We accept all unwanted animals from within 50 miles of our facility, but request that you limit the surrender of a large amount of cats to 2 per week.  We are relieved to report that as of the end of July 2010, space for cats has not been an issue.  We've taken in as many as 400 cats during the month of August with only 100 cages in our facility.  This suggested limit on cat intake along with the hard work of rescue groups, spay and neuter clinics and programs, people fostering found cats until they place, and shelter adopters are credited for the lack of euthanasia of healthy cats to make room so far this year. 

If you believe you have more cats than you can keep happy and healthy and are desirous of improving your pets quality of life, please email us at whshelpline@aol.com to access supports.

Kittens and altered/declawed adult cats have a better chance of getting a home.  If your adult cat still has its claws because she has always used them responsibly, communicate this on the turn-in form and communicate scratching post preferences on the turn-in form.  Declawing a cat involves the removal of the tip of the final digit bone in the toe far enough back to completely remove the nail bed.  While we respect our peers that are opposed to the declawing of cats for humane reasons, we also understand that claw status can mean the difference between adoption and life in a fulfilling indoor home, being exposed to the dangers of an outdoor life style if a frustrated owner makes this choice to cope with destructive clawing behavior, or being euthanized because despite adoptable qualities and over a thousand hits to a cat's web page, potential adopters and visitors are consistently choosing other cats or a kitten.  The difficult decision of who to euthanize when space is maxed out at our shelter and with all responsible rescue groups with whom we work is based upon adoptable qualities and time at our shelter.

If you want to surrender because your cat with claws is destructive, please do not place others in the same predicament that leads you to surrender.  Cats that use their claws to mark territory or scratch for other reasons face neglect, abuse, or a failed adoption.  We consider an outdoor lifestyle an unacceptably high risk of harm to the cat and deadly harm to small wildlife in your community.  Research and use strategies to prevent destruction in your home. 

Declawing an aggressive or rough cat will not prevent injury.  The procedure may serve to increase biting behavior as the cat feels more vulnerable without its claws. Know that when cats fight or attack, they use their mouths and back feet so declawing to prevent potential injury from an aggressive cat is somewhat of a fallacy.  Socialize your kitten well.  Refrain from using your fingers or feet as toys because it is cute when a kitten is swatting at or mauling your fingers and toes.  It may not be cute when your cat attacks your fingers every time you type or your ankles as you walk to the bathroom in the middle of the night.  By using your own flesh as a toy, you are also contributing to the risk of biting behavior because you are communicating that in some situations it is okay to downright rewarding to have human flesh in the animal's mouth or the target of a swat or nip. 

Cats with upper respiratory symptoms and HEAVY parasite infections are unadoptable.  Surrendered or unclaimed cats that are sneezing with discharge, have ear mites or heavy flea infestation can make other healthy animals at the shelter and in an adopter's home sick and will be euthanized.  While some adopters are willing to cope with fleas, it can be a deal breaker for others.  We treat all cats for fleas at the time of intake and certainly understand and cope with mild infestations.

If you wish to surrender a litter of kittens, make sure they are ear mite free and old enough for vaccines (6 weeks of age or 1.5 pounds).  Also keep in mind that fleas on a young kitten really take a toll on their body in ways that include anemia in a heavy infestation.  A heavily infested kitten with no other apparent symptoms of illness can die from the anemia.  Weak kittens can also die from any chemical treatments or even a bath in mild soap to rid the kitten of a heavy infestation.  A mild infestation can be treated by a bath in antibacterial hand soap and combing out the fleas.  You can help end the euthanasia of animals by spaying and neutering all your pets and encouraging others to do so if repeated litters are part of their lifestyle.  Too many people feel okay about their cat having kittens because they can get rid of the kittens so easily or they are used to turning a blind eye to the risks to outdoor cats.

We will euthanize when space becomes an issue to follow through on our commitment to turn no unwanted animal away.  With approximately 50 cages in our cat and dog adoption areas and a very successful adoption rate, we have not had to euthanize dogs because space was an issue since the advent of the internet as an adoption tool.  Space for cats and kittens is still an issue at several points during kitten season for both shelters and no kill rescue groups.  In the past kitten season included only the summer months.  Due to nutritional advances and other factors, this season is expanding.  If a domestic short haired kitten is not adopted and becomes an adult cat living in a foster home, that foster care spot can be filled for years to come as that cat lives out its life in that foster home.

 There are many more adult cats that need homes than there are resources for them.  Adult, unaltered cats have remained here for several months despite the 26 hours a week people can visit to view and adopt animals and over a thousand hits on their web pages on multiple internet pet lists because there are so many opportunities for people to acquire kittens or altered cats. 

If you are trapping and surrendering cats, again, we request that you limit your surrender to two cats per week.  Our intake staff suggest you surrender two cats to us and use other facilities such as your county's SPCA.  The Bucks County SPCA is located about 30 minutes north of our facility.  The Pennsylvania SPCA and the Animal Care and Control Team powered by the Pennsylvania SPCA are in Philadelphia and Montgomery County SPCA has several locations.  While we appreciate that it may be most convenient to surrender several animals at once, every shelter strives to euthanize as few animals as possible.   Taking the time to surrender a large group of cats over time or travel to several different facilities does prevent the euthanasia of other healthy cats. 

Feral cats and those that can not be handled are not adoptable.  If the cats are feral, an organization called Forgotten Cats will offer vaccination and altering surgery for approximately $60.00 with the understanding that you will continue to provide shelter, feeding and care to the cat when it is returned to its territory.  The Spayed Club operates a low cost spay and neuter clinic in Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania.

Are you willing to be a foster parent? If the cats are friendly and you do not want to risk euthanasia with surrender to an all access facility, Delaware Valley Second Chance for Animals and possibly other no kill rescue groups will work with you as a foster parent.  You will need to display your charge during weekend adoption events at local pet stores to facilitate a timely adoption.  They will post your charge as available on their internet pet lists.  Most PetSmarts and Petcos work with local no kill rescue groups to offer adoptable cats in their locations with no kill rescue group volunteer support to provide daily care.  Visit your nearby store to learn more.  You may get on a waiting list to get your orphan into one of these spaces with the understanding that the cat needs to be friendly, up to date on vaccinations and altered.  You may keep the cat in your care and set up at the weekend events while a cage spot at the pet store is pending.  Keep in mind, this arrangement could be months to a year or more before an adult cat is chosen by an adopter.

Spay and neuter your pet (just because a furry baby can be placed quickly does not mean that animal will grow old happily with a responsible owner!!).  If an adopter or owner is going to fail (or choose not) to spay and neuter in a multi-cat or outdoor cat lifestyle, they are absolutely contributing to the euthanasia of healthy animals and a high risk of harm to their own pet.  We work with responsible cat rescue groups to alleviate overcrowding but the number of unwanted cats and kittens continues to be far greater than the number of people who can responsibly provide them a safe indoor home on a temporary basis or for their entire life.