Cat Workshops and Classes

Cats & Coffee Chats

Considering adopting a cat? This series of informal talks will help you choose the right cat and make it feel right at home in your home. Join our cat experts before the shelter opens, enjoy refreshments, and prepare for a potential feline adoption! All "Cats & Coffee" chats are free and will take place at the Quebec Street shelter; no registration is required.

Why Cats Make Cool Pets

Why do cats love high places? What makes a cat purr? What can cats add to your life? Find out the answers to these questions and many more as you discover all the cool things that make cats special.

Adopting Your First Cat

Learn how to find the right cat to fit your lifestyle, what to know before you adopt and how to bring a cat home for the first time.

How to Integrate Two Cats

Bringing a new cat into a formerly single-cat home? Get tips on making a safe, smooth introduction and transition for you and your felines.

How to Introduce a Cat and a Dog

Bringing a new cat into a home with one or more dogs? Learn how to introduce the cat so all your pets stay safe and happy. 

Cat Tails Story Time

Designed for preschool-age children and their families, this story time will focus on cat “tails,” as well as age-appropriate information about cats.

Starting Off on the Right Foot (or Paw!) With Your Cat

Did you know that cats can be trained? Clicker training is a fun way to teach your cat tricks—like high five, roll over and sit—while also helping to prevent or correct behaviors such as furniture scratching, litter box issues and more.

Cat Classes

These in-depth classes by our behavior team provide the information you’ll need to adopt, train and enjoy your cat(s).

All About Cats

Whether you are adopting your first cat or you have lived with cats your whole life, this class has something for you. Fascinating cat facts, key components for making cats happy, cat toys and playtime, litter-box problem prevention and destructive scratching prevention are among the topics covered. This class is filled with useful tips, visual aids, introductions to products and resources for even the savviest cat lover.

Kitten Kindergarten

For kittens ages 8 to 13 weeks and their owners. The class is broken into two components: orientation (without kittens) and Kitten Kindergarten classes (with kittens). You are required to attend an orientation session on the first or third Tuesday of the month prior to attending a Friday Kitten Kindergarten class. Friday classes are drop-in classes. Orientation covers litter-box setup, scratching opportunities and coping with normal behavior. Kitten Kindergarten classes (with kittens) provide the opportunity for socialization with other kittens, new people and new environments in a controlled and positive manner. Participants practice nail-trimming skills, and train your kitten to like the carrier. Classes also include playtime and information about typical cat behavior. For added fun, we teach the kittens to come when called, sit and give a “high five.” 

Per class cost: $10

Purchase a punch card at the first class and save $4 per class!

Clicks and Tricks—Without Your Cat

During this informational session, cat owners will learn how to clicker train their cat(s) through demonstrations, videos and workshop exercises. Participants will also receive great tips and resources from seasoned behavior specialists.

Cost: $10

Clicks & Tricks—With Your Cat

It is a common belief that cats cannot be trained, but through Clicks & Tricks, you will learn otherwise. This is a four-week class for cats older than 13 weeks and their owners. During the first week, participants learn how to prevent litter-box problems and destructive scratching, plus typical cat behaviors and issues. For the remaining three classes, feline students are encouraged to attend. Owners will teach their cats how to sit on command, roll over, and give a “high five” among other advanced behaviors.

Watch a clicker-trained cat in action!

Cost for the four-week session: $40

Animal Behavior Series

Participants gain an in-depth understanding of cat or dog behavior. This series is geared towards shelter workers, volunteers and veterinary clinic employees but is available to anyone who wants a deeper insight into the pets that share our lives.

A dog behavior series and a cat behavior series are offered. Dog topics include how dogs learn, breed group characteristics, leadership responsibilities, energy issues, elimination issues, destruction issues, fears, phobias, separation anxiety, developmental stages of puppies, housetraining, training tools, dog body language, dog-to-dog introductions and canine rivalry.

Cat topics include how cats learn, cat social structures, preventing scratching problems, cat toys, introducing cats to other animals, solving house-soiling problems, solving scratching problems, rough play and fearful behavior.

You are welcome to attend any sessions of interest, although they are intended to be taken as a series. These sessions are for humans only. Your $10 donation at the time of class will help cover time and materials costs. Thank you in advance for your support.