Optimizing Performance with API Caching #

Every search page and detail page makes API calls to your shelter management system. On high-traffic sites, this can slow page loads and hit API rate limits. Caching stores responses temporarily so repeat requests are served instantly.

When to Enable Caching #

• High traffic sites: More than a few hundred daily visitors – caching prevents API bottlenecks
• Slow API responses: If pages take more than 2-3 seconds to load, caching helps immediately
• Multiple shortcodes per page: A homepage with carousel + compact = multiple API calls per visit
• Featured/homepage displays: These pages get the most traffic and benefit most from caching

Recommended TTL Settings #

Configure in admin: General > Performance.

Caching + Client-Side Filtering #

The best performance comes from combining API caching with client-side features. When enabled, the initial page load fetches data from cache, and filter/sort interactions happen instantly in the browser without additional API calls:

[pmp-search type="adopt" filter="enable" client="enable"]

Cache Clearing #

If you need fresh data immediately (e.g., after a large intake or data correction), clear the cache in admin: Tools > Cache Management. The cache also regenerates automatically after the TTL expires.

Tips #

• Start with the recommended TTLs and adjust based on your update frequency
• Homepages with carousels benefit most – visitors see instant results on repeat visits
• Cache is per-shortcode, so different pages can have different effective freshness
• If animals appear stale, check Stale Content / Cache Issues for troubleshooting
• API caching requires Junior license or higher

Next Steps #

• Performance & Caching Reference — Full caching configuration details
• Stale Content / Cache Issues — Troubleshooting cached data
• Featuring Animals on Your Homepage — High-traffic pages that benefit from caching