Our Mission & History

Overview & Mission
City Kitties is a 501(c)3 non-profit, no-kill cat rescue dedicated to saving and improving the lives of stray cats in the West Philadelphia area. City Kitties rescues strays from the streets, gives them proper veterinary care and a loving foster home, and adopts them out to happy new families. The organization is a no-kill rescue, meaning that we will never euthanize an adoptable or treatable animal. We do not euthanize animals to make space in our foster homes, and we do not euthanize animals for medical problems unless deemed humane and necessary by a veterinarian. We provide high-quality veterinary care to our foster cats and kittens and will never turn away a homeless animal due to illness or injury. We also assist with TNR (trap, neuter, return) of feral (wild) cats in the West Philadelphia area.

City Kitties is run entirely by volunteers, from our board of directors to our foster homes. We have no paid staff and rely on the generosity of our donors to continue our work.

History
City Kitties was founded in 2005 by Louisa Alexander and Lori Horwedel. Determined to be a part of the solution, Lou and Lori linked up with some amazing volunteer foster homes, found a rescue-friendly veterinarian, and with the help of volunteer attorney Lori Odessa, filed for federal 501(c)3 non-profit status in 2007. Since then, City Kitties has grown to a collective of volunteers with a common goal: prevent suffering among helpless stray cats and kittens, and find loving homes for as many as possible.

Learn more about how City Kitties works.