Potential adopters will fill out an adoption application, provide a valid email address and telephone number, the telephone number(s) of their veterinarian(s) and/or personal references, and their landlord’s telephone number when applicable.

If a potential adopter has no vet references a home visit is required prior to adoption. In this case the adopter must also provide 2 personal references from non-family members who have known the adopter for more than 2 years.

Potential adopters agree to provide information verifying steady income adequate to provide basic medical care as well as basic necessities for the cat(s).

Vaccines and vet care for the adopter’s current pets will be up to date and records will be made available to A Paw in the Door prior to adoption.

A Paw in the Door does not support the practice of declawing. Adopters agree not to declaw adopted cats. A Paw in the Door can provide information about the detriments of declawing, humane alternatives, and how to train a cat to use a scratching post. For adopters looking for declawed cats, there are almost always previously declawed cats awaiting adoption.

Adopters will make sure their landlord allows cats and will pay any required pet deposits in advance of adopting.

Kittens will not be available for adoption at less than 8 weeks old. This ensures that kittens receive a strong, healthy start in life and minimizes behavior problems because they are fully weaned and litter box trained.

For the greatest adoption success A Paw in the Door strongly encourages all members of the prospective adoption household to participate in the cat selection. Choosing a cat is a very personal decision and plays an important role in making a lifelong commitment to a new family member. For this reason A Paw in the Door does not allow cats to be adopted as gifts.

Prior to adoption all Paw in the Door cats have received all vaccines, routine health exams, have been tested for FIV and FELV and have been given flea treatment and de-wormer.

A Paw in the Door will provide the adopter with their new cat(s)’s medical records including vaccination dates, spay/neutering information and any other medical treatment records held by A Paw in the Door.

A Paw in the Door occasionally has FIV+ cats available for adoption. These cats can live relatively long and healthy lives in an indoor, stress-free environment. Because there is a risk of FIV transmission to other cats, FIV-positive cats will be adopted as only cats or share homes with cats that are also FIV-positive. (FIV is contagious only between cats; humans, dogs, and other pets cannot contract the disease).

All cats are spayed/neutered prior to going home unless they are less than 4 months old. In this case the adopter will spay or neuter their cat(s) before the age of 6 months old. The adopter may choose to use Yarmouth Vet. Center in Yarmouth, ME and receive a 50% discount for the spay/neuter procedure. The adopter additionally agrees to confirm with A Paw in the Door that the surgery has taken place or agrees to surrender the cat back to A Paw in the Door.

Adopters will pay an adoption fee of $75 per kitten before the kitten(s) go home. There is no fee for the adoption of an adult cat.

Adopters agree to provide their adopted cat(s) with annual exams, vaccines, routine veterinary care and a healthy home environment after adoption.

If for any reason the adopting household cannot keep the cat(s) permanently the adopter agrees to contact A Paw in the Door immediately. Paw will take the cat(s) back with no questions asked.

A Paw in the Door reserves the right to carry out home visits and/or follow-up phone calls before and after adoption.

A Paw in the Door reserves the right to examine and inquire about the cat(s) at any time and if A Paw in the Door is not satisfied with the living conditions or health and safety of the cat(s) the adopter agrees to return the cat(s) to A Paw in the Door upon demand.

The adopter will bring a carrier to transport their new cat(s) home. Cats will not be released without a carrier.

The adoption contract and this adoption policy will be signed by all parties before the cat(s) goes home.

Adopters are 21 years of age or older.

A Paw in the Door reserves the right to refuse any adoption.