LaPawz was just one of the cats who got adopted this year. Photo by David Yeung.
In October 2014, Cat Town made history by opening America’s first cat cafe, right here in Oakland. We launched this adoption center with a big dream and radical vision: to help older, shy, and sick cats have their chance at adoption, and prove that cats least likely to be adopted could find a home with the right support. In our first year of operating, we saved 467 cats — more cats than in our previous three years of work combined.
As the country’s first cat cafe, we were learning as we went. Our passionate volunteers helped lead much of our work, from creating new procedures and roles to mopping the floors. Our small core staff worked tirelessly to do everything else — all so we could create a community space where cats, who had so often been invisible to the public, could stand front and center. We had a big dream, and thankfully, our vision was shared by many people like you.
A decade later, we’ve helped transform what’s possible for shelter cats in our community, rehoming high-risk cats with our cat-first facilities, rehabilitation programs, adoption services, and most importantly, with your support.
Because you supported our dream, we’ve:
Found loving homes for over 3,500 cats — many who would have been considered “unadoptable” when our work began, and continue to be at risk to this day.
Provided a cage-free environment where shy cats feel relaxed while connecting with nearly 10,000 guests and potential adopters every year, doubling the number of cats we could help in foster care alone.
Launched our Forgotten Kitten Project, making strides in socializing older kittens who missed early human contact, setting them up for happier futures.
Leveraged our low-stress environment to launch a new pilot program, Feral or Fearful, that can let us quickly identify the best path forward for cats who present mixed signals in a caged setting.
Shared the lessons we’ve learned in helping high-risk cats find homes with more than 80 apprentices from more than 30 states.
Welcomed Souvenir Coffee as our new cafe partner, celebrating their grand opening on our anniversary weekend, October 24-27th, to bring more guests and supporters into our space and mission.
Our impact is possible because of compassionate supporters like you — people believe in the spirit and worthiness of every cat. As we celebrate our 10th anniversary as America’s first cat cafe, we invite you to help us lay the foundation for another decade of helping thousands more cats find a place to call home.
You can help us celebrate this milestone, and give thousands more cats the second chance they deserve, by making a donation today!
Cat Town on our opening weekend, 10 years ago.
P.S. Right now, our adoption center is supporting cats with extreme medical needs — including Davis, Alabama, and Goose. It’s helping shy cats, like Orchid and Butterfly, find courage. It’s a place where cats like Paddington and Gentle Ben, who were so stressed they were once thought to be feral, can relax and play. Community support for the past decade has given these cats a future they can look forward to!
Goose in his favorite place: a lap. Photo by Nicole Dial.
Cover photo by David Yeung.