Cat Depot

Cat Depot operates a premier free-roaming cat rescue,shelter and a full-service feline-only veterinary clinic in Sarasota, Florida. The organization rehomes approximately 1300 relinquished or stray cats and kittens into loving homes each year. Upon intake, all cats are given a thorough exam, assessing their physical and mental well-being. The cats are treated for any health or behavioral problems they may have and then readied for adoption.Cat Depot is proud to share the following highlights and accomplishments:OrganizationalIn 2022 SRQ Magazine readers voted Cat Depot as the Best Local Animal Non-Profit, placing Bronze, and Honorable Mention for Best Local Non-Profit. Following the completion of the area's largest 24-hour day of giving, The Giving Challenge, The Community Foundation of Sarasota County and The Patterson Foundation awarded Cat Depot with the following honors: Donor Shoutout Tweet; Fast 50 Award; Best Use of Social Media; Best Video Commercial and Best Giving Challenge Photo.Cat Depot hosted other local non-profit organizations such as All Star Children's Foundation, Girls, Inc. and The Haven Academy, offering them a variety of programs from career information sessions to hands-on visitor tours. Cat Depot's staff also currently volunteers time at All Star Children's Foundation once per week to facilitate tutoring sessions. In 2022, Cat Depot welcomed 4,578 guests to their state-of-the-art, free-roaming adoption center which is recognized for its progressive design.By the close of 2022, Cat Depot welcomed 121 volunteers, primarily fosters, who generously donated over 14,000 hours of service.Cat Depot has continured to train all current employees in Fear Free practices. Fear Free helps professionals deliver better care to animals that are in their care. Fear Free mission is to prevent and alleviate fear, anxiety and stress in pets by inspiring and educating the people who care for them.Adoption & RescueThe shelter found homes for 1,165 cats and kittens in 2022 (540 kittens and 625 adults). The shelter rescues hundreds of cats for municipal animal services agencies annually. In 2022, 422 cats and kittens were admitted to Cat Depot from such agencies.The rate of return of adopted cats remained steady and lower than the previous year(3.4%). This can be greatly attributed to the additional time that the adoption counselors spend with the adoptors prior to adoption as part of the appointment only policy.A continued emphasis was placed on Pet Retention Services helping keep cats in their homes so Cat Depot can assist with more homeless cats. Cat Depot received 989 owner surrender requests in 2022. Due to the efforts and work of staff, 364 cats succeeded in being diverted from entering the shelter.In 2022, Cat Depot helped with Hurricane Ian relief with the transfer of cats from local shelters impacted by the storm.In February 2022, Cat Depot assisted Bowling Green Animal Services with a hoarding case by removing 29 cats from the home and providing them with medical care until adopters could be found.The Working Cat Program was officially established in 2020 as a way to help reduce unnecessary euthanasia of feral cats at Sarasota County Animal Services. Thirty-two cats found a second chance at life via this program in 2022. These cats are not able to be accepted into a conventional indoor adoption program and are placed into outdoor "homes" such as barns, warehouses, plant nurseries, farms, etc. to "work" with pest management and control.Cat Care ClinicThe public Cat Care Clinic has treated thousands of cats and kittens since opening its doors in 2014. In 2022, the Cat Care Clinic treated 4,064 patients.A full array of veterinary services are offered to the community in the Cat Care Clinic at a reduced cost for clients. Low cost TNVR (trap-neuter-vaccinate-return) services are also offered for community cats.The Cat Care Clinic preformed over 1,000 surgeries and specialty procedures, including 477 spay/neuters, 162 X-rays, 68 dentals and 509 ultrasounds.Shelter MedicalAll 1,257 cats and kittens entering the shelter in 2022 were treated through Shelter Medical, each receiving comprehensive veterinary exams. Based on the age, health and needs of the cats during their intake exams, determines the additional services needed such as spay/neuter, surgery, vaccinations, microchips and any other specialized diagnostics.Shelter Medical preformed 665 spay/neuter surgeries, 70 dentals, 35 specialty procedures including eye enucleation, wound and hernia repairs and amputations.The organization continues to offer externships to veterinary students from the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University Of Florida as well as the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.Communications, Community Engagement and EducationIn 2022, Cat Depot's Community Food Bank fed over 9,000 community cats and cats owned by persons who qualify for income assistance in Sarasota and Manatee Counties.In an effort to expand Cat Depot's reach into the community, 185 community engagement and educational programs were offered to local residents, organizations and elementary and junior high schools. Students benefitted from in-person, hands-on programming via field trips to Cat Depot, classes taught in school rooms and visits to junior high school afterschool pet clubs. Educational programs were offered at the discretion of each school with a small fee being charged to cover the cost of staff time and cat transport. Cat Depot's community programming included visits to five local nursing homes and assisted living facilities throughout the year. These visits were offered on a monthly basis at no charge to the facility. We are proud to offer seniors in our community the opportunity to experience the love of a cat when they can no longer have one themselves. In partnership with several art-themed businesses, Cat Depot also offered programs with an artistic touch to community members. Attendees could create ceramic, carved wood or hand-painted masterpieces of their own, all while meeting Cat Depot cats available for adopition. Total participants in all of the above programs was 1,352.Cat Depot's 2022 community outreach program took part in over 25 events throughout Sarasota and Manatee Counties such as the City of Sarasota's Holiday Parade, Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance's East Meets West Expo, Boo Fest hosted by Lakewood Ranch Farmer's Market and University Town Center's Festival of Trees. Through these efforts, Cat Depot reached over 62,000 individuals with their lifesaving mission.Donated Services and Materials:The organization regularly receives donated materials and services which are used in the shelter for the benefit of the cats.