Cats By The Tracks is 100% volunteer-run, and our biggest ongoing need is people, not just money. There are three main ways to help: staffing adoption events, transporting cats between foster homes and vet appointments, or handling administrative work from home. None of them require prior animal-care experience. Here’s what each one actually involves.
Volunteer Roles at a Glance
| Role | Time Commitment | Experience Needed | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adoption Events | A few hours per event | None — training provided on-site | People who enjoy talking to the public and adopters |
| Transport | As needed, flexible schedule | A valid license and reliable vehicle | People with a flexible daytime schedule |
| Administrative Support | A few hours per week, remote-friendly | Basic email and computer skills | People who want to help without handling cats directly |
Volunteering at Adoption Events
Cats By The Tracks holds adoption hours at partner pet stores across our service area. Volunteers help set up the space, introduce adoptable cats to visitors, answer basic questions about the adoption process, and help process applications on-site.
This role is a good starting point if you’re new to volunteering — it’s social, doesn’t require any specialized training beyond a quick on-site orientation, and gives you a direct, visible sense of the impact of your time. Organizations like Best Friends Animal Society describe similar hands-on, public-facing roles at their own cat sanctuaries.
Volunteering for Transport
Cats and kittens regularly need to move between foster homes, adoption centers, and veterinary appointments — someone has to drive them. Transport volunteers step in for these trips, which can range from a quick 15-minute drive to a longer trip between cities.
This role fits well if your schedule is flexible during the day and you have a reliable vehicle, since requests often come up with only a few days’ notice — a vet appointment gets scheduled, or a foster home needs a kitten picked up. It’s also one of the more independent volunteer roles, since a single trip is usually a self-contained task rather than an ongoing commitment.
Volunteering for Administrative Support
Not every volunteer role involves handling cats directly. Administrative support covers emails, processing adoption and foster applications, and the behind-the-scenes coordination that keeps a 100%-volunteer-run rescue functioning.
This is often the most flexible option, since much of it can be done remotely on your own schedule, rather than at a set time and location. It’s also one of the easiest ways to get a feel for how a rescue actually operates day to day — you’ll see firsthand how many applications come in, how fostering and adoption placements get matched, and where the organization could use more hands.
What a First Shift Usually Looks Like
- Fill out a volunteer application indicating which role interests you
- A rescue coordinator follows up by email to confirm details and answer questions
- For adoption events and transport, expect a short orientation or a first shift shadowing an experienced volunteer
- For administrative support, expect an introduction to whatever tools or systems the rescue uses for applications and communication
What to Expect Emotionally
Volunteering with a cat rescue is rewarding, but it’s worth being honest about the harder parts too. You’ll meet cats who came from difficult situations, and occasionally one won’t make it despite everyone’s best efforts. Adoption events can also mean saying goodbye to a cat you’ve grown attached to over several shifts, right as it heads to its new home — which is the whole point, even when it’s bittersweet.
None of this is a reason to stay away — most volunteers find the good days far outweigh the hard ones. It’s just useful to go in with realistic expectations rather than only the highlight-reel version.
Who Makes a Good Volunteer?
- Reliability matters more than experience — showing up when you commit to a shift is the most valuable thing you can offer
- Comfort talking to strangers helps for adoption events, since you’ll be answering questions from the public
- A flexible daytime schedule helps for transport, since requests can come up with short notice
- Basic organizational skills help for administrative support — you don’t need to be tech-savvy, just responsive
Volunteering vs. Fostering: Which Should You Choose?
Volunteering is task-based — you show up for an event, a transport run, or a set number of admin hours, then you’re done until the next time. Fostering means housing a specific cat in your home for days to months, with the rescue covering food and vet costs. If you’re weighing the two, our guide to adopting vs. fostering a cat breaks down fostering specifically in more detail — and there’s no rule against doing both.
How to Apply
Fill out our volunteer application, indicating your interest in adoption events, transport, administrative support, or something else entirely. Our team follows up by email with next steps based on your availability and interests.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need experience to volunteer at a cat rescue?
No. Cats By The Tracks is 100% volunteer-run, and roles like adoption events, transport, and administrative support don’t require prior animal-care experience — just reliability and a willingness to learn.
How much time does volunteering require?
It depends on the role you choose. Some organizations ask for a minimum weekly commitment, but foster-based rescues like Cats By The Tracks are often flexible, since our volunteer roles range from a few hours at an adoption event to occasional transport runs.
Can I volunteer without handling cats directly?
Yes. Administrative support — emails, applications, and behind-the-scenes coordination — is one of the three main volunteer roles at Cats By The Tracks, and it requires no direct animal handling at all.
What is the difference between volunteering and fostering?
Volunteering is task-based and often flexible in duration — an adoption event, a transport run, or a few hours of admin work. Fostering means housing a specific cat in your home for days to months. Both are valuable, and you can do either or both.
Ready to Volunteer?
Cats By The Tracks is a 501(c)(3), 100% volunteer-run rescue serving Fresno and the Central Valley. Whatever time you have to give, there’s a role that fits.
