Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are the cats adoptable? They are! Our mission is to help homeless cats and kittens find safe, loving, permanent homes, and we work with local shelters and rescues to bring in adoptable cats and help them find homes. If you’re interested in adopting after visiting let us know and we’ll work with you on the next steps, including sending you an online application to complete. We do not do same-day adoptions and our process may include a home check.

Where do the cats come from? Mainly from shelters and other rescues. We try to help cats who are in unsafe or unhappy situations as well as help cats who may be getting overlooked in their current shelter or rescue. Over the years we have partnered with VCAS, SPARC, the West Valley shelter, Apple Valley Animal Services, Greyfoot Cat Rescue, Shannon’s Fosters, and Stray Paws Animal Haven as well as several trappers who have their own networks of foster homes. We do not take in owner surrenders or stray cats for various reasons, including protecting the health and safety of the current lounge cats.

Is Cassie’s Cats a non-profit? Yes! We are a 501(c)3 non-profit (Tax ID 84-4170318) which means all donations are tax-deductible. Every donation we receive goes directly back into the health, safety, and well-being of our cats and kittens. Everyone you see working at Cassie’s Cats, including Jennifer, is a volunteer. You can scroll to the bottom of any page to find the “Donate” link or click on Donate in the menu at the top of each page.

How do I adopt from you? The first step is a visit to the lounge to meet the cats. If there’s a good connection we’ll send you the application. A physical or virtual home visit is sometimes required. Are we selective? We are. Not all applications are approved.

Why do I have to pay to come in if I am trying to adopt? Entrance fees help support our mission. As a private nonprofit, we do not receive federal, state, county, or city funding. If a follow-up visit is needed there is no charge. Your initial visit fees (up to $40) will be credited toward your adoption fee. If you don’t adopt you can still feel good about helping the cats who are waiting for their homes.

Is Cassie the owner? No, Cassie’s Cats, Inc. was started by Jennifer Thompson, who serves as the board president.

Who is Cassie? So glad you asked! Cassie was Jennifer’s first cat, a seal point Siamese. Jennifer’s family had three other Siamese cats while she was growing up (Stanley, Alfonso, and Sam) but Cassie was the first one that Jennifer chose herself. Cassie lived with Jennifer for 18 years, passing away when Jennifer was in her late 20s. She saw Jennifer through junior high and high school, off to college and graduate school, a move to Ventura County, and even her wedding!

How do you make sure the cats all get along? We slowly introduce new cats to the space. In certain instances, we keep some cats apart but for the most part, everyone learns to get along. Plenty of room to spread out, including vertical space, helps the kitties keep the peace.

Do you sell food and drinks? No, we do not. We offer complimentary tea and coffee and donations for that are gratefully accepted. In the warmer months, we offer bottled water for sale.

Why don’t you have a cafe/why aren’t you a “cat cafe”? Health codes make it such that we would need to run two entirely separate businesses and we want to focus on saving cats.

Can I bring my own cat, or my dog to meet the cats? No, please leave all furry children at home.

Are you a shelter? No, we are not. We do not take in animals as strays. We work with local shelters and rescues to identify cats and kittens that will likely do well in the cat lounge. Please contact VCAS in Camarillo , SPARC in Santa Paula, or HSVC in Ojai if you have found a cat or kittens. Post on social media and sites like adoptapet.com if you need to re-home a cat.

Can I board my cat with you? No, we are not a boarding facility. You can check out Kittyland Resort for boarding or Pit Stop Pet Care (Marnae is also a volunteer with us!) or Sitting Kitty Cat Care for in-home cat sitting.

Can I volunteer with Cassie’s Cats? We are run entirely by volunteers and occasionally recruit new people to join our team. If you are at least 18 years old please fill out our volunteer application. If/when we are recruiting we may reach out if you seem like a good fit for the lounge’s needs.

Can I donate anything to the lounge? Yes! We have wishlists at Chewy and Amazon. We also accept donations for the lobby shop and work with local artists and businesses on consignment. Please contact us if you’d like to know more about consigning with us.

Jennifer Thompson

Jennifer Thompson is the founder of Cassie’s Cats. She has been a cat lover all her life, and she chose her first cat for her very own when she was ten years old: a seal point Siamese. She named her Cassie and they had 18 years together. Over the years she has lived with many cats including Stanley, Alphonso, Sam, Cassie, Squeaker, Henry, L.E., Ali, Sumi, Neville, Caleb, Rachel, and Raven. Jennifer has been involved in cat and kitten fostering since 2006, and Cassie’s Cats is an extension of those efforts to help even more rescued cats and kittens find homes. Cassie’s Cats, Inc. was established in 2020 and the lounge and adoption center opened in June 2021. You can read a little more in this article in The Breeze. Jennifer and her husband Drew have had seven cats and two dogs: Cassie, Ali, Sumi, Neville, Caleb, Rachel, Raven, Jake, and Hope. In January 2023 they adopted Rachel, a longtime resident of the lounge. In October 2024 they adopted Raven, a lounge kitten diagnosed with asthma.

Other board members for Cassie’s Cats include Jennifer’s daughter, Grace Story (Secretary), who has loved cats since before she was born and started fostering for Best Friends in Salt Lake City in 2020, and Jennifer’s lifelong friend Heather Hernandez (Vice President/Treasurer), an animal-lover and all-around smart lady!

Our Official Mission: The primary purpose of Cassie’s Cats, Inc. is to place rescued cats and kittens into safe, loving, permanent homes.

The specific objectives and purpose of this organization shall be:

Socialize rescued cats and kittens to help them get adopted more quickly.

Educate the public about the benefits of adopting rescued cats and kittens versus buying from breeders.

Educate the public about the importance of spaying/neutering companion cats and kittens.

Educate the public about caring for neonatal kittens (“bottle babies”).

Cassie with sister Ali