I found this organization when I was ready to adopt after the loss of a senior cat, and was mainly drawn in by being able to go in to meet the cats and by how close it was to my home. The people that work at this location were all wonderful and I greatly enjoyed speaking with them. They deserve endless praise. I put in a general application and followed up to ensure I didn't need to submit anything further, and was informed that I was approved and asked to come in to complete the process. I replied that I was making sure everything was in order and that I had a foster in the home until the end of the week (for sure leaving over the weekend) and would have space after that point. I asked a few follow up questions about a particular couple of cats that I was instructed to ask by the adoption counselors. My egregious mistake was either following up in less than 7 days, or it was that I had dared to foster with another organization. Based on the emails that would follow, it seems that it's unacceptable to contact any other adoption organization or to foster (even though there's no information on fostering through KSC?). So I was approved around March 9 and it's now the beginning of May and I've finally gotten them to say that I am being turned away, with no stated reason, after an initial approval. In the meantime, whomever was emailing me was incredibly rude for the sake of it. I asked for clarification about an ambiguous wording on dogs and was told that this cat's rule on dogs is clearly stated and that she must go home with another specific cat from the shelter. Unfortunately, the adoption counselors had also thought wording was ambiguous and told me to clarify. And they weren't aware of her messing to go home with a specific cat. In fact, they told me she'd been there years and clearly wanted me to take her. Unfortunate that this person would rather keep a cat for years in that tiny place than adopt out. Additionally, there were constant comments that were an obvious attempt to take a moral high ground but didn't make sense as a reply to an email, and it quickly became clear that they were trying to insult me and insinuate that I am not capable of caring for a cat. I inquired about one not yet medically cleared and they made comments about how "expensive" her condition could be. My resident cat was on the same ear drops and the combined household income is far above what is necessary to care for medication. Lol we both work in healthcare. The scrambling to find any reason to deny my application after having approved it was impressive. And unlike some other reviews, it seems that no one was able to dig up any even minimally negative information that could be used to deny my application after the fact. It's unfortunate that poor attitudes kept a cat or two out of a good home. If you read the other negative reviews, know that they're real. I had plenty of pleasant interactions until suddenly they weren't. You'd think I insulted them by contacting other organizations, or that a couple extra emails is actually a burden. They seem to not truly be about the cats at the top level. read more

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I said goodbye to my 16-year-old cat at the end of December, but it took some time before I was ready to open my home to another kitty or even pair of kitties. We saw adorable five-month-old sisters on Petfinder, filled out an application, and King Street Cats got in touch quickly. We set up a time that worked for the foster family, went out to Alexandria, and waited in a small closet-like room for them to arrive. I think it's wise for shelters to have a place where you can interact with cats you're interested in. While we were there, they put two other kitties in the room with us, but they weren't interested in us. The two girls we were interested in, Jacintha (whom we renamed Lilah, which is Hebrew for night) and Zaneta (whom we renamed Harley, after Harley Quinn), were as friendly as the listing indicated, so we decided to go through with the adoption. Since we were already pre-approved, filling out the final paperwork and paying the adoption fee was quick and efficient. If you want to adopt a cat from (or any organization), I recommend filling out an application before going. KSC is an all-volunteer organization with a small shelter in Alexandria. They have set weekend times for seeing cats, or you can set an appointment. They were clearly busy caring for the cats at the shelter, so knowing what sort of cat you're looking for is wise. They also remind you to bring a carrier with you when you go to adopt. I recommend throwing a toy in the carrier to distract the cat during the drive home. The only thing I don't like is that KSC is the primary name on the microchip all cats who leave the shelter have. But the adoption was overall a good experience, and our kittens are very happy in their new home. read more

King Street Cats - Lilah (shelter name Jacintha) in her carrier ready to go home. - Animal Shelters Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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We adopted our cats from KSC. We weren't sure we wanted two cats. We went there thinking we only wanted one. We fell in love with a true bonded pair. Other places tried to sell us on two cats that didn't know each other and we were skeptical. How do you know they will get along. But being able to see how these two cats loved each other and knowing they were being truthful rather than just trying to move cats was huge. We've recommended them to others and everyone has had a great experience. In addition they nursed both our cats back to health before allowing them to be adopted. They never shy away from tough cases regardless of the cost. We brought a sick stray to them and they loved that cat and we felt good that this cat knew love. KSC is amazing!!! read more

If I could give this organization zero stars, I would. The facility where cats are kept when they are not in foster homes is filthy, overcrowded, and extremely confined. There are numerous cats roaming freely or locked in cages, and the environment comes across as unsafe and unsanitary. It felt less like a rescue and more like a hoarding situation designed to solicit donations. When visiting in person, volunteers closely follow and monitor visitors in a way that feels intrusive and accusatory, as if they assume people intend to steal a cat. The adoption process itself is excessively long, disorganized, and poorly communicated. Responses take so long that by the time you hear back, the cats you applied for have already been adopted. Overall, the organization appears sketchy and raises serious concerns about its true intentions. The overly selective and drawn-out process gives the impression that placing cats in permanent homes is not the priority, but rather keeping the animals to sustain the organization. Based on my experience, I strongly discourage anyone from wasting their time applying here because you are unlikely to be selected. Instead, I highly recommend adopting through Fairfax County Animal Shelter. They have many cats in need of loving homes, maintain a clean and professional facility, and offer a straightforward, efficient adoption process without unnecessary barriers or bias. read more

I've adopted here previously...can't say it'll happen again. To say I was thoroughly disappointed in how they handled my most recent application is an understatement. Not only did they lie to me regarding a specific cat I was interested in, they tried to use some personal confidential information as for their reason. I'm going to include snapshots of the listing for the cat, and the contradictory information they sent in the email response. I also found out, they decided to block me on fb, because I WAS honest and said they were going to get less than a glowing review! I was a staunch supporter of KSC, but since my last adoption there, things have definitely changed. Some volunteers seem to have ulterior motives with their placements. So you know how the casting goes, buyer beware. Be careful with how much information you divulge! (Some of the email was cut for the personal reasons they included) read more

King Street Cats - Contradictory reason sent in email rejecting application. - Animal Shelters Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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We have two great cats that we adopted from KSC. We got our first guy, Bear, and he'd had a very tough life before he came to the shelter. then about a year later we adopted Charlie. Charlie had been in a good home for the first 5 years of his life but then his owner had to go into assisted living and couldn't keep him. They are crazy funny together and enrich our day to day lives. King Street Cats is an amazing organization for the number of cats adopted annually but also for the care they put into the selection of forever homes for these cats. They work very hard to ensure that both the cats and the new owners are well matched and have the best potential for success. I have great admiration for the entirely volunteer staff that keeps finding homes for these cats in need. read more

Wonderful and truly altruistic organization, The cats I've adopted are pure joy and the organization remains supportive after adoption,

The staff at King Street Cats were so nice and helpful. They know each of the cats extremely well. We adopted two adorable kittens who are super sweet. There was a mistake with one of the cat's medical records and they quickly ensured everything was made right. read more

I want to express my appreciation to King Street Cats -- and especially Pat and Vivian -- for helping me adopt such a wonderful cat. I originally went in to meet another cat I saw on their website, but when that one wasn't the best fit, they immediately recommended another -- and he turned out to be perfect! He's five years old and adjusted to my home within minutes. He's affectionate, gentle with my home and furniture, and constantly purrs. Most of all, he's so happy and grateful for his new home -- and he brings joy to everyone who meets him. We are all so grateful, including the cat! read more

I have been involved with King Street Cats for over 10 years and it is an amazing rescue group. They have to scrutinize the applicants thoroughly because many cats come back for heartbreaking reasons: we had a baby, got a puppy and prefer the puppy, we are moving, don't have time for the cat, etc., etc. The cat will be returned and it is now distrusting of people, fearful and hard to place. The cats are their number one priority and that is how it should be. read more

We adopted two lovely sisters from King Street Cats. We had an appointment to visit some of the cats we were interested in and were welcomed by the helpful and friendly staff. The cats are all well cared for and seemed happy. We were able to take our cats home that night because we had already filled out the adoption online and had submitted our references. It was a very good experience and we adopted sweet cats that we dearly love. I highly recommend King Street Cats. read more

King Street Cats is the best organization which is ALL volunteer run that I've ever dealt with. They truly care about the cats! they go above and beyond to rescue and care for kitties in need. They make the adoption process smooth and easy. I recommend them whole heartedly. I adopted 2 island kitties from them. One was a TNR and the other a kitten was a few weeks old when they rescued them. They were bonded and I adopted them both. Amazing kitties. Amazing organizatio, and if I could rate them with more stars, I definitely would!!! read more

I was looking to adopt a cat, and I know I'm a great candidate for adoption as I'm a single cat-lover who lives alone in a nice apartment, but I was denied! The business stated that I was not a good fit for the cat I wanted to adopt because that cat needed someone who was home all of the time. I assured them that I was not gone from home that long, since I am a graduate student and I only have classes on Monday and Tuesday, but they ghosted me. It seems to me that they don't actually care about giving their cats nice homes with loving owners, and are way too picky in the adoption process. I feel bad for that cat who deserves a nice home but is still stuck at the shelter waiting to be adopted. read more

I am a 31-year-old, single, childless, no pet household trying to rescue a cat that is a little older or has special needs and got DENIED adopting a cat from here. It honestly hurts my heart that these people would rather have a cat fostered for the rest of their life instead of giving a cat a loving permanent home. They don't have to give me an explanation but do be warned that they are denying people left and right for no reason at all. Instead of trying to match me with a cat that they have they told me to go to another animal shelter. Do better!!!! read more

I got the perfect match for me and my cat at home. Grateful for the care of the foster mom and coordinator, and appreciate the hospitality when I visited. I'm also glad the process was efficient and the staff responsive and honest. read more

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King Street Cats provided a home for my babies before I found them. They are all volunteers. So it's not perfect. But they try very hard to place cats with the right owner. They want them to be happy, healthy, and not returned/abandoned. So, if you get turned down, it could be for a variety of reasons. There are other places to adopt from. And KSC adopts out over 300 cats a year - so they are doing something right. read more

King Street Cats - My three babies - from New Jersey, Baltimore, and St. Croix. - Animal Shelters Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

My partner and I were having problems getting connected with local rescues in Alexandria and after a few weeks of feeling ignored or like I was bothering coordinators (perhaps some of this was due to COVID-19 procedures too) before we came to KSC. We didn't have any strict requirements or anything, we just wanted to adopt a young, healthy cat! KSC quickly preapproved our application and found a potential match for us over one weekend. Within 30 minutes of meeting our new fur baby, we were able to take him home. They answered all our questions kindly and thoroughly. Thank you so much Vivien and Patti!! read more

King Street Cats - Within 1 hour of being home for the first time :) - Animal Shelters Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Unfortunately I should have read the Google reviews from fellow community members before getting so invested in the idea of adopting from KSC. It's been over 2 months since I visited the shelter and sent in my application via email in which I never received a response. I thought this was a technical blip so I reached out on Instagram DMs as well as in their comments (because they seem to be actively posting on there) but received ZERO response. Come to find out from the reviews that they only adopt to Alexandria residents? Not a single mention of this when I met with the volunteers in person. I am now starting to believe that this organization is a weird front for some sort of fostering pyramid scam as 70% of the cats in their shelter (THAT ARE DEEMED ADOPTABLE ON THEIR WEBSITE) are in fact not adoptable and instead referred to as permanent KSC cats. So weird and such a misleading business. read more

I like that KIng St cats is all volunteer run. There seem to be lots of angry reviews, but I question the accuracy and/or fairness of some of the stories. For instance, one reviewer complains that KSC keeps kittens in foster while older cats are at the shelter. Imo, those are the cats that people need to see in person or they won't go out of their way to ask for appointments! Kittens are easy to adopt, but shouldn't be given away too early anyway. And if board decisions are final, I totally see why that's frustrating, but it doesn't give enough information to know if the complaint is valid or not. Anyway, I know they adopt out 300-400 cats per year, and that is quite impressive for a volunteer org. read more

I Applied to adopt a cat. the offered to make an appointment with me to talk about adopting a cat. I delayed to spend time with some of the cats to form a relationship with one. They said we have no cats for you go somewhere else with zero explanation read more

Omg, beware!!!! I made the mistake of adopting a cat here. Not socialized and with poor hygiene. After destroying furniture (urinating on it) and scratching up others, along with repeated vet visits and bills we had to return the cat to the shelter. Okay..... bad enough, but years later I find out that these people then tried to accuse me of cat abuse ! Note we are not abusive and can prove it. This same cat then passed through at least one other family and ended up on the wild cat farm. So beware of slander from this group. read more

We had a very positive experience adopting from KSC. A few weeks ago we visited during a Sunday to meet the cats and chat with volunteers. The set up allowed us to go at our own pace and visit with all the cats to find one that fit our personality. That day we submitted an application and we heard back a few days later. The next weekend we set up a private appointment outside of regular adoption hours. They let us play with little Oberon and answered all the questions we had. We wanted some time to think on the decision and they were super patient and let us ask a ton of questions. An hour later we came back and picked up our new family member. They gave us some toys, the rest of his prescription food and a folder with his papers from the vet. Overall it was a great experience! We changed his name from Oberon to Oberyn (aka Obi-Wan Catobi) and he has been a perfect fit for our little family. I see some poor reviews and that's unfortunate. I don't doubt people had other experiences but I hope people don't rule out visiting KSC and giving these cats a chance! read more

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KSC: PLEASE, be transparent and honest about a kitty's availability. The volunteers clearly love the kitties there and know every kitty's personality. What they don't seem to know, however, is whether a kitty is truly available for adoption. I filled out an application, the staff took a candid picture of me filling out the application with said kitty next to me, and then said, now you can remember when you applied for xx. Come to find out a WEEK LATER not only is that kitty gone but they had SEVERAL pending applications for it, and I was rudely informed it would be unlikely I would've gotten them. I appreciate wanting the best for the kitties but don't play with my heart strings like that! read more

Amazing all-volunteer shelter that rescues the most challenging cats and kittens! They are so wonderful with all the cats in their care and make sure the cats receive whatever vet care they need. Everyone I've met is so committed to finding the best homes for the cats. They know the personalities of the cats and which ones will do well in various situations - so you can be sure to find the best fit for you. Highly recommend checking them out if you are looking to add a new member to your family. read more

King Street Cats is a unique shelter in that it is cat-only, free-range, and 100% vounteer-run. I first heard about them at Shirlington's Whiskers & Wags event. This event was mainly catered to dogs but I was happy and surprised to see kittens out and about. I took some information on their shelter and saw them again later at a local pet store. Each weekend they take different cats to different pet store and shops around the area to raise awareness about their shelter. In addition to their "mobile" cat, they have little 'speed-dating' type profiles on all of their cats that are currently at the shelter in a binder that you can flip through. They also have a lot of information on their website and Facebook page. After recently losing my cat in January, I visited King Street Cats to talk to the volunteers and see what type of cat would be a good fit for my husband and I. I had my eye on Pickle, a popular striped grey cat, but I saw another cat nearby that pulled at my heart strings. Patrick had been rescued by Baltimore County and when his time was up, transferred to King Street Cats. He was incredibly attentive and playful even though he had just come off the streets and been transferred. We visited him several times over the span of a few weeks during open house hours to form a bond with him and get a feeling of his personality. Once he hopped into our laps and licked our faces, we filed an application for him. A few days later we completed the paperwork and were about to bring him home! Though we've only had Patrick (now Rémy) for 4 months, he's a real part of the family. He helped our hearts heal after our cat passed earlier in the year. King Street Cats handled all of his micro-chipping, vaccinations, neutering, and even treated him for some stomach parasites he picked up while on the streets. They are really thorough and care about the cats FIRST and foremost. Finding the perfect match for a kitty is of utmost importance to them. Thank you King Street Cats! read more

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Look elsewhere for your new cat. If they have a problem with your application they outright deny you without trying to resolve the problem. Also I'm glad I read the other reviews about this company, steer clear. read more

This was a the absolute worst experience with a cat shelter I have ever had. DO NOT ADOPT FROM THIS SHELTER. I came in one day during one of their kitten adoption events to adopt a girl named Happy, she was so sweet. I have a 2 year old cat named Pepe who I felt would want a kitty friend. I filled out the application immediately that day. The volunteers gave me a heads up that it would be a few days before I hear anything so not to panic. I understood and waited 3 days before I attempted to contact them just to get a status check. I first left a voicemail. Did not hear anything that day or the next. So two days later I left another voicemail and emailed because I was actually worried that they may have misplaced my application. Finally I get a very rude email back saying that I need to be patient and that they were all volunteers with full time jobs. Which I caveated that fact in my prior email but he/she felt the need to reiterate that point. They did not even tell me when I should be expecting a result on my application. One of the volunteers also gave me a call back but couldn't hear my last name in the voicemail so I needed to leave another voicemail and hope that they would eventually call me back. Finally after waiting a full week without any communication, I received a very short email saying my application was denied and decisions are final. I emailed to at least get an explanation and they replied that they do not reveal the reasons for their decisions. From what I understand reading previous reviews, if you follow up more than once you are immediately rejected. Awesome job. You missed out on giving Happy a really great home. My friends in DC are also looking for cats and I will NOT be sending them here. There are far better shelters in the area. Good luck to everyone trying to adopt a kitty and do NOT adopt from here! read more

King Street Cats - This was the baby girl I wanted to adopt - Animal Shelters Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

I do not normally make reviews, but I am not going to lie, King Cats Rescue definitely had me raising my eyebrows. I have been looking extensively for an animal to rescue during this Co-vid 19 pandemic and we had our eyes on a kittens. Now for my household, they asked me to inquire about the cat hair and amount as they can deal with normal amounts of animal hair, however there are some animals that shed more than others. So I decided to ask an innocent question: Does (Cats name) shed a lot. Now after inquiring about said cat, I also put in an application. Now here's where it went a little sour for me.I received an email the next day stating I should maybe "adopt a turtle or other animal" if I am concerned about animal hair. Is that really appropriate to be saying to someone who is interested in rescuing an animal? My name is a foreign name, and personally, I felt it was a reason for what occured. Again, that may not be the case, just my personal opinion. Regardless, I told them that if they could not accept me based on asking a question, that was fine and to hopefully find a home for the cat. They then responded saying they had fully denied my application without reason and told me they would not discuss denial (which they said was on in the application?) . Pretty classy if I do say so myself. No matter, I just wanted to post my experience and will also be posting the emails I had received. Also, I had just recently asked another shelter in DC the same question about Cats (Shoutout to CityDogRescueDc!) and they were able to give me the information about the hair length, shedding, personality,etc. Pretty good customer service if I do say so myself. If KSC really didnt want to accept my application, I would've you rather done it silently and without a response, because in the end, you all came off as rude, disrespectful, and irresponsible individuals. KSC you dont need to respond to this review. After all, you all " do not discuss denial further. The Board's decisions are final." So the board can just read it. I hope you guys do well as a business and I hope the cats find homes once again. All in all, pretty bad experience with my first shelter read more

King Street Cats - emails sent to me - Animal Shelters Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Please don't waste your time here. Rude, inconsistent, and unresponsive. We were looking to adopt a senior and a younger cat. After many emails back and forth clarifying our application, they finally told us we could meet an applicant coordinator on friday to move forward. That was on Monday, I immediately replied asking for a time. No response. Wednesday I followed up and was told that not only was the applicant coordinator unavailable Friday (with no alternative dates offered) but the cat in foster was not available to be seen either, despite the fact we offered three separate dates. They keep kittens in foster...when they are the most adoptable, while the poor older cats who often need more patience and a quiet environment are left in the shelter. These folks may be cat lovers, but clearly placing cats in their forever home is NOT their top priority. Oh. And they refuse to communicate directly via phone...only email. Sketchy. Please, save yourself the time, frustration, and heartache! Go elsewhere! We had a great experience with the Animal Welfare Leagues (Alexandria and Arlington) and currently have a pair of cats settling in nicely in their new forever home. read more

i don't doubt that the women who volunteer here are cat lovers and do a lot for the habitat and cats. I wish the intake advisor had been warmer and had more compassionate for me and the circumstances of my cat's death last week. Her first question was tell me about the cat who died. Euthanized. She was shaming me of an excruciating decision I had to make supported by medical advice. My cat only 4 years had a rare bowel obstruction and when found during her annual checkup was critical. The intake counselor told me she had never heard of that and why didn't I consider surgery or an enema ? I was taken off guard by her insensitivity and inappropriate questioning. Furthermore she seemed skeptical of my vet's guidance. Indeed she ended this conversation with me saying ... She didn't want to put their cat at risk with me. Since the 70's I have had 7 cats and 2 dogs. The sweet sister of my cat who died is with us now. I am a kind, caring, compassionate, educated, loving and responsible pet owner. I take offense at a judgement of me and flippantly stating that their cat would be at risk in my house. All in 5 minutes of meeting me. That is farthest from the truth . She told me to wait as she turned to happily address a family leaving with a cat then she disappeared. After 15 minutes she sent the intake foster person out who said it could take a while to coordinate getting my hopefully new kitty to the center. She would have to coordinate. She couldn't give me a time frame. They are in the business of finding homes for kitties. I assume foster families agree to making themselves available. Perhaps Everyone is told this. Perhaps they can't give anyone a timeframe generally or specific? However That was not the case with a close friend of mine who had never been a pet holder. All came together within a week. Before I left feeling judged and Disrespected the original counselor came out to say she could not decide herself whether their cat should come to me so the board would decide and the vet would be called. called. I left disrespected, shamed and judged. 100 % opposite of what I had expected when I entered. The cats are cared for by the volunteers. Based on my experience their care for cats needs to extend to humans. read more

Although I haven't gone to the Dove Street shelter run by King Street Cats, I did call & leave 2-3 voicemail messages for the woman (Vivian) who runs King Street Cats. I never got a call back from "Vivian" or anyone from King Street Cats. When I read some of the very negative reviews about King Street Cats, I'm glad I didn't. I had called them about 2-homeless, young, stray kittens I took in & had spayed, neutered, & shots, etc,... I was looking into adoption opportunities to get them both a great, forever home! I'm seeking other options to get them adopted out to a good forever home! King Street Cats, I'm sure, does help cats in need. KSC probably needs to improve its image and adoption services with better communication skills---and improved response time to inquiries, calls, applications, etc,... read more

I thought the one star reviews for people being rejected for arbitrary or a lack of reasons was the work of one or two malcontents putting up fake reviews, as several of them were from people with little or no other Yelp reviews. I was wrong. My girlfriend and I drove down to King Street Cats, enjoyed meeting the cats there, and put in our application. We got back a rejection a few days later saying we were rejected because we lived outside the DMV area, and we should instead adopt from a Baltimore shelter. DMV is DC, Maryland, Virginia. Baltimore is Maryland. WTF. We're about an hour away door to door. Is the shelter afraid the water we'd be giving cats in Baltimore is different from the water they'd be getting in Bethesda or Silver Spring? I regret donating a dollar to the jar at the shelter, but at least we had this experience before I finalized making a donation to them through the CFC. I prefer donating to shelters that actually ensure cats go to good homes. read more

After being the proud parents of one of their cats for almost seven years, and volunteering for two, I could not be more disappointed about King Street Cats. We recently adopted another companion for the first one, after the older one passed away, so it was a no brainer for us trusting KSC. About a month later, we tried to change the contact information on the microchip, but the request was denied, because KSC has an undisclosed policy, never mentioned on the adoption contract, to retain the primary contact. As a result, we were added only as an alternate, but funny story, they did not provide our contact information to the company of the microchip. Due to my long history with them, I inquired asking an explanation, and only then I was mentioned the policy, and that we do not need to "be worried" about it. Long story short, we are seeking legal counseling regarding this matter, because even the company of the microchip is refusing to comply despite providing the adoption contract. Wait, there is more. We gave our unconditional trust to one of them, for more than three years, to take care of our cats while away, and only recently we discovered that she did not comply with our instructions. We paid for two visits a day, but she showed up only once. We discovered it thanks to a recently installed, and disclosed web-camera. We decided to come back home the day after without saying a word, but now we do the math. read more

My "pet soul mate," Zsa Zsa, recently died, and the loss was really difficult for me. I've started looking for another cat/kitten, because my remaining cat (Leroy) misses his old companion and I can tell he is bored during the day when I'm at work. (Sidenote: Yes, I am aware of the fact that I am a crazy cat lady. No need to point this out.) My search for a new feline friend has been difficult, because apparently it is not "kitten season" until March. My boyfriend and I scoured the D/M/V area looking for the perfect cat, and during our search we stumbled upon King Street Cats. In my opinion, the best way to really see a cat's personality is to observe it in a free roaming room, like the ones they have at King Street Cats. This place is heaven for cat lovers, because there are cats everywhere! I was really happy to have found them after visiting a number of shelters where either the cats were all in cages, or there were only a few in the free roaming rooms. The volunteers at King Street Cats are also amazing, because they were able to tell us a good deal of information about each of the cats here. When I showed interest in a particular cat, they could tell me his/her back story, what their personality was like, whether they got along well with other cats, etc. You can tell the volunteers really dedicate themselves to knowing the cats and finding them a good home. So, if you are searching for a cat, you might want to check this place out. I didn't find my new furry friend during my recent visit, but I will definitely be going back here until I do find her. read more

I own my home and have owned cats before. I took my 5 year old in and she fell in love with tenderheart and biscuits. We applied immediately after playing with the cats for 30 minutes. Evidently I committed the crime of following up twice to have my "interview" with the head of the organization who I was told makes all decisions. Finally, I received this rude, terse and imprecise note: Thank you for your application to adopt from King Street Cats. The Board of KSC has reviewed your application and regrettably taken the decision to deny. The Board's decisions are final. Sincerely, The Board, King Street Cats Good mission, but ridiculous process and people. read more

I had the same negative experience that many others described below regarding the application process. I received a poorly written response to my application that was extremely condescending and borderline threatening. The application forces you to answer questions that should be omitted based on previous responses, but instead uses responses to those questions to accuse you of lying on the application. For instance, I noted that I would keep the cat indoors. Later in the application, I was required to identify an "escape proof" enclosure for the cat. The reviewer automatically assumed that simply responding to this question (which is required) meant that I would keep the cat outdoors, despite the fact that I stated that I would keep the cat indoors at all times. The reviewer also proceeded to chastise me for not providing an "adequate" escape proof enclosure. Did they want me to build a moat around my house? I also noted a concern--not a deal breaker--about cats ripping up furniture. The reviewer took it upon himself/herself to assume that I would declaw the cat due to that concern, even though I previously stated that I would never, under any circumstances, declaw a cat. The response was fraught with other passive aggressive comments that were completely inappropriate and unprofessional. As many have previously implied, it appears that KSC assumes you're a delinquent who couldn't properly care for a cactus, much less a cat. I directed KSC to disregard my application due to the incredibly brash response by the application reviewer. I hope these poor cats find good homes, but based on the completely arbitrary review process, I highly doubt it. read more

I've adopted three cats from King Street Cats over the years and have always had very positive experiences. They do get to know their cats and make a genuine effort to find a home that is suitable for each. Nearly all their cats are not caged, but are together in a spacious room, free to play, get exercise and socialize with one another and with people. This helps enormously in becoming a part of their adoptive family. As with all shelters, many of the animals come from traumatic backgrounds -- abandoned, abused, feral, given up for one reason or another, etc. -- and the volunteers at KSC work to help them heal emotionally as well as physically. So it's no wonder that the adoption policy is careful. They want to do what's best for each cat so that adoptions are successful for both pets and owners. It is a no-kill shelter, staffed entirely by volunteers, and the cats are well cared for. They are all fully vetted, as well as spayed/neutered and microchipped. Once a cat is adopted, knowledgeable KC staff are available to advise regarding any health or behavioral issues that might arise. read more

We got our cat Chloe from them more than two years ago (in 2009). The nice part about KSC is that they get cats from the kill shelters, then hold onto them until they can find them a home (not 'at risk' if you don't take one home); when one of their cats finds a home, that frees up room to go rescue another. Kind of hard for them to know what lingering health issues they may have, with limited (if any) prior history and limited observation time. Out cat had to have 9 teeth pulled (suspected something was wrong when she was emaciated but wouldn't eat), and has bouts of URI now and again, but is the sweetest and most loving cat ever, as they described. They follow up religiously, don't hound you for donations or volunteerism (but happily accept it when offered), an is one of the best places to find that furry lump of happiness you've been looking for. They had a record-setting 250 cats adopted out this year so far! read more

Don't bother to apply here. After waiting for almost a month, we were rejected as we have house plants. No effort was made to see if we understood which types of plants are dangerous for cats. The rejection email straight up said placing a cat with us "would be risking our kitties lives". Having followed their FB page, almost all their placements are with white, middle-aged people. read more

I found my cat through pet finder at KSC over a year ago. It took a few years for me to feel right about adopting another pet after my childhood cat died; she was a strong, beautiful, affectionate & loved family member. But when I found Shammy on-line, I knew it was time. The volunteers at KSC are just above and beyond cat lovers. They are purposeful and thoughtful, not only on the behalf of every single cat that they can possibly help, but on the larger purpose of animal rescue and humane treatment of animals. They take their cat adoptions seriously and follow up with each adopter. I still keep in touch with the volunteer who worked with Shammy and I. I even started fostering and volunteering for KSC when possible. King Street is a no-kill shelter. They are run completely on donations & volunteer time and effort. They allow their cats to roam free in a large room with plenty of cat toys and surfaces to jump up high. If you are looking for a cat or kitten, you can check out their residents on pet finder. Or you could just go in during their visiting hours and see who gravitates towards you! Another interesting note is that KSC participates in a Pets From Paradise program, taking cats from St. Croix, where the kill rate is extremely high. "You can't save the world, but you can help those who cross your path" read more