OUR ADOPTION PROCESS
Please read the following information carefully; it will answer many of the questions you may have. If you do not find the answers you are looking for on this page, feel free to send us an email at info@murphyskittens.org.
You may be surprised to find that adopting a pet is a more involved process than you'd imagined. Our intent is not to frustrate you. Rather, everything we do is in the best interest of the pets in our care. Our goal is to help you to find your perfect match, and to give our shelter pets the best possible chance of finding a permanent, safe and loving home that meets their individual needs.
Step 1: View our available cats and kittens below to make sure we have someone that you are interested in adopting.
Step 2: Please submit an adoption application (click the link at the bottom of the page). The information provided on this application helps us to match our pets with the best possible home for them.
We do reserve the right to refuse adoption. If your application for the adoption of a pet is not approved, we will do our best to explain the reason(s).
Some common reasons an application is not approved:
- The applicant is under 18
- The applicant rents their home and is unable to provide proof that they are allowed to have a cat
- The applicant's references do not respond to our attempts to reach them or do not speak positively about the applicant
- The applicant's situation is not a good match for the cat (in these cases, we may recommend a different cat who may be a better fit for the applicant)
Step 3: We will begin processing your application and will reach out if it is approved or if more information is needed. Please note that we will be contacting your references; first by a text message, then a follow-up phone call (typically the day after the text message). The length of time required to process your application is dependent on how long it takes us to reach your references. Please alert your references that we will be calling.
Step 4: Once your application is approved, we will set up an appointment for you to meet the cat(s) you are interested in.
Step 5: Pay your $60 adoption fee through our mobile checkout process and take your new best friend home! All cats come spayed or neutered, microchipped, tested for FIV/FeLV, vaccinated for rabies and distemper, and treated for worms and fleas.
View all our adoptable animals here, or view on Adopt-a-Pet! You can submit an application for a specific animal by clicking on them and then on "Apply for Adoption", or the button below will take you to our generic Adoption Application.
If you are interested in adopting Working Cats (feral, not handleable, outdoor cats), please submit a Working Cat application rather than an Adoption application.
MOBILE CHECKOUT PROCESS
We have gone paperless! Our adoption checkout, including payment of adoption fees, now happens completely on your mobile device. All animal records will be sent to your email after adoption, so you can save them virtually, print them, and download them as many times as you need. This process also gives you, the adopter, special offers on pet insurance & online pet supply retailers!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS THE ADOPTION PROCESS LIKE?
HOW LONG DOES THE APPLICATION PROCESS TAKE?
The process is detailed above, but it begins by submitting an adoption application. We will review your application and contact your references. If everything is satisfactory, your application will be approved! We will contact you to ask any additional questions. Depending on which cat you'd like to meet, we will set up an appointment at one of our locations. You will meet the pets you are interested in and find your purr-fect match!
We typically begin processing the business day after the application is received. The length of the process depends on how long it takes us to get into contact with your references. We must speak to two references in order to approve the application, so the sooner we can get in touch with them, the quicker your application will be approved.
CAN I TAKE HOME A CAT THE SAME DAY I SUBMIT MY APPLICATION?
Our policies do not allow same-day adoptions. We prefer applicants to think about adoption for at least 24 hours before taking a cat home, as it is a big decision and can be a 20-year commitment. An approved application is required to meet or take home a cat or kitten. Please allow a minimum of 24 hours before reaching out regarding the status of your application.
HOW MUCH IS THE ADOPTION FEE AND WHAT DOES IT INCLUDE?
Our regular adoption fee is $60. This includes two FVRCP (distemper) vaccinations, a rabies vaccine, spay or neuter surgery, microchipping, initial flea control, and initial deworming. Our costs of care are over $100 per cat.
Our adoption fee for long-term residents of our sanctuary is $30. Working Cats are available at no cost. All cats come fully vetted as detailed above.
CAN MY CAT BE AN INDOOR/OUTDOOR PET?
CAN I DECLAW MY CAT?
Our adoption contract requires that all adopted cats be inside-only pets. Indoor/outdoor cats are at a much higher risk for disease and injury, and the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine says that the life expectancy for an outdoor cat is only 2 to 5 years, while an indoor cat can live upwards of 15 years.
We do have some cats that are feral and would prefer to live outside. More information on these cats can be found here.
We do not allow any of our adopted cats to be declawed. Declawing traditionally involves the amputation of the last bone of each toe and can lead to health issues as the cat grows. Cats can easily be trained to scratch only on appropriate surfaces and declawing should only be done if deemed medically necessary by a veterinarian. Occasionally we do have cats available for adoption that have already been declawed; keep an eye on our Available Pets above if you're interested in adopting an already-declawed cat.