Admission Policies and Procedures

Criteria For Admission

Tree House’s mission is to rescue sick, injured, abandoned and stray cats from the streets of Chicagoland. Our priority is to admit the neediest cats in the most dire of situations. We do not typically admit feral cats due to the fact that they suffer greatly from indoor confinement. We instead encourage Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) and counsel people who find feral cats accordingly.

The welfare of the cat(s) in the request should be considered above all else. For instance, if the cat in question is severely injured or ill, this cat will take precedence.

If you have found a stray cat you would like to admit, please contact 773-784-5488, ext. 0 or email info@treehouseanimals.org

Denying Admissions

The reality is that most Admission Requests will not be accepted, mostly because of lack of space available at the shelter. All denied Admission Requests taken will be, in most cases, resolved by the end of the day, and each will be handled with compassion and respect. Most people who find a stray cat have never been in this situation before and we understand that.We will provide alternatives and counseling if we are unable to admit the cat(s) they have found. Our counselors have a shelter list available, which can be faxed or emailed, and if at all possible, further direction on finding availability will be given by the counselor.

Foster Homes

In some cases, certain Admission Requests will qualify for our Foster Home program. In this program, if a request is filed for a cat that is healthy and adoptable but there is no space in the shelter, the cat can be placed into an approved Foster Home until space opens up on our Adoption Floor. The cat will be tested, vaccinated and spayed/neutered by Tree House and the foster home will house the cat until the cat is ready for transfer directly to the Adoption Floor.

Temporary Homes

In cases of domestic violence or emergency evacuation which require a cat to be temporary displaced from their home, Tree House will consider options for temporary housing of the cat in order to facilitate the reuniting of the cat with their guardian.

Regarding Admission Calls

• Admission calls will be initially screened by the counselors, and admission request forms will be completed for requests depending on the shelter’s overall current needs and the cat’s situation.


• Admitters may be asked to provide shelter or foster care for the cat(s) in question, and must give immediate contact information to the counselor.


• If we are unable to admit the cat, the counselor will call back immediately to give options for placement elsewhere. If there are extenuating circumstances that delay our decision and response to the caller, they will be notified and the request will be held for a response the next day.


• Approved Admissions will go into log in the Adoptions office and will be scheduled for arrival with the Clinic.


• Admitters must bring the cat(s) to Tree House within 24 to 48 hours, unless there are extenuating circumstances.


• If we do not hear back from an approved admitter prior to noon the following day of the call, the approved admission form will be passed on for the next day’s meeting.


• Approved admitters can arrange the delivery of their cat at any point during open Clinic hours, although they should always be scheduled, and admitters should be encouraged to bring the cat in the late morning or early afternoon.


• All admission requests should be responded to quickly and with courtesy, compassion and professionalism.