if you’re interested in donating to or volunteering for a cat charity or you’re considering gifting a cat-loving friend or family member a donation in their name, you need to start by identifying the right cause. after all, there are many ways that you can make a difference in the lives of local cats or ones nationwide or even worldwide.
we identified various charities that should all fit the bill if you’re interested in helping domestic cats.
what is a cat charity?
a cat charity advocates for the well-being of domestic felines. this could mean rescuing lost cats, rehabilitating feral kittens, finding new homes for homeless cats, or offering health services to cats in any type of living situation. there are also research organizations that study feline health. many provide educational resources so owners and other cat lovers can learn more about feline welfare in general and share this information with others.
the 13 best cat charities and good causes
1. alley cat allies
| rating: | four-star charity (96%) |
| founded: | 1990 |
| targets: | protects and improves the lives of cats |
alley cat allies advocates for all cats but homeless cats in particular. it uses educational programs, most notably trap-neuter-return (tnr) ones. the aim is to educate the public on cats through campaigns to stop animal cruelty. this charity also fought for change through legislation and was instrumental in the advent of the tnr program.
it has helped save millions of stray and feral cats across the u.s. it’s supported by veterinarians and animal shelters. it was even successful in leading the ban on declawing in new york in 2020.
2. alley cat rescue
| rating: | four-star charity (95%) |
| founded: | 1997 |
| targets: | helps stray and outdoor cats |
alley cat rescue focuses on community cats, which are stray and feral cats. it uses the tnr program and finds homes for the cats. while its focus is on homeless cats, its values are based on the idea that all cats deserve to be treated humanely.
it works with veterinarians across the u.s., and free or low-cost spaying and neutering are offered every may.
3. american society for the prevention of cruelty to animals (aspca)
| rating: | four-star charity (99%) |
| founded: | 1866 |
| targets: | the prevention of cruelty to animals |
if you’re at all familiar with pets, you likely have heard of the aspca. it’s the oldest charity that helps animals, so it doesn’t just focus on cats, but rather on the ethical treatment of all animals.
an spca can be found in most major cities across north america and the u.k. you can also donate to the spca international.
4. best friends animal society
| rating: | four-star charity (99%) |
| founded: | 1984 |
| targets: | the end of killing in animal shelters in the u.s. |
the best friends animal society is one of the most prominent no-kill organizations for domestic pets. it runs spay-and-neuter clinics, has educational programs, and provides adoption opportunities.
through education, best friends sends a powerful message for the no-kill movement that still occurs in many animal shelters.
5. blind cat rescue and sanctuary
| rating: | four-stars charity (91%) |
| founded: | 2005 |
| targets: | caring for blind cats |
the blind cat rescue and sanctuary is a specialized charity group that targets blind cats and any cats diagnosed with feline immunodeficiency or feline leukemia.
it’s common for animal shelters to euthanize cats if they suffer from any of these afflictions. blind cat rescue provides lifetime care for these felines.
6. everycat health foundation
| rating: | four-star charity (91%) |
| founded: | 1968 |
| targets: | research on feline health |
the everycat health foundation focuses on researching domestic cats’ health. it only uses humane research methods and awards grants for research in feline medicine. it was instrumental in discovering that taurine is a significant cause of dilated cardiomyopathy, just to name one major impact.
7. the humane society of the united states
| rating: | four-star charity (97%) |
| founded: | 1954 |
| targets: | the prevention of abuse for all animals |
the humane society is a well-known organization that works to protect all animals from cruelty. its work spans everything from rescuing animals from natural disasters to ending animal fighting and banning trophy hunting.
the most recent success story occurred in early 2024, when the humane society international korea successfully campaigned for a ban on dog meat consumption, which was passed by the south korean national assembly.
you can find local humane society locations in many major cities across north america.
8. international cat care
| rating: | n/a |
| founded: | 1958 |
| targets: | provides information about cat health and welfare |
international cat care (icc) aims to improve the health and welfare of cats worldwide. it works at the international level in research to improve the overall well-being of felines. icc was the driving force behind the cat friendly clinic program, which is designed to make visiting the vet as low-stress as possible for cats.
9. morris animal foundation
| rating: | four-star charity (98%) |
| founded: | 1926 |
| targets: | uses science and resources for the health of animals |
the morris animal foundation focuses on the health of all animals, including cats. the concentration is on scientific research designed to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and management of illnesses and diseases that affect cats and other animals.
it has invested $19 million in over 450 feline health studies, which included the first vaccine for feline leukemia.
10. north shore animal league america
| rating: | four-star charity (100%) |
| founded: | 1944 |
| targets: | no-kill rescue and adoption |
the north shore animal league america is the largest global no-kill animal rescue and adoption group. as of early 2024, north shore has saved over 1.1 million animals. in 2022, it found homes for over 56,000 pets. it’s also proactive in educating students.
11. petsmart charities
| rating: | n/a |
| founded: | 1994 |
| targets: | funds animal welfare and facilitates adoptions |
petsmart charities runs out of the petsmart stores found across north america. it has been responsible for the adoption of 10 million pets and has provided $500 million in grant money to non-profit organizations and municipalities.
natural disasters, access to veterinary care, veterinary student scholarships, and the preparation and transport for pet adoptions are all grants to which petsmart charities contributes.
12. senior cat action network
| rating: | n/a |
| founded: | 2020 |
| targets: | rescuing senior cats and finding homes for them |
senior cat action network helps senior cats aged 15 years and older by assisting rescues with the medical costs of these older kitties. it also cares directly for senior cats through fostering. the entire charity is volunteer run, to help these cats live better lives in their twilight years.
13. stray cat alliance
| rating: | four-star charity (95%) |
| founded: | 1997 |
| targets: | no-kill nation and that every cat should have value |
stray cat alliance helps save the lives of kittens and cats through the tnr program, wellness care, medical care, adoptions, and animal shelter support.
while the emphasis is on homeless cats, the stray cat alliance is focused on helping all cats so they can remain safe, healthy, and valued.
your local shelter
check your local rescue organization or animal shelter. there is always a need for donations or volunteers, which will directly help the cats in your community.
just doing a quick online search for cat charities in your area should yield results.
what are the different ways to help support a charity?
depending on the charity, you might have several different options in how you can support its work.
- donation: you can donate money, which can be a one-time donation or an ongoing monthly gift. most charities will allow payment through credit/debit cards, paypal, and even snail mail.
- legacy:you can also consider being a legacy, which means leaving a portion of your money to a charity in your will.
- wish list: some charities have wish lists for items that they need from online stores like amazon. you can purchase something that they need, and it will be shipped directly to the charity (for example, blankets for cats).
- merchandise: many charities have merchandise like t-shirts, hats, water bottles, calendars, etc. purchasing these items supports the charity.
- volunteer: you don’t always need to live in the same city as a charity to volunteer. many tasks can be done remotely.
- fundraising: try fundraising drives within your community and online.
- spreading the word: use social media to spread the word of the charity of your choice. talk to people at work or anyone in your social circle who will listen.
conclusion
supporting a cat charity is a highly worthy cause! take the time to read through the charity’s website to help you determine if it’s the best fit for you.
all these charities have a relatively wide range in their focus, so if you’re more interested in supporting ethical research for the benefit of all felines or something more tangible, such as a charity that takes care of special needs cats, you have plenty to think about.
whichever charity you choose, the staff will be quite grateful for your support!
featured image credit: jw design, shutterstock
what is a cat charity?
