Our History
Carson Cats Rescue began in the summer of 2013 when a small group of Manhattan Beach neighbors stumbled onto a colony of stray cats and kittens living behind a local park. Over the course of that first summer, they bottle-fed six orphaned kittens through the night, arranged spay/neuter surgeries for the adults, and returned each sterilized cat to a caretaker plan they had built with the property owners. That experience taught us that rescue is most effective when it is rooted in the neighborhood — when residents, veterinary partners, and volunteers pool their skills toward a common goal.
In the years since, Carson Cats has grown from a handful of dedicated volunteers into a foster network spanning the entire South Bay. We have rehomed more than 1,200 cats and kittens, partnered with dozens of veterinary clinics, and helped hundreds of neighbors resolve challenges that might otherwise have led to a shelter surrender. And yet, at our core, we remain what we were on day one: a group of neighbors who love cats.
Our Mission
Carson Cats Rescue is dedicated to rescuing homeless, abandoned, neglected, and at-risk cats and kittens by providing lifesaving care, foster placement, veterinary treatment, adoption services, community education, and advocacy for responsible pet ownership. We work to improve feline welfare while promoting compassionate communities and reducing pet homelessness.
Our Vision
We envision a Southern California in which every cat has a warm bed, every neighborhood has ready access to affordable spay/neuter, and no cat is euthanized simply for lack of space. We believe that vision is achievable through steady, unglamorous work: one surgery, one foster placement, one adoption, one educational conversation at a time.
Our Core Values
- Compassion in every decision. When we're weighing a difficult intake, a costly surgery, or a tough placement, we ask what serves the cat first.
- Radical transparency. We're honest with adopters about behavior and medical history, honest with donors about how their money is spent, and honest with ourselves when we make mistakes.
- Community first. We can't rescue our way out of feline overpopulation alone. Every neighbor is a potential partner.
- Evidence-based practice. We rely on the best available veterinary and behavioral science. Practices evolve; so do we.
- Volunteer-powered. We are proud to be run entirely by volunteers, and we invest in training and support so every helper feels equipped and appreciated.
Our Animal Welfare Philosophy
We believe cats are complex, intelligent, and emotionally sensitive animals. Their needs go beyond food and shelter — they need enrichment, appropriate socialization, medical care, and, whenever possible, a family who understands them. We reject euthanasia for space and reject placing cats into homes without honest disclosure. Fear-free handling, gradual introductions, and a deep respect for feline autonomy shape everything we do.
We also believe that welfare extends to community cats — the free-roaming cats living in outdoor colonies. When appropriate, we practice Trap-Neuter-Return in cooperation with property owners and caretakers, and we support colonies with feeding stations, winter shelter, and long-term monitoring.
Our Community Impact
Since 2013, our volunteers and supporters have:
- Rescued and rehomed more than 1,200 cats and kittens
- Facilitated hundreds of spay and neuter surgeries for community cats
- Trained more than 300 first-time foster caregivers
- Provided free educational materials, phone consultations, and behavioral support to families across the South Bay
- Partnered with local veterinary hospitals to make advanced medical care affordable for community cats
Beyond the numbers, our real impact is measured in the small daily moments: an anxious cat learning to trust after months in a foster home, a family that avoided surrender because we helped them solve a litter box problem, a lonely senior cat spending his final years in a sunny window instead of a shelter kennel.
Future Goals
Our next chapter focuses on expanding capacity in the areas of greatest need: neonatal kitten care, senior cat medical management, and low-cost community spay/neuter. We are actively growing our foster network, deepening partnerships with local veterinary providers, and developing educational programming for schools and community centers. If you share our vision and want to help write that next chapter, please reach out.
Why Cat Rescue Matters
Nationally, millions of cats enter animal shelters every year, and cats are disproportionately at risk of euthanasia due to overcrowding. Kittens, seniors, and cats with medical needs are especially vulnerable. Foster-based rescues serve as a specialized safety net — able to provide the individual medical care, socialization time, and matchmaking that a busy shelter simply cannot deliver.
Rescue is compassionate work, but it is also cost-effective public policy. Every cat we place, every colony we sterilize, and every family we support with education represents reduced strain on municipal shelters and improved public health. We are proud to be part of a national movement that treats cats as neighbors, not disposables.