The Hermitage No-Kill Cat Shelter

Originally founded as the Arizona Animal Anti-Cruelty League by Sister Theresa Seraphim, a Russian Orthodox nun from England, the Hermitage is a no-kill shelter and sanctuary in the heart of Tucson, AZ. Our mission is to help at-risk cats - by adopting them out when we can or taking care of them for the rest of their lives when they need it. In 2013, through the American Sanctuary Association, our cage-free shelter became an accredited sanctuary. We remain the only accredited cat sanctuary in Arizona. As a sanctuary we take care of cats who are considered "unadoptable". Many of them are inappropriate urinators, some have trauma issues (adopted and returned numerous times or abused). But all of them are loved for the unique being's they are.

Our founder, Sister Seraphim moved to Southern Arizona in 1965 and to our current location in Tucson in 1969. She lived here in a house until she passed away in 1990. During her tenure at The Hermitage, Sister Seraphim rescued not only cats, but chickens, guinea hens, peacocks, a handful of dogs, and a donkey. 

In October of 2017, we moved into our expanded 9000 sq-ft, cage-free shelter. Here we house 200+ cats at any given time and rescue about 700 cats annually. With the addition of our medical suite, The Hermitage can provide state-of-the-art care for our cats including spay/neuter surgeries; dental procedures; and more. Every cat is given a full exam every six months, allowing us to take a preventative approach to their care. Our in-house X-ray equipment allows us to diagnose many conditions without costly visits to outside veterinarians. This care is especially essential for our cats with special needs, such as FIV, FeLV, diabetes, or other chronic issues. Our ability to provide this comprehensive care in-house greatly reduces the stress on the cats, reduces our costs, and improves the cats overall well-being.

No-Kill Philosophy...

At the Hermitage, we adhere to the principle of no kill in that no cat in our care will ever be euthanized to make room for another. Cats in our care will never be euthanized except in case of terminal and painful illness or when compassion demands it because there is no reasonable alternative. These decisions are based on medical evidence and not taken lightly. Learn more about No Kill advocacy.

We advocate for the welfare of all cats by being a model cage-free sanctuary and no-kill shelter. We believe all cats deserve loving, permanent homes and euthanasia of convenience should be non-existent. 

Your donation helps provide food, litter and medical care to the over 700 cats we'll rescue in 2025. Save a life by donating now!