Select entries from our 2005 Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month contest
are featured below. Use the ideas as they are presented or tailor
them to meet your specific needs. Most ideas can be implemented
at no or low-cost without extraneous effort. If you need more
information or help implementing an idea, please contact outreach@petfinder.com. Happy
Adoptions!
Increase adoptions using an outgoing voicemail recording! I
start with a meow and the ACO is not in right now, then, for
example, say "This is Mercedes, I'm a 2 year old spayed female
kitty with personality plus. You can't live with out me. So
leave your message and don't forget to tell the ACO that you
can't live without me. Adopt me today - you won't be
disappointed! Please leave a message and our Animal Control
Officer will get back with you as soon as possible." IT
WORKS!!! Submitted by Jaylin Ramos of Hugoton Animal Shelter in
KS
One idea I recently had was to blog my foster litters. I
have done this primarily when I foster a pregnant mom and have
a litter of kittens born in rescue. I have found that people
really enjoy watching the kittens grow and feel very attached
to the kittens when adopted. I have two blogs still online. One
at http://ambercatscarmen.blogspot.com/ and another at
http://ambercats.blogspot.com/
Submitted by Rob Davies of Friends of Feral Felines in
NV
The musical CATS performed around Christmas at the Shubert
Theater in New Haven, CT. With permission, we assembled outside
to distribute flyers. We decided to get creative and dress as
cats! We stood at the doors yelling "CATS for Cats", "donate to
Halfway Home Rescue", "Adopt a homeless cat", etc. We handed
out over 100 flyers and had 5 adoptions the following week. We
have been invited to come back next time - cat suits and all!
Submitted by Ally Harris of Halfway Home Rescue in CT
I made a large colorful poster and attached a 1"x2" five
foot handle. Then I went down to a ready made venue, a block in
our town where protestors line up for and against the war at a
certain hour each day. I jockeyed for position among the
various protestors, and waved my Rescued Kittens Need Homes
sign to passing cars.
Submitted by Jody Harmon of Feral Night Cat Trapper Rescue in
OR
Don't Litter! Some municipalities in our rural area of
Warren County, NJ are offering roadside cleanup as a way to
raise funds for their nonprofit groups. We ran off some flyers
of a photo that we took of a roadside "Do Not Litter" sign
along with a photo of a basket of a litter of kittens under it.
Not only did we receive a great many calls for adoptions, but
we helped people find some low-cost spay/neuter programs so
that they can help sterilize some "litter-producing" strays!
Submitted by Kathie Tonnessen of Communities Altering The
Strays (CATS) in NJ
Outside the (Litter) Box: Great
Ideas for Alternative Off-Site Adoption
Locations
We approach reputable, pet-friendly apartment complexes and
offer to hold adoption fairs. The apartment manager publishes
ads to advertise our fair while promoting their pet-friendly
atmosphere in an effort to attract new tenants. The complexes
offer a special, reduced-rate pet-deposit good for any new
tenants and current tenants adopting a forever friend from
us! Submitted by Cheryl Knox of Humane Society of Alamance
County in NC
I work at a family-owned used book store located in an old,
refinished house in downtown Lufkin. That bookstore has become
the official home of the Lufkin Chapter of O'Malley Alley. The
customer traffic helps socialize our little ones as well as
provides the visibility they need to steal hearts. Customers
always ask about the kitties if they are not promptly greeted
when they walk in the door. There is no doubt the store has
provided an excellent means for O'Malley to showcase all of our
bundles of love! Submitted by Brooke Cooley of The O'Malley Alley Cat
Organization in TX
GRASP, Inc. is a foster-based, pet rescue organization, so
we rely on volunteer fosters to care for the pets until they're
adopted out. One foster is a first-grade teacher at a local
school. She fosters cats and kittens, many of which are a
little shy around people. The cats are cared for out of the
foster mom's home and each school day two or three of them get
to take a field trip into her classroom. The kittens spend the
day enjoying the large cat cage that has been set-up in the
"reading corner" of the room. The reluctant first-grade readers
in the class are permitted to spend time each day sitting next
to the cage and reading out loud to the kittens. The timid
kittens benefit greatly from hearing the children's voices and
watching the classroom activity. (Even the most timid cats have
warmed up significantly in this environment, making them more
adoptable!) The beginner readers have found it much easier to
read aloud to the kittens than to read to an adult or peer. The
best part is that now over 15 cats and kittens have been
successfully adopted out to teachers, parents, and other school
affiliates! Submitted by Cynthia Dewy of GRASP in NY
We have been very successful with having bi-monthly 'Cats
Only' adoption days. We rent a room at the Local American
Legion post and invite cat rescues to show their cats. The
atmosphere is quiet so the cats are calmer and show better. The
Hendricks County Humane Society also advertises the event in
the local paper and around the county. The result is that we
get serious cat people who are ready to adopt a cat. We also
allow the rescues to do any fundraising they want. We invite
anyone else who has a pet service, like a local pet pantry.
It's a great opportunity to concentrate on cat adoptions and
education. Submitted by Julie Bates of Hendricks County Humane Society
in IN
Advertising on Petfinder with up to date pictures, actual
date of birth or approximate date, as well as info regarding
de-worming, de-fleaing, vaccinations and screening for diseases
has been very successful for me. I also work with my veterinary
clinic showcasing adoptable kittens in a condo cage behind the
front desk. The clinic gets increased clientele and I get great
adoptive parents. Submitted by Linda Brown of Backyard Friends in
ON
Fancy Felines: Dress up Unnoticed
Cats for Formal Adoption Days
OK folks! Now that we have successfully adopted out every
'flashy' cat and kitten in the place, what do we do with all
these black and tuxedo cats and kids??!! Well, have an
'Adoptathon Extravaganva' that is strictly a black tie
affair...for the cats, of course! The room is decorated in a
high school prom type theme, all solid black cats get hot pink
(for girls) or blue (for boys) soft claws and any cat that is
willing gets to wear fancy lace collars. NO other cats are
allowed, this is for the black and tuxedo cats only! The staff
gets to dress for the special occasion, black tie, of course!
This can be done in any shelter that has an open cat room, and
does not require extra funding. The adopters love the
decorations and get a kick out of the cats 'putting on the
Ritz'. It gives these cats a chance to shine, and gives them a
chance to get chosen for how special they are, not trying to
compete with the splotchy calico and seal point kitten. Submitted by Tina Puentes of A Pets F.A.T.E. in
WA
A Black Cat Ball! We are planning this event for the fall,
so we can't speak to it's effectiveness yet, but we believe it
will help us place some of our most difficult cats: Since black
cats are so difficult to place, we will put all of our black
and black and white cats in one room. This could be done with
several rescue groups in an off-site location too. The room
will be decorated as for a formal party with black, white, and
silver balloons with brightly colored streamers and a table
with coffee, punch and cake (or other refreshments). We have
the good fortune to have a friend who owns a florist shop who
will donate floral arrangements. There will be music
appropriate for a formal party or ball. We will have special
evening hours to kick off the party. The male cats will wear
white collars with little bow ties attached (white tie and
tails!) The females will wear colored collars with lace trim.
We will be doing this in a cageless environment, but cages can
lend themselves to even more decoration, like red cushions,
curtains, and "crystal" food and water bowls (from the dollar
store). Our volunteers will also dress in black and white with
red carnations. In addition to the kick-off party, the event
will last for nine days (to include two weekends). Anyone who
adopts a cat from our Black Cat Ball will have the cat
delivered by limousine, by a volunteer dressed in a tuxedo and
will receive a "gift basket" (made from a litter box) filled
with kitty toys, treats and grooming supplies. Another
volunteer will be on hand to photograph the delivery. Almost
everything will be donated: food by a local supermarket,
collars by a volunteer who sews, contents for gift baskets by
local pet stores. The limousine service is donated by a friend
of one of our volunteers who runs a limousine service. We hope
to get a lot of free publicity for the event, and we will be
putting posters and brochures in pet stores and veterinary
clinics. Because of the unusual nature of the event, we believe
we can get some spots on the radio too. Submitted by Linda Young of KittyCorner of CNY, Inc. in
NY
Since we all know how hard it is to find homes for black or
tuxedo cats, my organization came up with a "black and white
ball" where we featured only our black and tuxedo cats. We
decorated in only black and white and had Oreo's and black and
white M&M's for snacks. It was a great success and found
many of our long-timers homes though this event. Submitted by Melanie Mawn of Pet Rescue of Mercer in
NJ
Themes and Slogans: Have Fun and
Boost your Adoptions
We are having a "Baby Shower" at our adoption day. We
encourage customers to bring kitten/puppy/bunny supplies as
donations to help during this critical time of baby season. We
will also be showcasing some of the many adult female cats that
have had their babies and now need good homes. We will be
decorating like a baby shower for the day. Submitted by Debbie Ringer of S.T.A.R.T. in NJ
The Providence Animal Rescue League is holding a Kitten
Shower to welcome the many kittens who have come through our
doors. Guests will bring much needed kitten supplies like
Kitten Milk Replacement (KMR), small feeding blankets and cat
beds. The items brought have been requested on a "Kitten Gift
Registry". In return for the gifts, guests will enjoy food and
drink donated by a local bakery, and they will receive a shower
gift to take home. While guests enjoy the shower, they will be
invited to visit with the cats residing at the shelter, and
consider adoption. Submitted by Tyler Lewis of Providence Animal Rescue League
in RI
We are sponsoring a monthly event at a local pet supply
store. We give it a catchy name and advertise it in the
newspaper and with flyers. The store also helps to promote the
event. The first month we placed 16. The theme for the month of
May was "KITTEN MANIA" (I'm sure all cat rescuers can relate to
the opening of kitten season). We placed 18. This month is of
course "Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat-Month" and we hope to do well,
especially with all of the promotional materials from the
ASPCA. We are planning a "Mother's Day" adoption event
featuring all the little mama's who are the "leftovers" of the
kitten season. They are often only kittens themselves. They
have paid their dues and deserve to be placed in good homes.
For all qualified adopters, we offer a goodie bag full of
coupons, samples and handouts and of course a low-cost
spay/neuter certificate for the very young kittens. Our plan is
to continue to have monthly themed events and continue to post
on our Petfinder website, which is responsible for more than
half of our total adoptions. Submitted by Rebecca Endsley of C.A.T.S. Cats Are Totally
Special in TN
PATCH is lucky enough to be a store-front shelter with very
big windows we use to drag people in with varying signage. Our
most popular saying was the one used in March: "We have Irish
Cats". On each cat's cage was a shamrock with the cat's Irish
name. (Example: Sonny became Sonny O'Patch) People stopped in
to see what an Irish Cat looked like, at which point we told
them everyone has a little Irish in them in March. Once we had
them in the door, we would get them talking and gave them a
tour to get them hooked. Donations increased, we recruited
volunteers, and had adoptions. One year when we were over-run
with kittens our sign said "New 2004 models just arrived". We
named our kittens after luxury cars! Submitted by Cindy Seigel of PATCH in NJ
Our organization exists to help our municipal shelter place
more animals in loving homes. We have an offsite adult cat
adoption center, known as The Purr Pad, located inside the best
locally owned pet center in the New Orleans area. This center
is a collaborative effort between three organizations: two
shelters and one humane group. We began hosting a great event
for the first anniversary, in the first week of May, Cinco de
Meow-O! The first year the event went very well, but the second
year, just this past month, was a fabulous success! Our
volunteers canvassed the city with signage weeks before the
event. We got great media coverage just prior to the event,
which included a newspaper column, radio shows, and a great
local morning TV spot. To raise money to continue improvements
for The Purr Pad, we had both a pre-event ticketed raffle, and
an event raffle for more than 25 prizes. All were donated,
including a TV-DVD player, as well as gift certificates from
area restaurants and other goodies. We had a boutique with
donated gifts, fabulous Cinco de Meow-O t-shirts, and a food
and drink booth. There were over fifty adult cats for adoption,
as well as several kittens. There were more than 30 adoptions
in that one day alone! Submitted by Elizabeth Ledet of Friends of the Jefferson
Animal Shelter in LA
We have used the following slogan during our June Adopt a
Cat month and it seems to get the point across. "Cats are like
potato chips, you can't have just ONE!" When you adopt a cat or
kitten during June you get to take home his or her "feline
buddy" for no additional fee. AND you will also get a bag of
potato chips! In addition, we give out "goodie bags" which
include toys, balls and catnip for the cats that are adopted
during this month. Submitted by Lorraine Askam of Maui Humane Society in
HI
Attention-Grabbing Cages: Let
the Enclosure Speak for the Cat
All of our cats are kept in foster homes, but are brought
to PETCO for adoption days. Every cage is "staged" with a great
write-up from the foster mom who knows the cat best, and cute
little stuffed animals to make the cats even cuter than they
already are! Also, we stage using color -- like putting a blue
towel in the cage for a Siamese to bring out the blue in its
eyes. These are all things that can be done by anyone, and the
cost is minimal. Submitted by Dee Carroll of Marin Cat Connection in
CA
For our off-site adoptions, we got the idea to buy
inexpensive rugs and towels and use those in the cages (instead
of newspaper) to give the kitties a more important and homey
look. We color-coordinate each cage to show off the cat's
coloring best and at holidays we decorate with special theme
domestics. The litter pans are hooded and covered with a nice
towel to make a comfy, attractive perch and cat beds are
provided. Yes, it is more work to launder all that, but cage
cleaning is no worse, and we get many positive comments on how
clean and well cared for our kitties look! We are a very small
overextended group of foster homes and only have adoption hours
12 hours a week, yet FoF adopted out almost 400 cats last year.
We think our attractive home-style cages are one reason
why! Submitted by Linda Hickam of Friends of Ferals/Greater
Huntsville H.S. in AL
We take our fosters to the local Household Cat Show and
have a whole table lined up with their cages. We decorate them
like show cats, and we enter them in all the appropriate
competition CAT-egories...we put all the ribbons they win on
the fronts of the cages, both at the cat show, and at adoptions
each weekend! It really gets people's attention!
Submitted by Lee Ann Causey of Little Orphan Angels in
TX
A Way with Words:
Using Creative Writing to Draw Needed Attention
To find cats a new "FOREVER" home, I suggest getting
creative with their kennel dcor and information cards. I have
found that by adding lines such as "types 50wpm, snow boards
and does windows!" You grab peoples' attention! Add that along
with a little more "decorative kennel" (maybe a theme to go
hand in hand) and watch how people are drawn to the kennel....
and soon he/she finds that "FOREVER" FAMILY! Submitted by Michelle Brandenburg of Brenton-Franklin
Humane Society in WA
We promote the adoption of adult cats by placing cut-out
stars and hearts on their kennels with benefits of adults cats
& some funny 'facts' printed on them. (examples: "Adults
cats know their way around a litter box", "Trained with Jackie
Chan", "Former Beauty Queen", "Speaks 7 languages", "Adult cats
love couch potatoes", "Adult cats don't climb curtains", "The
bigger the better", "Official food taster") These make people
stop and look a little longer (and laugh!).
Submitted by Andrea Traganza of Noah's Ark Pet Adoptions in
AZ
Every month we publish 'Pet Personals--Cats Looking for
Laps'. People love to read personals ads, and we entice them
with photos of each cat and a personal description directly
from their whiskered mouths. TwinkleToes was recently adopted
after this 20+ pound had us explain her needs in three lines:
"Full-figured single black & white spayed female seeks
human for brushing, petting, and LONG walks." The very
talkative Smudge wrote his ad all by himself: "Young single
gray & white neutered male seeks Lovely Lady (or Gentleman)
for late night chats and long naps in front of the fireplace or
on the vent." Kayla preferred a quiet home, and her ad helped
her find just that: "Recently divorced mother of two seeks
quiet family who will take care of me during my retirement. I'm
sweet and spayed!" Connecting pets with people takes more than
photos, it takes creativity. Make it personal with personal ads
from your pets! Submitted by Jeannette Srivastava of The Kitty Cat CARES in
MI
PVHS staff have incorporated "personal ads" for the cats on
the adoption floor as a fun way to help potential adopters
connect with the kitties on a personal level instead of
choosing a cat based on appearances. The ads are printed and
hung on cage doors. For cats that maybe harder to place because
of age or other special needs, the "personal ads" are posted
throughout the shelter to draw attention to them and featured
as the pet of the week. An example is Whiskers. An excerpt of
his personal ad read: "I'm a 7 year old Libra. I enjoy long
naps in sunny locals and prefer chicken over tuna. My ideal
home is one where I can be adored...meaning I prefer to be the
only cat. Some describe me as sensitive, and this can be said
about me on many levels. Not only do prefer a quiet household,
I eat a sensitive stomach diet. If you are looking for a
long-term committed relationship, please speak with my
representatives at the front desk." Volunteers that work with
the cats love to help write creative ads for their favorite
kitties (and the more creative and humorous, the faster the
adoption), so the time it takes to help an animal stand out is
not a responsibility that has to fall on the staff. People are
generally overwhelmed by the number of animals to choose from.
This is a way for potential adopters to feel the adoption
process is a mutual decision...the cats are choosing them as
well. Submitted by Moon Wymore of Pioneer Valley Humane Society
in MA
This was an editorial we sent to the local newspapers:
Dear Editor,
I turn one year old this month. Everyone has been coming in
and saying "Happy Birthday, Mary!". You're probably saying
"Congratulations". Except, it's not a happy day for me --
you see, I'm a shelter kitten, correction, a shelter cat.
Very few people look at the cats in the shelter; they go
for that cute cuddly kitten. The younger the better, or so
they think. I hear them when they come in to the shelter,
"Do you have any kittens?". If the answer is "no", they
don't take the time to look at the others like me. And the
volunteers at the shelter sing high praise about us cats,
but so many visitors have their mind set on a kitten. Can't
they see that we older cats are smart, playful, full of
love and looking for someone to share our lives with? Don't
get me wrong, we get love from the volunteers at the
shelter, but they are there only so long during the day and
they have so much to do and so many cats to love. It's just
not the same as having a family of your own to love you.
Oh! To have the freedom to roam around a real home, looking
for a sunny place to sleep, or a warm lap to curl up in.
This is my dream. If you think it's bad for me, there are
cats who have been here for years. They came in as older
cats and no one even stops at their cages. Please, would
you help us and print my plea, so when people are looking
to add an animal to their home, they adopt from a shelter,
and take time to look at the older animals? We make great
companions for humans of all ages. Thank you for listening
to me. Maybe after this is printed, my family will find me.
Mary, A Shelter Cat
A follow-up note from Mary: Shortly after this was printed
in The newspaper I was adopted! I now have a loving home,
my sunny spot to sleep in and people who adore me as much
as I adore them. My dream came true!!
Submitted by Cindy Seigel of PATCH in
NJ
Pet Notes
Promotion: Print your Petfinder Pet Notes to Promote your
Cats
We placed 4-color tents at tables in area cafes/restaurants
(similar to "Drink Specials") with a cute little bio and
something about our shelter. The idea came to me when we were
eating at a restaurant for breakfast and I noticed how many
people were reading the paper. People enjoy reading while they
are waiting for their food to be served or while they eat if
they are alone. We not only received more interest on our
website about specific animals, but we also recruited more
volunteers. Submitted by Kathleen Moore of Dog & Kitty City in
TX
We took a nice framed picture of one of our cats with a
little bio saying "I need a home!" to a restaurant which had a
very cat-friendly manager. The manager kept the picture by the
cash register and everyone who came to that restaurant saw the
adoptable cat. We placed a lot of cats this way - some pictures
were there for months, but the manager would not change the
picture until that cat got adopted! It was a way to reach
people who really just didn't know they needed a cat until they
saw the picture and fell in love. Submitted by Joanne Ventresca of Pet Adoption Fund/Cat
Rescue in CA
In my other life, I am a fourth grade teacher. With my
principal's approval, I post photos and information from
Petfinder in the halls, front doors of our school and in my
classroom. I set aside a couple of weeks every year to visit
every class during my "free" period and explain the importance
of adopting shelter animals, being responsible owners, and
treating all animals humanely. A local veterinarian also visits
to reinforce those ideas. I sponsor a poster contest in which
dozens of winning posters find their way into store windows, on
community bulletin boards, and on display at adoption events.
We raise money for needy kitties through our "Pennies for Pets"
fund drive. Our parent/teacher organization caught the
enthusiasm and donated a huge basket of goodies for our foster
pets. This year, one of my students adopted a cat through our
organization. Twenty pounds of contented cat, he sauntered from
student to student in my classroom with barely a twitch of his
beautiful whiskers. We voted him our "Class Cat," because he
was so at home in the limelight, and certainly had more than
his share of class! I am planning to expand my program to
include an after school club for pet lovers. They will pose for
photos to be posted on Petfinder, continue to make our
community outreach posters, and volunteer at adoption events.
At the request of many pet lovers, we will continue "Pennies
for Pets" all year long. At my school, we recognize that
learning to help needy animals is a great part of character
education. Submitted by Linda Jordan of Edgar County Humane
Association in IL
We plan to leave photo albums at several vet offices around
the area that contain kennel cards of adoptable pets. The
albums will have our name on the front and business cards
inside for clients to take. Submitted by Tina Sullivan of Pet-4-Pets in MD
Pretty-Kitty Photos: Highlight
Attributes of your Cats' Personalities
We have an outstanding photographer that uses different
backgrounds in our pictures. She uses colors that go so well
with the color of the cats and those pictures have been a dream
come true to help get the animals adopted. Submitted by April Nolen of Martinsville-Henry County SPCA
in VA
When photographing our animals (and time permits), we dress
our animals in silly costumes to draw attention to them and
show how sweet out animals are. We then take these fun photos
and make a calendar to use for fundraising. We've had Santa,
elves, reindeer, angels, Easter bunny-with basket and eggs of
course, and an Irishman. We've had kittens coming out of picnic
baskets and watering cans (with flowers). We just did a shoot
with an animal wearing a bikini top, and sun glasses on a beach
towel with umbrella. And of course, we did the patriotic flags
photos. Girls' hair scrunchies make fun holiday cat collars for
photos. Submitted by Anita Disch of Green County Humane Society in
WI
Cats
Market Themselves: Inventive Places to Showcase Great Cat
Pictures
We have a teacher representative from the middle school to
come to the shelter and photograph our adoptable animals. These
photos are then shown on the school's televised morning
announcements! It has been a great hit with the students and
has resulted in additional adoptions. Submitted by Rosemary Lyons of Pasco County Animal Control
in FL
Not every cat shows well at adoption days. So for those
cats, our volunteers wear customized shirts (donated by a local
vendor), each one featuring the name, photo, and bio of a cat
that can't attend. These shirts have generated buzz among
adopters, many of whom will come to adoption days not only to
view the cats we have there, but also to see if anyone new is
featured on the shirts! Submitted by Rachel Levy of Stray Catz, Inc. in
NJ
Many people see and like our pets at the mobile events but
are not ready to commit on-the-spot. I am sure they think about
our animals later but may not be able to remember which group,
animal's name, etc. and are unable to contact us about
adopting. I began making business cards for each animal with
their name, title, picture, shelter information. Example:
Angelo, Quality Control Analyst, Treat Department. We
distribute their cards to potential adopters. It is very
important to include the animal's picture on the business card.
(I am hoping when the card is viewed later that the pair of sad
eyes will tug at the hearts of potential adopters and prompt
them to adopt!) Submitted by Rebecca Leinenback of Open Door Animal
Sanctuary in MO
After thinking long and hard on a way to really spark
interest in our shelter cats and let people see what a joy cats
are in our lives, we decided at ARF to really have fun with the
fact that our free-range shelter is in fact fun, healthy, clean
and friendly. We created a webpage including pictures of our
cats celebrating with fun captions and upbeat music. It
supports the fact that our cats are happy here and having a
grand 'ol time before their new owners arrive. Submitted by Christine Peterson of Animal Rescue Foundation
in NY
Purring People: Great Customer
Service Goes a Long Way
We greet our potential adopters at the lobby, welcoming
them to our shelter and pointing them toward the adoptable
animals. We give them a few minutes to view the animals, then
an adoption counselor talks to them about the different cats
and kittens that we have, calling them by name and pointing out
what makes each cat or kitten special. The counselor talks to
them about their family's lifestyle and introduces them to the
cat/kitten that would best "fit in" with their family. The
cat's condos are tastefully decorated with colorful beds and
lots of toys, so those clever teenager kittens can show off
their personalities. We offer adopters a 10-day guarantee on
every adoption, so that if it's not quite a perfect match, they
can return the cat to us for a full refund of their adoption
fees. We want every adopter to feel confident about adopting a
pet from us, and feel no guilt about returning the animal if
necessary. We have discovered that when introduced to visitors
by a member of our staff, the cats and kittens have a better
chance of finding the right home for them, instead of adopters
just picking out the cutest kitten in the group. We have had a
great improvement in the number of black cats and kittens that
have been adopted since starting the introductions. Submitted by Tricia Power of Bryant Animal Control &
Adoption Center in AR
We provide each adopter with a homemade "Kitty Kupon"
booklet of coupons to help with their new kitty expenses. It
includes a coupon for a free grooming, free treat bag, visit
from a volunteer to help with the new kitty, and other goodies
to help the kitty AND pet parent adjust. Adopters also get a
T-shirt with "I Adopted a New Feline Friend". We do what it
takes to help these precious kitties find new homes. Submitted by Nancy Job of Affection Connection Rescue in
MI
Our Cat Adoption Program "Double Your Fun" has been a great
success at both increasing adoptions, as well as making
life-long happy feline friends! The program allows adopters to
choose a second feline companion at no additional adoption fee
for up to 2 months after their initial adoption. We make great
relationships with adopters who often come back into the
shelter and match-make for a second time, as well as
successfully place littermates together. This helps with the
shelter's bond with the community, almost ensuring that we can
successfully bring adopters back into the shelter. It also
helps the shelter to communicate with adopters, and confirm
that the current adopted cat is well-cared for and content. The
program is greatly beneficial to stay-at-home cats, who enjoy
the company of a friend. Submitted by Nikke Beer of Humane Society of Northwestern
Pennsylvania in PA
At our shelter we have found that our "house cats" help
people who may not even be interested in looking at cats think
again. By having some friendly cats approach people as they
enter really helps warm their hearts and make them want to see
the cats. Submitted by Melissa Wetzel of DeKalb Humane Society in
IN
Even
Exchange: Tips to Ensure Adoptions are Right for Cats and New
Parent
Giving adopters the option of exchanging cats if the one
they fell in love with does not adapt well to their new home
has helped us adopt out the older cats. There is nothing worse
than living with a cat that is not happy! We always ask that if
for any reason they can not keep or want the cat they return
him or her to us. I firmly believe that our exchange and return
policy is responsible for finding many an older cat a forever
home. Match making is the name of the game! Forever Happy homes
is the goal! Submitted by Wendy Oby of Wendy's Feline Friends in
VA
Not all cats are "people cats" - some like to be alone. For
those cats who are loners, why not let the prospective owner
take them home for a few days and let them check out their
prospective pet/owner? Instead of a cat being adopted, taken
home and brought back because of extenuating circumstances, the
cats would have a chance to explore before adoption. This could
get them adopted quicker and would also require less kennel
space. Submitted by Rebecca Loos of Odessa Animal Control in
TX
Make
Friends: Find Allies around Town to Spread the
Word
We choose a hard-to-place cat and do a write up on
Petfinder.com. The girl scouts then make copies of it, put it
in on posters and put them up in stores. Working with the
scouts has been successful to place an otherwise hard-to-place
cat. They spread the word and people seem to take more notice
since the girl scouts and the shelter are working together. Submitted by Sue Webb of Stray Pets in Need of
Massachusetts in MA
We were doing weekly "wanted" posters and putting them up
around our town. One day I brought one to a Realtor meeting and
the other agents were very positive! We have been able to keep
the shelter turnover high and have a whole new group willing to
help us! Don't forget every Realtor knows someone in a new home
that needs a pet! Submitted by Judy Tilton of Franklin Animal Shelter in
NH
Fundraisers for Felines: Gain
Donations and Adopters
A Karaoke for Kitties was held where the public could sing,
sponsor a singer, send a donation or come just to show their
support. The winners were recipients of "Ameri-Cat Idol"
prizes. These included trophies for: "Purrrrrfect Singer" (best
voice), "Money Cat" (most sponsors) and "Alley Cat" (the crowd
pleaser). Everyone that sang was awarded a little "Cool Cat"
trophy. But the big winners were the cats. The donations from
this fundraiser were used to pay down our vet bills. Submitted by Diane Show of Sheltara Humane Society in
MA
In addition to our weekly adoption shows at local area pet
stores, CARA attempts to garner as much attention for our
animals as possible. We all know the key to attention is
visibility! During our annual fundraising pool tournament,
tables are "named" after select foster care animals. When
players' names are called to play, they must locate the placard
at the appropriate table and identify the kitty's table at
which they are required to play. This presents the opportunity
for player #1 and player #5 to play at "Nugget's" table.
Players are forced to read the descriptions of the foster cats
and locate the name within the description. In this manner, our
kitties gain additional visibility and tournament participants
learn about the animals who are receiving the donated entry
fee. Sometimes, even a few adoptions can arise out of this
technique! Submitted by Vivian Cooper of Companion Animal Rescue
Alliance in MD
A cake(cat)walk just may help the homeless and abandoned
kitties in your town find a home. How's that? Well, everyone
can be nostalgic at times and what better than an old-time
cake(cat)walk. You actually have cakes and cookies only they
are decorated as kitties - just a face with licorice whiskers
or a photo image cake/cookie with any kind of kitty scene. The
stepping stones the participants will be walking on are the
actual pictures of kitties looking for homes. This can spread
the visibility of your orphans looking a home in an eye
catching, fun and entertaining way. Use songs like "cat scratch
fever" and other songs that have something to do with kitties.
Get participants to sponsor and have a poster made up to show
where their money will go such as; $5 pays for a shelter
kitties vaccinations, $10 pays for the vaccinations plus
worming and frontline, $25-$35 pays for the spay/neuter, $50
covers most of the above expenses unless you are treating a
sick kitty requiring medication and vet visits. You can also
include kitty prizes; cozy kitty beds, kitty toys, bowls,
calendars, etc. I've used the stepping stones (8 1/2 x 14) as
placemats also. Nothing like a 8 1/2 x 14 kitty picture with a
story staring at you as you try to eat your "free" pancake
breakfast. A hostess always stops in at the table to introduce
themselves and their organization. They are available to answer
any questions the public may have. Submitted by Denise Novak of Save1Pet in MS
Special Programs for Special
Cats: Matching Those who Need Each Other
Together
We have coordinated efforts with senior assisted living
facilities and nursing homes to place 10 adult cats. It works
great for all involved. The cats and staff are thrilled. Submitted by Ellen Stephenson of Elizabeth Lake Animal
Rescue in MI
Callie's Home for Cats has successfully used our Senior
Cats to Senior Owner's "Love an Experienced Cat" promotion. Our
flyer is posted in all vet offices, pet stores and feed stores
inviting senior owners who cannot afford a pet deposit on their
apartment to contact us. We help by providing a portion of the
pet deposit and with the adoption provide a gift from local
merchants containing cat food, litter, toys, etc. offered as
promotions from local merchants. Senior owners must have
experience with cats and be qualified otherwise and the cat is
returned to Callie's Home when the owner can no longer keep the
cat. This has been an excellent way to place a wonderful
"EXPERIENCED SENIOR CAT, with a LONELY QUALIFIED OWNER. They
provide love and care for each other, a good match. Submitted by Carol Storm of Callie's Home for Cats in
CA
I had trouble finding a home for a deaf Cornish rex. I
called the Oregon School for the Deaf where the outreach
coordinator and her deaf children adopted the cat. They are now
teaching him sign language! Submitted by Diana Nelson of Cornish and Devon Rex Rescue
NW, Sphynx Too in OR
Long term cats or hard to adopt cats are eligible for a
unique program that allows potential owners to take a cat home
before officially adopting it called "Paws to Consider".
Different from a foster program, the cats are available for
adoption in the shelter and their cages and habitats are
labeled with the "Paws to Consider" program logo. Clients who
are thinking about adopting, but aren't sure if the cat is the
right one for them, may select to take the cat home for a one
week trial period with no fee. We supply the client with a cat
carrier, collar and id tag, litter and food for the week, the
cat is microchipped, spayed/neutered, tested for FIV/FeLv,
dewormed, and vaccinated. The client not only leaves all their
personal information including a driver's license number, but a
credit card number as well. We call the client the day after
they take the cat home and the day before the cat is due back.
If the match is successful, the client comes in, returns the
supplies, completes the adoption paperwork and we process the
adoption fee. If the cat wasn't perfect for them, we find out
why and in most cases help the clients find a better match. At
first we were worried that this approach would invite clients
who weren't seriously committed to having a cat and to those
not prepared to make a lifetime decision. But the more we
thought about it, we realized that these cats deserved a better
chance and by allowing clients to take one home without any
long term obligation, they were more comfortable taking home
special needs, undesirable or long term cats. And once at home,
many of the clients simply fell in love with their temporary
guests. The program has been very successful, with over 80% of
the animals in the program staying in their homes. Some of the
clients who returned the cat realized they weren't ready for a
pet and we consider that a successful ending as well since we
helped someone truly understand what responsible pet ownership
meant. Submitted by Rachel Long of Oakland SPCA in CA
Our new program is a pet therapy program we call the
Purrfect Companion. The idea is to place older cats that
otherwise maybe unadoptable (due to age) with a senior that
will benefit from the cats love! From our website: The PURRfect
Companion offers you all the benefits of cat ownership without
all the hassles! You can enjoy the unconditional love and
therapeutic benefits of a cat companion without all the worries
and costs. Pet Angel Adoption & Rescue Inc. will provide
you with all the supplies needed to care for your new
companion, for a one-time fee. For a small monthly fee we can
also deliver cat food and litter to you. Anytime your kitty
companion requires a Vet visit we will take him to the
veterinarian and bring him back to you. This includes the
annual vet visit, vaccinations, etc. All veterinary bills are
at our expense - not yours! You only need to provide daily care
and lots of love and we do all the work! You will select a cat
or kitten, male or female, of your choice. All PURRfect
companions are spayed or neutered, FIV/FELV tested and up to
date on all shots. At the end of your contract period you may
choose to renew your contract, return the cat to us, or you or
a family member may choose to adopt the cat from Pet Angel
Adoption & Rescue Inc. for a modest adoption fee. If you
find that you are no longer able to care for your PURRfect
Companion due to situations beyond your control, we will take
it back and provide it a new home. If you are ready to share
your life and your love with a PURRfect Companion, contact us
today to schedule a cat or kitten showing. PURRFect Companion
is a soon-to-be non-profit Pet Therapy Program designed for cat
lovers who may: Be Home-bound Have limited access to
transportation Are living with restrictions in a home care
environment Utilizing Hospice / Homecare Services. This program
is available in a 15 mile radius of Frankenmuth, MI. Submitted by Nancy Engel of Pet Angel Adoption & Rescue
Inc. in MI
