Our mission
To improve the lives of cats in metro Detroit and set a higher standard for how they're cared for, through medical care, adoption, fostering and trap-neuter-return.
Who runs the shelter
Despite the name, we're not part of the City of Ferndale. We're an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit, led by a volunteer board of cat lovers and run almost entirely by volunteers.
We receive no federal, state or city funding, apart from an occasional grant from the Michigan Department of Agriculture. Everything else comes from donations, Catfé admissions and adoption fees.
Our story so far
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2014: A small rescue in Ferndale
Neighbors start taking in cats that have nowhere else to go.
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A cat café is born
The Catfé Lounge opens at 817 Livernois as the shelter's licensed home and a place for people to meet adoptable cats.
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2022: Outgrowing the space
Rising surrenders, abandoned cats and outdoor kittens overwhelm the little Catfé. We buy a building at 686 Livernois with four times the room.
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2023: A new home
We move into 686 Livernois and place 700 cats and kittens in homes that year.
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Today
We care for 175+ cats at a time, run a community pet food pantry, and host events that bring cat people together.
What's next
Our building still needs work to reach the standard our cats deserve: floor restoration, painting, carpentry, HVAC, plumbing and electrical repairs, and new doors and windows.
If you have skills in any of these areas, or want to fund a project, we'd love to hear from you.