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You'll find the answers to many of the frequently asked questions related to adopting a cat or kitten, feral cats, cats and kittens in general. If you do not find the answers that you are looking for, please email Homeless Cat Network at info@homelesscatnetwork.org.
Adoption FAQs
 What should I think about before adopting a cat or kitten(s)? How does the process work? If you do not find the answers that you are looking for here, please e-mail the Homeless Cat Network at adopt@homelesscatnetwork.com. How do I find HCN’s adoptable cats or kittens? It's easy! Check out our Adoptable Kittens and Cats section to see if anyone captures your heart. If you have a specific type of cat in mind and you don't see a match among the listings, please contact us anyway—we may know about just the right fit for you! We do have cats that are not yet listed and we get new cats and kittens in all the time, so please check back often. How do I contact HCN about a cat that interests me? E-mail us at adopt@homelesscatntework.com. To expedite the process you can download an adoption application at http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/CA690.html, fill it out electronically, and e-mail the file to adopt@homelesscatnetwork.com. Call our hotline at (650) 286-9013. Leave your contact information and the name of the cat that interests you. After I’ve contacted you, what’s the next step? Our adoption volunteers will respond as soon as possible (usually within 48 hours). If you have not yet filled out an application, we will help you through that step. What does the adoption process involve? Our adoption process involves four steps: Application: You fill out an application so we can find out more about you and what you’re looking for in your next cat. Meeting: We arrange a meeting with you and the cat and answer any questions you might have. Home visit: We visit your home to discuss safety and adjustment issues (the visit usually lasts 30-45 minutes). Take your new kitty home: We may deliver the cat to your home in certain cases, however, you will most often just coordinate a mutually agreeable time to pick up from the foster family. We stay in touch and are happy to answer any questions during the adjustment period. How long does the adoption process take? The Homeless Cat Network does not do same-day adoptions because we want to make sure that adopters have time to consider their decision carefully. Why do I need to fill out an application? Can’t I meet the cat first? It’s very important to us to find a good match for the cat and the adopters. The application helps us learn about you and what you’re looking for in your feline companion. If a specific cat interests you, your completed application will help us determine whether the cat might be appropriate, or we might suggest other cats who seem to fit your criteria better. Once we have your application, we will contact you to answer any questions you might have or discuss a specific cat or cats that interest you. What is the meeting like? We’ll set up an appointment so that you can meet the cat(s) that interest you. We would prefer to meet all the family members at the interview, but we do not require it. Plan to spend 20 minutes or longer talking with us and playing with the cat. We will discuss the cat’s personality and preferences, energy level, and social needs. What is the home visit like? If the interview goes well and you wish to adopt, we will arrange for a home visit. The home visit usually takes 30-45 minutes and is intended to discuss how to adjust the cat to its new location. We will also want to meet other family members and pets at this time. Your décor and your housekeeping skills are not important; we just want to make sure the home environment will be safe and comfortable for the cat. Is there a fee? Our adoption fees ($100 for one cat, $185 for two) include spay/neuter, FIV/FeLV testing, FVRCP vaccinations, deworming, microchipping, and lots of love from HCN fosterers and socializers. A discount for senior adopters is available. Is the Homeless Cat Network a no-kill shelter? The Homeless Cat Network is not a shelter. We do not euthanize adoptable cats or kittens. Cats or kittens who need extra help to become adoptable get that help from HCN, thanks to our dedicated volunteers. If our rescue work leads us to a feral or domestic cat with serious and unresolvable health issues, we will euthanize it as an act of mercy.
Feral Cat FAQsDo you know what to do if you find a feral cat or kittens? Read on for more information on how you can help them. If you have a question that isn't addressed on this page, please feel free to email us at info@homelesscatnetwork.org, or call us at (650) 286-9013.
What is a feral cat? A feral cat is a cat that exists in a wild or untamed state. Feral cats are found all over the United States. If they are not socialized to humans at an early age, they avoid contact, hiding during the day and hunting or foraging at night. To some, they are a nuisance, but to HCN, they are a part of the community and deserve humane treatment. Why are there so many feral cats? If feral cats are not neutered, they reproduce quickly. An unsprayed female can have three or four litters of kittens per year, and those kittens are ready to reproduce in a few months’ time. Although there is a high mortality rate among feral kittens, those who survive will continue to reproduce and can spread over a large area. What is the humane solution to managing the feral cat population? The Homeless Cat Network believes that Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is the best solution to feral cat management. Neutering feral cats stops the reproduction cycle, so no more unwanted kittens are born. Returning the cats to their home territory allows them to live out their lives peacefully. (It is actually illegal to move a cat from its home territory.) Neutered males fight less, and spayed females will not be burdened with caring for kittens. Why doesn’t trapping and killing feral cats work? Unfortunately, if you trap and kill all the cats in an area, new ones will move in and continue the reproduction cycle. If you trap, neuter, and return the cats to their territory, they will continue to protect that territory from other cats—but they will no longer reproduce, saving hundreds of unwanted kittens from being born. Why doesn’t trapping and removal of feral cats work? Imagine if someone plucked you from your home and dropped you randomly somewhere else, far away. A human being might be able to find help; a feral cat would be completely vulnerable in the new area. Releasing cats in unknown territory is cruel and actually illegal. It is possible to acclimate feral cats to a new location through a gradual process, requiring daily care and supervision. Find out more here. Could a feral cat help my rodent problem? Yes! Feral cats hunt and kill rodents and other pests in their territory. If you have a rodent problem at your home or business, please contact the Homeless Cat Network. We can help you acclimate neutered feral cats (usually a pair) to your area. With some basic care and supervision from you, the cats will happily hunt on your behalf—and maybe even leave you a slightly chewed head or tail as thanks! How does the Homeless Cat Network manage feral colonies responsibly? Feral cat colonies--a high concentration of cats living in one area—exist all over San Mateo County, in rural, residential, and industrial areas. Because of our temperate climate, unneutered cats have a longer mating season, resulting in thousands of unwanted kittens being born each year. HCN’s mission is to control the feral cat population humanely through Trap-Neuter-Return and responsible colony management. We neuter adult ferals and return them to their colony. We feed them to maintain their health. We make an effort to take kittens of socializable age (usually 6 to 10 weeks old) out of the colony so they can be domesticated and adopted to a loving family. If a feral gets sick or injured, we do our best to help. To find out how you can help HCN with our vital rescue work, check out our volunteer section. HCN also helps private citizens, business and property owners, and governmental bodies find humane solutions for the feral cats in their area. If you would like to find out more, please contact us at info@homelesscatnetwork.org. There are feral cats near my house, what should I do? Please email us at info@homelesscatnetwork.org or call our hotline at (650) 286-9013. These cats need to be trapped and spayed/neutered to keep the feral population in check. We can show you what to do and help you with coaching and spay/neuter support. I found of litter of kittens, what should I do? Keep an eye out for a mother cat, who may just be out hunting for her family. Kittens thrive best with their mother, and most likely the mother will return to care for them. However, if the mother does not return, we can show you how to foster them and find them homes.
 Thank you for helping homeless cats! If you have further questions, please e-mail us at info@homelesscatnetwork.org. |
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