Where to start...home where cats are kept is a mess. Owner Janice is a headcase. Many of the cats were sickly and or filthy. Nonetheless, we found two cats we were willing to rescue from this rescue and we submitted an app. We live comfortably in the NW burbs in a 5 bedroom house with several other pets that are all well cared for. Someone is also always home too. She turned down our application! Feel sorry for all those neglected cats that are stuck there. read more

Absurd demands. Unreliable. I think she uses this "company" as a sham to get donations, but knows she's never giving any away. She makes the demands so out of control on items you must have at your house or she won't give the cat to you, and even then, doesn't keep appt times. Plays with potential owners feelings when she has zero intention of deeming anyone but herself qualified. Wish I could give zero stars, but i had to leave one. read more

I visited Hi Kitty Kitty today and had the same experience as all the other reviewers. They would adopt-out many more cats if they didn't put restrictions on people looking to adopt. We fell in love with a darling cat who sat on our lap for 40 minutes. She was as interested in us as we were with her. There is absolutely zero reason why their practice is so restrictive (you must adopt 2). read more

Every single low rated review about this place is absolutely correct. If you notice the consistent complaints about their strict requirements and their non-negotiable demands, it is all true. Those cats are either sick or covered in scratches and it smells horrid. I worry for those cats because it seems like she doesn't even want to give them away. Mind you, she didn't say a thing about actually going in my house when she came to deliver the cat, so imagine my surprise when she tried going up the stairs to go in, "Oh thank you! Let me take him in" And she's like, "What? Oh no it's required we go into your house to set up for him." I go, "I don't feel comfortable with that" especially because I Already set it up with the 22 things she spammed me with to buy that was Absolutely Necessary to get (some of these items were repeat items, which is weird). So I politely excuse myself and turn away to call my mom (which was like 1 minute), and by the time I was done, They left and fucking took the cat with them. So yeah, I'm thinking it's a hoarding situation and I'm sorry to all those people who were looking to adopt and made a connection with a cat only to get let down. I can hope to God that those poor cats don't live out their lives in that shithole of a shelter. I get that she's working on a shoestring budget, but these are terrible conditions. Her business needs to be reported and shut down. read more

*** Long post, PLEASE read if you are thinking of going to hi kitty kitty **** while i was hopeful that i would have a positive experience with hi kitty kitty, it's safe to say that jasmine has tainted this entire experience any chance she could get. i was in the market for hypoallergenic cats, and i wanted to rescue as i cant afford a breeder cat right now. the other shelters i checked out were overrun with people looking to adopt because of the holidays, and i was excited to hear that hi kitty kitty had many options for hypoallergenic cats on their website. my partner and i went there to visit on Jan. 30th and met multiple hypoallergenic cats. we went in originally looking for one adult hypoallergenic cat, but she told us that we have to have two. she then let us know that she had two pure bred russian blue male kittens up for adoption (later went to the vet and found out both kittens were actually female...) , while giving us a sad back story. hindsight looking back on it she saw two young first time adopter's and saw the opportunity to play on our innocence. we met them and instantly fell in love not only with the babies but with their mother as well. after spending some time with the family, my partner and i agreed to adopt the kittens, and made a verbal agreement to foster mom for 3 weeks. my best friend was in the market for a female adult cat, so i told her to come to the home inspection. over the next several days, jasmine texted us demanding we spend over $550+ in unnecessary supplies. she was adamant on certain brands of things, and often demanded the most expensive version of everything she requested. fast forward to Jan 5th, when Jasmine came over with the kittens and the mom for the home inspection. she walked in and immediately chastised me for my poinsettia plant that was sitting in my living room, when i have a room dedicated to the kittens. she then proceeded to inspect the home, not before stating "i f*cking hate black people" when referencing another customer. while she was there with the cats, she grabbed the mother out of the tree to try to cut her nails. the cat was clearly distressed about being in a new environment and i couldn't fathom why she didn't either let it go, or do it at the shelter before bringing her. Causing me to step in and stop her from traumatizing the cat further. after a few hours, jasmine left. We never received financial compensation for the 3 week verbal agreement nor have we received compensation for the additional 3 weeks of fostering. when my friend had to back out of adopting the mother, i contacted jasmine immediately to formally adopt the mother. after over a week with no response, my partner and i were at a loss. she needed to go to the vet and we couldn't wait any longer. we ended up having to declare her a dumped animal. After Hope received treatment for her upper respiratory infection, that she got from jasmine's unkept shelter, my partner and I decided that it would be in the cat's and our best interest to cut all ties with jasmine. As it stand's, I sent jasmine a text message on Feb 21st stating that we declared her as a dumped animal, that we never received any financial support for 6+ weeks of fostering and from that point forward we were going no contact. We received no response to that text (see image to read text). Fast forward to today ,March 13th, my best friend received a slew of texts and calls, begging her to pass on information and to get me to reach out and contact her. My friend saw how crazy jasmine was and BACKED OUT of the adoption because of jasmines antics, so there is no reason for her to bombard my friend with demands to get into contact with me. With the money i spent (granted i wouldn't have been able to get two kittens and an adult cat) I could've gotten a purebred AKC for equal or less money and definitely less stress. I beg you, if you are on the market for a specialty breed cat DO NOT go to hi kitty kitty. Jasmine is a con artist, she will prey on your kind nature and string you along for money. If you are not on the market for a specialty breed cat i still wouldn't go to hi kitty kitty, she only has her own best interest at heart. All to say, Jasmine IS as bad as she is portrayed in the reviews, DON'T put yourself through this. While my partner and I love our cats jasmine made an experience that should be happy and exciting, stressful emotionally and financially. (Below you are gonna find screenshots of the text I sent referenced in the review) read more

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Someone please report the owner! I already did but it's not enough! The cats look sickly and wounded. When I asked they simply said that the cat was being bullied by the other cats. His wounds were not treated and the cat was covered in scabs. When my friend tried to adopt a cat and completed all the paperwork and interviews they came to her house. Right as she was about to take the cat they insisted to come into her home and look around. When she showed a LITTLE discomfort they left and took the cat with them. Claiming she was unfit. Mind you she already gave them her information. They were well aware of her background and home. Yet they refused to give a reason why she was unfit. read more

Have never heard a good review from this business. I have only experienced and heard of poor and absurd behavior from the owner. She seldom allows families to leave with a cat they would like to adopt. Unclean environment with sick cats. read more

Very weird. It truly seems like they do not want people to adopt the cats. Everything went fairly smoothly, although very drawn out. I was approved to adopt, passed the follow up interview. Then suddenly they tried to get me to adopt a different cat randomly? Was reapproved for the original cat I thought I was already adopting? Then followed their directions, looked at the list of 22(!) products they suggested, even bought most of them. Then scheduled a drop off date and gave them my address. I mentioned how it seems a little strange that they don't let people pick up their adopted pets and demand to drop them off-- just for saying it's strange, Jasmine called and said it would be best to cancel the adoption. Any sort of criticism or questions will prevent you from adopting. Jasmine is the Soup Nazi but for cat adoption. All of the negative reviews sound right to me. I am very skeptical of the 5/5 reviews. Go to Harmony House for Cats instead! I had a frustrating enough experience that i am cross posting my google review again here. read more

me and my wife was their this saturday, and all of the cats was very very good very cleane and the staff was very very nice and very easy too talk too, if everything goes right me and my wife are going to bring home a boy kitty cat is name is drexel mcgraw drexel will be with uss always and may god blessess the staffs at hi kitty kitty smiles smiles smiles. 03-16-2025 read more

The owner, Jasmine, is neglecting the cats. The cats are living in horrendous conditions and dozens upon dozens of them needed medical attention immediately. The "shelter" is located in a basement and the basement reeks of urine and feces. Multiple cats were covered in feces and it was clear that some of the cats were feral. Dozens of cats were extremely matted and should be sent to a groomer but Jasmine believes she can take it into her own hands. I saw her brushing one cat and it was so hard to watch the cat meowing in pain. She claimed a "nurse" was coming in to handle the mats and I doubt that is true. Which brings me to my next point. Jasmine told visitors that a nurse checks on the cats which is odd because shelters are partnered with veterinarians. It's clear that these sick cats haven't seen in a vet in years or frankly, some probably have never seen one at all. While I was checking out the cats, Jasmine ordered alcohol which again, is extremely weird. She claims that the cats need a "buddy" so basically, you must adopted two.. that is, if she even adopts the cats out. She has cats that have resided in the "shelter" for years and multiple visitors have expressed interest in those cats. She claims it's because "everyone is unemployed or broke." That is a ridiculous statement and an excuse to hoard the cats. During the application process, she informed me that an "executive board" will review the application and in a few days, the applicant will know if they are approved. Who is this "executive board?" I've worked with 5 shelters and none of them had an "executive board." This is suspicious and I wonder if something happening behind the scenes. The "shelter" has been investigated by the alderman but shutting down a "shelter" comes with a lot of obstacles. Hopefully, she's investigated by the state. She lies about the breeds. She told me one cat was XYZ breed but her website stated otherwise. If you're going to lie, at least be consistent. The adoption fee is outrageous (~$400). She claims the fees range from $100-$400 but that's a lie. Furthermore, Hi Kitty Kitty is federally registered as a 501(c) (non-profit) but the state registered the "shelter" as a not-for-profit. Big difference. Finally, if you want to take action. Go to the open house held every Saturday. Take as many photos as possible and send it to the Alderman (Maria Hadden; (773-338-5796), City of Chicago and the IL. Department of Agriculture. These cats need to be saved and with evidence, the government will have more ability to take action. Side note about the cat with long fur. It looks like the cat received some help but the cat shouldn't be around other cats as the bacterial/viruses in the shelter can cause infection. Also, the cat should be wearing a cone. read more

Hi Kitty Kitty - Sick cat - Pet Adoption Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This place is really sketchy! My husband and I came here with his mother to find a new friend and companion for her. This is a regular Chicago brownstone that is filled to the brim the cats. I don't even know if with a shelter certificate that this many cats should be or are allowed in a building of the this size. It just seems like a disaster waiting to happen. There are at least two floors filled to the brim with cats all over the place. We were told different things by different volunteers about the age of the cats and their adoptability. They also have absurd rules about adoption. Many of the cats must be adopted with another cat. I understand if two cats are emotionally attached to each other but that is not always the case here. If they deem a cat a more adoptable cat then they require you to also take another cat. Their policies make it almost impossible to actually adopt a cat. Seems like they just want to keep all the cats there and never adopt a cat out. I feel very sorry for all these poor creatures! read more

Please do not make the same mistake I did. I read all the reviews, saw all the negative stories, and still decided to give them a try. I was a fool. Please save your time and money. My fiancée and I wanted to adopt a cat so we went to their open house and we eventually found one that suited us. Jasmine approved us immediately even though "the board" needed to make final approval. She gave a list of about $500 worth of food, toys, cat trees, etc she said we NEED to buy before she drops the cat off. We purchased everything and set up a date for her to drop the cat off and do a "home inspection." You cannot take a cat home at any time, it has to be on their watch when they want to come to your house. She also said the cat was a Siberian and hypoallergenic (but she said this about every cat we looked at) and it would be $400 to adopt instead of $200 because it's a "rare breed." We went back for a second visit before the cat was "ready" and she noticed the cat wasn't as friendly and that it wouldn't be a good fit. So now we have to look at a different one. Out of the 40 cats there, only 2 could go by themselves. We want a single cat. She will make you buy two. Extremely pushy and just a very weird vibe for something that is supposed to be a fun experience. Eventually we settle on a 5 year old cat with a medical condition. This poor guy had ZERO applications so we wanted to give him a nice home. She initially said no at first but then changed her mind and said yes. We set up a date two weeks later for her to drop the cat off and do a home inspection. We're at about a 5 week timeline now. The day we agreed to meet at 3pm she completely ghosted us. I took off of work to meet her with my fiancée and she completely screwed us over. We texted numerous times and every time we called she sent us to Voicemail (which is full and can't be left). Extremely irritated, she finally called us around 9pm with an elaborate lie on how the cat was going crazy and didn't want to leave. The senior cat that was very calm and has a medical disability....? Pure BS. We listened to her rant and she said she would call us the next day to "figure it out." She has not called us and and will not answer our phone calls. So now we spent $500 and we have no cat to adopt. Jasmine is a manipulator and cat hoarder. This is her own personal rescue she can use as a property tax write off, as well as get funding to feed all the cats she will not adopt out. What's the point of owning a shelter if you do not want the cats to go to a good home? Sorry for the long review to whoever is reading this but I want to try to save you the time and money. If I would have been smart and listened to the previous reviews I would have been much better off. P.S. We have went to shelters like CARE and WrightWay after this debacle and both have been very nice and helpful and no jumping through hoops. They have also stated they get many people (like me) who had a horrible experience at Hi Kitty Kitty. read more

Each cat I was interested in could not be adopted without adopting another cat deemed "their friend". So, in essence, you would have to adopt 2. Unethical. read more

DO NOT GO HERE Sorry for the massive post, but I want you to know exactly what you're getting into. Overall this 'shelter' was disappointing. The only good thing I can say about it is the volunteers were very kind and caring. Recently I have been trying to adopt a cat and decided to check this place out. It was a bit hard to find because it seemed to be in a residential building. The cage free 'shelter' is a three floor apartment with the bottom two floors housing the cats. Before entering the building you need to remove shoes and cover your feet with disposable shoe covers, which I initially found strange but quickly was grateful to spare my shoes. I started in the basement and... WOW. It was filthy, dimly lit, stuffy, and all around scary to be in. There were countless cats in the small space. Cat food, poop, and vomit were visible no matter where you were. I wish I took pictures to post here. Some of the cats seemed sickly/matted. After looking at the basement, I went to the middle floor, which was significantly better. I only wanted to adopt one cat, but apparently this would take divine intervention to achieve. All the cats were 'bonded' to a second one. Fair enough, I would consider adopting two cats. There were a pair of cats who were apparently boyfriend and girlfriend, and under no circumstances could be separated, although I liked one more than the other. I decided to go ahead with the application process and told Jasmine (the owner) we like Todd and Clyde the best, but we knew Clyde would have to go with Bonnie. Confusingly, she said that Todd and Clyde could go together instead. This is when I started to feel like this operation had more financial motivations than they initially let on. When I was applying, I was told that the price on an in-demand breed (Maine Coon, Russian Blue, Siamese) was $400 per cat and other cats were $200 per cat. This seemed high to me, but Jasmine claimed this was to cover vet costs (vaccinations, fixing). The next day I went to a humane society and was shocked by the different conditions, costs, and cleanliness of the cats. I ended up feeling very uncomfortable by Hi Kitty Kitty and will be working with different shelters to adopt. Two days after my visit, Jasmine let me know my application had been approved, and later that day I politely informed her I would be working with a different agency. She responded with a nasty paragraph saying I had caused her to waste her time; not the response I expected from the business owner. Overall, it did not feel like she cared about what was best for the cats or owners. DO NOT GO HERE. read more

I visited hi kitty kitty and I've never seen a place like this before. Cats everywhere I guess if I was a cat I think I would love it. Anyway I really didn't care for the place. I found two cats I liked filled out the paperwork and two weeks later yup two weeks later & $700 dollars and they were mine. Jasmine the owner is overwhelmed or understaffed. I have called the shelter dozens of times and so has my vet asking for medical records nothing. I should not have to beg for that. One of my cats came with huge knots of hair which I had to have someone come shave off. Poor cats (I would enter at your own risk.) ‍‍ to conclude I got to fantastic cats; i feel like i saved them. Update,; one month to the day of adoption/purchase ($700) we received medical records. ‍ We have reviewed the records of these cats and the homes they came out of; that were raided for hoarding ect. very dire circumstances So I give Jasmine credit for literally saving their lives, or else they probably would have been euthanized. Thank you. read more

Jasmine the sole owner of hi kitty kitty. She lied about the breed of cats on her website. She did not give medical records when We adopted a cat from her. . She charged us 400 dollars for a two year old long hair domestic cat telling us it's a maine coon and that is why we have to pay 400. I had to take the cat to the vet because she has viral Gingivitis. Jasmine told us the cat was healthy but does not give us medical vaccines records. My vet requested the papers from her several times. We even asked for her vets name to get the records. She replies with threats of suing us for harassment- watch she will reply to this review the same rude way. If I could give zero stars I would. I wished that read the other reviews before going to hi kitty kitty. Beware of Jasmine. read more

Sad to confirm the rest of the negative reviews. Visited this place a few months ago and it is the most dirty environment I have ever been in. This place is essentially an apartment with 30+ cats running around. Just walking in, the smell was so horrible I almost threw up. After being in there for less than half an hour, I couldn't stop coughing leaving the place. Insanely unsanitary. In addition, the cats don't look healthy, and we overheard one of the volunteers saying that one of the cats got worms again. Super sad and not sure how this "shelter" is allowed to exist. read more

I'm glad I didn't read the many misguided 1 Star reviews before going in, or else I may have never found our new sweet baby Adam! Yes, this shelter is for people who are very serious about adopting a cat. If you're expecting to walk in and leave 20 minutes later with a new cat, this isn't the place for you. Jasmine clearly loves all the cats very much, and wants what's best for them. Cats roam free in the shelter with lots of nooks and crannies to hang out in. Although some reviews made it sound like the shelter was extremely dirty, that was not my experience at all. Obviously when you have 30+ cats in one place, it will smell like cats. But there were many litter boxes, all of which were clean. Jasmine and her volunteers give all the cats lots of treats and special attention. She even told me that once a week they treat them all to some rotisserie chicken- so cute. We met our baby in the "shy room"- the back room where the more shy cats all hang out. He definitely chose us! Jasmine told us that he had been in the shelter for his whole life (5 years) and had no adoption inquiries. We applied to adopt him and were approved a few days later. That week, Jasmine called to ask some follow up questions and sent me a list of specific food, treats and toys to buy Adam. We were happy to spend some extra money to make sure that he would be comfortable and happy at his new home. One week after we went to the shelter, Jasmine came to our house to drop Adam off. She spent some extra time giving him lots of love and helping him relax. He's such a sweet boy and already loving his new mom and dad. Give this shelter a chance. It sounds like a lot of the negative reviews are from people who were disappointed to be rejected during the application process. I believe that Jasmine is just very selective because she wants to make sure the cats go to a home that's better than where they already are- a very nice shelter where all the cats are definitely loved and spoiled. If we ever choose to adopt another cat we will definitely be back. read more

Hi Kitty Kitty - Adam just a few minutes after arriving at his new forever home! - Pet Adoption Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I am posting this at the risk of getting harassed by the owner who is known to harass people who leave bad reviews but I have been absolutely seething and need to warn people about this place. I reached out to Hi Kitty Kitty in February of 2019 to adopt a cat. My mom and I rolled up to the "shelter" (we were super confused because it's in a residential area, no signage and it is literally a basement apartment unit). We walked down and it looked like we just entered hell. I didn't even go into the other rooms, it in the "living" room and kitchen Bc there were about 30 cats (I'm lowballing it). It reeked of piss, hair everywhere and the cats look miserable. I ended up adopting a cat who the owner told me was a three year old Russian Blue. She also weirdly ranted to me about how if I want to adopt a cat I can't ever have men in the apartment because they will throw the cat away... what? Long application process over, and the owner finally brought her home to me..... with a giant gash/wound on her face/eye. The owner said "poor baby got bullied"... again, what? She then demanded $250 because she is a "purebred kitten." I was kind of shocked but paid because I was stunned at the sight of the wound and wanted the owner to leave my apartment. Okay, so. I come to find out that she is SIX, not three, and she is a tabby, not a Russian Blue. Such a scam for money. The owner assured me that she was taken to the vet before coming home to me andthat she was perfectly healthy. No papers, though, so i took her to the vet myself. I found out after taking her to the vet that she had a bullet in her leg that the owner of the shelter did not tell me about. She obviously had that head wound as well, and ALSO severe hyperthyroidism that needed to be treated immediately (the owner told me that she regularly feeds the cats grocery store rotisserie chicken... extremely high in sodium.. possibly leading to hyperthyroidism). By the time she came to me, her liver and kidneys were shutting down, and she had a heart murmur. Months of intensive treatment later and she is the healthiest sweetest baby ever. But I'm haunted by the fact that if I hadn't adopted her, she would've died in there. Not to mention, my cat's personality changed completely after coming home to me. I've rescued animals before but her response to leaving the shelter was so dramatic that I really think she got abused and neglected there. I have called animal cruelty, to no avail. The owner is friends with the former mayor she weirdly told me and showed me pictures of them at the shelter. I don't know what to make of this all but I'm disgusted. read more

I contacted Jasmine at Hi Kitty Kitty the middle of March. Jasmine responded very promptly and told me to come to her adoption event that Saturday. I already had a kitty in mind from the website. When we arrived at Hi Kitty Kitty we were warmly welcomed by Jasmine and her staff. As other reviewers have said, when you walk in and go down the stairs, there are cats everywhere. This didn't bother us because we were there to get a cat. Duh. The kitty I saw on the website hardly gave me the time of day. Clearly, she wasn't meant to be mine. Then I saw "Mum" now named "Maddon". Maddon was on a shelf, in a carrier. She had arrived at the shelter a week prior and was having a tough time adjusting. For the week, she only came out of the carrier to go to the bathroom. When I walked up to Maddon and stuck my hand in the carrier she came out to greet me. It was love at first sight. I knew Maddon was meant to be mine. Once I deciced on Maddon, one of Jasmine's staff members interviewed me to make sure I was ready for a cat. Once the interview was complete, I filled out paperwork and spoke with Jasmine. Jasmine let me know that they would process my application and let me know if I was approved. Two days later, I received a text from Jasmine that my application was approved! YAY! Next, Jasmine texted me with all sorts of suggestions for Maddon - food, treats, toys, scratching post, water fountain, brush, etc. Jasmine was SO HELPFUL! And she was spot on. Maddon loves everything that she suggested. In addition, Maddon is a maine coon and Jasmine knew a lot about the breed. Jasmine scheduled a time with me that Friday night to drop off Maddon and do a home visit. I couldn't wait! That Friday, Jasmine and her husband drove over to my house. I live downtown and I know it isn't easy coming down here on a Friday night. But, Jasmine did it! I met Jasmine downstairs and we brought Maddon upstairs. Jasmine set the carrier down on my living room floor. When she opened the carrier, Maddon came right out - she was home! Within the first 5 minutes it seemed as if Maddon had been there forever. She was just as happy as I was! In addition, Jasmine brought food and water dishes and a toy for Maddon. Very nice! I have had Maddon for 3 months and it was a match made in heaven! Jasmine periodically checks on Maddon which is really thoughtful of her. She really, really cares about all of her cats! I had an EXCELLENT experience with Jasmine and Hi Kitty Kitty. The negative reviews on here are really sad. I don't want the negative reviews to prevent Jasmine's cats from being adopted. Because of Jasmine and Hi Kitty Kitty, I found my best friend and couldn't be happier! read more

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Look at who's posting 5 star reviews... the owner and volunteers... I cannot say I recommend this place. They do respond to email, which is nice. They however do not say that they have an adoption radius. However when I inquired about 2 cats, Charm and Jerry, I was told that they had to drive the cats out to my house for an inspection...which with gas prices would be too much they said which is fine, but you should say how far you're willing to drive them. 1 I would pay gas money and honestly the person to take the time to drive that far to me. I don't live 5 hours away, but I also don't live 20 minutes from them either. 2 home inspections could be done over zoom if you're really that curious. I've spent almost 1,000 prepping for cats. I think I'm plenty ready for a few fur babies. If you don't want to do a review of my house I'm sure you could call a shelter near me to have one of them come and cat check my house. Reading the other reviews.. believe them. They say adopt don't shop, but when adoption fails... I would have to travel further for a breeder, and they'd give it to me. As someone who has adopted all her life and never had trouble for anything cat related, this was one of the MOST disappointing experiences. I legitimately bought a house so I could get a cat without having to pay pet fees! Been waiting 5 years! read more

Amazing place! Trust jasmine! she knows what shes talking about. I see so many negative reviews, Jasmine wants the cats to remain happy. Cats do better in pairs! People are mean. Don't listen. I cannot recommend this place enough! No cage rescue, amazing people who care. How can you get better than that?! Please do research before getting a cat in general! I got a cat Antonio from here, Jasmine still helps me with him, and we still text about him and his happiness. Shes WONDERFUL. read more

I was one of those who wasn't deterred by the reviews because it felt like they weren't taking seriously the fact that a shelter was understaffed (as they often are) or that they probably shouldn't be adopting with the expectation of an immediate turnaround. Undeterred by those reviews, we went to the shelter with a particular cat from Petfinder in mind. Unlike the reviews I'd read, Jasmine was responsive when I left a voicemail asking if they were open for adoption events on Jan. 1st, given it was a holiday. She told us what time to arrive as well. The positives: the cats are clearly incredibly well cared for. Jasmine has a nearly encyclopedic knowledge of each and every cat, even when the cat hasn't been at the shelter very long. Her volunteers are kind and friendly and were really helpful with us. All of them helped people interested in adoption to understand each cat's background and context: this one is bonded so can't go alone, that one is too young for your home because you have elderly cats and the young one will harass them, etc. The shelter isn't just dedicated to preventing cats from being euthanized unnecessarily, but also to ensuring that the homes people want to bring those cats into are appropriate to the needs of the cats. Overall, with all of this, we were really impressed. The cat we'd seen on petfinder didn't end up being a fit for us, but there was another cat there who hadn't been adopted for four months who was. He was a black cat, very charming and sociable, and after going through and meeting all the cats we decided that he was likely a great fit for our home, which has a young cat and two middle aged cats as playmates. Jasmine seemed elated because she said "no one takes a chance on black cats, thanks for taking a chance on him!" We've had a black cat before (he died at age 18), and were excited to meet another one who was just as charming. We were asked to fill out an application. We knew we wouldn't likely be able to take him home that day and that was fine...a shelter really should vet its applicants to ensure the best outcome for the cat. We filled out the application for the black cat, and as we were leaving Jasmine offered to do our interview right then to determine whether we would be a good fit for the cat. We were thrilled it was that quick. For context, we are homeowners in our mid-40s, have been employed at the same salaried jobs for many years, have a long history of adopting adult cats and keeping them healthy and living their best life until well into old age (including a verifiable track record of regular annual preventive veterinary care, updated vaccines on schedule, etc). Jasmine pre-approved us, told us the cat needed a microchip and a visit with their nurse, but she felt she could get that on Sunday (ie. 24 hours later) and drop the cat to our house that night. Sunday came and went, no text. I inquired on Sunday night really politely about timelines. She said monday morning that a board member would review the application that day and get back to me in the evening. No response Monday. Tuesday I texted asking if there were any updates, offering to pick up the cat if that would be easier, and happy to provide additional information if needed in assessing the application. She responded she hadn't heard back from the board member. No news Wednesday. Thursday I followed up again, still very polite as who knows what the circumstances were. Got a response Friday: our application "did not go through" and someone else filled out an application for the cat we applied for and another cat, and the cat went with that applicant. So this is where the negatives come in: if your organization's goal is to find good, stable homes for cats, this isn't how to treat folks. There has never been any explanation for why we were rejected. In the event they found a better fit for the cat we applied for, that's great! But no one ever told us that he was bonded with any other cats (and we have playmates for the cat at our house), no one told us anything other than our application "did not go through" with no explanation as to why, and if they found a better fit, they could have asked us to come back and consider another cat and we would have done that. In the end, we have the space, love, resources, and time to invest in another cat, and a long track record of doing so. Instead we got ghosted and rejected, with no explanation whatsoever, and no apology. For as much as they've got cat care figured out, it seems pretty counter-intuitive to alienate good, safe, stable potential homes for those animals. We won't be going back. In the event they want to improve, they could do a lot to improve transparency and communication to preserve those relationships. They'd get a lot more support that way, through adoptions and donations. read more

Do not waste your time with this place! Read the reviews and believe the negative ones. Unfortunately, we didn't read the Yelp reviews until after we had visited the cats and applied to adopt one. We went on a Saturday and they told us that we should hear back about our application on Tuesday. We didn't hear anything, so today we reached out to them and they texted saying our application was denied and that they had emailed us. We never got an email and there is no reason whatsoever for them to deny our application. We own our home, we work from home, and we have another cat as a companion too. They gave us no reason as to why our application was denied. I'm not sure what the scam is here, but something definitely isn't right about this place. The ONLY positive thing I can say is that the place was clean considering it had like 50 cats running around and they looked well taken cared of. read more

I have lived in the area since 2015. As my beloved cats have passed away from old age, I have gone on Petfinder to look for new cat family members. This rescue always has "Raja" listed, as well as "Charm." The first couple of times (a year or more apart) I sent inquiries about Raja, and received no response. So I'm not sure what the deal is, but if the cat's not available, he should not remain listed for years. read more

Hi Kitty Kitty is amazing, Jasmine has the most beautiful sanctuary I've ever seen. The way the cats live are wonderful, you're greeted by adorable kitties and the most friendliest people who volunteer at this organization. The cats are so happy and have no stress. Jasmine works so hard to make sure all of the cats are cared for and she brings the kitty to you when you adopt! I'm so grateful for Jasmine and this sanctuary, I we absolutely love our boy Forrest we adopted from here! read more

Hi Kitty Kitty - Forrest on his new cat tree. - Pet Adoption Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We called about charmed, and it took us forever to get a response. We we finally did get a response we got a straight up refusal. Now, what other shelters do is they will normally tell you what other cats would fit your living situation. Not this lady. Just one sentence that charmed can't live in a house with children, and dogs. This is just my opinion, but I really do think the reason that Hi Kitty Kitty has so many desirable cats, is because this lady will refuse to adopt them out. She can get the benefits of being a tax exempt organization, and gets to horde all the cats. read more

If only there were a way to assign ZERO stars. If you love and understand animals, please read to the end and save yourself money, aggravation, and to somehow expose this organization as an abusive and unhealthy situation. In January 2020, I sent several emails regarding making a donation of prescription food, and inquiries about adoption, all with no response. My husband I decided to visit the location on a Saturday afternoon, and nothing could have prepared us for the shock we experienced. Let me preface the following description by saying I have been a cat owner all my life and had worked for several years at West Suburban Humane Society in Downers Grove IL in the intake and infirmary departments, and also with Community Cats, an organization specializing in urban feral cats. I recognize unsocialized animals immediately. The main area is in the basement and the immediate stench of urine and feces is overpowering. Excrement stains on the floors, signs of respiratory illness (common symptom in hoarding/overcrowded conditions). One cat urinated on my bag when I set it down on a counter, and another had serious diarrhea on the floor in the kitchen area. By my count there were over 150 cats roaming freely and several more kept in cages in the rear of the apartment. W should have left immediately and called the Chicago Dept. of Animal Welfare. This place has every indication of being a hoarding situation; the office has published guidelines on their website specifically describing abusers/hoarders who pose as legitimate shelters. We decided to do what we could to rescue at least one cat from this abusive place, so we applied to adopt a cat I'd originally inquired about. Jasmine would not tell me the adoption fee up front and said we'd need to be approved. Several days later I received the first of what I would come know know as her typically rambling, emoji-riddled texts, saying she needed my address so she could deliver the cat. I arranged my home so the new cat could have a quiet transitional space before meeting my current cat. When Jasmine arrived she shouted at me "Why you gonna lock her up she gonna think she did something wrong" She then deposited the new cat in my current cat's room and literally shouted at it "Why you afraid this is your home now this is your new mama you not meant to live in a shelter forever" and other absolute nonsense that went on for about 30 minutes. I wrote her a check for $250 and gave her another for $50 as a donation, just to get her out of my house. Over the next three days the poor cat exhibited every single trait of an unsocialized feral cat, including hiding, not eating, and urinating in corners and on walls. Jasmine agreed to come over the following Tuesday, and took the cat back, verbally agreeing to my husband that she would refund our money. I told her by text to please keep the extra $50 as a gesture of good faith. She countered with the offer of another cat which obviously we refused. My husband went to her location the following Saturday to collect the check and she told him she didn't have any money in her checking account. He said he'd give her more time and be back in two weeks. After that she repeatedly called and texted trying to coerce us into taking a different cat, and on April 6 she sent yet another rambling text saying she already spent our money and would not refund it. This woman is not cruel, she is sick. She is the most dangerous kind of hoarder; a person who has confused ideas about cat behavior and tends to anthropomorphize. she has a good heart but is blind to the harsh reality that she is a hoarder with hundreds of overcrowded, unhealthy, unsocialized cats. I have since filed a report with the Chicago office of Animal Welfare, only to find that she has several previous reports again her. The real purpose of this review is to prevent the reader from making a horrible expensive mistake. This place needs to be shut down and the poor cats transferred to a legitimate shelter where they can receive medical treatment and proper socialization, and Jasmine needs serious psychiatric treatment. Thank you for reading, stay safe and healthy. read more

Where is animal cruelty? They need to do a proper investigation here. Or an investigative reporter needs to write up a report. There are strange opaque practices; somehow cats that have been there a long time are "taken" when you inquire. People have said she is evasive about actually letting people adopt the cats. I've been told she drives up prices. For a Chicago shelter, it sure has an awful lot of purebreds. How does it manage that? Why are there so many running around, getting into fights? At least half the number should be there. It's really bad for cats to be so crowded together. It smells really bad in there. Why isn't there some zoning so the shy/scared/aggressive ones can be separate? Owner is a hard sell, pushes you to take more cats than you think is appropriate. read more

Avoid avoid avoid! It's hard to know where to start with Hi Kitty Kitty. Maybe I'll start by telling you to avoid them at all costs. They're still dishonest people who will lie through their teeth to squeeze money out of you: I visited their somewhat unsanitary shelter in October and adopted a beautiful cat. I was told by Jasmine who worked there that we could not collect the cat, he needed to be dropped off so they could inspect our premises. How any premises could be dirtier than theirs, I do not know.... They inspected our place, dropped of the cat, no problems. The first issue came when we were issued the "bill". There was no mention of price throughout this process, not on their website, in the contract or verbally during our two meetings. We just received a text from Jasmine saying that the cost was $250. $250 to adopt a cat in Chicago?! I surveyed every other shelter and the average cost was $75 to $100 but for some reason Hi Kitty Kitty wanted to charge us $250. I called Jasmine to ask why the cost was more than double any other place in Chicago (and why we'd not been alerted of this sooner) and she said it was because our cat was a kitten and a "special breed" (a Bengal mix). It was also because they'd paid for him to be microchipped, vaccinated and checked at the vet. As we debated the price, Hi Kitty Kitty also asked us to sign the most ludicrous contract that included clauses allowing them full access to our apartment at any time to view the cat; permission to readopt the cat for any reason at any time in the future and many more. Needless to say we did not sign. A week or so after we adopted the cat we took him to the vet. We shouldn't have needed to do this as we were told he'd had a recent check up but my wife and I just didn't trust Hi Kitty Kitty so did it anyway. Thank God we did. We discovered four things: Firstly: he's NOT a Bengal mix. They lied to us about this so they could charge us more money. Secondly: he's NOT a kitten (he's 2 years old). They once again told us this so they could charge us more. Thirdly: They had not microchipped him, he'd been microchipped by his previous owner. (Despite the fact they'd sighted this as one of the reasons for the cost being so high). Fourthly: he had not been checked over by a vet and was actually quite sick with worms and ear mites (both of which the vet said he'd probably picked up at the shelter) In short these guys are complete liers. They led to my face about multiple things in an attempt to squeeze more money out of me. I would recommend you avoid at all costs. The only positive thing is that we managed to adopt a beautiful cat we love very much. read more

After being told I would hear back about my application within 4-5 days and hearing nothing, I called and texted periodically over 2 entire weeks and heard absolutely nothing back until I threatened to leave a bad review, at which point Jasmine called to scream at me without even an apology for the wait time or any concern for my application, time, or interest at all, stating that her "board members" sent out an email which I never received, I never even had email contact with them, only over the phone and through text. There are no board members. This woman is hoarding cats in her stinky basement and refuses to keep in contact or answer her phone in any capacity unless threatened with direct action. Would absolutely not recommend this place, and would in fact recommend reporting it to the Better Business Bureau, if it were even recognized by the BBB - which it isn't. This woman is unprofessional and hostile, and every cat there deserves to be rescued from the likes of her. Also, after seeing my review, she sent me another hostile text message calling me ugly and tried to call me again, presumably to scream some more. read more

Hi Kitty Kitty - rude text. - Pet Adoption Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I visited Hi Kitty Kitty on a Saturday last fall to look at a kitten I saw on PetFinder. The woman who runs the shelter, Jasmine, told me the kitten I had come to see had already been adopted, but asked me about my lifestyle and what I was looking for in a cat. She listened attentively and started introducing me to the cats that she thought would be a good fit. She seemed to know every cat extremely well. The Hi Kitty Kitty adoption process is to submit an application so the board can look it over. I was approved within a couple days and Jasmine sent me the list of recommended items for Rose. When she dropped Rose off, she brought some treats and a toy for her. She also showed me how to clip her nails which was incredibly helpful for a first time cat owner. After my experience with this adoption process, it surprises me so many places offer same day adoption. Adopting a living animal and committing to taking care of them for life is HUGE decision. After my experience, it makes complete sense for Hi Kitty Kitty to have an application process and give the applicant time to think things over and prepare. Rose adjusted to our home and to us right away. I think the cage-free shelter had a lot to do with that, as well as her positive interactions with Jasmine and the other volunteers. If you are interested in adopting a cat, check Hi Kitty Kitty out! Go in with an open mind and you may find your furry companion for life like me. Best of luck! read more

Hi Kitty Kitty is a shady operation. We've been attempting to adopt Raja for some time now and all we ever get are excuses. As you can see by the notice posted in the door, Raja was supposed to be available to come see on the weekend. When we went there, he wasn't there and yet another excuse was given. Then I started suspecting something not right with this place and began reading reviews and I now realize either Raja doesn't exist or they are keeping him prisoner for shelter business purposes. This is the saddest thing ever for us. We really wanted to apoptosis Raja but realize now it will never happen. This is a shady business. read more

Hi Kitty Kitty - Pet Adoption Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I called inquiring about two cats was told they would be opening 5/31/20 I emailed and called to make sure they'd be open after seeing the date change to 6/1/20 never heard back and she never answered my calls or emails on 5/31/20 or 6/1/20 I agree with the others she's not trying to help find homes for any of the cats there. read more

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After speaking with Jasmine on the phone, I am not sure I want to visit this "supposed" rescue. There are NO ACTUAL HOURS she is open, though the websites reflects open every day. It also sounded like she "makes up a dollar amount" when asked the cost of adoption, as I was given 2 different answers when I asked the cost when the conversation started and again at the end of the conversation. After reading thru all the other reviews, personally, I will go somewhere else. read more

I contacted Jasmine about a certain cat that I was interested in. She was very short with me on the phone and would not give me any specific answers to my questions about the cat. She did text me the address of her business and said I could meet the cat and then fill out an application. I've never adopted an animal and had to meet them prior to filling out an application -- seems like a waste of time to me. I also sent her an email about the adoption cost, to which she never replied. I've read some other posts on here and a $250 fee for adoption is astronomical. To sign a contract that says that Jasmine can visit my home anytime she feels like checking on the cat is just unacceptable. I will not be adopting a cat from this organization. It seems very shady. read more

The lady that owns this, Jasmine, is crazy lol she immediately started interrogating my roommate and I when we asked about their adoption process and said that because I if I can't afford to live alone I can't afford a cat.... My roommate said "we choose to live together because we want to not because we have to" and she started going off about how if I was going to get a cat, my roommate was going to throw the cat outside, sell it on Craigslist or kill it. There were two other people there sitting on the ground to play with the cats, she asked them to get up because they feed the cats off the floor and she doesn't want the cats to get Covid... ? and she wasn't even wearing a mask the whole time so like ??? make it make sense! She asked where I would keep the cat, and I said in my room with food, water, and litter available in the room until the cat can get acclimated to the space, and we can introduce it to my roommates' cat's in a non-hostile or competitive environment. Then she started laying into me about how it was inhumane to keep the cat "locked up" and it would just be scratching at my door the entire time until my roommate's got sick of it and.... threw it away. I kept showing interest in certain cats and every single cat I asked about just happened to be going home to a family the next day, I asked which cats were available for adoption and she said "most of them". I really don't think she wants to find homes for these cats. A lot of the cats looked mangy, and some of them were for sure feral. We definitely should've read the reviews before we went!! read more

Adopted two wonderful kitties. I visited several shelters all over Chicago, and the cats seemed the happiest here! It was actually depressing to see how sad the kitties were in other shelters :-( I believe Jasmine is doing a great job at keeping the cats active, healthy, and happy overall. read more

Jasmine was so amazing! She helped us pick out the perfect companion pet for our household and went the extra mile a few times. A lot of care goes into the cats at the shelter. It was not over crowded and each cat has respected needs. I had a great experience and was told if the cat doesn't work out, I can take him back. He was perfect and we had a great experience adding to our little family read more

AVOID AT ALL COSTS!! Jasmine is a lying predator. She's a Dollar Tree Carol Baskin... I went to visit Hi Kitty Kitty with my partner and we found two wonderful and friendly cats. Jamine told us she pre-approved us to adopt these cats and that she would contact us in a few days to arrange a visit/drop-off...She even told us to buy toys and such for the cats. Then she never got back to us, I talked with her and she said that she didn't have a chance to review our application and she still needed to interview us. The joke is she ALREADY did our interview and said she "approved us". I waited 5 days to text her again after no response. She told me then that the shelter had flooded the same day of our visit and A WHOLE WEEK LATER she was still trying to find foster homes for the cats. Why not tell us that on Tuesday???? I offered to take our cats so they wouldn't have to sit in freezing cold flooding water and she didn't respond to that either. We have a wonderful , cat-friendly apartment and we are experienced pet owners. Jasmine misled us and strung us along. I feel so sorry for these cats that are being held hostage in what is basically Jasmine's basement. Some of those cats have been there for 5+ years, and the other people visiting the shelter seemed as nice and caring as we are. Shame on Jasmine, I hope this shelter gets shut down for the sake of these cats. They deserve better. Update: Jasmine called me and told me I am "full of shit" immediately after I posted this review at 9:30PM...... read more