Cats from Amigatos da Milkinha shelter

Every cat
deserves love

We create a safe and welcoming environment where each feline receives care, affection and the opportunity to find their forever family.

78 Cats
Available
200+ Cats
Adopted
5 Years of
Experience

Our Mission

To protect and ensure the welfare of animals living on the streets, rescuing, sheltering, treating and recovering them physically and psychologically, promoting their responsible adoption.

Our Values

Respect for life, empathy, social responsibility, dedication, transparency and community collaboration. Our commitment is to offer abandoned animals a new chance to live with dignity.

Shelter cats

How You Can Help

Adoption

Give a permanent home to one of our cats. Each adoption saves two lives - the adopted cat's and creates space for another in need.

Donations

Your financial donations help us cover veterinary costs, food and daily care for our feline friends.

Volunteering

Join our team of dedicated volunteers. Help with cleaning, feeding, socialization and much more.

Item Donations

We need food, litter, medicine, toys and other supplies to keep our cats happy and healthy.

Foster Home

Become a temporary foster family for cats who need special care or extra socialization.

Outreach

Help us spread the word about our work on social media and find families for our special cats.

Frequently Asked Questions

Important information about cats with special conditions looking for a loving home

What is FIV Positive?

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FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that affects cats' immune systems, similar to HIV in humans, but it is not transmissible to humans or other animals.

How is it transmitted?

Transmission occurs mainly through deep bites during fights between cats. Casual contact, such as sharing food, water, or playing, is very unlikely to cause transmission.

FIV+ cats can live long and healthy lives with proper care. Many live for years without showing symptoms, especially when kept in a safe and stress-free environment. Recent studies show that cats with FIV have life expectancies close to non-infected cats.

Important: At the shelter, FIV+ cats live together with non-infected cats without problems, as all are neutered and most are not aggressive, which greatly reduces the transmission risk. At home, the risk is equally low with neutered and calm cats.

With love, regular veterinary care and a peaceful environment, these special cats can be wonderful and loyal companions for many years.

What is FeLV Positive?

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FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus) is a virus that affects the immune system and can cause various health problems in cats. Like FIV, it is not transmissible to humans.

How is it transmitted?

It is transmitted through close contact: saliva, nasal secretions, urine, feces, and from mother to kittens. It is more easily transmissible than FIV between cats.

Although it is a more complex condition than FIV, many FeLV+ cats can have good quality of life for months or years, especially with appropriate veterinary care. The average survival time after diagnosis is 2.5 years, but can be much longer in some cases.

Very important: FeLV+ cats can interact with non-infected cats as long as they are vaccinated against the disease. Recently, we had an FeLV+ cat that was successfully adopted! Vaccination provides effective protection, although it is not 100% guaranteed.

These cats need special care, including more frequent veterinary visits, a stress-free environment, and lots of love. They can provide immense affection and joy to their guardians.

What is the adoption process?

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The adoption process is simple, but careful to ensure the best for our cats:

Process steps:

1. Visit the shelter to meet the available cats
2. Fill out the pre-adoption form
3. Brief interview to ensure compatibility
4. Getting-to-know period with the chosen cat
5. Signing the responsible adoption agreement

The entire process usually takes 1-2 visits and can be completed on the same day if everything goes well. Our goal is to find the perfect home for each cat, so we value the quality of the connection over speed.

Note: All cats are delivered dewormed and with identification microchip, already included in the adoption fee. If they are old enough, they are also delivered neutered (from 6 months) and vaccinated (from 3 months). If they are not yet old enough, the responsibility to perform these procedures lies with the adopters when the right time comes.

How much does it cost to adopt a cat?

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The adoption fee is €17.50 for any cat, regardless of age. This amount only covers the cost of the microchip.

What's included:

✓ Spaying/Neutering
✓ Complete vaccination
✓ Internal and external deworming
✓ Identification chip
✓ FIV/FeLV test
✓ Basic welcome kit

For cats with special needs (FIV+, FeLV+, disabilities), the fee may be reduced or even waived on a case-by-case basis. What's important is finding dedicated families who will provide the necessary care.

Important: The adoption fee is not a "price" for the cat, but a contribution to veterinary costs and shelter maintenance, allowing us to continue helping more animals.

Can I visit the shelter? What are the hours?

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Yes! We love receiving visits and showing our special residents. Visits are free and do not need prior appointment during operating hours.

Visit hours:

Monday to Sunday: As we operate only with volunteers, visits need prior appointment (through our contacts), in order to find a time that is convenient for everyone.

During the visit, you can meet all the cats, ask questions about their history and personality, and spend time with those who spark your interest. Our volunteers will always be available to help.

Tip: We recommend coming with comfortable clothes and closed shoes. You can bring small cat treats (sugar-free) to help create a bond!

How should I prepare my home for an adopted cat?

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Properly preparing your home is essential for a smooth and happy transition for your new feline companion.

Essentials before arrival:

✓ Litter box and good quality litter
✓ Food and water bowls (preferably stainless steel or ceramic)
✓ Food appropriate for age and needs
✓ Safe carrier
✓ Vertical or horizontal scratching post
✓ Comfortable bed and toys

Remove toxic plants, install safety nets on windows and balconies, and store small objects that could be swallowed.

Adaptation period: Be patient. Some cats adapt to the new environment in a few days, others may need a few weeks to feel more comfortable. This is completely normal and doesn't mean the cat is not happy.

How can I volunteer at the shelter?

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We always need help! There are many ways to contribute, from direct cat care to administrative and outreach support.

Types of volunteering:

Daily care: Feeding, cleaning, socialization
Transportation: Taking cats to veterinary appointments
Events: Adoption fairs, fundraising campaigns
Communication: Social media, photography, design
Foster home: Fostering cats with special needs

No prior experience is necessary - we provide all the necessary training! You can start gradually and choose activities that best suit your availability and preferences.

How to start: Contact us by phone, email or visit us. We'll have an informal conversation to understand how you can help in the best way.

What types of donations do you need most?

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We operate entirely on donations and every contribution, big or small, makes a real difference in the lives of our cats.

Most urgent:

Quality food (dry and wet)
Cat litter (regular, clumping or wood pellets)
Medications (antibiotics, dewormers)
Cleaning supplies (bleach, detergents)
Blankets and towels (even used, as long as clean)

We also accept monetary donations for veterinary emergencies, which unfortunately are frequent. Every euro allows us to provide better care and save more lives.

Monetary donations: MbWay and IBAN available on our website or you can deliver personally. We issue receipts for all donations for tax purposes.

I found an abandoned cat. What should I do?

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First of all, thank you for caring! Finding a lost or abandoned cat can be an intense experience, but it's important to follow some steps.

First steps:

1. Check if it has a chip (veterinarian or we help)
2. Post in "lost and found" groups on Facebook
3. Contact us for guidance
4. If possible, provide temporary shelter
5. Basic veterinary consultation (especially if injured)

We can't always accommodate immediately due to limited space, but we always try to help with advice, social media sharing, and veterinary support when possible.

Important: Don't immediately assume the cat is abandoned, some may simply be lost. Always try to find the original family.

Get in Touch

Ready to adopt or have questions? Contact us!

Send a Message