National Cat Protection Society

My daughter and I have been volunteering at Nat Cat for about two years now. We love it; we get to sit and pet, brush and play with the cats (there are a variety of rooms and the cats are grouped according to age). Talk about relaxing. If you need to de-​stress and like cats, this is the place to come. It’s also quiet and the staff are as friendly as can be. The walls are decorated with lovely murals. The cat boxes are kept clean. Staff provide you with brushes, toys and hand sanitizer. This is a no-​kill shelter and cats that are here are either adopted (the staff don’t push you to adopt but if you want to, they are very helpful) or they can stay here indefinitely. For community service for kids and teens, they offer awards based on the number of hours worked which is very generous of them. Thank you for doing what you do, Nat Cat!

I visited this facility with a friend and we were both amazed! The cats were all well socialized and cared for, and the whole shelter was spotless. There was no smell, and all of the staff was so nice and helpful! My favorite part was that they gave us wand toys to play with the cats to encourage appropriate play! We spent a good couple of hours just petting the cats, and I hope to adopt my next cat from Nat Cat!

My friend and I paid this place a visit today. I was more than impressed. The facility was VERY clean, actually it was quite spotless. From the floors to the cat furniture, everything was in great shape, and most importantly there was no odor. The cats looked incredibly content and well cared for. They have a great variety of ages, from kittens to senior cats. The staff was wonderful and friendly, they answered any and all questions we had about the adoption process and the facility. They allowed us to choose a toy, and go visit as long as we wanted. We had to have been there for a good 2 hours. They have very well socialized cats, with great personalities. Please consider them if you’re looking for a cat to add to your life!!!

It was nice to visit a shelter where the cats weren’t kept in small enclosures. The cats were sectioned off by age group and allowed to run around, socialize and play in a large area. Plenty of food, water and toys were out. A couple cats were in the lobby getting some extra TLC. I even saw one absolutely loving a heating pad.
I was assisted in picking out the right cat for adoption by the staff. In my adoption packet were my new cats info/​health history and more reading material for new pet owners. They even gave me some food, treats and a lil toy gift to assist in my new cats transition to my home.
Lovely place. If you’re a cat lover, you should definitely visit. I would even consider volunteering.

Long story short, I retired my Dad’s cat at Nat Cat in Spring Valley.
The retirement home portion of Nat Cat is a clean and pleasant space. There are many older cats there (so they’re getting good care and attention, otherwise the cats would likely give it up and call it a day).
Whenever I’ve visited people have been friendly, nice and helpful. I’ve even showed up unannounced a few times and they were still friendly, nice and helpful. I’m not usually so suspicious, but I was handing off my Dad’s buddy so I needed to be sure the place was authentic and legit.
Additionally I check in on my Dad’s cat now and again via email and they always send me a photo and quick update. This has made the whole heart-​wrenching process much easier to manage. Visitation rights are a plus, too.
I don’t live in town, but whenever I get anywhere near Spring Valley, I intend to stop by and visit my Dad’s cat (I realize it’s more for my benefit than hers).
Anyway, as far as I’ve been able to surmise, Nat Cat in Spring Valley is pretty great.

In February 2008 we had to put our 17 ½ year old cat down due to cancer. We knew we had to have at least one cat in our house and were open to a bonded pair. We went to NatCat on my mom’s suggestion (she went with us too) to find a new cat (s). There we met Marcia who took us around and told us the backstory and personality of practically every adoptable cat there. We explained our home situation – 2 Pugs plus occasional Pug we babysit – and that we needed a cat or cats that were «bomb-​proof» meaning nothing would phase them. We still laugh how she quickly knew which cats would and wouldn’t work for various reasons e.g. that one can’t have any other animals in the house, that one pees on you if you stand still too long, etc.
We saw a beautiful Snowshoe and were allowed to sit in it’s enclosure and he wanted nothing to do with us. He wasn’t scared, he just didn’t care. We then entered the «Day Room» where some cats live and others are moved in and out for extra play/​social time. A little gray & white girl walked under my chair and I picked her up and she started purring and my mom said «I think you found your cat». My husband meanwhile was allowing a black & white kitty to play with his shoelaces and decided he wanted that cat «because he plays». We went back to Marcia and asked her about the black & white cat and was told he had to go with his sister, the gray & white one and we took them both home! They have been wonderful cats and just turned 3. They truly are bomb-​proof and have wonderful personalities.
Summer of 2009 I found a kitten near SDSU’s fraternity row and took her to NatCat to find a new home. They charge a $ 50 surrender fee (adoptions are $ 75) which I actually doubled and considered a donation for their wonderful work. I still keep in touch with Marcia by email and share photos of Jackie and Finlay with her. The little kitten I turned in was adopted by the wonderful couple that have «The Cat’s House» in San Diego so I think things worked out pretty well for her too.

I used to volunteer at the National Cat Protection Society for a few summers back when I was a student at UCSD. The place actually has a retirement home for older cats who still need some TLC and they are just like old seniors, i.e., they have their eccentricities and some are crabby and some are losing hair and some are missing teeth. But then they have these «retired» folks, who are humans, and they come and give the cats some love and petting and brushing. It is really very sweet and I recommend anyone who is a cat lover to devote some time there if you can.
I used to help clean out the cages where the more «antisocial» cats were kept and the newcomers as well. I also would go in the kitten room to play and I would get pounced on by about fifteen little crazy fur balls all at once.
My two cats are back up in Petaluma enjoying outdoor freedom at mom’s so I am considering going here to adopt a new kitty. The NCPS screens all the cats and makes sure their immunizations are current and it is less than a hundred bucks for the adoption, which is for the aforementioned costs and costs of maintenance to the facility.
The people that work there were really cool when I would volunteer. They all have big hearts. The facility has had some much-​needed and welcomed repairs and renovations of late. I can’t wait to go back and see the improvements. I just wish it was a little closer to my house, which is why I had to stop going.