Alley Cat Project is 100% volunteer. Our mission is to humanely reduce the population of outdoor cats in Seattle through spay/neuter and adoption. We primarily trap-neuter-return feral adult cats and bring their kittens into foster homes for adoption as indoor-only pets.
What We Do
Here are some things we do to help Seattle’s feral, stray and abandoned cats:
- Trap, Neuter (or spay), and Return (TNR) feral cats to their colonies. TNR is a humane solution to the problem of unowned free roaming cats.
- Deliver friendly cats who were lost or abandoned to Seattle Animal Shelter so that they can be redeemed by an owner or adopted to a new family.
- Socialize semi-friendly kittens and cats so they can be adopted as pets.
- Provide basic medical care, nutritious food, and safe and sanitary conditions to all cats after alteration.
- Use the services of Seattle Animal Shelter’s Spay/Neuter Clinic and Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Project (FCSNP) to alter cats.
Adopt
Adoptions
Adopt your forever-friend today!
Adoption Inquires:
Fill out the application below to begin the adoption process.
View cats who are currently available for adoption on our
Volunteer
Our team entirely consists of volunteers, and we always welcome help!
Here are the current volunteer roles in need of support:
Social Media, Marketing & Events
We currently have no open opportunities for marketing, social media or event support. Please check back with us another time.
Trapping and Transport Team
- Field Operative/Trapper
This work requires training, passion for cats, tireless energy, lack of timidity, a flexible schedule or ability to work on trapping after work hours, a dependable vehicle, ability to lift, carry, and transport traps, carriers, and cats in traps and carriers. Prior experience is preferred, but training and mentoring will be provided. Note: most of our trapping needs are south of downtown.
- Clinic Transport
Early morning transport of cats to clinic in Lynnwood, Washington. Note: this may require holding the cats overnight in traps or carriers the night before clinic at your home or garage. Check in time is currently 7:30 AM.
- Kennel Care and Cleaning
Cleaning kennels, litter boxes, traps, carriers, sweep and mop floor. Frequency depends on demand, linked to trapping efforts. Location: Magnolia
Fostering Team
- Shy Adult Cat Foster Parent
We are always looking for foster parents to give an adult cat the opportunity for a safe and comfortable life. Frequently, the adult cats we trap just need a kind and patient person to help them come out of their shell. Outdoor cats lead hard lives with dramatically reduced life expectancies, and it is always our preference to find homes for as many cats as we can – adults included, as long as they show potential for socialization. Fostering and socializing shy adults takes more time and patience than kittens, but is much more rewarding.
- Kitten Foster Parent
Kitten season typically runs from April-November every year. As the weather warms and the flowers bloom, kittens begin to pop up in bushes, crawlspaces, and everywhere in between. Our foster kittens are typically between 4-12 weeks old, but we also foster both older kittens and feral mothers with their unweaned newborns. Our foster parents will take anywhere from 2-6 kittens at a time. Typically, you will foster them for 1-2 months until they’re adopted. These furballs can be a little “spicy” initially, but kittens learn to trust humans very quickly. For the extra spicy ones, our experienced foster parents are always available to help.
VOLUNTEER DUTIES AND DESCRIPTIONS Here are some of the things we do. Check back often as our needs change, especially during kitten season.
Capture – Do you have a car and flexibility during the evening hours? Capturing cats works best in the evening when cats are hungry and active.
Holding and Drop off – Are you an early riser with a car and enclosed garage, shed, or basement? If so, you’re a great candidate to help transport cats to the Spay/Neuter clinic in Lynnwood on weekdays and Sunday mornings.
Pickup and Recovery – Do you have a car and flexible schedule during the day? You could help picking up cats after their surgeries and keeping them warm for one or two days while they recover.
Working Cats Program – We help unwanted adult cats find permanent homes in warehouses, breweries, and other places where mousers are needed. If you don’t mind driving moderate distances, and want the thrill of matching people with working cats, this might be a great opportunity for you.
Donate
We rely on donations to conduct all our work, and your support is extremely important to us!
Donate via PayPal. Money will go to medical care and supplies for cats, as well as trapping equipment. Alley Cat Project is a 501(c)(3) organization and your donation is tax deductible.
Mail a check made out to Alley Cat Project. Our mailing address is:
P.O. Box 99224
Seattle WA 98139-0224
Donate supplies directly. Check our Amazon wish list to find out what we need most, or get in touch.
Adopt a cat!
Contact
View the map to see the areas of Seattle that we service here.
ACP helps cats within the Seattle city limits. The northern boundary is 145th Street. The southern boundary is irregular. If you live outside of our territory, please contact the appropriate organization listed below. Note that we do not provide service to White Center or Skyway.
HOW TO GET IN TOUCH
If you need help with stray or feral cats, there are three ways to get in touch with us.
- Complete this form.
- Call or text us at (206) 745-0243
- Email us at info@alleycatproject.org
ACP is entirely volunteer run and we will do our best to respond to requests between 48-72 hours. If you haven’t heard back by then, feel free to contact us again.
ORGANIZATIONS OUTSIDE OF SEATTLE
South County Cats
- Area served: South of Seattle and east of I-5
- https://www.southcountycats.org/
- southcountycats@gmail.com
FCAT (Feral Cat Assistance and Trapping)
- Area served: South of Seattle and west of I-5
- https://www.feraltrapping.com/
- 206-427-6454
- feraltrapping@gmail.com
Community Cat Coalition
- Area served: primarily Snohomish County, parts of Skagit County
- https://communitycatcoalitionwa.org/
- CCCofWa@gmail.com
RAIN Rescue
- Area served: Federal Way
- https://www.rainrescue-wa.org/
RASKC (Regional Animal Services of King County)
- Area served: 24 cities + unincorporated King County
- https://kingcounty.gov/depts/regional-animal-services/about-us/overview.aspx
- 206-296-7387
If none of these rescues serve your area, we recommend joining the Facebook group: Cat Rescue Network of Washington to see who in your area may be able to assist.