FelinE TransitionsREhoming - One Cat at a Time

Our structured, ethical, and transparent rehoming service ensures that every cat receives expert medical care, behavioral support, and a carefully matched placement. Together, we continue our mission of providing exceptional care and lasting solutions.

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Cats in the City Rescue • Structured Re-homing

Structured Re-homing for Cats Who Need More Than Simple Placement

Some cats are safe, but not stable. They may be grieving, overgrooming, shut down, medically sensitive, socially mismatched, or struggling after a major change in their home.

Our structured re-homing program is designed for cats who need assessment, stabilization, and carefully matched placement—not just transfer from one home to another.

Shelter-free model Trauma-informed transition Behavioral stabilization Medical-aware oversight Thoughtful placement planning Rescue stewardship
Important distinction
This is not a surrender fee model. It is a structured care model built around stabilization, rehabilitation, and long-term placement success.
What this program is built for
  • Cats who are not thriving in their current home
  • Cats needing behavioral or emotional stabilization
  • Cats with layered medical or dietary considerations
  • Families seeking a thoughtful, supported transition
Our Approach

What Structured Re-homing Actually Means

At Cats in the City Rescue, we provide a highly individualized, trauma-informed model of care designed to stabilize cats and support lasting placements. This work goes beyond traditional sheltering. It may include medical oversight, behavioral support, environmental restructuring, and carefully matched adoption planning.

We do not treat re-homing as a simple transfer. Many cats entering this program are carrying stress, grief, coat or skin changes, dietary needs, behavioral dysregulation, or relational mismatch that must be addressed before adoption is likely to succeed.

Why This Model Exists

Some Cats Need More Than a New Address

Stabilization first: some cats need time for urinary, dermatologic, behavioral, or emotional symptoms to settle before they are ready for placement
Environment matters: the wrong home can repeat the same stress pattern that led to re-homing in the first place
Placement is clinical: adopter matching is based on compatibility, capacity, routine, and household ecology—not urgency alone
Prevention matters: our goal is to reduce repeat displacement by doing the transition thoroughly the first time
How We Prioritize Care

Emergency Rescue and Transitional Re-homing Are Not the Same

Because our model is high-touch and resource-intensive, we prioritize cases where our level of intervention is most needed.

Emergency & high-risk cases

Scholarships Available

For cats without safe alternatives, including those facing medical, behavioral, or urgent placement risk, may receive full or majority subsidy through the rescue when resources allow.

Structured re-homing cases

Shared-Responsibility Transitional Care

Cats who are safe but not thriving often require stabilization before placement. These cases are approached as shared-responsibility partnerships, with guardians contributing toward rehabilitation and transition costs when feasible.

Why Contributions Matter

This Work Is Intensive, Skilled, and Real

Structured contributions are not a fee for surrendering a cat. They support the rehabilitation and transition work required to:

Stabilize stress-related or behavioral concerns
Address medical, dermatologic, urinary, or dietary needs when present
Provide enrichment, monitoring, and daily therapeutic support
Ensure careful screening and well-matched adoption placement
Reduce the risk of repeat rehoming or failed transition

While Cats in the City absorbs significant costs through housing, infrastructure, and labor, the rehabilitation and transition process itself must also be stewarded responsibly so the rescue can remain sustainable.

Thoughtful Partnership

Compassion and Stewardship Have to Coexist

We understand that every family’s circumstances are different. In some cases, we are able to offer reduced contributions or partial scholarship support. When we do, it is based on both financial need and the overall fit for our program.

Our goal is not just to help cats transition. It is to do so in a way that is sustainable, clinically sound, and grounded in long-term success for the cats who need us most.

When We May Not Be the Right Fit

Not Every Cat Who Could Benefit From Our Care Is a Cat We Can Responsibly Take

Cats who are immediately adoptable without stabilization
Situations where a lower-cost or self-directed pathway is preferred
Cases where financial participation in transition care is not possible
Scenarios better served by shelters or foster-based rescue models

When our program is not the right fit, we are still happy to help guide families toward alternative resources whenever we can.

What This Looks Like in Real Life

Rescue Cats in Transition

Tell Us What the Cat Is Actually Struggling With

If a cat is grieving, overgrooming, urinating outside the box, medically fragile, behaviorally mismatched, or simply not thriving in their current environment, we can help determine whether structured re-homing is the right path.

Long-haired Siamese mix cat lying on back after adoption through Cats in the City rescue

Transparent Evaluation & Contribution

At Cats in the City Rescue, we believe every cat deserves a loving and permanent home.

Each cat undergoes a comprehensive assessment to evaluate their medical and behavioral needs, ensuring they receive the appropriate care and support for a successful transition. We provide a clear explanation of the costs associated with their care, allowing for full transparency in the rehoming process. Contributions not only support the individual cat’s well-being but also help sustain our mission, ensuring that we can continue to provide expert care and placement for future cats in need.

Orange long-haired cat adopted through Cats in the City rescue program

Sustainable & Mission-Driven

Contributions create a stable funding source that supports long-term care, allowing us to maintain consistent, high-quality services for every cat. Regardless of their background or circumstances, each cat receives the same level of individualized attention, ensuring their medical, behavioral, and placement needs are met with care and expertise.

Blue-eyed Siamese mix cat adopted through Cats in the City rescue program

Thoughtful & Responsible Placement

Every adoption is carefully screened to ensure the best possible match between the cat and their new family, prioritizing a stable and fulfilling future. Each cat is given the time, care, and support they need to transition successfully, reducing stress and setting them up for long-term success. This thoughtful approach encourages responsible rehoming while promoting the lifelong well-being of every cat in our care.

Why this matters

Our structured approach provides a supportive, compassionate, and sustainable path for rehoming. Contributions to this program directly benefit the cats in our care, ensuring they receive the attention and placement they deserve.

This is not just a rehoming service—it’s a commitment to responsible, ethical, and sustainable feline care.

cat boarding and cat grooming for cats of all ages
Three-legged long-haired cat sitting against blue backdrop after rescue and recovery

ZUZU

Stories of Hope

Zuzu’s story is one of courage, compassion, and a commitment to saving lives.

Zuzu’s mom had trusted another boarding facility she found online, but when her messages went unanswered for over a week, she feared something was wrong. Through tears, she called Cats in the City Rescue, desperate for help. She asked if we could step in, retrieve Zuzu, and care for him until her return in a month. We couldn’t promise success, but we assured her we’d do everything possible to bring Zuzu to safety.

What followed was a whirlwind of urgency and action. Upon arriving at the boarding house, we found it in a remote area, with windows sealed by duct-taped cardboard. The home’s occupant appeared disheveled and unwell, but after a tense exchange, Zuzu was handed over in a carrier. The relief of having him back quickly turned to concern—Zuzu smelled terribly, and his sad, motionless demeanor hinted at something far worse.

A closer look revealed the truth: Zuzu’s left hind leg dangled unnaturally. We rushed him to DoveLewis Emergency Veterinary Hospital, where X-rays confirmed a severe, untreated break that left no option but amputation.

Zuzu’s mom, unable to afford the surgery, relinquished custody to Cats in the City Rescue, trusting us to provide the care he needed. Zuzu had surgery that same day and adjusted remarkably well to life as a tripod. Within days, he was hopping around, learning how to navigate his new world with inspiring resilience.

Soon after, we handpicked a loving family we knew would treasure Zuzu. After a trial stay, Zuzu found his forever home—a place where he’s cherished every day. Nearly 18 months later, Zuzu remains happy and thriving, and he recently visited us for a spa day, sporting his refreshed coat and an unmistakable glow of joy.

Helping cats like Zuzu is why Cats in the City Rescue exists. With your support, we can ensure more cats like Zuzu find safety, care, and the love they deserve.

Purrfectly Yours

Meet the Cats Looking for Love

Juice the piebald Tabby kitten available for adoption at Cats in the City Rescue Sellwood location
Juice - 10 month old playful Piebald Tabby
Blue-eyed Siamese mix cat named Benny who was successfully adoption through Cats in the City Rescue in Portland

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Blue-eyed Siamese mix cat named Benny who was successfully adoption through Cats in the City Rescue in Portland
Benny
Winston the Maine Coon was successfully adopted through Cats in the City Rescue in Portland Oregon. Here is Winston relaxing in our boarding Hotel at Cats in the City Sellwood location in Portland
Winston
Brown tabby cat enjoying summer boarding in a catio at Cats in the City Sellwood location in Portland
Hunter
Max, Maine Coon mix rescue cat at Cats in the City in Portland
Max
Tuxedo cat relaxing on log cabin bed in spacious boarding suite at Cats in the City Portland
Mimi
Orange tabby cat named Ragnar enjoying a secure outdoor catio at Cats in the City boarding in Portland Sellwood
Ragnar
Blue-eyed Siamese mix cat adopted through Cats in the City rescue program
Doc
Kiwi the Maine Coon enjoying the outdoor catio at Cats in the City Sellwood location in Portland
Kiwi
Black and white cat resting on a log cabin bed in a spacious cat boarding suite with natural light at Cats in the City Portland
Gracie
Habibi the tabby cat after adoption, sitting on a porch in Portland
Habibi
Sunny the Maine Coon at Cats in the City Tabor location in Portland
Sunny
Sophie tortoiseshell rescue cat standing on a soft platform at Cats in the City Portland
Sophie

Other Ways to Support

Save a Cat Today

Give a cat a loving home.

Foster

Join our team and make a hands-on difference.

Sponsor a Cat

Fund the care of a specific cat waiting for adoption.
Together, we can ensure every cat finds a safe, loving forever home. Thank you for being a part of this life-saving mission.
Lavaman the long-haired orange cat resting on cat tree during Portland in-home cat sitting visit

LAVAMAN

A CITC Love Story

At Cats in the City (CITC), we have the privilege of caring for some truly remarkable cats. One of the most unforgettable is Lavaman, an enormous, fluffy orange Maine Coon with a heart full of love and happy drool to spare.
We first met Lavaman in 2017 when he started vacationing with us while his human traveled for work. Each visit deepened our bond as Lavaman treated us to his signature purrs, lap time, and adorable habit of sprawling out belly-up, taking up as much floor space as possible.

In 2020, like so many, Lavaman’s life was turned upside down by the pandemic. His human relocated to Idaho, but due to severe family allergies, Lavaman had to return to CITC—this time as his primary home. We ensured his days were filled with joy, companionship, and even the company of kittens, who Lavaman adored. He’d light up and patiently wait for them to approach, always careful not to scare them.

After 16 months, it became clear Lavaman needed a new forever home. We promised to find him a family where love overflowed, and we knew just the place. Our dear friends Kateri and her son Davis, who had recently lost their beloved cat Kona, decided to open their hearts to Lavaman. The match was perfect. Now 10 years old, Lavaman has become an Adventure Cat, walking on a leash, hiking in the woods, and charming the neighbors. He’s living his best life, filled with love and new experiences.

Lavaman’s story reminds us that while life can be unpredictable, we can help ensure it’s filled with love and brightness. We are grateful to Kateri and Davis for giving Lavaman a beautiful new chapter and proud to still be part of his journey.
From all of us at CITC: Here’s to Lavaman and his unforgettable story!