Meals that Heal

Help us raise $20,000 to provide lifesaving cat food. A $10,000 matching gift means every donation counts double!

For many cats with chronic illnesses, the right food is not optional; it is lifesaving.

At Cat Care Society (CCS), we provide specialized care and prescription diets that few other shelters in Colorado can offer. Cats with kidney disease, diabetes, urinary issues, food sensitivities, FeLV/FIV, and other chronic conditions rely on medically necessary nutrition to stabilize their health, improve their quality of life, and become adoptable.

Why This Program Matters

Over 50% of the cats in CCS’s shelter and foster programs require prescription diets daily. These cats often cannot survive on standard food, making specialized nutrition essential. Over the past three years, access to prescription diets has:

• Stabilized chronic conditions

• Reduced the need for medications and emergency treatments

• Cut the average length of stay from 57 days in FY22 to just 20 days in FY25

• Increased adoption success while reducing returns

CCS prioritizes cats whose medical needs exceed the capacity of other shelters, accepting high-risk cases including kidney disease, diabetes, gastrointestinal issues, urinary crystals, food allergies, mobility challenges, and immunodeficiencies.

How the Program Works

Every cat receives a thorough veterinary assessment, and individualized nutrition plans are prescribed using Hill’s Prescription Diet® formulas:

• i/d® & Gastrobiome – digestive support with ActivBiome+ technology to reduce diarrhea and restore gut health

• w/d® – supports diabetes management, weight control, and lean body mass

• z/d® & d/d® – manage food sensitivities and allergies

• k/d® – kidney support for cats with renal disease

• c/d® – prevents urinary stones and blockages

Our veterinary team conducts daily health checks and weekly case reviews, adjusting nutrition plans to maximize health outcomes and prevent complications. 

CCS also supports adopters with transition food, educational materials, and connections to low-cost food pantries, ensuring continuity of care after adoption. Follow-up data shows most adopters continue prescribed diets, improving long-term health and reducing returns.

Program Outcomes (FY24–FY25)

• Health Stabilization: 600+ cats improved their health with specialized diets

• Reduced Medical Intervention: Fewer flare-ups, emergency treatments, and medications

• Faster Adoptions: Length of stay dropped from 57 to 20 days despite increasing medical complexity

• Improved Adoption Success: 91% of cats placed in FY24 thrived in their new homes

The Financial Need

Hill’s Pet Nutrition generously provides Cat Care Society with a 75% discount on prescription diets, making this lifesaving food far more affordable than retail prices. Even with this significant discount, the high medical needs of our cats mean that providing specialized nutrition for every medically vulnerable cat now costs more than we anticipated.

While CCS budgeted $20,000 for the Special Diet Program in FY26 (7/1/25-6/30/26), increasing medical complexity has pushed the projected need to over $60,000.

Thanks to generous donors, $45,000 has already been raised, and today we are seeking to fill the remaining gap of $15,000 to $20,000. A generous $10,000 matching gift is available, meaning every donation now counts double and can help us reach the goal faster.

Why Your Support Matters

Funding the Special Diet Program is a high-impact, lifesaving investment. Your contribution helps CCS:

• Stabilize chronic conditions in cats with serious health needs

• Reduce medication use and emergency veterinary interventions

• Shorten shelter stays and improve adoption outcomes

• Ensure continuity of care for cats in foster homes and adoptive families

• Provide nutrition that is often the only effective treatment for conditions such as renal failure, urinary blockages, diabetes, gastrointestinal disease, and food allergies

Your support ensures that vulnerable cats at CCS receive the medically necessary nutrition they need to survive, thrive, and find loving homes.

Give today to double your impact and help cats with serious health needs live healthier, happier lives.