Cat Care Society

What Cat Care Society does

Cat Care Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit cat shelter founded in 1981 by Linda East, DVM and Lynn Rowe, operating from a single facility at 5787 W 6th Avenue in Lakewood, Colorado. The organization runs a free-roaming, cage-free shelter model (with cages used only when medically necessary) organized into colony rooms sorted by nutritional needs, medical condition, and personality, plus outdoor catios when weather permits. It is a limited-admission shelter that intentionally accepts cats with chronic conditions such as FIV, FeLV, diabetes, and kidney disease that many open-intake shelters decline, and it operates an in-house veterinary team led by Dr. Cecily Palamara.

The business is funded entirely by donations (it explicitly receives no government funding), with a diversified revenue mix spanning individual donations, the Cat-alyst Club monthly giving program, the Nine Lives Legacy Society planned-giving program, corporate sponsorships, adoption fees ranging from $50 to $200 with waivers for seniors and military, on-site and online retail (Meow Mart, Bonfire store, Chewy/Amazon wishlists), and a calendar of signature fundraising events including Paws on the Green, Tails of the Painted Cats, Fore the Felines at TopGolf, Art from the Heart, and Santa Paws. Adoption fees, surrender requests ($40 suggested), and program services are kept low to maximize accessibility. The organization also runs a foster program (86 active homes supporting 323 cats), a volunteer program (100+ volunteers contributing 2,000+ hours), the Nibbles & Kibbles emergency food bank, a Temporary Care Program for owners in crisis, and free monthly educational seminars in partnership with Good Kitty Behavior Consulting.

In fiscal year 2024-2025, the organization took in 1,280 cats and kittens, placed 1,105 into adoptive homes (a record), and achieved a 95% live release rate against a national average of 91%, with a 32-day average length of stay. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors, led by Executive Director EC Michaels, and holds Charity Navigator four-star and Candid Platinum Transparency certifications. Its 40+ year operational history, KONG-sponsored Behavior & Enrichment Program, and dense regional partnership network (Bissell Pet Foundation, Colorado Gives, Hills Pet Nutrition, Chewy, Catio Spaces, and area rescue partners) constitute the primary operational moats. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; financial documents (2024 Form 990 and 2025 audited financials) are available on its website.

Name

Cat Care Society

Legal name

Cat Care Society

Website

https://catcaresociety.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cat Care Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit cat shelter in Lakewood, Colorado, founded in 1981, operating a free-roaming, limited-admission shelter model serving the Denver metro area through adoption services, foster and volunteer programs, community education, and donor-funded operations with no government funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-profit Animal Welfare Services

NAICS

Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (812910)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Animal Shelters & Rescue Operations (AFAEALAB)

Keywords

• Cat shelter services
• Animal welfare
• Cat adoption
• Pet foster care
• Nonprofit fundraising

Headquarters

HQ city

Lakewood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Cat Care Society receives no government funding and relies entirely on donations from individuals, grants, and community support
2. Adoption fees: One-time adoption fees ranging from $50-$200 depending on cat age and health status; fee waivers available for seniors and military
3. Merchandise and supply sales: Meow Mart on-site store sells cat supplies; Bonfire online store for branded merchandise; Amazon and Chewy wishlist donations
4. Events and fundraisers: Annual events including golf tournaments, art auctions, TopGolf events, and seminars generate fundraising revenue
5. Cat sponsorship: Donors can sponsor adoption fees for senior, adult, or special needs cats

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Cat Care Society runs a limited-admission, free-roaming cat shelter in Lakewood, Colorado, taking in surrendered, abandoned, and at-risk cats, providing them with in-house veterinary care, behavioral enrichment, and foster placement, then matching them with adopters through fee-based adoption services ($50-$200). The shelter also supports the community through a Nibbles & Kibbles emergency food bank, temporary boarding for owners in crisis, and free educational seminars on cat behavior.

Product overview

Cat Care Society operates as a single-location non-profit cat shelter offering a unified set of animal welfare services rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The organization provides adoption services for cats and kittens, volunteer and foster care programs, and a Temporary Care Program for community members in crisis. Community support programs include the Nibbles & Kibbles food bank, educational seminars, and the Cat-alyst Club monthly giving program. The organization also runs numerous annual fundraising events including golf tournaments, art auctions, yoga sessions, and holiday markets. A signature Cat Enrichment Program provides daily activities for shelter cats in partnership with KONG. Legacy giving is facilitated through the Nine Lives Legacy Society with an optional Guardianship Program for donors' pets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cat Adoption Services
• Foster Care Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,105 cats adopted in 2024-2025 (highest number to date)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KONGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKONG sponsors Cat Care Society's Behavior & Enrichment Program, providing mental stimulation, exercise and socialization resources for shelter cats. The partnership has enabled a more comprehensive enrichment program and joint educational content including webinars.
• Hills Pet NutritioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHills provides premium cat food for shelter cats, supporting the nutritional needs of cats in care.
• 24PetwatchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPet safety and microchip services partner supporting adoption packages.
• Bissell Pet FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNon-profit partner supporting adoption events and reduced-fee adoptions including Clear the Shelters initiative.
• Colorado Gives FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHosts annual Colorado Gives Day providing matching donations and platform for online giving; first-month Cat-alyst Club donations matched.
• Community Shares of ColoradominorGTM or Marketing PartnerWorkplace giving program partner supporting employee donation campaigns.
• Vehicles for CharityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVehicle donation partner enabling donors to contribute cars, boats, and RVs with free towing.
• Colorado Pet Overpopulation FundminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGrant funding support for spay/neuter services and cat welfare programs.
• Colorado Pet PantryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPet food bank partner supporting community cat food assistance programs.
• Diabetic Cats in Need (DCIN)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerResource partner for diabetic cat owners providing insulin and testing supplies assistance.
• Good Kitty Behavior ConsultingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBillie Reynolds of Good Kitty Behavior provides free monthly educational seminars at the shelter on cat behavior and care topics.
• Chuck & Don'sminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal pet supply retailer partner for donations and community support.
• King SoopersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Giving Program partner enabling shoppers to link their loyalty cards to support CCS through purchases.
• Pet Supplies PlusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPet supply retailer partner for donations and community support.
• Spay TodayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLow-cost spay/neuter and vaccination clinic partner in Lakewood.
• Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG)minorOthersEmergency veterinary care partner for after-hours and weekend emergency services.
• Catio SpacesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCatios and cat furniture partner supporting shelter cat comfort.
• Teddy Cat CafeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal cat cafe partner for community engagement.
• Crimson Cat StudiosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhotography partner providing professional cat photography for adoption profiles and events.
• Purfect Pose Pet PhotographyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPet photography partner supporting adoption photography.
• ChewycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOnline pet supply retailer with wishlist registry for shelter supply donations.
• World's Best Cat LitterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCat litter supplier partner supporting shelter operations.
• Comfort for CrittersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPet comfort items partner supporting shelter cat care.
• Animal Welfare Association of Colorado (AWAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide animal welfare association member providing networking and best practices sharing.
• Association of Animal Welfare AdvancementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational professional association for animal welfare organizations providing resources and training.
• Metro Denver Animal Welfare Alliance (MDAWA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional animal welfare coalition coordinating shelter partnerships and transfers in the Denver metro area.
• Black Ops RescueminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorArea rescue partner for animal transfers and collaborations.
• Cooper's Companions Animal RescueminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorArea rescue partner for animal transfers and collaborations.
• Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region (HSPPR)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional shelter partner for animal welfare collaboration.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Best Friends Animal Society: National no-kill animal welfare organization operating the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah and coordinating regional adoption efforts across the U.S. Including Colorado-focused programming, it competes for national donors and runs fundraising campaigns in the same region as CCS.

Direct peers

• Adams County Animal Shelter/Adoption Center: Government-affiliated shelter serving Adams County, CO. Comparable adoption and animal welfare model though publicly funded; competes for the same regional adopter base in the Denver metro.
• Denver Dumb Friends League: Largest animal shelter in the Denver metro, serving dogs and cats. Directly comparable as a community animal welfare organization competing for the same regional donors, volunteers, and adopters, though operating at significantly larger scale.
• Cat Adoption Team (CAT): One of the largest cat-only shelters in the United States, based in Sherwood, Oregon. Directly comparable cat-only mission and free-roaming shelter model with similar adoption, foster, and behavior programs.
• Tree House Humane Society: Chicago-based cat-only shelter and adoption organization. Directly comparable cat-focused mission, adoption-centered operating model, and similar special-needs/adult-cat adoption focus.
• MaxFund (MaxFund Animal Adoption Center): Denver-based no-kill animal shelter and adoption center for dogs and cats. Directly comparable as a regional animal welfare nonprofit competing for the same donor pool and operating similar adoption, foster, and community programs.
• Larimer Humane Society: Animal welfare organization serving Larimer County, Colorado with adoption, animal control, and community programs. Comparable operating model and regional footprint, providing direct competitive overlap for Colorado-based donors.
• Foothills Animal Shelter: Open-admission animal shelter in Golden, CO serving the western Denver metro. Closest geographic peer to Cat Care Society and a direct competitor for cat and small-animal adoptions in the same service area.
• Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region: Regional animal welfare organization in Colorado Springs serving dogs, cats, and small animals. Existing transfer partner of CCS; comparable business model (adoptions, foster, veterinary, community programs) at a larger regional scale.

Others

• Alley Cat Allies: National advocacy organization focused on the protection and humane management of feral and stray cats. Adjacent to CCS's mission through shared cat-welfare focus, though its advocacy/education model differs from CCS's direct shelter operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/catcaresociety
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCIOsNdRlWrZuan1L-6zyxIg
• Facebookfacebook.com/CatCareSociety
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cat-care-society
• Instagraminstagram.com/catcaresociety
• TikToktiktok.com/@catcaresociety

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 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 Cat Care Society