Shadow Cats Sanctuary is nestled on two acres in beautiful Round Rock, Texas. At the forefront of the property is a brick patio: a signifier of the past and present, and of all those who have shaped our mission over time. Tree canopies dapple sunlight across the sprawling front yard, guiding you to the front door and into another realm, where the cats are the rulers!
The cats are the only permanent residents of the house, and that intention carries throughout the two buildings that make up the sanctuary. The front building, home to Oasis and Wild Side, is dedicated to our non-FeLV+ cats. Many of these residents are elderly, were abandoned, or live with medical conditions that create barriers to adoption. These conditions range from severe allergies and asthma to paralysis and neurogenic bladders that require manual expression.
Tucked into Oasis’ sprawling living room is a kitchen with a baker’s window, an irresistible favorite for cats who love to lounge in the sun. Nearby is our exam room, where trained staff perform many routine and specialized medical treatments, including fluid therapy, lab collection, and in-house testing. Each cat receives a thorough weekly assessment, from mobility and heart rate to lung sounds, coat condition, and gum color. This is where our commitment to individualized, specialized care truly shines.
Leaving Oasis brings you to a fully enclosed outdoor catio, thoughtfully designed for safety and enrichment. Shelves invite sunbathing, cat trees offer perfect napping spots, and weatherproof blinds allow our cats to enjoy the outdoors they love, even on rainy days. This catio also serves a special purpose, guiding you through a swinging door to the ramp leading into Cookie’s Place.
Of course, we can’t mention Cookie’s Place without honoring its namesake. Cookie Princess Warrior was the Founder, Sheila Smith’s, cat, who contracted feline leukemia at the age of twelve. Before her diagnosis, she lived as the Top Cat of the house, ruling with a kind paw and an unmistakable presence. We believe she may have been PCR-positive or contracted the virus from a cat who had been recently exposed but was still testing negative.
Cookie was, simply, the best cat. An artist and a diva in equal measure, she painted and sold many of her own art pieces to support her fellow felines. Her work now hangs proudly in homes across Central Texas, a testament to her creativity and spirit. Cookie’s Place was built in her honor, and in her name, it has become a safe harbor for hundreds of cats living with feline leukemia. Through them, her legacy continues. Rest in peace, Cookiecita. You are remembered, and you are loved.
Cookie’s Place is our second building, added onto the original home and built entirely by a small group of dedicated volunteers. It houses our feline leukemia (FeLV+) population across four carefully designed rooms: Cookie’s Cove, Cookie’s Kingdom, Cookie’s Manor, and Cookie’s Cottage. Each space has its own theme and color palette; Cove is a breezy beach retreat, Kingdom is fit for FeLV+ royalty, Manor welcomes our bookish Bridgerton fans, and Cottage offers a calm, nature-inspired haven. Every intake is carefully evaluated for both health and personality so we can place each cat where they will feel safest and most at ease. Each room includes its own catio, furniture, enrichment, and plenty of high spaces to explore.
Through Cookie’s Cottage, a covered path leads to our Community Room and Storage Area. Together, these spaces transform during our TNR clinics into a fully functional surgery suite with pre- and post-operative recovery areas. The Community Room also hosts volunteer gatherings, donor appreciation events, educational programs, and, during our Christmas Open House, a much-loved hot chocolate den. This building was made possible through a generous donation from the Serendipity Fund, allowing us to expand our reach beyond what we once imagined.
Welcome to the Sanctuary!