Petco is one of the largest pet retailers in the United States selling supplies and accessories for all types of domestic pets. Unfortunately, Petco carries do not actually sell cats. This may come as a surprise to many cat lovers who think of Petco as a one-stop shop for all their pet needs. In this blog post we will explore why Petco does not sell cats and discuss some of the reasoning and policies behind this decision.
Adoption Policies and Animal Welfare
One of the main reasons cited by Petco for not selling cats directly is concerns over animal welfare and adoption policies. As a large corporate retailer their primary goal is profitability but they also want to maintain positive relationships with animal welfare organizations. Selling animals carries more risks and responsibilities than just pet supplies.
Some of the issues that come with being a cat “rescue” or adoption facility include:
- Ensuring proper health screening and treatment for any illnesses before placing pets in new homes. Medical costs can be high.
- Providing humane housing conditions for cats awaiting adoption including clean facilities, socialization, exercise and one-on-one attention daily which requires dedicated staff.
- Conducting home checks, application processing and vetting potential owners to assess if the animal is a good match and will have a caring home. This is time intensive.
- Managing returns/surrenders post adoption to prevent cats from being re-homed repeatedly or ending up in already over-burdened shelters. Re-homing animals is stressful and some will not adjust well to multi-home environments.
Rather than attempting this complex operation themselves, Petco’s policy is to partner with local animal shelters and rescue groups. This allows the animal welfare experts to focus on adoption services while Petco provides retail space, donations, and promotional help to actively encourage cat adoptions from their community partners.
The Reality of Brick and Mortar Retail
Another aspect of not directly selling cats is that traditional brick and mortar retailers face new challenges competing with robust online marketplaces. While convenient for supplies, the in-store experience is not always ideal when it comes to viewing animals for adoption. Some considerations include:
- Loud noises, crowds and commotion within general stores can be overstimulating and stressful for shy cats looking to find new homes. They may hide or act defensively.
- Limited space for housing cats humanely within a commercial retail setting even if segregated from main customer areas. Proper facilities require significant square footage.
- Inconsistent staffing levels to provide one-on-one time and rotate personnel caring for animals daily. Retailers aim for low labor costs.
- Supply chain and logistical hurdles transporting cats safely between adoption partners and locations which may be spread out geographically.
- An inability to showcase individual personalities or offer a quiet environment for potential adopters to properly interact with and assess cat temperaments.
Online markets like Petfinder allow shelters to upload profiles with photos and videos and match adopters through email/phone without stressful store visits. They revolutionized how animals are adopted giving physical retailers some disadvantages. While Petco hosts occasional on-site adoption events, full-time housing of cats does not fit their core competencies.
The Case for Third Party Partnerships
By relying on local animal welfare groups for adoptions inside their stores, Petco aims to create a win-win collaboration. Shelters gain exposure to Petco’s large customer base who may be looking to add a cat to their family. Meanwhile Petco demonstrates their commitment to helping pets without taking on the liabilities themselves. Stores designate prime retail space, furnishings and volunteer help when rescue partners host adoption days.
Donations also provide funds to cover medical expenses and operational costs for the shelters. On their website Petco actively promotes how customers can support local organizations through donations at check-out, supply drives and adoption Referral programs where Petco gives $30 to participating shelters for each adopted pet who was initially found as a stray.
For cat lovers frustrated they cannot adopt directly from Petco, this third party model helps more cats find homes while allowing Petco to maintain their business focus on supplies for all pet types rather than complicated animal rescue logistics. Customers play a role too through donations and choosing to adopt from on-site partners during special events.
Conclusion – A Supportive Partner for Cat Adoptions
In summary, while Petco does not sell cats themselves there are understandable reasons behind this policy centered around animal welfare best practices and their core retail competencies. By partnering with local animal groups to host adoptions inside stores instead, Petco aims to connect caring cat owners with adoptable pets in need of homes without taking on high operational risks.
Their donations, promotion and dedicated event space within locations serve as valuable supporters for shelters. This third party model establishes Petco as a pet-friendly place where the whole family can shop and potentially welcome a new furry friend, whether puppy or kitten, into their lives. While cats can’t be adopted straight from the store, customers still benefit from Petco’s pro-cat adoption stance by having rescue partners on-site regularly.
Through community collaboration rather than operating their own rescue division, Petco crafts a responsible approach matching with their business priorities without excluding cats in need of homes. Their status as a knowledgeable pet supplies retailer remains intact alongside a commitment to lowering shelter overcrowding crisis through strategic non-profit alliances. So while the basic question “Does Petco Have Cats?” can be answered no – their adoption policies show cats far from forgotten.