Why We Don't Provide Pre-adoption Cat Visits

We understand that meeting your future furry friend in person before making a decision can feel important. After all, choosing to adopt is a big step. However, at SFP, our cats aren’t available for pre-adoption visits, and here we'd like to share why.

1. Our Cats Live in Loving Volunteer Homes

Most of our cats are taken care of in the private residences of our amazing volunteers. This means they enjoy comfort and stability instead of being kept in cages. But it also means there’s no “walk-in” option for visits. If we arranged for strangers to visit frequently, it would disrupt our volunteers’ routines and the cats’ sense of safety.

2. A True Home Environment Brings Out True Personalities

We choose foster homes over display enclosures (like those in pet stores) because a home is where a cat can show who they really are. In a cage, their personality may be hidden behind stress or fear. In a home, we can see how they play, snuggle, or even nap in the sun — and share those insights with you.

3. First Impressions Can Be Misleading

Even the friendliest cat may react cautiously to a new face. They might hide, avoid touch, or seem aloof — not because they’re unfriendly, but because you’re new to them. A quick meet-up might give you the wrong idea about their true temperament.

4. Your Adoption Is Never “Locked In”

If you decide to adopt and find that the cat you meet in person is different from what you expected, you can choose not to proceed. Your comfort and the cat’s well-being both matter to us.

5. Want to Meet Cats in Person? You Still Can

If you’re set on meeting cats before making a decision — and personality isn’t your top priority — you can visit our partners:

• Cat cafes

• PetSmart

• Pet Valu

These locations have adoptable cats you can interact with on-site. Contact us to learn more about which cats are currently there.

At the heart of it all: we want every adoption to be a good match. By keeping our cats in comfortable homes, we ensure they’re happy, healthy, and ready for their forever families — even if that means meeting them for the first time on adoption day.