It’s clear the animals at Catty Shack are well taken care of and happy. A great place to visit and such a good cause! I love that all of the animals here have found a forever home.
This is a fantastic animal sanctuary! I had so much fun as a visitor that I had to sign up to become a volunteer. The staff here are all so friendly and knowledgeable. They really know the residents well and work so hard to ensure they are all happy and taken care of. The animals here all have wonderful lives full of enrichment and individualized care. This is truly one of my favorite places to be when I can make it out!
I have attended Catty Shack as a visitor/customer as well as a volunteer. The staff are wonderful and so friendly. Safety is their number one priority. It’s a great nonprofit and a wonderful place to visit.
I have put in over 600 hours of volunteer time thus far this year at Catty Shack. The facility/staff/volunteers treatment of the residents far surpasses any zoo or other facility I have ever visited. The animals are in natural habitats with earth and grass under their feet, not concrete. The owners treat them like pets. There is a doctor in residence to provide medical assistance. They are fed quality food each day. The animals have toys and other enrichment items to keep them entertained. The tigers each have their own swimming pool which they thoroughly enjoy in this hot weather. All in all it is great place for us and the residents.
This is a great family place! It is a great place to take your family, it's run by a great family, and the volunteers are treated like family too! It is truly my favorite place to be be!
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The Catty Shack’s employee, Volunteers and owners truly care about our big cats and misc. other animals. They create environments for each animal according to their needs. The love and care provided is exemplary. The educational experience for guests is interesting and necessary to protect our wildlife. The smiles from the guests and everyone involved tells the true story.
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I’ve always loved cats big and small. When I went to visit Catty Shack I felt like I was in heaven. The whole aura of the grounds were soothing, positive and caring. This resonated from the large cats, little cats, foxes, roaming roosters and the staff. They instilled the importance that the animals were not pets. They care for each animal and truly treat them as individuals. Their habitats and care plans match each of their needs. It is educational as it is enlightening.
All of the efforts and funds raised go directly to the welfare of the cats. Never have worked with a more dedicated group. It’s a pleasure to be there.
This is such an amazing place to visit and to do volunteering It really is a place of caring and love. Behind the scenes, everyone and I mean everyone's purpose is to give these beautiful animals the very best loving forever home and happiest,, healthiest life possible. I feel privileged to do my small part in helping care for all our beloved animals and in making their lives better. ❤❤❤❤
Wonderful place for a family visit! This is a sanctuary for big cats, where more than 30 resident animals call this their ‘forever home.’ Managed by a small paid staff with the help of many volunteers. I am a volunteer tour guide at Catty Shack. I love talking to visitors, telling them about the lions, tigers, leopards, panthers, servals and bobcats along with other animals. It’s a great opportunity to get fairly close to the animals (behind the safety of fences) and see a bit of their personalities. Evening visits to see the cats at feeding time is also a good time to to Catty Shack.
Animals are treated with utmost respect, exceptional medical care, and love. I have volunteered there for almost 6 years and I've never seen a sanctuary like this. The animals are so happy interacting with visitors during the tours and feedings. The have beautiful enclosures, pools, and fun toys for them all to play with daily. It is not uncommon to meet animals close to 20 years old interacting with guests and chuffing! Such a happy and educational place to go!!!
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All the animals are happy and healthy! The volunteers have been there for years because of their undying love for the animals.
What a joy to watch these powerful yet beautiful creatures live their everyday lives.
They are lovingly cared for both medically and physically and it shows as they emit
happy noises, follow human caretakers with their eyes and enjoy contented naps in crazy unguarded positions just like house cats.
Humans fall ages will be enchanted.
My Husband and I visit this place. The staff is very nice and welcoming, but the animals looked all so thin, the cages are small. I never been to Jail but that what it looks like to me .And could be nicer and more inviting. One staff member told us they feed 600lbs to 40 animals, you do the math...not enough a tiger needs 60 lbs a day.... the Lion looked good but when he stood up you can see his ribs. The tigers you can see the hip bones as well. What i also dint understood is why they let them have Cubs. Some of does animals are born right there, Maybe less animals so everyone gets enough to eat.
Catty Shack Ranch provides a safe loving forever home to big cats in need of such. A few other species ("honorary cats") also enjoy a home here also (foxes and coatimundis). Come visit our animals and leave having learned more about our majestic residents as you've toured the Ranch on a guided tour. If you visit during an evening feed, you will never forget having been so close to lions, tigers, leopards and having watched and heard them devour dinner, bones and all! Tours during our daytime hours frequently provide the opportunity to watch the animals enjoy enrichment activities, investigating and playing with toys and treats as they practice their inborn skills. The Ranch is enhancing and expanding so please, visit often - check out our progress as your donations and admission fees enable us to create a more perfect home for our residents (and to offer that same loving care to even more animals in need). A visit to Catty Shack Ranch is a "must do" appropriate for all ages.
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As a volunteer at Catty Shack, it is so heartwarming to hear visitors’ comments and reactions to our much loved animals. Most people never have been this close (safely!) to a wild cat or had the opportunity to watch them play, swim or devour their meal. Guided tours help educate all our visitors about our residents and their plight in captivity and in the wild. No one is too old or too young to enjoy time spent with our animals.
I moved to Jacksonville almost two years ago and going to the Catty Shack is one of my favorite things to do! It’s so nice to see the cats happy and healthy. Not to mention all the new plans they have coming up to improve the sanctuary. If you haven’t been out you have to go!
Amazing and dedicated leadership along with a group of passionate volunteers make this unique sanctuary a special place where the general public can visit and see the work being done to provide forever homes to a beautiful group of tigers, coatimunundis, foxes, horses, lions and serval cats. You can experience enrichment activities and see night feedings (truly incredible). Guided tours and educational information is provided. You can also adopt an animal. They host field trips for children....what a great way to teach! Tons of fun activities are held throughout the year....Yoga with the Tigers, Haunted Forest, Roar n 'Snore...you can even host a birthday party there. An absolute must see in Jacksonville if you love animals and want to support a deserving cause.
I Loved volunteering at the Catty Shack Ranch so so much! The workers were very nice and respectful and the other volunteers were friendly and welcoming. It was a great working environment. Would 10/10 recommend going!
I've been volunteering at the CattyShack Ranch for almost 6 years. It just keeps expanding and getting better. All the volunteers and staff really love the animals and do everything we can to make their life with us happy.
I started volunteering at Catty Shack Ranch three years ago. It’s all about the “residents” and visitors here. Everyone pitches in to make sure the “residents” are healthy, happy and safe. I see this every time I volunteer. The compassion and relationship we have with the “residents” is amazing. The employees at Catty Shack Ranch go the extra mile to make sure this nonprofit will be around for years to come to help other animals make Catty Shack their home. The comments we receive from the visitors echoes how great Catty Shack Ranch is. I’m happy to be a part of it.
Wonderful place and provides great service educating the public on wildlife. My grandkids enjoyed the tour and nighttime feeding and want to come back next time they visit. Amazing times
This big cat sanctuary has been a great educational tool for kids and adults alike, and it presents a very unique and close-up perspective of the animals. The level of concern by staff and volunteers is obvious, and the animals are friendly and often near the front of their habitats to play or say hi to guests or volunteers. The days they are open for an evening event allow people to watch the animals be fed their dinner. With plans for an expansion and renovations that have just begun, I see Catty Shack Ranch getting even better.
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This sanctuary has a lot of big cats that needed a home and were able to find one here. They have lions, tigers, leopards, cougars, a bobcat, and even foxes and coatimundis. They are open only some days of the week but it can be a rare and exciting chance to get a guided tour and on certain days watch these big cats be fed. Guided tours explain about the individual animals and give details about the species. It is fun for kids of all ages and adults of all ages too. I highly recommend going to see them but do check the website for specific days they are open.
Volunteering at Catty Shack has been an amazing experience. Not only has this been an opportunity to help animals that would otherwise have nowhere to go and no one to care for them, but it’s been a great way to meet some phenomenal people. I have worked in animal welfare for many years, and I never experienced a place quite like Catty Shack. If you haven’t been, be sure to check out the night feedings and take advantage of the tours!
This group of volunteers genuinely cares about the animals and provide an excellent sanctuary for them. They continue to improve and maintain the habitats to make the animals happy and healthy!
I have been a volunteer for 9 years and so admire the Director for his energy, passion and enthusiasm for keeping the facility and its inhabitants safe and secure. Catty Shack is a local treasure!
Me and my family absolutely love this place! Its amazing to get to see these gorgeous cats up close and learn about them, but it’s even more endearing to see just how much the staff and volunteers at Catty Shack Ranch LOVE these animals. It’s not a circus or a zoo, it is a sanctuary where people work incredibly hard to allow these animals to live out the rest of their lives in peace and comfort. The customer service is great as well. If you are an animal lover, then this is the place for you! Visit once and you will definitely want to come back.
The people of Catty Shack Ranch work hard round the clock to ensure the safety, health, and happiness of all its residents. They do this and more by also teaching and including the public in its many programs and events to help support their cause and spread awareness. They are passion driven and strive to save and improve upon the lives of these great animals while also inspiring others to do the same in their own ways to help. As a newer volunteer myself, I attest to their great influence. Their devotion to these animals has only further solidified my decision on making their protection and involvement apart of my life as I go on into my career to learn and save them.
I visited the Catty Shack as what I thought would he an interesting tour and that would he that.
After I arrived it was clear from the start how much everyone loves what they do from the volunteer at the register to the volunteer running concessions to the tour guides. There is so much pride and love that's put in to the shack you cant help but leave there with a smile on your face. I'm happy to say I myself started volunteering at the beginning of June and plan to stay around as long as possible.
Catty Shack is a wonderful place, the people that run it are so nice, and you can see that they truly do care about what they're doing.
I used to volunteer here, but had to stop because of a new job across the country. However, I visited regularly when I was not volunteering, and have gotten nothing but great feedback from my friends and family that have visited. The Catty Shack absolutely warms my heart because it’s so clear that the volunteers love and care about the animals, and that the animals are happy, healthy, and well taken care of. This nonprofit does absolutely amazing things for the animals it gives homes to. It’s easy to see how all the visitors love and interact so positively with the animals, volunteers, and the director. I would travel back to Jacksonville from New Mexico just for the Catty Shack.
The Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary is an amazing place. I started volunteering there a little over a year ago and am so impressed with the care, love, and quality of life all the animals receive in this their forever home. I am so proud to be a volunteer there and refer to it as "my happy place".
A great place to visit if you want up close views of beautiful big cats and some smaller creatures as well! I was fortunate to find a volunteer opportunity where I feel like I am actually helping while enjoying what I am doing. I never tire of seeing visitors of all ages enjoy the night feeding experience while learning a little something about our residents along the way. And I am happy to say all are well loved and well cared for! As this is a volunteer driven organization, our public hours are limited, so please check our website for details.
I have been a volunteer at the ranch for a little over one year and absolutely love this place! I have fallen in love with the animals but also with the staff / volunteers! Everyone is genuine and really cares about the kitties as well as one another!
Number one priority is the health and happiness of the animals. You can tell the animals are dearly loved and the animals love the volunteers back.
The Catty Shack Ranch Sanctuary is a true home to several big cats (Tigers, Lions, Cougars, Leopards) and other animals that have come from places that could not care for them properly. The Catty Shack meets every need for these animals, whether it be medical, nutritional, enrichment, and habitat etc. Their tours educate the public and are very fun. Every penny they raise goes toward the care of their animals. They also have an adoption program which gives you a special bond with your favorites.
I have so much respect for all that they are doing to give these animals in need a forever home.
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I can say enough great things about the Catty Shack Ranch Sanctuary. They have given these amazing animals a forever home that includes all the love and medical care they need.
Catty Shack is my favorite place to visit. I love their night feedings and enrichment events. You can tell how deeply they care for all their animals (tigers, lions, cougar, leopards, bobcat, foxes, and even coatimundis.
During these events open to the public to raise awareness and money to care for the animals, we get to see a lot of action. The big cats are especially excited for feeding time and their different personalities shine through.
Beyond food and medical care, Catty Shack has a goal to build bigger and better enclosures and offer more enrichments for their animals.
The work they do is awesome.
They offer adoption packages that are affordable and allow me to adopt an animal each year.
I really respect and love the Catty Shack Ranch Sanctuary.
I love this place it is a wonderful place that I will go again and again. Great place for the whole family my son loves it.
We visited CattyShack on Oct 25. We had first visited last March & were so impressed with the Sanctuary & all they do for the big cats & other animals. This time we were there for a night feeding. How awesome it was !! Everyone there welcomes you & answers every & all questions you might have . Make sure you go here! We are from Chicago. If you are able please please donate to them. They receive no federal or state assistance. They are an all volunteer organization !
I volunteered there for a few years before moving north and I can tell you the people there are even more amazing than the animals housed there. Guests, residents and volunteers are all taken care of like royalty and treated like a beloved family member. Catty
Shack Ranch is what I miss most about Jacksonville and I cannot wait to visit them as a guest when I travel back to Florida!
We came from Michigan to visit our friends and this place was the highlight of our trip! The animals are treated like family and are well cared for! We hope to return in the near future!
Catty Shack is a wonderful place. My family has visited animal sanctuaries in the U.S. and abroad and Catty Shack is the best of the best. The animals are loved and truly cared for, and the staff is second to none. We live 3 hours away, but we still make it a point to come back to Catty Shack and support their mission. We have been part of their adoption program for 3 years now, and we love getting updates on the cats. This place is a can't miss for animal lovers.
A group of us volunteered here for a day and working so closely with the staff made me realize just how much these animals are their number one passion. They do such a beautiful job!
The love for the animals is so apparent here. We enjoy visiting and appreciate all of the dedication to the care of the animals.
Absolutely amazing facility! They treat their animals with the utmost respect and exceptional care. It was a pleasure working with them! Can't wait to return one day!
Every time we visit the Catty Shack, we are inspired and amazed by the care and effort put into helping each and every animal. The level of trust between staff and their charges is incredible. We totally love to see the animals thriving and loving life.
We Love Love Love the Catty Shack!!! So informative and my youngest can't wait to be old enough to volunteer.
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We loved the Catty Shack. Our only wish was them to have more land so they can help more big cats. My youngest is in love with Tigers and plans to work there when she is older. She already asked how and when she can start. The staff was super nice to answer all her questions. Never once did I get the feeling she was bothering them with all her questions. we plan to go again and again.
Big fan. Its obvious from the first 5 minutes at the ranch just how much these animals are loved. Visit them on a Wednesday night feeding and see how awesome and amazing these animals are.
I love this place !!!!!! I have been many time and always stay for the feedings. The first time i went was after they came to pick up some chicken that the company I work at donate to them. My boss took me and my friend/co-worker, she brought her kids and took my bbf kid . It was so funny my friends youngest who could barley walk was walking and one of the cats just keep keep licking his lips and following her back and forth it was the funnies thing . I am grateful that suck a wonderful place is around to take care of these animals.
We have visited Catty Shack twice this summer with our out-of-state grandchildren and loved it both times. I have been to many zoos but have never gotten as close to the big cats as there. Not only did we watch them being fed but we enjoyed their interactions with some of their "keepers", as well as each other. Such a worthwhile charity and attraction.
Educational, affordable family outing, giving these wonderful creatures a second chance and they do a great job.
I have had the privilege of getting to work with the volunteer coordinator and business manager at the Catty Shack for the bulk of this year. I've spent numerous hours with the animals, and the love the humans have for their four legged friends is unreal. Most of the animals are older, and have normal senior-aged health problems, to provide love and support for these animals during their last years is heart warming. I couldn't ask to give back to an organization more deserving.
What an amazing organization and mission! The team at Hunger Fight truly cares about ending hunger in NE Florida and making a difference in the lives of children and families who need a helping hand. They make it easy for you to get involved and be able to play a role in eradicating hunger on the First Coast!
I wish words could describe how wonderful Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary is. This non-profit organization is a hidden gem in Jacksonville, Florida. They care for 24 TIgers, 3 Lions, 5 Cougars, 4 Black Asian Leopards, 1 Bobcat, 2 Coatimundis, and 2 Foxes all with no grants or money from the Government. These are animals that are not wanted by any zoos because they are not purebred. They rely solely on an all volunteer organization. These animals came to them from places or people that could no longer care for them, were not providing proper care, had them illegally, or they were confiscated from them. The volunteers and owner are out there everyday cleaning enclosures, doing upkeep on the property and enclosures, providing tours and education to the public. You can show how much love these animals have for the volunteers and how much the volunteers love the animals. This is a one of a kind place and great once in a lifetime experience.
Catty Shack is a wonderful organization that puts the care of animals first. The tour guides gleam with pride as they take small groups around the facility. The stories that the tour guides share add to the experience. Catty Shack is a must see for every Jacksonville visitor and resident.
Awesome experience. It is very apparent that the animals are not only taken care of very well, but loved at the same time! Highly encourage everyone to visit this great organization.
I have been with The Catty Shack for over a year now working as a volunteer. The opportunities offered for individuals to help is endless. I used to be a designer and in sales...these days I spend my days caring for the ranches residence and building and repairing habitats. The people who run this facility have dedicated their lives to providing a safe and living home for these animals and truly appreciate the volunteers who assist on a daily basis. I hear on a dsily basis how blessed they are by their volunteers and how they couldn't do all they do without us.
Never met so many people who care so much for what they do. These animals are in some of the best hands in the world. So much love and such a great team I will be out there as long as they need help. I love going and I look forward to being there all week. I love catty shack and I love every single animal out there. They each have their own personality and the volunteers always have great things going on for the animals, Thank you catty shack you have really made a great impact in my life as well as each and every animal you save.
I've been volunteering at the Catty Shack Ranch for 8 years now and love every minute of it. It is a place where I can go & be with great people and of course, wonderful animals. Being able to help these animals is the best feeling in the world. All our volunteers take their jobs very seriously to make sure all our animals are well taken care of at all times. The cats receive excellent medical care, are feed proper amounts of food, given enrichment activities and are loved. I will always volunteer at the Catty Shack!
I have visited Cattyshack ranch on numerous occasions and have found a very friendly staff who obviously care a great deal about the animals they take care of. all of the animals appear to be well fed, the enclosures are maintained and kept clean and the staff is very knowledgeable about the animals that are housed at Cattyshack Ranch.
I've been a volunteer for over 9 years now and love every minute of it. Working customer service can put you on edge sometimes. Catty shack is the best therapy ever. The people/volunteers are just the greatest. The big cat appreciate and love you for everything you do for them. Just knowing that there's a wonderful organization like the Catty Shack is my zen.
I've been volunteering at the Catty Shack Ranch for four years and am loving every minute. This place has filled a niche in my life that I never knew was missing. What started as a way for me to give back to my community has turned into my 2nd family, and they will never fully realize just how much they have given back to me.
The residence at the ranch aren't just animals. They are Freddy, Sarah, Val, B.J, Sheba, Nollie, Coco and many more. Each have their own personalities and individual needs. It's hard work, but with generous donations and diligent volunteers the ranch is evolving to fill those needs. I feel privileged to be apart of it.
I started volunteering here while I was in college, and have stayed ever since. I love it! Catty Shack is filled with wonderful animals and fantastic volunteers. Everyone that volunteers here truly cares about the animals and only wants the best for them. All our residents receive great enrichment activities, have a wonderful diet, and are always happy and relaxed (often, when they take their "cat naps," you'll find them laying on their back with their belly in the air!) And, of course, Catty Shack is a forever home for all the animals - we don't breed, sell, or trade any of them!
As a volunteer, I help with a variety of projects throughout the ranch, including checking visitors in and leading tours. I love being able to educate visitors on these animals, both about their species in captivity and in the wild. Nothing is more gratifying than having visitors tell us how much they learned about our residents.
We went there for my oldest daughters 3rd birthday she didn't really get it but it was fun for the rest of the family watching. Brie, Colby, and Monterey as 3 month old tigers play and attempt to put smart each other. We went back 3 weeks later after my youngest was born this time we brought more family. Just watching these cats perk up at the site of a different animal was funny. The volunteers were helpful and the work they do is amazing. I plan to have my daughters birthdays there together next year. It doesn't have all the animals the Jacksonville does, but it offers a forever home to these amazing animals. If you want to see beautiful tigers go to Catty Shack.
After looking for something different to do in Jacksonville, I discovered the Catty Shack Ranch which came highly rated by Trip Advisor. My family and I visited the Ranch for a Nightime Feeding and we were thoroughly amazed! From the excitement of the feedings to the cleanliness of the facility, the care and love of the animals and the friendliness of the volunteers, we knew this would be a place that we would return to.....and so we did!
This time, we have returned as new volunteers and are excited to help!
If you haven't considered volunteering here, just take the time to visit and I'm sure you will change your mind. What a wonderful place this is!
I've been volunteering at Catty Shack for a few months now and I absolutely love it. My brother used to volunteer at the Ranch and I was skeptical about whether it was right for me because I'm not usually the type to do a lot of manual labor. I started volunteering at the events and found there's always something that suites every volunteers' skill set. I lead tours, do concessions, and park cars. I always feel like I make a big difference in the animals' lives even if it's something as simple and telling cars where to park.
I have been volunteering at the Catty Shack Ranch for 6 years and have loved every day! It takes a lot of hard work and dedication and it is certainly a dirty job but it is the most rewarding experience I have ever had. I have witnessed insurmountable progress and it is only the beginning!! We are consistently building new habitats for the animals and our volunteers work tirelessly to make every visitor's experience the best possible! We are open to the public every weekend and provide educated tours for school groups throughout the week. We have also been rated #1 on Jacksonville's TripAdivisor for over a year! Please gather some friends and family and take a day (or night) to come see all of the beautiful animals and get a guided tour by one of our fantastic volunteers! I promise you will love it!!
I am a healthcare professional and have been working (volunteering) with the Cattyshack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary for about 11 years. I have worked with major zoos and other exotic animal groups but now concentrate my time primarily with Cattyshack. I chose this organization because of my personal knowledge of the Executive Directors dedication to the cause and my observation of the excellent care they give their animals. The cats are well fed, treated with nothing but love and respect, and it shows. Don't just take my word for it. Trip Advisor Jacksonville (5 star) has over 250 recent reviews from people who have actually visited there. Most of the reviews are 5 star and comment on the knowledge and dedication of the staff, how clean the facility is and how well cared for, healthy and happy the Cats appear. Recently, when unfortunate circumstances forced the closure of a private zoo in Wisconsin, the owner wanting the best for his animals, visited and interviewed several sanctuaries. He chose Cattyshack to place his 6 tiger cubs because he liked what he saw.
Like most nonprofit rescues Cattyshack relies solely on donations and volunteers. In that, they are enjoying widespread community support and a great group of dedicated, knowledgeable, hard working volunteers. I enjoy every minute and consider it a priviledge to be associated with the Cattyshack Ranch.
I saw an ad about Caddy Shack on the visitors website when I was trying to see what other things my family could do while visiting Jacksonville. I thought it would be interesting to see because I love big cats. We all loved the place. Other than the fact that it had rained just before we got there and it was wet, we thoroughly enjoyed the visit. The cats (and the other animals) were just gorgeous. Some were out playing and others were taking it easy, but all were well taken care of. You could also tell that the volunteers that were there really loved being there and loved the cats. I will definitely go back and visit again when we return to Jacksonville.
I thought I was just going on another zoo visit with my daughter and grandson....I was wrong. What a unique experience it was. Not only did we get to see the animals eating and playing, but we learned about them up close and personal. You can tell by the way everyone who works with the animals acts they LOVE what they do!
I've followed this compound for years. Check out their Fish and Wildlife inspection reports, and USDA reports. Some time ago, he was ordered to start feeding his starving animals or risk confiscation. Since a leopard never changes its spots, I'm sure the animals are still receiving the same, substandard care. I wouldn't give a penny to this group.
