It’s kitten season. How to adopt a cat virtually while you’re stuck at home

Five-year-old Amaya Penny adopted two cats from a Wake County shelter in March after she fell in love with the pair on a Facebook Live video.

She and her mother, Sonje Penny, chose Annie, a long-haired tabby, and Thomas, a black-and-white tuxedo cat. They were the most affectionate cats on the SPCA of Wake County’s virtual shelter tours.

“We watched (Annie) and she was very outgoing and friendly, and I thought, ‘That’s the type of cat that would do well in our house,’” said Sonje Penny. “(Amaya) is an only child in the house, so especially when we were completely quarantined, to have the cats as playmates absolutely did her wonders.”

The Pennys adopted the cats through a process many shelters have adopted during the coronavirus pandemic: an online application, a phone interview and then a physically distant meeting with the felines before taking them home. The process helps shelters find homes for cats as fast as possible as staff work to keep up with the influx of kittens born during breeding season between March and October.

Fostering abandoned kittens to keep shelters clear

Triangle shelters like the SPCA are accepting fewer cats than usual so that staff and animals can keep a safe distance.

The Orange County Animal Services shelter in Chapel Hill admitted 711 cats between January 1 and May 27, down from 1,172 cats during the same time period last year.

“Any time we get an inquiry from someone with kittens, we send those folks to our kitten-intake team and one of the team members will call and determine what’s best for the kitten,” explained Tenille Fox, a spokesperson for Animal Services. “If the folks can foster or hold onto the kittens, then fantastic. (The team) will talk to them about being part of our foster program.”

On Friday the Orange County shelter had about 60 kittens with foster parents, more than it had in the shelter, Animal Services director Bob Marotto said.

Foster parents have become especially important during the pandemic and work with shelters to help potential adopters see the animals in their homes online.

Alice Bender of Cary plays with her foster kittens three times a day to get them used to people.

“I cry my eyes out when I have to bring the kittens back (to be adopted),” Bender said. “One I bonded with, one of four siblings, I really wanted him, but I had a lovely couple who came and visited with him and fell in love and eventually adopted him. So I let him go.”

Bender said it’s more important than ever for people to foster or adopt cats so the animals aren’t abandoned while people take on new routines during the pandemic.

“If the county shelters have no place to put these kittens and people don’t step up to foster these innocent animals, who knows what’s going to happen?” Bender said. “It’s important to foster and give these guys a chance, whether it’s a pandemic or a normal time. We’ve saved a lot of kittens who have gone on to loving homes,”

Adopting in the age of social distancing

Many of the major shelters in the Triangle are currently open by appointment only: Orange County Animal Services, the Wake County Animal Center, Second Chance Pet Adoptions and SPCA of Wake County. The shelters expect to continue socially distant adoptions until stay-at-home rules are lifted.

The good news for shelter cats is that many people who feel isolated during the pandemic are eager to adopt a new pet.

And with shelters housing fewer felines than usual, they are being adopted more quickly because they have less competition, said Sarah McCain, a veterinarian at the Wake County Animal Center in Raleigh.

Mandy Weih said she knew “within 90 seconds” of meeting Barnacle, an orange tabby with white paws, that she wanted to adopt him from Second Chance Pet Adoptions in Raleigh. The Holly Springs resident took Barnacle home last month to keep her company while her girlfriend was at work.

“My partner and I went in for our appointment in full masks and gear and (Barnacle) wasn’t fazed at all,” said Weih, a social-media strategist. “Barnacle took eight seconds to decide he wanted to make friends. (My partner) just sat on the floor, and he was already in her chest cuddling and rubbing his face on her.”

For the Pennys, the remote adoption process was worth it so Amaya Penny could have new furry friends to keep her company during the pandemic. The 5-year-old even emptied her piggy bank so the SPCA would have enough money to feed Annie and Thomas before she came to adopt them.

“I like Thomas because he always gives me head boops and jumps on to the counter,” Penny said.

Help with veterinary bills during the pandemic

Orange County Animal Services wants to head off pet surrenders by owners who need to cut costs during the pandemic.

The shelter started a fundraiser last month to raise $12,500 to help Orange County residents pay veterinary bills for non-routine issues like skin infections and minor surgeries. The shelter plans to accept applications from pet owners seeking financial assistance next month. It already provides free food to pet owners who need help feeding their animals.

“This type of program will help people retain their pets and will benefit OCAS by keeping the number of pet surrenders down,” Marotto said.

OCAS is accepting animal care supply deliveries via Amazon and Chewy. In addition to the shelter’s online fundraiser, people can donate money to the shelter by calling 919-932-4963 or mailing a check to OCAS, 1601 Eubanks Road Chapel Hill, NC 27516.

This story was originally published June 15, 2020 at 5:40 AM with the headline "It’s kitten season. How to adopt a cat virtually while you’re stuck at home."