 11pm on a Sunday (it happens). Holidays need a plan too: a cat-sitter, a neighbour with a spare key, or a good cattery.
Other pets
Most cats can absolutely live with other cats and dogs, but introductions are slow. Weeks, not afternoons.
Quick honesty check:
- Has my current cat lived with another cat, and did they actually enjoy it?
- Is my dog cat-savvy, or just very enthusiastic about anything that moves?
- Do we have a quiet room we can use as a "settling-in" space for the first week or two?
Not sure? Come and chat on the day. Dr Susan Powell, who runs Hills Kitty Rescue, and her team know their cats well and will be able to point you toward the most likely match.
Renting? Here's what you need to know
Plenty of rentals around the Sydney Hills District are pet-friendly these days, and even where they aren't, the rules are now firmly on your side. Here's the short version of what to do before you fall in love on adoption day.
NSW rental pet rules in plain English (as of May 2025)
- Ask in writing. You still need your landlord's consent, but they can only refuse for a short list of specific reasons. For an indoor cat in a normal home, "no" is hard to justify.
- Use the NSW pet application form. All co-tenants sign, then hand it to the landlord or agent.
- The 21-day rule. No response within 21 days? Consent is automatic, no conditions attached.
- No pet bond, no rent hike. Landlords can't charge extra for your pet. They can set reasonable conditions, like professional carpet cleaning at the end of tenancy.
- In an apartment or townhouse? You'll also need the owners corporation's tick if the by-laws require it. Blanket "no pets" by-laws are invalid in NSW, so don't take a knee-jerk "no" as the final word.
- Once your cat moves in. The Hills Shire Council requires every cat to be microchipped by 12 weeks and registered by six months (a one-off lifetime fee). Cats not desexed by four months also need an $80 annual permit.
Stuck? NSW Fair Trading can mediate, and NCAT has the final say. Please take this as a friendly heads-up, not legal advice.
If you're between rentals or about to move, it might not quite be the moment regardless, especially for a rescue who's already had a few addresses. Stability from day one matters.
A word from Susan, Vet and founder of Hills Kitty Rescue:
"The best adoptions aren't the ones where someone picks the prettiest cat. They're the ones where the family already knows what their life looks like, and we can match them with a cat who fits it. The right cat is out there for almost everyone, as long as we take the time to find them."
Susan Powell, - Veterinarian and Clinic Owner at Box Hill Vet Clinic and Hills Kitty Rescue.
So, are you ready?
Nodded along to most of it? Come to our Cat Rehoming Day on Sunday 31 May.
Learn more and book a time to meet the cats and Hills Kitty Rescue team.
A few questions gave you pause? That's a good sign, not a bad one. Come along anyway, say hello, and support Hills Kitty Rescue with a donation, a share, or a foster offer.
Either way, kettle's on.
