A: You can meet available pets at Sangamon County Animal Control & Adoption Center any time during regular business hours. No appointment is necessary. The facility is located at 2100 Shale Street in Springfield, IL, and is open Monday thru Friday: 10:30 am to 4:15 pm; Saturday: 9:00 am to 1:00 pm; Sunday: Closed. Most state holidays are observed (facility closed).

A: Effective April 1, 2024, the cat/kitten adoption fee is $50. A typical cat adoption includes spay/neuter, rabies vaccination, microchip implantation and registration, routine age-appropriate vaccinations, and de-worming. Cats over 3 months are tested for the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and the Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV).

Effective July 19, 2024, Meow Mobile began discounting adult cats ages 5 and older by 50% ($25 each).

IMPORTANT: There may also be other applicable fees, and only SCAC front desk staff can advise you on the total amount due.

The county’s fees can be found here: https://scdph.org/animal-control-adoption-center/

A: A typical cat adoption includes spay/neuter, rabies vaccination, microchip implantation and registration, routine age-appropriate vaccinations, and de-worming. Cats over 3 months are tested for the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and the Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV).

A: It’s impossible to predict how your existing cat(s) will react to a newcomer. We recommend taking a slow and patient path towards introduction. The amount of time that it will take before you can safely leave all the cats together without supervision will depend on many factors. We DEFINITELY DO NOT RECOMMEND just putting the cats together immediately and hoping for the best. You may get lucky, but this is often a recipe for disaster.

There are a number of helpful YouTube videos that provide a detailed explanation of how best to approach cat introductions. We have listed three below.

Jackson Galaxy: How to Introduce Cats ———> https://youtu.be/tsYT7yIOdqQ

Jackson Galaxy: When Cat Introductions Get UGLY ———> https://youtu.be/ZUcVUFvmDFE

Cole and Marmalade: Introducing Cats to New Kittens for the First Time ———> https://youtu.be/uzYtF2FJRcg

A: YES! We always recommend adopting two kittens together. A single kitten adoption is only a good idea if you already have another young cat at home for the new kitten to pal around with. There is a common misconception that cats are solitary animals. The reality is that they are incredibly social beings who thrive when they have feline friends from an early age. Two kittens will keep each other stimulated and tire each other out. Two kittens are more likely to have fun wrestling and chasing each other around the house, instead of getting into things they shouldn’t. You’ll get more sleep at night too! And if you have an older cat at home, your senior fur baby will thank you for providing a constant playmate for your new kitten. One kitten’s endless drive to play can harass an older cat who wants to spend his days snoozing and not babysitting.

Here are some links that provide more details on the benefits of a double kitten adoption, as explained by the experts.

The Kitten Lady: Two Kittens Are Better Than One ———> http://www.kittenlady.org/twokittens

Jackson Galaxy: Single Kitten Syndrome: Think Twice! ———> https://youtu.be/_3rh9DdY0yk

Cole and Marmalade: Why Adopting 2 Cats Is Better Than 1 ———> https://coleandmarmalade.com/2018/04/05/why-adopting-2-cats-is-better-than-1/

A: Adopting a single animal is a major commitment, so the idea of adopting a twosome might feel overwhelming. But bonded pairs — two animals who have a special, deep relationship — offer several advantages. When you come across two cats who have a meaningful connection, consider a double adoption.

“Keeping a bonded pair together when adopted ensures they have the security and comfort of each other during what can be a stressful situation,” says Dr. Gary Weitzman, president and CEO of the San Diego Humane Society. “They can be there for each other during the transition period into a new home.”

Bonded cats share a special connection. These felines will typically sleep together, play together, eat at the same time, and protect each other if one shows duress. Sometimes the tight twosomes are littermates who grew up together, while other bonded pairs have lived together for long periods and formed a strong relationship.

A shelter or rescue group will label two animals “bonded” and seek a home where they can be adopted together when the animals have a positive and healthy relationship and are at risk of becoming stressed, anxious, or even depressed when they are apart, according to Dr. Weitzman. Shelters and rescues put extra effort toward keeping bonded pairs together, knowing that separating them could cause problems like refusing to eat, destructive behavior, or other health issues. “We have seen cases of animals who stop eating and completely shut down if removed from their ‘other half,’” he says. “Keeping them together ensures they are both happy and healthy.”

There are some big benefits to adopting bonded pairs. These terrific twosomes are best friends and playmates who find comfort in each other — and that familiarity can help reduce boredom, separation anxiety, and unwanted behaviors. Not only does keeping bonded pairs together help alleviate the stress that comes with being surrendered to the shelter, but a pair of animals can provide double the joy. “Most animals thrive with companionship,” says Dr. Weitzman. “Everyone needs a friend to lean on and bonded pairs have the comfort and security of something familiar — each other.”

Sources: https://www.thewildest.com/pet-lifestyle/should-i-adopt-a-bonded-pair

https://go-solutions.com/en-us/what-is-a-bonded-pair-of-cats

A: 1) Get in the habit of asking yourself BEFORE you open any exterior door, where are the cats? (especially if any are "runners" or potential escapees)

2) If an exterior door needs to be open for an extended period of time, make sure cats are confined to a secure area prior to opening.

3) Do not trust that service workers and visitors to your home will keep an eye out for your cats and not let them out.

4) Cats should wear breakaway collars with ID tags including legible & current contact info.

5) Cats should be microchipped, and the chip should be registered to you and your contact info kept up to date with the chip company.

A: There are local doctors who still perform declawing surgeries, but we will not provide their contact info because we feel very strongly that declawing a cat is equal to mutilation. If you feel that this is the best option for you, we ask that you at least arm yourself with all of the information readily available on this subject before you make a final decision. There are a number of YouTube videos that provide the facts. We have listed three below. WARNING: Videos showing the results of declawing cats can be difficult to watch, but if you are seriously considering doing this to your cat, we HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you watch at least one of the videos all the way to the end.

Jackson Galaxy: The Truth About Declawing Your Cat ———> https://youtu.be/gFeC3lM02sc

The Paw Project official: Declaw surgery and its consequences ———> https://youtu.be/1W7F_XNmzXg

Tech Insider: Why Declawing Your Cat Is Actually Very Painful For Them ———> https://youtu.be/MBZ1sKnI3HY

A: Meow Mobile does not have a physical shelter. We provide support to the cats and kittens at Sangamon County Animal Control. You can try local rescue organizations like Animal Protective League (http://www.apl-shelter.org/), Forever Home Feline Ranch (https://www.felineranch.org/), and Illinois Humane (http://www.illinoishumane.org/), but they are often at full capacity. If you reside in Sangamon County, you can relinquish the cat to SCAC any time during regular business hours. The facility is located at 2100 Shale Street in Springfield, IL, and is open Monday thru Friday: 10:30 am to 4:15 pm; Saturday: 9:00 am to 1:00 pm; Sunday: Closed. Most state holidays are observed (facility closed).

GOOD TO KNOW: If you adopted the cat from a local rescue organization, it is often their policy to accept the animal back if you can no longer care for it. We highly recommend that you first check with the organization that you adopted the cat from, to see if this is their practice.