Frequently Asked Questions

---

Adopting a new cat is a life-long commitment. These small creatures rely on their humans for everything - food and water, veterinary care, love, etc. Before adopting a cat, please do your research to ensure that you are prepared for pet ownership. Cats can live to be over 20 years old - are you prepared to care for this animal for their whole life? Will you ensure that you can take them with you if/when you move? Will you continue to care for them through new relationships and/or new human (or fuzzy) additions to your family? Are you financially able to take them to the vet at least once per year, or more often in the event of illness/injury? Do you have a plan in the event that you are no longer able to provide care for your pets, such as family/friends that have agreed to take over the responsibility? Will you make this pet a true part of your family?

Furry Felines is a foster-based rescue. We do not have a shelter facility that is open to the public - our cats reside in foster homes. If you are interested in meeting our cats, you must first become an approved adopter by submitting a general adoption application. You do not need to submit an application for one cat in particular. Once you are approved, we will select cats that are a good match for your lifestyle and what you are looking for based on your application responses. We will then schedule a meet and greet with the cats that you are interested in meeting.

Intake availability varies due to foster home openings and available resources. Despite being a small two-volunteer rescue, we receive upwards of 10+ intake requests on a daily basis. We are a no-kill rescue, meaning that we do not euthanize cats in order to make room for new intakes. If we do not have a foster home available or resources are currently depleted, we are unable to accept new intakes. Please understand that it would be inhumane to accept an animal that we cannot provide adequate care for. In this case, we will direct you to other local resources or add you to our wait list. Please understand that cats that do not have access to food/water, shelter or veterinary care take priority over owned cats.

Intake priority policy:

1. Medical emergencies in stray cats

2. Abuse/neglect cases

3. Stray cats that do not have access to food/water, shelter or veterinary care

4. Stray cats needing rescue placement that currently have a caretaker

5. Owned cats

Cats are massively overpopulated in the U.S. - there simply aren't enough homes available for all of them. Unfortunately, that means that approximately 1.4 million cats and kittens are euthanized in the U.S. each year. Spay/neuter of owned and stray/feral cats ensures that fewer kittens are born each year, meaning that fewer are euthanized due to lack of homes and resources. It may seem easy to offload that "oops" litter on friends or neighbors, but in reality, that "oops" litter took homes away from cats and kittens that were patiently waiting - and sadly, they are the ones that pay the ultimate price for your mistake. There is no such thing as an accidental litter. If your pets aren't fixed, you will have an "oops" litter, and more cats will be euthanized to make space for them. Please be a responsible pet owner.

Spay/neuter also significantly reduces or eliminates the risk of reproductive cancers and/or fatal illnesses such as Pyometra. It can also significantly reduce or eliminate unwanted behaviors such as yowling (when in heat), spraying, agression, escape attempts, hyperactivity, and the spread of FIV and FeLV.

There are several low-cost and free spay/neuter clinics in Western PA. If you are having trouble finding resources on your own, please reach out to us and we will help you find a clinic in your area.

No, Furry Felines does not offer veterinary services. If your pet or an animal that you have found is in need of medical attention, please contact a veterinary clinic or an emergency hospital.