Marketing & Adoption

Adoption timeline

Our main goal is to help our foster kittens get adopted. Here's what the process typically looks like:

Worried your kittens aren't ready for adoption? 

If you’re concerned that one or more of your kittens are not eating well enough on their own by the time they have their wellness exam, please let us know! We’ll hold off on making them available until you let us know that they’re eating independently and gaining weight consistently. 

This is especially relevant for nursing kittens since they are sometimes slower to eat on their own. You know your kittens best, so we will be relying on you to keep us updated on how they’re doing!

Remember to schedule your kittens' spay or neuter appointments (and mom's spay, if applicable). Surgery spots fill up fast, so it's a good idea to schedule a couple weeks in advance. 

Marketing your kittens

Submitting marketing materials is a required part of fostering. It’s how your kittens get seen and adopted! Most find homes through our website, so please start working on materials once your kittens are close to meeting the adoption criteria, or no later than when the Cat Marketing Team reaches out.

When it’s time for your foster to find a home, our Cat Marketing Team is here to help. With your insight and photos, they will create a profile page (like this) that helps connect each kitten with their perfect person – whether they’re discovered on the website or matched with an adopter who’s requested a kitten just like yours.

You’ll get an email from the Cat Marketing Team with a link to our profile form (or forms if you're fostering kittens and a mom). It’s quick and easy to complete, and it’s your fosters’ first step on the way to their forever home! 

If you're ready, there's no need to wait to hear from the Cat Marketing Team!

Complete the Kitten Profile Form for your kittens

Complete the Cat Profile Form for mom (if you're fostering a mom)

For more details about the marketing process, tips and tricks for successful marketing and instructions, check out APA!'s Foster Guide to Cat Marketing!

Adoption inquiries and meet and greets

When someone sees your kitten's adorable profile on the website and wants to meet them, they'll submit a request to APA!. You'll then receive an email from adopt@austinpetsalive.org connecting you with the potential adopter. It's up to you to arrange for the potential adopter to meet your kitten. You can schedule a meet and greet in person at your home or virtually. Space is sometimes available on site for meet and greets, but check with the Cat Program first.

If the potential adopter decides to adopt, they'll complete the steps outlined in the initial email from APA!. Once the adoption is finalized, arrange to hand the kitten off to them within 48 hours.

Here are a couple things to keep in mind:

• If your kitten receives multiple adoption inquiries, work through them in order. Adoptions are first come, first served.

• The purpose of meet and greets is for potential adopters to meet kittens. Let our adoption counselors take care of everything else.

• Adoptions must be finalized before kittens can be handed over to adopters. No exceptions!

Additional adoption opportunities