Our Mission:
To improve the welfare of cats and kittens on the island of Puerto Rico
Contact email:
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100% of your donation goes towards the care of the cats living at the Sanctuary, spay/ neutering, feral cat colony care (TNR), and public education. The Sanctuary is run entirely by unpaid volunteers. We are a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation. Click here for documentation.
We are a new Sanctuary and we are currently raising seed money. In the future, prepaid vouchers for spay/neutering will be available for qualifying families.
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.
Check out our Facebook and Instagram pages for available adoptees!
Did you know that taking a Puerto Rican cat or kitten home to 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 between $95 to $150) which can be added to your existing reservation. The Sanctuary can help you organize this. We are happy to provide you with the required airline approved carry-on bag for $35.
If you live off island, the Sanctuary can organize cat or kitten travel through Flight Angels or other networks of traveling cat buddies that will accompany your future pet during travel.
The Leadership, Caregivers and Volunteers at
the Chateaux De Gatos Sanctuary
Each of these compassionate and loving caregivers and volunteers
brings a special skill set to the Chateaux De Gatos Sanctuary
Ingrid
Ingrid Klich, the current president of Chateaux De Gatos Sanctuary, has a PhD in earth and agricultural science and has worked in both academia and industry. She has funded her research through industry and government proposals and grant awards. Ingrid was adopted by her first feline, Sylvester, in 2010 while living aboard her sailboat in Fajardo, PR. Within a year another cat, Nigel, wanted to join the 2 boat dwellers. She had both cats spayed, neutered and vaccinated. In 2014 Ingrid moved back to her home and garden in Rincon, PR with Sylvester, Nigel and 6 other rescue cats that she adopted from a friend who had to leave PR. With that move Ingrid became committed and determined to provide for any cat that needed her love and care. The word quickly spread that her property was home and sanctuary. Many additional cats were rescued or just joined the others in the garden and garage. All cats were ultimately neutered or spayed and given their freedom to explore their natural surroundings.
Sue
Sue Westfry, the current Treasurer of Chateaux De Gatos Sanctuary, has owned two successful businesses and managed the accounts for several other businesses. She looks forward to using her management skills to help the Chateaux De Gatos Sanctuary. Sue has always had a deep affinity with animals and grew up with cats, dogs and horses. On moving to Puerto Rico 10 years ago she realized the huge problem with abandoned and feral cats. After volunteering for rescue organizations in the Western area of Puerto Rico and seeing firsthand the plight of cats, she decided to make cat rescue her priority. The first 2 kittens to join her existing cat family were 2 tiny month-old kittens found in a box in a hotel trash area. They were closely followed by 2 more 3-week-old kittens abandoned on a local beach. And so it began…….. Tiny kittens need a lot of care, including bottle feedings every two to three hours. It’s a labor of love and something that is now her mission. 10 years on, multiple success stories, adoptions and the ever growing cat sanctuary, she knows her efforts are making a difference. Her hope is that through education we can encourage spaying and neutering, veterinary care and responsible ownership on the island.
Hilda
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Hilda Marie is the proud daughter of Puerto Rican parents. She remains connected to her roots through her work as an independent animal rescuer. Hilda holds a master’s degree in psychology and is a mental health professional, educator, interfaith minister, and holistic practitioner. Hilda's career paths have reinforced her belief that love and compassion are powerful antidotes to suffering. As an adolescent visiting the island, the plight of street cats moved and inspired Hilda to become part of the solution. In the past fifteen years, she has rescued and brought to the states dozens of Puerto Rico’s abandoned animals and placed them in loving forever homes. Hilda resides in the Catskill Mountains in New York with her cat-loving husband, and four gatos and two satos (dogs), all rescued from the island.
Daisy
Carmen Daisy Gonzalez-Blaufuss, “Daisy”, a current Vice-President of Chateaux De Gatos Sanctuary has a baccalaureate degree in sociology from Rowan University in New Jersey. She has previously worked for several years for a New Jersey non-profit organization called Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP), helping low income families heat their homes and pay their energy bills. She retired in March of 2023 and moved to Rincon, Puerto Rico where she fosters puppies for Save A Sato (street dog) and is on the board of directors of the Chateaux De Gatos Sanctuary in Rincon. Daisy’s history with cats began when she adopted a cat named White Socks in 1992. White Socks was her companion and support when she was dealing with cancer and subsequent medical treatments. White Socks lived a long and comfortable life and was a great companion for Daisy. Daisy also owns a parrot named Oliver and two cockatiels. Daisy is able to use her dual language skills when the need arises!
Damaris
Damaris Gonzalez, a current vice president is from Rincon, Puerto Rico and offers her dual language capabilities to helping the Sanctuary run smoothly. She has previously studied tourism, working a variety of jobs on the island. For several years, Damaris has rescued various personal pets and volunteered at shelters, including Villa Michelle in Mayaguez, PR.
Ruth
Ruth Kaplan, the current Secretary of Chateaux De Gatos Sanctuary holds a doctorate in physical therapy and lives most of the year in Princeton NJ. She just sold her physical therapy practice, and she now intends to spend more time enjoying Rincon, PR and the cat sanctuary. Ruth owned and operated a physical therapy clinic in Princeton for 12 years. She is knowledgeable about running a business, bookkeeping, state and federal requirements, and business record keeping. Ruth has never not owned a cat; cats tend to find her wherever she goes. When she bought a house in Rincon with her husband, it was fitting that it was right next door to a cat sanctuary. Working together with Ingrid and Sue and the other volunteers at Chateaux De Gatos Sanctuary was apparently meant to be.
Dr. Ricardo Marrero
In order to provide exceptional care and support to the cats and kittens at the Chateaux De Gatos Sanctuary, we will collaborate with Dr. Marrero of Miradero Veterinary Clinic. We believe that this collaboration will not only benefit the cats and kittens at Chateaux de Gatos Sanctuary, but will also serve as a model for how partnerships between veterinary professionals and animal sanctuaries/rescues can positively impact feline welfare. Dr. Marrero's dedication to animal health and well-being aligns perfectly with our commitment to ensuring that each cat receives the highest standard of care possible. Dr. Marrero will also be advising us in our programs aimed at improving the welfare of cats and kittens on the island of Puerto Rico. From TNR to specialized medical treatments, his involvement will greatly enhance the quality of life for the cats and kittens under our care. His clinic address is: Rd 108 km 2.9 Bo. Miradero, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico 00680. Phone: 787-834-6050, email: miraderovetclinic@gmail.com.
Business address:
9 Erdman Avenue Princeton, NJ 08540
The Sanctuary is located in Rincon, PR 00677
EIN: 93-3287424
NTEE code info - D20 for Animal Protection and Welfare orgs.
100% of your donation goes towards the care of the cats at the Sanctuary, public education regarding spay/neutering, and feral cat colony care (TNR.) All workers at the Sanctuary are volunteer and receive no salaries. Your contributions are tax-deductible for federal income tax purposes.
Chateaux De Gatos Sanctuary was incorporated in October, 2023. Annual Report and Form 990-N will be published in April of 2024.
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