We work with the Cleveland Animal Protective League, so our adoptions are processed through their system. We are able to process adoptions at affoGATO Cat Cafe, no need for an extra trip to the shelter!
Due to our current level of staffing and capacity, we are not able to accommodate free in-person adoption meet-and-greets, or do adoptions during our cat lounge hangouts. All adoptions are being done via phone, and the online adoption application is here.
You can get to know the cats by scheduling a cat lounge hangout here, watching our free livestreams here, and reading their profiles here.
For information on adopting directly from our source shelter, the Cleveland APL, please visit their website as their temporary COVID-19 policies may vary.
Before You Adopt
If you are considering adopting an animal, we recommend some preliminary steps:
- Discuss adopting a pet with all members of the family.
- Consider the financial requirements of properly caring for an animal. This may include regular vet visits, food and litter, enrichment like toys and scratching posts, and emergency costs.
- If you are a tenant, obtain your landlord’s permission to bring an animal onto the property. The number one reason cited for pet surrender is landlord issues.
Get to Know the Cats!
Cat pictures are the best part of the internet, but shouldn’t be the determining factor in adopting. Learn about the cats’ personalities, behavior, and medical history, and consider how they might integrate with your current lifestyle and household.
You can meet the cats at affoGATO here, and watch our livestream here. If you make a reservation, our cat lounge attendant will be happy to personally introduce you to each cat you may be interested in, and chat with you about their personalities!
“Cat Lounge Hangout” Appointments
If you are interested in adopting, we highly recommend making a Cat Lounge Hangout reservation so that you have time to get to know each cat and chat with our cat lounge attendant. If there are children ages 12 and under in your family, then you are only able to visit on Sundays.
We HIGHLY RECOMMEND making a reservation if you would like to visit for a cat lounge hangout, as walk-in availability is extremely rare. If you are not able to visit or already know which cat you are interested in, scroll down and read the next section titled “Curbside Adoptions”.
Here is a breakdown of our Hangout/Adoption process in its current state:
1. Schedule an appointment and complete the waiver. Your Cat Lounge Hangout reservation will give you and the members of your household the opportunity to meet the cats currently residing in our cat lounge and speak about the cats with our cat lounge attendant.
2. View the cats’ profiles on our site. Our staff tries to learn about each cat’s purrsonality so we can help match adopters with cats who would fit in well in their homes. If you view their profiles on our site ahead of time, it might give you an idea of what you are looking for in a new pet. There is no telling when a particular cat might get adopted, but not to worry, there are always more animals in need of homes!
3. Come visit the cats! Now that your appointment is set up, you and the members of your household can come to the cat café! There is a free parking lot behind our building(except Sundays or special events), or non-metered street parking available. Check in with the staff member at the front cafe counter. Masks are currently required for all visitors, and you can read about the rest of our COVID-19 precautions here.
If you fall in love:
4. Fill out the “Adoption Application” on our reservation page to start a follow-up adoption consultation by phone and possibly do a Curbside Adoption. There is no reservation fee, and you can even do this before your visit if you want to get a head start! Read the details here:
Curbside Adoption
We STRONGLY recommend our “Cat Lounge Hangout” reservation and/or watching our free livestream first, to help ensure that your new cat is a purrfect fit. But if you are already certain which cat you would like to adopt, you may use this curbside service.
First, select the “Adoption Application” on the linked page. After reviewing your adoption survey(part of the sign-up process), we will call you to speak about what traits you are looking for in a cat, the cat’s behavioral and medical history, etc. Filling out an adoption application is not a hold or guarantee, it just conveys your interest in adopting a cat. It is not the same as an adoption contract, and you will still be able to choose not to adopt if you don’t end up finding the right cat for you.
If you do want to adopt, then we will complete the adoption over the phone (complete paperwork and take payment) and choose a pickup date/time that works for everyone, typically within 24-48 hours. The adoption fee is typically $50 for most of the cats (unless they have special circumstances), which is paid to the animal shelter. We are not able to keep the animals from getting adopted, so we recommend that you apply to adopt the cat that you like as soon as possible.
This process is different from how we ordinarily conduct the adoptions, but we ask everyone to understand it is one of the limitations of the ongoing pandemic. In the same way, if you adopt an animal and end up wanting to surrender them back to the Cleveland APL, then please understand that you may need to continue to care for the cat and wait until the next available intake appointment. affoGATO cannot intake cats directly.
Decide not to adopt? Don’t give up! There are so many animals in need of homes, and we encourage you to continue your search even if you didn’t find the right cat at our site! Visit the websites of local animal shelters to learn more about their adoption processes. Just remember to be patient and respectful toward each shelter as they respond to the challenges presented by the pandemic. It may take time, but hopefully your search will be rewarded with a pet that is compatible with you and your loved ones!
6. Take your new friend home! We will schedule a pick-up time with you over the phone once the adoption paperwork is complete. Once you and your new friend are packed up and ready to go, remember to keep them safely in their carrier at all times until you get home. If you have other pets, we highly recommend that you start your new cat in their own separate room for an extended period of time. Problems between new and old pets is the number one reason we see pets returned to the animal shelter, and we want the best for you and your new kitty! Introducing the animals too soon might be overwhelming for all of them, so please take it slow and make sure everyone is feeling confident and getting attention.
We know this is a lot of information to receive at once, so we’ll do our best to guide you through the whole process. All we ask is for your patience and cooperation as we work through these uncertain times. We do it all to see the cats find happy homes, and to see people make those wonderful connections!
Included Adoption Package
When you adopt a feline from the Cleveland APL (at affoGATO or the shelter), your Adoption Package includes:
- Spay/Neuter Surgery (already complete)
- Initial Vaccines (already complete)
- Initial treatment for worms and fleas (already complete)
- Post-Adoption Health Exam donated by one of our partner vets within two weeks of adoption. A list of these vets is provided upon adoption.
- A portfolio containing helpful information about cat ownership and your cat’s records.
- Sample bag of the food they have been eating (typically Hill’s Science Diet dry food)
Don’t Have Supplies?
We typically have cat toys, food, and other supplies available for sale at the cafe!
You can use a free cardboard carrier for adoptions, but we also have soft carriers available for $30 plus tax.
We also have a full adoption kit available for only $125 plus tax, which has all of the supplies needed to take your new friend home! Includes:
- litter box
- litter scoop
- big bag of odor-reducing litter
- soft-sided carrier
- nail clippers
- brush for all fur types
- metal food and water bowls
- crinkle toy, mouse toy, and wand toy
Both of these options are available online when booking a Curbside Adoption, or you can let us know you would like to purchase one on the phone or at pick-up(availability not guaranteed).
Questions or concerns? Please feel free to reach out to us any time at affogatocatcafe@gmail.com or 440-941-5130 with adoption inquiries. Adoptions are our #1 priority!