Our feline residents love volunteers!

Thanks for your interest in volunteering at Cat World! Review the calendar below to find available volunteer shifts. Scheduling your volunteer shifts in advance is highly recommended, and shifts can be scheduled as far as one year in advance. Contact the Sanctuary Volunteer Department at volunteers@bestfriends.org or 435-644-2001, ext. 4119 with any questions.

Ready to get started? Click the button below to create your volunteer account, or you can log-in to your account if you already have a volunteer account with Best Friends.

Cat World Volunteer Projects

Volunteer time means a lot to the staff and to the cats who really enjoy the extra love and attention. Although the schedule is flexible, the morning shift usually consists of a thorough cleaning of all rooms, including the following tasks:

Changing/cleaning litter pans
Brushing cat beds and furniture
Sweeping and mopping
Wiping soiled surfaces
Washing dishes
Doing laundry
Assisting with feeding and watering
Brushing cats
Taking cats out for harness walks and stroller rides (weather dependent)

The afternoon shift may involve spending time playing with the cats or just sitting with the cats and reading a book. It may sound simple, but these are essential pre-adoption activities as well as important enrichment activities. Other afternoon tasks could include the following:

Washing walls, windows, and rafters
Raking fur from outside the screened runs
Weeding
Restocking supplies and/or food
Washing litter pans
Washing dishes
Doing laundry
Assisting with afternoon feeding
Brushing cats
Taking cats out for harness walks and stroller rides (weather dependent)

Many of the cats are available for sleepovers. Check with the Cat World Volunteer Coordinator to arrange this.

Cat World Safety Guidelines

To keep you and our animal friends safe, here are a few things that you should be aware of before volunteering:

Closed-toe shoes are required for volunteering in all animal areas. Sneakers or hiking shoes are the preferred footwear and shoes must have a heel strap at minimum. Clog type shoes are not permitted as shoes could fall off while walking or working with animals, climbing ladders or performing other volunteer tasks.

Children under 16 must be in the same room as their adult guardian at all times.
Keep doors closed at all times and always watch for cats when walking through them. Cats are curious and we have many escape artists!
Please sanitize or wash your hands between visits to different groups of cats.
Some cats have unusual ways of showing affection. Please check with a staff member to find out if you will be working in a room with these kinds of cats so you won't get bitten or scratched.
Never pick up a cat without asking a caregiver first if it is safe to do so.
Cats who enjoy human contact make themselves readily available for love and attention. Cats who are shy won't come to you and it is best to leave them alone.
Do not break up cat fights. If you notice a fight starting, please find a staff member to break up the fight to avoid injuries to yourself.
If you are pregnant, please consult with your doctor about precautions against infectious diseases like toxoplasmosis (which comes from being around cat litter and cat feces).
Watch your head! Kitties love the shelves and cubbies at Cat World, but some are just the right height to walk into or bump your head on from underneath.

Are you interested in volunteering at Cat World? Click here to get started. If you already have a volunteer account with Best Friends, log-in here.