We Increased Our Adoptions by 83% in 2 Weeks (and You Can Too)

Two weeks ago, we didn’t do a single adoption.

Last week, we adopted out two kittens.

And that was while using the same adoption strategies we've successfully used for the past 5 years.

This week? After making some intentional changes and getting strategic about visibility, we’ve already placed NINE kittens in loving homes — with three more adoptions pending and two fantastic applications waiting in the wings.

That's an 83% boost!

It didn’t happen by accident. We worked for it. We adapted, got creative, and poured energy into making our adoptable animals stand out.

Because here’s the truth: if animals don’t move out, we can’t bring new ones in.

Why It’s So Important to Keep Animals Moving Through the System

Animal rescue isn’t just about saving lives — it’s about sustaining the ability to save lives tomorrow, and the next day, and the next.

Every organization — no matter how big or small — has limits:

• Physical space

• Number of available foster homes

• Hours of staff and volunteer time

• Amount of funding for food, litter, vaccines, medical care, and spay/neuter

When animals stay too long — even healthy, happy, adoptable ones — they take up the spot that another vulnerable animal desperately needs.

If we want to keep saying “yes” to kittens from overcrowded shelters, bottle babies found outside, or kittens in urgent need of medical help, we have to make sure that adoptable animals are seen, noticed, and chosen.

Adoptions are the engine that keeps the rescue machine running. So when things slow down? We have to adjust.

What We Did to Turn Things Around (And What You Can Do Too)

We went from zero adoptions to nine in a week by getting intentional about visibility. Here's what worked — and can work for your shelter or rescue too:

1. Boost Social Media With Personality + Consistency

We didn’t just post the same “Adopt Me!” message for every cat. We leaned into storytelling — highlighting quirky habits, favorite toys, and cute personality traits.

We also made sure to post often and consistently, because people scroll fast — and the algorithm doesn’t reward silence.

Quick Tip: End every post with a simple, friendly call to action and a link to your adoption page.

2. Add a Frame or Border to Adoption Photos

Sites like Petfinder and Adopt-a-Pet are filled with adorable animals. To make our kittens pop, we started adding colorful photo frames with our logo or “Adopt Me” tags.

This simple design tweak helped our animals stand out in a crowded feed and made people pause long enough to click.

Quick Tip: Use the same color scheme for branding consistency and recognition.

3. Use Your Email List

Your social media reach is limited — your email list is full of people who already care.

We sent out a short and cheerful adoption spotlight featuring photos, bios, and an easy link to apply. And it worked.

Quick Tip: Make it skimmable. Keep the copy short and the visuals strong.

4. Refresh Your Petfinder + Adopt-a-Pet Listings

We rewrote bios to include fun, specific details that made each kitten unique. No generic “loves to cuddle and play” for everyone.

We also updated their photos with brighter, clearer images — and yes, we added those eye-catching frames!

Quick Tip: Feature animals that have been overlooked by giving their profiles a total refresh.

5. Add Fresh Content to Your Website

Google loves new content. The more often your site is updated, the more likely it is to be bumped up in search rankings — especially for local pet adoption searches.

The easiest way to do that? Start a blog. Share adoption success stories, helpful tips for new cat parents, behind-the-scenes rescue stories — whatever keeps your site dynamic and engaging.

Quick Tip: Add internal links to your adoptable animal listings in every blog post to keep traffic flowing where it matters.

6. Offer a Limited-Time Incentive

We ran a Name Your Own Adoption Fee special for a month.

It created urgency, helped us reach price-sensitive adopters, and gave people a reason to act now instead of later.

Quick Tip: You don’t need a big fee discount — even a small amount can tip the scale.

7. Steward Your Fosters + Volunteers as Amplifiers

We asked our fosters to share adoption bios and photos from their own accounts — and suddenly we had dozens of new audiences seeing our kittens.

Sometimes the best marketing isn’t what you post — it’s what your community shares.

Quick Tip: Send ready-to-post images and captions to make it easy for people to help.

8. Most of All… Keep Adapting

The biggest lesson? Don’t get stuck doing what worked last year. Or last month. Or even last week.

What works today might need tweaking tomorrow — and that’s okay.

Be flexible. Be creative. Be bold. And keep pushing.

The animals are counting on us to get them seen, chosen, and cherished. And when that happens, it opens the door for the next one in line.

Final Thoughts

If your adoptions are slow, it doesn’t mean your animals aren’t wonderful. It means they need a little more help being noticed.

Visibility = Adoptions

Adoptions = Open Space

Open Space = More Lives Saved

It really is that simple.

So let’s get to work — and let’s get those animals home.