1. What is the Furever Home Campaign and why is it important?

The Furever Home Campaign is a transformational effort to create a state-of-the-art adoption and veterinary facility in Redwood City. This new home will double the number of cats rescued, healed, and rehomed each year, serving 10,000+ cats by 2028.

For the first time, Nine Lives will bring its veterinary clinic, adoption center, and community programs together under one roof on Brewster Avenue. The facility is designed for high-volume feline care, with Fear Free® spaces, advanced surgical and dental suites, expanded adoption areas, and dedicated healing wards. It will set a new standard for humane shelter medicine and accessible feline care in Northern California.

2. Why does Nine Lives need a new facility now?

Nine Lives is saving more cats than ever. In 2024 alone, surgeries increased by 54%, TNR doubled for the second year in a row, adoptions grew by 38%, and intake rose by 43%. Nearly 1,000 cats found loving homes.

But this growth has pushed us past capacity. Our clinic and adoption center are in two aging buildings that no longer meet demand, and both leases expire in 2026. The new Brewster Avenue facility will provide the space and resources we need to keep growing and to keep saving lives!

3. How will the new facility improve lifesaving care for cats and kittens?

Facility Highlights:

• Surgical Excellence Expanded – A large surgical hub with four state-of-the-art stations will quadruple capacity, enabling the team to perform 50+ spay/neuter surgeries per day plus lifesaving procedures like amputations, hernia repairs, and exploratory surgeries. With purpose-built prep and recovery wings, we will reach 10,000+ surgeries annually by 2028.
  
• Dental & Wellness Suites – A separate dental suite and expanded wellness rooms will address one of the most painful, under-treated feline health issues, while adding more vaccination clinic hours, physical exams, and medical consults. Two new programs for Nine Lives!
  
• Healing Haven Wards – Specialized recovery areas for cats with ringworm, FeLV, FIV, and other complex conditions that too often lead to euthanasia elsewhere.
  
• Expanded Adoption Spaces – Bright, light-filled condos and “meet & greet” rooms where families can connect with cats in a calm environment. The new shelter will double adoption space, making it possible to rehome 2,000+ cats annually.
  
• Community Engagement Areas – Spaces for volunteer training, foster coordination, workshops, and adoption fairs—all under one roof—expanding Nine Lives’ ability to engage and educate the public.
  

4. What makes Nine Lives unique compared to other organizations?

• Cats Only, Always – 100% dedicated to feline welfare.
  
• Fear Free® Environment – Designed exclusively for cat comfort and low-stress care.
  
• No-Kill Philosophy – 98% save rate; every life matters.
  
• Lean and Impact-Driven – A small, efficient team delivering high results without heavy overhead.
  
• Community Care at Scale – Partnering with 50+ rescues, shelters, and clinics.
  
• Equitable Access to Care – Voucher programs keep services affordable for underserved families.
  

5. What impact has Nine Lives already made?

Nine Lives maintains a 98% save rate, collaborates with 50+ rescue partners, and leads the Bay Area in Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR).

In 2024 alone, we performed 6,327 surgeries, grew adoptions by 38%, increased intake by 43%, and placed nearly 1,000 cats into loving homes.

6. How much money is the campaign raising, and what will the funds support?

The Furever Home Campaign is a $2.5 million initiative, with $1.8 million already raised.

• Phase 1 – Gifts today fuel renovation, relocation, and relaunch into our new 7,500 sq. ft. facility (2.5x more space than today) by early 2026.
  
• Phase 2 – A future phase will secure permanent ownership of the building, ensuring a permanent home for Nine Lives to scale its lifesaving work for generations to come.
  

7. How can I make a donation or pledge to the campaign?

You can give in the way that works best for you: online, by check, or through other giving options like ACH transfer, Donor Advised Fund (DAF), stock, or IRA gifts. We also partner with Double the Donation for employer matches (be sure to check!).

You can donate online at: Furever Home Campaign 

Checks may be mailed to:
Nine Lives Foundation
3137 Jefferson Ave.
Redwood City, CA 94062

8. Are there naming opportunities or recognition options for donors?

Yes! Select special rooms and spaces are available for naming (five-year term), as well as underwriting opportunities for lifesaving equipment.

See all the naming opportunities at: Name Your Space At Nine Lives
See all the equipment opportunities here: Support Our Lifesaving Equipment

9. How does Nine Lives support the wider community beyond the new facility?

Nine Lives is more than a shelter—it’s a community lifeline.

• Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) Leadership – The Bay Area’s largest provider of TNR, preventing thousands of unwanted litters each year.
  
• Affordable Veterinary Access – Vouchers and subsidized care keep cats with the families who love them.
  
• Regional Collaboration – Partnering with 50+ rescues, shelters, and clinics—many of them under-resourced, underfunded, and overburdened—so together we can save more cats than any one group could on its own.
  
• Education & Engagement – Volunteers, fosters, and workshops build a compassionate, informed community.
  
• Healthier Neighborhoods – By reducing strays and supporting pet families, we strengthen the community as a whole.

10. How is Nine Lives planning for long-term sustainability?

• Lease Protections – An 18-year lease with extended options and the right to purchase the building by 2031 (or sooner, through Phase 2 of the campaign).
  
• Phased Approach – Flexibility to adjust the fundraising timeline based on progress.

11. How can I help make this vision a reality?

With $1.8 million already raised toward our $2.5 million goal, we are within reach of our goal. Every step forward has been possible because of friends like you who believe every cat deserves a chance.

By joining us now, you’re not just making a gift—you’re becoming a partner in building a safe and loving future for cats across Northern California.