SAINT Cat Rescue & Adoption Center — Local services in Cedar Rapids

I do not recommend, choose another shelter. Adopted kitten with chronic ear infection

I visited SAINT in March '24 and met a sweet kitten who had recently come in off the streets. She had very itchy ears and hadn't seen the vet yet. The staff encouraged me to fill out an application with the agreement they would call me after she had seen the vet and was ready to go to a new home.

A month later they called to schedule the drop-off. When I asked about her ears I was told she was all good to go. During the "home visit" I was provided with two pieces of paper from the vet and an adoption form to sign that stated I was receiving a healthy cat.

The kitten smelled bad, but I assumed that was because of shelter life so I adopted her. The following day it became clear that she had an ear infection (itchy, smelly, coffee ground-looking ears). I scheduled an immediate visit with my local vet who confirmed that she had a raging, chronic ear infection that had not been treated. I also learned that SAINT had brought her to a spay and neuter clinic, not a full service vet, despite her obvious symptoms. I informed SAINT in a casual update, and received an emoji in response.

Unfortunately, this cat has continued to have complications including a ruptured abscess,  inflammatory polyps, and a dysplastic inner ear (bulla).

I eventually called and relayed this information to SAINT so they can ensure sick cats receive a full evaluation. I was told to return the cat and they would refund my adoption fee. I refused because I do not trust them to care for this cat.

While SAINT could not have predicted all the sequelae this cat would endure from her chronic ear infection, they should have ensured that she received an evaluation from a full-service vet clinic given her symptoms of an ear problem. I can only imagine which complications could have been prevented if she had been treated a month earlier.

I caution all adopters to pause before signing the form that the cat is "healthy", because the SAINT staff are not qualified to determine the health status of their cats.

(November '24 photo, September '24 CT,...

I called saints yesterday to ask if they’d take my cats because one was having a medical emergency that I could not afford to take to the vet and I was trying to do the right thing by finding somewhere for them to go instead of just letting the issue persist and lead to death. The lady who answered the phone was EXTREMELY rude. She was snotty and sarcastic to me. I asked if they’d take them and she replied with “we don’t take any surrenders that weren’t adopted from us” and then said “ok do you know of any other places that can help?” And she replied with “I’m sure you can find someone to take them right now” in a very sarcastic and rude tone then hung up on me. I called back numerous times and she denied every single call sending me to voicemail so I left a voicemail and she called me back and when I told her I wanted to speak to a manager she replied with “were all volunteers there is no manager” so I continued to ask her my original question of if she knew of any places that could help me and she replied with “you’d have to call each one.” I completely understand and take accountability that I am responsible for the medical emergency that my cat was in but when someone is in a position where they can’t afford vet care and asks a shelter if they can help or know of any other places that give assistance I’d expect an actual heartfelt real answer instead of what I received from that woman. I am disgusted at her phone etiquette when someone was in need. I can only imagine how she treats other employees and the cats that are in that shelter. Absolutely disgraceful. I hope she realizes that she is not for volunteer work and moves on, if she even is a volunteer. Based on this interaction I would not recommend this...

I visited the shelter this Saturday with two friends, hoping to adopt a kitten, and I couldn’t be more impressed with my experience. I had made an appointment online beforehand, which made the process smooth and efficient. When I arrived, I shared quite a bit of information about my situation and what I was looking for in a kitten, and the staff did an excellent job of listening and addressing my needs.

The shelter was well-organized, with multiple well-kept areas for the animals. It was clear that the staff had put a lot of time and effort into getting to know each kitty and were dedicated to matching them with the right homes. I had the chance to meet a bonded pair of kittens and instantly fell in love with them. A volunteer sat with me as I spent time with the kittens, offering insights about their personalities and helping me get to know them better.

The staff were incredibly warm, knowledgeable, and supportive throughout the entire process. Communication has been good, especially considering it’s the holiday season, but I do want to be transparent that the processing of applications and follow-up can feel a bit disjointed. This is completely understandable, given that it’s a group of individuals volunteering their time, and I recognize that managing everything can get hectic. I do worry that things might fall through the cracks in such a busy environment, but overall, I appreciate the care and attention that goes into matching animals with the right homes.

Now, I’m just waiting to hear back about my application, but I’m so thankful to have had the opportunity to connect with such a dedicated group of people who donate their time and energy to this great cause. Fingers crossed my application...