The Catcade's New Building

The Catcade bought a building...and now we need your help!

Our current space has been a wonderful temporary sanctuary for these rescued cats and kittens on their journey to their forever homes. While we are thankful for the opportunities the space has provided, there is only so much we can do with the small space we have and we have determined it has served its purpose. So we bought a new building. 

Lauren's Campaign

Ok so I started fostering kittens in June 2020. I fostered 5 kittens with another organization in Chicago, who did a fine job (and is where Brak was adopted from!), but in 2021 started fostering through the Catcade. Since then, we've fostered 25 kittens with the Catcade!!! The Catcade cares so much about the cats in their program.  They rescue medical needs cats (like Uncle Billy) and the current batch of FIV+ kittens that are unlikely to be rescued by other organizations due stigma, unknown issues, and unknown expenses - cats and kittens, that frankly,  would be euthanized if not rescued by the Catcade. Once a Catcade cat, always a Catcade cat - this organization makes sure the cats that go through their program are cared for for the life of the cat. And now the Catcade owns a building!  This building will expand the number of cats and kittens the Catcade can rescue - a surgical suite, isolation rooms, and an substantial increase in intake kennels will give them more flexibility to rescue cats that literally can't or won't be taken in by other rescues. I've had the opportunity to walk through the new space and it is STRIKING how much more space the organization will have. SO MANY MORE CATS to rescue and more kittens for me to foster ;) 

Join our Mission

Our mission is to provide a second chance to the abandoned and neglected cats and kittens from county intake shelters. You may have looked through our windows and saw a cat missing a leg or an eye and yeah, so what. We take the wonky ones because they are more likely to get overlooked. We’ve dreamed of a larger facility where we can provide even more care and support and give them the opportunity for a future. These are the children the great American poet, Whitney, sang about in 1986. We teach them well so they can lead the way. Actually, don’t follow them. They eat food off the floor and don’t even know their multiplication tables. But with this new building, our dream is becoming a reality. And if you have ever wondered how you could help make a difference for the abandoned cats and kittens of the world, well this is your opportunity to put some good karma back into the world.

The Need

Our current facility has caused us to say no when we want to say yes to a cat in need. We’ve reached a point where our space no longer allows us to grow so we absolutely need to expand if we want to make a larger impact and keep up with the increasing need of rescuing broken cats and kittens. I mean, in the wintertime, our staff has to shove all of our coats in a single cubby in order to make more room for cats and kitty litter. True story. So more room means more cats. That is just basic third grade math. But you’re smart. You know this. Help us with our maths.

The Next Phase

We have been and planning and saving for the down payment needed to purchase this new building the last couple years. Now that we have closed on the property, 624 W Belmont Ave in Chicago, and secured a loan we are moving into the build out phase. We need to raise funds for the construction of our new building. The $300,000 goal we have set will cover the initial build out expenses. Listen, we know that is a lot of money but it is the bare minimum we need in order to complete this project. The building is set to have an adoption lounge that is 50% larger than our current space. It will also have something that our current space doesn't have - an entire backside with a treatment room. This treatment room will allow for a more streamlined intake process and eventually we will perform spay and neuter surgeries onsite. Well, not us but a licensed veterinarian. Clearly. Also, our new building will have a separate isolation area with six private rooms for sick cats. More space plus more cats plus immediate medical care equals more lives saved. Look how good we are getting with our maths! 

Every square inch of the new building has been thought out and planned not just by us but by actual human professionals and the more we can put into this, the more cats we can save from fading away in a shelter cage. The entire build-out will be constructed with the sole purpose of doubling our current rescue efforts. Only with your help can we create an environment that truly enhances their chances of finding loving homes. 

We have a pretty sizable mortgage for the property so anything raised beyond our initial goal will help pay down this loan so we can put more of our funding towards saving cats. See, it’s always about the cats, man. 

The Impact of Your Donation

Not to humble brag here but, how insane is it that over 2,500 cats and kittens are alive because of The Catcade. Sure, it was our idea but it only survives because of your support and generosity. All of the contributions towards The Catcade’s Capital Campaign will enable us to achieve this monumental goal and your donation will directly impact the lives of countless cats and contribute to reducing the number of preventable euthanasia in shelters across the country. That sounds wildly corporate-y, but it is true nonetheless. This community has already done so much for our rescue, and this is the opportunity to help us do even more. Our success is directly proportionate to the amount of support we have from you. 

Thousands of kittens will be abandoned this year. Help us help them. 

And maybe with our math. 

Chris and Shelly and The Catcade team

Sponsorship and Dedications Available:

Check out the available sponsorship and dedications here (or it'll show up in the donate widget options). As little as $150 will get your name on the Space Invaders wall in the lounge!