Bringing a Cat to the Shelter
Booking an appointment
When bringing a cat to the shelter, an appointment is required. To book an appointment, our shelter can be reached at info@baccalieutrailspca.net or (709)596-7722. Our shelter can often be at capacity so we will ensure there is a space available before booking an appointment. It is important to book an appointment so we can be prepared to care for the pet.
Arriving at the shelter
When bringing a cat into the shelter we ask that they be secure in a carrier. Not only is this a safe option for the cat, but being in a protected carrier can also help reduce stress when entering the shelter.
Intake
Upon intake, our team members will complete some paperwork with the individual who brought in the cat. In order to provide the pet with the best possible care, we will ask about their medical history, diet, behaviours and preferences. Knowing this information will also help us best match them with their new family.
If the cat is a stray cat, we’ll post them online to see if there is a family searching for them. If no one comes forward for the cat, we’ll find them a new loving home.
The kitty will be given their own comfy space so they can relax and decompress. We’ll monitor them for any health issues and ensure they receive medical care. We follow “Fear Free” protocols at our shelter, which are aimed at reducing the stress a pet may experience in a shelter environment. If we notice that a cat appears scared we can cover their kennel with a towel to create a visual barrier. This has shown to help nervous cats relax. We also use Feliway Diffusers, which helps to reduce stress using pheromones.
Medical assessment and Treatment
Next we’ll make sure that the cat receives any urgent or routine medical care they require. We complete most routine medical care at our shelter along with an examination from a veterinarian. The veterinarian will examine the cat's body condition, skin, coat, eyes, ears, and listen to their heart and lungs.
All of the cats at the shelter will be vaccinated, FIV/FeLV tested, microchipped, given a flea and tick treatment and dewormed for internal parasites.
If a cat is in need of grooming or a nail trim, we’ll take care of that as well. Most kitties love when we brush them and clean their ears.
Adult cats that are adopted through our shelter will be spayed and neutered before going into their new homes. We don’t have a spay & neuter clinic at our shelter, so we transport our cats to a veterinarian clinic. After their surgery, we will monitor them daily and give them a nice quiet place to recover. Recovery can take upwards of 14 days, after which, they can resume normal activities. Young kittens will be adopted before their spay or neuter. When they are about 6 months old, our team will help their new family book an appointment with one of the veterinary clinics that work with the SPCA. This surgery is included in the adoption fee.
Community Cat Rooms
Once a cat has been seen by a vet and we have monitored them for no signs of illness we can introduce them to our community cat rooms. We have 4 community cat rooms at our shelter, where cats can be viewed for adoption. If a cat really doesn’t enjoy being around other cats, we’ll give them a separate space. Social cats will have the opportunity to spend time with other kitties and enjoy free reign of a room with cat trees, beds, toys & their very own catio!
Adoption
The best part! This is when the cat finds a loving home. People interested in adopting will need to fill out an application. Approved adopters will be given an appointment to meet a special kitty or visit all of the available cats. Our team will complete adoption paperwork with the new family. We’ll go over the cat’s medical records, help with microchip registration and talk about Trupanion’s free 30 day trial promotion. The kitty will go home with a baggy of food and we’ll make sure their new family knows what types of food, toys and bed the cat enjoys!
