Volunteer Roles

We are currently only accepting applications for our Cat Lounge Helper role. Once volunteers are onboard as Cat Lounge Helpers they are eligible to become Cat Transport Volunteers. Applications to become a Cat Foster will be opening up soon.

Cat Lounge Helper:

Cat Lounge Helpers are responsible for assisting our Feline Guardian staff with operating our cat lounge, assisting customers with questions, and taking care of the cats.

Requirements:

  • Familiarity with cat behavior and body language

  • Customer service skills and a passion for our feline friends

  • Be able to work in a fast-paced, multi-tasking environment

  • Excellent verbal communication and social skills

  • Well-organized and clean

  • Able to stand for up to three hours

  • Able to lift heavy things, up to 40lb

Duties:

  • Check guests in for their reservations 

  • Escort guests in and out of the cat lounge

  • Watch over the lounge to monitor cat and guest behavior and answer questions

  • Cleaning tasks including (but not limited to): scooping and cleaning litter boxes, washing dishes, laundry, cleaning kennels, cleaning up vomit/urine/feces, and general sanitization of the lounge

  • Socialize/provide enrichment for cats

  • Monitor sick cats

Cat Transport:

Cat Transport volunteers are responsible for driving cats to and from vet appointments and/or picking up new cats from the shelter.

Volunteers in this role would be added to a list of volunteer drivers that we would reach out to whenever we have a need to transport cats. Volunteer drivers are reimbursed for gas.
Requirements:

  • Must own a reliable car and have a valid driver’s license and car insurance

  • Able to drive for up to one hour without breaks

  • Able to lift up to 40 pounds

  • Must be punctual and reliable

  • Excellent communication and comprehension skills

Duties: 

  • Pick up new cat(s) from the shelter and transport them to the cafe or foster home

  • Transport cat(s) to and from vet appointments

  • Supervise cats at vet appointments and take notes to report back to Meowtropolitan staff 

  • Communicate information about cats between vet/shelter staff and Meowtropolitan staff

Cat Foster:

Cat Fosters are responsible for providing temporary care for cats in their homes. Cats are placed in foster homes in the following situations:

  • New cat quarantine: 2 week quarantine to monitor new cats for any signs of illness (URI, diarrhea, skin lesions, etc.) prior to their stay at the cat cafe. (MOST COMMON)

  • Medical stay: longer term management of a cat's medical issue that may require closer monitoring

  • Behavioral stay: typically for cats that have trouble adjusting to the Catfe's environment and would prefer their own space

Basic cat care supplies including food and litter are provided by Meowtropolitan Foundation.
Requirements:

  • Ideally have a home without any pets, or if you have pets, you must have the ability to keep foster cats indoors and separate from your household pets (ideally a separate room with easy to clean flooring)

  • Have at least one hour twice per day to spend caring for and socializing foster cats

  • Be able to make a minimum commitment of at least 2 weeks  

  • Access to a car and willing to pick the cats up from the cafe at the beginning of the foster period and return them at the end. Fosters must also be prepared for the possibility of driving a cat that becomes sick to the vet on short notice

  • If you have other pets, they must be spayed/neutered, up to date on vaccines, and free of health conditions that could pass on to foster cats     

  • Willingness to adhere to cleaning and sanitization protocol and learn cat health basics

  • Experience taking care of cats and familiarity with cat behavior and body language

Duties: 

  • Spend at least one hour twice a day taking care of foster cats in your home. Tasks include: 

    • Socializing cats by playing with them and getting them familiar with human interaction

    • Feeding cats twice a day 

    • Cleaning up after the cats: scooping litter, washing food dishes, cleaning up vomit/urine/feces, sanitizing surfaces, washing dirty blankets/beds, etc.

    • Monitoring cats for health and behavioral concerns

  • Respond promptly to communication from Meowtropolitan staff and be proactive about communicating updates on the foster cats

  • Transport foster cats to and from Meowtropolitan at the beginning and end of the foster period as well as to the vet during the foster period (if needed)

YOU WILL BE WORKING WITH CATS - if you have any complications working with felines, volunteering may not be right for you.

We are looking for extremely friendly, happy-go-lucky, hard-working, joke-making cat people to join our team. All staff must be able to work well with cats and humans.