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Forever Home Feline Ranch

About

Mission Statment
Forever Home Feline Ranch is a nonprofit organization created to provide every cat in need a forever home.
Forever Home Feline Ranch will be a sanctuary where cats will have a second chance to live a full life in a no-cage, no-kill environment.
Forever Home Feline Ranch will lead the effort to make Central Illinois a no-kill community by ending euthanasia as a method of controlling the feline population

The Life of a Stray Cat

Their eyes tell a story that can’t be spoken, and their soft spoken meow pulls at your heart strings. The life of a stray is not for the weakened souls, but for the ones with the will to survive. They live their whole life in fear of those who want to help, but also of those who are not so kind. They struggle to find a way to trust the one who lends a helping hand, as many people have broken that trust in the past. They live a life of soiled fur, and matted eyes, all in hopes that maybe one day someone will love them just enough to set a bowl of food so they don’t have to hunt for their next meal, or wonder when they will get to eat again. They long for a safe place to lay their head at night, so they never have to worry about getting in a fight just to survive the night.

Many times you see a stray cat, you may set out some food from them, they come around for a couple of weeks, months even. Then you never see them again. You may wonder what happened, some may not even care. Usually chances are nature sadly ran its course. But sometimes there is that neighborhood stray who has that will to live, and just will not give up. The cat that everyone knows by the patterns in his fur, and the quiet but raspy meow. And while he may not be very trusting of you, he knows that he is loved by the food you provide, and the shelter on your porch. Broken teeth and crooked whiskers, he knows that he is loved.

In the beginning, his trust for human kindness was non-existent. It’s hard to say what his past is like, but chances are, he’s been on the streets his entire life. Little by little, he learns to trust the compassionate hands that feeds him. And slowly but surely, he learns for the first time in years what love truly feels like when he finally allowed some gentle pets. And although he still has a wild soul, he now shows his soft and kind heart. Through low and droopy eyes, he may not be able to tell us his story himself, but we will find the words for him. He may have a rough past, but we are here to build him a brighter future.

The Ranch

Forever Home Feline Ranch is a sanctuary where cats have a second chance to live a full life in a no-cage, no-kill environment. Visits to The Ranch are by appointment only. 

Sterling

Sterling is a free roaming sanctuary resident who often greets vistors at The Ranch.
A few select kitties have a lifestyle like Sterling's, contentedly roaming outdoors with meals, water, and shelter provided in our buildings on the property, 

Ranch Cats

Cats live in rooms at The Ranch where they can look out the window, climb on high perches and play together.

Forever Felines

Purring away in their forever homes after being adopted.

Board of Directors

FHFR is led by a volunteer board of directors. 

  • Cheryl Johnston - Co-Founder, President & Intake Coordinator 

  • Cathy Doyle - Treasurer, Foster Coordinator 

  • Demmon Squires - Secretary

  • Jeanne Rutan - Health & Wellness Coordinator

  • Nikki Hurst - Volunteer Coordinator

  • Megan Fellows