Stockton has two very different paths to adopting a cat right now: the city’s own municipal shelter, which has been running fee-free cat adoptions, and Delta Humane Society & SPCA, a private nonprofit with a standard fee structure. Here’s exactly what each one costs, what’s included, and how the process actually works.
Stockton Animal Shelter: The Municipal Option
The Stockton Animal Shelter is the only municipal shelter serving the City of Stockton and most of San Joaquin County, taking in an estimated 7,000–8,000 animals a year. As of this writing, the shelter is temporarily waiving all adoption fees for cats and dogs over six months old, with a reduced fee for puppies under six months — cat pricing specifically has been running at $0.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 1575 S Lincoln St, Stockton, CA |
| Phone | (209) 937-7445 |
| Hours | Tuesday–Saturday, 12:00 PM–5:00 PM (closed Sunday & Monday) |
| Cat adoption fee | Currently waived — confirm before visiting, promotions can change |
| Includes | Spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations, microchip, city/county license |
| Appointment needed? | No — walk in during open hours |
No appointment is necessary. Shelter staff will greet you and walk through a pre-adoption questionnaire to confirm you’re a good match for the cat you’re interested in, then process the adoption on the spot.
Delta Humane Society & SPCA: The Nonprofit Option
Delta Humane Society & SPCA of San Joaquin County runs a standard, non-waived fee structure, which is worth knowing since it means a more predictable — if higher — cost than the municipal shelter’s current promotion.
| Age Group | Adoption Fee |
|---|---|
| Kittens | $175 |
| Adult cats | $125 |
| Senior cats | $75 |
Every fee tier includes the spay/neuter procedure, a veterinary exam, current vaccinations (including rabies), a microchip, and an ID tag and collar. The adoption center is located at 4590 S Highway 99, Stockton, CA 95215, and is open Tuesday through Saturday, 12:00 PM–4:30 PM. Call (209) 466-0339 with questions before visiting.
Which Option Should You Choose?
- Choose the Stockton Animal Shelter if cost is the deciding factor — the current fee waiver on cats is a meaningful savings, and the shelter’s intake volume means a wide range of cats and kittens to choose from
- Choose Delta Humane Society if you want a smaller, private nonprofit environment — the fee covers the same core services (spay/neuter, vaccines, microchip) at a modest, predictable price
- Either way, confirm current fees by phone before visiting, since promotional pricing at municipal shelters changes without much notice
If You Find a Feral or Community Cat in Stockton
Not every cat you see outdoors in Stockton needs rescuing. The Stockton Animal Shelter regularly manages cats evaluated as feral rather than adoptable — these cats are spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and ear-tipped before being returned to their outdoor territory rather than placed for adoption. If you spot a cat with a small, clean notch at the very top of one ear, that’s the universal marker of a cat already sterilized through a trap-neuter-return (TNR) program, most likely coordinated locally through Save Our Kitties Stockton (SOKS), a 501(c)(3) focused on TNR for San Joaquin County’s community cats.
If the cat looks healthy and has that ear tip, the right move is to leave it exactly where it is. If it has no ear tip and seems to be struggling, contact the Stockton Animal Shelter or SOKS directly rather than attempting to trap it yourself — see our full guide on what TNR is and how it works for more on how this process protects outdoor cat colonies.
Before You Head to Either Shelter
A little preparation goes a long way once you bring a cat home. Read our guide on the first 30 days with a new cat for a week-by-week look at what to expect, and if you have pets already at home, see our guide to introducing a new cat to resident pets before adoption day.
Budgeting Beyond the Adoption Fee
Whether your fee is $0 at the municipal shelter or $75–$175 at Delta Humane Society, plan for the ongoing costs that follow — a litter box, litter, food and water bowls, a scratching post, and a first round of supplies ready before pickup day. Annual veterinary costs beyond what’s included at adoption, including routine wellness visits and dental care as your cat ages, are worth budgeting for well beyond the first year.
Pet insurance is also worth researching within the first few weeks of adoption, before any condition becomes a pre-existing exclusion on a policy — this matters at both Stockton options, regardless of which one you choose.
Settling a New Cat Into Your Home
Whichever shelter you adopt from, 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. A calmer, more gradual first week at home tends to produce a noticeably more confident, settled cat over the following month than rushing the introduction to your full household right away.
Weighing a Kitten vs. an Adult Cat
Whichever shelter 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. Ask staff directly about a specific adult cat’s known temperament before deciding.
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 build trust in its new household.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Stockton Animal Shelter charge an adoption fee for cats?
The shelter has been temporarily waiving adoption fees for cats and dogs over six months old, though fee promotions change — call (209) 937-7445 or check stocktonca.gov before visiting to confirm current pricing.
What does a cat adoption fee at Delta Humane Society include?
Delta Humane Society’s cat adoption fees ($75–$175 depending on age) include the spay/neuter surgery, a vet exam, current vaccinations including rabies, a microchip, and an ID tag and collar.
Do I need an appointment to adopt a cat in Stockton?
No appointment is needed at the Stockton Animal Shelter — walk in during open hours (Tuesday–Saturday, 12–5 PM) and shelter staff will walk you through a pre-adoption questionnaire on site.
What if I find a cat with a notched or tipped ear in Stockton?
A tipped ear means the cat has already been spayed or neutered through a TNR program, most likely coordinated through Save Our Kitties Stockton (SOKS). If the cat looks healthy, the kindest thing to do is leave it where it is.
Not in Stockton? We Can Still Help
Cats By The Tracks is a foster-based rescue serving Fresno and the Central Valley — browse our own adoptable cats or reach out with questions no matter where you’re located.