How to adopt? 

We’re excited you have decided to adopt a Next Chance Rescue animal! Our adoption process consists of five steps - an application, followed by a phone interview, then a home visit, a meet and greet between your family and the dog or cat, and lastly a foster to adopt period.

If you have already decided on a four-legged friend, send us your adoption application and one of our adoption team members will be in contact with you.

Before you adopt, be sure to consider the time and financial commitment an animal takes.

Why are there fees? 

Tiny Tigers NJ is a nonprofit 501(c)3, made up of volunteers. The funds we raise (including the adoption fees) go directly to help support the animals we rescue. No salaries are paid to any volunteers. Our fees are applied to our animals’ vet bills, medications, transportation, and anything else they may need to ensure they are healthy and safe.

How to adopt the right cat? 

Finding the right companion animal is hard. Our process is designed to help make you feel you have made the right choice. For this reason, we require all our animals to complete a minimum two week, foster to adopt period. This time is to ensure that you and your new furbaby have a chance to get to know each other’s quirks and make sure it’s the right fit for both of you.

Who takes care of vet visits and medical bills? 

Once the adoption process has been completed, all veterinary and medical needs are assumed by the new owner. While in foster or during the foster to adopt period, Tiny Tigers NJ will cover all vet and medical bills.

Why does Tiny Tigers NJ require a two week foster to adopt period? 

Our goal is to find loving and permanent forever homes for the animals in our care. The foster to adopt period is to help you and your new family member to get to know each other a little better and to ensure you have found the right fit for your family.

Does Tiny Tigers NJ require pet insurance? 

While we cannot enforce a family to purchase pet insurance, we highly recommend it. It particularly comes in handy in emergencies and continuing medical care (depending on the coverage and provider you’ve selected).

How do I put my cat up for adoption? 

We’re sorry to hear that you are putting your pet up for adoption. Tiny Tigers NJ does not offer relocation services except for under special circumstances (i.e. an unwanted litter, family death and other extraneous circumstances). If you have any questions, please contact us.

How do I find a rescue cat near me? 

We’re happy to hear you are considering a rescue companion! We recommend thoroughly researching the organization your animal is coming from and try to get as much background on that animal as possible. Be sure to consider the time and financial commitment a pet requires. On average, a cat’s life can range from 15-20 years.

If you are interested in adopting a Tiny Tigers NJ cat or kitten please see our available animals. When you see a pet that you think may be a good fit for your home and lifestyle, submit an adoption application and someone from our adoption team will be in contact with you. To learn more about our adoption process, visit How to Adopt.

Does Tiny Tigers NJ have an adoption center? 

Tiny Tigers NJ is a foster-based rescue organization. Meaning, all of our animals are placed in foster homes and not at an animal shelter location. If you are interested in adopting a Tiny Tigers NJ cat or kitten, please contact us or see How to Adopt.

Are the Animals Microchipped?

Yes, all animals are microchipped. As a policy we do NOT re-register microchips to the new owners.

We do this as a protection to the animals in the unlikely circumstance that the adopted owners are somehow no longer with us and family do not take the responsibility of the animals. In an effort for these animals to never end up homeless again, we keep all microchips registered to Tiny Tigers NJ to ensure we would be notified if any of our adopted animals were to end up in a shelter or homeless.

How do I foster a cat or kittens?

We’re excited you are interested in fostering a Tiny Tigers NJ animal! Please fill out the foster form and one of our team members will be in contact shortly. If you have additional questions about fostering, contact us.

Can I pick the animal I want to foster? 

You have the right to request or decline specific animals. However, foster animals will be placed based on availability and the experience of the caregivers.

How much does fostering cost? 

The foster family is responsible for covering the costs of daily care - this includes food, toys, grooming or anything needed to care for a pet at home.

Tiny Tigers NJ will cover health related costs to animal including veterinary visits and medication while the animal is in a foster home.

What if I can no longer foster the animal in my care?

We’d be very sorry to hear that! If you are no longer able to foster, contact your Tiny Tigers NJ foster coordinator or contact us and we will relocate the animal.

We require a one week grace period to find a new, suitable foster for the animal in your care.

Do I have to be experienced to foster? 

We all were new once, but welcome all animal lovers. Each foster home is paired with a foster coordinator who will be available for you to ask any questions, help you through the process, and help with medical needs.

Why foster? 

Fostering is great for humans and animals alike. For the animal, it provides a healthy and safe environment, helps them socialize and re-establishes trust...especially for shy or previously abused pets.

For humans, animals have been known to make people healthier and happier (did you know petting a cat produces endorphins?).

When you foster, you not only save lives, you become part of a compassionate community that plays a key role in making pets ready for their forever homes.

What is the difference between fostering and adopting? 

When you foster, you are providing a temporary home for an animal in need. It is your job to care for the animal and keep them safe, as if they were your own, until a family has applied and been approved for adoption. Adopting is when you welcome a new animal into your home to live permanently.

What if I want to keep my foster? 

We call that a foster fail and are so happy for the both of you!

Let your foster coordinator know and they will send you all the appropriate paperwork to apply for a formal adoption.

If your intention was not to adopt, but find yourself wanting to adopt, please contact your coordinator advising them of the possibility of keeping your foster animal as we will give you preferential treatment. However, if we have already committed the animal to another family, that family will have the right to the foster to adopt period before finalizing their adoption.

How do I become a volunteer? 

We’re excited you’re interested in joining the Tiny Tigers NJ family!

We would not be able to do the things we do without the selfless support of volunteers like you. Becoming a volunteer is easy. Please contact us and let us know what your special skills or interests are. We will be in contact with you shortly to talk about the work we do and how you can help.

What type of jobs do volunteers do? 

Everything! Tiny Tigers NJ is made up of animal loving volunteers. Some of our volunteers just love animals and aren’t sure what their special skill is. That’s okay with us!

We will find a suitable job for you albeit through helping with our foster program, transporting animals, temporary boarding or special events.

If you have a specialty such as animal training, graphic design, event planning or the like, please let us know and we will connect you to the proper team head.

How much time do I need to volunteer? 

We’re all volunteers and recognize that volunteering is just one of the million things that we do. You can volunteer as much or as little time as you are able. We will work with you to find where your abilities and time commitment work best.

At what age can I volunteer to work with Tiny Tigers NJ? 

You are never too young or too old to start rescuing. If you are interested in joining our family, we will work with you to figure out the best way you can support the cause.

Do you need prior experience to volunteer with Tiny Tigers NJ? 

Everyone starts somewhere. If you are interested in helping out, fill out the application form and let us know your special interests and skills. We couldn’t do what we do without our volunteer family.

What is a stray cat?

Stray cats used to be indoor cats and have found themselves living outside. They tend to look ragged and beat up (likely by the local feral community). They don’t know how to live outdoors and are stressed by their environment.

A stray cat will look for human contact and will likely let you pet them, but be careful. If you find a stray cat, contact us immediately and we will come to help them find their forever home.

What is a feral cat?

A feral cat is an unowned, unsocialized domestic cat that lives (and prefers) outdoors and mostly avoids human contact; it typically does not allow itself to be handled or touched, and usually remains skiddish around humans.

Some feral cats are “feeder friendly” and allow their regular neighborhood feeder to be close during feeding time. Most feral cats are well cared for by their neighborhood/local feeder

They like their lifestyle. These cats are not typically looking to become indoor house cats. Removing them is like putting them in jail.

I found a cat in my neighborhood. What do I do?

First determine if the cat is a stray or feral. Next, CAREFULLY attempt to check if the animal is injured.

If the cat is a stray or injured contact us and we will be on our way.

How is my donation used? 

Every dollar raised is used to take care of our rescued animals. This includes surgeries, vaccinations, vet visits, training, and so much more. And because our entire team is made of volunteers, you can feel confident that every dollar goes directly to animal rescue and not to pay salaries.

Can I only donate money? 

You can donate money, time or materials. We have an Amazon Wish List of the items we need for the animals in our care.

If you’d like to donate items for auctions or fundraisers, please contact us.