Volunteer

Become a Cat Care Volunteer

Our Cat Care Volunteers play an essential role in supporting our foster felines as those kitties wait for the day they are adopted. By offering your time and compassion, you directly improve the health, comfort, and happiness of cats and kittens in our care.

---

 A Warm & Welcoming Foster Environment

Cat Cove has multiple rooms and communal spaces designed to create a safe, enriching environment for cats and kittens of all ages. Volunteers help us maintain these spaces so they remain clean, comfortable, and full of positive interaction.

---

 Daily Care That Changes Lives

Volunteers provide the essential daily support that keeps our cats thriving:

• Refresh food and water to ensure proper nutrition and hydration
• Scoop and maintain litter boxes for a healthy environment
• Sweep and clean foster rooms and communal areas
• Replace washable bedding and soft items as needed
• Clean cat trees, toys, and enrichment equipment
• Most importantly–offer playtime, affection, and social interaction

Every task, big or small, contributes to the well-being and adoptability of our cats.

---

 Learn Valuable Hands-On Skills

Volunteering is also an opportunity to expand your knowledge and experience in feline care. Depending on your comfort level and interest, you may learn to:

• Bottle-feed newborn kittens
• Administer oral medications
• Provide subcutaneous (sub-q) injections
• Socialize shy or reserved cats and kittens
• Build confidence in animals preparing for adoption

Our team provides guidance and support, helping you gain meaningful, practical skills in animal care.

---

❤️ Why Volunteer with Us?

• Make a direct impact in the lives of vulnerable animals
• Gain experience in feline care and handling
• Be part of a compassionate, mission-driven community
• Experience the joy of helping cats transition to loving homes

If you have a heart for animals and a desire to make a difference, we would love to welcome you to our volunteer team. Together, we can give every cat the care, comfort, and love they deserve while they wait for their forever family. Link to our Volunteer Application: CCI-Volunteer-Application.pdf

Foster Parent: Change a Life

---

Grant Writers: Help Secure Our Funding

Volunteer Grant Writer – Make a Lifesaving Difference

Cat Cove, Inc. is seeking a passionate and detail-oriented Volunteer Grant Writer to help us secure the funding that makes our lifesaving work possible. If you’re a skilled researcher and writer who wants to use your talents to directly impact animal rescue efforts, this is a meaningful and rewarding opportunity to make a difference.

About the Role

As our Volunteer Grant Writer, you will play a vital role in helping Cat Cove expand its capacity to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome cats in need. Your work will directly support programs that save lives and strengthen our community.

Key Responsibilities

• Research and identify grant opportunities that support animal rescue and welfare services
• Maintain a grant calendar and develop strategic submission plans
• Gather relevant organizational data and write compelling grant proposals
• Track the status of submissions and manage follow-up communications with funders
• Provide updates to and collaborate with the Board of Directors regarding proposal status and outcomes

Qualifications

• Strong research and persuasive writing skills
• Self-motivated, goal-oriented, and able to work independently
• Comfortable with computers and online research tools
• Highly organized and detail-oriented

Why This Role Matters

Your time and talent will directly impact Cat Cove’s ability to save hundreds of feline lives in the years ahead. Every successful grant translates into food, medical care, shelter, and second chances for cats who need it most.

In addition to the personal fulfillment of making a tangible difference, this role offers valuable, transferable experience in nonprofit development, grant management, and strategic fundraising — an investment in both your community and your future career.

If you’re ready to combine purpose with professional growth, we would love to hear from you.Link to our Volunteer Application:  CCI-Volunteer-Application.pdf

Qualifications:

• Detailed research skills and excellent writing skills
• Self-starter and goal oriented
• Computer and Internet proficiency
• Organizational skills and detail-oriented

Benefits:

• Your efforts and results will directly impact Cat Cove, Inc.’s ability to save hundreds of lives in the years ahead.
• The experience gained through this position can be readily transferred to many paid career positions. It’s an investment in your future.

---

Transport Volunteer: Be the Bridge to a New Beginning

Every journey to a forever home starts with a ride — and that’s where you come in.

Transport Volunteers play a vital role in giving cats a second chance by driving them from our shelter to trusted non-kill rescue partners in Fredericksburg, Richmond, and Northern Virginia. These transfers place cats in more populated areas, greatly increasing their chances of being adopted into loving homes.

As a Transport Volunteer, you’re more than a driver — you’re the bridge between uncertainty and a fresh start.

What You’ll Do:

• Safely transport cats to partner rescues
• Help expand their adoption opportunities
• Represent our mission with care and compassion

What You’ll Need:

• Comfort driving at night when needed
• Ability to lift up to 20 pounds
• A valid driver’s license

You may use your own vehicle (mileage may qualify for a tax deduction), or drive Cat Cove’s four-door automatic sedan.

If you enjoy driving and want to make a tangible, life-saving impact in just a few hours, this rewarding volunteer opportunity could be the perfect fit. Every mile truly matters.

Link to our Volunteer Application:  CCI-Volunteer-Application.pdf

Requirements:

• Valid Virginia driver’s license and Good driving record
• Ability to lift 20 lbs.
• Ability to drive in the dark (early morning and late afternoon)
• Complete a Volunteer Application (see below) and meet with Volunteer Coordinator prior to first trip.

Time Commitment:

You will have notice of pending transfers, usually a few days to a couple weeks in advance, in order to coordinate your schedule. Transfers occur randomly throughout the year and typically require a half-day to full-day commitment.

Benefits:

• A wonderful feeling of accomplishment knowing you saved a cat or kitten from a harsh life on the street
• A mileage tax deduction, in accordance with IRS regulations when using your own vehicle
• Use of a CCI vehicle as needed ( Automatic, four-door sedan)

---

High School Volunteer: Cat Companion

Become a “Cat Companion”: Socialize and Save Lives!

Do you love cats? Need service hours? Want to make a real difference in your community?

Cat Cove, Inc. is looking for energetic and compassionate high school students to join our Cat Socialization Team. Many of our rescue cats are shy or stressed and need human interaction to help them become “adoption ready”. By spending just an hour or two a week petting, playing, grooming, and talking to our feline friends, you can help them find their forever homes faster.

What You’ll Do:

Socialize: Spend one-on-one time with cats and kittens to improve their confidence.
Play and Enrich: Use toys and treats to keep our cats mentally active and happy.
Grooming: Help all our residents look their best with gentle brushing.
Photography (Optional): Take photos to help us promote our cats on social media.

Why Join Us?
Earn Service Hours: We provide official documentation for school and club requirements.
Boost Your Resume: Demonstrate responsibility and commitment for college applications.
De-Stress: Spending time with animals is a proven way to lower stress during finals week.
Flexible Shifts: We offer after-school and weekend slots that fit your busy schedule.

Requirements:

• Must be a current high school student (Ages 16-18).
• A positive attitude and a love for animals.
• Be willing to work with our director for a quick orientation session.
• Sign a waiver acknowledging work with animals.

---

Outreach Coordinators

The Outreach Coordinator builds name recognition and support among community and business leaders to promote CCI’s mission of saving community feline lives through adoptions, foster care, and spay/neuter awareness.  The Outreach Coordinator contacts local businesses to generate community support of the Cat Cove, Inc. mission. Building a strong community relationship is the key objective of this position.

Responsibilities:

• Increase awareness of Cat Cove, Inc.'s mission and programs in the communities serviced by CCI
• Generate sponsorships, and in-kind and monetary support from businesses, corporations, vendors, and social-service groups from the areas served
• Recruit a volunteer pool to assist with sponsorship solicitation in surrounding counties
• Maintain a database of business donors
• Provide periodic activity and donor reports to the Board of Directors

Requirements:

• Outgoing personality
• Organized self-starter
• Understanding of business and corporate environment
• Driver’s license and good driving record
• Ability to develop goals and strategies to achieve goals

Benefits:

• Feel a sense of accomplishment while meeting interesting and like-minded community members
• Work with a highly professional and committed team
• IRS mileage tax deduction

Forms

If you’re interested in volunteering for Cat Cove, please fill out and return the Volunteer Application.

If you’re interested in fostering for Cat Cove, please fill out and return the Foster Application.