Meeting a Potential Pet

While we try to keep our online listing as up-to-date as possible, there are almost always some cats that are not yet posted. Many of our animals are at the Berlin Petsmart on Route 73. If you think one of our cats is right for you, come into Petsmart to meet them. However, for as many cats as we have at Petsmart, there are just as many in foster care. These cats are marked as such in their online description. If you are interested in a cat in foster care, please get in touch with us to arrange a visit.

Adopting a friend

Our goal at Jersey STAR is to keep our babies as safe and happy as possible. This means trying to match them with the best family possible. To this end, we ask potential adopters a lot of questions. Some people feel that the adoption process is a tedious one but please understand, we want everyone to be happy with the new addition.

In order to adopt one of our animals, you must first fill out an application. Upon approval of your personal and vet references (yes, we WILL call them) a home visit will be scheduled. This is not to invade your privacy; it is to ensure the safety of our animals and to verify your application.

Please remember that volunteers run this entire organization. Most of us have full time jobs, families and animals of our own we must take care of. It may take us a few days (up to a week) to get back to you but your patience will pay off.

We hold the right to deny any application, for any reason we deem appropriate. Our adoptions are not on a first come, first served basis. We try to make the best possible fit and we try to make the best decision possible for the animals and their families. If the animal you wanted is no longer available please don't give up. We always have new babies coming in and we can help you find that perfect soul mate.

Adopting a Senior

Are you someone who would love to own a pet, but are hesitant to adopt due to worry that your pet may outlive you? Just like humans, cats are living longer and longer these days due to the advancements in medicine and treatments. What happens to our pets after we are gone is a major concern for many of us. If this concern is stopping you from adopting, have you ever considered adopting a senior? There are many older cats who are eagerly waiting new homes, but who are not getting adopted because they are older. So, if you are hesitant to adopt a pet that may live another 15-18 years, why not adopt an older pet who may live another 5-8 years? You'll then have less of a concern of outliving your pet, and you won't be denying yourself all the love and joy that a pet can bring.

Ways You Can Help

There are many ways you can help save precious lives. Of course, we can always use monetary donations but did you know there are other donations that are also needed? Below is a partial list of items needed to care for our cats:

• Regular Clay Litter

• Bathroom Mats (for the cages)

• Dry Cat Food (Iams or Royal Canin brand)

• Canned Cat Food (Fancy Feast)

• Cat Toys

• Stainless Steel Bowls

• Paper Towels

• Paper Plates (to dispense canned food)

• Plastic Spoons (to dispense canned food)

• Swiffer Wet Refills

• 30 Gallon Heavy Duty Trash Bags

You can also volunteer. We have MANY areas that we need help with. There is more to rescue then most people know. Help is always needed in the following areas:

• Coming to Petsmart to play with the cats and straighten the cages

• Taking part in adopt-a-thons

• Making home visits of prospective adopters

• Fostering a cat

• Helping with fund-raising efforts

• Taking cats to the veterinary hospital for check ups/treatment

If you are available for any of the above, please contact us!

Fostering

Have you ever thought of opening up your heart and home to an animal temporarily? Unfortunately we are often in the position of having to turn away animals because we don't have the room for them. All we have are the few cages at Petsmart and space in the homes of kind volunteers. Do you have an extra bedroom, an office, even a laundry room? A cat doesn't need a whole lot of space, but that little space you have could save a life. A foster can last as little as a couple days and as long as a couple months. And, yes, it can be hard saying goodbye to them, but you get the satisfaction of knowing you saved a life, and that the animal now has a chance of finding a forever home.

Sponsoring

Some people would LOVE to own an animal but, for one reason or another, are unable too. Maybe you don't have the room to foster or the time to volunteer and really want to help. We have the solution! SPONSOR AN ANIMAL OR A CAGE! You can do this in memory of someone, in memory of an animal or just because. It costs $1.50 a day to feed each cat. Vaccines can average $45 per cat, depending on the age. Spaying and neutering is also an additional cost. And that's not even taking into consideration a cat getting sick, litter boxes, beds, grooming (yes our cats get baths and have regular grooming sessions) or just a few extra luxuries. PLEASE help us to continue our work. Contact Kathy at JSFFRescue@comcast.net for more information on how you can help sponsor a cat. The cost is $20 per month and your name will be up on the cage for a month for everyone to see.

Quick Cat Facts and Tips

• Brushing your cat's coat just 5 minutes each day can greatly reduce shedding.

•  

• Cats have approximately 60 to 80 million olfactory cells. The typical human only has 5 - 20 million of these cells. That is why cats have a great sense of smell.

•  

• When a female cat is spayed, her uterus and ovaries are removed. Health benefits for her include the elimination of heat cycles and the prevention of uterine or ovarian cancer and mammary tumors.
  
  Feline obesity is a common problem facing cats today. Most of the time the cat simply receives too much food and too little exercise. Protect your cat by monitoring her food intake and increasing her exercise.