Welcome To The Kansas Humane Society
Creating a Happy Community for Pets & People
The Kansas Humane Society is a community resource for pets and people that helps abandoned and homeless animals in our community. Our animal shelter offers a wide variety of services to promote the human and animal bond. These include: pet adoption, spay/neuter services for the pets of low income families, community outreach, end of life services, animal rescue, pet rehoming, donation opportunities, Woofstock, and so much more. KHS is proud to give animals the care, comfort, hope, and the second chance at a new life they deserve!
The Kansas Humane Society is Wichita’s largest privately-funded, non-profit animal shelter organization: featuring pets for adoption, spay/neuter services, humane education, volunteer and foster opportunities, and a variety of fundraising programs.
Do You Want To Help Animals At The Same Time
Why don’t you consider a donation to the Humane Society in lieu of favours?
More and more couples are rethinking wedding favours do you want to give your guests something engraved that will sit on a shelf, or be stuck in a drawer? Do you provide a nice trinket with your name on it so theyll remember your important day?
We suggest something out of the ordinary
- Something sustainable
How Do We Solve Cat Overpopulation
Solving cat overpopulation is a complex matter that involves both humanely reducing the population of community cats and preventing the addition of more cats. There is no quick fix and no one solutiona combination of tools are needed:
- Spaying and neutering of community cats through strategic, high-intensity TNR and related programs. To effectively reduce the population, approximately 80% of the cats in the focus area need to be TNRd.
- Spaying and neutering of owned cats and cats adopted from shelters and rescues before they are 5 months old and old enough to have kittens.
- Helping people keep their own cats when faced with cat behavior challenges as well as their own financial struggles and housing issues.
- Providing people with options and assistance for rehoming cats they can no longer keep so that those cats are not abandoned outdoors.
- Keeping owned cats indoors with outdoor access provided by an enclosed cat patio, or catio, or by walking the cat on a leash.
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Cats Available For Adoption
HSLM is open for general inquiry walk-ins regarding pet availability and viewing at the shelter.
The HSLM website represents all pets available for adoption at the shelter, however, adoption applications must be completed and submitted in person.
Pet adoption forms must be submitted in person at the shelter, however you can print and fill out the adoption forms in advance:
- Download Cat/Kitten Adoption Form here
Pet surrenders, please call: 519-451-0630 x232 or x233.
Interested in adopting a Whiskers at Work cat? Click HERE for more information.
- Senior Cats $100*
Adoption fee of a cat or dog includes:
- Rabies vaccination
- 7 day supply of food
- Any additional tests or treatments will be outlined in the medical record
Adoptions Are Available By Appointment Only You Can Learn More About Our Current Adoption Process Here
If you see this yellow circle on an animals photo, it means the animal can be viewed/adopted with our partners at the PetSmart location at 898 Monaghan Road, Unit 2 in Peterborough. All animals at PetSmart are adopted out on a first come first serve basis and are available for viewing and adoption during their regular business hours.
Dog application Cat application
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Lincoln County Humane Society Has Been Protecting Animals Since 1881
The Lincoln County Humane Society is a charitable not-for-profit organization dedicated to the humane treatment of all animals to alleviate their suffering and neglect, support the human-animal bond and foster an environment in which people respect all living creatures. We will provide safe refuge and compassionate care for animals.
We will pursue workable solutions to the most urgent animal welfare issues of our community, which are animal overpopulation and homelessness. These solutions will emphasize the mutual benefits of bringing pets and people together.
We will provide rescue and control as a lifeline to animals in need, as a necessary service to our community.
We will encourage and provide for pet adoption, animal assisted therapy, pet care education, spay and neuter program and investigations of cruelty and neglect.
As a not-for-profit organization we shall operate these programs with integrity, in a financially responsible manner that secures a financially viable future for this organization with a strong commitment to fundraising and membership development.
Why Are There So Many Cats Outdoors
Overpopulation is a serious concern with an estimated 30 to 40 million community cats in the United States. Some cats have lived outside for generations, while others adapted to living outdoors after being lost or abandoned. Left to their own proclivities, these cats reproduce. Since a female cat can become pregnant as early as five months of age and have multiple litters each year, the number of cats in a neighborhood can rapidly increase if cats aren’t spayed or neutered.
These cats produce around 80% of the kittens born in the U.S. each year. Without adequate spay/neuter programs , more cats will enter animal shelters, feline euthanasia rates will increase and donor and taxpayer dollars will be squandered on ineffective solutions.
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Where Do Community Cats Live
Community cats are predominantly found near where people live or work. They can thrive in densely populated areas, where there is easy access to food and shelter, as well are rural settings, where they are often called barn cats. Many of these cats, especially the social ones, are considered to be at home by residents in the area they live. Community cats may live alone or in pairs or congregate in groups. Rarely do you find cats living in remote areas in the U.S., surviving without the help of humans.
Congratulations On Your Decision To Adopt A Pet
Please see all our currently available animals below. If you do not find what you are looking for, please check back! New animals come available each day.
To find out what to expect during your adoption, please review our
Important Note: Submitting a request does not guarantee you will be able to adopt that animal. We accept multiple requests for each animal to give them the best possible chance of finding a suitable home quickly, which are reviewed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Our team will let you know where you are in line upon review of your request.
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What Is A Community Cat
Community cat is the term we use for domestic cats who live outdoors and have no indication of having an owner. Their behavior can range from fearful and wary of people to friendly and open to human interaction. Older terms for these cats include feral cats and alley cats, but as those cats may not be feral or live in alleys, the animal welfare field has shifted to using the broader term “community cats.”
Adopt A Cat Or Kitten
If you are interested in adopting, we are open for walk-in adoptions for our cats from Tuesday through Saturday . When you come into the shelter, if you have not already done so, you will fill out an adoption application and then you will talk with our Adoption Counsellors.
After your interview with the Adoption Counsellors, if they feel you are able to move forward in the process, they will take you in to meet our animals. We ask that all members of the family come together, and if you have a pet carrier, please bring that along as well. Please make sure that everyone wears a mask .
- Fill in an adoption application and talk with our Adoption Counsellor.
- If you are intending to adopt a cat, have a Pet Carrier.
- All members of the family are attending
- Please wear a mask
** If you are interested in a cat, please check our , and pages featuring videos of available cats for more information on each cats personality and needs. When you come in, please come with two or three cats in mind to meet, in the event that you are able to move forward in the process and meet with our animals. You can then meet those specific cats so you can make your own judgement on their personalities. Please also continually check the website before you come in to ensure the cat you want to meet is still available for adoption. **
You can keep track of animals available for adoption on our YouTube channel, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. Thank you for your understanding.
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How Does Tnr Solve Common Complaints About Outdoor Cats
Spaying and neutering not only improves the welfare of individual cats, it can also solve many common complaints:
- The cats no longer reproduce. That means no more kittens to worry about and the family of outdoor cats wont continue to grow.
- Behaviors associated with mating, such as yowling and fighting, are dramatically reduced.
- Neutered cats also roam less they will stay closer to home and are less likely to be hit by cars.
- Foul odors are greatly reduced as well because neutered male cats, no longer producing testosterone, wont have that distinctive tomcat smell to their urine.
If enough cats in a community are TNRd, the population will stabilize and over time, decline and eventually die out. Fewer cats means fewer complaints.
Why Do Some People Consider Outdoor Cats A Nuisance
Problems can arise when outdoor cats venture into a yard where they are not welcome. Some people consider behaviors such as digging, urinating and defecating in their yard or garden, jumping on their car, sleeping on porch furniture or upsetting an owned cat to be nuisances. Others are concerned about wildlife the cats may prey on or about the health and welfare of cats they see outdoors. These concerns often lead to calls to animal control agencies and other officials whose job it is to serve the public making outdoor cats a problem for them as well as the resident who lodged the complaint.
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What You Should Do When You Find A Stray Cat
See below for our breakdown on what you should and shouldnt do when you find a stray cat. Each step has an in-depth information section available in our numbered dropdown menus.
Yes, the cat enjoys petting: This cat would love life in a home and may already have one! Leave them where they are, or look for the owner if you are concerned they may be lost or abandoned. See this link for tips on how to do this.
No, the cat does not enjoy petting: This cat is healthy and successful where they are now and is unlikely to have good welfare in a typical home. Contact your local municipal animal control to pursue TNR and help for continuing to provide care as a community cat caretaker.
Who Takes Care Of Community Cats
An estimated 10-12% of the American public feed community cats. In addition to providing daily meals and fresh water, these cat caregivers may provide dedicated shelter to protect the cats in inclement weather and provide medical care if the cats become sick or are injured. They look out for the cats and often participate in TNR efforts to get the cats fixed and vaccinated and work with other residents to mitigate any complaints that arise due to the presence of the outdoor cats. While community cats are often referred to as feralwhich means having escaped from domestication and returned to a wild state the majority rely on humans for support.
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Would It Be Better To Just Humanely Euthanize The Cats Who Cant Be Adopted
While some people feel sorry for outdoor cats because they view the cats as fending for themselves or feel they will suffer a fate worse than euthanasia, adult community cats are generally healthy and thriving outdoors. Others are annoyed by the cats’ behaviors and want them removed without much thought to what happens to the cats. But the majority of people don’t feel that community cats should be euthanized.
Its not a solution to overpopulation either. Community cats live at a certain location because it offers food and shelter. When cats are removed, unmanaged cats from surrounding areas may move in to take advantage of the newly available resources. The cycle of reproduction and nuisance behavior begins all over again. Rarely does an animal control agency have the capacity to remove enough cats to impact the population. They dont have the resources nor, increasingly, the desire to remove cats that have little to no chance of being adopted. They also dont have the support of the community members who feed the cats, making it very difficult to convince the cats to go into the traps.
A better approach includes TNR and one or more caregivers. Spayed or neutered cats are healthier because they no longer fight over mates or expend resources on making and caring for kittens and their nuisance behaviors are greatly reduced or eliminated. Caregivers provide food, water and shelter and watch over the cats’ health and wellbeing.
Why Shouldnt I Let My Cats Roam Outdoors
Allowing your cat to roam freely outdoors comes with risks. When outside, cats face dangers such as being hit by a car, being harmed by another animal or person and certain diseases and parasites. Additionally, your cat may cause conflicts between neighbors and injure or kill wildlife. Why take the risk?
Approximately 71% of the estimated 80 million pet cats in the U.S. are kept indoors and more owners are realizing that their cats are safer and can lead happy lives indoors. You can transition your cat indoors and provide safe outdoor time with a catio or by taking your cat for a walk on a harness and leash. Its always a good idea for your cat to wear a collar with identification that would help reunite you should they become lost or be picked up by a neighbor or animal control.
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Why Cant Animal Shelters Rescue All The Community Cats
Most community cats dont need rescuing they have an outdoor home and people who care for them. Bringing these healthy community cats in leads to shelter overcrowding, which leads to cats getting sick, which leads to higher euthanasia rates. No one wants that. Shelters and rescue groups help by participating in programs to get these cats spayed or neutered and vaccinated and to help support the people in the community who care for them.
Ideally, kittens, once weaned, can be placed in adoption programs. Kittens need to be exposed to humans by about 9 weeks of age in order to not harbor a fear of humans. Many community cat programs include foster homes to socialize kittens born outdoors so that they can be adopted into homes. Volunteering to be a foster home is one way you can be part of the solution.
Shouldnt We Remove Cats In Order To Protect Wildlife
There are no easy answers to the issue of cat predation on wildlife. However, removing cats only results in a temporary reduction in the cats numbers, essentially putting a bandage on the problem and further distance from real solutions.
Trap and remove may at first glance seem to be a logical approach to solving cat-wildlife conflict. You might be able to eliminate the population if your target is just a few cats, but trap and remove does not effectively scale up to an entire communitythe level youd need in order to have any impact on threats to wildlife. In order to reduce the population, at least 50% of the cats will need to be removed annually. The cats left behind will tend to have larger litters of kittens, and more of those kittens will survive. The population will quickly return to where it was before cats were removedand in some cases has been documented to double!
Wildlife and cat advocates can help protect wildlife by joining forces in non-controversial collaborative projects such as informing cat owners about keeping owned cats indoors, seeking support and funds for installing cat-proof fences around sensitive natural areas, humanely relocating cat colonies that pose unacceptable risks to wildlife and, of course, continuing community cooperation to improve the efficiency and economy of TNR programs.
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Isn’t Living Outside Dangerous For Cats
The idea that community cats are at great risk for suffering and untimely death if not admitted to a shelter is a long-standing one. Free-roaming cats do risk higher exposure to dangers such as predators, poisons, infectious and parasitic agents, weather extremes and cruel human acts. While the physical dangers to free-roaming cats are not to be ignored, a growing body of evidence suggests that they are generally fit and healthy, with only a fraction of a percent of cats coming into TNR clinics requiring euthanasia to end suffering.
The overall health of community cats improves after being sterilized, vaccinated and returned: they have greater immunity against a host of other diseases and parasites, they fight less and stay closer to home, decreasing risk of injury or of being hit by a car. Sterilized cats are also less likely to transmit feline diseases that are largely spread through mating behavior and mating-related fighting. While some believe cats living outdoors are more susceptible to common feline diseases, such as feline immunodeficiency virus or feline leukemia virus , these viruses occur at the same rate as in the pet cat population.