Shelter Admissions

In most situations, the YCSPCA will not accept healthy “stray” cats into the shelter as surrendered animals. In most cases, due to behavioral issues, feral or free-roaming cats will never be a candidate for adoption, which leaves those cats with an almost guaranteed outcome of euthanasia. Additionally, surrendering free-roaming cats does not reduce York County’s free roaming cat population long-term. Instead, the YCSPCA advocates for data-driven, long-term solutions to address our county’s cat population growth rates.

Residents should trap unowned cats and then bring those cats to the York County SPCA’s low-cost spay/neuter clinic. At the clinic, all cats receive a thorough exam, spay/neuter surgery, ear tip, and are vaccinated for Rabies – all for a cost of $25. For more information on this program, please visit our Spay/Neuter Clinic page. The next day, residents should pick up the cat and return the cat back to where it was found. Upon completion of the veterinary exam, any health issues are addressed by our staff. If the cat arrived in a healthy condition, research and industry professionals agree that the cat will continue to thrive in the same environment. To learn more about healthy, free-roaming community cats, please visit our Community Cats page.

If York County residents observe and trap an unhealthy free-roaming cat, we accept those animals into our shelter. We strive to nurse the animal back to health in hopes of returning the cat to the original address where it was found. Again, free-roaming cats are not good candidates for adoption and typically thrive when returned to their outside home. If you think a free-roaming community cat in your neighborhood is experiencing a health issue, please contact the YCSPCA prior to trapping the cat and bringing it to the shelter.

If York County residents observe a free-roaming cat that appears to be owned (collar, harness, other obvious signs), we encourage residents to leave the cat where it is. Although it may feel counterintuitive, cats are 13 times more likely to be reunited with their owner when they remain or are returned to the area where they were found. Unless there are signs of illness or abandonment (trying to get into homes, frightened outside, cowering, hiding, etc.), it is better to return cats to their previous environment rather than bring the cat to an animal shelter. Alternatively, you may bring the cat to the shelter to have it scanned for a microchip. If there is no microchip, we will ask you to return the cat to the location where it was found. If there is a microchip, we will keep the cat and attempt to reunite it with the owner.

If York County residents observe kittens and the mom cat is alive, we ask them to “leave the kittens be.” If York County residents do not see the mother cat, it is likely that the mom is still alive but is out hunting or hiding from people. It is instinctual for community members to see a kitten and want to bring that kitten to our shelter for care and adoption. However, we must redirect kittens away from our shelter and into a foster home because they often experience health problems in a shelter setting due to their compromised immune systems. The best guarantee for a kitten’s live outcome is to keep the kitten with its mom. Community members can help increase a kitten’s chance at a live outcome by following these instructions. Avoid handling the kittens and watch them from a distance for 10-12 hours to see if the mother returns. If the kittens are exposed or in a dangerous location, move them to a safe hiding spot nearby. If no mother returns, please contact the shelter at 717-764-6109 extension 101. The next best option is foster care. Saving kittens must be a community effort. We are only successful in saving kitten lives if people volunteer to be kitten fosters. Once kitten fosters have nursed the kitten to about 2-pounds, their immune system is strong enough to allow them to return to our shelter for adoption. To learn more, visit our Foster Program page.

If York County residents find kittens and the mom is confirmed deceased, we will try our best to find a foster home for the kitten(s). We have a network of volunteers who are willing to bottle feed kittens until they reach two pounds and can be brought into the shelter. The finder may be asked to foster the kittens until they are two pounds if a foster parent is unavailable. All supplies and coaching will be provided. Feel free to contact us for more information or to learn how to become a feline foster parent. To learn more, visit our Foster Program page.