The year is coming to a close, and it’s a good time to get in some last minute charitable donations that you can write off when you’re doing your taxes. If you’re like me, you’re always looking for a way to help cats in need. The non-profit groups on this list help cats get the care and forever homes they need. You can find easy-to-follow links to make a donation to any group you choose. Here are ten non-profit cat rescue groups that stand out and deserve your charitable donation.
1. The Cat House On The Kings
The Cat House on the Kings is the largest no-cage, no-kill sanctuary and adoption rescue center in the United States with about 500 to 800 animals in their care at any time. They have their own hospital, ICU, senior cat house, and kitten house. Over the years, they’ve rescued thousands of cats who have all of their needs taken care of and plenty of acres to roam free. The operation costs over a million dollars a year to run, and they rely on generous donors to keep it going. You can find out more about The Cat House on the Kings here and make a donation here.
2. The Humane Society Of The United States
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is the largest animal protection agency in the country. They run campaigns to fight puppy and kitten mills, respond to animals in need after natural disasters, influence laws that reduce cosmetic and ingredient animal testing, and provide training and services to local shelters and rescue groups. HSUS helps over 100,000 animals in need every year, and the care they provide goes well beyond cats and pets to wildlife and farm animals. You can find out more about HSUS here and make a donation here.
3. Lanai Cat Sanctuary
On the island of Lanai in Hawaii, there’s a cat paradise. Lanai Cat Sanctuary is home to more than 500 cats who can roam freely in the 25,000 square foot outdoor haven. The cats are adoptable, and Lanai Cat Sanctuary works to find them forever homes, but all of the cats can rest easy knowing that if they are not adopted, they will still have a forever home that provides them with all medical needs, shelter, food, and fresh water. They rely on donations from visitors and online donors to keep the operation running, and you can even sponsor a cat and get updates if you can’t make it to Hawaii to adopt. You can find out more about Lanai Cat Sanctuary here and make a donation here.
4. Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary, Inc.
Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary, Inc. built their first sanctuary to care for cats that other shelters had deemed unadoptable and were going to be euthanized just because they were blind. They are not an adoption facility, but rather a lifetime home for blind cats who have been thrown away by humans, sometimes more than once. After their first sanctuary for blind cats, they built another one for FIV+ and FeLV+ cats, as they are also often euthanized before being given a chance at a forever home. Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary, Inc. also works to educate people about the misconceptions of these kinds of cats that prevent them from being adopted. You can find out more about Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary, Inc. here and make a donation here.
5. Hearts That Purr Feline Guardians
Hearts That Purr Feline Guardians isn’t a cat shelter in the traditional sense. Their mission is to take care of cats that have had a loving forever home, but due to their owner passing away or going to hospice or a nursing home, they find themselves in need of a new place to live. They focus especially on older cats that don’t have a great chance of being adopted. By working with fosters and a private, low-density residential group, they make sure that these orphaned cats have a loving, caring place to live until they can transition to a new forever home. They even have a “Senior Citizens and Senior Kittizens” program that allows seniors who live alone to foster cats while the group pays for most of the cats’ expenses. In the case of elderly cats or cats with severe medical conditions, they provide care for the rest of the animals’ lives. You can find out more about Hearts That Purr Feline Guardians here and make a donation here.
6. Best Friends Animal Society
Best Friends Animal Society is a group dedicated to bringing an end to the killing of shelter animals. They also run the nation’s largest no-kill animal sanctuary for companion animals. Through adoption events, education campaigns, and fundraisers, they work with other rescue organizations to find forever homes for cats, dogs, and other animals in need and raise awareness. They operate Trap Neuter Release programs to help regulate feral cat populations and prevent more cats from ending up in shelters. You can find out more about Best Friends Animal Society here and make a donation here.
7. Angels Among Us
Angels Among Us is a group dedicated to rescuing as many cats and dogs from high-kill shelters as they can. This group operates 98% through a network of volunteers and fosters, and they regularly post photos and stories of animals on social media so that they can find forever homes and get out of the shelters before it’s too late. They also post success stories of pets who go to loving families. As of last year, they helped over 9,000 animals avoid euthanasia and find forever homes. You can find out more about Angels Among Us here and make a donation here.
8. Young At Heart Senior Pet Adoptions
Young At Heart Senior Pet Adoptions is a rescue group that focuses on rescuing senior cats and dogs that are often put first on the list of animals to be euthanized at shelters because of their age. They work to find forever homes and fosters and provide medical care for animals in need, as well as donating pet food to low-income food pantries. They also are well on their way to building a complete senior pet sanctuary and adoption center on eight acres of land that will help them rescue more older pets, provide care for terminally ill animals, give peace of mind to owners who are incapacitated or ready to pass away, expand their food pantry efforts, and give more opportunities for senior citizens who want to volunteer. You can find out more about Young At Heart Senior Pet Adoptions here and make a donation here.
9. Cat Ranch Rescue
Cat Ranch Rescue is a no-kill, no-cage sanctuary for unadoptable cats. Many of these cats have been abused or neglected and have medical conditions that prevent people from taking a chance on them. At the sanctuary, they have a loving forever home for life. Their building has several rooms for the cats, including rooms for FIV+ and FeLV+ cats. The rescue also participates in disaster relief and works to educate the public about CPR and proper care for animals as well as the importance of spaying and neutering. Due to a reduction in donations over the last year, they have to downsize a bit and find some forever homes for their cats. You can find out more about Cat Ranch Rescue here and make a donation here.
10. Crash’s Landing & Big Sid’s Sanctuary
Crash’s Landing is a no-kill rescue and placement center that works to put abandoned or neglected cats in forever homes. They also run a second rescue called Big Sid’s Sanctuary that focuses on taking in cats with FIV or FeLV. This sanctuary works to find forever homes for their FIV/FeLV cats, but will also be a lifelong care facility for any that do not find homes. They try to spread information that fights misconceptions about these diseases that contribute to the stigma of these cats as unadoptable. The facilities are owned and operated by a local veterinarian and staffed with volunteers who absolutely love cats. You can find out more about Crash’s Landing & Big Sid’s Sanctuary here and make a donation here.
What other rescue organizations deserve a donation this year? Let us know in the comments below!
