Our History
Casa de los Gatos was founded in 2005 by Beth Montes, a life long animal lover and feline care provider. Initially Casa de los Gatos functioned primarily as a sanctuary for special-needs cats such as Turbo Girl – pictured here who has FIV, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. The organization quickly expanded to accommodate cats of all kinds; from the tiniest of orphaned newborns to abandoned geriatric cats and even several unclaimed cats displaced during Hurricane Katrina.
In the spring of 2006 a foster program was initiated so temporary families could care for many of the cats and kittens awaiting adoption. Shortly after that, Casa de los Gatos partnered with The Helen Woodward No-Kill Animal Center in San Diego, CA which enabled us to place even more cats and kittens into good homes. Volunteers transport several litters of kittens to San Diego each month where permanent families are quickly found for them. There are far less homeless animals in that area thanks in part to a successful spay-neuter program. Almost 500 lucky cats and kittens have received a 2nd chance this way during the first two years of this program.
In the fall of 2006 Casa de los Gatos opened an adoption center in the Tucson Petco located at 22nd St. and Harrison Rd. where several of our favorite cats and kittens also reside temporarily. We also purchased and renovated a second, mostly cage free sanctuary for adoptable cats and kittens so they may have a safe and happy haven to reside until we find them permanent homes with loving Forever Families.
From the spring of 2006 to the spring of 2008, Casa de los Gatos has helped almost 2,500 felines get the nine good lives they deserve. With the help of the community, Casa de los Gatos is now the largest no-kill cat shelter in Arizona and we hope to help thousands more felines for years to come!
Your offers to volunteer, foster and donate are extremely important to us and enable us to continue this important work.