Volunteering at Feline Rescue

Feline Rescue has no paid staff and relies solely on volunteers to maintain and operate our Adoption Center, supply our foster homes, educate the community, and provide proper care for homeless cats.  Most Feline Rescue volunteers begin volunteering with us as either Shelter Caregivers or Foster Care Providers.

Foster Care Providers offer a foster home for a homeless cat until a permanent home can be found. Home foster care is needed for pregnant cats, cats with kittens, orphaned kittens, injured, ill or elderly cats, or when the Adoption Center is temporarily full.  Medical care for the cats and kittens and many of the supplies needed are provided to foster care providers. Foster care volunteers play a vital and important role in the ability to save many of the cats and kittens in need that come to Feline Rescue's attention. See Foster Care FAQ for more info.

Shelter Caregivers work in shift teams of 6 to 8 people to clean and maintain our Adoption Center, provide food, water, and play with, groom, and pet the cats sheltered there.  Usually, we have 50 to 60 cats at the Adoption Center. Some of these cats need “socializing” – patient, gentle, quiet attention to help them learn that most people are friends, not threats. Socialization greatly increases their chances of adoption.

We ask for a six-month commitment of one 2-hour shift per week. Shelter caregivers must be at least 16 years of age to volunteer alone. Children ages 10 to 15 must have a parent or guardian volunteering with them each shift. We cannot accept volunteers under age 10.  Please be aware that the shifts are often full, and you will only be contacted if there are openings on a shift that matches your availability.

Adoption center shift times:

• Monday through Friday: 10 a.m. to noon or 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Saturday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Sunday: 10 a.m. to noon or 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Other volunteers : We also do have special opportunities and projects for which we seek particular capabilities. Most volunteers for these projects begin as Shelter Caregivers or Foster Care Providers, as much of the work requires some familiarity with Feline Rescue’s work. However, if you are a photographer, graphic artist, writer, carpenter, other talented person with something to offer, please send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with a brief resume and, if appropriate, links to samples of your work.

Apply Online to Volunteer as a Shelter Caregiver - Click here to be taken to our online Shelter Volunteer application.

If you prefer to apply offline, please download the application form below and send it to Shelter Caregiving, Feline Rescue, Inc., 593 Fairview Avenue N., Saint Paul, MN, 55104.

PDF / 72 KB
Shelter Caregiver Application

To Apply to Volunteer as a Foster Care Provider, please download and fill out the Application Form below and mail it to Feline Rescue, Inc., Attn: Foster Coordinator, 593 Fairview Ave N., Saint Paul, MN, 55104

PDF / 92 KB
Foster Caregiver Application