Shadow Cats is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of abused, abandoned, feral, stray, and injured cats in Round Rock, Austin and surrounding areas. We do not take in owner-released animals, but instead focus our efforts into helping un-owned stray and feral cats and kittens through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR). We also support community and feral cats through the One Life Fund and other community outreach efforts.
Shadow Cats Mission:
Shadow Cats provides long term care to special needs cats in a cage free Sanctuary environment while also providing compassionate and humane resources to effect positive change in community cat populations through Trap, Neuter and Return program and spay/neuter programs.
Shadow Cats Vision:
Shadow Cats will respect and show compassion to all animals. We will improve the lives of abused, abandoned, feral, stray, and injured cats. We will promote spay and neuter programs, promote Trap, Neuter and Return as the most humane method of effecting positive change in feral cat populations, provide educational and informational assistance to the public, re-home socialized cats and kittens and provide medical care to those cats under Shadow Cats guardianship. Shadow Cats will further our mission by expanding our reach beyond our immediate community through designated fund programs and through motivational and inspirational leadership.
Shadow Cats Core Values and Culture:
We are mission-driven individuals who bring our best selves to every endeavor, working respectfully with each other to collaborate on giving the best possible care to our feline residents and those in the community. We are committed to our mission and achieving it in a kind and inclusive manner.
Respect
We respect life in all its diversity.
We listen to others and acknowledge their needs.
We practice patience and tolerance for others.
We demonstrate care and understanding of people and animals.
Integrity
We are trustworthy and strive to do the right thing.
We observe, follow-through, and honor our word.
We make thoughtful, informed decisions.
We are transparent.
We are not easily influenced by others.
Inclusion
We consider other’s perspectives and remain open-minded.
We work as a team, include and lift up one another.
We see each life as important.
Commitment
We guard and protect all animals with compassion.
We are committed to our mission.
We persevere.
Shadow Cats is dedicated to providing long-term care to special needs cats in a cage-free sanctuary environment while also providing compassionate and humane resources to effect positive change in community cat populations through Trap, Neuter, and Return programs and spay/neuter programs. Since we love and respect all animals, we serve exclusively vegetarian food at any events or fundraisers that are sponsored or funded by Shadow Cats.
Shadow Cats Racial and Cultural Equity Position:
Shadow Cats affirms that we are all equal and deserving of the same considerations, regardless of any racial or cultural differences. In this we are committed to an inclusive approach in all that we do as hearing diverse voices enriches our organization and strengthens our connection to the greater community whom we serve as our core mission.
Shadow Cats works diligently to ensure that all of our policies, programs, staff, committees, and Board appointments uphold our ideals of diversity, equity, and inclusion. To further this commitment, we maintain an openness to identifying weak points and to work towards implementing any processes that will help us ensure these values are upheld.
Board of Directors
Sheila Smith, Co-President/Founder
Sheila Smith and Shadow Cats have been at the forefront of feline welfare and community cats for over twenty years. Founded in 1997, Sheila has worked diligently with city leaders in several Texas towns to change ordinances to legalize TNR and provide more humane outcomes for community cats. She also collaborated with city officials in Taylor, Texas, to dismantle their gas chamber and assist them in their No Kill efforts. Sheila continues to be as passionate today about the welfare of community cats, special needs cats and feline leukemia cats as when the organization was founded over 20 years ago and has received several awards for her activism. Sheila spent her career as a practicing Registered Nurse for over twenty five years and now devotes a majority of her time to animal welfare.
Jacki Quaile, Co-President
Growing up, there were always cats in her family, there are cherished pictures of grandparents in the 1920’s with cats in their laps. Her very own kitten was given to her by her dad at the tender age of five. The kitten became very sick shortly after arriving home and she stayed with him around the clock to get him healthy again (with the help of her mum and dad) and he lived until he was 20! The love of cats was going to be part of her life from then on.
Jacki is a trained floral designer and event planner and owned her own business before moving to Texas. She has won many awards for her floral designs. Since being in Texas she has co-owned and built a successful commercial cleaning company with Steve ‘the love of her life’.
She was thrilled when she had the privilege of becoming a volunteer with Shadow Cats in 2008 and then invited to be a Board member and later Co-President of such an incredible organization. With her commitment to the Shadow Cats mission, Jacki has been a driving force behind Shadow Cats.
As life changes, Jacki looks forward to dedicating more time to Shadow Cats in her role as Co-President, as well as enjoying time with Steve and her own feline gang.
Bonnie Denbo, Secretary
Bonnie started volunteering at Shadow Cats in 2015 and she has loved every moment of it. She knew since the moment she walked into the sanctuary that this was where she wanted to devote her time and give back to her community. Over the years she has filled a variety of roles for Shadow Cats. Everything from scooping litter boxes, to helping put on gala events, and even dancing on the side of the road in costume to drum up donations! She is currently running the online auctions and assists with a variety of fundraising events.
Bonnie has an undergraduate degree in accounting from Texas A&M University – Central Texas and recently received her MBA from Texas State University. She also loves her full time job as a senior accountant for Thrive Pet Healthcare. She also has three black kitties at home that she adores and she loves to craft in her spare time.
Sanctuary Director
Sarah has always found herself drawn to animals. It wasn’t unusual for her to have a lizard in hand during her time living in Arizona, or to see her digging up sand crabs at Californian beaches as a child. It came as a shock to no one, then, when she graduated high school and immediately found a job at a local veterinary clinic. Over time, she fostered an incredible bond with cats, and dedicated herself to learning their language.
Sarah has worked most every position you can in the veterinary world over the course of a decade. Working these jobs made her aware of the disparities in cat care, so she felt a special drive to advocate for cats to improve their quality of life and to educate people. With her wealth of knowledge and experience, she is thrilled to be working at Shadow Cats as it’s Sanctuary Director. She is passionate about advocating and caring for leukemia positive and special needs cats and ensuring that they get the care they deserve.
When she’s not at Shadow Cats, Sarah can be found hiking, writing, and relaxing with her own two rescue cats.
Advisors
Steve Block owned and operated a successful Austin business for 10 years. Prior to this he was Chief Information Officer for a Fortune 500 Company. In addition to advising Shadow Cats on business matters, he is also the Treasurer and manages Shadow Cats’ fiscal and budgetary needs.
Steve supports the mission of Shadow Cats with great passion.
John Pearce is both an attorney and certified public accountant. In addition to a busy practice, John prepares Shadow Cats taxes each year in addition to providing legal support.
John has served on multiple boards including his current positions as Treasurer of Rotary International District 5870 and the Business, Corporations, and Taxation Section of the Austin Bar Association.
In his spare time, John pilots a Beechcraft Bonanza 36.
Rich Segal, long-time central Texas broadcast meteorologist and public speaker brings his knowledge and love of all animals to Shadow Cats. Rich has been involved in animal advocacy through his work with area shelters.
For the better part of three years, he did a bi-weekly segment that aired on a local 24-hour news station. The segments featured a puppy or kitten … or dog or cat .. that were looking for Forever Homes.
Rich met Shadow Cats in 2016 and after touring the facility and getting to know the work of Shadow Cats, he became involved with the organization and has served as emcee at the majority of our gala events.
He serves in an advisory capacity for media-related events and with the other members of the Advisory Board to give guidance and the benefit of their experience to the Shadow Cats Board.
Vista Vet advises us on and provides continuation of care to every Shadow Cat and has since 2023. They are a full-service, privately-owned five-doctor practice based in Round Rock that prioritizes compassionate, comprehensive and personalized care. Whether addressing annual needs, performing surgical procedures, or providing extensive diagnostics, they make sure every cat we bring to them is treated thoroughly and with care. This care extends all the way back to the sanctuary, where the treatments our dedicated team exacts are provided with the lens of Vista Vet’s guidance and expertise.
Our Friends
Shadow Cats depends on the partnerships of individuals, businesses and other animal organizations who make it possible for us to do the work we do. We are truly grateful and appreciative for their continued support and we would like to extend a special thanks to them.