C & W Rustic Hollow Shelter is a life care, cage-free sanctuary for special needs felines with disabilities, chronic medical conditions, those with Feline Leukemia or FIV, and felines displaced at the death of their guardian. We are one of the few sanctuaries in the U.S. to give Feline Leukemia and other ‘adoption challenged’ felines a ‘chance at a lifetime’.

Our caregiver employee team of 10 and several volunteers care for the 295 felines and several very senior dogs that call C & W their forever home. We offer an ‘alternative to euthanasia’ as many of the felines that come to us are at the ‘end of their lives’ without a sanctuary to welcome them. Our sanctuary residents come from over 28 state and from all across Iowa.

We do not take in people’s pets (exception: death of guardian) or strays, but we DO OFFER a rehoming program for these animals. None of these reside at the sanctuary, we simply act as intermediator and ‘matchmaker’ for these companion animals. We offer behavioral counseling as well as a subsidized spay/neuter program for barn cats, ferals and strays. The sanctuary rests on 190 acres of (sanctuary owned) land in a scenic, peaceful valley, known as Willow Echo Farm.

Conservation is a prime concern as well. The sanctuary is also a release site for rehabilitated wildlife who enjoy the creeks, marshland, and over 40 acres of woods. The sanctuary currently has five main buildings, each with an outdoor screened in ‘catio’ the felines can go out in 3 seasons of the year. Each area has TV’s with Catnip (Catsitter) Videos playing for the residents indoor enjoyment.

C & W is supported solely by donations, sponsorships of the furballs, grants & estate giving & many fund raisers! We receive no city, county, state or federal monies. If you would like to visit, sponsor one of the furballs, or make a tax deductible donation, it would be purrfectly appreciated.

You are invited to visit us and spend a day or an hour sitting under furballs. Call us at 641-435-4151 for an appointment to visit or volunteer!