To relinquish an animal isn’t an easy process, so here’s what you can expect to encounter.

By Ilene Springer

An older relative passes on, and you simply can’t adopt her pet into your multi-cat household. Or perhaps you find a half-grown, wayward kitten on your doorstep. Or your cat had a litter and you just don’t know what to do. At some point, you may have to consider bringing a cat to the shelter. It is important to know first what to expect.

Kittens tend to be the most adoptable felines in a shelter, but many adult cats find good, forever homes thanks to the hard work of shelter staff.

It may surprise you to learn that most shelters will accept and care for all animals brought to them — but they cannot guarantee adoption, according to Carmine DiCenso, manager of the Boston Animal Care and Adoption Center of the Massachusetts SPCA in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. …

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