Cats are so much more than cute companions; they can be emotional lifelines, especially during challenging periods of life. In times of upheaval, a cat’s presence can offer stability, purpose, and unconditional love that many people rely on to stay resilient. Research shows that interacting with animals has real benefits, from reducing stress hormones and lowering blood pressure to easing loneliness and boosting mood through the release of dopamine and serotonin. Even simple interactions like petting or playing can calm the nervous system and provide comfort that’s hard to put into words. Maintaining this relationship is equally important for the cat, as they form strong, loving bonds with their owners and feel safe and comfortable in a familiar environment.
Unfortunately, many people feel they have no choice but to give up their cats during difficult periods in their lives. For cats, surrender means more than losing their home, it also means losing the family and routine that helps them feel secure. This sudden disruption can be deeply traumatic, often causing emotional and physical stress for the cat while leaving the owner with grief, guilt, and heartbreak. It’s a painful outcome for both.
Note: We understand that there are times when surrendering a cat is the best option. When that happens, we warmly accept those cats without judgment and provide them with veterinary care, a premium diet, enrichment, and loving human interaction.
Common Reasons Cats Are Surrendered
Pets elevate our lives in countless ways, yet far too many households feel forced to give up their pets each year. According to recent research, close to two million owners re-home dogs and cats annually, not because they don’t love them, but because of circumstances that make care feel impossible.
- Financial strain is a leading factor. Veterinary bills and ongoing food and litter costs can quickly become overwhelming, particularly for people with lower incomes and those going through a challenging time.
- Housing instability, including rental restrictions and high pet deposits or monthly fees, also plays a major role in owners’ heartbreaking decisions to surrender pets.
- Behavioral challenges that owners feel unequipped to address also lead people to relinquish their pets. Because keeping cats and their families together is so important,
Because these challenges are so common—and often temporary—Cat Care Society provides community support and proactive programs that address the root causes of surrender.
Cat Care Society Programs That Keep Cats and Their Families Together
Nibbles & Kibbles
The CCS Nibbles & Kibbles emergency food bank offers free cat food and supplies to people experiencing financial challenges. This longstanding program helps owners continue to care for their cats, who may be one of their few comforts during times of hardship. The pantry is open for free to community members in need on the first or third Saturday of every month between 10 a.m. and noon. In FY2025, 1,000 cats and 300 families were served through our emergency food pantry.
Temporary Care Program
Our Temporary Care Program provides shelter, veterinary care, food, and enrichment to cats for up to 30 days while their owners find their footing after an unexpected event, including home foreclosure, domestic violence, temporary homelessness, or an extended hospital stay. During times of crisis, it provides peace of mind by ensuring that beloved cats are safe, cared for, and ready to return home when their owners are able. In FY2025, 64 cats and their families were supported through our Temporary Care Program.
Health and Behavior Programs and Resources
- Free Seminars: Every year, we host several free seminars for anyone who wants to learn more about cat health and behavior.
- List of Free and Low-Cost Resources: We maintain a robust list of health and behavior resources on our website, including low-cost clinics, free resources to learn more about cat behavior and care, and local options for pet financial assistance (in addition to our Nibbles & Kibbles program).
By helping people through difficult moments, we reduce permanent surrenders and ensure more cats can remain where they belong—at home. By reducing surrenders, we also free up valuable shelter space and resources so we can provide care for even more cats who truly have nowhere else to go.
Closing
We are able to offer these programs in large part because of our amazing CCS community. Because of our generous donors, in-kind donations that can’t be used in the shelter are allocated to Nibbles & Kibbles. Examples include opened bags of food/treats, gently used towers/toys that we can’t sanitize properly in the shelter, and harnesses/collars. If you have extra cat items, bring them by during open shelter hours and leave them in the designated donation area in the lobby (be sure to remember your donation receipt). Check out the list of new and gently used items that we are able to accept. Every bag of food, bag of litter, and donated supply helps ensure that the cats in our care—and in our community—have what they need to stay healthy and happy.
About the Author: Beth Dokolasa is a volunteer for Cat Care Society and serves on the Board of Directors. She is an instructional developer for Natural Grocers and lives in Indian Hills, Colo., with her husband, daughter, and two cats, Techno and Digit.
