Preregistration is required. Please read below for steps to request registration for cat volunteer training.
Cat-care “core” training at PAWS is for volunteers who are willing to commit to at least 30 volunteer hours in a year which is a little over one shift per month. After meeting our cats and volunteers and becoming part of the PAWS team, new volunteers often earn 30 hours of service much more quickly. Cats living at PAWS need our help every day – 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Cat-care trainees will learn about cat and volunteer safety, sanitation, proper feeding, cage and litterbox cleaning procedures, medications and many other aspects of “core” training including doing laundry and washing dishes. In addition, our cat-care volunteers help with properly socializing the cats. Providing our cats individual attention is an important part of reducing their stress and helping them find forever homes.
If this is a commitment that you are willing to make, we would love to see you in our next volunteer training!
Cat-wing shift times vary on weekdays, but there is an a.m. and a p.m. shift. Weekday shifts usually begin between 8 and 9 a.m. and between 4 and 6 p.m. On weekends, the cat-care crews work two shifts from 9 to 11 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m.
Children 13 to 17 years of age, community service volunteers or volunteers with special needs considerations, please read the Additional Information below before continuing.
Information about the training process
Training will take place in two parts:
- Part 1: Cat-care Training - Prior to your in-person training, you'll be asked to review some videos to help you orient you to the cat program. Our 2 hour training session introduces you to the PAWS organization, our Mission, policies and protocol. We'll review the tasks to be completed during an average shift and you'll receive a tour of the facility.
- Part 2: Mentor Session - This session will occur during a regularly scheduled cat care shift and will provide an introduction to the hands-on experience of caring for our feline friends.
Additional Information
- The minimum age to volunteer is 13 years old. All youth under the age of 18 must volunteer alongside a trained, responsible adult. Both the youth and the responsible adult must attend all training classes and must volunteer together.
- The minimum commitment expectation for volunteers is approximately 30 hours per year (1 shift per month on average). In cases where courses are full, we prioritize scheduling volunteers who can commit to at least weekly volunteer shifts. Weekly (regular) volunteers get the most out of their volunteering and tend to form close relationships with the animals in our care and the other volunteers.
- If you are interested in volunteering for community service and are completing less than 30 volunteer hours, please visit our Community Service Volunteers page.
- If you have special needs considerations, please visit our Special Needs Volunteers page.
Steps to Request Registration for Cat Volunteer Training:
- Interested and qualified volunteers (including youth) must fill out either the Adult Volunteer Application online or the Youth Volunteer Application online.
- Please first consult the calendar below for a training date
- Register for your desired training class within the requested calendar training event form
- All volunteers, including youth, must fully preregister for training and receive a confirmation.
- If you’re not able to attend, please email catvolunteertraining@centrecountypaws.org immediately so that another volunteer may attend.
Additional Cat Training:
- We also offer Floor Volunteer / Cat Adoption Helper training, scheduled monthly and by appointment. Floor Volunteers escort people through the Cat Wing when we are open to the public, answer questions about the cats and PAWS adoption policies & procedures, and ensure public safety. For more information, please visit our Cat Adoption Helper Volunteers page. Cat Floor Volunteers help cats find their forever homes.