In one crate, a tiny gray and white kitten batted at a red bell suspended from a ribbon. In another, a big black cat with white paws, snoozed, oblivious to the sounds of barking dogs and shopping people.

They, along with several other cats and kittens, were at Petco, 760 Butler Crossing, Saturday in the hopes of finding a permanent home.

The cats are from the Animal Service League, which fosters homeless cats and dogs and seeks to place them in safe, loving homes.

Patricia Potter brought the Animal Rescue League with her when she moved to Butler almost three years ago.

“The important thing is, we want to help the cats,” said Potter.

Potter was involved in the Rochester, N.Y.-based organization for nearly 30 years, most recently serving as vice president on its board of directors.

The organization, which was founded in 1953 in Rochester, is dedicated to the care and welfare of cats and dogs.

The cats, which are fostered in several different area homes, are frequent guests at the store, with Potter and her team of volunteers bringing in tables, crates and cat carriers at least once a week.

Gwen and Jim Dush travel from Cranberry most weeks to help with the event at the store.

The couple got their first kitten 17 years ago, when their daughter went to college. When they lost that cat, they came to one of the League events to try to find a new family pet.

“She’s so wonderful with her cats,” Gwen Dush said. “If she can’t take them, she’ll find somebody who will.”

Potter said she gets many calls about cats that need rescued, from people who find a litter of kittens under their front porch to people who see a stray or injured cat while driving.

“I wish we could help everybody, but we can’t,” Potter said. “You can only take in so many.”

Because the Butler arm of the organization has no shelter and relies on foster families, Potter can accept only 25 cats or kittens at a time, though she tries to find places for the others. Also, because there is no shelter, Potter usually will not accept dogs, although she said the organization has fostered three dogs.

Before adopting a cat, prospective owners must complete an application, which asks for housing information, allergies and veterinarian checks, as well as inquiring whether the cat will be declawed or become an indoor cat.

“These kittens are babies,” said Jim Dush, pointing to the gray and white kitten still batting the bell and his crate mate, a fluffy, gray kitten. “She makes sure they’re going to good homes.”

All kittens stay with Potter and the other foster families until they are 12 weeks old, which Potter said is longer than most organizations and, when adopted, all cats have been spayed or neutered, checked for feline leukemia and have received all their vaccinations.

Since its inception, the Animal Rescue League in Butler has placed 173 cats and is well on track to place more this year.

Of the 17 kittens in the system now, Potter said 12 are “spoken for,” although they won’t be ready to leave for several weeks.

“The board was a little hesitant to open a Butler chapter,” said Potter, mentioning that the organization has never had an out-of-state branch. “They were surprised at how many and how quickly (the cats) were adopted.”

Denise Day of Butler is fostering a mother cat and five kittens.

“I enjoy it,” she said. “I get them used to being held, used to being around people.”

For Potter, it’s a family affair.

Her nephew, Jacob Murphy, 14 of Kittanning, is a frequent volunteer at the Petco Saturdays, and Potter’s mother and sister have adopted cats.

Anyone wishing to get involved in The Animal Service League, can call Potter at 724-282-1281.

Donations can be sent to the Rochester headquarters at 10 Dubelbeiss Lane, Rochester, N.Y. 14622, completed online at animalserviceleagueny.org or taken locally by calling Potter.