How to Adopt a Cat or Kitten from Happy Homes Animal Rescue Inc

Updated

Happy Homes Animal Rescue Inc is a rescue organization based in Old Bridge, NJ, that has been finding homes for animals since 2012. To adopt, you go to the ADOPT section of happyhomesinc.org, view the available cats and kittens, fill out an adoption application, and wait for the organization to review it. The rescue reviews every application carefully to make sure its cats go to caring homes, so approval is not automatic. You can also find adoption event locations and times in the ADOPT section.

Step 1: Go to the ADOPT Section

Start on the rescue's website and select the ADOPT section. This is the single entry point for three things you need:

  • The list of currently available pets
  • The adoption application form
  • Adoption event locations and times

If you only look at the homepage, you will see the "Available pets" and "application form" links, but the ADOPT section is where the rescue directs you for the full process.

Step 2: Review the Available Cats and Kittens

Browse the adoptable animals before you apply. This matters because the rescue's cats are not all the same starting point for a new owner. According to the organization, every adoptable animal has already received:

Health step What it means for you
Spayed/Neutered The cat is already fixed before adoption
De-Wormed Deworming is done
Age-appropriate vaccines Vaccines match the animal's age
Fecal and FIV/FELV tested Testing for parasites and feline viruses is complete
Microchipped with lifetime registration The cat is chipped and registration is covered for life

Because this medical work is done through partner vets before adoption, you are not taking home an untreated animal. Use the list to note which cat or kitten fits your home, then move to the application.

Step 3: Fill Out the Adoption Application

Complete the adoption application form linked from the ADOPT section. The rescue states that it diligently reviews all adoption applications to ensure cats and kittens go to exceptional, caring homes. That means the form is a screening step, not a checkout page. Fill it out honestly and completely; incomplete or vague answers are a common reason applications stall.

Step 4: Wait for the Review

After you submit, the rescue reviews your application. There is no published timeline or approval guarantee in the available information, so plan for a wait rather than same-day pickup. If you have questions during this stage, the site provides a Contact Us section.

Step 5: Attend an Adoption Event if Needed

The ADOPT section also lists adoption event locations and times. If you want to meet cats in person or move faster than an online-only process, check those listings and attend an event.

A Condition Worth Knowing Before You Apply

Happy Homes strongly recommends adopting young animals in pairs, or into a home that already has a young, friendly pet. The rescue's stated reason is social development: animals are social creatures, and young animals in particular benefit from a companion. If you are applying for a single kitten and have no other young pet at home, expect this recommendation to come up in the review. It is a recommendation, not a stated requirement, but it reflects how the rescue thinks about placements.

What the Rescue Does Beyond Adoption

Knowing the organization's scope helps you understand its adoption standards. Happy Homes describes its mission as providing a loving, safe environment for homeless, unwanted, abandoned, and abused animals. It also works to reduce the number of cats euthanized in overcrowded shelters and rescues cats and kittens from the streets through TNR (Trap, Neuter and Return). Beyond adoptions, it aims to educate the community on the animal population and the need to responsibly spay or neuter companion animals.

Quick Checklist

  • [ ] Go to the ADOPT section on happyhomesinc.org
  • [ ] Review available cats and kittens
  • [ ] Confirm you can meet the pair-adoption recommendation for young animals, or note why you cannot
  • [ ] Fill out the adoption application
  • [ ] Submit and wait for the review
  • [ ] Check adoption event locations and times if you want to meet animals in person
  • [ ] Use Contact Us for questions

The one thing you cannot skip: the application review. The rescue's own description makes clear that placements are decided case by case, so treat the application as the real first step, not a formality.