Homeless Cat Network

Like another person, I left a thoughtful email inquiring about a particular cat but never gotten a reply. To the other negative reviewers, you are not the only ones out there ignored. At least a courteous reply saying the cat had been adopted or I am not being considered would have been appreciated.

We adopted our third kitty from Homeless Cat Network. I found a cat on
that I was interested in. I submitted my on-​line application (first step towards meeting a cat) and received a very thoughtful response within 24 hours. We set up an appointment for me to meet the cat at their facility in San Carlos. The process was simple and straight forward.
A few observations worth noting: The volunteers really care about the animals — They are clean, well-​kept, and visit the vet for annual check-​ups and any health problems that may occur. The cat we adopted had been there for 4 years waiting for his forever home. The cats are kept in «cat condos» to give them both horizontal and vertical spaces to explore, in addition to play time in the central area.
Thank you to HCN for saving our little guy!

I just stated volunteering with the Kitten Kamp section of the Homeless Cat Network. In the facility in San Mateo that I am working in, omg they treat their kitties so well. Made me re-​evaluate how much time and attention I am spending on my own 3 kitties. Sounds like from the reviews that some help is needed with the feral cats. I guess there are always good and bad reviews. I will see how much I can do to help.
Give this place a chance. They have some wonderful kitties and if it’s inefficient or confused it might be because volunteers are trying to help versus someone getting paid to do a job…

colonie dumpers. do not volenteer to be a feeder. they dumped many colonies on us 13 years ago and to this day we are still going 7 days a week. i was supose to retire due to a serious hear condition, but i found out that the cats were not being fed, only when someone decided to show up. 13 years and counting and all of the food for all of these years has been my own money. when i needed to retire, carole conover was upset that i needed to stop she told me exactly i have no one but you, i can only depend on you, because the homeless cat network does not care. well carole conover you are so right and you are just another who does not care. all of you have causaed alot of emotional distress and financial hardship to my family. and you talk very bad about the organization you are with. as you always say, you just have to kiss alot of ass. colonie dumpers !!! 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Very surprised by the number of success stories on this page. My experience was quite the contrary.
I applied for a certain young cat about two weeks ago. Sent an initial e-​mail without response, and I sent a follow up about a few days later.
HCN responded to my second inquiry, asking me some basic information about me. I replied, and NEVER got another response. No courtesy notice saying «we appreciate your interest but this cat has been adopted» or «no, you do not fit the profile of the person we are looking to house this cat with».
I waited about a 4 – 5 days, then called them leaving a courteous phone message. Still no response.
I then posted on their facebook page (which, has been regularly updating every day[meaning, they have been ignoring me]). Still no response.
I am disappointed with the exorbitantly L A C K L U S T E R service. The initial lazy e-​mail response dictated it all to me about this organization. With a main aspect of a shelter’s goal as finding new homes for cats, I truly wonder how many «unqualified applicants» are turned away based on a few e-​mails (and, in return, the cats being stuck in shelters).
–Phil

A REALLY can not say enough about this organization. I would give them a BILLION MILLION stars if I could. There is a colony of feral cat’s and kittens that live in the horrible parking lot of my work. They have come out and helped trap, spay and neuter and feed, when no one else would help me. The SPCA said «they don’t do field work and will just kill them if you bring them in.»
They have let me borrow a trap and taught me a lot. I’m so thankful that people like this exist in the world and show compassion. HOMELESS CAT NETWORK GIVES ME HOPE FOR HUMANITY. I might sound over the top, but it’s true. Thank you so much for all that you do. You make the world a better place.

Homeless Cat Network is such an incredible organization! As an all-​volunteer, donation-​based no-​kill rescue group, HCN works hard to help as many cats as possible while also addressing the root causes of cat homelessness. It’s a great organization to adopt from since HCN gives high quality care to each cat/​kitten, and volunteers make sure that each adoptable cat is a good fit for their new families.
HCN volunteers also help people with Trap-​Neuter-​Return and provide mentoring to people who want to help cats in need, and the provide free spay/​neuter for homeless cats. How cool is that? It’s a great organization filled with really caring volunteers, and really awesome cats.

I can’t say enough good words for this rescue center’s volunteers and their accommodations for cats. I love their attitude and beliefs about respecting the well being of cats. They pay individual attention to each cat. Every volunteer that I’ve met is kind and considerate of the adopters and adoptees. My appreciation goes to the volunteers at HCN, especially Melissa Riofrio, who is one of the kindest, most articulate, intelligent and caring person I’ve known. I hope this organization can become an example for the larger pet rescue and adoption agencies.

I’ve been volunteering with them at their socialization center for less than a year and this is an excellent group of people. Health issues with the cats are addressed promptly. The center is clean and the cats receive a lot of attention. The volunteers are notified about any concerning behaviors or special needs of the cats.
They really want to ensure a cat is a good match for a home. They do a home inspection and have the people who would like to adopt meet with the cat a couple of times. The volunteer are familiar with the cats and all their quirks, so the owners are informed about them. They are honest with people about the positives and negatives of the cats.
The other things I have really appreciated is the remain dedicated to the cats they have adopted out and followup with the families. Sometimes they post pictures of the cats that their new owners have sent us. Recently, a couple cats that were adopted out years ago (one in 2002) have appeared at animal shelters, but fortunately the shelters notified the Homeless Cat Network and they were brought to the socialization center. HCN would far prefer for people to bring the cats back to us, than to take them to a shelter.
I don’t have much experience with their feral cat program, adoption fairs or the foster homes, but all of what I’ve seen is that they are as well run as the socialization center. Some of the cats at the socialization center are friendly cats that the feral cat program encountered.

Homeless Cat Network does a great job and has helped many LOCAL cats and kittens, the numbers are definitely down thanks in large part by the dedication of the volunteers.
I would like to say that this is a 5 star rescue group, but Melissa needs to tone it down — a LOT. You don’t want to offend potential adopters or volunteers by being so uptight and controlling. Yes, we want to find great homes for these cats and kittens but be realistic. I wouldn’t volunteer with HCN in large part because of her. And adoption fairs only having a half dozen kitties during kitten season? Why is that? There are way too many homeless cats for that, the process is clogged up. You need to do something to facilitate the adoption process. Maybe even allow the many other rescues share adoption venues. It’s about saving lives, isn’t it?
Please people, if you’re looking to adopt a cat and have been offended by Homeless Cat Network please look into the many other rescues instead of supporting breeders.

I’ll just echo what everyone else has said. A very wonderful, wonderful group to adopt from and they truly care about not only the pets but also their potential new homes.
We adopted Sami & Maddy at the Petsmart on Industrial, and it was a very pleasant process. Our two kids are the most wonderful kitties in the world.
It is disheartening to hear that, they are rescuing a lot of abandoned animals from foreclosed homes. Thats where Sami & Maddy came from. At first we thought they were brother and sister but turns they are about a month apart, from two different litters at the foreclosed house. :(
While that is very sad, HCN puts forth a lot of effort into these rescued cats with foster homes, etc. We met Sami & Maddy’s foster parent and she was happy to see the two adopted.
We also got a nice Christmas card from HCN.
Please adopt, don’t buy, and give a little extra to these people if you can. They deserve it.

What an amazing organization. The volunteers here are extraordinarily kind and generous. They are dedicated to doing what is best for their cats, and are diligent in ensuring each cat goes to a home well-​suited for it.
We recently adopted a sweet young kitty named Dempsey, from the HCN’s San Carlos PetSmart location. The adoption process could not be more different from back in the old days when someone had a box of kitties or puppies in front of a Safeway. Here, you fill out a well-​written and thoughtful questionnaire/​adoption application. Your application is reviewed, and if you are found to be a decent match, you are invited to come interact with the cat (s) you are interested in. If that goes well, the volunteers come to your home to validate that you are a good match, and presumably, that you aren’t lying on your application about your home, other pets, kids in the household, etc. The volunteers were wonderful every step of the way and it was clear they are dedicated to what they do. Despite the number of steps in the adoption process, it could not have gone more smoothly or more quickly. Dempsey joined our family within just a few days of when we first saw him and reached out to HCN.
One final word about PetSmart… Ordinarily we avoid large pet supply chain stores like this one, but we found ourselves there buying cat food for our other cats and that’s where we first saw Dempsey and fell in love. I learned that PetSmart does not, itself, sell dogs or cats, as there are so very many out there that already need good homes. They do, however, DONATE real estate within their stores to local rescue organizations so that homeless animals are able to find homes. They take it a step further and donate all food and litter for those animals as well (while they are staying at the store). They do get a significant cut of the adoption fees, which is only fair, I suppose.
So kudos to PetSmart and kudos to HCN and its volunteers. They are doing extraordinary work. Please adopt a kitty from these kind folks, and give a little extra if you can…

I recently started volunteering with the Homeless Cat Network. So far, so good. The kitties hang out in their «condos» or scamper around freely; they are well cared for and the place is very clean.
Volunteers come in twice a day to clean out the condos (dump the litter, wash and re-​fill the food and water bowls, clean the kitty bedding, sweep and mop the floors) and vacuum the surrounding areas and then spend time hanging out with the kitties. Pretty plush!
There’s a log for each cat so volunteers can note if a cat is scratching, sick, being super-​playful, needs to go the vet, whatever.
It sometimes take a while for a cat to get used to human touch, although persistence seems to be paying off. I’ve noticed that the cats react differently to each person, so bear in mind that the kitty you like may not initially like you. Nothing personal, just a cat’s perogative. ;-)

These people are gods and goddesses! I have been photographing the «wild» cats along the Foster City Bay trail for years… One day I saw a sign for these mysterious people who feed the cats. This Project Bay Cat has saved hundreds of cats by feeding, catching, getting vet exams, spaying or neutering, and finding the nice ones homes. They have helped to reduce the amount of wild kitties out there, and insure the ones out there are healthy.
I have since donated my images of the cats for use by Homeless Cat Network fundraising and awareness.
Keep up the GREAT WORK!!!

All of the people I have worked with are incredibly friendly and true animal lovers. They do extensive research before adopting out kitties and vow to take back cats if there’s ever an emergency and you can no longer keep the cat.
Adoption fees for each cat is $ 85.00 but you’re encouraged to donate more to the cute little kitties. Please adopt instead of buying.
Also, they always need more volunteers so if you can support them in any way please do.