All of our dogs, cats, kittens, and puppies are missing something. Namely, a home and a loving family. Others are also missing something more obvious that may keep potential adopters from considering them.

Taking the right steps to properly introduce a new cat to existing cat(s) in your home will let the cats get comfortable slowly while hopefully avoiding litterbox issues, stress, or fights.

Scratching is normal, healthy feline behavior, not misbehavior! Cats scratch to sharpen and maintain their claws, mark territory (visually and with scent glands in their paws), get exercise, and relieve stress.

It might be time to adopt a new cat into your family! The transition from newcomer to treasured family member can take some time. Here are some tips to help you read the signals your cat is giving to make the transition smoother.

There are many reasons why a family surrenders a pet. Economics, lack of pet-friendly housing, illness, and behavior challenges are the most common. For the past few years, we’ve had a waitlist for people who want to surrender a pet to us.

Cruz was surrendered to Second Chance when his person lost their housing. He’d been passed around to several homes before that and was over ten years old. He had some food sensitivities and a thyroid condition. He also had the cutest frosted face. Our staff fell in love, but we knew he was not the most “adoptable” guy. Senior dogs are often overlooked, and his breed made it even more challenging.

We’ve all seen situations where someone clearly has taken in too many cats. But what is that number? Where does the scale tip from several beloved cats to being overwhelmed? There are things to consider when you are a multiple cat household.

How long does it take to know if a dog or cat is the right fit for your home? Adopting a rescue dog or cat is an exciting time. You decided to add a new family member, you fell in love, and now it’s time to bring her home. Sometimes it goes smoothly, but there will likely be an adjustment for you and the animal.

Rosie, an adorable mixed-breed puppy, came to us with an untreated leg injury. It had twisted and atrophied to the point where the leg was a hindrance to a healthy future.

We asked for donations from our wonderful community of supporters, which paid for the amputation of her leg. She came through surgery in great shape and was quickly adopted. She’ll live a happy, active life as a tri-pod.

Dawn’s journey to her loving home started when she was found tied to a tree in the adobes. No one claimed her at a local shelter. We transferred her to Second Chance in January- a timid girl who was terrified of men.

Our staff and volunteers worked with her to build confidence and unlock her sweet personality. She is now a treasured member of a family.

Over the last few years, Second Chance has consistently been at full capacity with a waiting list of families seeking to surrender a dog or cat. This is not unique to us, as most shelters around the country are seeing the same trends. Adoption rates are decreasing while intakes are steady or growing. We appreciate the confidence our community has in us, but we want to help more pets and people. We need to move more cats and dogs from the shelter to homes.

Outdoor time is important for a cat’s well-being and mental health, which is why a catio is a great idea for cat families. A “catio” or “cat patio” is an outdoor enclosure designed to give cats a safe environment to enjoy the outdoors. These structures range from simple window boxes to elaborate multi-level enclosures that attach to a home or free-standing alone in the yard. Catios allow cats to experience fresh air, sunshine, and natural sights and sounds while protecting them from outdoor dangers such as traffic, predators, and diseases. At Second Chance, we have catios outside several of our cat rooms and our residents enjoy them every day.

Is there anything more boring than taxes? Many of you will undoubtedly be scrambling to file taxes in the coming weeks. Not your favorite task, and you’d probably much rather be doing anything else. Or maybe you’re one of those organized people who have been working on them for weeks and relish the satisfaction of being ahead of the game. Whichever you are, we’d like to ask that you remember us and homeless pets around Colorado.

Shelter from the Storm

“I came in from the wilderness, a creature void of form

Come in, she said

I’ll give ya shelter from the storm

Try imagining a place where it’s always safe and warm

Come in, she said

I’ll give ya shelter from the storm” -Bob Dylan, 1974

Stripes, Spots & Swirls - Tabby is the most common pattern for cats' coats. The gene for the tabby pattern can be found in all domestic cats (look at a black cat in the sun, and you may see hidden tabby markings). A tabby cat refers to a cat who has a pattern of stripes, swirls, spots, or blotches of colors.