Cat Guardians, Inc. was opened in 1988 by director Kathy Blackwell in a two-story white clapboard house near the corner of St. Charles and Westmore Rd. in Lombard, Illinois. The shelter has seen over 2000 cats adopted from the shelter, where they have been nursed back to health or at least avoided the need to scavenge garbage or prowl for prey in the wilds of suburban Chicago. Cat Guardians does not employ euthanasia, except in extreme circumstances in which medical conditions are such that prolonging a cat’s life would no longer be humane. Due to its no-kill policy, Cat Guardians is usually filled to its legal capacity of feline residents. Today, some 50 cats and a rotating population of kittens reside at Cat Guardians shelter. Although some cats and kittens are caged for their protection (due to illness, skittishness, aggression or their young age), most roam freely, having the freedom to play or nap in their choice spots. For over 20 years, we have matched abandoned and stray street cats with loving families, and provided a permanent home for cats that have not been adopted due to age, medical conditions or socialization issues. We’re funded entirely by your generous donations and staffed entirely by dedicated volunteers. The daily activities of the shelter are feeding the cats, administering medication, cleaning the litter boxes and the shelter, are performed with the help of volunteers and funded through supporters like you.
First - You must fill out an adoption application. Your completed application will be reviewed by approved personnel and you will be contacted as soon as possible. Second - We need to know you’re allowed to have a pet in your home. If you are a renter, we must see a copy of your lease stating that you are allowed to have pets. If you are a homeowner, we need proof that you are currently making mortgage payments. Third - Our adoption fees are $150 for kittens and $120 for adult cats. Prior to adoption, all of our cats are spayed/neutered, up-to-date on all shots (including deworming, distemper, all yearly inoculations, and rabies if old enough), microchipped, and tested for FIV and Feline Leukemia. This treatment may cost us up to $400 per animal. Fourth - When you come to take your new friend home, you must bring a sturdy carrier. We cannot let any cat or kitten leave the shelter unless it is safely secured. The cat carrier can serve several different purposes for your new friend. It can be its personal bed, and it can be used when taking the cat to the vet or other trips outside the house. Your cat will be much safer and happier in a carrier. Finally, once approved as an adoptive parent/family, you will be given an appointment to pick up your new feline friend on a day we are not open to the public. Please allow 45 minutes for the adoption process. Adoptions are conducted by appointment only. We apologize if this is an inconvenience to you, but due to our limited available volunteer base, we need to streamline our procedures.