About Adopting

The Kenora Cat Shelter strives to connect people with cats based on the needs, personality and lifestyle of both the adopter and the cat. To prevent mismatches or re-admittance to the shelter, we strongly urge every potential adopter to review the following list of considerations when deciding to adopt a cat.  If you have any questions, please contact us to discuss your concerns. We often can help you decide if there is a real obstacle to adopting or if you just need some guidance to find the perfect companion for your situation.  

Remember, we seek safe, loving, life-long adoptive homes for our cats.  

  • Adopting a cat means making a commitment to providing a safe, loving, responsible and lifelong home for your new pet.  With cats, this potentially could be 15-20 years, depending on the age of the cat.  Please be sure that a cat has a permanent place in your future for as long as they are alive.

  • If you rent your home, it is important to check with your landlord about having animals.  Some landlords do not allow pets or require additional deposits. 

  • Make sure no one in your home is allergic to cats.

  • All potential adopters should be able and willing to spend the time and money necessary to provide the proper care and medical treatment for the cat over the course of their life.  

  • Remember that time and patience are required when introducing your newly adopted cat to your home.  This includes appropriate introductions to any current pets you have as well as teaching young children how to safely and appropriately interact with their new cat.  

  • Introducing a cat to your home may result in some unexpected consequences.  This could include scratching of furniture, accidents outside the litter box, shedding, etc.  You may have to buy scratching posts, clip nails, brush/groom their coat, or take additional steps to address any issues that arise.  Patience is often required!

Adoption Fees & Policies

- Kittens (8 months & younger): $300

- Pair of kittens: $550

- Adult cats: $275

- Senior cats (10 years & older): $200

This includes spay/neuter surgery, fully boostered vaccinations (FVRCP, FELV, rabies), microchip, full deworming, and an adoption starter pack.

In total, a female cat costs us a minimum of $600 and a male cat costs us a minimum of $400 to fully vet. This doesn't include the costs of additional medical concerns (ear/eye infections, urine infections, injuries, etc.), food, or litter.

The Kenora Cat Shelter only adopts to adults.

  • Although a cat or kitten may be adopted as a companion animal to a younger person in the family, the adoption must be made by an adult (21 years or older) who formally assumes ultimate responsibility for the cat’s well-being.  

Cats need time to adjust to a new home.

  • Please allow your new cat plenty of adjustment time for a successful adoption.  Some cats require a longer settling-in time than others, especially when there are young children or other animals in the home. The Kenora Cat Shelter will help in any way possible to make the adoption positive and successful for you and the cat. If you have any problems - please contact the shelter immediately.

Carriers are required at pick up.

  • Since it is unsafe for a cat or kitten to be transported without a carrier, shelter policy requires adopters to provide a safe, intact, functioning carrier of an appropriate size for each cat adopted.  Please bring the carrier(s) with you to your adoption appointment.  

  • We often have gently used carriers for sale at the shelter - please ask us beforehand if you are needing to buy one!

What if it doesn't work out?

  • If the adoption isn’t working out as you had hoped, The Kenora Cat Shelter will welcome back your cat or kitten.  Please report any problems promptly and maintain contact with the shelter so that we may try to resolve any issues you may be experiencing.  If a successful resolution can not be accomplished, you must make arrangements for a drop-off appointment.  Please understand that it is not always possible for the shelter to immediately accommodate a returned cat.  We ask that you continue to care for the cat until the drop-off has been arranged. The Kenora Cat Shelter will accept your cat as soon as possible.  And keep in mind that although an initial adoption may not work out, both you and The Kenora Cat Shelter will have learned from this experience.  With this new information, we may be able to place a different, more appropriate cat with you if you are still interested in adopting.   

Foster To Adopt

We have launched a foster to adopt program in hopes of preventing kittens from growing up at the cat shelter and getting them into homes sooner! All kittens will be eligible for foster to adopt once they receive their first set of vaccinations, microchip and finish their deworming (approximately 9-10 weeks old).

Foster parents will have the kitten(s) in their care until they have received all of their vaccination boosters, and their spay/neuter surgery (at approximately 16-20 weeks old). Once this is all finished, we will fill out the adoption paperwork to finalize the adoption. We will keep in regular contact with you to ensure the kitten is healthy and doing well, and no issues arise.