Cat Adoption Procedure

Introduce yourself and ask if you can help.

  • Ask visitors to wash their hands before and between touching cats.

  • If they are visiting cage-side, show how to pet and interact with a cat. Give children a toy wand for play, keep them from putting their faces up to the cages, and discourage fingers in cages. Do not hover.

  • If anyone wants to socialize with a cat in the GA room, quickly take the cat there for them. Bring a towel or something familiar to help keep the cat at ease. If there are other cats in the same cage, close and lock the door so they cannot escape. Most cats are reluctant to sit in the lap of a stranger but may approach in other friendly ways if given the chance. Provide toys and ask children to sit on the floor and use their “indoor” voices. Remove the cat if it seems stressed or uncomfortable.

  • Advocate for the cat by talking about its positive qualities and history: sometimes, the story gets the cat adopted! Explain the benefits of adopting: all cats are spayed/neutered, microchipped, up-to-date on vaccines and flea/tick medication, and tested for behavior.

  • If the visitor has questions you cannot answer, ask a fellow volunteer, Cat ACA or Front Office.

Adoption fee is $50 for one cat and $75 for a bonded pair.

  • As a special promotional offer, the adoption fee is $5 for cats over five years old.

  • Ask the prospective adopter to complete an application form (GA room) and to take the completed form, along with cage + medical cards in plastic sleeve, to Front Office for a short interview with an adoption specialist.

  • Write the name of the cat on the Monthly Adoption whiteboard with “AIP” (Adoption in Progress) after its name.

  • When the adopter returns, ask to see their receipt. Take a picture of them with their new cat if you can, and ask if we may use it on our social media.

  • The Front Office will provide a cardboard carrier box. Otherwise, fold a box according to the printed numbers (1 to 4) and remember to include the rectangular piece of cardboard on the bottom for structural strength.

  • Place a hand towel and one or two toys from the cat’s cage at the bottom, carefully place the cat inside, and close the box securely.

  • Thank them for adopting and ask them to email us an update photo of their new cat at home if they have the chance (YCAS.volunteers@gmail.com).

After a cat has been adopted:

  • Erase the AIP notation from Adoption whiteboard and the cat’s info from inventory whiteboard.

  • Empty out the cage - put towels and bowls in dirty laundry cart, put toys in GA pillow case for cleaning, and flip the yellow sign to “DIRTY.”

  • Send out the good news on WhatsApp Mutts & Meows Pack or email the cat volunteer team with photo!