I am a very experienced cat person, with a great and loving home for them. The KK people were horrible to me. I did everything they asked, including an up-to-the-minute vet visit for my existing kitty, which cost me $353. The coordinator was hateful and spiteful; she lied and treated me with disrespect. There was one kitty I loved immediately and really wanted. We were perfect for each other and I applied for him. Then, after a few days, the coordinator made a stipulation that to adopt him I would have to adopt another kitty, one that my kitty had supposedly bonded with. OK, fine, not a problem. Then, after another week of stringing me along for these kitties, she gave them to someone else and sent me an F-You email. The people who run Kitty Kind are antisocial parasites (yes, antisocial; look up the psychological markers and you will recognize them). They use homeless kitties to give themselves the veneer of being caring people, so they can feed their poison by hurting innocent would-be adopters. I've seen their sort before. Look at all the negative reviews. We can't all be wrong. They should find a different object for their pathology, one that keeps them away from animals and people, locked in a little room somewhere. read more

I had the same experience as some of the comments below. Went through the adoption process fielding multiple follow up questions about window screens and other issues. We even had a meeting lined up with the foster only to be told that we did not meet the adoption criteria. I followed up by email to find out which criteria we did not meet and what can be done to address the issue and never got a response back. The whole process was intrusive and lacked professionalism and basic customer service. KittyKind got videos of my home and asked me about my relationship and didn't even have the common human decency to return my email. read more

My cat gets lonely during the day while I'm at work, so I decided it was time to adopt a second cat so she would have a friend. In late March, I visited KittyKind at Petco with an interest in Dracula - a young male cat described as "cautious when meeting new people, but when there are other cats around (or treats), he is much braver. He's very affectionate and loves to get cuddles and pets." This couldn't have been further from the truth. It wasn't until after I brought Dracula home that I found out he was still feral and terrified of people. My experience during the application process was similar to other reviewers' experiences. It took away the excitement of adopting a new family member. Despite having cats my whole life and having a cat of my own already, the interview was conducted as if I knew nothing. I understand being wary of strangers adopting pets, but there's a limit. It was interrogative and judgmental - and at times during the overall application process, even distrusting and suspicious. If Kathy didn't like an answer to a question, she would jump in and wouldn't listen to the rest of what I had to say. I didn't feel like the volunteers were truly listening and left the interview feeling discouraged. A week after my interview, I went to meet Dracula at Meow Parlour. Despite his online description, both the volunteers at Petco and at Meow Parlour said they didn't know his personality and that it could take weeks to get to know his true personality. He was only described as sweet and playful. My family has always adopted the shy cats and I can handle them, so shyness was no issue for me. During my visit, Dracula didn't leave the back room, but he would play with me through the cat door and eat treats from my hand. It was clear that a place like Meow Parlour wasn't right for him. Though he was comfortable around other cats, he was in an environment where different people are constantly going in and out. It wasn't a place that would give him the chance to acclimate to people properly. KittyKind clearly didn't have Dracula's best interest, and I wanted to save him and give him a proper home. I signed the foster-with-intent form and took Dracula home, under the impression that he was simply a very shy cat. But during the course of a week, I noticed his body language and his reaction to people was beyond that of a shy cat - he looked scared and as if he perceived himself as trapped. He would respond to treats and wasn't afraid of my cat, but he was terrified of me. At times, he would retreat back and tense up if I tried to pet him, and he didn't trust me at all. It made me feel awful - I didn't want him to live in fear or feel trapped. On his first night - and on 2 separate occasions days later when I tried to get him into his carrier or give him medication for a cold - he was so scared he lost control of his bowel movements. During the day, he would hide in the tightest spots of the bathroom and wouldn't move to eat or play until I went to bed. I kept KittyKind updated during the week that I had Dracula. I was essentially told that he probably just needed more time to adjust. Under normal circumstances, I would agree, but this wasn't the case. Shortly after I took Dracula home, I came across a Facebook post that read: "We were considering finding him another foster home with KittyKind as he was not progressing anymore but now we'll give him a few more days as hopefully it was a breakthrough!" The post was published in early April - 2 months after he had gone to the cafe. It seems clear even the organization knew he wasn't adoptable yet. He should have been fostered until he was properly socialized to be with humans and then made available for adoption. A cat cafe wasn't the right place to teach a cat how to interact with humans when he is terrified of them. I wanted to be the one to save Dracula, but he was unhappy, scared, and felt trapped. Keeping him would have been inhumane because I didn't have the resources to take care of him to the full extent that he needed. He needs to be with a foster who can dedicate time to socializing him and teaching him how to trust. KittyKind was quick to put him back up for adoption, using the same exact description on the website, despite the concerns I voiced about his fear of humans, distrust, and lack of socialization. He was not ready for adoption the first time, and they need to take the time to make sure he's ready before attempting to do it again. Be wary of the cat descriptions online and what volunteers tell you in person. In this case, the volunteers didn't know the cat they were putting up for adoption. That's a disgrace to both the cats who need a home and to those looking to adopt. Since then, I've adopted a curious, loving, cuddly kitten from the ASPCA. Everything from the application process to the cat intros has been far smoother. Everyone is happy, and it's been an exciting time and just what every adoption should be like. read more

As a first time pet owner Kittykind has been extremely helpful to me. The first cat I got from them was very sweet but she wasn't quite the right fit, they worked with me and allowed me to foster two more cats until I was able to find the right fit with the 3rd cat named Pepe'. He is doing very well so far and I think things will be just fine from here on out. They encouraged me to stay in constant contact via phone or email and without their help and education I wouldn't have been able to get through the challenges alone. Also the fact that they accept their animals back for any reasons no questions asked is a very nice option as life can throw things at you and also means the cats are at least assured they'll have another chance and won't end up in a shelter to get put down. read more

I used to volunteer at Kitty Kind in college and I remember a lot of enthusiastic volunteers putting in a lot of hours who wanted to find loving cats good homes. This is not that place anymore. My husband and I are both experienced pet owners and on two different occasions, we have met with volunteers who seem to have absolutely zero interest in you actually adopting the cats. Incredibly rude and unhelpful. On top of that, they don't have any interest in listening to your actual needs about temperament and age regardless of reason. The volunteers seem to be incredibly possessive of their fosters to the point that it makes you feel like they have no desire to have you consider adopting them. Go anywhere else. read more

We started the adoption process on Saturday and our kitty was home by Thursday. Patricia, Kimberly, and crew were super nice and informative. Unlike other larger facilities that I have adopted from in NYC, Kitty Kind Team knew where our kitty was from, exactly how old she is, and even gave us a loaner carrier when the zipper on ours broke. I will continue to use them as a solid resource for any kitty questions for years to come. Not only did they give us great advise, but they gave us cost saving advise. Kimberly, I still owe you $1! read more

My wife and I recently adopted two kittens from Kittykind. The process involves an initial application, followed by a home visit. After successfully having your home approved, Kittykind allows you to take your new family member home. There is subsequently a spay/neuter appointment done through the ASPCA vet. Kittykind operates (I believe) primarily on a volunteer basis out of the Petco at 14th street. The volunteers general level of training, aptitude and pet knowledge is, put generously, poor. As a result, the first time we went to view possible adoptions, we were given no information about the process, nor what kittens were available. We had to return the following day. The following day we met with Lauren who is the sole reason I'm giving Kittykind 1 star. Lauren was knowledgeable, and thorough. We filled out the application and completed the home visit. We were happy with Lauren's help. The next (and thankfully) last involvement with Kittykind was the follow up appointment for spay/neuter. This was an unmitigated disaster. Run entirely by volunteers, it is patently obvious that little if any care was given to our pets during the procedure. As first time pet owners, we obviously had questions. These questions were met with annoyance/frustration. Kittykind insists that you arrive promptly at 6am to drop your pets off, however they were 45 minutes late to the pick up time. Our pets were unquestionably ignored and the after care instructions are sparse(if any). For an organization that requires you to jump through literal hoops to adopt an animal, that lives i a literal cage in a high traffic pet store, it's axiomatic that they subsequently seem to not care at all about how your pets are treated after a (obviously traumatic) procedure. The general modus operandi for Kittykind gravitates between rude/judgmental staff and clueless/unhelpful/rude volunteers. While we love our pets dearly, we will never use Kittykind again. read more

The folks at Kittykind helped me find my former cat. They were great -- they helped me think through what cat best fits my needs and were welcoming, kind, and patient throughout the process. They are deeply about the organization's mission and well-being of the cats, who are very well cared for. As an all-volunteer organization, it's amazing what these folks do. read more

I am writing this review because after reading all the reviews on their yelp page I finally realized I was not alone. I am familiar with their location at Petco in Union Square. At the time of the incident I was looking for a companion cat to the cat I had at home. Their informational flyers gave alot of information on the organization and one of those points was that someone from the organization would help in the introduction of a second cat to your current pet. So I wanted to ask questions as to what that would entail. After pacing for about 5 minutes the staff member finally looked my way and asked if i had a question. She didn't really seem up for questions from me and acted as if I was interrupting her.... I explained my situation and asked what their help with the intro would entail. She very curtly told me that they do not do that. (repeated it at least 3 times) She said that would be my responsibility at the time they drop off the cat. I showed her the flyer where it stated that they would help. (Which at first I thought was great seeing as how no other organization I looked into offered that). She waved her hand at me dismissing the flyer saying..."Yea well that flyer needs to be updated, we do not do that' It seems to me that their attitude towards potential adopters actually is hindering what the organization was initially set up to do which is provide forever homes to these cats. Staff is not welcoming at all. But the volunteers there seem genuinely glad to try and answer some questions if they can. read more

Humiliating experience. Never to be repeated. Went twice to be asked Invasive, silly questions. My daughter had recently had an injury and it was recommended she get a cat. Because of this, she has trouble getting her thoughts accross and is considerably slowed down.The first feline choice was "in foster care" and off premises. We were told to come in to PETCO /Union Square. Once there,we had to return the next day. The application asked for every detail of your life, including finances. Meanwhile all the available cats sat glummily crammed in cages. Some had been there for years, well no wonder! Anyway, my daughter got email saying her circumstances were unclear and thus, she was not eligible to adopt a cat! The woman interviewer Aimee was not at all warm, in fact down right rude and ignorant and made us both irritable. It was a totally negative experience. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME. Go somewhere where they are nice and cats look better cared for. read more

INCREDIBLY caring people who obviously love their job. We've now adopted 2 cats from their Petco in Union Square location. Both cats have clearly been treated well and cared for very closely. The staff were knowledgeable, approachable, and you could legitimately see a look of sadness that you were taking one of their beloved cats. They are more than willing to provide help/information after the fact as well. Overall I was VERY impressed with them. read more

I have adopted two cats from Kitty Kind. One in July 2010 and another just last month. Each time I have worked with Miriam and only have the highest praises for her and the organization. They are extremely helpful and caring. I emailed Miriam and Emily numerous times with questions (I am a new pet owner) and they were so informative and encouraging. I hope they know just how much they bring joy to people! Thank you! read more

This place is the worst, and that's pretty ridiculous considering the many wonderful adoption/rescue organizations within walking or easy subway distance, even at other PetCo locations. After losing our beloved cat in a tragic accident we went here to inquire about fostering -- not ready for a full-on new pet, but maybe caring for a little furball in need of some love would help us both (humans and cats). Immediately the outright rude interrogation began: "Well, you're eventually going to adopt, right?" "You can't just foster without agreeing to give them a permanent home." "You have to just take whatever cat we give you, you can't pick." (That was my favorite, considering the fact that we have another cat at home already -- I'm sure the fostered cats who prefer to be alone would love that.) Application filled out, then the ridiculous "interview" starts full of invasive sharp-toned interrogation and judgmental statements (not questions) about our current cat care aptitude. Mind you, neither of us were bothered by the questions about our vet and feeding regimens (which are fair and necessary) but the follow-ups, unasked for commentary, and scowling patronizing criticism, including sharp questioning of our vet's recommendations and prescriptions. Now, let me pause here to explain that there should be screening. It's irresponsible to let some rampant pet abuser or neglectful jerkoff adopt a pet who was just rescued from a bad situation. But 1) there are ways to do this politely and respectfully and more effectively, and 2) any sane person should be able to tell the difference between a twit who doesn't know how to take care of a cat and a die-hard pet lover who only feeds them Weruva Truluxe (most expensive on the market), feeds them on a vet-prescribed diet including measured amounts for weight loss (including vet contact info), and takes their geriatric cat in for acupuncture appointments twice a month. Seriously, at that point in the conversation, that's when you as a pet adoption employee should think, "We have a good one on the line. Let's try to convince them to take two." Instead we got nasty, narrow-eyed, raised-voice condemnations of every one of our choices. "How did the cat who died get out?" "He just ran out when we opened the door." "Well, did you see him?" "Of course not -- if we did he'd still be alive!" "Well, how did that happen?" Then: "How much food does she get?" "A couple ounces per meal." "That's damned low." "That's what the vet told us to feed her, and she gained two pounds last month." "You're supposed to do that gradually." "How do you know we didn't?" Finally I cut the conversation short seeing as my wife -- who had just finished a 45-minute crying jag in a pet bereavement session -- was about to burst again. Here's the thing -- all you have to do is be polite and you'll find the miscreants. If you know two things about hard conversations, sniffing out liars, and judging character, you know that the best thing is to put people at ease and get them talking. Let them hang themselves in how much rope you gave them. Let them feel safe in admitting that they neglect their pets and don't know what they're doing. Instead, this wretched lowlife berates you until you can't take it anymore and then lets prime adoption candidates walk out the door and go to a breeder (which is our next stop once our grief subsides a little). Also, and I probably should have mentioned this first, but these bumbling idiots actively lie in their pet descriptions. One beautiful kitty, described as "gentle, loving, calm, and happy" on the card growled and hissed at me every time I walked by the cage. When I told a volunteer that she was unhappy she just said, "I know, she's too big for her cage," while a double-sized cage sat open and unused next to her. My sister adopted a cat years ago, also described as loving and sweet, who was so feral and violent she had to bring him back. When my wife asked about where the cats came from the ridiculous answer was, "I don't know - Brooklyn or Queens?" When she clarified that she meant the environment, not the borough, the volunteer said she didn't know. HOW CAN YOU NOT KNOW THIS? It is not only literally your entire job to know this but it's also probably the single most important piece of information in figuring out whether or not the cat is matched to the right new owner. Seriously, avoid this place like the plague, and here's to hoping they're put out of business so the poor cats in their negligible "care" can be brought to a much better rescue organization soon. read more

Misleading, unorganized, chaotic, confusing! This is about Kitty Kind, not soo much about the volunteers, and definitely not about the cats themselves. After looking on Petfinder at "available" cats, I emailed Kitty Kind about specific cats I was interested in meeting for possible adoption. The response was quick and nice, saying I could meet them. I made an appointment, thinking maybe they have more cats hidden somewhere else in Petco? Because how could all those "available" cats possibly be in Petco?....Or maybe the appointment was so that they could make sure the cats I was interested in would be there that day instead of in their foster homes...It was a Saturday, really busy and the volunteers were obviously really stressed out and overwhelmed, general bad vibes. I did a quick look around and only saw one of the kittens I had inquired about. When I finally got to speak to the woman who had corresponded with me, I asked to see the cats I emailed her about, she was convinced I had asked about this one cat that had already been adopted...I kept telling her no, you have it/me mixed up, even telling her the names of the cats, but she wouldn't let up and even introduced me to another volunteer saying I was the woman who had asked about xxx. I gave up on that and asked about the kitten that was there, and was told that Kitty Kind does not let kittens under one year be adopted as single cats. "Even though I work from home all the time and can play with her?" "No, it's in their nature to grow up around other kittens." Hmmm...well, isn't also in there nature not to be domesticated? And isn't saving just one cat better than a life in a tiny cage in a really chaotic stressful pet store with people gawking and prodding? Then she tried to get me interested in other cats including the tragic stories that come with them. I tried to convince her about the kitten again, and she curtly told me that if I wanted a kitten I could go to another shelter and handed me a sheet of paper with a list of some shelters and then walked away from me. Okaaay....My boyfriend and I had already been to a few great shelters in Brooklyn, where we live, and this was a 3rd time to a shelter, and even though I wanted it to feel right with a "connection," we were both getting impatient about not adopting yet. So we looked at some of the cats there to see if maybe...? At the other shelters, you can hold the cats to see how you interact, but at Kitty Kind, you are only allowed to stick your hand in. Understandable as Petco is large and busy, but really it's not the best get-to-know. Anyway, after a really short "interview" where they deemed I had cat experience because I had a cat before, we chose a cat that they said was 8 months old and could be single because she grew up as a single kitten. I was also told she had just come in that morning and to give her time and space, which I'll admit I am not good with as my only cat experience was my one really friendly lap cat...later I put the pieces together from forms and update emails that my cat is actually one year old and they really couldn't provide me details of how she adjusted and acted in her foster home that she supposedly lived in for one month... So fast forward, it's almost been 4 months and our cat has made herself at home, and is pretty good, but it's been stressful trying to figure her out and on occasion she still growls and bites which really terrifies me as I have no experience with that type of cat behavior AT ALL....I gave up on asking Kitty Kind for advice because I am just told all cats are different and if I'd like to return her....I should have known better as when it came time to take our cat home, the volunteer said she had to get someone else to take my cat out of the cage and into a carrier....probably because she would have been scratched and bitten.... CONS - initial correspondence made no mention that the cats I was interested weren't available, or that single kittens are not adoptable, just said come by! - not like other shelters that seem more concerned about matching cat with human, than vice versa...ie, bidawee and more - interview was really uh, not thorough - feel like they shoved the cat on me. take her home now, today! even though you have no food or litterbox set up, and she just got here and you just met for 10 mins! - they need a proper shelter space where feral cats can have adequate socialization before being adopted! Even if you have had cats before, it doesn't make you a cat expert to handle all types of cats and the cat may not be familiar with humans. - their website is either not up-to-date or some cats I had initially asked about are still there, even though I was told they had been adopted. - really expensive adoption fee. PROS + no-kill + trial-adoption is an option before fully adopting + "returnable" whenever Bottom line, research and go with another shelter like Barc, Bidawee, or Empty Cages. read more

My boyfriend and I started looking for a second cat in March. We discussed it at length, did our research, and headed to Meow Parlor to meet some rescue kitties. We met an adorable cat, Buddy, who we loved- so we headed to KittyKind. We met Kathy, the adoption rep, who gave us an application to fill out and then "interviewed" us. I put interview in quotation marks because it really was a pleasant conversation about our ideas about pet care and who we are as people. We walked out of the conversation with some great recommendations on better food within our price range and lots of info on how to introduce the cats to one another. We did the home visit a couple days later to make sure our windows had viable screens (kitties often experience "high rise syndrome" and KittyKind is careful not to let bad accidents happen). We picked Buddy up from Meow Parlor the next day. Unfortunately our resident cat did not bond with Buddy and we brought him back (happy to say he was adopted not too much later) and we picked up Amber to bring home. Five days later signed the adoption papers. I had such a great experience that I kept coming back to see Kathy and share pictures of my babies with her. I guess it was so great because I never left and now volunteer here. Adopting from KittyKind is not like the ACC or ASPCA- you don't bring a cat home the same day & the process is more extensive- but it's so worth it in the end. The volunteers never stop caring for the cats and answering questions at any point in the cat's life. KittyKind is there for the life of the cat. Please come see for yourself the hard work and dedication that makes this place so wonderful! read more

This was my first experience with adopting a pet and it was pretty horrible. Like all the past reviews, these people are disrespectful, judgmental, and very mean. Oh and you know why most of the reviews at the bottom are 5 stars? BECAUSE THEY WORK FOR THE ORGANIZATION! And no kill? Then please explain why there were 200 dead cats in the organization owner's backyard! I live right on Union Square and I wander in Petco weekly to see the cats that were available for adoption. I've been wandering in and out for around a year and talked to some of the volunteers, many were nice -- but not the one I talked with on the day I finally decided to add a family member to my home. I've owned 5 dogs in different times of my life, and only one cat, but I am familiar with how to handle and what to feed them, etc. I've been debating whether to purchase a purebred cat (I fell in love with Scottish Folds) or adopt one. In the end, I decided to adopt one. So I made my way to Petco and had my heart set on a black kitten. The lady I talked with was pretty elderly and what I thought was a inquiry quickly became a judgment/interrogation session... "Hi, I was wondering what the adoption process is like." "Oh, you just fill out these forms and we do two home inspections. Where do you live?" "Right on Union Square" "Oh, that's good. We also require that your home be clean and large enough to house a cat" (I'm pretty much WTF-ing right now, how much space does a cat need -__-) "Okay, can I get a form?" She hands me the form and as I start filling it out, she suddenly snags the clipboard away from me, "Oh, you're not 21?!" "Ummm...No..I'm 20. Is there a rule you have to be 21 to adopt?" "Yes, we have that rule. You are not financially capable of supporting the cat because you are not 21. And we feel you are not responsible enough to adopt a cat either." WTF?! This is age discrimination! NO WHERE on their website, or ANY other adoption organization requires you to be 21 to adopt! And age has NOTHING to do with whether or not you as a person is responsible or not! Also, how does being 21 = financially capable?! If I'm able to support my doorman apartment building on Union Sq in Manhattan, I'm pretty sure I can afford having one cat in my life! This experience was so off-putting I decided to get my purebred Scottish Fold in the end and I am just as happy. Reading all these past reviews I just feel bad for the cats - many could have been placed in great homes but because of the people working there, the cats are stuck behind the cramped, small, smelly cages in Petco. And these people think the cats would be in a worse home than these unsanitary prisons! Ha! Oh, and yes, the cages aren't really clean and usually they house 2 cats per cage, and it smells pretty bad. The cages are also WAY too small (IMO) for two kittens, moreover adult cats, who are they to judge whether you have a big enough area for cats or not!! There are definitely better organizations out there to adopt from. Also, the previous owner of Kittykind was found to have dumped 200 dead cats in her backyard. Not kidding, google it. Marlene Kess. Eeeek! More reason to STAY AWAY from them! read more

RUDE & NEUROTIC STAFF. I had the WORST experience with KittyKind on more than one occasion. After reading other reviews, it seems I am not alone - which made me feel better after my awful experience. I should say that the volunteers were great, but the staffers who did the interviews and handled "communication" were not. This was after having emailed for several weeks with only one response, my partner and I both stopping in separately on various occasions, getting contact information, and never hearing back. So we both went in together. When we got there the staffer who made my experience awful was literally yelling at the volunteers and anyone around her. I watched several people walk out shaking their heads - I almost did too, except that I really want cats! My partner and I held two kittens that we wanted to adopt. The volunteer was wonderful. Then she directed us to Lauren to apply. When I realized that Lauren was the same screaming woman, I took a deep breath, put on my best smile, and spoke to her. I filled out the application, checking off multiple boxes in response to some questions because I am open to a variety of types of cats. She found this distressing and asked me lots of questions about it -most repeated because she didn't listen to anything I said. She did latch on to two things: declawing and dry food, but didn't remember anything else. She proceeded to reprimand me over and over about declawing (which was done to my previous cat 15 years ago and at the vet's orders in another rural state during a time when declawing wasn't consider the abomination it is now). She also told me I was wrong to feed my previous cat dry food, even though I explained it was what was recommended by the vet and, as he got older we tried a variety of food-types to meet his needs. What was the worst part is that we had lost our cat to intestinal cancer a month or so ago and she could not seem to remember this and made us retell the story of his illness and passing at least three times. It was distressing to do that - especially to a woman who was so rude. I tried to defend my choices and she told me she was just trying to find out my philosophy, and that it was OK if it was different than hers. LIES. She fixated on those two things, didn't remember the important things, didn't seem to care that we had excellent reviews from vets, that our last cat was healthy until the end, etc. In addition, she interviewed us in the middle of the store while she sat in a chair and we had to stand over her. It was a waste of time. She heard two things she didn't like, didn't listen to explanations, and said she had extreme reservations about my application. She also had never heard of our vet(s) and turned up her nose about where we live. There are many other good agencies out there that won't treat you like this. I suggest working with them instead. I also observed the other staff person on duty who was acting pretty much the same way. read more

I wish I could give a separate review for SOME of the volunteers at KittyKind, if I could I would give a couple of them a 5. But since this is for the organization I'll only give them 1 for their no kill policy but that's all. My boyfriend and I adopted our cat Meow Meow here back in 2008 and was told he was only 1 and 1/2 years of age and FIV-. We loved this cat so much and thought we would have him for awhile since he was so young. Flash forward two years and we're rushing to the vet's office after work because kitty was sneezing that morning. That emergency visit ended up becoming one of the worst weeks of our lives. We were told he was FIV+ and was in the beginning stages of renal failure (CFR). I gave Meow Meow fluids twice a week for 6 months then he took a turn for the worst. This time we went to Bid A Wee that was highly recommended by a friend. This time we got more bad news. Meow Meow was not in the beginning stage of renal failure but the last stage and that he was at least 10-12 years old. Meow Meow was hospitalized for 4 days and to everyone's surprise he bounced back from death's door. He was still in his the last stages of CFR but with meds and fluid therapy everyday he would be more or less "normal". One year later he went back to to the vets for another 4 days, he made it through again. Five months after that we lost Meow Meow. We had no choice but to put him to sleep on March 8, 2012. That morning he was very weak and not moving. We rushed him to the pet ER. The vet told us Meow Meow was dying and the best thing to do is to put him to sleep. The vet at the 24 hour pet ER told us he was at least 15 years old judging by his teeth and that our cat died of "old age". P.S.- The male volunteers who do the interviews are much nicer than most of the female volunteers who do them. They female interviewers wouldn't give me the time of day and walked away from me to help someone else. FYI Just because I'm Chinese does't mean I'm adopting them to eat them! read more

I don't think a lot of people realize how heartbreaking and difficult it can be to try to rescue just one cat off the street. They are often sick, terrified, and many don't make it from the stress alone. It's not a given that these little guys will get a happy ending, but Kitty Kind, its rescuers, and its volunteers are doing their very best to place hundreds upon hundreds of cats in loving homes each year. I think it's unfair to review them poorly after having had a frustrating or emotional experience with the process--the rescue and adoption of an animal in need is inherently frustrating and emotional! But that doesn't mean it's not incredibly worth it. We came to Kitty Kind after adopting what turned out to be a very sick tabby from the ACC. After four vet visits in 10 days, the little guy died, and the ACC offered no support whatsoever. It was harrowing. When we were finally ready for a new cat, we decided to work with someone other than the ACC. So we began to occasionally wander into Kitty Kind's space at the USQ Petco to see if we felt a spark. When we finally found our little guy--who has turned out to be the most adorable little cat-dog/personal assistant ever--Kitty Kind was diligent and supportive. They inspected our apartment, which was mostly about checking our window screens, and asked us questions like what kind of food we'd feed him. They let us foster to adopt, since they knew we were traumatized from our ACC experience and wanted a grace period in case kitty had some crazy secret issue. When he turned out to have a little cold, like most rescue cats do, I popped into Petco and the Kitty Kind volunteers provided me with medication and reassurance, free of charge, saving me both a vet visit and a panic attack. Now kitty is healthy, happy, and really settling in. I wouldn't hesitate to adopt from Kitty Kind again. A last note: Don't go by the pictures online alone. The cats go fast, so a cat posted online might already be gone. And sometimes they have others on site that aren't posted online. Plus, a picture just isn't the same as seeing them in person. Go see some kitties at USQ today! read more

The volunteers at kittykind do not want to adopt out cats. They simply look at you and decide if you are fit to own a cat. They criticized the fact that I feed my cat dry food (vet recommendation). My husband and I decided to go to the animal control center and had a wonderful experience there. read more

I've adopted cats for 30 years +, and the last cat I adopted (10 years ago) was from kittykind. But now, the people fostering cats, want an amazing amount of personal information, including pictures of apartment, credit stuff and all kinds of weird stuff. I'm not comfortable sharing this with strangers. Interesting enough, they don't ask for vet or personal recommendations. So my advice is go to BIDAWEE or ASPCA. Update-- on reflection, I realize Kittykind folks are trying to mirror the process for adopting children (which I have done). But the social workers involved there are well trained, there are a protections for everyone involved, and while underpaid, are not volunteers. read more

Just want to say smth about people who leave 1 star reviews. Yes, at Kitty Kind they interview for a long time but that`s a positive thing. Those cats were abandoned and KK tries to make sure they find their forever home. Unfortunately not everybody who wants a cat can take proper care of it. I have my 1st cat ever and I did weeks of online research in terms of good nutrition for him. I can tell you, dry food is not ideal food for cats. Cats can get dehydrated & accidentally overeat if you don't add water. Cats are carnivore and eat small animals like mice, birds in wild. Raw is considered the most easily digested, nutrient-available form of cat food. Cats eat in many small meals per day. Dry food is fattening and salty, as a result cats are always dehydrated even though they drink water. (they also tend to not drink enough water they need if fed dry food). With age they start to have health problems. It`s like feeding your kids fast food every day. My cat eats only premium cat food (surprisingly it`s not more expensive than "cheap" commercial brands) plus I freeze organic meat for him (to kill all bacteria), defrost and give him raw meat. It`s good for his teeth and gums and he loves real meat. So far great health, great fur, and hopefully he will live 20+. If you want to save on a vet and prolong your cat`s life do your research and feed good food. Know how to read labels and ingredients. BTW, veterinarians are not the one you should trust 100%. I treated my cat`s ear infection with 3 different veterinarians, nothing helped, i spend a thousand dollars!!! Until i found a $10-15 solution on Amazon and with 2 treatments everything cleared. Veterinarians have to make their living. Plus only 1 out of 3 veterinarians was able to diagnose my cat right. Those were 5 stars high end vet clinics in Manhattan. So, if your veterinarian says Yes, it`s good to feed your cat dry food. Good compared to what? They know you will be back. Or simply not every veterinarian understands good proper cat nutrition. No jokes. About the screens on windows. You say it`s ridiculous they didn`t let you to adopt a cat because your screens were not sturdy or you didn`t have them..yes, that`s sad..until your cat slips over and you have to put it down or bury it. It happens all the time. Again, not all people who want a cat, understand the responsibility of taking care of a live animal. read more

I agree with most when I say any adoption agency that provides temporary shelter is great for cats in need. But that being said me and my fiancee were denied due to them being unsure of our financial capabilities had we been accepted, even though they weren't trying to be "specific" in giving a reason why we were denied. But after taking a video of my apartment and punching my screens in the window I assume its because we don't live in a fancy town house / condo and instead live in the projects. We waited forever for a response just to get turned down randomly because of something like that. Kind of frustrating because we poured our heart out on the application and interview for the cat we were adopting. Overall: The wait for the cat plus the application video process is not really something I'd like to go through again if I'm going to be turned down due to them assuming I'm not financially able to take care of a cat. read more

I've adopted two cats from Kitty Kind one in 2007 and one two weeks ago. The unpaid volunteers give their time because they love cats and if you get a cat through Kitty Kind you know you will be getting a cat that has been well cared for, vetted and handled with TLC. Kitty Kind will do their utmost to find a cat that is the best fit for you. Some cats need to be adopted in pairs and others prefer to be adopted alone and Kitty Kind will let you know. Some cats are better around children, others not. And what I especially like about Kitty Kind is many of their cats are being fostered by loving volunteers so you will get a cat that has been exposed to apartment life which is a great help in your new cat getting used to his/her new circumstances. They want what's best for the cat and best for you and you can't ask more then that. read more

KittyKind - Animal Shelters Near Me - New York, New York

My wife and I had a very good experience adopting a four year-old black cat named Polly. The best thing you can do is be patient with the process, knowing that everything the organization does (i.e. the interviewing, the strict adoption guidelines, etc.) are for the benefit of the animals, most of whom have been through a lot. We have three other cats that we've adopted, and this was by far the most labor-intensive adoption process, but it's hard to be annoyed by that when you know the organization is acting in the best interest of the animals. I highly recommend them. read more

I am writing this as my Kitty Kind cat Jimmy is sitting on my desk keeping me company like he does. I loved how KK allowed me to foster Jimmy before committing to him as we were looking for a second cat to keep our other cat company. It wasn't an immediately good fit and I think without this foster period we probably would have not given Jimmy the chance and time that he needed to express his unique, lovable personality and work his way well into our hearts and lives. The adoption process was great and Miriam stayed in touch with us via email making sure that we were ok for months afterwards. I really felt like the people there cared about us and all the sweet kitties there that need a chance. read more

A wonderful place, with a wonderful purpose....The adoption process, which takes a bit of time is worth it and is in the cats best interest, I adopted a single cat from here, and have been very happy, she is a wonderful cat with good energy and personality, was very well taken care of by Kitty Kind before being given to us. Any bad reviews should be ignored, you'd have to be a real jerk to have a bad experience here.....The staff is very helpful, and although the adoption center can get busy it is worth the wait to save a cat, Would HIGHLY recommend them to anyone. read more

I saw a cat that I liked at KittyKind's website and went to meet him. All previous reviews here scared me, but I had the most pleasant interview and experience with Kathy. You should know that all members of KittyKind are volunteers, balancing their full-time jobs on top of KittyKind (reason why they may take longer to reply to your emails), besides, usually one adoption representative is working on the evenings, meaning that if you want to adopt a cat, you should talk to that person, and not judge the behavior of the remaining volunteers who are there to do feeding and cleaning shifts. While waiting, I saw people just asking anything to random volunteers, and while all of them love cats and want to see those purr balls finding a forever home, they play different roles. TALK TO AN ADOPTION REP. This is what I learned and what I think is useful to share: 1 - There are specific adoption hours (where an adoption rep will help you). If you show up in the morning, all those volunteers are feeding, cleaning and caring for the cats, they do know a lot, but they are NOT adoption reps and are unable to help you. 2 - Yes, the process takes a while, there are lots of questions and concerns, but that is to avoid people who after a week return the cat for whatever reasons. Even after all the requirements, people still return cats because they didn't think through. 3 - All cats are regularly seen by vets, and vets communicate with volunteers, so they know what they are talking about. To brief, I do recommend KittyKind to anyone who is seriously thinking about adopting. read more

I'd had a cat for 18 years. When I was ready for a new one, I paid several visits to Kitty Kind at Petco Union Sq. I found it to be an exasperating and ultimately sad experience. I understand that they want safe and responsible homes for the rescued cats, but the rules and hoops to jump through were absurd. I submitted to a home visit. Passed that with flying colors. I was told I would need to install window stops to restrict all my window openings. I understand the concern, but as a responsible pet owner, I know not to open a window wide unless the pet is locked in another room. They have another rule that kittens cannot be adopted as singles--you need to adopt another cat along with it. I didn't want two cats, at least . I expressed strong interest in a cat. I kept in touch for the following week. She was given to another home, which I discovered only on my next Petco visit. I then went to a city shelter, with a fifteen-minute adoption intake, and I took my kitten home the following day. The city experience seemed more efficient for homing more cats, and also kinder to people. read more

I don't understand why there are so many one star reviews of Kitty Kind on this Yelp page. Before giving my thoughts, I want to say that I have donated money to the organization in the past, and I recently went through the adoption process with them about a month ago. I adopted two one year old kittens from them. Like the other reviewers here, I was taken aback by how strenuous the adoption process was. I think everyone here is forgetting that Kitty Kind is an all volunteer organization that does not have a physical location (aside from the small space at Petco)! Due to this, I think Kitty Kind goes out of their way to make sure that the cats that they allow people to adopt will *never* end up back at their shelter. They really try to find these animals their forever homes, and I think it shows with how strict the adoption process is. However, I do think the process was fair, and not that unreasonable. There was a written application, and a short interview with a volunteer to go over it. Again, they care about the well being of the cats... hence the safety questions, the vacation questions, and the food questions. They really want to make sure that their cats end up in better than average homes. The home visit was a formality more than anything else. I was able to bring my cats home about a week after I started the adoption process. The whole process was smooth, and I would recommend them to anyone who is looking to adopt a cat. Thanks again to everyone at Kitty Kind. I'm looking forward to many years with my kittens. read more

Simply the best! Kitty Kind can certainly boast a community of volunteers who truly care for their cats. My family and I worked with Kathy. She was patient with a first time cat owner like myself and was obviously very knowledgeable. Although the adoption vetting process is very rigorous, I would much rather work with a group that puts the animals health first. Thank you Kitty Kind! And most of all Kathy! read more

KittyKind are everything an adoption service should be. Three years ago, I adopted my first ever cat through them, and they were kind, knowledgable and accommodating. They also did a home inspection to make sure that their charges only went to safe homes where they would be compatible with their guardians. Just a month ago, I went back and did a "foster-with-intent" -- they were incredibly helpful in matching me with a cat who would get along well with my first, and making the process of socializing them easy and painless. They are just great! read more

I am a TNR rescuer and kittykind has helped me with friendly cats that cannot be returned to the street. I know my kitties will be safe and that they will find the best possible home. I know many people complain about the strict adoption process but that shows me that they care about their animals. Please don't leave negative reviews if you weren't offered a cat or you didn't like the volunteer. That doesn't help anyone. Why not go to the NYC ACC and adopt a cat that will be euthanized the same day if no one adopts it. That's time better spent. read more

It's really too bad that so many bad reviews are the first thing to be seen. Having owned cats, I know how much work and responsibility it is to have them. While the process seems difficult, it's worse if the cat is given to a person who does not have the financial means, temperament or sense of responsibility to take care of them. We wanted to adopt some cats, 2 amazingly adorable Russian blue mixes. Though it didn't work out, because of my child's allergies which we discovered was worse than we thought, the organization's foster with intent to adopt process (bec of her allergies they allowed us to do that) let us see that. The people who work there but mostly Lauren was really understanding and amazing through the whole process. I know people in the other reviews felt judged but I really feel that Kitty Kind's end goal is a very humanitarian one, one that allows the cats to go to people who can thoroughly care for them. If you don't like the process, there are PLENTY of other great organizations. read more

KittyKind - 2 beautiful Russian Blue 6 mo old mixes - Animal Shelters Near Me - New York, New York

I walk by here often on my way from work. The volunteers are relatively friendly. I'd like to adopt a cat when I move, and although I'm not ready yet, they always answer my questions. I get the impression from the other reviews that some people are salty that this place asked tough questions. I don't at all get the impression any of the volunteers I've met are cruel or rude. Looking forward to one day adopting here! read more

Adopted one of my cats here. The volunteer staff who runs adoptions is tough, but for good reason. My mother fosters dogs and works to adopt them out- so I understand the world of animal rescues. The other people who write reviews are most likely upset that they were denied to adopt here and didn't like having someone recommend better care for their pets. The fact is that volunteers work long hours saving these cats, giving them medical care, and working to get them into homes. It's not unrealistic to want them to go to a home that feeds a good diet, is safe, and takes them to the vet once a year. Put yourself in the volunteers shoes. KittyKind was helpful, attentive, and friendly. I have no doubt that this is a great organization. read more

KittyKind is a wonderful organization from which to adopt a cat (or two). Or three . . . I adopted my first KittyKind cat in 1997, the second in 2004, and the third in 2008. All three are still with me, and I love them to bits. KittyKind is an all-volunteer, non-profit, no-kill rescue group dedicated to saving homeless and abandoned cats. The cats receive thorough medical care and are fostered in volunteers' homes until they are ready for adoption. You can meet the cats and get to know them at the Union Square Petco, where KittyKind's adoption center is located. My three KittyKind cats are the best! Two have disabilities: one has only three legs, and another has a disorder affecting her motor coordination. I wouldn't trade them for the world! In fact, the people at KittyKind give older and disabled cats special attention, making them some of the most loving companions you can find. Don't be put off by the thorough adoption interview. It can be awkward or intimidating, and it's a bit time-consuming, but relax and try looking through the interviewer's eyes. KittyKind puts the cats' welfare first. Weekends at Petco are very crowded. Try going during the day or on a week night, when you can spend some time visiting with the cats in peace and quiet. I count myself lucky that there are people as compassionate and courageous as those at KittyKind. read more

I was also surprised by some of the really negative reviews on here. I lost my 15 year old cat to cancer, and after listening to my remaining cat yowl every night for two weeks because she missed her bud, I decided to start looking for a new cat. I checked out several operations in New York, and had mixed results. Some of the really popular ones were not very helpful and didn't respond to my emails very quickly. I went to visit the Petco location in the afternoon when just some volunteers were there feeding the cats. I spent a little time at each cage, and at the last one, high up in the corner was a big mush of a cat. He was so sweet and loving that I fell in love right away, and thought about him all night, told my husband about him, and emailed the folks at Kitty Kind. Miriam was extremely helpful and responded in a timely manner. By the next afternoon I had lots more information about this 2-3 year old cat. She continued to help me find out as much information as we could by calling the woman who trapped him and fostered him through an injury that he was found with. I was worried about bringing an adult cat in that had been caught in a "trap, neuter, release" situation, but she was able to provide me with enough information to calm my fears. I went back two more nights, had my interview, and then with my husband to confirm this was the cat for us. I was able to take him home on the 4th night. After bringing him home, the usual "sniffles" happened, and we had a little bout of ear mites (also not unusual in these situations.). These were both handled by Miriam and her team right away, and I was provided with medication which cleared it up quickly. They also offered to have him see their vet if he started showing signs of having an infection. Miriam and her team were very helpful and eager to make sure he was doing well and was getting along with my other cat. Now it has been just over a month, and we are all doing well. My older cat has pretty much accepted him, and our little family feels complete! I will say that for people that have not adopted a pet before, especially in NYC, you should know that no MATTER where you go, they will require references and interview and possibly do a home visit if it is a worthwhile organization. They are not trying to be difficult! They just want to make sure that you will provide a good home for these animals that have already been through a lot! read more

The worst experience ever. Most of the volunteer workers have an IQ level of a plant. The whole organization is extremely unprofessional, DISORGANIZED, and most of them talk in such a condescending way. They make it impossible to adopt a cat. I honestly think they like to hoard cats and do not want them to get adopted. Please go to another organization where you are treated with respect and are actually able to get a cat with out being interrogated. read more

The staff in Petco were absolutely wonderful. My home visit was a different story. I found the employee Lauren to be completely disrespectful and arrogant with her judgement being made prior to even setting foot into my home. In addition, her rejection email reinforced this sentiment of superiority. I would never recommend this organization to any of my friends of colleagues, mainly from blatant lack of respect I was shown on my home visit. I really felt as if my privacy and basic rights to be treated with a modicum of decency were violated. My home being referred to as a "2x4 things all over the place" is absolutely unacceptable from a professional organization and I can't imagine kitty kind employing someone with such a blatant lack of professionalism. read more