A Lifesaving Mission: How Cincinnati Animal CARE is Building a No-Kill Nation for Cats

No-Kill Nation for Cats: Learn how Cincinnati Animal CARE’s Cat Care team is breaking lifesaving records!

In 2024, Cincinnati Animal CARE (CAC) took in over 1,000 cats from local organizations and beyond, contributing to the goal set by Best Friends Animal Society of a No-Kill Nation. But you might ask: Why and how would a county shelter intentionally take in more cats?

The answer lies in our community-focused intake policies. At CAC, we prioritize keeping cats in their communities and in loving homes whenever possible. Through self-supported rehoming resources and personalized guidance, we empower individuals to find solutions within their own neighborhoods whenever possible. This approach not only reduces the burden on local shelters but also ensures that pets experience minimal disruption in their lives.

By incorporating these strategies, CAC has been able to go a step further: Extending a helping hand to at-risk cats already in other shelters.

How CAC is Helping Rural Cats

Many shelters in our region are in rural areas, overwhelmed and under-resourced, and some aren’t even funded or required to care for cats in need. Thanks to our county leadership, dedicated staff, passionate adopters, fosters, volunteers, and generous supporters, we’ve positioned ourselves as a lifeline for these shelters so they can keep up with lifesaving efforts in their communities. Because our community is resourceful and helps us keep cats who have other options out of our shelter and support the cats we do have by adopting and fostering, we have open kennels to help cats in struggling shelters. 

A Strong Network of Adopters and Partners

How do we maintain such a high cat adoption rate? It’s all thanks to our incredible community and network partners. CAC has built a robust network of adopters who are eager to welcome cats into their homes. We’re so grateful for their loyalty and the love they bring to each adoption story.

Contributing Factors

• Quailty of life is key to increased adoption rates and decreased length of stay. By ensuring we follow strict cleaning guidelines and ensure each cat receives adequate enrichment. Through our practices, we see a decrease in disease spread and lowered stress rates leading to happier and healthier cats.
• Shelter location plays a positive role in accessibility to adopters. We are fortunate to have our cat location in a residential portion of city suburbs.
• Progressive adoption policies foster a more community-centric and trusting relationship between CAC and the community allowing more people to adopt and building positive community relations.
• Adoption events and satellite locations make it convenient for families to meet their purrfect match while shopping for pet supplies at one of our PetSmart partners or while enjoying an afternoon coffee at the Purrfect Day Cat Cafe in Covington. These are only a select few of our adoption partners.
• Local welfare partners support CAC by assisting with spay & neuter, taking over care for cats with higher medical & behavioral needs than we can provide, and so much more. Some of these partners include, but are not limited to, The Humane Society of Greater Dayton, Ohio Alleycat Resource, SPCA Cincinnati, and UCAN Nonprofit Vet Care Clinic. The more organizations we partner with, the broader we cast our net.

Together, these collaborations ensure that every cat, from playful kittens to senior felines, has a chance to find a loving home.

A Community United towards a No-Kill Nation for Cats

This lifesaving mission wouldn’t be possible without the support of our compassionate community. Every donation, foster home, volunteer hour, and adoption helps us provide the care and resources these cats need to thrive. Whether it’s a simple share on social media or fostering a litter of kittens, every act of kindness contributes to building a No-Kill Nation for cats.

At CAC, we believe every feline life is precious, and we’re committed to giving each one the chance they deserve. Thank you for being part of this journey with us. Together, we’re making a difference—one kitty at a time.

Ready to make a difference? Visit Cincinnati Animal CARE to adopt, volunteer, foster, donate, or support our mission today! And check out our adoptable cats page to see which cats are looking for you to take them home.