Our Process

Learn more about the adoption process at Treetops Kitty Cafe.

Our multi-step process ensures that our cats are placed in an appropriate forever home—a suitable match for each family and an environment in which the animal can thrive and grow.

Each application is reviewed on an individual basis. Please take your time filling out our application and answering questions honestly and completely.
Failure to provide information, providing false information, or failing a vet check will result in denial.


We reserve the right to deny any application and appreciate your understanding.  

We recommend applying to adopt at least one week prior to visiting the Cafe for an adoption match. This gives us time to process your application and ensure you are able to leave with a cat the day you visit.  

Review our available cats here on our website and apply specifically or submit a general application. We spend 40+ hours a week with our cats and are very familiar with their specific needs. If you have any questions along the way, please reach out to us via email, and we can assist you in your selection based on your family dynamics. 

Our preferential adoption area is within a 1-hour drive from the Southern Chester County Area, but we accept applications within a 2-hour drive.  

Kittens under the age of 6 months are to be adopted in pairs or to a home with other cats. Due to the amount of care and supervision tiny kittens need, we do not adopt young kittens to homes with young children or those without cat-owning experience. Most of our adults are 2 years old or younger and would make great pets for families or first-time owners! 

Cats adopted from Treetops are intended to be indoor-only cats. Our kitties have come to us from out-of-state shelters, where they were either pulled off the streets, abandoned in feral colonies, or surrendered by their previous owners. We encourage an indoor-only lifestyle for longevity and safety purposes. If you are looking for a barn cat or an indoor/outdoor cat, please email us and ask us if we have any suitable cats—sometimes we do! 

 ESA (emotional support animal) Adoptions:
We do allow cats to be adopted as emotional support animals. To qualify for an ESA adoption, applicants must provide the approved paperwork required by their rental manager/property owner in advance. ESA approval requires a diagnosis of qualifying conditions including, but not limited to: anxiety, depression, chronic stress, PTSD, and learning impairment. All vetting required to qualify a cat for ESA approval is at the expense of the applicant and is completed by Treetops Kitty Cafe prior to finalizing adoption.   

Contact us! We’re here to help.

Requirements for Adoption

Applicants must consent to and pass a basic background check conducted by Treetops staff.


This will help us verify ownership of your home and check for animal abuse/neglect charges. If applicable, we also check social media.
Applicants must be at least 21 years old. 

All applicants must have a guardianship plan (see more below) or a co-applicant if requested. 

Applicants who have owned pets in the past ten years must provide a current or past veterinarian’s phone number and give permission for a Treetops representative to review records with that vet.


All current and previous pets must show a consistent record of well-visits and vaccinations.  


All previous and current pets must be spayed and neutered unless a medical condition requires otherwise. 
Rabies is required by law for all domestic pets, including indoor cats. Distemper is also required to be kept up to date for the safety of other pets in the home.

Inconsistent vetting history (refusal to vaccinate, years between well-visits, refusal to treat chronic illness as recommended by a vet) will result in denial of the application. 

Applicants who have never owned personal pets will be approved based on personal references and the quality of their application.  
We want you to succeed and will offer any advice needed!

First-time cat owners must adopt a single adult cat. Not only do adult cats need homes the most, but they are much more predictable and easier to care for than kittens or bonded sets of adults.    

Treetops has a policy against adopting cats out as gifts! This policy ensures that all parties involved in the adoption process fully know the responsibility and commitment involved in caring for a cat. Instead, we encourage potential adopters to bring the intended recipient to the Cafe Lounge so they can choose a cat that they connect with and are willing to care for.


If someone is interested in gifting a cat adoption from Treetops, they should speak to a representative about obtaining an “adoption gift certificate”.  This allows the gift recipient to come to the Cafe Lounge, select a cat that suits them, and complete the adoption process themselves.


This policy helps ensure that cats are placed in homes where they will be loved and well-cared for, and that adopters are fully prepared for the responsibilities of pet ownership. 

Guardianship plans are required for all adopters if requested by Treetops staff. As 2020 has taught us, life can be unpredictable. To ensure your new family member will always have a safe and loving home, we may ask you to provide a co-applicant or a written plan of action should your pet need emergency placement in the event of illness, death, or relocation. 

If you need to re-home your cat, you must have a plan other than returning the cat to Treetops. We do accept returns under strict conditions and will continue to do so as long as our rescue is in existence.

You’re approved! What’s next?

After being approved, Treetops staff will email you to inform you about your next steps. Typically, this means making a reservation to visit and complete the adoption.


All applicants are asked to pay their reservation fee to visit and adopt.


Approved applicants must bring a carrier to take their new pet home in. Treetops will provide you with all vet records for your new cat and it is the adopter’s responsibility to follow through on any unfinished veterinary care like booster vaccines. 


As age-appropriate, all cats are given at least one FVRCP booster and their rabies vaccine. FVRCP boosters are given 2-4 weeks apart, meaning your new cat may need vaccines within a month of adoption.


We do not hold or board cats. Adoptions are completed within 3 days of approval.

If this is your first pet, or you need extra supplies for your new kitty, we have you covered! Our little boutique is full of anything you could need to get started.  
We carry cat toys, scratchers, crates, beds, litter boxes, collars, nail trimmers, high quality wet cat food and treats. Also you can pick up some cool cat themed items for yourself!


Remember that if you purchase your supplies from us, any proceeds are a donation to our cause!

Ready to adopt or foster?

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