Chico has two main cat adoption paths — the city’s own animal shelter with an age-based fee structure, and the long-established Butte Humane Society. Here’s what to know before visiting either.
City of Chico Animal Shelter
The City of Chico Animal Shelter runs an age-based fee structure: $49.00 plus a $21.00 co-pay for kittens and cats up to 8 years old, or a flat $49.00 for cats over 8 years old. Every adoption includes a heartworm or FeLV/FIV test, a microchip, and a rabies vaccination if the cat is old enough.
| Age Group | Fee |
|---|---|
| Kittens and cats up to 8 years | $49 + $21 co-pay ($70 total) |
| Cats over 8 years | $49 flat |
Call (530) 897-4960 with questions about current availability.
Butte Humane Society
Butte Humane Society has served Butte County since 1911, making it one of the oldest nonprofit animal welfare agencies in the region. Check their adoptable cats page for current availability and fees.
What Every Adoption Includes
Whichever option you choose, expect the core medical basics — spay/neuter status confirmation, vaccination, and microchipping — to be included or already completed before the cat is available.
Before Bringing a Cat Home
See our guide to cat-proofing your home before adoption, and if this is your first cat, our first 30 days guide covers what to expect.
Weighing a Kitten vs. an Adult Cat
Whichever Chico organization you choose, it’s worth genuinely weighing an adult cat against a kitten, especially given the flat, lower fee for cats over 8 at the city shelter. Adult cats generally arrive with an already-formed personality, making it easier to predict how they’ll fit your household, while kittens require significantly more supervision and kitten-proofing throughout their first year.
Budgeting Beyond the Adoption Fee
Whichever option you choose, plan for costs beyond the fee itself — a litter box, litter, food and water bowls, a scratching post, and a first round of supplies ready before pickup day. Ongoing veterinary costs, including annual wellness visits and dental care as your cat ages, add up over the years, and pet insurance is worth researching within the first few weeks of adoption, before any condition becomes a pre-existing exclusion on a policy.
Settling In After You Get Home
Set up a single quiet room with food, water, a litter box, and a hiding spot before giving your new cat access to the rest of the house, rather than introducing it to every room and family member at once. A calmer, more gradual first week tends to produce a noticeably more confident, settled cat over the following month.
Multi-Cat Households and Introductions
If you already have a cat at home, plan for a gradual introduction over several days rather than a same-day meeting. Keep the new cat in its own separate room at first, swapping bedding between the two so each becomes familiar with the other’s scent before any direct interaction — rushing this step is one of the most common reasons an otherwise good match gets off to a rocky start.
Give the Adjustment Time
Whichever cat you bring home, give it real time to settle before drawing conclusions about its personality. A cat that seems withdrawn or nervous in its first days at home is not necessarily reflective of how it will behave once it’s had a few weeks to adjust — many adopters report a noticeably more confident, affectionate cat emerges after the first month than the one they initially brought home.
One Last Thing to Keep in Mind
Both organizations serve overlapping but distinct populations of cats, so checking both before committing can widen your options considerably, especially if you have a specific age or personality in mind. Calling ahead rather than just showing up also saves a wasted trip if a specific cat has already been adopted since you last checked online.
Considering the Local Climate
Chico’s hot summers make indoor-only living especially important for a newly adopted cat — keeping a cat comfortably indoors during the hottest months typically means higher air conditioning costs than a milder climate would require, which is worth factoring into your overall budget as a new cat owner in the area.
Weighing a Kitten vs. an Adult Cat
Whichever organization you choose, it’s worth genuinely weighing an adult cat against a kitten rather than defaulting to the more common first instinct. Adult cats generally arrive with an already-formed personality, making it easier to predict how they’ll fit your household, while kittens require significantly more supervision and kitten-proofing throughout their first year.
Multi-Cat Households and Introductions
If you already have a cat at home, plan for a gradual introduction over several days rather than a same-day meeting. Keep the new cat in its own separate room at first, swapping bedding between the two so each becomes familiar with the other’s scent before any direct interaction — rushing this step is one of the most common reasons an otherwise good match gets off to a rocky start.
Whichever cat you bring home, patience during those first few weeks pays off considerably as your new companion settles into its role in your household. Since both organizations serve overlapping but distinct populations of cats moving through Butte County, checking both before committing can widen your options considerably, especially if you have a specific age or personality in mind. Calling ahead to confirm current availability before you drive out is always worth the extra few minutes, and it’s worth asking directly about any current promotional pricing too, since both organizations occasionally run reduced-fee or promotional adoption events at various points throughout the calendar year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Chico Animal Shelter charge for a cat?
$49.00 plus a $21.00 co-pay for kittens and cats up to 8 years old ($70 total), or $49.00 flat for cats over 8 years old. This includes a heartworm or FeLV/FIV test, a microchip, and a rabies vaccination if the cat is old enough.
How long has Butte Humane Society operated in Chico?
Since 1911, making it one of the oldest nonprofit animal welfare agencies in Butte County.
What phone number should I call for Chico Animal Control?
(530) 897-4960 for questions about the city shelter specifically.
Are senior cats cheaper to adopt in Chico?
Yes — cats over 8 years old have a simpler flat $49 fee at the city shelter, without the additional $21 co-pay charged for younger cats.
Not in Chico? We Can Still Help
Cats By The Tracks is a foster-based rescue serving Fresno and the Central Valley.