Family after adopting a kitten Friends of Ferals Adoption Process

At Friends of Ferals, our goal is to ensure every cat is placed in a safe, loving, and permanent home. Below is an overview of our adoption process and what you can expect.

Step 1: Submit an Adoption Application

Prospective adopters must complete our online adoption application in full. Incomplete applications may delay the review process.

Step 2: Application Review

Our team carefully reviews each application to ensure all questions are answered thoroughly and align with our adoption standards.

Step 3: Verification & References

If the application meets our initial criteria, we proceed with verification, which may include:

  • Confirming home ownership through public records or contacting a landlord (if applicable)

  • Checking veterinary references

  • Contacting personal references
    Timely responses from references and applicants help keep the process moving smoothly.

Step 4: Approval or Denial

  • Approved applications will receive an email notification, followed by a phone call or text with next steps, including payment instructions and pickup details.

  • Denied applications will receive an email notification explaining that the application was not approved.

Step 5: Payment & Adoption Pickup

  • Adoption fees can be paid by credit/debit card through our adoption processing platform (Shelterluv – preferred method) or by cash.

  • If the cat is located at Petsense, the adopter may pick up the cat from Petsense once the adoption fee is paid.

  • If the cat is in a foster home or at the rescue, we will coordinate pickup or delivery arrangements directly with the adopter.


little girl with adopted kittenAdoption Timeline

The adoption process typically takes 1 day to 1 week, depending on:

  • Application completeness

  • Reference responsiveness

  • Applicant responsiveness

Please note that Friends of Ferals is a 100% volunteer-run rescue. Our team members balance rescue work alongside full-time jobs and personal responsibilities. We truly appreciate your patience and understanding during this process.


family with adopted catVeterinary Care

All Friends of Ferals cats are fully vetted prior to adoption, including:

  • Spayed or neutered

  • Up-to-date on age-appropriate vaccinations

  • Dewormed

  • On flea and parasite prevention

  • Microchipped

Our adoption process is designed with the best interest of both our cats and adopters in mind. Thank you for choosing to adopt and for supporting our mission to give every cat a safe, loving home.