Q. Can I bring food/drinks into the Cat Zone?
A. Yes, food and drink are available for purchase in the RAWR Coffee Bar, attached to Cat Town.
Q. Can I bring my cat(s) to the Cat Zone?
A. No. Bringing in cats from outside would not only be stressful for our cats, but likely stressful for your cat (and us!).
Q. Where do you get the cats that are in the Cat Zone?
A. Cat Town's mission is to help cats from Oakland Animal Services (OAS / Oakland's municipal shelter), so that's where we get the majority of our cats. We also support Feral Change and Fix Our Ferals. When possible, we'll take adoptable cats from them.
Q. I'm no longer able to keep my cat. Can you take her at the Cat Town Cafe or into a foster home?
A. Np, we do not take in cats directly. Our mission is to help at-risk cats at Oakland Animal Services, and aren't set up to intake cats on our own.
Q. Do the cats live at the Cafe?
A. Until they are adopted, yes! Cat Town started as a foster based program, and the Cat Zone is our own permanent foster space, so this is their cage-free home until they find their family. If anyone gets sick or is stressed, we'll get them into a foster home until they're adopted.
Q. Do I need to make a reservation?
A. Not always. Due to the high volume of weekend guests, reservations are required Friday (starting at 3PM) through Sunday. You can make a reservation for any day that we are open (Wednesday through Sunday), but walk-ins are only available Wednesday through Friday (until 3PM).
Serious potential adopters do not need to make a reservation or pay for entry. Just be sure to email info@cattownoakland.org ahead of your visit and we'll put you in touch with our staff.
Q. How many people/cats are in the Cat Zone at one time?
A. We allow up to 12 people in the Cat Zone per hour, to minimize stress, and give potential adopters and other visitors the opportunity for quality time with the cats.
Q. What if I come into the Cat Zone and all the cats are sleeping?
A. Cats sleep up to 16 hours a day. While we understand that visitors hope to spend time with playful cats, it's important for the health of our cats that they be allowed to sleep when they need it. If you’d like to visit when they are more playful, we recommend that you try to visit before 1PM or after 5PM.
Q. Are children allowed in the Cat Zone?
A. Yes! However, at least one adult needs to be present per two children (12 and under). We ask all visitors help us create a calm and quiet environment for the cats.
Q. Can I volunteer in the Cat Zone?
A. Yes! You can become a volunteer by filling out our online form. We are also always looking for volunteers to help us at events, to assist with foster cat care, supply delivery, etc. There is something for everyone!
* If your question is not listed here please send an email to reservation@cattownoakland.org or info@cattownoakland.org.
* Please note that we receive a lot of e-mail and we may not be able to reply as quickly as we would like. We appreciate your understanding.