Volunteers are the most important part of our mission to give every cat a chance at a forever home.

We are a 100% volunteer-run rescue and, without you, we wouldn’t be able to keep saving our feline friends. Volunteering with us is easy and flexible. We have options and opportunities for all schedules, and even two hours a week helps greatly.

Our most needed roles are detailed below. If you’ve ever thought about getting involved, now is the purr-fect time!

Thank you for considering offering your time and efforts to Purrfect Cat Rescue—and our mission to help the cats and kittens in the community! (If you are under the age of 18, a parent or legal guardian must provide written consent.)

Interested in volunteering with us?

Complete and submit the Volunteer Application Form below.

Volunteer Form

We welcome and appreciate all help, but currently, we are only offering community service hours for Cat Care (which is listed in the Interest section of the Volunteer Application).

Once received, our volunteer coordinator will review your application and contact you to discuss how you can help in your area of interest. If approved, the coordinator will help you schedule your first volunteering shift and text you a link that will enable you to sign up for future volunteer shifts.

Before coming to Purrfect Cat Rescue for your first volunteer shift, please print, complete, and sign the Volunteer Waiver Release Form.

Questions?

Please contact us via our online Contact Us form, call or text us at (815) 900-8221, or email us at deb@purrfectcatrescue.com.

Cat Care

Cat care is one of the most important volunteer opportunities at the shelter. The health of the cats and care of the shelter is what makes us stand out in the public eye. Cat care shifts are available every day of the week. Come alone or buddy up with a friend! Cleaning has never been so much fun with the kitties helping you.

Shifts Available

  • Morning (AM) Cat Care Shifts
    Every Day from 9 AM-12 PM

  • Afternoon (PM) Cat Care Shifts
    Monday–Friday from 5-8 PM

  • Weekend (PM) Cat Care Shifts
    Saturday & Sunday from 3-4:30 PM

Cat Care Responsibilities

  • Giving cats their wet food

  • Refilling dry food

  • Giving fresh water

  • Scooping litter boxes

  • Sweeping / cleaning the floors

  • Disinfecting surfaces

  • Stocking supplies

  • Stripping linens / light laundry

  • Washing food / water bowls

  • Cat socialization / playtime (at the end of shift)

If you have any physical limitations, we are happy to work with you. Cat Care volunteers must be 16 years old with parental consent (or a high school student approved for community service hours).

Laundry

Laundry plays a key role in keeping our cat shelter clean, healthy, and comfortable. Clean towels and bedding help cats stay healthy, heal faster, and feel more comfortable in a stressful environment. (We go through a lot of towels when new cats and kittens come into the shelter for medical exams and treatments.)

Instead of set shifts, we offer flexible “laundry days.” Simply stop by the shelter, pick up a couple of filled laundry bags, wash and dry the items at home, and return them when it’s convenient for you. There’s no rush—laundry can be returned the following week if needed.

Days Available

  • Thursday

  • Saturday

If you’re interested in being a laundry back-up for any day of the week, let us know. It’s always great to have someone at the ready in case a regular can’t take their day.

Fostering

Fostering helps us help more cats and kittens each year. Generally between the months of April and October, kittens are born to unfixed strays and feral cats, and the harsh reality is there just isn't enough space to save this massive number of kittens coming through the doors. Cats and kittens need to stay in short-term foster homes until they are properly vaccinated and medically ready so they can reside at the shelter safely—or go to their forever homes.

Purrfect Cat Rescue is a no-kill shelter environment and we will *never* euthanize an animal due to space. Rescue, shelter, and rehome—that is our mission. But without foster homes, we cannot provide as much of the rescue that these young kittens need.

Foster Responsibilities

  • Housing cats / kittens while they complete their medical process

  • Bringing cats / kittens to vaccine appointments at the shelter

  • Administering basic medications (like dewormers or antibiotics)

  • Giving lots of love and attention (socializing and playtime)

  • Communicating their progress or issues with the shelter

  • Writing short bios for their shelter debut and social media posting

To become an approved foster home, fill out our Foster Application. We provide you with any and all supplies that you may need, like food, medicines, and cat beds / trees. Foster kitties need to remain separated from household pets during the fostering process.

Cat Socializers

Socialization is a very important part of a healthy kitty’s day. Many rescue cats come in shy, fearful, or under-socialized—especially strays or kittens that haven’t had much human contact. Socialization is about gently and consistently showing them that people are safe, helping them become more comfortable, confident, and trusting. This makes a huge difference in helping them find a permanent home!

Socialization Shifts Available

  • Morning (AM) Socializing Shifts
    Every Day from 10 AM-12 PM

Socialization Responsibilities

  • Spending time near cats and kittens so they get used to human presence

  • Talking softly, reading aloud, or just sitting calmly in their space

  • Offering treats or food to build positive associations

  • Using toys (like wand toys) to encourage play and interaction

  • Petting and handling cats at their comfort level (never forcing contact)

  • For shy or scared cats, progress can be slow—sometimes it starts with just getting them to come out of hiding.

Socialization shifts are not eligible for community service hours. Socializers must be at least 13 years old (and children ages 13-15 must be accompanied by a parent for the entire shift).

Vet Techs / Groomers

On the 4th Sunday of every month, we have a three-hour nail trim event that is open to the public. Held at Thomas' Tails in Crystal Lake, we are looking for a vet tech or groomer that can help trim nails. All kinds of animals are welcome—cats, dogs, lizards, hedgehogs, etc. We are looking for someone that has experience trimming dogs' nails that is willing to donate their time to these events.

Event Information

  • Mid-Morning Nail Trim Events
    Every 4th Sunday from 11 AM-2 PM
    Thomas' Tails
    31 E. Crystal Lake Ave
    Crystal Lake, IL 60014

We usually have between 100-150 animals come through during these events.

If the roles above aren’t your cup of (catnip) tea, there are other ways to get involved with us—some even from the comfort of home.

Shelter Greeters

Greeters are necessary and vital volunteer positions at the shelter during our open / public hours. You would be the “Welcome Center”—the first person someone meets when coming into the shelter. Some people come to the shelter who just want to visit, and you would show them around the shelter. If someone is interested in adopting, they would be sent to an Adoption Counselor. If the shelter isn’t busy, you would also help with answering phone calls or other office chores. This volunteer position is for ages 21 and over who can commit on a regular schedule.

Community Outreach

We need help getting the word out about our shelter and our events! Community Outreach volunteers would help us advertise who we are and what we are about—posting event flyers around town and locating places with community event boards. We average about 3-4 events per month between nail trims, Chow & Meow fundraisers, and / or shelter events. The more places we advertise, the more the community knows about us … and more kitties will benefit!

Crafting

This area of volunteering can vary depending on the level of your crafting / sewing ability. Whether you knit, crochet, or hand or machine sew—or don’t—there’s something for you! All of our cat and dog toys, blankets, and quilts are handmade and sold in our in-shelter store and at events throughout the community. Also, if you have a crafting specialty and would like to make and donate something for an event raffle basket … let’s talk!

Events

We are always looking for fun and engaging people to help us at events. Our events help raise awareness for Purrfect Cat Rescue in and around the community—and the cats and kittens we support. We average about 3-4 events per month between nail trims, Chow & Meow fundraisers, shelter events, and the occasional off-site pet expo. An average event runs 2-3 hours, and longer or all-day events will be broken into multiple shifts. A typical event might include set-up / take down of a table or booth, selling tickets or products, and welcoming or thanking guests and customers. Volunteering for events does not mean you are also responsible for coming up with event ideas—just helping to work them. (Although if you do have an idea, we’re all ears!)

Gardening

While we have a great building with a great location, our specialty is cats—not gardening. We could use help keeping up the appearance of our landscaping and property exterior. This might be weeding, planting, watering, or picking up any litter around the property. And it definitely means filling all our bird feeders! Every window has at least one bird feeder. Our cats and kittens love to sit by the windows and watch the birds and wildlife come and go. (It provides enjoyment for felines—and humans alike!) When you are done on the outside, come inside and say hello to the kitties!

Vet Transport

Many of the cats and kittens in our care require veterinary or surgical appointments throughout the week. (We currently average about 50 cats and kittens in the shelter and 30-50 kittens in foster homes at a time.) For extended surgical appointments—with an early drop-off and later pick-up—we can split the appointment into two shifts if you can only take one half of the appointment. Having help transporting them from the shelter to their scheduled appointments and back will help us greatly while we continue to do our daily work at the shelter.