We Love Donations — But We Can’t Take Everything 🐾

One of the coolest things about running The Chatty Cat Cafe is how often people think of our foster cats.

You clean out a closet and find cat supplies. Your cat decides they suddenly hate the food they loved yesterday. You replace a cat tree. You have extra litter. And your first thought is, “Maybe the Cat Cafe can use this!”

We genuinely appreciate that. ❤️

But we also need to clear up something important:

We cannot accept every cat-related item that is offered or dropped off at the Cafe.

And unfortunately, “but it’s still in really good condition!” doesn’t always change that.

Why are we so picky?

The Chatty Cat Cafe isn't a home with the same few cats living here year after year.

We are a foster cat lounge.

Cats come to us from shelters and rescue partners, stay with us while they're waiting for adoption, go home with their families, and then new foster cats arrive.

That means we have to think about something most pet owners don't have to worry about nearly as much:

Germs. Lots and lots of potential germs.

Parasites, upper respiratory infections, ringworm and other illnesses can travel through a population of cats very differently than they would in a normal household.

We have cleaning and sanitation protocols specifically designed around keeping our foster population healthy. Because of that, anything we bring into their environment needs to either be new or something we can properly clean and disinfect.

Some materials simply can't meet that standard.

🚫 Items we do NOT accept

Please do not bring or drop off:

• Used fabric or carpeted cat trees and towers

• Used scratching posts or scratchers

• Used cat beds

• Used blankets or soft bedding

• Used plush, or fabric toys

• Used litter boxes or litter scoops

• Opened bags or containers of food, treats or litter

• Heavily worn, damaged or soiled pet supplies

• Anything that cannot be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected between cats
  

Even if an item came from a healthy cat.

Even if it was cleaned before being donated.

Even if it was expensive.

Even if it feels terrible to throw it away.

We still may not be able to use it safely here.

And with the number of cats who pass through our doors, we would rather be overly cautious than introduce something into the Cafe that could potentially put our foster cats at risk.

❤️ What we DO love receiving

Our needs change throughout the year, but we're generally much more likely to be able to use things like:

• Unopened cat food and treats

• Unopened litter

• New toys and enrichment supplies

• New cat supplies

• Cleaning and sanitation supplies we currently use

• Paper towels and other frequently used consumables

• Items specifically listed on our current wish lists

• Items we've specifically requested for the cats
  

If you're looking to purchase something specifically for the Cafe, our current wish lists are always the best place to start. That helps make sure your generosity goes toward something we actually need and can use.

📧 Have something unusual you'd like to donate? Email us FIRST.

If you have an item that isn't clearly covered by our donation guidelines but you think might be useful, please email us before bringing it to the Cafe.

This part is important:

Our employees cannot approve exceptions to our donation policy.

Donation exceptions need to be approved by Erica before the item is brought in.

And please do not leave unapproved donations outside the Cafe, at the front counter, or with an employee.

We don't have the space to store items while we figure out whether we can use them, and ultimately that can leave us responsible for disposing of things we weren't able to accept in the first place.

Sometimes saying “no thank you” is part of taking care of the cats.

We know people offer these things because they're trying to help.

That's why saying no can feel uncomfortable — especially when someone has something that seems perfectly usable.

But our responsibility has to be to the cats currently living here and the cats who will come through our doors next.

We would much rather politely decline a donation than take something we don't need, can't sanitize, can't store, or can't safely use.

So please don't take a “no thank you” personally. ❤️

The best donation isn't simply something you no longer need. It's something our foster cats actually need and that we can safely use.

Thank you for thinking of The Chatty Cat Cafe, for supporting our foster cats, and for helping us keep their temporary home as clean, healthy and safe as possible while they wait for their forever families. 🐾❤️