about_us

We are a small group of volunteers who believe in providing high quality care to our rescued cats. Every cat who is accepted into our rescue, has been seen by a private vet at least once for an exam, has been tested for feline leukemia and feline aids, is up to date on the core FVRCP vaccination, is de-wormed and free of fleas, has been spayed/neutered, and has received medical treatment as needed.

Our cats reside in cage-free, loving foster homes until adopted.

We believe that the happiest and healthiest life for a cat is as a spayed or neutered pet. Responsible breeders and responsible rescuers spay and neuter ALL cats before placing them in new homes. We do not rely on "promises" to get the operation performed in the future. The correct age to spay or neuter a kitten is 8-16 weeks old, depending on their development, no later. Kittens bounce back from the surgery much more easily at this age.

It is our policy to have every cat or kitten spayed or neutered BEFORE placement in a new home. If the cat is too sick, or the kitten is too young, to undergo spay/neuter surgery, they are not ready to be adopted into a new home.

If you'd like to adopt a cat from Helping Persian Cats, at a minimum, we require completion of an adoption application, an interview, a vet reference, and permission to contact your landlord if you are renting. We love our adoptable cats, and want to make sure our applicants are committed to adopting these lovely creatures and giving them a lifetime of kindness, love, care and happiness!.......Because we want to meet all adopters, and to best ensure the physical safety of the cats in our care, we do not ship cats!

We generally show our adoptable cats at Petco in Santa Monica the 2^nd and 4^th Saturday of each month, OR OTHER DATES AS SPECIFIED, from 11:30am to 3:30pm. Please check our homepage for the date of our next adoption event. Petco is located at 2910 Wilshire Blvd, on the corner of Wilshire and Yale. THANK YOU TO PETCO FOR PROVIDING US WITH A SAFE INDOOR VENUE TO SHOW OUR ADOPTABLE CATS!

Our rescue group depends on a network of qualified responsible foster “parents”, who will be more than willing to help you meet the cat of your dreams! On occasion, we are willing to make special appointments to meet potential adopters. However, please keep in mind that all of us are unpaid volunteers with fulltime jobs and families of our own, so it may not always be possible to schedule a special appointment. Adoption to a loving responsible home is our highest priority, and we will do our best to accommodate you!

Many people are shocked to learn that breed cats end up in animal control shelters, especially the lovely Persians and Himalayans. Often, people think that breed cats in "the pound" are not at risk - and that someone will surely want to adopt them. Not true! We are often called by animal shelter employees who request that we take in a breed shelter cat who is at risk of euthanasia. The euthanasia rate for cats is 60-70% at many animal control shelters in southern California and across the state!

Please remember that no matter how hard rescuers try, we cannot do this alone. Please adopt a shelter pet, or please adopt from a rescue group.

Helping Persian Cats rescues Persians, Himalayans, Exotic Shorthairs, Scottish Folds, British Shorthairs and other cats, and places them in responsible and loving homes with people who care! Our network of dedicated volunteers rescues primarily breed cats, from local animal shelters in the southern California area, and from private owners in special circumstances, and from breeders who are no longer able to care for their cats.

Currently, we have rescue partner relationships with most animal shelters in southern California and the Inland Empire. Our volunteers and foster homes work hard every day to help breed cats in need. We rely entirely on donations from the public!

We have rescued cats since 1998. Effective in April 2004, Helping Persian Cats was approved as a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit public benefit corporation. Contributions to Helping Persian Cats are deductible under section 170 of the IRS Code. Helping Persian Cats is qualified to receive tax deductible bequests, devises, transfers or gifts under section 2055, 2106 and 2522 of the Code.

Your contributions help to fund our costs for items such as animal control shelter “adoption” fees, transportation costs (primarily gas!), food, cat litter, intake exams by a private veterinarian, spay and neuter surgery, vaccinations, de-worming, flea treatment, testing for feline leukemia and feline aids, medications, and special medical costs for hospitalization, diagnostic testing and laboratory costs for cats with extra medical needs.