Returning or Surrendering a Windsor Kittens Cat

Since our founding, Windsor Kittens has grown significantly in both the number of cats served and the complexity of our operations. As a volunteer-driven, foster-based rescue, we periodically update our procedures to ensure we can continue providing responsible care while maximizing our impact in the community.

If you adopted a cat from Windsor Kittens and can no longer keep them, please contact us before surrendering them to another rescue, shelter, or individual. We remain committed to assisting cats adopted through our program whenever possible.

Please note that Windsor Kittens is not a physical shelter and does not maintain open kennel space. All cats entering our program require available foster placement, volunteer support, and financial resources. As a result, immediate intake may not be possible. Cats may be placed on a waiting list while we identify appropriate foster placement and evaluate organizational capacity. During this time, owners remain responsible for the cat's care, housing, food, and veterinary needs until transfer to Windsor Kittens has been arranged.

There are two different processes depending on timing.

Adoption Return — Within 90 Days

If something isn't working out within the first 90 days of your adoption, please reach out to us right away. We'll work with you to understand the situation and provide resources and support to help ease the transition. If it’s clear that the cat needs to return to us, we will arrange for the cat to come back into our care at no additional cost. Early returns are sometimes the right call, and we'd rather hear from you than have a cat end up somewhere unsafe.

Owner Surrender — After 90 Days

For adoptions finalized more than 90 days prior to the request, the cat will be processed as an owner surrender rather than an adoption return.

If you find yourself in this situation, here's what to expect:

Step 1 — Contact us first.

Reach out to Windsor Kittens in writing before taking any other action. This is a requirement of your adoption contract and the most important first step.

Step 2 — Surrender fee.

A non-refundable surrender fee of $100 per cat is required. This helps us cover the real costs of re-intake: veterinary screening, updated care, foster placement, and the time our volunteers invest in preparing a cat for re-adoption. Fees may be waived at the sole discretion of Windsor Kittens in cases involving demonstrated hardship or extraordinary circumstances.

Step 3 — Intake window.

We are a volunteer-run rescue with limited foster space, and we cannot always accept animals immediately. We will work to arrange intake within 14 to 30 days, depending on our current capacity. During that time, we ask that you continue caring for your cat — and we encourage you to use that window actively. Share on social media, reach out to friends and family, and talk to coworkers. The people already in your life are often the best source of a trusted new home, and if you find the right fit before we arrange intake, that's a win for everyone.

Step 4 — Paperwork and photos.

To help us prepare, we'll ask for current photos, any vet records from since your adoption, and a brief update on your cat's health, behavior, and routine.

Step 5 — Interim placement (optional).

We strongly encourage you to explore rehoming through your personal network while we arrange intake — friends, family, coworkers, and trusted contacts are often the fastest path to a great home. If you find a placement, let us know and we're happy to offer guidance or a quick screening if it would be helpful. We just ask that you keep us in the loop before anything is finalized.

Please note: Windsor Kittens only accepts owner surrenders for cats originally adopted through our program. We are not able to take in cats from other sources.

Our goal is always to act in the best interest of the cat while responsibly stewarding the limited resources entrusted to our organization.

Have questions? Email us at info@windsorkittens.org. We promise to respond with care.