If you’ve ever wandered into PetSmart for cat litter and walked out eyeing a wall of kittens through a glass window, you’re not imagining things. Those cats are real, they’re adoptable, and no, PetSmart didn’t breed or buy them.
Here’s the thing: PetSmart doesn’t run its own shelter. It opens up space in its stores so local rescue groups can showcase cats who need homes. Think of it less like a pet store and more like a matchmaking spot, one that happens to sell scratching posts too.
- PetSmart does not sell cats or dogs; it only hosts adoptions through local shelter and rescue partners via PetSmart Charities.
- Most PetSmart stores have an in-store adoption center run by a nearby rescue, plus regular in-store adoption events.
- Typical cat adoption fees range from about $50 to $175, and the rescue (not PetSmart) sets and collects that fee.
- Adoption fees usually cover spay or neuter surgery, core vaccines, and a microchip, though this varies by rescue.
- The adoption process, application, meet-and-greet, and approval, is handled entirely by the partner rescue, not PetSmart staff.
Can you adopt cats at PetSmart?
Yes, you can absolutely adopt a cat at PetSmart, but you’re adopting through a local shelter or rescue group that partners with the store, not buying a cat from PetSmart itself. PetSmart has had a strict no-sell policy on cats and dogs since the company launched PetSmart Charities in 1994. Every adoptable cat you see in a PetSmart store belongs to, and was vetted by, an independent nonprofit rescue or municipal shelter working with that location.
So when you fill out an adoption application at PetSmart, you’re really applying with the rescue group running that adoption center, not with PetSmart corporate. That distinction matters, because it explains who to ask about a cat’s history, medical records, or return policy (the rescue, always the rescue).
How do PetSmart cat adoptions actually work?
PetSmart cat adoptions work through a network of local rescue partners that PetSmart Charities connects with individual stores. There are three main ways you’ll see this play out on the ground:
- Permanent in-store adoption centers: Many PetSmart locations have a dedicated glass-walled cat room or set of habitats, staffed and stocked by a local rescue, with cats available most days the store is open.
- Adoption events: Some stores host rescue groups on select weekends, setting up crates and pens in the entryway or a side aisle with volunteers on hand to answer questions.
- National Adoption Weekend: PetSmart Charities runs a larger, coordinated adoption push several times a year, pulling in hundreds of shelters and rescues across thousands of stores at once, historically finding homes for tens of thousands of pets in a single weekend.
Store employees can point you toward the adoption area, but the rescue’s own staff or volunteers handle every part of the actual adoption.
How much does it cost to adopt a cat from PetSmart?
Adopting a cat through a PetSmart-hosted rescue usually costs somewhere between $50 and $175, though the exact fee depends entirely on the rescue group, not on PetSmart. Kittens tend to sit at the higher end of that range, while senior cats or cats who’ve been waiting a while are often discounted or occasionally offered fee-free during special promotions.
| What’s typically included | Common range or note |
|---|---|
| Adoption fee | About $50 to $175, set by the rescue |
| Spay or neuter surgery | Usually already done or a voucher provided |
| Core vaccines | Typically included and up to date at adoption |
| Microchip | Often included and registered to your name |
| Initial vet health check | Common, but confirm with the specific rescue |
That fee is a genuine bargain compared to paying for these services separately. If you want a sense of what spay/neuter surgery or microchipping cost on their own, it’s worth comparing against the average cost to neuter a cat and what microchipping a cat runs when done separately at a vet clinic.
What’s the adoption process like at PetSmart?
The adoption process at a PetSmart-hosted rescue follows a pretty standard shelter routine: you fill out an application, spend time meeting the cat, and wait for approval before taking your cat home. Here’s the general flow, based on how PetSmart Charities describes its in-store adoption program.
- Browse the adoption center or event and ask a volunteer about cats who catch your eye.
- Fill out a written or online adoption application with the rescue (this usually asks about your home, other pets, and experience with cats).
- Spend time in a meet-and-greet room or area with the cat, so you can see how you click.
- Some rescues run a quick reference or landlord check, especially for kittens or cats with special medical needs.
- Pay the adoption fee directly to the rescue, not to PetSmart’s regular checkout.
- Take your cat home the same day if approved on the spot, or within a few days if the rescue needs time to process your application.
If you’re bringing your new cat home to a household that already has a cat, it’s worth reading up on how to introduce a new cat to a resident cat before adoption day, so you can plan a slow, low-stress introduction from the start.
What should you bring and expect on adoption day?
Bring a valid photo ID, the adoption fee (many rescues take card, some are cash only), and a secure cat carrier for the ride home. Don’t expect to just point and say “I’ll take that one” the way you would with a bag of cat food. The rescue running the adoption, not a PetSmart cashier, makes the final call on whether you’re approved.
A newly adopted cat is often nervous, especially in the first hours in an unfamiliar home. If your new cat is hiding under the bed or hissing at everything that moves, that’s normal shelter-transition stress, and it helps to know how to calm a scared cat so the first few days go smoother for both of you.
Does PetSmart sell kittens or cats?
No, PetSmart does not sell kittens or cats, and it never has since adopting its adoption-only stance in the 1990s. This policy exists specifically to avoid competing with, or undercutting, local shelters and rescues that are working to reduce euthanasia rates and unwanted litters. PetSmart Charities has helped facilitate millions of pet adoptions through its in-store program over the decades, a scale the ASPCA also highlights as one reason in-store adoption partnerships matter for shelter animals.
This is also why you won’t find a PetSmart price tag on a cat the way you might on a hamster or a fish. Every cat in a PetSmart adoption center belongs to a nonprofit, and that nonprofit sets its own adoption terms.
How does PetSmart compare to other places to adopt a cat?
PetSmart adoption centers are a convenient, low-pressure way to meet adoptable cats, but they’re just one of several solid options. Local shelters often have more cats on-site and staff who know each cat’s personality in depth, while dedicated rescue events and online listings can offer more variety if you have something specific in mind, like a particular age, coat pattern, or medical need.
| Adoption venue | What to expect |
|---|---|
| PetSmart in-store adoption center | Convenient, casual browsing during regular store hours, run by a local rescue partner |
| Local animal shelter | Larger selection on-site, staff with deep knowledge of each cat, sometimes lower fees |
| Weekend rescue adoption event | Time-limited window, often extra volunteers and info on hand, good for meeting several cats at once |
| Online adoption listing (Adopt-a-Pet, Petfinder) | Widest search radius, filter by age or breed, but you’ll still need an in-person meet-and-greet |
If you already know you want a specific look or personality, browsing an online listing first and then heading to a PetSmart event can save you a wasted trip.
What are the best tips for a successful PetSmart cat adoption?
The best way to have a smooth adoption is to do a little homework before you fall in love with a face through the glass. A few things worth doing:
- Ask the rescue volunteer for the cat’s known health history, current vaccine record, and spay/neuter status in writing.
- Ask what happens if the adoption doesn’t work out. Reputable rescues almost always have a return or foster-fallback policy.
- Cat-proof your home before adoption day: hide loose cords, tuck away toxic plants, and set up a quiet room for the first few days.
- If you’re adopting a very young kitten, ask directly about its weight and weaning history. Extremely fragile newborn kittens can be at risk for fading kitten syndrome, and a good rescue should be upfront about a kitten’s early health.
- Budget beyond the adoption fee. Food, litter, a scratching post, and toys add up fast in the first month.
And if a specific coat or breed has caught your eye rather than a general shorthair, it’s worth checking realistic pricing first. Purebred or specialty cats like calico cats can vary a lot in price outside of adoption, so a rescue is almost always the more affordable route either way.
One more honest note: exactly what’s included in a PetSmart adoption fee (vaccines, spay/neuter, a health check) varies from rescue to rescue, since PetSmart itself doesn’t set those terms. Always confirm the specifics, and get the paperwork, directly from the shelter or rescue running the event. This article is meant to help you understand how the process generally works, not as a guarantee of what any single rescue offers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can you just walk into any PetSmart and adopt a cat?
Not every PetSmart has cats on-site every day. Many stores have a permanent adoption center with cats available most open hours, but some only host cats during scheduled weekend events, so it’s worth calling ahead or checking the store’s page before you drive over.
Q: Does PetSmart charge the adoption fee itself?
No, the adoption fee goes to the local shelter or rescue running the adoption, not to PetSmart’s own register. Fees typically fall between $50 and $175 and are set entirely by the partner rescue.
Q: Are PetSmart adoption cats already spayed or neutered?
Most cats adopted through PetSmart’s rescue partners are already spayed or neutered, since that’s standard shelter practice before a cat is put up for adoption. If a kitten is too young for surgery at adoption time, many rescues include a spay/neuter voucher or require it by a certain age.
Q: How long does it take to get approved to adopt a cat at PetSmart?
Approval speed depends on the rescue, not PetSmart. Some rescues approve you on the spot after a short conversation and paperwork, while others take a few days to check references or contact a landlord before finalizing the adoption.
Q: What is PetSmart Charities?
PetSmart Charities is the nonprofit arm that organizes and funds PetSmart’s in-store adoption program, connecting local shelters and rescues with store space and hosting national adoption events. It operates separately from PetSmart’s retail business and does not sell animals.
Q: Can you return a cat you adopted from PetSmart?
Return policies depend on the individual rescue, since they own the adoption contract, not PetSmart. Most reputable rescues will take a cat back if the adoption isn’t working out, so ask about this policy in writing before you finalize the adoption.
Q: Are PetSmart adoption cats healthy?
Cats available through PetSmart’s rescue partners typically receive a basic health check, core vaccines, and often deworming or flea treatment before being put up for adoption, but health histories vary by cat and rescue. Ask for any available medical records before you commit.
Q: Does PetSmart also help adopt out kittens too young to be weaned?
Rescues generally wait until kittens are weaned and old enough for their first vaccines, usually around 8 weeks, before listing them for adoption at PetSmart events. Extremely young or fragile kittens are typically kept in foster care until they’re stable enough to be adopted safely.
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