Our Story
Our Mission
Candy's Cats, Inc. (CCI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit rescue dedicated to educating the Central Florida community about the tragedy of abandoned felines. We believe no cat is a "throwaway," and we are committed to doing whatever it takes to help kittens and cats in need.
Our Volunteer Network
We are powered by a passionate, grassroots network of volunteers from all walks of life. Our team gives 100% of themselves to this cause, and there is a place for nearly every skill and schedule:
- Fostering: Our foster families care for cats and kittens in their own homes. For sick or orphaned newborns, that can mean waking every few hours to bottle-feed, medicate, and offer comfort.
- Adoption counselors: At our weekend adoption events, counselors talk with families, handle the initial screening, and walk adopters through the paperwork to help make the right match.
- Cat care technicians: Volunteers visit our adoption centers through the week to feed and water the cats, clean litter, tidy the cubicles, and spend time playing with them.
- Transportation: Drivers move cats to vet visits, events, and new homes, giving their time, vehicle, and gas to keep everyone where they need to be.
- Laundry: Volunteers keep our cats' bedding and towels clean, picking up and dropping off at our Apopka or Winter Garden locations.
- Administrative support: Helpers take on day-to-day office tasks at Candy's Cat Cottage in Apopka, from records to scheduling.
- Marketing, fundraising, and events: Volunteers run our social media, plan fundraising campaigns, and organize the adoption and community events that keep the rescue going. Many of these roles can be done from home.
Want to find your place on the team? See every role and sign up on our Volunteer page.
Our Commitment to Health
Every cat deserves a healthy start. Because our adoption donations do not cover our complete operational costs, we rely on generous community support to provide world-class care. Prior to adoption, every cat receives:
- Spay/Neuter surgery
- Comprehensive vaccinations and microchipping
- Parasite control
- FIV / FeLV / Heartworm testing
- Any required emergency care, surgery, or long-term treatment needed to achieve optimum health.