Adoption Policies

Thanks for your interest in our cats and kittens! Your first step is to fill out our Adoption Application. That will save you some time when you come in to visit.

We love getting to know our adopters and their families so we can help find the perfect cat or kitten for everyone, both humans and pets. Please read our policies so you can see if our adoptions are the right match for you!

Adoption Fees

$80 for adult cats & catolescents (6 months – 1 year) or $120 for a bonded pair; $60 for seniors and cats with special physical needs  or $90 for a bonded pair;  $140 for kittens under 6 months or $210 for a bonded pair. Diplomat Cats of special breeds may have other pricing, depending on availability. Kittens and cats with higher fees support the ones who take longer to be adopted.

Adoption Specials

We encourage adopting siblings and/or friends together, so we always have a Friends & Family Discount where the adoption fee for the second cat, or kitten, is reduced by 50%. Other occasional specials may be found in ads and on our Facebook page.

Feline Purrsonality Scale

This is an easy way to rate our kitties from most confident (Party Animal) to most shy (Wallflower). It helps you find your purrfect cat or kitten, as well as helping you match to the cats you already have at home.

Take Your Time

Please view the Contact page for our updated adoption hours. This gives each visitor plenty of time to meet your new kitty without having to compete for their attention. You’re welcome to visit all the available kitties we have if you’re not sure which one you want. And you can always schedule more time to make sure you don’t feel pressured.

Declawing

In support of happy, healthy cats, we do not place one of our cats or kittens with someone who plans to declaw them. Cats can be trained to use scratchers instead of furniture and we support that instead of declawing. Declawing is amputation that can lead to other problems like going outside the box and biting, ultimately damaging your cat–and your home–far more. If you feel you have no choice but to declaw your cat, we request you return him or her to us for a full refund so we can find another home. If you prefer a declawed cat, we offer cats who were previously declawed and give them the best health and behavior support we can.

Punishment

Happy Cats Haven does not condone punishment for cats of any kind. We reserve the right to refuse adoption of a cat or kitten to a home where punishment has or will be used on any animal. We would be glad to offer resources to teach alternatives to punishment and help you learn to solve issues without hurting or scaring your cat friend.

Indoor/Outdoor

We prefer not to place our cats or kittens to someone who has plans to let them live outdoors. Cats are very vulnerable outdoors and we want to keep our kitties safe. We know cats love fresh air and sunshine, so we offer lots of other ways for them to get outside time, including leash training for confident cats and catios for everyone. Barn cats are an exception and we always know of outside cats who are available if you need a barn cat.

Kittens in Pairs

For kittens at or under the age of 4 months, we give preference to adopters who will adopt them in pairs unless you already have a young, compatible cat or dog at home, or if the primary caretaker is home for the summer, works from home or is retired. As Behaviorist Pam Johnson-Bennett says, going home with a sibling or friend is the best way to help them feel safe and loved while they adjust to their new environment. You won’t find better kitty friends than siblings or those who were raised together.

Kittens & Children

We recommend an older kitten (at least 4 months) or an adult cat for children under approximately 5 years of age, for the safety of the child as well as the kitten. The appropriate age depends on the personality and the needs of the kitten as well as the child’s experience.

Signing Bonuses

Our cats and kittens go home with most of their medical expenses already covered: FeLV/FIV test for at-risk cats (not kittens under 6 months), core vaccinations, spay or neuter, microchip, food & litter starter kit and a free well-kitty checkup with one of our Wellness Partner vets. We offer vouchers for FeLV/FIV testing on request if cat has not been tested. If cats have been surrendered with equipment, we always try to hold that for them so they can go home with familiar scents and surroundings.

Tenant Agreements

If you rent your home, please provide a copy of the pet agreement clause of your rental lease and permission from your landlord PRIOR TO adopting any cat or kitten from our shelter.

Long Distance Adoptions

We usually do not place cats or kittens into a home that would require a travel distance of more than 4 hours travel time. This is to keep down the stress of being rehomed, especially for cats who have already been traumatized.

TLC Cats

Our TLC cats and kittens just need a little more tender loving care. They have often been traumatized by being abandoned and have a form of Feline Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD. This can make them hypervigilant, extra sensitive to loud noises or fast movements and more likely to stay in hiding. Our loving volunteers help these cats blossom over time, but TLC cats may need a special person to help them recover fully at home. We offer counseling and further training with these adoptions, as well as home installations as needed.

Superhero Cats

Our Superhero Kitties are super shy cats who either had traumatizing kittenhoods or bad handling by humans. They have gained confidence with our behavior volunteers but will need more help–and most importantly, time–to blossom when they get home. We provide them with a Superhero Kit that includes a double-door shy cat carrier, cat tree, petcam, confidence supplements, cat toys, favorite litterbox, 3 months of food/litter/treats, supporting training & documents plus a home installation and a year’s professional behavior support. Our Superhero adopters have no other animals and commit to keeping the kitties in their Safe Room for at least 2 months while they get settled.

Pet Family

In most cases, other pets in the family must be spayed or neutered due to potential unpredictable behavior from unregulated hormones.

Popular Cat Policy

If there are many people interested in adopting a specific cat/kitten at the same time, the names of applicants who are qualified by the Adoption Committee will be entered into a random drawing. This provides all qualified adopters an equal opportunity to adopt the cat/kitten of their choice.

In Person Adoptions

We ask that any potential adopter come to meet the cat or kitten in person.

Holds

Provided the adoption application is approved and the adopter has met the cat, a hold of $50 may be placed on a cat or kitten for 24-48 hours (longer in some cases) while an adoption decision is being made. Holds are transferable, but not refundable.

Happy Cats Haven is a privately run, non-profit organization and reserves the right to refuse any adoption that is not in the best interest of the cat or kitten, based on these policies. Occasionally we may refer adoptions to our Adoption Committee to ensure the best possible match.

Adopting a cat or kitten is a 15-20 year commitment. Thank you for helping us follow these policies to make the best match both for our cats and kittens and you.