How Long Does the Humane Society Keep Cats?

The length of time a humane society keeps cats can vary depending on several factors, including the individual shelter’s policies, the cat’s health, temperament, and adoptability, as well as the shelter’s capacity. One study found that the average length of time was 55 days, with younger, friendly cats being adopted more quickly than older, less social cats.

Some humane societies may have to make difficult decisions about euthanizing cats after a certain time period, especially if they are sick or injured or due to limited space. However, before doing so, they strive to find alternatives, such as keeping the cats as long as possible or transferring them to organizations with more resources and capacity to care for them. The length of time they must wait before considering euthanasia can vary, with some states, such as California, having a holding period of four to six days and Missouri, having 10 days before a cat can be adopted, sold, or euthanized.

While the exact hold times vary by location, the minimum time is usually shorter for a surrendered cat than for a pet brought in as a stray. Laws vary drastically by city and state, but in some cases, there is no minimum hold time for surrendered cats, and the organization is not required to keep them for any set period. Of course, the goal is to find all adoptable animals a loving home, but this isn’t always possible.

Hold times for surrendered cats vs. strays

When an animal is brought in as a stray, humane societies and other shelters have to give the pet parents time to claim their pet. A stray cat’s hold time could be as long as two weeks. When a cat is surrendered, however, there is no need to give the pet parents a chance to come forward, so they are not required to hold the pet for any set amount of time. This is important to remember before dropping your pet off at a shelter.

If you must rehome your cat, consider one of these other methods that will give your pet the best chance of finding a new home.

• See if a friend or family member is interested in adopting your pet.

• Check with local rescue organizations to see if they have space for your cat.

• Take the time to find a new home for the cat yourself. 

Rehoming your cat yourself gives you the most control over your cat’s outcome because it allows you to choose the adopters and see how they interact with your cat. 

Need help with rehoming?

It can take time to find the right home, and you may not even know where to begin. Fortunately, there are resources available that simplify the process. Rehome from Adopt a Pet allows you to showcase your pet to millions of potential adopters by creating a profile for your cat and screening adopters directly on the platform.

You can view our tips on keeping your pet, and if that’s not possible, you can do all you can to ensure your cat will be happy, healthy, and loved in a new home.

References

“Do you have legal holding times for animals that are brought into your shelter?.” Humane Society Silicon Valley, 15 July 2024, www.hssv.org/about-us/faqs/. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.

‌“State Holding Period Laws for Impounded Companion Animals | Animal Legal & Historical Center.” Animallaw.info, 2018, www.animallaw.info/content/state-holding-period-laws-impounded-companion-animals. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.

‌Delgado, Mikel. “Does Behavior Affect How Long Cats Stay in Shelters? – AVSAB.” Avsab.org, 22 May 2020, avsab.org/does-behavior-affect-how-long-cats-stay-in-shelters. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.

‌“California Code, Food and Agricultural Code (Formerly Agricultural Code) - FAC § 31108 | FindLaw.” Findlaw, 2023, codes.findlaw.com/ca/food-and-agricultural-code-formerly-agricultural-code/fac-sect-31108/. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.