Adoption Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Adoption Process:

  • Thank you for considering adoption! To begin, please complete our online adoption application here. Ensure all fields are filled out accurately to avoid delays.

  • Before applying, please confirm the following:

    • Residency: Applicants must be residents of Connecticut.

    • Age: Applicants must be 21 years of age or older.

    • Landlord Approval: If renting, ensure your rental agreement allows for cats. Provide landlord contact information for verification if applicable.

    • Kittens: Kittens must be adopted in pairs or to a home with another cat.

  • After submission, you'll receive an automatic email confirmation.

    Our adoption team will review your application and contact you if they have any questions or need additional information.

    Depending on our availability and that of your references, application reviews can take a few days to up to 2 weeks. Please remember we are volunteers working diligently to find the right match for our cats.

  • If your application is approved, congratulations! You will get an automatic email notifying you of our decision. You will hear from a member of the TAILS team soon after. We will contact you to join us at our next available adoption event, or schedule time for a meet-and-greet with one of our cats. Once you have decided which cat(s) to adopt, the adoption will be processed immediately and you can take the cat(s) home!

  • TAILS kittens are $250 ($475 for two). Adult cats are $125.

    Kittens must be adopted in pairs, unless there is another cat in the home.

    All of our adoptable cats are spayed or neutered, vaccinated against rabies and have had the first dose of the FVRCP (feline distemper) vaccine, dewormed, microchipped, registered with PetcoLove Lost and tested for FIV and FeLV at the time of adoption.

  • No, we do not do same-day adoptions. Everyone must fill out our online adoption application and become approved before they take one of our cats home.

    If you met a cat you love at an event, know that we cannot guarantee that cat for you. Priority is given to approved adopters. Submit your application asap and contact your references to help ensure a smooth application review.

  • Please be patient as we review applications. If you haven't received a confirmation email, check your spam or junk folders. If you haven't heard from us within two weeks, feel free to contact us for an update at info@tailct.org.

Adoptable Cats:

  • Most of our adoptable cats are in foster homes around Fairfield County, Connecticut. TAILS does not have a brick-and-mortar location, so we rely primarily on our foster home network to care for our cats before they are adopted.

    You can find some of our cats inside Petco at our Westport (1850 Post Road East) and Norwalk (650 Main Ave) locations. If you’re lucky, you might get to see one of our cats stretching their legs and playing outside their cubbies while one of our volunteers is at the store!

    To view all of our adoptable cats, head to our Adopt a Pet page Check out their photos and read their bios to learn more about them!

  • We always have a range of cats available for adoption, from kittens to adults!

    We do not adopt out kittens before 12 weeks of age. Kittens must be adopted in pairs, unless there is another cat in the home.

  • Yes. All of our adoptable cats are spayed or neutered and are at least 12 weeks of age, vaccinated against rabies and the first dose of the FVRCP (feline distemper) vaccine, dewormed, microchipped, registered with PetcoLove Lost and tested for FIV and FeLV at the time of adoption.

  • Every cat is different. Many of our cats are great with other animals or children because they’ve been fostered in a home with dogs or other cats.

    Some of our cats are bonded and must stay together.

    Other cats need to be your one-and-only. Read their bios on our Petfinder page to learn more about them!

  • Of course! We are happy to tell you about our cats’ unique personalities, and what we know about their histories.

    We ask that you please fill out the adoption application first before reaching out to us. Through our adoption process, we will work with you to determine the best cat(s) for you!

    In the meantime, take a look at our cats’ Petfinder pages and read their bios!

General Adoption Information:

  • No. TAILS does not handle puppy or dog adoptions. We only have cat adoptions. We do support spaying and neutering local dogs.

  • Our cats come from all over Fairfield County. A lot of our felines are kittens who were rescued from the streets and young enough to be socialized into loving house cats. We also receive emails, texts, and calls from people who need help with their cats, or community cats they see outside, and we help as many of those people/cats as possible.

  • TAILS kittens must be adopted in pairs unless you already have another cat at home.

    We have this policy because kittens are high-energy and benefit from playmates. They require a lot of socialization and attention. Another cat of a similar age and activity level (such as another kitten) is a good match for them. Otherwise, you are their sole source of entertainment and playtime, all of the time.

    Kittens are also still learning, and being around other cats can teach them “how to cat” and behave appropriately at home.

    If you are thinking about adopting another cat later on, it may be easier to introduce two kittens into your household at the same time, vs. adopting one cat now and adopting another cat later on. Introductions between older cats may take more time for everyone to integrate smoothly.

    Another situation where you must adopt a pair is if you’re considering two cats who are bonded. We do not separate bonded cats.

  • We love to hear that someone has formed a connection with one of our cats!

    The first step is submitting our online adoption application. Apply here. We will be in touch regarding next steps.

    Please note we cannot guarantee that any specific cat(s) will be available for adoption by the time your application is reviewed and approved. We process each application as soon as possible and do our best to match kitties with the best home on a first come, first-best-home basis. We do not reserve our animals for anyone — please be mindful of the fact that there may be a qualified applicant who is further along in the adoption process at the time you submit your application.

    We encourage everyone to submit an adoption application as soon as they are ready to adopt, as the reviewal process can take some time. Only approved adopters are able to take cats home from our monthly adoption events; however, we handle adoptions throughout the month. If you haven't submitted an application yet, apply here.

    Even if a particular cat is adopted — don't worry, we're sure we can find another cat that you will fall in love with!​

  • Our adoption events are held monthly or twice-monthly at Petco in Westport (1850 Post Road East) or Fairfield (340 Grasmere Avenue). They typically occur on Saturdays or Sundays from 10AM to 3PM.

    Follow us on social media to stay up-to-date on our latest events!

    Only approved adopters are able to take cats home at our adoption events, so getting your application in early is important. If you haven't submitted an application yet, apply now.

    If you have not submitted an adoption application yet OR have an application in process, you will not be able to take a cat home during an adoption event, but we still encourage you to stop by and say hello to our cats!