Fremont’s cat adoption path runs through a single shared facility serving three cities — here’s what to know before visiting.
Tri-City Animal Shelter
The Tri-City Animal Shelter is run by the Fremont Police Department’s Animal Services Unit and serves Fremont, Union City, and Newark as a single shared facility.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Coverage area | Fremont, Union City, and Newark |
| Phone | (510) 790-6645 |
| Website | tricityanimalshelter.org |
| Included with adoption | Spay/neuter surgery and microchipping |
What Every Adoption Includes
Every cat and dog adopted from the Tri-City Animal Shelter is spayed or neutered and microchipped before going home — the exact adoption fee isn’t consistently published, since the shelter has run promotional fee waivers in the past, so it’s worth calling ahead to confirm current pricing.
If You Need to Rehome a Pet Instead
The City of Fremont’s animal services also runs a dedicated rehoming service for owners who need to find a pet a new home, separate from surrendering directly to the shelter — worth knowing if you’re on the other side of this decision.
Before Bringing a Cat Home
See our guide to cat-proofing your home before adoption, and if you’re adopting a kitten specifically, our guide to the first 30 days with a new cat covers what to expect.
Weighing a Kitten vs. an Adult Cat
Whether you’re in Fremont, Union City, or Newark, 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. Ask staff directly about a specific adult cat’s known temperament before deciding.
Budgeting Beyond the Adoption Fee
Beyond whatever the current fee turns out to be, plan for costs that follow — 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 at home 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.
Serving Three Cities Means More Selection
Because the Tri-City Animal Shelter serves Fremont, Union City, and Newark as a single combined facility, its overall intake volume and selection tend to be larger than what any one of the three cities could offer on its own if they each ran a separate shelter. This is worth keeping in mind if a first visit doesn’t turn up the right match — checking back within a week or two often reveals new arrivals from across the shared service area.
If You Already Have Pets at Home
If you already have a cat or dog, plan for a gradual introduction over several days rather than a same-day meeting, keeping the new cat in its own separate room at first so each animal becomes familiar with the other’s scent before any direct interaction. See our guide to introducing a new cat to resident pets for the full step-by-step timeline.
Budgeting Beyond the Adoption Fee
Whatever fee you’re quoted, plan for the ongoing costs that follow — a litter box, litter, food and water bowls, a scratching post, and routine veterinary care as the years pass. Pet insurance is worth researching within the first few weeks of adoption, before any condition becomes a pre-existing exclusion on a policy, giving you a genuine safety net against the one expense that’s hardest to predict.
One Last Thing to Keep in Mind
Since the Tri-City Animal Shelter is the primary option covering all three cities, it’s worth also checking neighboring Bay Area shelters and rescues if your first visit doesn’t turn up the right match — the broader region has considerably more capacity than any single facility, and a short drive to a nearby city can meaningfully widen your options.
Give whichever cat you adopt 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.
A quick call ahead to confirm current hours and cat availability is always worth the extra step before making the trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
What area does the Tri-City Animal Shelter cover?
It serves Fremont, Union City, and Newark, and is run by the Fremont Police Department’s Animal Services Unit.
Does every cat come spayed/neutered and microchipped?
Yes — all cats and dogs adopted from the Tri-City Animal Shelter are spayed/neutered and microchipped before going home.
What is the current cat adoption fee at Tri-City Animal Shelter?
The standard fee isn’t clearly published — call (510) 790-6645 to confirm current pricing, since the shelter has run fee-waiver promotions in the past.
Does the shelter help with rehoming a pet, not just adopting one?
Yes — the City of Fremont’s animal services site includes a specific rehoming service for owners who need to find their pet a new home.
Not in Fremont? We Can Still Help
Cats By The Tracks is a foster-based rescue serving Fresno and the Central Valley.