Santa Barbara has both a general humane society with a notable fee-waiver program and a cat-specific nonprofit with decades of local history. Here’s how they compare.
Santa Barbara Humane
Santa Barbara Humane, located at 5399 Overpass Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93111, is open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday through Sunday, 12:00 PM–4:30 PM (closed Wednesdays).
Adoption fees support broader shelter operations, including veterinary care, training, and foster programs. Notably, fees are waived entirely for animals in their “Lonely Hearts Club” — designated animals that have been at the shelter longer and need special attention to find a home faster.
ASAP Cats: A Cat-Specific Nonprofit
ASAP Cats has served Santa Barbara County cats since 1989, providing shelter, veterinary care, behavioral support, adopter and foster services, feline education, and community outreach — a cat-only focus rather than a general animal shelter.
| Organization | Hours | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Barbara Humane | Mon, Tue, Thu–Sun 12–4:30 PM | General animal shelter, Lonely Hearts Club fee waivers |
| ASAP Cats | Mon–Thu 1–4 PM, Sat 11 AM–3 PM (or by appointment) | Cat-specific, since 1989 |
Consider a Longer-Stay Cat
Santa Barbara Humane’s Lonely Hearts Club waiver program is worth checking specifically — these cats have often waited longer simply due to age, appearance, or medical needs, not personality. See our guide to why senior cats deserve a second look if that describes the kind of cat you might find there.
Before You Adopt
See our guide to cat-proofing your home before adoption before bringing a cat home.
Budgeting Beyond the Adoption Fee
Whichever organization 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. Santa Barbara veterinary costs also tend to run higher than in smaller inland markets, so it’s worth getting a sense of local pricing before you’re facing an unexpected bill. 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.
Weighing a Kitten vs. an Adult Cat
Whichever organization you choose, it’s worth genuinely weighing an adult cat against a kitten, especially given Santa Barbara Humane’s fee waivers for longer-waiting animals. 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.
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 to an unfamiliar household.
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 — and it’s always worth asking directly about the Lonely Hearts Club at Santa Barbara Humane if a fee waiver would make a real difference for your household.
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.
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 to an unfamiliar household and routine.
Budgeting Beyond the Adoption Fee
Beyond whatever fee you pay, plan for ongoing costs — a litter box, litter, food and water bowls, a scratching post, and routine veterinary care as the years go by. Santa Barbara veterinary costs also tend to run higher than in smaller inland markets, so it’s worth getting a sense of local pricing before an unexpected bill catches you off guard.
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 — rushing this step is one of the most common reasons an otherwise good match gets off to a rocky start.
Whichever organization you choose, calling ahead to confirm current fees and availability before making the trip is always worth the extra few minutes, especially since Santa Barbara Humane’s Lonely Hearts Club roster changes fairly regularly as individual animals get adopted out or newly qualify for that ongoing fee waiver program each month.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the “Lonely Hearts Club” at Santa Barbara Humane?
It’s their designation for animals that have been at the shelter longer and need special attention — adoption fees are waived entirely for these animals to help them find homes faster.
What are Santa Barbara Humane’s hours?
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday through Sunday, 12:00 PM–4:30 PM. They’re closed Wednesdays.
How long has ASAP Cats served Santa Barbara County?
Since 1989, focusing specifically on cats with shelter, veterinary care, behavioral support, adopter and foster services, and community outreach.
Does ASAP Cats take appointments?
Yes — alongside their regular hours (Monday–Thursday 1–4 PM, Saturdays 11 AM–3 PM), they also accept appointments by calling (805) 683-3368.
Not in Santa Barbara? We Can Still Help
Cats By The Tracks is a foster-based rescue serving Fresno and the Central Valley.