Before this review starts, let me inform you that I've volunteered for two pet rescues (including one that was feline-only) back in Virginia and I have friends who are rescue/shelter volunteers too. I am looking to adopt a cat or two. I searched Petfinder and came across a cat that Hi Kitty Kitty had up for adoption. I contacted the organization and the organizer arranged for me to stop by the shelter. This was back in mid-April (4/13). I had a wonderful time getting acquainted with the cats. There were two in a particular that I was smitten with. The organizer told me I could foster them and later adopt them. I thought this was a good idea. She told me she'll send me the adoption application. It took them her five days to send me the application (4/18). I texted her to remind her to e-mail me it. I sent it right back after I received it. The organizer said she she'll call me. Time goes by and I don't hear from her. She finally calls me 10 days after I sent the application (4/28). The next step was to do a house visit. This only took about several minutes (4/29). She has to call me again to give me additional information that Friday. Okay. That didn't happen. I told her I'm available on Saturday, but she didn't call because she was busy with work. I finally had enough and sent her a text on Sunday. She calls me back and tells me this: She has to get approval from the other volunteers to adopt/foster cats out. That's fine. They don't want me to foster because these reasons. Really? - I live in a studio apartment: Even if I fostered/adopted one adult cat, my studio apartment is too small. The two cats I wanted to take home are active. That's fine because I'm home often and I can play with them. No, an adult cat needs more space. I'm only eligible for kittens or older cats. Ridiculous. I know so many people who live in studio apartments with cats. What about everyone in big cities like NYC and Tokyo who live with cats? This is so bogus. Wait! It gets worse! - My window overlooks another building: These cats need visual stimulation. Apparently, my apartment should also come with a tree-lined view so they look at birds. When has this been a requirement to adopt a cat? I've been around cats and while they enjoy the view, it's not necessary AT ALL. They're telling me that I need a one-bedroom apartment with a view of trees and birds to adopt an adult cat. If they don't adopt cats to people with studios, then they should've made that clear on their website or before I visited. Because of these ridiculous requirements, two really wonderful cats are without a home. I had been so excited to give them all the love and attention they need. I feel bad for the cats. I feel bad for any of the cats here who got stiffed from being placed in a permanent home because a potential adopter's living situation didn't meet the organization's standards. Of course, I told the organizer this and she said they do have a place right now where they are loved. Well then, why bother adopting them out? I hate to give an organization like this negative reviews but they don't know how to run an animal rescue. They say they care for the cats and that they are looking out for the cat's best interest (like denying a cat a home because my windows don't have a view). If they did, then taking forever to return calls, not responding to e-mails, having stupid requirements to foster/adopt cats, etc ... basically making the whole adoption process a very frustrating experience is NOT helping the cats at all. You should consider adopting a cat from any rescue, but this has been the worst experience I've had with one. Proceed with caution. read more

My original, succinct, yet totally apt, review stated: "Total waste of time. Jasmine seems to sporadically decide when she is available. Not worth the trip." It was flagged and truth suppressed "because it did not provide enough detail about your customer experience" So allow me to revisit this review, since I have legitimate complaints with this company that anyone and everyone looking to adopt should absolutely be allowed to access and see. To that extent, I'm happy to provide every bit of minutia surrounding this very unpleasant and totally unprofessional experience. It was indeed a TOTAL WASTE of time. Jasmine played phone tag with me (as other reviews corroborate). Finally, she invited me to come see the shelter the next day, which is super far up north. I schedule time from my work schedule to come up. So 30 minutes to get there. I walk into a 3 story apartment and can immediately smell this place from outside the door. The shelter is located in the basement. I never got to see it. Just smell it--and let me tell you, the smell was overwhelming. Anyway, I knock on the door. no response, just a myriad of cat meows. Knock again...no response. So I decide to call. Nothing. Again call. Nothing. I call for the third time. Nada. I'm a patient man, so I waited outside of the apt, figuring Jasmine was out for a quick errand. Here's a tip though, why don't you put a sign up that says how long you'll be gone. So in summary, or to make a long story short (since apparently stating a succinct factual experience is enough to get flagged and removed), Jasmine wasted days of my life with phone tag and by sending me on a wild goose chase. No amount of passion excuses poor professionalism. Beyond that, I was assaulted with the overwhelming waft of feces coming through the door...perhaps it was best that Jasmine completely ignored me and never returned any of my calls after my ill-fated visit. read more

In short, we were given the complete run around by this organization and it has tainted our interactions with them and intentions to adopt from them. Over the course of this week, we also received weird text messages and got the obvious feel that the owner has a very hard time emotionally parting with these cats (or maybe this particular one- who knows). I would definitely not recommend this place to any of our friends. As one of the previous reviewers said, this is mainly a one-woman operation and that was unfortunate for us. And, most likely, others that have or will adopt from HKK. Complete and utter unprofessionalism, coupled with a poorly run shelter and a horrible owner who has issues interacting with the public. [our experience below] As one of the previous reviewers said, this is mainly a one-woman operation and that was unfortunate for us. And, most likely, others that have or will adopt from HKK. My boyfriend and I saw an awesome cat on the shelter site and went over to take a look at him. We were told that we only needed to fill out one application and that they would drop the cat off at our apartment post-vet check (this is shelter policy). Over the course of a few days, we decided we were going to foster/adopt (foster for the first two weeks to see if it was a good fit and then keep the cat after that) and talked to the owner via phone to arrange a drop-off date/time. We agreed on thursday. I got a call the night before saying she couldn't bring him thursday because she forget the shelter had an inspection that day. We then agreed on Friday. An hour before she was supposed to bring him on Friday, she texted me saying she couldn't come because it was hailing (which it was) and she didn't have a car. So, we then agreed on Sunday. During the time the cat was to be dropped off on Sunday, I had to leave for a few hours (Mother's Day lunch), however informed the owner via text that my boyfriend would be home to welcome the cat into our home. The owner (through a handful of texts and calls) said we would have to rearrange the drop-off date because the cat would be scared and not able to bond with me if I wasn't there at the drop-off. To make thing worse, she got flustered over the phone and handed the phone off to a man (who we had never interacted with- I'm actually still unsure who this person is) and acted completely unprofessional during the entire correspondence. In the midst of this, she made claims that I was the one adopting (since I filled out the application), hence why I needed to be there. This was completely contradictory to what was said when we filled out the form. Things were left open-ended with the owner saying to call her when we had a date in which we would both be home. We have called three times since then (now going on 4 days ago) and have been sent to voicemail every time. Obviously, we're not getting the cat. read more

I need to start this review by stating that Jasmine is obviously very passionate about the work she does and simply lacks the adequate amount of volunteers to keep up with the demand. My one-star rating is not because of the delayed responses, because she is extremely overworked, but rather for the lack of professionalism that was used to handle my particular case. I work two jobs and am also in grad school, so my schedule is extremely tight. I specifically made an appointment on an afternoon before I had to go to work. When I called Jasmine to give her the 30-minute heads up (which I find to be a strange requirement), she told me that she would not be there because she had to take some cats to the emergency room last-minute. I couldn't be mad at her for this unpredictable emergency, so I told her I would stop by after I got off work. When I arrived at HKK, she told me to come right in and found the cats I had requested to see. I also must mention that I made it very clear that I was only planning to adopt one cat (and didn't already have any pets at home). During my visit, Jasmine mentioned to me that they only adopted kittens out in pairs, so I should not waste my time on an application that would be rejected for a single kitten. I also expressed interest in other cats that had to go in pairs for various reasons, so I didn't even consider them for my application. I finally found a sweet 2-year-old boy that I told her I would love to adopt. I quickly filled out the application and told Jasmine I looked forward to hearing from her by the end of the week. She told me to text her if I did not have an answer by Friday afternoon (it was Tuesday night), so I went home and waited. Friday came and went with no response from Jasmine. I left her several texts, calls, and a voicemail. As I mentioned earlier, I am not giving her one star for the late response. I understand things happen and people are busy. Sunday afternoon rolled around, and Jasmine called me back. This is where I became frustrated with my HKK experience. She told me that the "HKK people" (not sure who these people behind the curtain are that have the decision-making power) rejected my application for two reasons: 1) The cat I wanted had been in a shelter for two years and would need a companion. I had a real problem with this reason because Jasmine gave me a warning about other cats I saw but nothing about this one. She said nothing to make me believe that this cat could not go to a home with no other cats. 2) They did not want me to take an allergy pill every day to be okay around the cat. I am allergic but have little reaction if I take an allergy pill; I had no reaction while I was in this shelter full of cats and their dander so I think I would be fine with one cat in my home if I properly groomed him and cleaned the space. I had a big problem with this reason because I don't think it was the place of the "HKK people" to dictate the way I manage my allergies. They recommended a purebred hypoallergenic breed, such as a Russian Blue, which I had already researched, but they did not currently have at this shelter. Jasmine said she would keep my information and let me know if they received any purebreds, but I told her I would be going elsewhere to find a cat. I was overall very displeased with this experience because I felt that Jasmine led me on about the cat and I got my hopes up. I know that there was nothing alarmingly wrong with my application, because I have since adopted a kitten at PAWS who was a great choice. I would be careful if you are not looking to adopt two cats because it seems as though Jasmine and her team really try to push this on people. Otherwise you may find the perfect cat for you and then, out of nowhere, she tells you that it cannot be adopted without a companion. read more

Hi Kitty Kitty is a smaller, cageless, no-kill shelter staffed by just a few people, therefore they don't have the same resources as a larger shelter. They make due with what they have and they do a great job! The cats all look healthy, well-fed and content. A sure sign that Hi Kitty Kitty really cares for their cats. I had the pleasure of working with Rebecca and Jasmin. It's rare to find people who care as much about their animals as these ladies do. They know each and every cat by name, their temperament, and their history. Both ladies were full of knowledge. The folks at Hi Kitty Kitty receive multiple applications for the same cats. Just like anyone who cares, they look through the applications and choose the people who they feel are the best fit. They want to make sure their cats go into loving homes. Don't let the negative reviews deter you from visiting this shelter. Adopting a companion animal is an emotional experience and many who don't get chosen for a particular cat take it personally. I highly recommend Hi Kitty Kitty! read more

The process of the adoption is extremely frustrating. My girlfriend and I stopped in twice. The first time we stopped in, we discussed adopting a specific cat. All seemed well. I emailed my application in the next day. After calling, texting, and emailing for two weeks following, I finally get a hold of the owner to find out the cat we were pursuing had been adopted out from under us, and we got no notification of this. She alerts us that three more cats we are interested in were coming in over the next two weeks, but she gave us very little information following this phone call, in spite of our follow up attempts. We went in a couple days later, and, again, all three had been adopted without notifying us. The website is not updated frequently, so there's no guarantee that a cat on the website is even available. The shelter in and of itself is a cat-lover's Mecca. If you enjoy cats, stop by for a few hours and enjoy being surrounded by some very well behaved, friendly cats. They're out in the open, and they all get along together. The cats are very well taken care of. read more

I'm startled to see negative reviews of Hi Kitty Kitty. I do notice that the complaints seem to be from disgruntled prospective adopters for whom the adoption process did not go according to plan. To me, a negative review of an animal rescue should be motivated only out of concern for the welfare of the animals, not by hurt feelings about not being allowed to adopt. I'm sure those who wrote the negatives would argue that HKK is preventing their charges from getting good homes, but it doesn't seem unreasonable for the person in charge of the cats' welfare feel comfortable with a prospective home, or to try to reschedule a dropoff to a time when the fosterer/adopter will be present. My experience: Our cat, "Jim," had been raised with other cats and missed the company after I had to have his 17-year-old companion put to sleep last year. I stopped to buy crickets at Petsmart, where HKK had brought a few cats for adoption. I figured it was time to pull the trigger on the JimPal, so I filled out an application. I was called promptly and we arranged to go visit the shelter. I had originally wanted "Alex," a very cute kid, but decided prior to the shelter visit to keep an open mind, in part because Alex is pretty young and I wanted to do an older cat a favor if I could. It took a while to settle in and sorta get my bearings in the crowd; once I'd been there a few minutes individual cats' personalities became obvious and we had a great time petting, carrying, and talking about the cats. The person in charge of HKK knows the story on every one of the cats in her care; it's quite remarkable. We took our time looking and eventually chose "Angel" as a good fit for our home and for Jim. Our application was reviewed, and HKK called the next day for some clarification of Jim's vaccination history. Once that was settled, a time was set up for Angel to be brought to our home. Many toys (for her and for Jim) came along, as well as a big bag of her current, and very high-quality, food. HKK was in contact to see that all was well, and is ALWAYS available to answer questions immediately. I get how those unfamiliar with rescue, or those who feel their philosophy or methodology is the only sufficient one, would have problems with the application process, delay in being contacted and/or high standards for adopters. I was a coordinator for a dog breed rescue for seven years. HKK is run with the cats' welfare in mind; they have generally been through a lot of crap thus far in their lives, and this rescue wants to do their very best to be sure the homes they go on to are going to be great ones. It's very rare for a shelter or rescue to bring an animal to its adoptive home and it's a wonderful thing. It provides the shelter with peace of mind and allows the new adopter to see the animal in their own home and get questions answered about the pet in that environment. It can be anxiety provoking to welcome a new animal and it's helpful to have support when going through this change. HKK is remarkable in its individual knowledge and care of each and every cat in their rescue. In addition to my years of dog rescue work I have had dozens of rescue cats over the course of my lifetime and feel qualified to recommend HKK to those looking to adopt a shelter cat. I would ask that anyone in this position try to understand what a difficult job rescue is, and that any "irritating" policies are in place not to prevent adoption or upset prospective adopters, but to get as many cats into great homes as possible. read more

i just wanted to share a few words about Hi Kitty Kitty. I'm new to Hi Kitty Kitty, dipping my toe in the pool of volunteerism for them. I have been to the shelter and seen the facility. It is pristine, and the cats are very well taken care of. HKK is pretty much a one woman shop, with one person caring for the animals, vetting the animals. screening the applicants, and facilitating the adoptions. All of this is no easy task. To screen an applicant for a new home for a little life is both necessary and bittersweet. Of course it's hard to let go of a cat that you nursed back to health when it was sick, or saved from a brutal winter? But it is just as satisfying to see them go to right forever home, knowing they'll be loved forever. Sometimes, during the application process, it takes some time to determine if the home involved is the right home for that cat. A connection to a cat needs to be made, an application needs to be filled out, references need to be checked, and finally the home visit when then cat is dropped off. Sometimes everything falls into place perfectly. Sometimes cracks form along the way and you find out it's not a perfect fit after all. Better that happen while the cat is still at the facility than at the home. Jasmine, the owner of HKK, is all about the cats. She makes them her priority, and she takes their welfare in and out of the shelter very seriously. She's a one woman show trying to find the best possible homes for the cats in her care. She works diligently at this. She is professional. She is caring, and she is responsible. HKK is a smaller shelter in Rogers Park. They get their cats from owner dumps, Chicago ACC, and from their own saving efforts. HKK puts their heart and soul into each cat they care for. read more

Newsflash: cats poop and pee inside. Newsflash: litter boxes smell. Newsflash: multiple litter boxes working for ~50+ cats will smell unpleasant. That is just life. -This shelter is small and unorthodox compared to other shelters. -It is run in a private garden apartment by one person and a few volunteers. -Everyone involved has full time jobs outside of this shelter. Go elsewhere if you are put off by the inaccessibility of Jasmine. It sounds like she is trying to make it work the best she can while maintaining a full time job, life, etc. I'm willing to work with that. You may not be. It is what it is. -Because of it's size, the people involved know the cats very intimately and want to see that the cats are matched up in the best way possible considering your lifestyle and current pet set up. Come visit with an open mind and an open heart. Don't expect to be matched with a cat immediately. Spend time there and talk to the volunteers about the cats you meet and what, if any, your current pets are like. These cats deserve forever parents that are willing to invest time into them. -A lot of the cats in the shelter were adopted from kill shelters. Hi Kitty Kitty is doing good work in the best way that it can. I don't recommend this shelter for inquiring first time cat owners for the exact reasons people give negative reviews: if you're unfamiliar with how litter boxes smell and would be put off by the sheer number of cats uncaged, go to one of the big shelters downtown that will slowly introduce introduce you to the idea of cats. In Hi Kitty Kitty, the cats run up to you and play/love on you as soon as you walk in the door. If that's not for you, go elsewhere. read more

They don't adopt outside of a 30 minute drive from their shelter. My husband and I were really interested in quite a few of the cats. We were planning on driving up the hour to the shelter to see them, thankfully I called first to see what their policy was. If you really want to find homes for your cats, then let people adopt them! She said that they deliver the cat to the home when adopted, which is great. But you can't find the time to take two hours of driving to find a home for your cats? That is no excuse for the well-being and happiness that cat would have the rest of his life. I get that they are a small facility with not a lot of people, but we could have waited for you to find the time to be able to bring the cat. Most work places need two-weeks notice for a day off. We could wait two, three weeks, or how ever long it took for you to find the time in your schedule. read more

I got the privilege to meet with the outstanding staff that runs the organization. I was warmly welcomed upon greeting. At first look, I could tell that the friendly woman was very caring and nurturing of these gorgeous cats. You could tell she pours her heart into what she does just by talking to her and seeing the way her eyes light up as she explains any of the questions you may have. They had simple protocol that ANY adoption organization should view. I was explained that at times things can get hectic and that they would follow up with me as soon as possible. I am an understanding human that knows how life can get busy out of the blue, however all of my questions were answered in a timely manner. These cats were all well taken care of, and in a loving environment as it was. So I truthfully couldn't hold it against them for wanting to take a look at my living quarters before allowing one of their babies to move in. I have my eyes set on a playful little guy! He won my heart the second our eyes met. Wonderful staff, caring and loving of all their babies. Highly recommend you stop by and take a look yourselves! Five stars, HiKittyKitty! read more

Jasmine and the Hi Kitty Kitty team went above and beyond my expectations. Do NOT be scared off by the negative reviews, as they seem to be written by people who want to treat cat adoption like purchasing a couch. If you do want to find the exact 'make and model' of your cat online, arrive at a shelter, have an attendant show you to the exact model you found online, try it out for a bit, swipe a credit card, and walk away with a cat in hand, to never to speak to the shelter again -- then yes, this is not the shelter for you. 'Cause Hi Kitty Kitty is a cat rescue, not a Crate and Barrel. Rather, if you want a cat adoption experience (like mine) where the owner texts you with the exact treats, food, and toys your cat-to-be loves, where she and her husband drive to your home at 8pm in the pouring rain and traffic to bring your cat to you, embraces you in the rain outside her car, and then spends an hour helping you get your cat out from under the bed, to eat, and to make sure she is acclimated, then Hi Kitty Kitty is also your match made in heaven. The reason Jasmine rejects applications, has a cage-free shelter, and brings the cats to your home herself is clear -- she genuinely loves and cares for the cats so much, that she is willing to sacrifice all of her time and money in order to make sure they go to the best homes possible. If she rejects your application, then you have made it apparent to her that you are the kind of person to prioritize your own interests far ahead of those of the life you're about to bring into your home. As a cat rescue organization, doesn't it make sense that her main priority is to ensure that these cats don't end up in the hands of people who mistreat them, or ignore them, or would turn them over to animal control the second that they're inconvenienced by their existence? I drove up to Hi Kitty Kitty on a Saturday afternoon, and was immediately charmed by the unique shelter. Instead of cages, the cats roam free in a garden apartment filled with wonderful beds, nooks and crannies, vertical climbing areas, music, and an essential oil diffuser blasting lavender. About 30 cats roamed around, cuddling one another, meowed to get your attention, and all looked very happy, well-fed, and healthy -- a notable difference from the anxiety cats typically present in cage shelters. I spent a long time sitting with the kitties, and I learned many of the cats I liked needed playmates, in order to develop sociability, and to be happy. I really respected that Jasmine enforced this, because it made it apparent that she actually cared about the individual cat's life, instead of just pushing it out of the shelter to get money or meet quotas. I fell in love with my cat Ruby, who needs to be the only cat in the home. While Jasmine and my schedules took a few weeks to match up, she was very apologetic, and before too long, she brought her to me, and I couldn't be happier. Have you ever felt moved by the actions of a person who devotes all of their heart and care to selflessly maintain the well-beings of dozens of lives? I immediately recognized this in Jasmine -- who sacrifices a lot to ensure that the little souls in her care live the very best lives that they possibly can while here on earth. To address some of the negative comments I've seen on Yelp; 1) To reiterate, shelters are not department stores. 2) It is absurd to accuse Hi Kitty Kitty of "shadily keeping cats of certain breeds up on Petfinder in order to entice people to come"; because, come on, she likely has simply forgotten to take their profile off of this third-party adoption site, between working 2 full-time jobs. 3) More specifically, about the sign on her door regarding fostered cats, she also probably just forgot to take it off the door. This should not be evidence that she is shady. 4) As for being a crazy cat lady -- if you think a woman is lonely, crazy, and possessive because she both chooses to rescue cats from homelessness and from being killed, and she doesn't place them in cages while they are in her care, then you're a misogynist. 5) The shelter does smell strongly like cats, but not like cat feces -- crazily enough, when there's a lot of animals, things are going to smell like animal. They work really hard to keep it clean in there. 6) To avoid any scheduling difficulties, go on Saturday, from 2-7pm. I feel so lucky I came to Hi Kitty Kitty for my cat adoption, as it is has given me a wonderful personal experience, memory, and feeling of community. I couldn't be happier! read more

I agree something wrong is going on with this shelter. I also wanted to adopt a Maine Coon/Russian Blue mix named Starfish. I met her and feel in love. I filled out an application for adoption and was told a decision would be made by Monday. I texted Monday and was told they were closed, and they would get back to me. Called Wednesday and no decision. Tracked jasmine down Saturday and still no decision. Following week I'm told Starfish is ill and not ready for adoption. She's still listed as an adoptable kitty though. Now I'm being completed ignored. Still don't know if my application was even accepted. i have now in a weeks time adopted a gorgeous kitty from the C.A.R.E. Shelter. Probably would have happened sooner but it was thanksgiving holiday. I'm absoluteky thrilled! Hi Kitty Kitty was a seriously stressful experience. Especially if you want one of the rarer kitties like I did, you'll get a big run-around!! And lied too!! The cats are being well cared for, I give Hi Kitty that, but ignore this place if you want an enjoyable experience. read more

The way Jasmine cares for and finds the perfect match for each cat there is not just a beautiful thing to watch but absolutely heartwarming. It is one of those shelters where you know in your bones that every cat that is adopted is going to a good home. Everyone who works for that company and volunteers there is deeply dedicated to the cats and their upbringing and socialization and the result is extremely well socialized and honestly well behaved cats. She doesn't hide anything about the cats and will tell you honestly of one of the cats is not a good fit for you. I would give this place 10 out of 5 stars if that was within my ability. They made my dreams come true, my wife and I are now the proud owner of Magic and Van Gogh and I wouldn't trade it for the world. read more

I am so grateful for checking out Hi Kitty Kitty!!! I have never owned a cat before, and have a slight allergy, so I needed major guidance, as well as had a preference for a 'hypoallergenic' (I know none truly are). After going to a few shelters and not connecting with any kitties and witnessing how skiddish and scared most of those kitties are, I was worried it wouldn't work out for me. I stumbled across Victoria from Hi Kitty Kitty in an online search and decided to drive an hour to meet her and check out the other cats there. I don't know what would have happened if I hadn't, bc from the moment I walked down, Victoria was there and we instantly connected. She is the sweetest, most affectionate cat and it was clear to see even while she was at Hi Kitty Kitty! Although nearly all the cats were truly friendly and sweet. Sooo not my experience at other shelters! Jasmine was also BEYOND helpful. She clearly loves and deeply cares for every single cat and her passion was what was the final selling point for me. She was also very helpful in giving me so many tips and pointers, sending me pics of all her favorite toys and flavored foods so I could stock up before she came home, explaining her personality, what things make her happy and/or sad, etc. Jasmine was even was there via text and phone when Victoria was home and transitioning to her new environment and I had more questions. Now, it's been about 6 weeks and Victoria is queen of her new home. She is also loved by every person that meets her- even non-cat lovers!!! She loves to snuggle and purr and is so well-behaved. My parents and boyfriend even call her 'their' cat bc she really loves and connects with everyone. After hearing about her backstory, I don't understand why she was given up- twice!! Had it been anyone else fostering her though, who knows if she'd be the same way behaviorally- the care and effort that Hi Kitty Kitty puts in to make all the cats feel like they live in a home and not a shelter shows in the cats currently there, as well as my cat, even to this day! I'm so grateful this kitty is in my life, and it wouldn't have happened if it hadn't have been for Jasmine and Hi Kitty Kitty. Thank you, thank you thank you Jasmine and all the volunteers!!! Otherwise, I would have never met the sweetest most affectionate cat in the world, Victoria. read more

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This is a long review, just read the first paragraph and last if short on time. My Dad knew I was wanting to adopt a cat and emailed me in June 2018 about a kitten named Charm. He was still on the site 3 months later, and I finally emailed Hi Kitty Kitty inquiring about him. That should have been a red flag that he wasn't adopted. She didn't answer my questions about Charm (another red flag) but invited me to come see the cats at the shelter any weekend. I visited on a Saturday. Upon entering the place, I was greeted by the smell of dozens of litter boxes. There were a ton of cats roaming around the small basement apartment. If you are mildly allergic, stay far away! I'm not sure if that's normal. I asked Jasmine about Charm. I told her that I had a dog and that the cat would need to get along with her. She was worried that Charm wouldn't get along with a dog and had another cat in mind. She introduced me to another cat she thought would get along with a dog. The cat seemed friendly and sweet, and I told her I was interested. She then said that I would need to adopt another cat with him (red flag!). I told her that wasn't an option. She was very interested in my schedule, what I did for a living, and how much time I spent at home. She off-hand mentioned that a lawyer recently wanted to adopt the cat, but she didn't approve her because she thought she was too busy. I remember thinking to myself, why not just give the cat a good home? Another red flag... Looking back, of course she wouldn't want to get involved with a lawyer. I think I met Charm or a cat that looked like him. He wasn't very social, so I was glad that there were plenty of other cats to choose from. I ended up filling out an application. She interviewed me and asked if I would be able to purchase certain brands of food for the cat. She told me she would let me know if I was approved. She called a few days later and said that I was approved and that a member of her team would contact me and would arrange for the cat to get dropped off at my house. We didn't finalize any plans, and I never heard from her again. I think maybe she was turned off because I lived a bit far from the shelter (about 30 miles). I tried calling, emailing and texting her. It was so odd to act like I was getting a cat but then ghost me. I thought to myself, maybe she gave the cat to someone else or didn't think I would make a good cat parent. Aren't there a plethora of cats that need a home, why get so picky? She sure makes it difficult to adopt a cat! Now that I've read a lot of yelp reviews, I am so glad that she ghosted me! I ended up adopting a kitten a few weeks later that was born in my coworker's yard. The cat gets along with the dog, which is all that I really cared about. I saved a cat that would have ended up in a shelter or on the street. Flash forward to nearly two years later... my dad was looking to adopt a cat. He mentioned a Maine Coon kitten named Charm. I remembered that I had wanted to adopt a cat named Charm. I mentioned this, and he sent me the link. I looked into my emails to Jasmine from two years before, and lo and behold, it's the same "kitten!!" A, why is it still at the shelter, and B, how is it still a kitten two years later???? I visited Hi Kitty Kitty's yelp page, and someone else mentioned Charm. Is this cat just bait to get you to visit the shelter, where you think you are adopting a fancy Maine Coon but end up with a common tabby? (I love the common tabby alley cat I ended up with). I am soooo glad that I was ghosted by them and didn't end up supporting them and their "shelter." Maybe this place is legitimate, but it's very shady! Please be careful. You are better off adopting from another more trustworthy place. read more

I just wanted to thank Jasmine for my 2 beautiful and loved cats - Flaffy and Felix ( previously Post) as they bring us lots of joy every day. I had a hard time finding a cat before I found Hi kitty kitty. I sent several applications but only Jasmine was able to help me and I'm very thankful. I'm happy to see how dedicated she is to her cats and how much she is caring. When I read other people reviews it makes me sad as they don't understand how hard he job is. Costly price? She has a lot to pay for - sooo many of them. Unsanitary shelter - do you have anything better to offer her to help? Or maybe come to volunteer? She is being picky about ppl - she cares for every cat and she wouldn't just try get rid of them as long as you pay, it's her kids. She wants to make sure they all get a home they deserve. Thank you read more

So many beautiful cats and a very kind and enthusiastic owner. Please check this out if you are thinking of getting a cat. You will be blown away! read more

i truly dont even know where to begin with this review and it's honestly really heart breaking. so i guess ill start from the moment my gut told me something wasnt right. 1- their website and even door signs all state that they are open from 2-7 for viewings. my partner and i arrived at 1:58 to be sure we were the first ones there so we had a better opportunity to get the cat we wanted. i received a call @2 and was aggressively told that i should have come at 2:30 because thats when they open and that the 2:30 start time was on the website. mind you im standing at the front door looking at the sign that states the complete opposite 2. upon our return we were greeted by a worker who my partner later informed me that she reeked of alcohol. i was too overwhelmed by the strong oder in the building to even notice 3. when i asked about the pricing of the cat (because pricing isnt listed online) i was informed the cost was $400 because hes a purebred, a kitten, and needed to be adopted with another cat (again also not online). i advised that im only looking for one since we already have a cat and asked how much for just the one and was still told $400....not sure if the original price was a bogo deal or not but that made absolutely no sense. AND THEN after all of that she told me well he already has an adoption in the works anyway but there are other cats to look at. i should also add the kitten we were originally wanted wasnt socialized at ALL. wouldnt even let the volunteers touch him which was a big red flag 4. after looking at the overwhelming amount of cats i asked a worker about another cat and if he was still there to which he was. i was then given a sad this sad story about how hes been there for years because no one wants him due to him being shy and skiddish. mind you i was petting him and talking to him the entire time so he didnt seem to be all that shy. i then inquired on the cost of that cat because again NOT STATED ON THE WEBSITE to which jasmine immediately responded with "are you going to be able to afford taking care of this cat if he gets sick?" not sure what that had to do with my question but i was immediately turned off at that point. i still put in an application for him because at the very least i wanted to try and save him from the clearly overcrowded "sanctuary" 5. after we filled out the application we were told that it would have to go through the board members before it can be approved. THEN i was informed that she would try and get them down to $300 for the cat in question and that their prices range from $150-250 depending on the cat and that any cat who had been there for a long time and desperately needed a home were $150. correct me if im wrong, but given the claim he had been there for years and was unwanted i was confused on how he was still going to cost so much. cost wasnt the issue, but the math wasnt mathing. 6. after venting about my experience to several friends i decided to check the reviews for this place. i should add that i didnt originally check because i found the listing friday night and decided to come by saturday so it completely slipped my mind. the reviews confirmed every single suspicion i had from the moment we had our first interaction on the phone. not only was i lied to (someone had also tried to adopt this cat a year ago and was given the run around which means that sob story was completely fabricated) but im now heart broken because i fell in love with him the second he chirped at me when i pet him. against my better judgement i went and ordered all of the things a shy cat would need i.e several hides, a comfort space, second literally box in case he was too afraid to leave his comfort space to potty and it all seems like it was for nothing. i was supposed to hear back yesterday and honestly wont even bother following up to avoid further heartbreak and disappointment. im also sure once she figures out who i am shes going to use this as an excuse to deny my application if she hasnt done so already. ive decided to continue my search elsewhere and will never come back to this place again. theres so much more that i could say, but i wont even waste my time. if i get harassed over this review like other folks have i can PROMISE her it wont turn out the way she wants it to. i will record every phone call and document every text and will do my absolute best to have these cats taken to another shelter. unless you're secretly working for animal control to investigate the copious amount of claims on this place dont even bother. im happy there are cats that have been saved but my god what a terrible experience. read more

We adopted our 2 fur babies from Jasmin and Hi Kitty Kitty before we left Chicago for Texas. We found them through a petsmart adoption event. After applying for the adoption, Jasmin contacted us 4 days later. We have had nothing but a great experience with Jasmin and the shelter. Jasmin lives for the welfare of those shelter cats, do not let negative reviews deter you from visiting the shelter and giving those kitties a loving forever home! read more

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

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Long story short, my beloved cat had recently passed away (she was 15-we had given her all the treatment that modern medicine could offer). I visited the shelter and immediately fell in love with one of the cats. In fact, I prepurchased pet insurance for what ever cat I would adopt. I told Jasmine this. I provided documentation of the insurance. I offered to adopt another cat from her shelter as a companion. I actually volunteered several hours of my time to the shelter. First, I was told the cat had an eye infection and couldn't be adopted yet. So, I waited. Then the phone calls and texts stopped being answered. I noticed months later (and after adopting 2 lovely kitties from elsewhere, one of whom was an elderly kitty with a history of health issues-hence the pet insurance) that the cat I was interested in was still at the shelter. In fact, that cat remained at the shelter for another full year, which seems cruel when the cat could have been in a loving home. I think the worst part of my experience is that when I volunteered there, I heard other volunteers and Jasmine outright lie to other people who were looking to adopt a cat. Fact-there is no committee deciding cat adoptions. Fact-people were told that certain cats were already adopted or that there was a huge list and yet the cats remained in the shelter for months longer. Fact-paperwork "gets lost" but it is just an excuse. To this day, I don't understand how someone can claim to love these cats so much and yet behave in a way that is hurtful to both the cats and the potential owners. I did see some cats get adopted, so it can happen. It's just a really random process and certainly not professional and borderline unethical. I feel sorry for the cats. No matter how nice the shelter is, it is anxiety inducing for most cats. 7/28/17-This is an exact quote from the owner of the shelter proving my point that they keep certain cats as "bait/lure" cats. "Pammy went to her forever loving home with this wonderful couple, we are missing his wife she had to stay at work late the night when we did our follow up visit on Pammy. Pammy was the most wanted and beautiful kitty we had at our facility. She was famous at Hi Kitty Kitty, she brought many people to our shelter and got so many unwanted kitties adopted out. We rejected a few applications for her because they were not a perfect match for our Pammy and we got bad reviews from those people. We were waiting to find her the perfect home for her, she likes to have a playmate and this wonderful couple has their own cat who is very shy and they wanted a beautiful and playful kitty to pair with their cat. They drove all the way from Schaumburg to Rogers Park and they wouldn't give up on Pammy. It was pretty hectic driving in rush hour to deliver our kitty to her new home but this couple was just perfect for our baby. They are a young couple starting their new life in their new home and our kitty would be their second child with their first Kitty. . This is what the Hi Kitty Kitty members were looking for for our beautiful Pammy, she has wonderful parents and is really enjoying her life. Pammy came to Hi Kitty Kitty from the Angelina foundation and we want to give a very special thanks to Debbie and Mila for sending this beautiful kitty to our shelter. She was a lucky charm to Hi Kitty Kitty we are going to miss Pammy but at the same time we are very happy for our baby and her new family." While I am happy that Pammy finally got to live in a loving home, I find it sad and unethical that she was forced to live in a shelter for more than a year when she could have spent that time with a loving family. There were more than a "few" applications for Pammy just in the short three weeks that I volunteered there. When I volunteered at the shelter, Pammy habitually urinated outside of her litter box, which is a strong sign of stress in a cat. This shelter is now continuing this practice with another cat, Angelina (formerly Willa). By the way, this is the cat I wanted to adopt. When I inquired right before the original post of this review, I was told by Jasmine that Angelina was going to her forever home in London the following week. Yet another lie. It breaks my heart that this cat is essentially being sacrificed by Jasmine, willingly. People deserve to know that this shelter is unethically run. Yes, they save cats. Yes, that is certainly praise-worthy, but as someone who works in social services, you DON'T sacrifice the care of one living being for another, no matter what your motive is. You just work harder to get the job done in an ethical way. read more

Stay away from this place. They dont adopt to men. Its a cat prison. My application was accepted and i picked out a nice cat only to be ignored for two weeks. When I finally did get a hold of her she said I was denied because I have two men as roommates. And they had an issue with a man in and his roommates in the past. She asked what I would do if I was her, I said I would take it case by case basis. This logic was lost to her. If I was a lonely old feminist surrounded by trash and cats I wouldnt have a problem. If the women who worked there had a good man at home they would not be so obsessed with the cats. They are good cats there that have been in the shelter for over 3 years. Something weird is going on at Hikitty. Just go someplace else. They are unethical and hate men. hey dont deserve one star. read more

If I could, I would give 0 stars. I found an injured cat that I couldn't move or help. I called Animal Care and Control to come out and get him before he succumbs. When they still hadn't come I became desperate and started calling places to see if someone could help me get him picked up. I called this place, (since it has cat in it's name) and before I could get past I found a cat.... she interrupted me and started yelling at me about how she doesn't have any room for anymore cats and why am I calling a small shelter when there are so many bigger ones around. She yelled a couple other shelter names at me then hung up on me. I get her plight, I do, but she didn't even let me finish what I was saying. I wasn't trying to dump a cat on her, I was trying to get information on who I could get to help a cat in need. She had no compassion whatsoever, so I'm personally worried about the cats she does have in her possession. I would think she would have taken the time to listen to me, then tell me she couldn't help me or perhaps she would have been able to give me information that would save this cat. Good luck with this place. read more

I recently adopted to cats from Jasmine at Hi Kitty Kitty and couldn't be happier! Both cats are perfect! We wanted to get a kitten and Jasmine recommended that we get two so that they have a friend to play with. I was hesitant at first, but am so glad I got both of them. They are both social and friendly and each unique. The best part is, I don't feel bad when leaving for work, since they have each other to place with! Jasmine has also been great throughout the whole process. She really cares that the cats find good homes. I grew up with cats, but I really appreciated that she made sure we had all the correct cat supplies when she dropped off the cats and that we knew how to take care of them. She even gave us some toys! The toys are still our cats favorites! She has been quick to respond whenever we have questions and we still stay in contact, sending pics, 4 months later. The negative reviews stem from people that didn't get cats. Jasmine asks a lot of questions to make sure cats will find a good forever home, which I think is a rarity and a great thing in the pet adoption world. We definitely had a lot of questions asked and were worried we wouldn't get them, but so happy we did! I'd recommend Hi Kitty Kitty to anyone! read more

Wasn't happy with out come with the prescreening process with this agency, I was judged from a mistake that had happened almost 17 1/2 yrs ago, regarding about my reason diseased cat, that he was declawed only fronts, finding out many years later, how awful & limited your cat's our security & more ... poor decision at the time, learned & very educated about cat's & their well-being!! Feel lied to on top of it as well, plus I had called numberless times. Judged by someone to whom doesn't even know me nor my family or friends ... I truly would not refer anyone to this person... JK I'm would gladly to pay a feeder the cost for Maine coon, I would gladly adopt one that needs a home as well!! JH you don't me, be honest!! Being untrue will follow you, I had noticed that you picky on new homes for your foster pets ... there good homes out there ... you over look, shame you!! read more

I'm with the "I would give this place zero stars if I could" camp. But it's not the smell of the shelter; the place is small and overrun with cats, and Jasmine & the volunteers are doing their best. It's not Jasmine's lack of availability; I understand Jasmine has a job outside of running this shelter, and as a one-man operation I acknowledge that she's not going to have time to get everything done in a timely manner. It's not even how she treats the cats; it's obvious to me that Jasmine cares deeply about the cats in her shelter and wants them all to find a forever home. Rather, it's the lack of transparency. (Some backstory: I was interested in adopting a cat that wasn't ready for adoption, and I was prepared to wait two weeks as she initially suggested.) It's the fact that she told me to check in about a week and a half / ten days in, and then proceed to ignore all my calls, e-mails, and messages. (How do I know she was ignoring me? I had my husband call her 10 minutes after she missed my call, and she answered immediately). It's the fact that after the two weeks were up, she still failed to answer or return my calls. It's the fact that it has now been over three weeks, and I've been provided with no update on the status of the cat I was looking to adopt. It's the fact that she explained everything away by deferring to the judgment of a mysterious "Hi Kitty Kitty committee." Who are these people? Why am I only able to interact with them through Jasmine instead of receiving updates from them directly? If Jasmine hadn't completely disrespected my time and at least called me back to explain the delay, I would not have taken the time to leave this bad review. I imagine a lot of people interested in adopting slip through the cracks this way. I'm not going to tell you not to adopt from here, because the cats have done nothing wrong and they still deserve a loving home. I just want to warn you that if you do choose to adopt from this place, be prepared to deal with a thoroughly unprofessional person who will ignore you if she decides she doesn't want to deal with you. read more

I am deeply disheartened that I cannot give less then a star. This woman named Jasmine who runs this kitty mill is CRAZY. I went in to adopt and place was overrun with cats. I counted 96. That's right 96 cats and there could be more in some isolated rooms. The problem is that they are running this shelter (if you want to call it that) out of a small garden apartment in Rogers Park. When you walk in the smell hits you like a punch in the face. The poor kitties struggle for a space to lie down. I love cats so when I saw that this desperate situation so I thought I could help by adopting a cat or maybe 2 and donating some food. I applied to adopt one of them and then heard nothing. I had stopped by a couple of times to visit with my cat and donate food. The assistants who come by every other day to feed and clean the cat boxes were there and when I asked about the status of my adoption all they could say is you need to talk to Jasmine. She eventually told me that the Hi Kitty Kitty board (which I found out later is only her) decided to reject me because they had no record of my vaccinating my cat. The reason for this is when I first brought them to the vet I was still using their adopted names. So then I took my cat to the vet got him updated on his shots and gave her the information. She said she would pass it on to the board. Weeks and weeks passed. I continued to visit always bringing big bags of Pro Plan cat food. After a month I was starting to believe that they where stringing it out for the donations which I gladly would have continued if I was granted the cat. Then Jasmine said the day had come and she would be coming by. But as it turns out she was not bringing the cat she was doing a home inspection. My house is very spacious and meticulously clean and my cat is very happy and healthy but desperately wants a friend. She seems genuinely impressed and I assumed I would be getting the cat the next day. By then two months had by then passed I'd donated well over $200 in high end cat food to the "shelter". She kept putting off the adoption. Then in a conversation over the phone she let it slip that they advertise this cat because it's really cute and when people come they tell them they already have an application on her and they have to pick another one. That's right my cat was nothing more than a BAIT CAT!!! That poor kitty will never know anything but the overcrowded prison of that small basement apartment. I continued to try to adopt her or even a different cat but eventually she refused to take my calls or respond to my texts. This woman is unbalanced. This woman is deluded and this facility has no business being licensed by the state to care for animals. She belongs in jail for animal cruelty. That may seem like strong language to the casual observer but I challenge anyone to see this cat mill and come to a different conclusion. read more

I am not a rejected applicant or anything like that. I came here with my partner about a month or so ago looking for a cat to join our then current two. This place is located in a basement, and when we went there were easily around 40 to 50 cats crammed in there. The smell was awful. There was poop smeared on one corner of the floor. Every single cat had watering eyes and they crowded around the windows to get fresh air. They looked well fed and they were very sweet, but a lot of them were sneezing and drippy like they had respiratory infections. We heard the volunteer explain to another person that the reason why the specific cat they were looking at had a runny nose and eyes was because they had an allergy to the bleach they used. EVERY cat in there had those symptoms, and frankly I doubt they used much cleaning solution for anything. I don't know why anyone would use bleach around animals anyway. Also, you have to take your shoes off to go in. I was wearing a pair of flats without socks for work and had to wear these super disgusting airplane shoes over my bare feet, and on that floor. It was so uncomfortable and I wish I had known before. We asked about two cats, a kitten and a young adult and were told separately that they were "not ready for adoption yet." The younger one would be adoptable in about 4 weeks, and they said the same about the older one, so it seemed like there was no criteria for when a kitten would go up for adoption. They were also a little condescending and pushed for us to use science diet food (blech!). When we left we immediately stopped into a target before we got home to wash our hands. I kept feeling like I had to spit, like the smell and taste was just stuck in my mouth. I was so in love with this little kitten but after reading reviews on here wondered if it was even worth going through what sounds like a hellish adoption process with jasmine. We submitted an application but ultimately decided against adopting from hi hi kitty. We loved the cats we saw, but were sooo creeped out by the possible hoarding situation and uncleanliness. A few months later we ended our search at tree house in Andersonville - great place : ) read more

I was encouraged to visit the animal shelter by a call back from Jasmine. I brought my 3 adult children. The door was locked and for 20 minutes it seemed as though no one was home. (after having a verbal appointment). We were about to leave when Jasmine came to the door. There are a lot of cats. Every time we voiced love to adopt, we were told NO, you won't be approved, for various reasons. It seemed very strange and felt as though they did not want ANY of their cats adopted. We were encouraged to fill out an application, we did, then were notified we were declined. I have had several pets and treat them like princesses and spare no expense for medical care. They are an equal part of the family. I cannot imagine ANYONE declining such a loving home to a sheltered cat. Very strange situation, very strange process. read more

There were a lot of red flags with this place, but part of me had hope. The 'shelter' is actually just a basement apartment full of cats, which I guess if that's how it works, totally fine. While they're all well cared for, it just seems *off.* You have to call thirty minutes before arriving, which isn't mentioned on the website anywhere. I thought she misspoke, because that seemed absurd. So we arrived and were over the phone by Jasmine, the owner, that she had just left and wasn't there, and wouldn't be back for a couple of hours. So really, their hours of operation (11-9pm most days) are *actually* whenever she feels like being at the place. Even if another member is present, no one could know or visit, because A) the shelter number is just her cell phone number, and B) even if it were possible, she never picks up the phone, so she could not alert a present member at the shelter to open the door. After finally visiting the shelter, she and another volunteer/member?? I guess?? Were yelling at each other that they had lost a cat, completely ignored our existence in the place and left us to our own devices. Profanities among other things, which don't hurt my sensibilities in the least, but it was entirely unprofessional. Finally, after finding the cat somewhere and more yelling back and forth between the two, I was able to ask a few questions about a couple of the cats and the adoption process. Jasmine left the shelter soon after, and we were left with the other volunteer while we filled out an application. The volunteer kept mis-naming some of the cats, calling one of the ones we wanted to adopt "Pip" which even I knew, this cat was not Pip. Pip was completely differently colored, and a male, to be exact. Granted, there are way too many cats to keep up with for someone who is there probably only a couple hours, but maybe that's just me. After giving over the application, we were told it'd take three days for it all to go through, and we'd hear from them. Three days came and went, but we figured it was Saturday and Sunday, so we'd give them another day in case they tried to call the vet or something, and couldn't. Tuesday came, (we went Friday) and I called Jasmine, and after many times trying, finally got her to answer. She asked if we had visited. ... Well, yes. We sure had. I guess we weren't that memorable. Then she said she wasn't sure where our application was, or something to that effect, and said a member was dealing with it. 'Maybe we got rejected, or they were still working on it,' she didn't know, but she'd call me the next day. Wednesday. No call by 5pm, so I called her. No answer until I called a third time, which she answered hastily and said she was at some sort of office and she'd call me back. By 7:30 (the shelter was closed by then,) I was upset and texted her that I wanted to know what was going on. Close to 9pm I received texts saying they were very busy today, and oops, sorry, but the cats I applied to adopt were already adopted. She had *many* applications before *and* after me, and the members already chose an owner for her. I told her I disappointed, but not surprised this would happen, after reading the Yelp reviews, to which she said 'people that get rejected have nothing better to do than go on Yelp and hurt our animals.' That isn't it at all. This is the most disorganized business I've ever dealt with in my life. I suppose what bothers me most is that we were never told that the cats we applied to adopt had other applicants trying to do the same. Except the black one, we were told had people "interested" in her, and that was it. I asked the people I had written down as references and my vet if they were ever called by HiKittyKitty, and they never were. So I suppose the question is, did they even give our application a chance, or care? Was it looked at, or lost by the volunteer that day on Friday? What sort of business is this? I understand there is care for the cats. I truly do. They are all well cared for and fed, and terribly sweet. But this is *not* how to treat potential owners. One application per cat. Once there's an application on a cat? Accept no more until there is a clear. Don't get people's hopes up like that. It's truly devastating. Open the hours you say you are, have someone there at all times. Have a phone for the actual shelter site, that members can answer. If you're over worked, there's a reason. Fix it. read more

Unfortunately there is not a 0 stars. AVOID Hi Kitty Kitty! This place abuses cats by holding many of them hostage as marketing tools. They advertise cats that you CANNOT adopt. Jasmine will give you every reason in the book that you cannot adopt many of the abused hostages. In 30 years we have adopted a dog that lived 17 years, a cat that lived 19 years, and currently have an adopted cat that is 13. Our son of 18 years was also adopted. However, after driving an hour to see listed cats that she would not let us see, but picking out another and filling out an application, we are not good enough to adopt one of her marketing subjects. Avoid Hi Kitty, Kitty! read more

We recently adopted two healthy, well-adjusted cats from the Hi Kitty Kitty Cat Rescue/Sanctuary. The folks there could not have been nicer or more helpful. They spent time with us helping the cats adjust to their new environment and answering all our questions. After thoroughly examining every nook and cranny the cats quickly settled in as if they had lived here all their lives. We can't say enough good things about Hi Kitty Kitty and the concern and care they provide for the cats in their charge. We thoroughly recommend you consider adopting your cat (or two!) from them. If adoption isn't possible right now, they can always use a donation. read more

If you are eager to adopt a pet, such as a cat, or just curious to know how it is like to be around dozens of extremely naughty mini lions, please give this adoption center slightly north of the city a no-shoes visit. They make you take their shoes off at the door, Buddha style, and I like that in a shelter. I adopted a cat from Hi Kitty Kitty in July of 2016, and had an excellent experience throughout. All the cats were really well take care of. Most of them were very active. The little ones will climb on you if you give them attention. You'll see a cats play fighting, some running after each other like crazy, another falling down the ropes etc. Usual cat stuff. Being in a basement didn't seem to deter these guys from having fun. The volunteers at the shelter knew about each cat's behavior in detail. It is commendable to say that Hi Kitty Kitty is rigorous in its methods to find a suitable home, able to take well care of the pet provided other considerations are met, for e.g., toddlers, cat's past and its behavior etc. This ensures good matching and reduces the risk of pets being returned back to the shelter. That's bad for the cat. Lastly, the owner is really cool. She does it out of her own pocket while holding a full time job. Kudos. read more

What a great place for adoption! Cats are very loving and well looked after and staff and owner are extremely nice and caring. I have worked in the animal industry for quite some time and know that an adoption process must be done with great care and adopted out to the right person(s), pending cleanliness, ample space or time to spend with cat(s) etc. There are too many psychos and unreliable people in the world to just "give out" these kitties. So despite someone giving a negative review, really give Hi Kitty Kitty chance! Also a one woman run operation so may take a little while for actual adoption to happen, this is with most shelters. Want to make absolutely sure kitties will go to a good home, good for them! read more

Very strange experience. We came to the adoption event on a saturday after seeing cats this shelter posted on Petfinder. We immediately fell in love with Raja. We played with him for awhile. At Jasmine's advice we chose another cat to adopt along with Raja for companionship. We spent awhile at the shelter playing with the cats, talking to jasmine and trying to make the best choice for both our family and the cats. Jasmine was friendly and seemed genuine. She continuously refers to "other members" making decisions. A few times we felt she was just making up information on the fly. we filled out an application. We were informed that Raja would cost $400 and the other (alley cat) would cost $150. Seemed steep, but I felt it was a donation for the work they do. After a few days, I texted and called Jasmine and she finally responded that we were not approved (by the "other members") as Raja was not appropriate for us. No other explanations or suggestions of other cats. If my family is not appropriate for a cat I cannot imagine who would be... THEN, looking at these yelp reviews, I have seen Raja refusals multiple times, leaving him at this shelter for years-if he truly is a shelter cat. I think Raja is bait and not really up for adoption, which seems like a theme at this shelter. We wasted quite a bit of time with this shelter. If Jasmine had a frank conversion with is at the shelter we could have either adopted another cat or moved on and not wasted time. Probably better to look elsewhere. Not sure what's going on here. Very strange. read more

It borders on unethical the way both the animals and humans are treated at this shelter. Our family had recently grieved the loss of our beloved kitty due to an acute and untreatable health issue, which, however, didn't stop us from doing everything in our power to keep her comfortable in her last moments. We were ready for a new kitty to love. I found the kitty that I thought my family would love as well. I even briefly volunteered there, happily. I filled out my application. They kept giving me excuses. I would turn in more information. They never called my references. They never called my vet. If they had called my vet, they would have realized I was telling the truth that I had pre-purchased a health plan for our hopeful new kitty. Then I was told the cat had a health issue. I offered to pay for the treatment. I also told them I'd be willing to adopt a second cat from them. Still no calls to any of my references. I told them I'd be willing to wait until the cat was healthy. I checked in several times. No response, until she finally said she was sorry about the cat. But then, I see the exact same cat is on the website again, with a different name. I contact them, but of course, no response. That cat has been sitting in a shelter when it could have been a cherished cat in a loving home for the last four months. The cat is still listed on the website. This is cruel and thoughtless treatment to both the cat and the people. There's more. While there on multiple occasions, I heard the owner outright lie to people. She'd tell one person one thing and another something totally different. One particular cat was applied for by at least 2 people that I met and both seemed like lovely people. You guessed it. That cat is also still there. So, we ended up adopting our adorable old dude, Zeke, from another shelter, who were overjoyed to know he already had health insurance and would be taken care of by lifelong cat owners. I still feel sad when I think about the sweet kitty who is still sitting in a shelter because either someone doesn't know how to run a business or is just flat out unethical. Any way you look at, it's just sad. read more

We loved it. Imagine the dedication it takes to manage all the kitties, many rescued from euthanasia, with just a few volunteers! Yes, it is a little funky - realize it's inevitable, with so many cats using the boxes. All the cats we saw were friendly, shiny coats and in great condition. Stop by to check them out to adopt or just to play with cats, so rewarding. They will shower you with love. Yes, the lookers like Maine Coons get spoken for fast but that's in any rescue. We were approved and wanted to adopt a kitty there but an unexpected Craiglist rehome add landed us a rescue kitty from another source. Jasmine is kind and you can really tell she cares for her little colony. We saw cats getting fed and the food was top quality which is great to see, no Friskies or similar garbage there. Thank you Jasmine! read more

I have adopted two cats from Hi Kitty Kitty and I had a wonderful experience. This shelter is managed by wonderful person Jasmine who dedicated her life to saving and helping abused and abandoned cats, everything she does is directed towards one goal - making sure that cats get forever loving home. I don't understand how people here have anything to complain about. All these 1 star reviewers, can you imagine yourself doing so much volunteering work and sacrifice so much to help animals? Do you expect it to be 5 start hotel that is here to please you and provide you incredible customer service support? Yes, this place is just a garden apartment but it well taken care of, and cats have all they need there, it's all done by given means, maybe one day there will be more donations and some aid and shelter will be in some bigger place, why instead of complaining people would try to understand and help. If not work and kindness of people who initiated Hi Kitty Kitty hundreds and hundreds of cats would be dead... read more

I wish there were a Hi Kitty Kitty in every city. It doesn't have the amount of resources or personnel a lot of other shelters have, but they make up for it with the amount they care about each cat and the families they end up with. The people who run it live every day with these cats, and the attachment to them shows. Don't expect to drop in one day and bring your cat home that day. The longer timeline can be frustrating at times, but it's because there's one woman, Jasmine, who runs the shelter single-handedly, and very few other volunteers available all the time, so the small staff, the high volume of cats they have to take care of, and the more involved process all contribute to things taking a little longer. I swear it's worth it. HKK takes care of the vet check-up your cat should get during the adoption process, which is nice. They deliver every adopted cat to the adopting household, and they bring a genuine starter pack of toys the cat enjoyed in the shelter. One thing some of the negative reviews here mention is feeling like HKK wants to stay involved in the lives of the cats they adopt out or this fear that HKK could come and take the cat back at any moment. This is not how HKK treats people who adopt their cats, and the people who run this shelter are only helpful in continuing to offer assistance to the people who take their cats. They're also the shelter of last resort for a lot of cats who have no where else to go. My boyfriend and I had one cat for a couple years who moved with us from a tiny studio to a larger apartment, where we wanted to introduce a second cat. It was very important to us that we get a cat who could get along with our old boy, and Jasmine was incredibly helpful in telling us about each cat's personality and her experience with bringing new cats into a household. She made us promise to give our old boy even more attention in the first few weeks after we brought our new cat into our apartment, because she can't help caring about every cat in the world. She's been amazingly helpful with any questions or needs we've had for both our Hi Kitty Kitty adoptee and our older cat, and the lives of both have definitely been better off for our becoming part of the HKK community. Our new baby from HKK is also SO lovely, so friendly, wants to be petted and held and squished constantly, gets along so well with our old guy (once the territorial old boy got used to the new situation). You get certain things out of the streamlined, corporatized, isolated adoption process you can find at a lot of other shelters, but what you get from Hi Kitty Kitty is totally different and absolutely necessary in this world. And the cat we got is an absolute angel!!! read more

I found a cat I was interested in on Petfinder...this cat was Charm at Hi Hi Kitty. I immediately emailed Jasmine letting her know I was interested. At the time the shelters were closed because of Covid-19 (completely understandable) but I asked her to let me know when they would be able to do adoptions again, and I let her know which cat I was primarily interested in. I did not receive a response. According to their website they were going to be opening on June 1. So I called the week before inquiring about if they would be doing appointments and if i could tentatively schedule one provided they did open June 1. She said for me to wait for an email because they would be responding to emails. I patiently waited. I never received a response so I called again and didn't get an answer, so I left a message. This went on for nearly 3 weeks....a cycle on repeat of me trying to set up an appointment to come meet Charm, her asking me questions about home life, and about where I lived, her promising to call me the next day to set something up, me waiting without hearing anything, calling her but getting no response, etc etc etc. how do you ignore people that are trying to save an animals life by adopting it? I wish I had read the reviews on here before getting my hopes up and wasting my time. I do not think she is legit, or should have these precious animals in her care. Do not deal with her. read more