Our Mission:
To improve the welfare of cats and kittens on the island of Puerto Rico
Contact email:
Website protected by SSL certification. Credit/debit card and Venmo payments accepted.
Your donations to Chateaux De Gatos 100% support TNR (trap, neuter, return) efforts for cat colonies, as well as the care of adoptable cats and kittens from these groups.
Additionally, your contributions fund public training and education on the importance of spaying/neutering household pets and proper cat colony management.
We are operated entirely by a dedicated group of volunteers. We are a registered NJ 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.
Cat Adoption:
Mango and Tango are headed to their forever home in Massachusetts! Anna and Miriam (traveling buddies) are accompanying them for the entire flight until they hand them to their new family at the airport.
We need adoptors on and off island!
But, did you know that taking a Puerto Rican cat or kitten home for adoption on the mainland is as easy as 1-2-3?
Please fill out an ADOPTION APPLICATION. We will review your application and meet you via FaceTime or Zoom. Each cat and kitten has a unique character and we want to match the best home to the best pet.
If you are traveling to your off-island home with your new cat or kitten, you will need to purchase a ticket for your pet (costing approximately ($125 - 150 airline dependent) which can be added to your existing reservation.
If you live off island, the Sanctuary can organize cat or kitten travel through "Flight Angel" networks of traveling cat buddies that will accompany your future pet during the entire journey until you have them in your arms.
Ruth Kaplan, President
Volunteer
Linda Kee, Vice President
Volunteer
Laurie Powsner, Treasurer
Leadership, Caregivers and Volunteers
Each of these compassionate and loving caregivers and volunteers
brings a special skill set to our nonprofit!
Ruth
Ruth Kaplan brings her expertise in business management and compliance to Chateaux De Gatos . A Doctor of Physical Therapy, Ruth owned and operated a thriving physical therapy clinic in Princeton, New Jersey, for 12 years, where she honed her skills in bookkeeping, state and federal compliance, and operational efficiency. Since relocating to Rincón, Puerto Rico, Ruth has dedicated her time to animal welfare. She has a lifelong passion for cats, and her leadership as President is rooted in both professional expertise and a personal commitment to improving the lives of Puerto Rico's stray and feral cats.
Linda
With a Master’s degree in Speech and Language Pathology and 35 years of experience in Special Education, Linda Kee’s career demonstrates patience, empathy, and a commitment to teamwork. Her expertise in navigating complex systems and implementing policies aligns well with Chateaux De Gatos’ mission. Splitting her time between California and Puerto Rico, Linda and her husband have fostered and cared for abandoned cats, contributing significantly to local rescue efforts. Her background in team-based problem-solving and her lifelong love of animals make her a key asset to the Chateaux De Gato's leadership.
Rick
Rick Jeffries brings over 35 years of experience as a mental health professional, including 24 years working with incarcerated adolescents with severe psychiatric conditions and 13 years in private practice. His career has centered on compassion, empathy, and improving lives—values that extend to his work with Chateaux De Gatos. Raised in a pet-loving family, Rick has actively supported animal welfare through rescue, fostering, and transportation of animals from Puerto Rico to the mainland for adoption. His dedication to both people and animals makes him a passionate advocate and a strong contributor to the Sanctuary’s strategic growth.
Laurie
As a licensed social worker with over 30 years of experience at Penn Medicine Princeton Hospital, Laurie Powsner brings unparalleled expertise in counseling, advocacy, and nonprofit governance to the Sanctuary. She specializes in grief, aging, and chronic illness counseling, and she currently serves on several nonprofit boards, including the Funeral Consumers Alliance of New Jersey and Marian’s Natural Burial Grounds. Laurie’s dedication to community service is evident in her volunteer work with Meals on Wheels and her fundraising efforts for local organizations. A long-time pet owner, Laurie’s meticulous approach to financial management ensures the Chateaux De Gatos operates with transparency and accountability.
Rick Jeffries, Secretary
Volunteer
Kathi Menendez, Vice President, Volunteer
Kathi
Kathi is a New Hampshire native who moved to the island three years ago. After vacationing in the area for several years, traveling around with cat food on hand to help all the colonies of cats and packs of dogs she saw, she knew she wanted to be a part of the solution. Her life long love of animals needed a channel! It wasn't until she and her neighbors bottle fed a litter of abandoned kittens that she realized she had a passion for this type of work. Now, having rescued a cat of her own and having gone on a couple of cat trapping outings, she's ready to take things to the next level to help her community, and a whole lot of kitties along the way! Having been a cosmetologist for over thirty years, she brings her stellar people skills and the ability to problem solve on the fly to the organization.
Business address:
9 Erdman Avenue Princeton, NJ 08540
We do work in PR
EIN: 93-3287424
100% of your donation goes towards the care of the cats at the Chateaux De Gatos, public education regarding spay/neutering, and feral cat colony care (TNR.) All workers are volunteer and receive no salaries. Your contributions are tax-deductible for federal income tax purposes.
This nonprofit was incorporated in October, 2023.