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Cat Town

EIN 27-3838132 · Oakland, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS CATS. TOGETHER, WE SAVE THE LIVES OF AT-RISK CATS, FIND THEM LOVING HOMES, AND ADVOCATE FOR A FUTURE WHERE EVERY CAT IS VALUED.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
8.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 82%
Employees
19
Volunteers
310
Highest pay
$78,273, executive di

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 39% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (4)
  1. $817,019 spent. OUR RESCUE AND ADOPTION PROGRAM PROVIDES A SAFETY NET FOR CATS WHO WOULD BE EUTHANIZED AT THE SHELTER BECAUSE THEY SEEM UNADOPTABLE THERE, AND BECAUSE THERE IS NO OTHER LOCAL RESCUE GROUP WHO WOULD HELP THESE CATS. DURING 2024, WE MAINTAINED A PROGRAM OF APPROXIMATELY 50 FOSTER CATS AT ANY GIVEN TIME, INCLUDING SENIORS WITH MEDICAL NEEDS, CATS RECOVERING FROM SURGERY AND CATS WHO WERE SO STRESSED OR SHUT DOWN AT THE SHELTER AS TO BE UNADOPTABLE THERE. AT OUR ADOPTION CENTER - THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE USA - WE HOUSE UP TO 50 ADOPTABLE CATS IN A CAGE-FREE ENVIRONMENT. (SEE FULL STATEMENT ON SCHEDULE O)
  2. $84,210 spent. THROUGH OUR EDUCATION AND PUBLIC OUTREACH PROGRAMS, WE INSPIRE OTHER ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS TO EMBRACE AND ADAPT OUR PROGRAMS FOR THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES. THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH MADDIE'S FUND, WE HAVE TRAINED ANIMAL WELFARE PROFESSIONALS FROM 89 ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS 32 STATES ON ASSESSING, RESCUING, AND ADOPTING HARD-TO-PLACE CATS THAT ARE AT HIGH RISK FOR EUTHANASIA THROUGHOUT MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.
  3. $93,594 spent. THROUGH OUR PET RETENTION PROGRAMS, WE ENABLE ADOPTERS OF CAT TOWN CATS TO KEEP THEIR ADOPTED PETS IN THEIR HOMES. FOR ALL ADOPTERS, WE OFFER EXTENSIVE COUNSELING AND BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT VIA OUR CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR A WIDE VARIETY OF BEHAVIOR ISSUES. OUR IN-IT-FOR-LIFE HOSPICE PROGRAM PROVIDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ADOPTERS OF CATS THAT HAVE UNTREATABLE, TERMINAL MEDICAL CONDITIONS, ENSURING THAT THE COST OF VETERINARY CARE DOES NOT BECOME A BARRIER TO FINDING GREAT HOMES FOR THESE CATS IN THEIR FINAL MONTHS OR YEARS
  4. PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENT 1 FULL STATEMENT OUR RESCUE AND ADOPTION PROGRAM PROVIDES A SAFETY NET FOR CATS WHO WOULD BE EUTHANIZED AT THE SHELTER BECAUSE THEY SEEM UNADOPTABLE THERE, AND BECAUSE THERE IS NO OTHER LOCAL RESCUE GROUP WHO WOULD HELP THESE CATS. DURING 2024, WE MAINTAINED A PROGRAM OF APPROXIMATELY 50 FOSTER CATS AT ANY GIVEN TIME, INCLUDING SENIORS WITH MEDICAL NEEDS, CATS RECOVERING FROM SURGERY AND CATS WHO WERE SO STRESSED OR SHUT DOWN AT THE SHELTER AS TO BE UNADOPTABLE THERE. AT OUR ADOPTION CENTER - THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE USA - WE HOUSE UP TO 50 CATS IN A COMPLETELY CAGE-FREE ENVIRONMENT. WE FOCUS ON SOCIALIZING OLDER KITTENS THROUGH OUR FORGOTTEN KITTEN PROJECT. THESE ARE HARD-TO-PLACE KITTENS WHO COME INTO OUR MUNICIPAL SHELTER PARTNER AT THREE MONTHS OR OLDER, AFTER THE IDEAL WINDOW FOR SOCIALIZING THEM HAS CLOSED. BECAUSE SOCIALIZING THEM IS SO CHALLENGING, THEY ARE OVERLOOKED BY OTHER GROUPS AND AT HIGH RISK FOR EUTHANASIA. IN ADDITION, THIS CENTER PROVIDES SPECIAL HOUSING FOR CATS WHO ARE UNDER SOCIALIZED, OLDER AND/OR HAVE MEDICAL NEEDS, ALLOWING THESE CATS TO MEET POTENTIAL ADOPTERS IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY FEEL SAFE.

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

  1. 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 October 13, 2026.

  2. 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 November 6, 2026.

  3. 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. 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 October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 2011.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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 November 4, 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.