Hermitage No-Kill Cat Shelter in Tucson

If you care about cats in the Tucson area — whether you’re looking to adopt, volunteer, or simply learn about feline rescue — the Hermitage No-Kill Cat Shelter & Sanctuary is one of the most remarkable resources in the city. Founded in 1965 by a Russian Orthodox nun named Sister Theresa Seraphim, the Hermitage is Arizona’s first no-kill, cage-free cat shelter and the only American Sanctuary Association-accredited cat sanctuary in the state.

What makes the Hermitage different from other shelters is its commitment to every cat that walks through the door. If a cat can’t be adopted due to medical or behavioral issues, the Hermitage provides lifelong sanctuary. No cat is ever euthanized to make room for another. This guide covers the shelter’s history, adoption process, community programs, volunteer opportunities, and how the Hermitage connects to the broader landscape of feline care — including what to know when your own cat is approaching end of life.

Location, Hours, and Contact Information

The History of the Hermitage

The Hermitage has one of the most unusual origin stories of any animal shelter in Arizona. In 1965, Sister Theresa Seraphim — a Russian Orthodox nun from England — founded what was originally called the Arizona Animal Anti-Cruelty League. She moved to southern Arizona and eventually settled at the shelter’s current location on East 21st Street in 1969, where she lived on-site and personally cared for the cats until her passing in 1990.

Since then, the organization has grown from a small backyard operation into a professionally run, 9,000-square-foot facility that houses over 200 cats at any time. In 2013, the Hermitage became an accredited sanctuary through the American Sanctuary Association — making it the only accredited cat sanctuary in Arizona. In 2017, the shelter moved into its expanded, renovated building, which includes an in-house medical suite, outdoor enclosed catios, and designated sections for cats with special medical needs.

The Hermitage is one of only about two dozen shelters in the entire United States that provides lifelong care for cats with FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) or FeLV (feline leukemia virus). These are cats that many other shelters would euthanize. At the Hermitage, they receive medical care, socialization, and the chance to be adopted — or, if that’s not possible, a permanent home for the rest of their lives.

Adopting a Cat From the Hermitage

The Hermitage is open to the public for visits and adoptions Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can walk in, meet the cats, and talk with the adoption staff about which cats might be a good fit for your household. Because the facility is cage-free, you’ll see the cats in their living environment — lounging on shelves, playing in the catios, or napping in their favorite corners.

Adoption Fees

All adoption fees include spay/neuter surgery, FIV/FeLV testing, microchipping, age-appropriate vaccinations, deworming, and a complimentary post-adoption veterinary visit with a partner veterinarian. Declawing is strictly prohibited — it’s written into the adoption contract, and the Hermitage will reclaim any cat that is declawed after adoption.

Adoption Process

• Visit the shelter during open hours to meet the cats and talk with staff about your household, lifestyle, and what kind of cat you’re looking for.
• Submit an application. You can fill out the adoption application online through their website. The application asks about your current and past pets, your veterinarian, your living situation, and personal references.
• Background check and references. The Hermitage conducts a background check and contacts your references. If you rent, you’ll need to provide a copy of your pet addendum showing your landlord allows cats.
• Bring your cat home. Once approved, you’ll sign an adoption contract and receive a vaccination record and transition guidance. The staff remains available for questions after adoption.

What Makes the Hermitage Unique

• Cage-free environment. All cats roam freely in designated sections of the shelter, including enclosed outdoor catios. This means the cats you meet during a visit are behaving naturally — not stressed in a cage.
• In-house medical suite. The Hermitage performs spay/neuter surgeries, dental procedures, X-rays, and routine diagnostics on-site. Every cat receives a full exam every six months.
• Lifelong sanctuary. Cats that can’t be adopted live at the Hermitage permanently. They are not euthanized to make room.
• Specialized care sections. The facility includes separate areas for FIV+ cats, FeLV+ cats, and cats with dietary or medical needs (like the “Dietary & Diabetic Darlings” room).
• Rescue beyond Pima County. The Hermitage takes in cats from surrounding Arizona counties, as well as from locations as far as San Juan, Puerto Rico and San Marcos, Mexico.

Community Programs

The Hermitage operates several programs that extend well beyond adoption:

• Food For People’s Pets (FFPP) — The shelter’s longest-running community support program provides free pet food to families in financial need. The pantry distributes food on the 3rd Thursday of each month (10 a.m.–2 p.m.) and has served approximately 150 client families. This program works alongside other Tucson pet food resources like Cody’s Friends Charitable Foundation, which supplies pet food to food banks across the city.
• TNR Trap Rentals — The Hermitage rents out humane traps for Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) and provides information about local low-cost spay/neuter clinics.
• Purrs for Autism — A program that pairs social, curious Hermitage cats with children ages 6–12 who are on the autism spectrum for one-on-one interaction sessions.
• Therapy Cat Visits — A “kitty ambassador” visits the Southern Arizona VA hospital and assisted living facilities to provide animal-assisted therapy.
• Continued Cat Care & Planned Giving — If you have cats and want to ensure they’re cared for after your passing, the Hermitage offers a planned giving program.
• Sponsor a Cat — For $25/month or $300/year, you can sponsor a specific Hermitage cat. Your sponsorship covers food, veterinary care, and litter.

How to Support the Hermitage

• Volunteer. The Hermitage relies heavily on volunteers for socializing cats, cleaning, laundry, and administrative tasks.
• Foster. Foster care is especially critical for orphaned kittens who need round-the-clock feeding. Training is provided.
• Donate. Financial donations can be made online at hermitagecatshelter.org. The shelter also accepts pet food, cleaning supplies, and other items.
• Cans for Cats. Bring in crushed, clean aluminum cans. The shelter recycles them for operating funds.

End-of-Life Care for Cats — What Makes It Different

Most of the end-of-life content available online focuses on dogs. But cats face their own unique set of aging challenges, and the signs of declining quality of life in cats can look very different from what dog owners are used to recognizing. If you have a senior or terminally ill cat, understanding these differences can help you make more informed, compassionate decisions.

Here are some of the key ways that cat end-of-life care differs from dogs:

• Cats hide pain. This is one of the most important differences. Dogs tend to show pain through limping, whimpering, or behavioral changes that are relatively easy to spot. Cats are evolutionarily programmed to conceal pain and weakness. A cat in significant discomfort may simply become quieter, withdraw to a hiding spot, or stop grooming.
• Common end-of-life conditions differ. While dogs frequently face cancers, heart failure, and degenerative joint disease, the most common conditions in cats include chronic kidney disease (CKD), hyperthyroidism, diabetes, cancer (particularly lymphoma), and advanced dental disease. Kidney disease is the leading cause of death in senior cats and often progresses gradually over months or years.
• Appetite changes carry more urgency in cats. Cats who stop eating for even 48–72 hours are at risk for hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease), which can become life-threatening rapidly.
• Cats are more sensitive to environmental stress. For a cat in hospice or at end of life, the stress of a veterinary clinic visit can be genuinely harmful. This is one reason why in-home veterinary care is especially valuable for cats.
• Behavioral withdrawal is the primary signal. A cat who used to sleep on the bed now hides under it. A cat who used to greet you at the door now stays in a closet. These changes are subtle but meaningful.

Cat Hospice Considerations

Hospice care for cats is still a relatively new concept for many pet owners, but it’s becoming more recognized as a compassionate option for cats with terminal diagnoses. Some things to think about:

• Create a comfortable, low-stress environment. Cats in hospice benefit from having a quiet, warm space with their bed, litter box, food, and water all within easy reach.
• Work with your vet on pain management. Cats metabolize medications differently than dogs, and many common pain medications are toxic to cats. Pain management requires feline-specific expertise.
• Monitor hydration carefully. Subcutaneous fluids — administered at home by the owner — are one of the most common hospice interventions for cats with kidney disease.
• Use a quality-of-life scale designed for cats. Look for one that accounts for feline-specific behaviors like hiding, grooming changes, and social withdrawal — not just mobility and appetite.
• Plan for the end. Knowing in advance how you want to handle euthanasia can reduce the emotional burden when the time comes. In-home euthanasia is often the gentlest option for cats. Understanding what cat euthanasia costs and involves can help you plan ahead.

Tucson Vetcalls — Compassionate In-Home Veterinary Care

If your cat is aging, declining, or in hospice care, Tucson Vetcalls provides gentle, in-home veterinary services designed to minimize stress and maximize comfort — for both you and your pet. Dr. Maria Miller, DVM, comes to your home for quality-of-life assessments, pain management, and peaceful at-home euthanasia when the time comes.

For cats especially, being evaluated and cared for at home — without the carrier, the car ride, and the waiting room — can make an enormous difference in their comfort and in your peace of mind. To learn more or schedule a visit, go to tucsonvetcalls.com or call (520) 243-9115.