Q.  What kind of feline is available for adoption from Town Cats?

A:  At Town Cats, diversity is celebrated! We have all different sizes, shapes, ages, hair length, colors and personalities. We have rescued animals from every situation imaginable. Many of them come from the streets, some from abusive or neglectful situations and some who are just not wanted any more by their prior guardians. We have kittens in foster care and most of our special adults reside at our shelter where they live in a free-roaming environment. We also have many "special needs" cats that have physical disabilities, severe shyness, advanced age or behavior issues because Town Cats is one of the few rescue groups that will take in these special cases. The majority of our cats and kittens are happy, well-adjusted animals just waiting for the perfect home to adopt them. Since the majority of people want to adopt a kitten, we have some gorgeous, loving teenage and adult cats who are overlooked simply due to their age--these older animals are often the perfect match for special adopters! Town Cats provides long term care to those cats who do not get adopted. Euthanasia is a last resort that is only considered due to extreme medical necessity and to prevent suffering due to illness or injury. Unlike many animal shelters, Town Cats will NOT euthanize cats for simple medical conditions that are not life threatening such as ringworm, ear mites, upper respiratory infection (URI), diarrhea, etc. Nor do we discriminate against the more serious but often manageable diseases of feline leukemia (FeLV) or feline immune deficiency virus (FIV). We also do NOT euthanize for behavior issues. We think all cats have a lot to offer and just need the right home to lead a full life.

Q.  What are the costs involved in adopting a cat from Town Cats?

A.  The Adoption Fee helps to cover the cost of initial medical care and the general daily costs of caring for each cat during their stay at Town Cats or a foster home. Although the adoption fee helps, it does not come close to covering the costs involved in caring for the large number of felines in our care, especially in the case of those with medical conditions or long term residents who are harder to place as the majority of people prefer younger kittens to adopt. The adoption fee is also an indicator of the commitment of an adopter. It also allows us to defray costs associated with spaying or neutering all cats and kittens who pass through Town Cats' doors to help us in our goal to reduce the homeless cat population. Although it may seem an easy option to obtain a free cat from a friend, or out of the newspaper, the initial costs of all the medical work that every one of our kitties have already had done at time of adoption is far greater than the adoption fee we charge. 

 

Our housecat adoption fees are $125 for a single cat or kitten or $210 for a pair. Our feral cats are placed for a donation to cover our medical and caretaking costs and these donations vary depending on how many cats one adopts, starting at $25 minimum.

Our adoption fees help pay for the following medical work and care:

Spay/Neuter: every single cat and kitten is spayed or neutered before you take him or her home. We spay/neuter kittens when they weigh a minimum of 2.5 lbs which is usually about 8-9 weeks old. If you want to reserve a kitten and wait until he/she is spayed/neutered, you may begin by viewing the kittens in the available soon section and emailing us to make an appointment. Otherwise, every cat listed on our site is spayed or neutered and ready to go home today! (Other exceptions may include Referrals, which have NOT been seen by Town Cats veterinarians or staff, and are listed by us to assist people in rehoming cats.)

Deworming, Defleaing: we deworm all cats and kittens with Strongid and/or Drontal for tape, round and other common worms/parasites. We deflea all cats and kittens with Advantage, Frontline, Program, Flea Bathing (depending on age) and/or Revolution. We check all cats and kittens' ears and treat for ear mites as needed too.

Vaccinations: we vaccinate all cats and kittens for FVRCP at a minimum for the first shot and sometimes the second and even third shot depending how long we've had them and how old they were upon arrival. Kittens under 4 months old require a series of 3 FVRCP vaccinations, at 3-4 week intervals. Adult cats and kittens over 4 months old require 2 FVRCP vaccinations.

Leukemia/FIV testing: we test every single housecat that we are seeking homes for from 4 months old and up. We also test one kitten per litter plus mom and/or dad if they're available to test too. We test the kittens only because of the shelter environment with so many cats, it's a good indicator of what we're working with. Testing young kittens is usually not recommended, as the most accurate test results are obtained at more than 5-6 months old. If positive, we hold the cat or kitten a month in isolation and retest.

Other Medical Work: when we receive a cat or kitten at Town Cats, each one is checked by our vet and we do all necessary surgeries for broken limbs, illness or disease, dental work and long term medical care for the senior cats such as liver or kidney disease etc. Since we are No Kill, our residents are with us for much longer stays than in traditional shelters. We do not put them to sleep because of illness; rather, we treat them, so our medical costs are much higher than traditional shelters. We also purchase special foods as needed for specific conditions as well, again raising our costs.

Maintenance/Daily Care: our cats and kittens use 500 pounds a litter a week; 300 pounds of dry food a week and 200 large cans of wet adult and kitten food weekly. Our adoption fees and donations help pay for these costs.

Microchipping: our cats and kittens are now microchipped, ensuring that if your pet is lost, they can be reunited with you! (This is especially important to have in case of natural disasters, as observed when dealing with pets lost during the tumult of hurricane Katrina.)

Collar/Tag: we include a breakaway collar and ID tag that we log into our database for reuniting you and your kitty adopted from Town Cats should he/she get lost, and is in addition to the microchipping.

All known or permanent medical and behavior conditions, if any, are disclosed to adopters to ensure that the best care can be given in the future. Remember, we want to get the best match possible for both adopter and feline!

 

 

Q.  What should I know before Adopting?

 

A.  The most important thing to consider is that this will be a commitment, both financially and emotionally. If you are not 100% certain you are ready to adopt, please wait until you are sure. These cats need a permanent loving home, and shouldn't be shuffled around from one adopter to another until they find the right home. Taking the wrong cat could stop the right person from finding them, which is not good for anyone; it is hard on both adopters and the cats involved to have to return a cat because not enough time was taken to ensure a good match. A new addition to your family may need extra time, patience and attention; be sure you are willing to devote that time and be patient whilst your new friend learns to accept their new home. As with humans, not all cats are alike; some will just move right on in like they have always lived there, others will need a month or more to really feel secure and settled. You must be prepared to give them the time and space they need if that proves to be the case.

The rewards of seeing a shy, scared cat suddenly bloom and become a member of the family is worth every day you have to wait. Imagine you were in the same situation, suddenly removed from everything and everyone you know, surrounded by unfamiliar people and in a location that is totally alien to you without the possibility for an explanation for what has happened to you. Wouldn't you need some time to re-adjust? Town Cats is more than happy to advise you on the best approach to ensure you and your feline settle in and become best buddies as soon as possible; all good things come to he/she who waits. In extreme circumstances a cat will just not adjust to his or her new surroundings; if all parties agree that it is not a good match, then in the best interests of the cat they should return the cat to the shelter.  We will then try to help you find another cat who is better suited for your lifestyle and situation.

Some of these cats have already lived in other homes and are suffering the affects of being abandoned by their loved ones. If these cats are new to the shelter environment, they may well be less affectionate when you visit them. Please bear in mind that in most cases these cats will have a complete turnaround in personality and affectionate nature when they settle into a new home and learn to trust their new family. Abandonment is not an easy issue for anyone to deal with, including animals, so they need plenty of patience. You cannot imagine the joy of seeing a cat bloom under the loving care and attention you can show them. It's priceless.

 

Q.  What do you need to know about me before I can adopt?

 

A.  Town Cats begins the adoption procedure with an application and after pre-screening, we will then interview you and key members of your household to ensure that everyone is happy with the commitment required. If you have a particular cat or kitten in mind that you have seen on the website or at a Pet Fair, you will be given the opportunity to spend some time getting acquainted to ensure that the right choice is made.  Sometimes it's not the adopter doing the choosing! We have some kitties who are more than happy to take the choice out of adopters' hands and tell them who they are taking home!

 

Q.  Does everyone who applies get approved?

 

A.  Most potential adopters who apply will be approved, although not everyone will be… but we are happy to accept applications from different lifestyles and situations. Ultimately our main concern is to find a loving permanent home for all of the cats and kittens in our care, and on occasions we do have to turn down adopters who we feel are not ready for the commitment required or we do not think is a good match for the selected kitty. In our experience, the wrong home is worse than shelter life or foster care and we would rather keep a cat in a long-term foster home, or in the shelter where they are safe, warm, fed and most of all loved and well treated. Not everyone is suited to caring for a cat; that does not mean they are bad people, or that there is anything wrong with them. It just means that at the time of application Town Cats did not consider them ready to take on the commitment to adopt. These felines have been rescued, so they have already experienced much change in their lives. We try to keep shuffling them around to a bare minimum in order to make them feel secure, and to prevent future behavior problems due to excessive stress.

Also, please remember that not all animals are appropriate for every adopter or living situation, so please respect our advice if we think that the animal you have selected would not be a good match. Since these felines are in foster homes and in a non-caged shelter, we know our animals very well and know their needs best. If we do not feel a match will work, this is not an indication of our thoughts about an adopter personally, we just want to do what is best for both feline and adopter. For instance, if an adopter has small children in the household and has selected a kitty who we know is too shy or not good with small children, we must decline that adoption. The adopter would be happier with an outgoing cat or one that lives well with children, and the feline would be happier living in a quieter, less active household.

 

Q.  Will the cat or kitten I adopt already be spayed or neutered?

A  Yes!! As a rescue group, our responsibility is to prevent any of the felines we rescue from ever reproducing. We want to ensure that none of our felines ever contribute to the tragic problem of too many pets and not enough homes in this country. Kittens are held by Town Cats until they are old enough (based on weight and health) to be altered, which usually occurs at approximately 8 weeks of age. Spayed and neutered pets make happier, healthier and better behaved family members too!  (Please note that if you decide to work with one of the people who has listed a feline under our Referrals for rehoming, they may or may not be spayed or neutered. Please do the right thing, and spay/neuter that pet if you adopt it!)

 

Q.  Will my cat or kitten be microchipped when I adopt?

A.  Yes, Town Cats microchips all cats and kittens before adoption. The cost of registration is included as well.

 

Q.  How do I know which cat or kitten is right for me?

 

A.  We are more than happy to make recommendations based on the information in your application. Choosing the right cat is VERY important. We want to be sure that the adoption will be the beginning of a long and happy life together and we will not hesitate to advise against a particular cat if we feel that it is not going to work out in the long term. On occasions cats are returned because an adopter is not able to provide the time and patience necessary, or a cat just does not fit in with their lifestyle. We do our best to avoid this happening at the very beginning during the application/interview process, as the upheaval can be devastating to a cat who becomes attached to a new family only to be returned; not to mention the emotional upheaval that can be experienced by family members, especially young children. Please be very sure you are ready to adopt before you take the final step. It saves heartache for everyone and we will be pleased to help you with your selection of a suitable addition to your household!

 

Q.  Someone in my family has allergies, can I still adopt?

 

A.  In most cases where the adopting family are aware of the various methods of dealing with pet allergies and who are willing to incur both the time and finances involved, yes, we do approve these adoptions. Many people who have cat allergies can become accustomed to their cat in time. We will work with families to help find the perfect feline for you. Despite common misconception, hair length has little to do with cat allergies, it is the dander that contain the allergens and a reaction in the sufferer. Long hair is more noticeable so that leads people to believe that they would be better off with a short-haired cat, which is not necessarily the case.  Shedding has a lot to do with diet, genetics and stress-levels. Long-haired cats can be shaved by a professional groomer during the warmer months to keep hair shorter. Various methods to keep allergies under control to ensure everyone is happy include HEPA filters, regular laundering and vacuuming of pet areas, cat wipes to reduce dander, regular bathing and brushing of your feline, professional groomers, keeping cats out of bedrooms in extreme cases, and of course medical intervention such as antihistamines. We have asthmatics with cat allergies who foster and adopt; education is the key to a successful adoption in these circumstances. The other alternative is to adopt an outdoor cat if your location is suitable and safe. These cats require the same level of care, but are either not as affectionate (as in the case of ferals or semi-ferals) towards people as most indoor cats, or have a behavior problem that may be more conducive to living outside such as litter box issues. Please contact us about adopting an outdoor cat if this might be better for you.

Q.  Where can I find your cats and kittens that are looking for homes?

 

A.  Most of our cats and kittens are listed on our website, but we still have a number of cats waiting to get posted at any given time, so contact us if you would like to have more adoptee information. We have Adoption Fairs every weekend at several different pet store locations in Silicon Valley. Locations and dates can be found here: Adoption FAIRS. In some cases, appointments can be made to have a viewing at our shelter in Morgan Hill. Our shelter is run by volunteers so we are unable to provide daily "Open" hours to the public, so please contact us for an appointment time. We also have a number of outdoor, barn and feral cats awaiting a colony or outdoor style location who are not always listed on the website nor will these outdoor cats be shown at the weekly Adoption Fairs, so please contact us to inquire about these cats also.

Q.  I already have a cat or dog, can I still adopt from Town Cats?

 

A.  Yes, we have lots of cats and kittens who are used to other animals in the foster homes they currently reside in and also some of our shelter residents were in those environments before they came to us. Obviously time and care must be taken to introduce the new kitty to your family and existing pets, but with care and attention to the progress of individual animals, most of our cats will be quite happy to join a home with an existing family pet. Going slow is the key to pet introductions! We are more than happy to make recommendations on which of our special felines' personalities would be best suited to your situation based on answers in your application, if you do not have a particular cat or kitten in mind, to help you find the perfect addition.

Q:  I've never had a cat before, can I still adopt from Town Cats?

A.  Yes, we do not exclude first-time adopters. All adoption applicants receive the same consideration, and approval is based on a variety of criteria with past experience being only one quality we look for out of many. We are happy to help first-time cat guardians and we do our best to provide advice to any adopter with questions after adoption. We are continually adding new information and useful cat resource links to our website whenever we can.

 

Q.  Where can I find more information about caring for my new cat if I adopt?

Your adoption pack comes with an adoption booklet called "Cat Clues". The internet and our own website are also great places to start; also, places like Amazon provide a wealth of information for cat guardians. Your own veterinarian is a great place to seek advice and information; be sure to talk to them about any worries or questions you have when you take your kitty in for shots, checkups, etc.

Q.  What do I do if I adopt and my cat or kitten becomes ill?

A.  Every new adopter is given a 1-month Insurance policy for $1 which must be activated by the adopter. Town Cats tries to ensure that all cats are healthy when adopted, but as with humans, unpredictable illnesses and injuries do arise on occasion, so this pet insurance is invaluable should the worst happen and you experience medical problems after adoption. We highly recommend that you continue some form of insurance for your new friend as veterinary bills can become expensive so all adopters should be prepared for this, and you never know when you might need it. Town Cats does not have the resources to cover lifetime medical bills on cats that have been adopted. Please, for everyone's sake, activate your pet insurance that comes in your Adopters Pack.

 

Q.  Are there advantages to adopting an older cat?

A.  Older cats are very rewarding! We would recommend an older cat for working families or more mature persons where their lifestyles require a feline companion who can spend more time alone or has a less active nature. Also, adult cats with known easygoing personalities or who crave lots of attention, are encouraged for families with very small, rambunctious children. This can prevent the child being mistakenly get scratched by a kitten that does not know better or who does not have the patience for all the handling that little kids provide in abundance! In general, adult cats are less high-strung and have the great benefit of already having formed personalities so you can choose the right cat to fit into your lifestyle and who exhibits the particular personality traits that suit you best.  Cats are much like people, they are born with a certain personality which can be enhanced and refined with love and attention from their guardian(s), but for instance, there is not much chance that a cat with a shy personality who will adore one or two quiet people, will ever develop into an outgoing, highly confident cat that loves an active household with lots of new people coming and going. Although it may take a little longer for some adults to adjust to a new home, they have as much love to share as any young kitten. With patience and a lot of love, you will experience the joys of feline companionship and the rewards of seeing your new friend blossom and grow into their new environment and family. And you will be a very special person to adopt an adult cat, because as mentioned earlier, most adopters gravitate to the babies.
 

Q.  What is the best way to contact Town Cats about adopting or getting info on a cat I have seen on the website?

A.  Town Cats is run by volunteers and funded solely by donations, therefore we are short staffed at times; the quickest and most cost effective method to contact us is email. You may of course contact us by phone but the Town Cats line is voicemail only and therefore a volunteer will return your call as soon as we can. Please have patience. When possible, please email us with your inquiries and help us keep our costs down, so we do not have to use money to pay phone bills that would be better spent on essential medical care and shelter costs. Thank you!

 

Q.  Why should I keep the Town Cats tag on my cat after adoption?

A.  Fortunately, many times that tag has been the only thing that has helped vets and other shelters return cats and kittens to Town Cats when the cat has either been lost or abandoned after adoption. The Town Cats tag has our phone number and an identification number that is entered into our computer database, and can be used as a back-up in case you cannot be reached if and when something happens. It also helps to ensure that all cats who pass through our doors have a good chance of returning to a safe environment should the worst happen. Even though your cat will be microchipped to help ensure identification in case of loss, the Town Cats tag and a tag with your own phone and address information should still be used as an added safeguard to help get your kitty back to you in case of emergency. Some people think that if their pets are microchipped, there is no need for a collar and tag, which is very dangerous thinking if your cat becomes lost.

 

Do not risk this happening to your beloved pet -- keep collars and tags on at all times even though the cat has a microchip. This also goes for indoor-only cats also. Many guardians believe there is no need for a tag if the pet does not go outside, but there is always chance for emergency situations where the animal may escape or become lost. Rather than risk your cat being taken to a shelter that does not maintain a no-kill policy and could be euthanized as a stray if they cannot track you down and a suitable adopter cannot be located in time, keep the collar and tags on!

Q.  Where can I find good deals on cat furniture and toys for my new feline friend?

A.  Adopter Packs come with a discount voucher to one of the local stores where we hold our pet fairs.  Where possible we always recommend our adopters consider the purchase of a tall, sturdy cat tree or some form of scratching post. Not only do cats love to be up high which provides them with a sense of security and comfort, but scratching and stretching is as natural to cats as breathing and it also helps to prevent cats from using furniture and drapes. Short scratching posts are usually rejected by cats as they mature because they fall over when scratched on and cats need something sturdy to stretch and scratch on. Although, if you already have a short scratching post, often that can be turned on its side so that it is sturdy and then the cat will enjoy using it. We want you and your kitty to be happy together and prevention is always better than cure. There is usually an easy solution to suit every budget, and we'd be happy to advise you on suitable furniture and toys when you adopt.