Cats With Behavioral or Handling Concerns

Every cat deserves to be treated with patience, compassion and an understanding of their individual needs. However, some cats may require specialized handling, housing or behavioral support that a small shelter environment cannot safely provide.

NAPS operates a relatively small shelter with limited ability to safely isolate cats with significant behavioral or handling concerns. When considering an intake, we must take into account the well-being of the individual cat as well as the safety of the other cats in our care, our volunteers, veterinary teams and the community.

Cats who are extremely fearful, feral, difficult to safely handle, or who have a known history of aggression toward people or other animals may require specialized accommodations or resources beyond what our shelter can provide.

Cats entering our care may also require veterinary examinations, vaccinations and other medical care before they can safely join the shelter population. When a cat cannot be safely handled, providing these assessments and ongoing daily care can be particularly challenging.

For these reasons, NAPS may not be able to accept every cat directly into our shelter.

Each situation is reviewed individually by our Shelter Manager. Intake decisions consider the cat's behavior, history and individual needs, as well as available shelter or foster space, resources and the safety of everyone involved.

We're Still Here to Help

If NAPS is unable to accept a cat into the shelter, that doesn't necessarily mean we can't help.

Depending on the circumstances and available resources, we may be able to explore other options with you. This could include helping locate an appropriate foster placement, discussing rehoming options or assisting in finding a suitable new home while the cat remains safely in your care.

If you're unsure whether NAPS can assist with your situation, please reach out. Providing as much information as possible about the cat's temperament, behavior, health and history will help our team understand their needs and determine what options may be available.