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
Jacki Quaile, President
Jacki’s love of cats goes back generations—there are even family photos from the 1920s of her grandparents with cats in their laps. That lifelong connection made it especially meaningful when she became a Shadow Cats volunteer in 2008 and later joined the Board of Directors. Today, she serves as Board President and is one of the central forces driving the organization forward.
Known for her ability to organize, delegate, and bring people together, Jacki plays multiple key roles within Shadow Cats. She chairs major fundraising events, helps guide strategic growth, and fosters a positive, unified team culture—always expecting the best from everyone and inspiring it with a smile. She is also deeply committed to ongoing learning, regularly participating in feline-focused education and encouraging others to expand their knowledge as well.
Jacki’s professional background spans retail management, floral design, and event planning. Before moving to Texas, she owned her own business, and after relocating, she co-owned and built a successful commercial cleaning company with her partner. Outside of her work with Shadow Cats, Jacki finds joy in family and friends, time outdoors, birdsong and flowers, walking, reading, and music.
Her blend of creativity, leadership, and genuine compassion continues to shape the growth and success of Shadow Cats.
Sheila Smith, Vice President/Founder
Sheila Smith and Shadow Cats have stood at the forefront of feline welfare and community cat advocacy for almost 30 years. Since founding the organization in 1997, Sheila has driven transformative change across Central Texas, working hand-in-hand with city leaders, animal control departments, and local stakeholders to create more compassionate, sustainable approaches to caring for community cats.
Her hands-on advocacy played a direct role in reforming TNR ordinances in multiple Texas municipalities, furthering humane population management and safer outcomes for both cats and communities. Sheila also worked closely with city officials in Taylor, Texas, to dismantle the city’s gas chamber— one of her most gratifying moments-ushering in modern, humane sheltering practices—and supported them in their No Kill transition. Over the years, her work has earned multiple awards and recognitions honoring her leadership, compassion, and advocacy. These milestones reflect Sheila’s unwavering belief that every cat, regardless of background, health status, or circumstance, deserves dignity and the chance to live safely.
Sheila spent more than 25 years as a practicing Registered Nurse, bringing the same empathy, steadiness, and care to her patients that she now pours into her rescue and sanctuary work. She is also a proud cat mom to Skandle, Smitty, and Wyatt, and dedicates the majority of her time to improving the lives of vulnerable felines across Texas and beyond.
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 Epiphany Dermatology. She also has three black kitties at home that she adores and she loves to craft in her spare time.
Dustin Svehlak
Dustin’s love of cats grew from a deeply personal place and has since become a hands-on commitment to advocacy, storytelling, and care. After adopting a beloved orange cat named Pumpkin Head (RIP), he became a devoted cat dad and was inspired to take his passion further by volunteering with Shadow Cats in April 2024. His involvement quickly expanded, and he now serves as the sanctuary’s Social Media Coordinator, using his skills to share the stories of special-needs cats, staff, and lifesaving work across multiple platforms. Beyond the sanctuary, Dustin is also an active community cat caretaker in his neighborhood, practicing Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) to improve outcomes for outdoor cats and reduce suffering at the source.
Shelley Davis
Shelley has always had a cat in her life. When she was a kid, it was her family cat, Chrissy. She then went off to college and rescued Uno with the help of her sister. As an adult, she cared for her very own fur babies, Punky and Bentley, for over 14 years. Bentley was diagnosed with feline diabetes late in his life and his diagnosis and care plan is what initially opened Shelley’s eyes to the dedication and passion needed to care for a special needs cat.
Shelley has been an active volunteer in the Austin community for many years as a member of The Junior League of Austin and a volunteer with several other local nonprofits. It was only natural that her love for cats and passion for volunteering brought her to Shadow Cats.
Shelley has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Baylor University and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from The University of Texas at Austin. She loves her full-time job in elementary education as an instructional coach. When she is not working or volunteering, she loves spending time with her two nephews, getting in a CrossFit workout, trying new recipes, or just hanging out with her family and friends.
Shelley currently has one rescue cat at home. Roman is an orange cat that loves to snuggle, does not like his meals to be served even a minute late, and spends most of his days napping in his hammock while keeping up with everything happening in “his” neighborhood through his favorite window.
Michael Wilson
Michael Wilson is an esteemed and respected business professional with over four decades of experience in the healthcare industry. He has held leadership positions with premier healthcare companies such as Blue Cross of California, Blue Shield of California, NASCO, McKessonHBOC, and John Muir Health. The expertise Wilson has acquired in the payer and managed care arena has equipped him to deliver innovative and effective solutions in an ever-evolving healthcare climate.
Wilson is currently the President of GW Operational Consulting Group, LLC. For the past 24 years, Wilson has served as Founder and CEO of HealthCare Information Management, Inc. (HCIM) which he sold in April 2024 and retired from in January 2025. HCIM’s products included SymKey®, an industry leading RPA solution for claims, provider, authorizations and eligibility records processing. HCIM’s clients are full/shared risk delegated entities and small to mid-market health plans.
Wilson attended the University of Nevada. He and his wife, Kat Gesh-Wilson, are active community members in Pinehurst, NC, and Columbia, SC, where he resides with his wife and their rescue cats. Mike and Kat Wilson also have an active charity that supports animal rescue and the curative care needs for adoptable cats and dogs, and Carl’s Kids, a faith-based ministry of the Carl Jackson Foundation through Carl’s connection with the Augusta National Golf Club, golfer Ben Crenshaw and The Masters Golf Tournament.
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.