As a leading pet retailer with over 1,650 stores across North America, PetSmart is often the first place many prospective pet owners look when considering adding a new furry friend to the family. And for good reason – with a wide selection of pet supplies, foods, accessories and services, PetSmart is a one-stop shop for all your pet‘s needs.
But what about the pets themselves? Specifically, does PetSmart sell cats and kittens? As a retail and consumer expert and self-proclaimed "Picky Shopper", I decided to investigate and share my findings and insights.
The Short Answer: No, But…
The short answer is no, PetSmart does not sell cats and kittens in its stores like other merchandise. However, that doesn‘t mean you can‘t still find your new feline companion at PetSmart. The retailer has a long-standing commitment to supporting pet adoption and has partnerships with local animal shelters and rescue organizations to operate adoption centers within its stores.
These adoption centers, usually located at the front of the store, house anywhere from 10-30 adoptable cats and kittens from the partner organization. Potential adopters can visit the adoption center during store hours to meet the available cats, learn more about their personalities and needs, and begin the adoption process on the spot if they find their match.
Why Adoption is So Important
To understand the significance of PetSmart‘s adoption centers and the company‘s focus on adoption over direct sales, it‘s important to look at the bigger picture of animal welfare in North America.
According to the ASPCA, approximately 3.2 million cats enter U.S. animal shelters every year. Of those, about 2.1 million are adopted, while a staggering 860,000 are euthanized. That means over 25% of cats in shelters are put down simply because there are not enough homes for them.
| U.S. Shelter Cats | Number (Millions) | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Cats Entering Shelters | 3.2 | – |
| Adopted | 2.1 | 65.6% |
| Euthanized | 0.86 | 26.9% |
| Returned to Owner | 0.1 | 3.1% |
| Died in Care | 0.08 | 2.5% |
| Other Outcome | 0.06 | 1.9% |
Source: ASPCA
While spaying and neutering has helped reduce overpopulation and euthanasia rates in recent decades, millions of healthy, adoptable cats still find themselves homeless in shelters each year. By focusing on adoption over direct sales, PetSmart aims to be part of the solution to this ongoing problem.
How PetSmart‘s Adoption Program Works
PetSmart‘s in-store adoption program has been a core part of the company‘s business and mission since it was first launched in 1994. The program has grown to include over 4,000 animal welfare partners across North America and has facilitated more than 10 million adoptions to date.
So how does it work? PetSmart provides space in each of its stores for a dedicated cat adoption center, which is typically run by one or more local animal shelters or rescue groups. The partner organization is responsible for selecting the cats and kittens to be featured in the adoption center, as well as providing staff or volunteers to care for the animals and facilitate adoptions.
PetSmart provides the physical space as well as supplies like food, litter and enrichment items. The company also promotes the adoptable cats online through its website and social media channels to help them find homes faster.
Prospective adopters can simply visit their local PetSmart store to meet the cats and kittens in the adoption center. If they find a potential match, they submit an application and go through the partner organization‘s standard screening process. This may include a background check, vet reference, and home visit.
If approved, the adopter pays an adoption fee directly to the partner organization and can take their new cat or kitten home that same day in most cases. The adoption fee varies by location but averages around $100. This fee helps cover the costs of spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations, microchipping, and other veterinary care the cat has received while in the shelter or rescue.
By facilitating adoptions in its stores, PetSmart makes it easy and convenient for people to adopt a cat in need and ensures the partner organizations can focus their limited resources on rescue and rehabilitation work rather than the logistics of adoption events and meet-and-greets. It‘s a win-win-win for the cats, the shelters, and adopters.
PetSmart Charities: Going Above and Beyond for Animal Welfare
In addition to its in-store adoption program, PetSmart takes its commitment to animal welfare a step further through its nonprofit arm, PetSmart Charities.
Founded in 1994, PetSmart Charities is dedicated to finding lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together. The organization works with more than 4,000 animal welfare partners across North America and has granted over $500 million to date towards initiatives that save and improve the lives of homeless pets.
Some key programs and initiatives of PetSmart Charities include:
- Providing grants to animal shelters and rescue groups to support adoption events, spay/neuter clinics, pet food banks, emergency relief efforts, and more
- Hosting National Adoption Weekends four times per year, where adoptable pets from local partners are featured in every PetSmart store across the U.S. and Canada
- Offering free spay/neuter services for pets in underserved communities through mobile clinics and partnerships with local veterinarians
- Advocating for animal welfare legislation at the local, state and federal level, such as bills cracking down on puppy mills and increasing access to vet care
- Providing resources and support to keep more pets in loving homes and out of shelters, such as a free online pet behavior helpline and a program that helps domestic violence survivors flee abusive situations with their pets
Through these efforts, PetSmart Charities is working to systematically address the root causes of pet homelessness and make a lasting impact for animals in need.
The Business Case for Adoption
As an expert in retail and consumer behavior, I believe PetSmart‘s focus on adoption and animal welfare is not just good for pets – it‘s good for business too.
In recent years, consumers have increasingly demanded that companies take a stance on social and environmental issues and use their platform to drive positive change. A 2019 study by Accenture found that 62% of consumers want companies to stand up for the issues they are passionate about, and 52% said they are more attracted to buy from certain brands over others if these brands stand for something bigger than just the products or services it sells.
By positioning itself as a leader in pet adoption and animal welfare, PetSmart is appealing to the growing number of socially conscious consumers who want to spend their money with businesses that align with their values. The company‘s adoption program and charitable efforts also generate positive media attention and word-of-mouth buzz, which can help drive brand awareness and loyalty.
Partnering with local animal shelters and rescues also allows PetSmart to connect with and support the pet lover community at a grassroots level. These partnerships can lead to valuable cross-promotional opportunities, such as in-store adoption events, fundraisers, and supply drives that bring more foot traffic and sales to PetSmart stores.
Finally, by focusing on adoption over direct sales of cats and kittens, PetSmart avoids the controversy and backlash that can come with large-scale breeding operations and pet stores that source from inhumane "kitten mills". This allows the company to maintain a positive reputation and avoid alienating consumers who are increasingly concerned with animal welfare issues.
A Picky Shopper‘s Guide to Choosing an Adoption Organization
As a self-proclaimed "Picky Shopper", I always encourage prospective pet adopters to do their research and make sure they are working with a reputable animal shelter or rescue group. While adopting from a PetSmart adoption center can be a great option, it‘s important to ask questions and feel confident in the organization you are working with.
Here are a few things I recommend looking for and asking about:
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Is the organization a registered 501(c)3 non-profit? This ensures they are operating legally and ethically and that your adoption fee is going towards helping homeless animals.
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Do they have a physical location you can visit, or are they foster-based? There are pros and cons to both, but a brick-and-mortar facility can allow you to see the conditions the cats are kept in and meet more cats in one visit.
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How are their animals cared for and vetted prior to adoption? Make sure they are spayed/neutered, microchipped, and up to date on vaccinations at a minimum. Bonus points for organizations that provide additional vet care, socialization, and behavioral evaluations to ensure the best possible match.
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What is their adoption process and what support do they provide? A reputable rescue will have an application, screening process, and adoption contract to ensure their cats are going to responsible, permanent homes. Post-adoption support like a free vet visit, trial period, or behavioral assistance can be valuable as well.
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Do they have a good reputation in the community and positive reviews from adopters? Don‘t be afraid to ask for references or do some research online to see what others are saying about their experiences with the group.
Remember – adoption fees may be lower than buying from a breeder, but taking on a living, breathing animal is still a major commitment of your time, energy and resources. Take your time, do your homework, and make sure you feel fully comfortable with the organization and the individual cat before making things official.
Making Adoption Your First Choice
At the end of the day, I hope this article has shed some light on PetSmart‘s adoption program and the many great reasons to consider adopting your next cat or kitten. Whether you choose to adopt through a PetSmart location or another reputable animal welfare organization in your area, you can feel good knowing you are saving a life, supporting an important cause, and gaining a loyal feline friend in the process.
And as a savvy shopper, you can also feel good about keeping your pet care budget in check by taking advantage of all the supplies, services, and resources PetSmart and PetSmart Charities provide to keep your newly adopted companion healthy, happy, and thriving in their forever home.
With millions of adoptable cats and kittens in shelters at any given time, there has never been a better or easier time to make adoption your first choice. By working together and supporting the organizations that are on the front lines of this issue, we can help end pet homelessness and ensure every cat has a safe, loving place to call home.
