Long Beach’s cat adoption path runs through a single city department with a somewhat unusual, cost-based fee structure — here’s what to expect.
Long Beach Animal Care Services
Long Beach Animal Care Services is the city’s dedicated animal shelter and adoption department.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach, CA 90815 |
| Phone | (562) 570-7387 |
| Cat adoption hours | Wed–Fri 10 AM–5:30 PM; Sat–Sun 10 AM–4 PM |
| Fee structure | Based on actual staff/supply cost for spay/neuter, microchip, rabies vaccine |
Why the Fee Isn’t a Flat Rate
According to the city’s master fee schedule, Long Beach bases its cat adoption fee on the actual cost of staff time and supplies needed for the spay/neuter procedure, microchip, and rabies vaccination — rather than charging one flat number regardless of what a specific cat needed. This means it’s worth calling ahead to get an accurate quote for a specific cat you’re interested in.
What to Expect at Your Visit
- Plan your visit around the specific Wednesday–Sunday adoption hours
- Ask for the exact current fee for the cat you’re interested in, since it’s cost-based rather than flat
- Bring a valid photo ID and, if renting, proof of pet-friendly housing
Settling Into Coastal Living With a Cat
Once you’re home, see our guide to cat-proofing your home before adoption and our first 30 days guide for what comes next.
Weighing a Kitten vs. an Adult Cat
It’s worth genuinely weighing an adult cat against a kitten rather than defaulting to the more common first instinct, especially since Long Beach’s cost-based fee structure means the price gap between age groups can vary more than at other shelters. 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 throughout their first year.
Budgeting Beyond the Adoption Fee
Whatever specific fee you’re quoted, plan for costs beyond it — 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 on day one. 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.
Understanding the Cost-Based Fee in Practice
Because Long Beach’s fee reflects the actual cost of services for a specific cat rather than a flat published number, it’s worth calling ahead with the specific cat’s ID or name from the online listing, if one is available, so staff can give you an accurate quote before your visit rather than a general estimate. This small extra step avoids any surprise at the counter and lets you budget accurately in advance.
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. 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.
One Last Thing to Keep in Mind
Because Long Beach’s fee is tied to a specific cat’s actual medical needs rather than a flat published number, don’t assume two similarly-aged cats will cost exactly the same — always confirm before you visit rather than budgeting off an estimate from a different animal’s listing.
Give whichever cat you adopt real time to settle in before drawing conclusions about its personality — a cat that seems withdrawn in its first days is not necessarily reflective of how it will behave once it’s had a few weeks to build trust in its new home.
If you already have a cat at home, 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 becomes familiar with the other’s scent before any direct interaction.
Calling ahead before your visit remains the single best way to avoid any surprise about fee, hours, or availability at Long Beach Animal Care Services, especially since its cost-based structure means each cat’s specific quote can differ meaningfully from what you might see listed for a similar animal elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the cat adoption hours at Long Beach Animal Care Services?
Wednesday–Friday 10 AM–5:30 PM, and Saturday–Sunday 10 AM–4 PM. They’re closed Monday, Tuesday, and holidays.
Why doesn’t Long Beach have a flat cat adoption fee?
The city’s fee schedule bases cat adoption costs on the actual cost of staff and supplies for spay/neuter, microchipping, and rabies vaccination, rather than a single flat rate.
Where is Long Beach Animal Care Services located?
7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach, CA 90815. Call (562) 570-7387 with questions.
Does the fee include vaccinations and spay/neuter?
Yes — the fee is specifically built around covering the spay/neuter procedure, microchip, and rabies vaccination costs.
Not in Long Beach? We Can Still Help
Cats By The Tracks is a foster-based rescue serving Fresno and the Central Valley.