Cal Poly Cat Program

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San Luis Obispo, CA
Cal Poly Cat Program

We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit cat rescue and sanctuary operating on Cal Poly SLO's Campus! At that time, nearly 400 cats and kittens roamed campus.
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Cal Poly Cat Program (CPCP) started as a 1992 senior project by Garret Quindimil to solve the problem of a feline population at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s campus. The majority were descendants of pets abandoned on campus by students and other local residents. CPCP modeled their solution on the "Test, Trap, Vaccinate, Medicate, Alter, and Release" (TTVMAR) technique, developed by the National Feral

Cat Resource Center. The program was highly successful and effectively reduced the population through the years. The university campus now has only a handful of feral cats left, all of which have gone through our program, so they are sterile, vaccinated, and healthy. CPCP has now focused our efforts to helping the homeless and feral cat populations of San Luis Obispo county, running trap-neuter-release (TNR) programs and promoting feral cat humane education. CPCP also has a shelter located on Cal Poly’s campus with an ongoing volunteer, foster, and adoption programs in place. Our shelter facility also serves as a cat sanctuary for cats that are not adoptable or cannot be released. All of our cats are lovingly cared for by a network of volunteers and our nonprofit is entirely run on donations and grants.

11/22/2024

🌲Meet Pine!🌲 This adorable 5-month-old kitten is so sweet and chatty. He will always let you know when he wants something with the most adorable little mews! He loves to play with his siblings but also does well by himself. He is also very well mannered, always cleaning himself and his siblings. Email [email protected] to take him home!

11/22/2024

🌟 Meet Ampersand! 🌟 Once a shy cat, she’s now starting to show her unique personality. Ampersand enjoys her quiet moments, but with treats and gentle petting, she’ll happily come out of her shell. She loves a good brushing session, and while she may hiss if approached too quickly, it’s just a sign that she needs a little extra time to feel safe.
Ampersand is looking for a patient home that understands her independent nature. When she feels comfortable, she shows her gratitude by kneading biscuits—a sweet sign of trust and affection. 🐾

If you’re interested in adopting Ampersand, email [email protected] to start the adoption process!

11/20/2024

We unfortunately do not receive any monetary financial support from Cal Poly. Please consider donating to help our mission!

We also have online wishlists where we have cumulated a list of supplies our shelter uses; purchasing from these wishlists ships them directly to our program. As we are in the process of relocating to a new facility, we have a specific wishlist for new shelter items.

More information on how to donate or purchase from these wishlists is on our website calpolycatprogram.org/donate! Thank you to everyone who has donated for their generosity!

11/18/2024

We will be having a booth at Cal Poly Campus Dining’s Joyful Event! Come meet some of our adoptable kitties and buy our new sticker designs Tuesday, November 19, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Mustang Way. We are so thankful for our supporters, so we have a buy two, get one free deal! This is will be cash only. We hope to see you there!

11/16/2024

Are you in SLO over Thanksgiving or winter break and have some free time on your hands? We are looking for dedicated individuals to help us care for our cats and keep the shelter running! With many volunteers going home for breaks, we are often short-staffed. Whether you’re a current volunteer or are interested in signing up to volunteer over these breaks, we would greatly appreciate the help! Thanksgiving break runs from November 25th to December 1st, and winter break runs from December 16th to January 5th. If you’re a current volunteer, you can sign up on the Thanksgiving schedule emailed out this week. And if you haven’t volunteered yet but are interested in doing so, please contact our volunteer coordinators at [email protected] or fill out the form on our website http://calpolycatprogram.org under the “Volunteer” tab.

Thank you all so much for constantly supporting our program!

11/13/2024

Meet Ana! Anaxyrus or Ana for short, is a very sweet old lady looking for a calm and patient home to settle down in. This 15-year-old cat loves getting pets and loves slowly as she has lived most of her life in the great outdoors! She is super soft, sweet and lovable and can’t wait to meet more people!

If you are interested in adopting Anaxyrus email [email protected] to begin the adoptions process!

11/12/2024

If you are in SLO during any part of Thanksgiving break, please consider giving a kitty a temporary home! With many of our regular fosters away, numerous cats and kittens will need a place to stay, or they’ll have to return to the shelter. These are some of the cats looking for a home for the break, and as a foster, you’ll receive all the supplies and training needed to feel comfortable and prepared.

If you’re in the area from November 23 to December 1 and can help out, please consider fostering! For adult cats, reach out to [email protected]. If you’d love to care for a kitten or two, email [email protected]. Our foster coordinators are happy to answer any questions you have. We thank all of our fosters for their contributions to our shelter!

11/10/2024

Thank you to everyone who submitted a sticker design or voted in our recent sticker contest! These are the adorable winning designs! The printed stickers are coming very soon!

11/09/2024

Meet the Starbucks litter! They are all six months old and ready to be adopted!

Vanilla Latte (Slide 1): Vanilla Latte is a spunky kitten with a big personality! With a flair for mischief and a zest for play, she’s always leading her siblings on exciting adventures.

Summer Skies Refresher (Slide 2): Summer Skies is a charming, laid-back kitten with a gentle demeanor and playful spirit. While he may be calm and collected, he has a knack for finding joy in every game and adventure.

Caramel Macchiato (Slide 3): Caramel Macchiato is the most playful of his litter but also the fastest to purr. He is sweet and spunky, as soon as you pick him up his motor goes on!

Iced Lavender Matcha (Slide 4): Lavender is the littlest of the Starbucks crew. She is a true gem. She may be tiny but she is mighty. She is super soft and will find any warm lap and make herself right at home!

If you are interested in adopting any of the Starbucks Litter, email [email protected] to begin the adoption process!

11/09/2024

Meet the Starbucks litter! They are all six months old and ready to be adopted!

Vanilla Latte (Slide 1): Vanilla Latte is a spunky kitten with a big personality! With a flair for mischief and a zest for play, she’s always leading her siblings on exciting adventures. Summer Skies Refresher (Slide 2): Summer Skies is a charming and laid-back kitten with a gentle demeanor and a playful spirit. While he may be calm and collected, he has a knack for finding joy in every game and adventure. Caramel Macchiato (Slide 3): Caramel Macchiato is the most playful of his litter but also the fastest one to purr. He is sweet and spunky, as soon as you pick him up his motor goes on! Iced Lavender Matcha (Slide 4): Lavender is the littlest of the Starbucks crew. She is a true gem. She may be tiny but she is mighty. She is super soft and will find any warm lap and make herself right at home! If you are interested in adopting any of the Starbucks Litter, email [email protected] to begin the adoptions process!

11/09/2024

Thanks to our generous donors, we have accumulated a lot of cat related goods that we would like to give away to anyone with cats! The giveaway event will be on Saturday November 16th from 10-12pm in the Cal Poly Technology Park Parking Lot. There will be cat trees, crates, and more to take for free! We will also be selling our exclusive merch (cash and check only)! See you there!

11/08/2024

Meet Spork (slides 1 &2) and Knife (slides 3 &4), two sweet orange kittens ready to find a loving home! Spork and Knife are not bonded, but we require kittens to be adopted in pairs for optimal social development, or the interested adopter must already have a young cat at home.

Spork and Knife are a bit shy at first, but they love to keep each other entertained and enjoy head rubs, especially when sleepy! Email [email protected] to find out more about these boys and are interested in adopting them.🐱💗

11/06/2024

We are looking to hire a Technical Lead for to join our staff team!

This individual would be responsible for managing and updating various Cal Poly Cat Program technologies, including the database, website, Discord servers, and other softwares. They should be tech savvy, organized, and flexible.

This position is hybrid and unpaid. Expect around 3-5 hours of commit per week. This position is only available to current Cal Poly Students.

Preferred, but not required, qualifications include 2nd or 3rd-year student standing in a relevant major (Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Animal Science) and knowledge in HTML and SQL.

If you have any questions, please DM us directly. To start the application process, please email your resume to [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]). We look forward to hearing from you!

11/05/2024

Meet Cloud!
Cloud is a playful, friendly kitty with a heart as big as his purrs. He may be a little sensitive to loud noises and sudden movements, but with gentle affection, he warms up quickly. Once he feels safe, Cloud is an affectionate boy who loves to cozy up with his humans. His easygoing personality and sweet nature make him the perfect addition to any home ready to welcome a loving, loyal friend. If you’re looking for a cat to bring warmth, joy, and endless cuddles, Cloud might be the perfect match for you!

If you are interested in adopting Cloud, email [email protected] to begin the adoptions process

11/02/2024

October was a great month full of adoptions! The list of lucky kitties includes:

- Whisk
- Acorn
- Bailey
- Velcro
- Maple
- Mikasa
- Minestrone
- French Onion
- Squirrel
- Silverstone
- Zandvoort
- Monaco
- Pink Pony
- Pompompurin
- Hashbrown
- Mr. Pickle
- Goose
- Zoloft

Looking to adopt from CPCP? We have lots of sweet cats up for adoption! If you’re instead looking for a temporary commitment, you can also foster for us. Email [email protected] to inquire about the adoptions process, or email [email protected] if you’d like to foster a cat!

10/30/2024

Happy National Cat Day from the Cal Poly Cat Program!

We want to celebrate today by highlighting the overlooked cats and the time they’ve spent in our shelter:

🔮 Opal (slide 1) - 1 year and 5 months

🏵️ Ampersand (slide 2) - 1 year

🧡 Winnie (slide 3) - 1 year

☄️Venus (slide 4) - 1 year

🔱 Charles Beckendorf (slide 5 on right) - 8 months

🧜‍♂️ Grover Underwood (slide 5 on left) - 8 months

🌸 Ana (slide 6) - 8 months

🐈 Mabel (slide 7) - 8 months

Our hope this National Cat Day is for all of our kitties to be adopted into loving homes! Help our mission and adopt a cat from a shelter!

10/28/2024

The Cal Poly Cat Program is having a Halloween event this Thursday (10/31) from 10am-2pm on Dexter Lawn! We will have CPCP merch available as well as baked goods, and purchases can be made with cash or check only. All money raised will be going towards our veterinary fund and necessary shelter supplies to keep our kitties happy and healthy. We can’t wait to see you there! 🐱🎃👻

10/27/2024

Meet Ampersand, a once-shy cat now revealing her unique personality. While she may prefer moments of solitude, this one-year-old kitty is easily coaxed with treats and appreciates gentle brushing and petting. Occasionally her old-self might come out with a hiss if approached too quickly. Ampersand needs a home with patient companions, who understand her independent nature. As she warms up, she’ll express gratitude by kneading biscuits—a gesture that signifies trust and affection.

If you are interested in adopting Ampersand, email [email protected] to begin the adoptions process!

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1 Grand Avenue
San Luis Obispo, CA
93407

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How did she do? #cats #kittens #adoptus #catshelter #rescuecat #volunteering #fosterkittens #fostercats #communityservice #slovolunteering #sheltercats #calpoly #calpolyproud #slo #sanluisobispo #calpolycatprogram

What type of witch is this? #halloween #halloweencat #cats #kittens #adoptus #catshelter #rescuecat #volunteering #fosterkittens #fostercats #communityservice #slovolunteering #sheltercats #calpoly #calpolyproud #slo #sanluisobispo #calpolycatprogram

Miau miau miau miauuu

Barn cats are semi-feral or feral felines that primarily live on farms, ranches, or other rural properties. They’re known for their strong hunting instincts and therefore play a crucial role in rodent control and maintain a balanced ecosystem in rural areas. While they may not be as affectionate or sociable as pampered house cats, their independence and resilience make them essential companions in agricultural settings Our Trap-Neuter-Return, or TNR, program works to stabilize feral cat populations, reduce the spread of diseases, and improve the overall welfare of both cats and their surrounding environments. If you are interested in more information, are considering adopting a barn cat, or are in need of trapping services, please visit our website calpolycatprogram.org/tnr and submit a request! #cats #kittens #adoptus #catshelter #rescuecat #volunteering #fosterkittens #fostercats #communityservice #slovolunteering #barncats #tnr #sheltercats #calpoly #calpolyproud #slo #sanluisobispo #calpolycatprogram

Meet Little Charlie, a brave kitten rescued from an overcrowded shelter along with his five siblings and mother in early April. Our dedicated student staff have been providing him with round-the-clock care, including tube feeding every four hours. Now in foster care, he’s recovering well! However, veterinary expenses unfortunately add up fast. Your donation, no matter the size, can make a real difference in Charlie’s journey and help other kittens like him. Visit our website calpolycatprogram.org for more details on how you can help! Thank you for your kindness and support! #cats #kittens #adoptus #catshelter #rescuecat #volunteering #fosterkittens #fostercats #communityservice #slovolunteering #sheltercats #calpoly #calpolyproud #slo #sanluisobispo #calpolycatprogram

Plankton’s long late nights 🧑‍🍳🥐 … This hardworking breadgetter is also up for adoption! Email us at [email protected] to take him home! Plankton is a super cuddly and social boy who loves attention from his foster parent and human friends. He loves to be involved and snuggle on his foster parent’s lap whenever possible - including meals times, homework sessions, and movie nights! He even goes to bed with his foster parent at night, either curled up by the feet, head, or the stomach. Despite being a cuddle bug, he is independent and does not mind being alone for long periods of time. During his alone time, he likes to indulge in his hobbies: bird watching, bug catching, and biscuit making! While Plankton is social with humans, he is not the biggest fan of his other feline friends and will do better as a single cat. #cats #kittens #adoptus #catshelter #rescuecat #volunteering #fosterkittens #fostercats #communityservice #slovolunteering #sheltercats #calpoly #calpolyproud #slo #sanluisobispo #calpolycatprogram

Which cat has the silliest cat name and let us know your own cat names below too! #cats #kittens #adoptus #catshelter #rescuecat #volunteering #fosterkittens #fostercats #communityservice #slovolunteering #sheltercats #calpoly #calpolyproud #slo #sanluisobispo #calpolycatprogram

Snowball is the moment #cats #kittens #adoptus #catshelter #rescuecat #volunteering #fosterkittens #fostercats #communityservice #slovolunteering #sheltercats #calpoly #calpolyproud #slo #sanluisobispo #calpolycatprogram

Everyone say happy birthday Gary ! #cats #kittens #adoptus #catshelter #rescuecat #volunteering #fosterkittens #fostercats #communityservice #slovolunteering #sheltercats #calpoly #calpolyproud #slo #sanluisobispo #calpolycatprogram

Snowball in his truest form ❄️⛄️ #cats #kittens #adoptus #catshelter #rescuecat #volunteering #fosterkittens #fostercats #communityservice #slovolunteering #sheltercats #calpoly #calpolyproud #slo #sanluisobispo #calpolycatprogram

Which cat has your vote for silliest name ? #cats #kittens #adoptus #catshelter #rescuecat #volunteering #fosterkittens #fostercats #communityservice #slovolunteering #sheltercats #calpoly #calpolyproud #slo #sanluisobispo #calpolycatprogram

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Cal Poly Cat Program (CPCP) started as a 1992 senior project by Garret Quindimil to solve the problem of a rising cat population at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s campus. At that time, nearly 400 cats and kittens roamed campus. The majority had been abandoned by students and other local residents. Feral cats were trapped, then euthanized by the local Department of Animal Regulations. Although this decreased the cat population, it did not solve the problem. CPCP modeled their solution on the "Test, Trap, Vaccinate, Medicate, Alter, and Release" (TTVMAR) technique, developed by the National Feral Cat Resource Center. Today we estimate the feral cat population on campus to be at 30. Most of these cats have gone through our program, so they are sterile, vaccinated, and healthy.

CPCP also has a shelter located on Cal Poly’s campus with an ongoing adoption program in place. Our adoption program has placed more than 1,500 cats and kittens into caring homes, and continues working towards a time of no more homeless cats! CPCP is working to get the 50+ cats at the shelter into temporary foster care or loving new families. These cats receive their daily love supplied by numerous volunteers, but they still need forever homes!

Other Animal Shelters in San Luis Obispo

Woods Humane Society
875 Oklahoma Avenue

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