About Us
Since 2013, The New Zealand Cat Foundation has been there to help the helpless — rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming cats who need it most, because every cat deserves a second chance.
Every day cats arrive at our no-kill sanctuary in Huapai broken, scared, sick and abandoned — through no fault of their own. We care for cats from all walks of life — whether they're strays found wandering the streets, cats whose owners have passed away, or beloved pets surrendered due to the very real pressures of New Zealand's rising cost of living.
At the heart of what we do is our on-site veterinary hospital, headed by the dedicated Dr. Elsa Flint. Every cat in our care receives desexing, vaccinations, microchipping and medical treatment all under one roof — quickly, safely and with plenty of love. No cat ever leaves us without being desexed and microchipped.
Sadly not every cat that comes to us has a forever home to go to. For older, disadvantaged and un-homeable cats, our 12 acre sanctuary becomes their forever home, where they can live out their lives in safety and comfort. Think of it as a retirement village, just with more purring. With around 200 resident cats who are too elderly, too unwell or too unsocialised to be rehomed, keeping their food bowls full, their health looked after and the cuddles coming is at the very core of what we do — day after day.
Abandonment and overpopulation don't happen by accident — they have root causes that need addressing. That's why beyond rescue, we advocate for cat welfare at local and central government level and work to educate communities, tackling the problem at its source for lasting change.
We help the helpless — but we can't do it without your support.
A Cat Lady with a Mission
The New Zealand Cat Foundation grew from one person's lifelong love of cats and a dream to make a real difference.
Founder Anne Batley Burton's passion for cat welfare began at an early age, thanks to the influence of her father Bert - a fellow cat lover who spent years trapping, desexing and caring for strays around his Auckland factories.
Around 20 years ago, Anne began volunteering with the Rose Garden Colony in Parnell. She joined a dedicated group of volunteers, helping to feed the cats daily and trap those continually being dumped in the area, preventing them from breeding. As the cats grew older, Anne became increasingly concerned about their fate.
When her mother passed away, Anne made a decision that would change everything - and the lives of countless cats. She purchased a 12-acre property in Huapai and set up a sanctuary - a Pensioner Pussy Palace - for elderly stray cats. It was intended to be a quiet retreat for a maximum of 25 cats.
Twelve years on, many hundreds of cats have passed through the sanctuary. What started as a passion project has grown dramatically into an 8,000 square foot operation, complete with multiple areas and an onsite hospital caring for around 200 cats every single day.
Anne's remarkable dedication has been recognised with two prestigious honours — the Kiwibank New Zealand Local Hero of the Year Award and the Companion Animals New Zealand Assisi Award. Her appearance on The Real Housewives of Auckland also brought wider attention to the cause, proving that cat welfare and reality television are a surprisingly powerful combination.
A registered charity since 2013, The NZ Cat Foundation each year rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes hundreds of cats - and none of it would be possible without the initial vision of our incredible founder and the ongoing generosity of our supporters and volunteers.
Our mission
Our mission is to educate and assist people throughout New Zealand about the psychological and physiological health benefits of caring for cats as pets.
To foster and encourage the kind and humane treatment of cats. We actively work to prevent and discourage cruelty to or harsh, thoughtless treatment of cats. In doing so, we enhance the general health of the community.
To establish and maintain facilities for the care of cats, particularly those in need of veterinary treatment. Importantly, to de-sex, vaccinate, and microchip community cats to prevent their proliferation in the most kindly and humane way possible.
To support the charitable work of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Auckland.