Big Sky CARES (CATNIP Foundation/ Big Sky Ranch)

What Big Sky CARES (CATNIP Foundation/ Big Sky Ranch) does

Big Sky CARES, operating under the CATNIP Foundation and Big Sky Ranch, is a 501c3 non-profit animal welfare organization founded in 2012 by Dr. Catherine Wilbert and Sharon Schluter. Headquartered on a 10-acre site in Folsom, Louisiana, the organization runs an integrated animal welfare platform combining direct rescue and adoption services, a high-volume spay/neuter clinic that opened in 2021, foster care coordination, Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs, and a multi-state animal transport network spanning 11+ U.S. states through 15+ partner rescues. The facility houses 200+ animals on-site and posted a 98.9% Live Release Rate in 2021 against total annual intake of 2,977 animals, up from 1,357 in 2020 and 483 in 2019.

The service portfolio also includes specialized placement programs (Barn Cat, Seniors for Seniors), community fundraising drives (GOODS, recycling, sneaker recycling), and public engagement events such as Louisiana Cat Fest, which drew 800+ attendees in 2026. Operational funding is sourced from individual donors, national animal welfare grants, and clinic service fees. Named grant and partnership relationships include PetSmart Charities (with a disclosed $10,750 grant), Petco Love, Alley Cat Allies, Greater Good Charities, and Maddie's Fund. The organization operates on a thin employee base of approximately six staff per firmographic data, implying substantial volunteer leverage across transport, foster, and event operations.

Revenue mechanics are not publicly disclosed in standard form. The combination of clinical service fees, individual donations, and grant funding constitutes the operating model, with no evidence of a subscription, licensing, or commercial product layer. The organization is clearly in an expansion phase rather than steady state: animal intake increased 6x in three years, the clinic was launched and then expanded, the transport network broadened to additional states, and event attendance scaled. Despite strong operational growth signals, no audited financials, Form 990, or annual report figures were available in the input data, materially constraining revenue, profitability, and capital structure analysis.

Name

Big Sky CARES (CATNIP Foundation/ Big Sky Ranch)

Legal name

CATNIP Foundation

Website

https://bigskyranch.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Big Sky CARES (CATNIP Foundation / Big Sky Ranch) is a Louisiana-based 501c3 non-profit running a rescue, adoption, spay/neuter clinic, and multi-state transport network serving approximately 2,977 animals annually with a 98.9% live release rate.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Welfare Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (812910), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Veterinary Charity Clinics & Medical Aid (BPAGAIAD), Education & Community Outreach (Responsible Pet Ownership) (BPAGAIAK)

Keywords

• Animal rescue services
• Low-cost veterinary clinic
• Pet adoption programs
• Trap neuter return
• Community animal welfare

Headquarters

HQ city

Folsom

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Big Sky CARES is a non-profit 501c3 organization. Primary revenue comes from donations of funds, goods, and services. Donation channels include online (Zeffy platform), stock donations via DonateStock.com, Amazon Wishlist, Chewy Gives Back, and direct facility drop-offs. Monthly sponsorship opportunities range from $42/month to $208/month for specific enclosures.
2. Adoption Fees: Revenue from pet adoption fees. Adoption fee is reduced to $35 for Seniors for Seniors program. All animals are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, micro-chipped prior to adoption.
3. Recycling Subscription: Monthly recycling subscription service at $20/month, accepting glass, metals, and plastics at the facility during regular business hours. This is a community service funded by a Healthy Communities Grant from Keep Louisiana Beautiful.
4. Low-Cost Clinic Services: Clinic provides low-cost veterinary services to families and rescue organizations across Louisiana, including spay/neuter, basic care, critical care, dental services, laser therapy, and X-Ray. Services are funded in part by donors and grants.
5. Commemorative Products: Revenue from sale of commemorative items: custom engraved bricks ($100-$250), personalized wall tiles ($75-$500), and engraved benches ($2,500). These are displayed at the facility.
6. Sponsorship Programs: Monthly sponsorship opportunities for enclosures (Cafe Mobile Catio, Multi-purpose Catio, Kitten Catio, Kitten Nursery) ranging from $500 one-time ($42/month) to $2,500 one-time ($208/month). Recognized with custom tiles displaying sponsor's image or logo.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Big Sky CARES (CATNIP Foundation / Big Sky Ranch) is a 501c3 nonprofit animal rescue and welfare organization operating two facilities in Folsom, Louisiana. It runs an integrated portfolio of services including pet adoption, foster care, a low-cost community veterinary clinic (Becky Robinson Alley Cat Allies Hospital), Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), barn cat placement, seniors-for-seniors adoption, and out-of-state animal transport to rescue partners. The organization also distributes donated supplies through the GOODS program and operates ancillary community services such as a recycling subscription and annual Louisiana Cat Fest.

Product overview

Big Sky CARES (Community Animal Resources and Education Services) is a non-profit 501c3 animal rescue organization operating as an integrated animal welfare system. The organization offers a unified portfolio of services including adoption matching, foster care, low-cost community veterinary clinic (Becky Robinson Alley Cat Allies Hospital), TNR programs, barn cat placement, seniors-for-seniors adoption, out-of-state animal transport, pet rehoming support, and the GOODS supply distribution program. Additionally, the organization operates community-focused programs including a recycling subscription service, sneaker drive, and commemorative donation items (tiles, bricks, benches, catio sponsorships). The flagship annual event is Louisiana Cat Fest. Operations span two facilities in Folsom, LA with transport partnerships reaching rescue organizations across multiple states.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Becky Robinson Alley Cat Allies Hospital: The expanded low-cost community animal clinic opened in 2021, named in honor of Becky Robinson, president and founder of Alley Cat Allies, who provided critical funding for the hospital.
• Calico Cat Cafe
• Louisiana Cat Fest

Products and services

• Adoption Services Pet adoption matching service placing cats and dogs into forever homes. Adoption applications are submitted online via ShelterLuv; in-person visits occur at the Folsom, LA facility on Saturdays 11am-4pm or by appointment. All adopted animals are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and micro-chipped prior to placement.
• Foster Care Program Temporary housing program placing shelter animals in volunteer foster homes. Foster providers receive veterinary care, behavior resources, and adoption counseling from CATNIP. Foster applications are submitted via ShelterLuv.
• Low-Cost Community Clinic (Becky Robinson Alley Cat Allies Hospital) Low-cost veterinary clinic serving families and rescue organizations across Louisiana. Services include basic care, spay/neuter, critical care, dental services, laser therapy, and X-Ray. Open Tuesday 11am-5pm and by appointment. Appointments are requested via Google Forms.
• Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) Program Community cat management program providing humane trapping, spay/neuter, vaccination, and return services for outdoor/feral cat colonies. Volunteers assist with trapping efforts.
• Barn Cat Program Placement program matching wary or working cats with farms and rural properties for rodent control. All barn cats are spayed/neutered and vaccinated before placement.
• Seniors for Seniors Program Adoption program pairing senior cats (7+ years) with senior humans (65+ years). Reduced adoption fee of $35 includes first 30 days of veterinary care and an annual wellness check-up.
• Out-of-State Animal Transport Program Transport program that moves vetted animals to 15+ rescue partners in Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, New Hampshire, New York, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. Each transport relocates 15-40+ animals to pre-approved adopters.
• GOODS Program (Louisiana Affiliate) Louisiana affiliate for Greater Good Charities' GOODS program (formerly Rescue Bank). Distributes donated pet food, essential supplies, clothing, and housewares to pre-approved animal welfare and human services organizations statewide.
• Recycling Subscription Program Monthly community recycling drop-off service accepting glass, metals, and plastics (#1-#7), up to 20 lbs per drop. Operates in partnership with Lemon Tree Recycling Service of Covington. Subscription fee is $20/month, seeded by a Healthy Communities Grant from Keep Louisiana Beautiful.
• Pet Rehome Service Support and resources for pet owners needing to rehome animals not originally adopted from Big Sky CARES. Includes the use of Calico Cat Cafe as a meeting space, referrals to Adopt-a-Pet.com, and access to low-cost spay/neuter services.
• Safe Housing Program Emergency pet housing assistance for individuals escaping abusive relationships who cannot leave their pets behind. Provides temporary shelter for pets during crisis situations. Contact via phone at (985) 796-4494.
• Louisiana Cat Fest (Annual Festival) Annual cat-focused community festival featuring vendor booths, expert workshops, adoption opportunities, and raffles. Proceeds support feline rescue, affordable veterinary treatment, and feline disease research.

Quantifiable outcome

• Live Release Rate of 98.9% in 2021 (2,981 live outcomes out of 3,014 total outcomes)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and major.

• Greater Good Charities (GOODS Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBig Sky CARES is the Louisiana affiliate for the GOODS Program of Greater Good Charities, which distributes food, essential supplies, and more to pets and people in need. Big Sky distributes donated supplies to pre-approved organizations across Louisiana.
• Lemon Tree Recycling ServicesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Lemon Tree Recycling Service of Covington to bring drop-off recycling services to Folsom. Big Sky's location on a major highway enables convenient recycling drop-off for families in Folsom and surrounding areas.
• Multi-State Rescue PartnersmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBig Sky CARES transports fully vetted animals to trusted rescue partners in Colorado (4), Maine (3), Massachusetts (2), Connecticut, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, New Hampshire, New York, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. Pre-approved adopters are lined up at receiving facilities. Each transport moves 15-40+ animals.
• Alley Cat AlliesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlley Cat Allies is a national organization dedicated to cat welfare. Big Sky CARES features Alley Cat Allies logo on their website. The Becky Robinson Alley Cat Allies Hospital is named after Alley Cat Allies' founder.
• Shelter Animals CountsupportingOthersShelter Animals Count is a national database for shelter animal statistics. Big Sky CARES participates in data collection and publication sponsored by Maddies Fund. Logo displayed on website.
• PetfindersupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerBig Sky CARES adoptable pets are listed on Petfinder, expanding visibility to potential adopters nationwide.
• Adopt-a-PetsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerBig Sky CARES is listed on Adopt-a-Pet.com for pet adoption listings.
• DonateStock.comsupportingTechnology or IntegrationBig Sky CARES partnered with DonateStock.com to enable supporters to make stock donations in 10 minutes or less through a secure portal, allowing donors to give stock directly to the organization's brokerage account.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Greater Good Charities: National nonprofit that operates the GOODS supply-distribution program of which Big Sky is the Louisiana affiliate. Comparable as a strategic ecosystem partner enabling Big Sky's distribution reach, not a direct service competitor.
• Maddie's Fund: National animal welfare funder that sponsors shelter data collection (Shelter Animals Count) and grants to no-kill shelters. Comparable as a peer funder/ecosystem enabler in the same no-kill shelter community.

Direct peers

• Coastal Cat Rescue: Cat-focused rescue and adoption organization in the Gulf Coast region. Comparable as a cat-specialist rescue operating similar TNR, adoption, and foster programs in the same southern U.S. geography.
• Spay Neuter Network: Louisiana-based low-cost spay/neuter and basic veterinary care provider. Closely comparable on the clinic service line, TNR programs, and mission to reduce animal overpopulation through subsidized veterinary services.
• Animal Rescue New Orleans: Louisiana-focused animal rescue operating shelter, foster, and adoption programs. Comparable on the rescue/adoption service line and regional community-engagement model, though without the in-house clinic component.
• Louisiana SPCA: Regional animal welfare organization operating shelter, adoption, and low-cost veterinary services in the same Louisiana market. Most directly comparable peer given overlapping geography, service mix (shelter + clinic), and target demographics.

Regional players

• Humane Society of Louisiana: Statewide Louisiana animal welfare nonprofit with rescue, advocacy, and shelter support programs. Comparable as a regional peer in the same state mission space, though focused more on advocacy and grant distribution than direct shelter operations.

Broad incumbents

• ASPCA: One of the largest U.S. animal welfare organizations providing shelter, veterinary, and advocacy services. Comparable as a broad incumbent in animal welfare but operates nationwide with significantly larger resources and scope.
• Humane Society of the United States (HSUS): National animal welfare advocacy and direct-service organization. Comparable on the nonprofit advocacy, shelter reform, and rescue support missions but at a vastly larger scale with policy and legislative focus Big Sky does not pursue.
• Best Friends Animal Society: National no-kill animal welfare leader with a network of sanctuary and partner shelters. Comparable on the no-kill mission, lifesaving metrics, and transport/partnership philosophy, but operates at a much larger national scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCGpZ_2dVpkdNsSNsPOP1kxg
• Facebookfacebook.com/BigSkyRanch
• Instagraminstagram.com/catnipbsr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/big-sky-cares

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Big Sky CARES (CATNIP Foundation/ Big Sky Ranch)