ABOUT
Cats of Safety Harbor
Cats of Safety Harbor brings neighbors, volunteers, and partners together to humanely reduce the community cat population through TNVR. Our mission is simple: healthier cats, healthier communities.
MISSION & HISTORY.
Cats of Safety Harbor began in 2011 when local resident Shelly Schellenberg stepped in to help neighbors who were worried about the growing number of outdoor cats in their area. What started as one person responding with care and compassion slowly grew into a community effort. Over time, Shelly and a small group of volunteers built a network of caretakers, feeders, and partners who believed the cats deserved humane, thoughtful solutions—not judgment or harm.
Today, that effort has become a fully volunteer-powered TNVR nonprofit serving Safety Harbor and the greater Tampa Bay community.
Through long-term partnerships with veterinary clinics, local businesses, and caring residents, we’ve rescued more than 2,000 cats, prevented an estimated 4,000 births, saved over 3,000 lives, and helped our city avoid nearly $700,000 in shelter, intake, and euthanasia-related costs. Every cat we fix or treat represents less suffering, fewer kittens struggling to survive, and a healthier environment for both people and wildlife.
Our mission is simple: Reduce. Rescue. Return.
We work to ethically reduce the outdoor cat population using TNVR—trap, neuter, vaccinate, and return—a globally supported, science-based program proven to stabilize and decrease feral cat populations over time. When we identify a community cat in need, we humanely trap them, provide full medical care through one of our partner clinics, and return them to their colony once they’re healthy. It’s a respectful, compassionate approach that protects the cats, supports public health, and creates a more balanced, humane future for Safety Harbor’s neighborhoods.
PARTNERS.
Strong relationships are at the heart of our work. By partnering with local clinics, community nonprofits, and organizations focused on humane solutions, we’re able to support both the cats and the people who care for them while driving healthier, safer communities. We welcome partnerships with groups who believe in compassion, collaboration, and long-term community well-being.
