Grace & Purrs

 Grace & Purrs Sanctuary is a compassionate haven for stray, feral, and discarded cats, providing a safe, nurturing space for healing and transition as we guide them, one by one, to loving forever homes. 

At Grace & Purrs Sanctuary, we believe every cat, especially those who have known hardship, deserves grace, safety, and a soft place to land. We serve as a compassionate steppingstone for stray, feral, and discarded cats, offering a tranquil environment where they can decompress, heal, and learn to trust again. Our mission is to guide each cat, one by one, through rescue, rehabilitation, and thoughtful adoption, until they find their loving forever family.

Grace & Purrs also believes in educating and connecting community members to spread the word of TNR, importance of Spay/Neuter, Cat Colony Caretaking, and reducing the homeless cat population one by one.

Compassion & Grace: We extend unconditional kindness and understanding to every cat, recognizing their unique needs and past experiences. We believe in second chances and the power of gentle care to transform lives.

Sanctuary & Healing: We provide a peaceful, secure haven where cats can recover physically and emotionally. Our focus is on creating a low-stress environment that fosters healing and prepares them for a new life. Currently this happens in foster homes, but we plan to expand to a dedicated sanctuary and transitional housing soon. 

Stewardship & Responsibility: Inspired by a deep respect for all living creatures, we are committed to responsible care, ethical practices, and advocating for the welfare of cats in our community.

Community & Connection: We foster a supportive community of volunteers, adopters, and partners who share our vision. We believe in the power of connection between cats and humans, and among those who care for them. And that supporting local businesses, artisans, and producers through community can strengthen all communities. 

Hope & New Beginnings: For every cat that comes through our doors, we hold onto hope for a brighter future. We celebrate each adoption as a new beginning, a testament to resilience, and a step closer to a world where every cat has a home. And every human connection we make brings us all closer to a true community of caretakers.  

 We are committed to educating our communities about the importance of spay/neuter for their pets, and the serious harm caused when owned cats are abandoned or left at feral colonies. Leaving pets at cat colonies endangers both the colony cats and the pets themselves, increasing disease, stress, and the cycle of abandonment. At Grace & Purrs Sanctuary, we work to share practical, judgment-free information about responsible cat care, to connect guardians with low-cost spay/neuter and veterinary resources, and to help keep pets in their homes whenever possible. When staying is not an option, we support safe, ethical rehoming so that every cat has the best chance at a stable, loving future.

Although many colony cats are considered feral, many of these cats started as pets and were dumped in these areas. When finally brought into homes and foster situations, it becomes apparent that they are not feral, only afraid and have lost trust in humans. 

 This is more than a tagline; it is our guiding principle. For the stray, the feral, and the discarded cat, life has often been a struggle for survival. They are not just numbers; each one is an individual with a unique story, a distinct personality, and a profound need for safety and love.

At Grace & Purrs Sanctuary, we commit to each cat individually. We provide personalized care, patience, and understanding, helping them heal and trust at their own pace. Our goal is simple, yet profound: to ensure that no cat is left behind. We work tirelessly, focusing our efforts on one precious life at a time, driven by the hope that one day, every cat will know the comfort of a loving home and every person that is part of that journey finds healing for themselves. It is a big dream, but we believe that with grace and purrs, it is a dream we can achieve, one cat at a time.

  For more than 30 years, there have been big hearted citizens in Lynchburg and the four surrounding counties feeding and caring for colony and homeless cats. A strong TNR (Trap Neuter Return) program is in place for these cats, but it continues to be an uphill battle. Many colonies will be fully neutered but then new house pets, including kittens, are dumped into the colonies, starting the cycle over again. Although the caretakers of these colonies have grown in numbers, the population growth massively surpasses the support. 

A band of kind hearted people have found each other by meeting in parking lots feeding and sharing phone numbers. These individuals have 100% self-funded feeding, medical care, and shelter building and maintenance costs. Helping each other when storms hit and with food supplies when possible. Daily care includes fresh water, dry food, wet food, and cooked chicken/veggies. During bad weather, food and water is heated; shelters are checked daily for moisture and access; and often digging out of paths and other cat access points. During extreme heat, water is checked more frequently to ensure cats are safe from dehydration.