Q: Where do the cats at Town Cats come from?

A: Most of the cats we receive are rescued from local municipal shelters that have been put on the euthanasia list because their time was up. We rescue cats from the San Jose Animal Care Services, the Hollister Shelter, the Los Banos Shelter, and other care facilities. When space and resources permit, we work with the community to rescue stray cats and kittens as well as owner surrendered cats.

Q. What does it mean to be No-Kill?

A: "No-kill" means that animals are not destroyed except in cases of terminal and painful illness, when compassion demands euthanasia because there is no reasonable alternative. A cat who enters Town Cats will stay with Town Cats until he/she finds a new home or passes of natural causes or old age.

Q: What programs does Town Cats offer?

A: Town Cats offers the following programs.

• Shelter care for stray/abandoned cats
• Rescue of homeless cats
• Adoptions
• Foster care
• Education outreach
• Assistance with Community Spay/Neuter
• Feral Cat and T-N-R assistance and resources

Q. When was Town Cats established?

A: Founded in 1997, Town Cats opened the first no-kill shelter in Santa Clara County in February, 2000.

Q. How is Town Cats funded and governed?

A: Town Cats is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization supported by individual donations, adoption fees, special events, and foundation and corporate grants. The organization is governed by a volunteer board of directors, which oversees an annual operating budget of about $150,000 - $200,00 per year.

Q: How many employees and volunteers does Town Cats have?

A: Town Cats is an entirely volunteer run organization. We do not have any employees to pay. This means that 100% of the funds can go directly to the care and feeding of the cats. The number of volunteers who work with Town Cats changes regularly. On average we have around 75-100 volunteers.

Q: Do you accept owner-surrendered animals?

A: Town Cats is a limited access shelter. This means we are only able to bring in as many cats as we adopt. When space allows we will accept owner-surrendered cats. We generally have a waiting list of cats to enter the shelter. If someone wants to surrender their pet, they need to contact us and be placed on the waitlist. Acceptance is often based on space available, resources, and situational need. There is a surrender fee.

Q: How many animals do you adopt out yearly?

A: On average, we adopt our between 700 and 1000 cats and kittens a year. In 2008, we adopted out 706.

Q: How much does it cost to adopt a pet?

A: Adoption charges are $125. The fee covers spaying/neutering, initial vaccinations including rabies (when age appropriate), de-worming, de-fleaing, testing for FIV and FLIV, collar and ID tags, and microchipping. In addition, adopter can receive one month free pet insurance.

Q: What is the difference between Town Cats and the San Jose Animal Care Services or the Humane Society Silicon Valley?

A: Town Cats is a private, non-profit No-Kill Shelter. Unlike the SJAC or HSSV, we are not under any city or county contract to provide animal services. We do not receive funding from any governmental source. In addition, we are a No-Kill shelter which means that we do not euthanize animals based on space, resources, behavior or illness. A cat who enters Town Cats will stay with Town Cats until he/she finds a new home or passes of natural causes or old age. We only allow euthanasia when the animal's quality of life is in question and there is clear suffering.