Why Are We Fundraising?

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You might wonder why we are trying to raise money when we don’t even have a physical space yet. I want to make sure that our followers and supporters know what we are doing with the money we raise and what our plans are.

We’d like to open in a relatively high-traffic part of Ventura so we are looking at midtown and possibly downtown. That said, we want as much money to go toward saving cats and kittens, so we also don’t want to spend every last penny on rent. With good visibility, we will be easier to find and have more visitors. We’d like to open near other small businesses and try to establish some synergy where possible.

When we find the right spot to get started we will need to fix it up and furnish it. We’ll do as much of that ourselves for as cheaply as possible without sacrificing quality but there will be expenses associated.

And then there will be day-to-day costs. Rent will likely be at least $1500 and could be closer to $2000+. My (very) rough estimates for food and litter come out to about $400 for 8 cats in a month. Utilities, WiFi, insurance, scheduled and unexpected vet visits, etc. will all factor in as well.

We want to be responsible about all of this. Ideally, we will have a 3-month buffer in the bank. Right now, we have almost $1800 in the bank and the promise of another $3000 or so from the board once we have leased a place. Minimally, our goal is $6000 available when we sign the lease and start prepping to open. We want to be able to weather whatever comes our way so that once we open we can remain solvent and continue fulfilling our mission.

If you would like to help you can share our Facebook and Instagram posts and encourage friends and family to support our fundraisers. Everything helps! If every Facebook follower donated $5 we’d have over $600 right there. If every follower found one friend each to buy one toy off the website that would bring in another $500. It all truly adds up. Thank you for supporting our mission!

Mini Kickers Now in the Shop

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We’ve added a new toy to the fundraising shop: mini kickers! They measure about 3.5-4″ long and are stuffed with fiberfill and organic catnip. This was a great way to use up remnants from the bow ties! $7.50 each (includes shipping) or a grab bag of 3 for $18 (pattern selections will vary).

Sneak Peek at New Note Cards

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For over 20 years I was a math teacher, and during the last 12 years I added college counselor to my resume. I still work part-time at Oak Grove School in Ojai as their college counselor, and one of my students agreed to paint some pictures of cats for me to use for note cards. Here is a sneak peek at one of Anna’s beautiful pieces:

There are four cats in the series and the cards should be available for purchase in about two weeks. I am excited about this on multiple levels, but mostly I am so proud to work with high school students who are willing to give selflessly of their time. She was even ready to let me keep the original paintings, free of charge, but that was just too much! I encouraged her to sell them herself and earn some money, or donate the funds to a charity of her choice.

Bow Ties for Your Cat

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We’ve added some handmade bow ties in an assortment of prints to our shop, as yet another fundraiser. If your cat wants to be the most dapper cat around, these are the ties to order! Only $9 (includes shipping)

8 prints available, with more coming soon!