Why Sweet Whiskers Is Becoming a Nonprofit
As of January 1, 2026, Sweet Whiskers will officially become part of a nonprofit organization built on the same ethics and values we’ve always operated under. This is not a pivot — it’s a formalization.
From the beginning, our work has been education-driven, welfare-first, and access-minded. Becoming a nonprofit allows our structure to finally match our mission, ensuring long-term sustainability, community access, and affordable care without compromising standards.
We will continue providing the same expert cat care our community trusts. We’re simply dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s so our legal framework reflects how we’ve always worked.
Sweet Whiskers remains founder-led by Jz and Justin, who are also the founders of the nonprofit now housing Sweet Whiskers. This transition reflects a merger of mission-aligned values, not a change in direction. Our long-term vision is to build a model that can responsibly support future locations — expanding access to high-quality, skilled cat care while also protecting the health, safety, and sustainability of the professionals providing it.
What Isn’t Changing:
What Being a Nonprofit Allows Us to Do
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Reinvest revenue directly into education, outreach, and access, expanding support for more members of our community.
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Build a behavior-informed equipment library, allowing local guardians to try tools before investing in high-cost items that may not be right for their cat.
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Offer low-cost or subsidized support for high-need cases, extending care beyond what traditional shelter or rescue systems can provide.
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Publish and share evidence-based research and resources, advancing grooming, behavior, and veterinary-adjacent care.
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Partner with rescues, veterinarians, and mission-aligned nonprofits, strengthening local collaboration while helping shape broader welfare-first practices.
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Apply for grants that support humane, welfare-first care, enabling additional hands-on support where it’s most needed in our community.
These opportunities allow us to expand impact while staying grounded in the same care, standards, and values our community already trusts.
Transparency & Accountability
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Becoming a nonprofit does not lower the quality of care, advice, or services you receive for your cat. If anything, it strengthens our ability to provide evidence-based, species-specific support.
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Nonprofit status increases long-term stability, allowing us to plan sustainably and reinvest in the community in intentional, accountable ways.
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We remain a professionally run organization, with clear roles, defined responsibilities, and a structure designed to support growth without compromising care.
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Clear governance and training frameworks ensure consistency, ethics, and accountability for all current and future team members.
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Additional ethical oversight and transparency help ensure decisions are made in alignment with our mission and values.
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Community accountability is built into our structure, allowing our work to remain visible, responsible, and aligned with the needs of those we serve.
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Responsible use of funds is central to our nonprofit model — staff are paid fairly through set salaries, and any surplus is reinvested directly into programs that expand access, education, and community support.
Transparency and accountability are not new values for us — this structure simply makes them explicit and public facing.
Why This Matters to Us
This transition allows us to stay grounded in the values that have always guided our work:
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Cats first, always — prioritizing welfare, consent, and wellbeing in every interaction.
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Education over punishment, empowering guardians with knowledge rather than shame or blame.
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Reducing barriers to care, so more cats and families can access the support they need.
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Supporting guardians, not judging them, recognizing that care happens within real-life constraints.
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Aligning fully with our founders’ long-term welfare mission, choosing sustainability, ethics, and impact over short-term profit in an industry that is overdue for change.
This structure allows us to keep doing what we believe in — with clarity, accountability, and care.
Thank you for trusting us with your cats. We’re deeply grateful to be part of this community and to be able to continue this work in a way that aligns with our values.
If you have questions, we’re always happy to talk. If you’re interested in learning more about this mission or how you may be able to support it in the future, you’re welcome to reach out to Jz by email.
As we complete our nonprofit formation, we are in the process of building our founding board in accordance with federal requirements. No donations are being accepted at this time.
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