Volunteer

Become a Volunteer

At NTCR, our Volunteers (lovingly known as our mus-CAT-teers!) are our lifelines. And we are always in need of dedicated and passionate folks who can support the shelter with various activities, from feeding and care for our rescued cats to cleaning, fundraising, and other essential tasks.

Volunteer Duties

Your duties could include (but are not limited to):

  • Cleaning rooms, crates, and common areas
  • Basic facility upkeep (sweeping, mopping, etc.)
  • Feeding and medicating the cats

Ways to Contribute

Our sanctuary is a busy place where the needs of our cats always come first! To ensure every kitty lives in a clean and happy home, we focus on our daily care tasks and chores first. Once the work is done, there is plenty of time for what we love most: quiet moments and snuggles with our feline friends

Feeding & Socializing

Cats and kittens need a lot of human interaction to make them feel more at ease when potential adopters visit.

Cleaning

From sweeping and mopping to laundry, we need volunteer help to keep our premises clean and sparkling.

Fundraising Events

Help plan or participate in fun community events to raise awareness of the work at NTCR.

Transportation

We often need help transporting cats to and from their vet appointments.

Volunteer Requirements

We’d love to welcome everyone, but these guidelines are in place to keep our animals and staff safe.

  • Must be 16+ years old.
  • Reliable, observant, and able to work independently after initial training.
  • Comfortable working around cats
  • Commit to a regular schedule (e.g. one shift per week) for a minimum of 3 months.

Shifts:
Morning: 9am – 12pm
Evening: 5pm – 7pm

Please note, the shelter is located just North of Newmarket area. The shift timings are flexible.

Ready to Apply?

Once you’ve read our volunteer requirements and ensured you can meet all the criteria, please fill out our Volunteer Application.

Please allow 1-3 business days for us to review your application.
Once it’s processed, we’ll reach out by email to schedule your in-person volunteer orientation.

Apply Now!

Frequently Asked Questions

You can become a volunteer by filling out our volunteer application form above. Once we review your application, we’ll invite you to attend an orientation session to get started.

Yes. Volunteers must be at least 16 years old. For safety reasons, we cannot accommodate younger children in the shelter.

We ask for a regular commitment of at least one 2–3 hour shift per week. This consistency helps the cats become familiar with you and ensures reliable care at the shelter.

Most volunteers can begin right away after completing orientation and training.

For safety reasons, children are not permitted to accompany volunteers during shifts. If your child is 16 or older, they can apply to volunteer directly.

Each person must apply to volunteer individually. Once properly trained, you may volunteer with a friend or family member depending on availability.

If you’re interested in helping at adoption or fundraising events, send us a message through our contact form. Event volunteering often requires less frequent commitment than shelter shifts.

All cats receive veterinary care, vaccinations, and are monitored for illness. While the risk of contracting a disease is very low, we provide training on proper hygiene and safety protocols to further minimize any risk.