Adopt a Shelter Cat Month (June)

Adopt a Shelter Cat Month

June is the height of kitten season — the time when shelters face peak intake as spring litters arrive from stray and feral cats. Adopt a Shelter Cat Month, led by the ASPCA and supported by shelters across North America and the UK, uses the month to drive adoption and reduce overcrowding.

WhenAll of June — annually

Organised byASPCA (US); Cats Protection and others (UK)

FocusShelter and rescue cat adoption; reducing kitten season overcrowding

How to helpAdopt, foster, donate to a local shelter, or share adoption listings

Why June?

Cats are seasonal polyestrous — they can have multiple litters per year, cycling through heat repeatedly from late winter through autumn. This means shelters experience their largest intake surge in late spring and early summer, as litters born from February onwards begin arriving. Many of these cats are the offspring of unspayed strays; some are surrendered domestic kittens from unplanned litters.

The ASPCA estimates that shelters in the US take in millions of cats annually, with a significant spike in June. Adoption campaigns during peak intake periods have a measurable impact on live release rates — the percentage of animals that leave shelters alive.

What makes shelter adoption different from buying

All shelter cats are assessed for health and temperament before placement
Adults are typically neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped before adoption
Shelter staff can match specific household types (quiet/active, children/no children, other pets) to suitable cats
Adoption fees typically cost less than purchasing from a breeder, while contributing directly to the shelter's operating costs
Many reputable rescues offer ongoing support and a return policy if the placement does not work out

How to participate

Adopt

Find adoptable cats at your local shelter, via ASPCA's adoption search (US), Cats Protection (UK), or Petfinder (North America).

Foster

Short-term fostering frees up kennel space for incoming cats and is particularly valuable for kittens under 8 weeks, who need home care rather than shelter environments. Contact your local rescue to register as a foster.

Donate

June places significant financial pressure on shelters. Food, bedding, veterinary costs, and staff time all increase. Direct donations to local rescues have the most immediate impact.

Share listings

Sharing adoption posts on social media directly increases visibility for individual cats. Many long-stay cats find homes through shared posts reaching the right person.

Consider an adult cat. Kittens are adopted quickly; adult cats — particularly those over three years old — wait significantly longer. Adult cats offer the advantage of a known personality: the shelter can tell you accurately how they behave with other cats, children, or dogs, and whether they prefer laps or independence.

Frequently asked questions

What is Adopt a Shelter Cat Month?

Adopt a Shelter Cat Month is an annual campaign throughout June, led in the US by the ASPCA and in the UK through Cats Protection's parallel initiatives. June is historically one of the busiest intake periods for shelters — coinciding with the spring kitten season — making it an especially important time to encourage adoption. The campaign supports shelters with increased visibility and encourages prospective cat owners to consider rescue first.

Why are there so many cats in shelters?

The primary drivers of shelter overpopulation are: unneutered cats producing multiple litters annually (a single unspayed female can theoretically be responsible for thousands of descendants over her lifetime); abandonment when owners face changing circumstances; and the spring kitten season flooding shelters with litters from stray and feral cats. In the UK, Cats Protection research consistently finds hundreds of thousands of cats in need of homes at any given time.

Is adopting an adult cat from a shelter a good choice?

For many households, yes — adult cats offer several advantages over kittens: their personality is established and observable, they are typically already neutered and vaccinated, many are already litter trained, and they are often better suited to quieter households. Shelter staff can match cats to household types with good accuracy for adult cats, whereas kitten temperament is harder to predict. The ASPCA's adoption tips guide covers adult cat adoption in detail.

What questions should I ask before adopting a shelter cat?

Key questions for the shelter or rescue: What is the cat's background (stray, surrendered, feral-born)? Has the cat lived with other cats, dogs, or children? Does the cat have any known medical conditions or ongoing treatment needs? What is their behaviour in the kennel vs at home (kennel behaviour is often not representative)? What is the cat's food preference? Is there a trial or return policy if the match doesn't work? International Cat Care's adoption guide provides a comprehensive checklist.

How do I help a newly adopted cat settle in?

Use a single-room introduction — set up a base room with litter box, food, water, hiding spots, and a soft resting place. Let the cat explore and feel secure in that room before gradually introducing access to the rest of the home over one to two weeks. Do not force interaction. Allow the cat to initiate contact. Normal behaviour will establish over 2–8 weeks. For detailed guidance see the introducing a new cat guide on CatTheGuide.