Town Cats needs many hands (and paws!) to do all the important lifesaving work we do. We are always seeking committed, enthusiastic and reliable volunteers. The work Town Cats does is only limited by our volunteer resources. We need help with shelter care, fostering, transporting cats, adoptions, facilities care, digital media, flyer distribution, etc. Whatever your interests are, they will go a long way at Town Cats!
Please be sure to download and read our Give Pulse Tutorial as well as sign up for an orientation session located at the bottom of the “Welcome Group” page on the Give Pulse website.
*Note: You may NOT serve volunteer hours unless you have completed orientation.*
The cats look forward to meeting you, and so do we!
Minimum Age Requirements
We welcome High School students needing community service hours to apply! You can also fulfill your high school community service hours with Town Cats by setting up a fundraiser or donation drive on our behalf. Alternatively, you can create projects to make cat scratchers, toys or blankets.
Younger volunteers can also take on independent (at home) projects if they don’t have anyone who can accompany them to our shelter. For example, making no-sew blankets, distributing flyers, or organizing food drives. To sign up for a project, first register on the Volunteer Registration site, then let us know what you’d like to do by emailing volunteers@towncats.org.
- Minors under 18 must have direct supervision during their volunteer shifts. Supervision can be provided by a parent, legal guardian, or a predetermined staff member or lead volunteer, as outlined below under Supervision Guidelines.
- We welcome younger volunteers with previous animal handling experience as long as they are supervised by a parent or guardian. Every volunteer, regardless of age must each register on the Volunteer Registration site. Click the ‘Join’ button to start the registration process.
Supervision Guidelines
- Minors aged 16 and older are permitted to volunteer without a parent or guardian physically present but must still have adult supervision and are required to be paired with a designated staff member or lead volunteer. These shifts will be predetermined based on staff and volunteer availability.
- Minors aged 15 and younger must have a parent or legal guardian with them during their entire volunteer shift, except when specifically scheduled to work with a staff member or lead volunteer.
- Parent/Guardian Consent: For all minors under 18, a signed parental consent form is required before volunteering. Parents or legal guardians of minors aged 16 and older must deliver this form in person before their child’s first shift.
Volunteer Roles
Adoption Counselors: Our adoption fairs take place on weekends at pet stores in Morgan Hill and San Jose. These volunteers will set up for the adoption fair and talk to potential adopters. Shifts typically last about 4 hours and take place on Wednesdays and Saturday afternoons.
Cat Care Volunteers: These volunteers clean cages and feed cats at our adoption sites in Morgan Hill and San Jose. Shifts usually take around 1 to 2 hours and include cleaning litter boxes, feeding cats, wiping out cages with cleaner, changing bedding, and giving cats free time outside their cages.
Event Committee: Volunteers interested in event planning/logistics, and assisting in event set up/take down are needed! This is a unique opportunity for someone who may not be able to contribute on a weekly or monthly basis, however, is able to contribute skills and time on a project-type basis. The committees will oversee food, wine, and auction solicitations and will assist with things like decorations and set up.
Event Support: Volunteers available to help one-day events are needed! Town Cats participates at events all around Santa Clara County such as, festivals, fairs, pop-up adoption events, and more. Shifts will be assigned with event logistics weeks prior. Help us interact with the public and get our name out there!
Feline Transport Drivers: Town Cats is part of a county-wide initiative to help save feral cats. Volunteers will transport feral cats who have been spayed/neutered from San Jose Animal Care & Services back to their original colony location. May also be requested to take a Town Cat’s feline to an appointment or finish a pull from another shelter. Volunteers must have a valid driver’s license and a car
Graphic Design Volunteers: You’ll help create flyers, postcards, social media graphics, and website images. If you know your way around typography, layout, Photoshop, InDesign, or even Canva, sign up to help make our marketing materials pretty! (This position can be done remotely).
Photography Volunteers: Great photos catch the attention of potential adopters and we need volunteers who know how to handle a camera. Photos will be used on our website, social media, and adoption flyers. Volunteers will be asked to travel to adoption sites and must have their own camera.
Writing, Blogging, Editing Volunteers:Volunteers will write blog posts, online publication articles, and newsletter content. If you love writing (or editing articles) about cats, volunteer with us! Possible assignments include book reviews, top 10 lists, featured cat profiles, local news, and heartwarming adoption stories, etc. *Note that this position can be done remotely.
If you have interest in volunteering with our organization, please contact us at volunteers@towncats.org. Thank you!
Recognition for Volunteer Service
We have recently implemented a program to recognize volunteers for meeting a quota of hours of service with our organization.
Check out the President’s Volunteer Service Award program page for more information and details!