Cat Adoption Team in Sherwood Oregon

CAT’s mission is to work with our community to save the lives of homeless, sick and injured cats and kittens by offering shelter, adoption, foster, hospice, and veterinary services to end needless feline euthanasia in our community.

Finding a New Home or Surrendering Your Cat

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Re-homing your cat

If you can no longer keep your cat, here are some options to help you find your cat a new home:

Solving Behavior Issues
Advertise for a New Home
Rescue Groups
Cat Adoption Team

Solving Behavior Issues:

Sometimes, a behavior issue will raise thoughts of getting rid of a family pet. The first step should be to solve this issue and keep your pet with the family he/she loves.

Please visit CAT’s cat care & behavior section for information on common feline behavior issues.

Seek advice from your veterinarian to rule out any medical conditions that may be the cause of undesirable behavior in your cat. For information on finding a veterinarian, contact the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association.

Advertise for a New Home:

Since most cat owners obtain their family feline from sources outside a shelter, chances are good that you can find a new home for your cat through various forms of advertisement.

  • Word of Mouth: Ask friends and relatives if they know anyone interested in adopting a cat or if they are looking for a kitty themselves.
  • Flyer: Create a compelling flyer with a photo of your cat that describes all your cat’s great personality traits, as well as any challenges he/she may have. For inspiration, check out CAT’s adoptable cats section and look at the bios for the cats. Post this flyer on community boards, pet supply stores, or veterinarian offices.
  • Internet: Be sure to post your cat for private adoption on Craig’s List and other pet-friendly message boards.
  • Classifieds: Place an advertisement through your local paper’s classifieds. Remember to check into the Nickel Ads and other alternative newspapers as ways to increase the exposure of your advertisement.

Advice on re-homing your cat:

  1. Charge a Fee: CAT recommends that you charge a fee for your cat. You invested time, energy, and love, as well as provided for your cat’s basic needs and medical care. Asking a fee will not deter good families from inquiring about your cat; it may stop unscrupulous folks from answering your advertisement. Check the adoption fee schedule of various animal shelters to help determine your fee.
  2. Ask Questions: Don’t be shy about asking questions. You want to make sure your cat goes to the best possible home. Ask if they have children (does your cat do well with kids); do they have other cats or dogs; have they ever had a cat before; are they able to provide for your cat’s medical needs; will they keep your cat inside; can they provide a veterinarian reference; will they allow you to visit their home prior to placing your cat with them.
  3. Make Your Cat Desirable: Spay/neuter your cat; groom and trim your cat’s nails; have your cat current on vaccinations; get your cat tested for FeLV and FIV; make sure your kitten is older than 10 weeks.
  4. Other: Ask for a valid form of identification and record the driver’s license number for your records. Require the owner to sign a contract, much like CAT’s adoption application/contract.

Rescue Groups and Animal Shelters:

Rescue groups generally keep animals until they can be placed in loving, permanent homes. In some cases, rescues work only with animal shelters and might not accept pets directly from owners.

Be sure to find out as much as you can about the rescue group, and always carefully screen an organization before relinquishing your pet. You should make sure the current animal residents appear well cared for, that the group screens potential adopters, and that the group offers post-adoption support services. Do not be afraid to ask questions.

Animal shelters may be able to take your cat more quickly. Many shelters work with other organizations, like CAT, to provide the best options to find your cat a new home. However, most county shelters have limited space. Please discuss their holding period before you relinquish your cat to the shelter.

Please check this list for shelters or rescue groups in your area and review their websites for information on relinquishing a pet.

Please do not abandon your cat at any shelter or veterinary clinic. Animal abandonment is a misdemeanor offense in Oregon. Shelters can find and prosecute those who dump animals at their doorstep.

NOTE:  Many shelters and groups, like CAT, receive animals by appointment only and do not take walk-in relinquishments. This is to better help the animals by not overloading the shelter and to provide pet owners with all the information necessary to make the best decision on re-homing your cat.

Cat Adoption Team’s Cat Intake Process:

Call CAT at (503) 925-8903 and leave a detailed message in voice mailbox 8.

You will receive a call back within 72 hours. We will listen to you, provide you with tips and options, and explain the intake process in more detail. There are times when CAT’s intake appointments are full and there is no waiting list for future appointment dates. CAT does not take walk-in appointments. Only when a cat is adopted and a kennel opens up, will CAT bring in new cats for adoptions.

We will ask you for some information about your cat to determine whether your cat is well suited for CAT’s adoption program, such as: a description of your cat; is your cat sociable and easily handled; does your cat get along with children, dogs, other cats; does your cat have any medical or behavioral issues; why do you want to relinquish your cat; and have you tried all the other options suggested above. If you have not already done so, CAT will test your cat for FIV and FeLV prior to accepting your cat into our shelter. If your cat tests positive CAT will not be able to accept your cat into CAT’s shelter.

CAT does not place any time limits on a cat’s stay with us and will ask for an intake fee of at least $40 when you relinquish your cat to our shelter.

14175 SW Galbreath Drive.Sherwood, OR 97140.(503) 925-8903.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)