Cat Depot
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Cat Depot has been organized to provide protection, shelter, help, relief, comfort, care and sanctuary for house cats, feral cats, kittens and cats with special needs. The shelter offers them stability, regular meals, medical rehabilitation and the best possible care and refuge they may have likely ever known. Our mission is to find loving homes for these rescued cats through adoption.
- Income
- $2.9 million
- Spending
- $3.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 3.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 67%
- Employees
- 60
- Volunteers
- 201
- Highest pay
- $150,271, veterinarian
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 15% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
5 of 251 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $2.7 million spent. Cat Depot operates a premier free-roaming cat rescue,shelter and a full-service feline-only veterinary clinic in Sarasota, Florida. The organization rehomes over 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 2024 SRQ Magazine readers voted Cat Depot as the Best Non-Profit - Bronze, Best Animal Non-Profit -Silver, Best Pet Angel during the Storms - Silver, and Best Local Veterinarian - Platinum. Cat Depot hosted other local non-profit organizations such as Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc., Easter Seals Southwest Florida, Humane Society of Manatee County, and FLSARC, offering them a variety of programs from career informaton sessions to hands-on visitor tours.Cat Depot welcomed 6,850 guests in 2024.By the close of 2024, Cat Depot welcomed 201 volunteers, primarily fosters, who generously donated over 22,000 hours of service.Cat Depot has continued to train all current employees in Fear Free practices. Fear Free helps professionals deliver better care to the animals they provide for. 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 1,115 cats and kittens in 2024 including 704 kittens and 362 adults. The shelter rescues hundreds of cats for municipal animal services agencies annually. In 2024, 69 cats and kittens were admitted to Cat Depot from such agencies.The rate of return of adopted cats remained steady (4.7%). 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 home so Cat Depot can help with more homeless cats. Cat Depot received 850 owner surrender requests in 2024. Due to the work of staff, 71 cats were able to be diverted from entering the shelter.In 2024, Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton impacted our region, prompting Cat Depot to assist in several emergency efforts. During this time, Cat Depot partnered with Florida State Animal Response Coalition (FLSARC, the Florida Association of Animal Welfare Organizations (FAAWO)and Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to rescue and care for 20 dogs from Hamilton County post Hurricane Debby; provided shelter for multiple cats from a Franklin County animal shelter during Hurricane Helene; and offered housing and support to St. Francis Animal Rescue of Venice during Hurricane Milton. During the three-week dog rescue project, Cat Depot transformed their Community Center into a temporary dog kennel.The Working Cat Program was established in 2020 as a way to help reduce unnecessary euthanasia of feral cats at Sarasota County Animal Services. 91 cats found a second chance at life via this program in 2024. 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 Depot receives regular, on-going donations of various shelter supplies. Theseinclude bags of dry and cans of wet food, litter and litter boxes, toys, carriers,scratching posts, blankets, water fountains, feeding systems and bowls. Donatedoffice supplies were also received and used for administrative purposes along withthe receipt of medical equipment made possible though donated credit card rewards.Total noncash contributions for 2024 were $87,076.Cat Care ClinicThe public Cat Care Clinic has treated thousands of cats and kittens since opening its doors in 2014. In 2024, the Cat Care Clinic treated 6,080 patients.A full array of veterinary services are offered to the community in the Cat Care Clinic at a reduced cost for clients. The Cat Care Clinic preformed over 1,300 surgeries and specialty procedures, including 197 spay/neuters, 272 x-rays, 61 dentals and 506 ultrasounds.Shelter MedicalAll 1,171 cats and kittens entering the shelter in 2024 were treated through Shelter Medical, each receiving comprehensive veterinary exams. Spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations, microchips and any other specialized diagnostics based on age, health and need are also provided as necessary.Shelter Medical preformed 1,246 total procedures including 1,061 spay/neuter surgeries, 50 dentals, 83 specialty procedures including eye enucleation, wound and hernia repairs and amputations.TNVR (trap-neuter-vaccinate-return) services are offered for community cats via our Shelter Hospital.Communications, Community Engagement and EducationIn 2024, Cat Depot's Community Food Bank fed over 14,600 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, 3,020 participants from local organizations, schools, and nursing/assisted living centers benefitted from in-person, hands-on educational programming.Cat Depot's 2024 community outreach program took part in 22 events throughout Sarasota and Manatee Counties such as the Mote Marine Mascot Race, Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Grand Expo, the Sarasota Holiday Parade and Manatee County Friends of Animal Welfare's Adopt-a-Palooza. Through these efforts, Cat Depot reached over 66,380 individuals with their lifesaving mission.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 2004.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.