“The Cat Posse’s mission is to rescue and rehabilitate unwanted and abused cats in Southern California and to educate communities about the importance of spaying and neutering their cats. We believe that all animals deserve dignity and kindness, and we work toward the day when all public shelters will have a “no kill” policy.”
— Sharon Clark – Founder/Director of The Cat Posse
The Cat Posse
Because every cat deserves a loving, *forever* home...
The Cat Posse
GET INVOLVED!
The Cat Posse is entirely operated and driven by a group of dedicated volunteers who rescue, rehabilitate, foster and adopt out cats. We are currently caring for 200 cats, and 110 of these cats are up for adoption. Approximately 50% of the cats in our care are ten years or older, and many have special needs. We have cats with thyroid, dental, eye and intestinal diseases; cats who need fluids on a regular basis, cats who have respiratory problems, cancer, and cats who periodically need surgeries for a variety of reasons.
Although we take in many young, healthy rescues that are ideal candidates for adoption, our experience has shown that many of our cats, due to age, special needs, or temperament, will most likely not be adopted. These cats will remain with us, receiving loving care, for the rest of their lives. The Cat Posse does not have a shelter per se; rather, we maintain numerous volunteer foster homes in Southern California, primarily in Pasadena, Altadena, Tujunga and the San Fernando Valley. The cats we take in are strays, owner surrenders or selected from the local Humane Societies. We are fully committed to the cats in our care and it is a privilege to serve them.
The Cat Posse
It all started when...
Founding board member and animal lover Sharon Clark originally began volunteering with a friend at the monthly Best Friends Catnipper Clinics (spay/neuter clinics for feral cats). Her involvement there led to her trapping feral cats to bring to the clinics, and eventually she and two friends started their own rescue group, The Pawd Squad.
The Pawd Squad rescued both cats (focusing on seniors) and dogs and was in operation from 2001 to 2008. In July 2007, a local horse racing track decided to evict all cats that were living on the premises. Although these cats had been spayed, neutered and were being fed by a few kind people over the years, the cats were being eliminated. When the Pawd Squad learned about the imminent demise of these felines, they rescued 17 cats, many of them seniors. These race track cats were the first inductees of what became The Cat Posse. The Cat Posse was established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2008.
““There are other options for younger cats but not very many choices for the oldies who come with such history, personality and goofy quirks and many times health issues to boot. ” ”
— – Robin Taylor, Volunteer
“This life is not easy and certainly isn’t for everyone. It is expensive, painful and heartbreaking. It is also the most rewarding thing we have ever done and we couldn’t imagine living any other way. As long as we have a life to offer we’ll continue to help the animals the rest of the world has forgotten. We can’t save them all but we are helping the ones we can.”
