Rescue is not the forcible removal of another person's property, or the seizure of a cat without the owner's permission. While fanciers generally abhor the practice, for instance, of allowing cats outdoors, that alone is no justification for capturing another person's cat and calling it "rescue." The authorities and courts are more likely to call it "theft," and there may be significant penalties.

Rescue is not a vehicle for breeders to place their retired breeding cats, and this practice can completely undermine an otherwise exemplary program. Neither is rescue the place for catteries to dump cats or kittens when they get overloaded. Cats should be safe with the breeder, and it is the breeder has the responsibility of finding them new homes.

Rescue is absolutely, positively not a vehicle for placing intact, breeding cats, no matter what the source, the breed, or the quality of the cat! Once any individual cat has entered the system (other than in disputed legal cases), the time for anyone putting it into a breeding program is past, and the quickest way to undermine an entire rescue program is to even broach this possibility with a shelter.

A rescue group can quickly become overwhelmed if it becomes a convenient dumping ground for cat owners who want to relinquish their cats. The contact person should develop a list of questions that will help determine whether a genuine emergency exists which fits the criteria for rescue. Quite often, with counseling, the contact person can resolve the problem causing the owner to want to relinquish the cat. When the owner has definitely made up their mind to relinquish, then the rescuer can offer advice on ways that the owner can place the cat or refer them to our "Tips on rehoming your cat ". If the rescue has resources to accept owner turn-ins, then charging a small "relinquishment fee" is one option. Arranging an appointment for intake 1-2 weeks later is a technique you may want to use to assess how much of an emergency the situation is.

Rescue is not for every purebred cat. There are some cats that are simply not adoptable and would be a terrible drain on rescue resources that could be put to better use helping cats that are candidates for adoption. Chronically, actively aggressive, biting cats, for instance, raise significant liability concerns. There may also be circumstances where it is more humane for a cat to be euthanized.

Rescue is not a means for others to browbeat cat owners. A relinquishing owner almost always believes that he has exhausted all avenues of keeping his cat. A call to the rescue program, if the rescue contact is patient and diplomatic,  may be an opportunity to provide education to resolve problems so that the owner can keep the cat. Blaming or heaping guilt on the cat owner does the cat no good. There are many owners who can benefit from some diplomatic suggestions and education.

A rescue program should be used only very cautiously in those rare cases in which a breeder may have become overwhelmed by unexpected circumstances and the quality of the cat care begins deteriorating. If "intervention" is to happen, very careful consideration must be given to the extent of direct activity in dealing with that breeder's cats. It is absolutely necessary to obtain documentation attesting to the legal relinquishment of ownership of each specific cat to avoid later regrets on the part of the breeder and possible legal action against your group.