The Cat People, an all-volunteer organization, was founded in October of 1990 in Bakersfield, California by two friends outraged about the actions of an urban landlord who trapped abandoned cats and drowned them. They soon gathered together a group of individuals who shared their concern -- and the group's mission grew to encompass the plight of homeless cats city-wide. Out of this grass-roots effort grew a nonprofit organization with a Board of Directors and a solid administrative base. The mission of The Cat People is to reduce cat overpopulation, through spay/neuter programs, and compassionately manage feral cat colonies..

Our programs include:

* The Feral Cat Care and Feeding Program.. Assistance to ferals was the The Cat People's original purpose, and this effort is still the group's primary focus. You can read more about this in "How We Help".

* SPAY TODAY! SPAY TODAY! This is a voucher program which helps low income families spay or neuter their companion cats. All area veterinarians accept the $25.00 voucher..

* The Colonies Assistance Program was begun in 1996. It assists the caretakers of urban cat colonies with such things as cat food and spay/neuter, loans humane traps, and counsels them on the management of urban feral colonies.

* PAWSITIVELY CATS is The Cat People's gift shop and administrative office and also serves as the temporary home of rescued cats requiring socialization. Located at 602 18th Street, across from Mexicali, it is open Tuesday through Friday 10-2 and Saturday 10-1 and carries a wealth of gifts for cats and cat lovers alike.