Glossary

Animal shelter

A facility that takes in stray, lost and surrendered animals, holds them, and works to return them to owners or place them in new homes.

Also called: cat shelter, humane society, animal control shelter, pound

An animal shelter takes in cats and other animals that are found as strays, handed in by owners, seized in cruelty cases, or born in the care of the shelter. Some are run by a city or county and are paid for by taxes. Others are private charities, often called humane societies or SPCAs. Many municipal shelters must accept any stray from their area, while many private ones can limit intake to the space they have.

When a cat arrives, staff check for a microchip and collar, scan for illness, and usually hold a stray for a legally set period so an owner can claim it. Rules on the holding period differ by place. After that the cat is assessed, treated, neutered and vaccinated if needed, and offered for adoption. Staff may move cats to a foster care home or transfer them to a rescue group when space or medical needs call for it.

If you have lost a cat, visit local shelters in person every day or two, because online listings can be out of date, and bring a clear photo. If you want to adopt, ask about the adoption fee, what it covers, and the cat's medical and behaviour history. Kitten season can fill shelters quickly, so volunteers and fosters are always welcome.

Last reviewed November 7, 2026

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Related terms

Rescue group A volunteer-run organisation that takes in cats from shelters, streets and owners, cares for them in foster homes and finds them permanent homes. No-kill shelter An animal shelter that saves at least about nine in ten of the animals it takes in, a benchmark often called the 90 percent live release rate. Adoption fee The payment a shelter or rescue asks when you adopt a cat, which usually helps cover its veterinary care and the cost of running the organisation. Return to owner The reuniting of a lost cat with its owner, ideally before it enters a shelter, using a microchip, tag or other identification. Kitten season The warm months, from spring to autumn, when many unspayed cats give birth and shelters take in far more kittens than usual. Stray cat A socialised cat that is lost or has been abandoned and is living outdoors, comfortable with people unlike a true feral cat.