The Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary Inc

What The Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary Inc does

Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary Inc is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit wildlife sanctuary located at 1860 Starratt Road in Jacksonville, Florida, operating since founder Curt LoGiudice began working with exotic animals in 1982. The organization was granted federal 501(c)(3) status in 2000 (IRS Federal ID#59-3698971) and operates under USDA federal and state licenses for handling exotic animals, with Florida charity registration CH-14355. Its mission is to rescue exotic animals from serious situations and provide them with permanent forever homes, while educating the public about the plight of endangered big cats in the wild and in captivity.

The sanctuary's core offerings center on direct-to-consumer visitor experiences: Day Tours ($18 adults), Night Feedings ($30-$45, Wednesday/Friday/Saturday), Enrichment Tours, and year-round School Tours. Supporting it is an on-site medical facility equipped with digital x-ray and ultrasound machines that enable faster diagnosis with less sedation. The organization also operates a tiered Animal Adoption Program (Bronze $50 to Platinum $500 annually), a Partners for Paws Corporate Sponsorship program with four tiers from Patron ($500/year) to Corporate ($5,000/year), an annual Haunted Forest event, on-site gift shop and concession stand, and a structured volunteer program (minimum 8 hours/month).

Catty Shack Ranch receives no federal, state, or city funding and is sustained entirely by admission fees, donations, sponsorship, and on-site retail. It is largely volunteer-driven, having hired its first paid employees only in 2014, with total headcount of 11-50. Its customer base spans individual/family visitors, K-12 schools (public, private, homeschool, special needs), individual adopters, and corporate partners, with a Board of Directors and Executive Director Curt LoGiudice providing governance. Trip Advisor has ranked it the #1 attraction in Jacksonville, and a network of corporate sponsors and board-certified veterinary specialists (oncology, neurology, ophthalmology, zoological medicine) supports ongoing operations.

Name

The Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary Inc

Legal name

Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary Inc

Website

https://cattyshack.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary Inc is a Jacksonville, Florida-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that rescues endangered big cats and exotic animals, provides them permanent sanctuary, and educates the public through day tours, night feedings, enrichment tours, school programs, and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Sanctuary Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Sanctuaries & Long-Term Care (Farm, Equine, Exotic) (BPAGAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release (BPAGAIAC), Veterinary Charity Clinics & Medical Aid (BPAGAIAD), Foster & Volunteer Network Programs (BPAGAIAF)

Keywords

• Wildlife sanctuary services
• Exotic animal rescue
• Endangered big cat conservation
• Wildlife educational tours
• Animal adoption programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Jacksonville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Admission Fees: Revenue from day tours ($18 adults), night feedings ($30-35 adults Wednesday/Friday-Saturday), and enrichment tours. Children priced at $20 for night feedings, free for ages 2 and under for day tours.
2. Animal Adoption Program: Personal sponsorship program with four tiers: Bronze ($50), Silver ($100), Gold ($250), Platinum ($500). Funds go to general fund for food, vitamins, veterinary care, and housing. Includes quarterly email updates and recognition plaques.
3. Partners For Paws Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate sponsorship program with four levels: Patron ($500/year), Caregiver ($1,000/year), Ranger ($2,500/year), Corporate ($5,000/year). Includes admission tickets, recognition, merchandise, and private tours.
4. Donations: One-time and recurring monthly donations (options from $10-$100/month for 12 months). Tax-deductible contributions. No federal, state, or city funding received.
5. Gift Shop Proceeds: On-site gift shop selling merchandise with proceeds supporting animal care
6. Concession Stand: On-site food and beverage sales during visits including drinks, snacks, nachos, corn dogs, hot dogs

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary rescues exotic animals from serious situations and provides them with safe, loving forever homes, primarily focused on endangered big cats (tigers, lions, cougars, leopards) and other exotic species (bears, coatimundis, foxes). The sanctuary funds operations through public visitor experiences including day tours, night feedings, and enrichment tours; school and corporate educational programs; tiered animal adoption and corporate sponsorship programs; and tax-deductible donations.

Product overview

The Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary operates as a unified visitor experience centered around its wildlife sanctuary for endangered big cats and exotic animals. The core offerings include Day Tours, Night Feedings, and Enrichment Tours, each providing different ways to experience the sanctuary and learn about wildlife conservation. Supporting programs include an Animal Adoption Program with tiered sponsorship levels, a Partners for Paws corporate sponsorship program, a Volunteer Program with orientation and ongoing opportunities, and Corporate Volunteer Events for team building. The sanctuary also hosts seasonal events like the Haunted Forest and accepts general donations. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit relying solely on admission fees, donations, and sponsorships rather than government funding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Day Tours Afternoon guided and self-guided walking tours of the sanctuary featuring tigers, lions, cougars, leopards, bobcats, servals, caracals, bears, coatimundis, and foxes. Includes introductory video and opportunity to view all animal habitats. Priced at $18 per adult; children 2 and under free.
• Night Feedings Evening events held Wednesday ($30 adults), Friday, and Saturday ($35 adults general admission, $45 package deal) where visitors watch the Executive Director distribute up to 600 pounds of meat to the big cats while providing educational commentary about each species.
• Enrichment Tours Sunday tours featuring educational enrichment activities demonstrating how keepers provide mental stimulation and physical exercise opportunities for the animals.
• School Tours Educational tours for school groups, homeschool organizations, and special needs groups providing in-depth guided experiences about endangered big cats and conservation, with curriculum-aligned content for various age levels.
• Animal Adoption Program Personal sponsorship program allowing donors to support specific resident animals. Four tiers: Bronze ($50/year), Silver ($100/year), Gold ($250/year), Platinum ($500/year). Benefits include photos, quarterly updates, recognition plaques, and guest passes depending on level.
• Partners for Paws Corporate Sponsorship Corporate sponsorship program with four tiers: Patron ($500/year), Caregiver ($1,000/year), Ranger ($2,500/year), Corporate ($5,000/year). Includes admission tickets, recognition at main gate, logo placement, private tours, and newsletter recognition.
• Donations Tax-deductible monetary contributions supporting animal care including food, vitamins, veterinary care, and housing. Offers one-time and recurring monthly donation options from $10-$100/month for 12 months. 100% of donations go to program services for the animals.
• Haunted Forest Annual Halloween event featuring spooky trails through the sanctuary, costumed visitors, corn maze, Touch Lab with animal-themed sensory experiences, costume contests, and special guest appearances. Priced at $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 3-11.
• Volunteer Program Volunteer opportunities including enclosure maintenance, landscaping, food preparation, tour guiding, and thrift store operations. Requires orientation attendance ($20 for volunteer shirt and badge) and minimum 8 hours/month commitment.
• Corporate Volunteer Events Team-building corporate events featuring beautification projects including painting enclosures, landscaping, and light construction. Limited to 15 volunteers per event, minimum age 18.

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered event partner, medical volunteer, rescue partner and operational partner.

• The 501st Legionevent partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCostumed character group featured at Haunted Forest events. Special appearances at annual haunted event.
• Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimpevent partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal minor league baseball team. Mascot Scampi makes special appearances at events including Haunted Forest.
• Dr. Ashley Higgs DVMmedical volunteerOthersVolunteer veterinarian providing medical care to resident animals.
• Dr. Heather Avery DVM - Coastal Veterinary Hospitalmedical volunteerOthersHead veterinarian on board of directors. Provides volunteer veterinary services including routine check-ups for new arrivals like Squeakers and Mischief.
• Dr. Anita Mayoral DVMmedical volunteerOthersVolunteer veterinarian providing medical care to resident animals.
• Dr. Tom Fredenhagen DVM - Kingsley Animal Hospitalmedical volunteerOthersVolunteer veterinarian providing animal care services.
• Karen Fredenhagen - Kingsley Animal Hospitalmedical volunteerOthersVeterinary technician specializing in laser therapy. Volunteer services at Kingsley Animal Hospital.
• Dr. Robert Brown DVM - Animal Eye Clinicmedical volunteerOthersSpecializing in animal ophthalmology. Provides volunteer eye care services to resident animals.
• Dr. Anthony Hopkins BVSc MVM ACVIM ECVN - North Florida Neurologymedical volunteerOthersSpecializing in neurology. Board certified in ACVIM and ECVN. Corporate sponsor as North Florida Neurology.
• Dr. Scott Amsel DVMmedical volunteerOthersSpecializing in zoological medicine. Provides volunteer veterinary services to exotic animal residents.
• Wildlife Rescue Coalition of Northeast Floridarescue partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerWildlife rescue organization that brought Chula the fox to Catty Shack Ranch after she was surrendered by a private owner.
• Jacksonville Wildlife Coalitionrescue partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerHelped bring Callie the coatimundi to Catty Shack Ranch after being asked to identify a found animal species.
• Volgisticsoperational partnerTechnology or IntegrationVolunteer management software used for volunteer scheduling system. Orientation sessions introduce volunteers to the Volgistics system.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• The Wildcat Sanctuary: The Wildcat Sanctuary in Sandstone, Minnesota rescues big cats and exotic animals, operates as a nonprofit with public tours and educational programming, and follows a no-breeding, no-selling policy. Directly comparable in mission, funding model, and visitor experience.
• Big Cat Rescue: Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, FL operates a similar nonprofit big cat sanctuary model with public tours, animal adoption sponsorships, volunteer-driven operations, and a no-breeding policy. Directly comparable in mission, programming, and regional Florida geography.
• Carolina Tiger Rescue: Carolina Tiger Rescue in Pittsboro, North Carolina is a nonprofit wildlife sanctuary for big cats and other carnivores offering guided public tours and educational programs. Operates with a similar nonprofit, tour-based revenue model and no-breeding philosophy.
• Lions Tigers & Bears: Lions Tigers & Bears in Alpine, California is a nonprofit big cat and exotic animal sanctuary providing rescue, lifelong care, public tours, and education. Closely mirrors Catty Shack's operating model and visitor-facing programming.
• Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge: Turpentine Creek in Eureka Springs, Arkansas is a 501(c)(3) big cat and exotic animal sanctuary offering public tours, overnight lodging, and educational programming. Closely matches Catty Shack's forever-home, no-breeding sanctuary model with visitor revenue.
• Black Pine Animal Sanctuary: Black Pine Animal Sanctuary in Albion, Indiana rescues big cats, bears, and other exotic animals as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with public tours and education programs. Comparable in scale, mission, and visitor-driven revenue structure.

Broad incumbents

• Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens: Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is the major zoological park in the same metro market, with overlapping visitor demographics interested in wildlife experiences. As an AZA-accredited zoo, it competes for family tourist dollars and educational tour bookings but is much larger and more diversified.
• St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park: St. Augustine Alligator Farm is a long-established zoological park within a short drive of Jacksonville offering exotic animal exhibits and educational programming. Competes for Northeast Florida family tourism and school field trips, but with a broader species focus and longer operating history.

Regional players

• Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation: Carson Springs in Gainesville, FL operates as a nonprofit exotic animal sanctuary with public tours and educational programs in the same state as Catty Shack. Regional peer with similar offerings and Southeast US visitor base.

Others

• Big Cat Sanctuary (Kentucky): Big Cat Sanctuary in Kentucky is a nonprofit big cat facility with conservation, education, and limited tour programming. Comparable mission and species focus but operates a more conservation-program-heavy model with less public-facing tour emphasis than Catty Shack.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-catty-shack-ranch-wildlife-sanctuary

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary Inc