Walk-Ins

Introduce yourself and ask if you can help.

  • Ask visitors to wash their hands with soap and water before and between touching our cats.

  • Do not hover when they are looking at the cats.

  • Give children a wand toy to play with cats in cages. Be alert to children putting their faces up to the cages. Discourage fingers in cages by anyone.

  • If anyone wants to take an eligible cat into the GA room, unlock the cage door, pick up the cat properly and quickly take the cat into the room for them. If there are other cats in the open cage, be sure to close it and put the lock back on. This is to prevent the other cat from escaping and to prevent a member of the public from opening the cage. Provide toys in the GA room; ask children to sit on the floor and use their “indoor” voices. Remove the cat if it seems stressed or uncomfortable.

  • If visitor is visiting cage side, demonstrate the proper way to pet/interact with a cat.

  • Advocate for the cat by talking about its positive qualities and history: sometimes, the story gets the cat adopted! Educate the public about the benefits of adopting from the shelter. All animals are spayed/neutered, microchipped, up-to-date on vaccines and flea/tick medication and tested and for behavior.

  • If the visitor has questions you cannot answer, ask a fellow volunteer, Cat ACA or Front Office.

Cat Adoption Inquiry Form

Adoption fee is $50 for one cat and $75 for a bonded pair.

  • Be aware of our special promotional offer for older cats: $5 adoption fee if the cat is over five years old.

  • Ask the prospective adopter to complete an application form (GA room) and to take the completed form, along with cage card in plastic sleeve with any medical cards, to Front Office. Explain that there will be a short interview with an adoption specialist.

  • Write the name of the potential adoptee on the Adoption whiteboard with “AIP” (Adoption in Progress) after the name. In case the adoption is not completed by the end of your shift, the AIP notation lets the next shift know that there is an adoption pending to explain the missing cage card. If the adoption is completed during your shift, erase the AIP notation, the cat’s name and associated information from the inventory whiteboard.

  • When the adopter returns, ask to see their receipt; take a picture of them with their new cat if you can, and ask if we may use it on our social media.

  • The Front Office will provide the adopter a cardboard carrier box to bring back to the Annex. If you need to fold a cardboard carrier box yourself, fold according to the numbers (1 to 4) on the cardboard and do not forget to include the rectangular piece of cardboard on the bottom for structural strength (see photos below).

  • Place a hand towel (cabinet drawer) and one or two cage toys at the bottom of the box. Carefully place the cat inside the box and close the box securely.

  • Thank them for adopting and ask them to email us an update photo of their new cat at home if they have the chance (YCAS.volunteers@gmail.com)

After a cat has been adopted:

  • Empty out the cage - put towels and food/water bowls in dirty laundry cart; put toys in GA pillow case for cleaning; flip yellow sign to “DIRTY.”

  • Remove the cat’s name from inventory whiteboard and add name to Monthly Adoptions board.

  • Send out the good news on WhatsApp Mutts & Meows Pack or email the cat volunteer team with photo!