Adoption Program
The first step in adopting a cat or kitten from 21Cats is to be approved as an adoptive parent. To
approve you we will ask you to fill out a short form answering some questions about yourself, your
home, your thoughts on cat issues, and what a typical day in the life of your new cat/kitten will
be. You can e-mail us at adopt@21Cats.org to request an
adoption form, make sure you specify if it is for a cat or kitten. These forms, once filled out,
can be emailed back to us at adopt@21Cats.org.
Approval usually occurs within 24 hours of receipt of the adoption form.
Each kitten costs us approximately $250-$400 to foster, thus we do ask for a minimum $70
donation to adopt a kitten from 21Cats. An adult cat usually costs us approximately $160-$400 to
foster, thus we do ask for a minimum $65 donation to adopt an adult cat from 21Cats. Any additional
amount you would like to donate would be greatly appreciated. Why do we ask for a donation to adopt? PETA suggests never giving away an animal for "free". Charging even a small amount can turn away respondents who aren't really serious about having a pet. You may find that the person posing as an animal lover is really looking for free animals to sell to research labs, looking for free animals to perform research on, looking for bait to teach their pet to fight, or is an animal abuser. If a potential adopter is willing to pay a small fee chances are he/she is a little more committed to the pet.
Once approved you may then make an appointment to visit any of our animals. As our cats are all fostered in volunteer's homes you will need to make an appointment to visit any cat or kitten we have available at the home of the volunteer providing foster care. The visit is a very important meeting for both of you. You need to be comfortable with your new potential pet and we need to feel comfortable that our cat is going to a good home. So we recommend you come and spend time with the cat, bring roommates or others that may live with the new cat as well. If you have small children we like to see how the child reacts to the cat or kitten and make sure that there is going to be a good fit for everyone.
If the visit goes well, you feel comfortable with the cat and we feel comfortable with you, you can take your new kitty home that day!
Each one of our cats and kittens gets quite a bit of medical care while at 21Cats so quite a bit will be included with the adoption of your new cat including:
- Your cat will have had at least 1 veterinary exam depending on his/her health when entering 21Cats. Most kittens will have had at least 3 vet exams by the time they are adopted.
- Cats and kittens over the age of 6 months will be spayed or neutered.
- Your cat or kitten will have been dewormed.
- Your cat or kitten will have been checked for and treated for fleas (or other parasites) if necessary.
- Your cat or kitten will have had the required rounds of the FVRCP vaccination based on their age.
- Your cat or kitten will have been tested for FeLV and FIV.
- Your cat or kitten will have received all the medical treatment and medications necessary during his/her stay with us such that he/she will come to you healthy and happy!
- If your cat or kitten is currently on any medications you will be provided with those as well.
- You will receive complete medical records and as much medical history about your new cat/kitten that we can provide you with.
- We will provide you with a few of your new cat's favorite toys or other items that he/she may like to have with him.
- You will receive a free collar if your cat is an adult cat.
- You will receive a free cat carrier to take home your new cat!
We do our best to make sure that any cat you adopt from us is a well socialized and well trained cat. If you have any problems with your new cat you can use the Health and Care InfoCenter located on our website or use our Ask the Kitty Nurse Hotline service with any questions you may have about your new kitty!
If you have any questions about the adoption process please feel free to e-mail us at adopt@21cats.org.
Click here to see who we have available for adoption!
