Most species of animal make for great pets but cats offer something deeper. From late night cuddles, early morning zoomies, to gossiping with a being that will never disagree with you and creating an unbreakable bond, cats will be your go-to. But every search for companionship must start somewhere.
Cat Adoption Team is a non-profit organization located in Sherwood, off of the Southwest Pacific Highway. Founded in 1998, CAT has grown exponentially, now providing eager cat owners with all of the resources they may need. Over 500 volunteers and around 40 staff help CAT run smoothly, from foster home volunteers to people who have been trained to bottle feed kittens.
All felines that come into CAT go through an extensive process to ensure their wellbeing. First exams, spay and neutering, vaccines, microchipping, flea treatment and deworming, FeLV testing, a kitten care handbook, a certificate for post-adoption exam and presentations to inform adopters about feline care are included in adoptions fees. Kittens are $225, cats from 1-7 range from $110 to $225 and senior cats, eight years or older, are free. Senior cats get the same procedures done as kittens and young adults, with their new owner receiving $1,000 a year for any vet bills that might come their way, thanks to their Aleece Runge Fund for Senior Cats. Senior cats are less likely to get adopted due to fear of vet bills, limited time and potential extra care, but CAT ensures that these older cats and owners are taken care of to provide the best possible life for both.
CAT has a special program for owners who may be struggling financially. Their “Keeping Cats in Home” program is for people who need help to take care of their feline due to evictions, vet bills, rising food cost and more. Owners can request funds from this program to help them keep their cats in their home instead of surrendering. “There is no shame in difficult situations and circumstances,” said Shanda Chroust-Masin, the Director of Development and Communications at CAT.
Aside from their in-house adoption and vet clinic, CAT partners with businesses all over town. Pet Co., Mud Bay, the Tigard Pride Parade, the Portland Pickles and the Portland Timbers are just a few places that CAT partners with. CAT is partnered with Purina, a well-known animal food brand, providing the shelter with food year round to feed the cats in the shelter as well as a free bag of food once a cat has been adopted. CAT is paired with the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and has partnerships with local vet clinics with a free first vet exam to establish care for your animal. Their list of vet clinics can be found on their website.
Shanda has been with CAT for a few years now, with her love of animals ever growing. She comes from a child development and education background, working with the Boys & Girls Club for about 10 years and other nonprofits. She fell in love with the administrative piece of nonprofit work, managing programs and writing grants to extend and advocate for funding. As a lifelong pet owner, this job was a no brainer. She adopted her first feline from CAT in December, Lorelei, for her son, Archer.
Shanda’s son is on the spectrum with a sensory processing disorder. One of their dogs of 15 years had recently passed away, leaving a hole in Archer’s life as his therapy dog was no longer around. Lorelei now serves as his therapy cat and best friend. “One of the reasons why I felt compelled to come here was seeing how significant animals can be in our lives,” said Shanda. “They have more purpose than I would have ever imagined. I’ve watched my son meet his sensory needs through those interactions with these animals.”
CAT offers a same-day adoption process, allowing a 24-hour adoption hold on all felines. They provide adoption counselors to discuss the process of adoption, what it means to own a cat, and what will follow after adoption is completed. As a non-profit organization, CAT gains their funding through adoption revenue and donations. They have about 40 staff members, with multiple veterinarians and vet techs, but their operations function heavily on volunteer staff. All volunteers are trained to take care of cats in every stage of life, and help eager homes smoothly adopt. CAT’s goal is to expand their already large building to accommodate for cat capacity.
“Our mission is to help all cats and kittens in our community,” said Shanda. CAT respects and helps animals find loving homes, and supports adopters through the entire process, even after the adoption is finished.
CAT's partner vet clinics in Sherwood, Wilsonville,Tualatin and surrounding cities:
- Tualatin Park Veterinary Clinic
- Tualatin Animal Clinic
- Crossroads Veterinary Hospital
- Sherwood Family Pet Clinic
- Guardian Veterinary Care
- Wilsonville Veterinary Clinic
- Cat Care Professionals
- Lake Grove Veterinary Clinic
- Newberg Veterinary Hospital
- Family Pet Clinic of Newberg
- Birch Street Animal Clinic
- The Cat's Meow Cat Clinic
- Parkway Veterinary Hospital
- Canterbury Animal Hospital