Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Salem Friends of Felines located?
We are located at 4157 Cherry Avenue, Keizer, OR 97303
See our contact page for our hours, contact information, map, and directions.
What are the Adoption Center hours?
MON-SAT: 11:00AM-6:00PM
Wednesday are by Appointment only
SUN: 11:00AM-4:00PM
Closed on: Easter, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day & New Year’s Day
Early Closure (3:00PM) on Christmas Eve & New Year’s Eve
Please note that our hours may vary on holidays.
How can I contact someone at SFOF?
You can reach SFOF by phone, email, or in-person. We answer and return calls and emails as quickly as possible during regular business hours.
Phone: (503) 362.5611
Email: salemfriendsoffelines@gmail.com
How can I volunteer for SFOF?
Volunteers play an essential role at SFOF!
If you love cats, are a people-person, and can make a commitment of volunteer service, get more details on all the volunteer opportunities HERE.
Help! I have lost my cat. What should I do?
It can be scary when your cat has gone missing. Please click HERE helpful advice, support, and resources to help you find your missing cat.
I found a lost/stray cat in my neighborhood. What should I do?
There are several ways you can help a lost cat or kitten:
First, make sure the cat you found is truly lost and not an owned, free-roaming cat. Check with neighbors in the area to be certain they are not missing a cat.
Read all of SFOF’s advice and resources for how to help a lost/stray/abandoned cat.
Can SFOF help if I cannot afford to spay or neuter my cat?
Yes! We offer low-cost spay/neuter vouchers for cat owners in Marion & Polk counties.
Isn’t SFOF a “no-kill” shelter? Why do you say you are “limited admission” and “adoption guarantee”?
We manage our admissions based not only on our physical capacity limitations, but also based on our ability to provide high-quality care for the cats and kittens in our care—we work hard to bring in rescued cats and kittens that we feel we can place in adoptive homes and who will do well during their stay with us. As a private nonprofit, we must balance the needs of the community and the needs of the cats in our care, while also being good stewards of the money voluntarily donated to us.
In order to maintain our high standard of medicine and care, and increase optimal chances of adoption, SFOF does have to limit the amount of senior, FIV-positive, or other special needs cats we accept into the adoption program at any given time. Overcrowding a shelter does not increase adoptions—it increases illness and causes cats to spend more time at the shelter prior to adoption. Managing our population helps keep our cats happy and healthy, which gives them the best chance to find new homes quickly, this allows us to help the next cat in line.
There is also a maximum number of cats and kittens our organization can responsibly house and care for at any given time. We do not want to bring in more felines than we can manage in a healthy, respectful way. Overcrowding is both inhumane and ineffective at saving lives.
As an adoption-guarantee shelter, we promise to save the lives of all the cats in our care who can reasonably be provided with a humane outcome. There is no limit on how much time or money we will invest in a cat if they have a good chance at a good life.
SFOF does not euthanize for space or time limits. This does not mean that SFOF never performs humane euthanasia. Our Veterinarian, along with our medical team may determine that euthanasia is the most humane option for a sick or injured cat when prognosis is poor, pain cannot be managed, and quality of life is severely diminished. In very rare cases, SFOF may euthanize a cat suffering from a severe, irreversible behavioral condition and that cannot be safely placed in a home or other location.
Our goal is to provide each cat with the best possible chance of finding a permanent, loving home. A home is truly the best place for a socialized and domesticated cat to thrive.
How do I surrender a cat to your shelter?
SFOF accepts incoming cats by appointment only.
In order to provide quality care and optimal chances at adoption, SFOF has a limit to the number of cats and kittens our organization can care for at any one time. We receive hundreds of intake requests, and often have a waitlist anywhere from a few days to a few months before we can take in a cat.
To have a cat or kitten considered for our adoption program, please fill out our intake request form. Please note that filling out the online intake request form does not guarantee entrance into our adoption program. To have a cat or kitten considered for our adoption program, please fill out our intake request form.
How do I adopt a cat from SFOF?
Congratulations on deciding to adopt a feline friend!
Click any of these links to learn more about our adoption process, policies, and fees.
Where do your cats come from?
Most of our cats are owner surrendered or friendly strays brought to us by good Samaritans.
Do you ever get purebred cats?
Yes. You may see purebred cats when you search through our cats for adoption. It is estimated that about 20% of the animals you find in an animal shelter are purebreds. We have adopted out Siamese, Persian, Himalayan, Peterbald and Lambkin cats and kittens from breeding or hoarding rescues we have helped with over the years.
How long do you keep the cats?
SFOF is considered an “adoption guarantee” shelter, meaning we promise to find loving, appropriate placement for cats in our care whenever it is humane and responsible to do so.
While there are no time limits set in place for how long a cat can stay in our care, we work diligently to match our cats with new families quickly so they can move out of the shelter and into loving homes as soon as possible.
We give every cat in our care the time and support they need; however, because we take in some very vulnerable and sick cats and kittens—including newborn or orphaned kittens—some of the cats in our care do pass away or are humanely euthanized to end any suffering due to incurable disease or behavior that can no longer be safely managed.
A friendly young cat or kitten with no known medical issues may be adopted within a day or two. Older cats, cats with chronic or congenital medical conditions, or those with behavior issues may stay in our care for weeks or months. In some cases, a cat may be with us for several months before finding the right home and during that time we do our absolute best to provide an excellent quality of life for the cat.
Do you require spaying or neutering of the adoptable cats?
Yes. We require that every cat and kitten adopted from SFOF be spayed or neutered before they go to their adoptive home.
Some of the cats and kittens who come into our shelter are already spayed or neutered, and those who are not will be spayed or neutered prior to adoption.
Can I donate cat food, litter, or medications?
Regular Cat Food? Yes! We welcome donations of unopened, unexpired cat food for the fussy eaters in our shelter.
Cat Litter? Yes! Open and new are great. We give away open donations of cat litter to community members in need. We use the unopened litter in our foster homes, adoption center or we can sell any excess quantities in our thrift store.
Prescription Cat Food & Medications? Yes, our doctor along with our medical team will look over the donations to be sure they are acceptable for use in the adoption center.
Can I donate used cat scratch posts, litter boxes, etc.?
Used litter boxes? No, due to the possibility of spreading potentially contagious feline diseases. All other gently used pet items can be donated to the thrift store.