The Summerland Cat Sanctuary is the "flagship" of Critteraid. Operating at more than capacity, the sanctuary encompasses one floor of the house at Critteraid Farm. Floors are heated and rooms designed in order that the cats can enjoy the natural light from outdoors. Visitors can spend time with the cats in the rooms or can observe the cats through the glass doors.

From 5:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., the cats have access to the Okanagan Fest-of-Ale compound, a large, clean and safe area where the cats can bask in the sun and watch the pheasants, rabbits and birds at the farm while remaining safe from harm in this fabulous structure. They enjoy overseeing the activity in the pasture below where the horses, alpaca and donkey often provide an entertaining and comical show with their running and playing.

The cats are no longer unwanted, abused or homeless when they come to Critteraid. Often they are hurt or ill and most likely would not have survived other animal facilities. Many are feral and the Critteraid volunteers have provided all of them with unconditional love. We are proud of our tremendous success with achieving the trust of many of these special cats and the adoptions that have resulted.

While we have a moratorium on incoming cats, without exception, Critteraid cats return to the sanctuary if an adoptive family is unable to continue to provide them with a good home. Our cats must remain indoor cats only and adoptors must agree that they will never put the cat through a declawing amputation.

Our adoption procedure begins with interested adopters completing an Application to Adopt form. When that is done, we will send a representative to visit the adopter in their home and learn directly from them what they are looking for and what their expectation is. After that, adopters are invited to visit the cats themselves.

Every cat is adoptable at Critteraid, whether it is the wildest of the ferals to the cat that has a chronic virus. It all depends on the adopter. We are just starting to see that very special people seem to be drawn to those very special cats. The bonds that can develop are truly magnificent and a gentle hand that strokes a special needs cat is always indicative of a full and happy heart.

Some of the cats have to be adopted with a special cat friend and some of the cats would love to live a retired life without another cat in the house. Some like dogs, some are fearful of them. Many we just don't know how they will respond to a dog at close range. Some need the comfort and warmth of a bed and others have never seen a bed and don't have a clue what it is.

All of the cats at Critteraid are spayed or neutered. While we very rarely have the experience of kittens at the sanctuary, we can certainly put you in touch with other organizations that do.

Our oldest resident is Marmie March, once a feral who turned 24 in April 2006. Representing all the cats in the photograph is our beloved Earless Oddsock, who passed away at Critteraid in 2004. He had lived on the back streets of Naramata for a number of years, a fish hook attached to his side. When we finally trapped him, we were delighted and awestruck that he was not the fierce wildcat at all but a sweet, grateful and very forgiving soul.