Stray Cat News - How Calla’s Critter Rescue Is Saving Pennsylvania’s Most Vulnerable Cats
Rescued kitten walks confidently along elevated wooden cat shelving at Calla’s Critter Rescue
Photo credit: Ceara Rahne Photography, LLC
There’s a difference between helping cats and living with the relentless responsibility of helping cats every single day.
We know this because we’ve spent countless hours curled into laps, nestled in cozy corners, and perched beside sleeping fosters while the hoomans bustle around us — feeding, medicating, networking, and advocating for cats who would otherwise have no voice.
This is exactly the world Calla’s Critter Rescue inhabits — a nonprofit built not on spotlight, but on steadfast, daily devotion to cats who need more than a moment of attention.
We’re newsroom cats at Stray Cat News. We navigate the world of rescue stories — big and small — but few are as deeply rooted in compassion, community, and real-life impact as this one. And when our hoomans sat down with Calla and learned more about how this rescue actually operates — who shows up, what they do, why it matters — our whiskers perked with recognition because this is the honest, gritty, unscripted reality of rescue work.
This is why Calla’s Critter Rescue matters. And why the cats of Pennsylvania are better off because it exists.
A Mission Born of Compassion and Unyielding Purpose
Calla’s Critter Rescue is a registered nonprofit devoted to rescuing, healing, and rehoming cats and kittens across southeastern Pennsylvania.
As Calla’s mission plainly states, this rescue was born from a deep, unwavering love for vulnerable cats in desperate need — cats who have been forgotten, injured, abandoned, or harmed. Calla refuses to turn away from suffering and is driven to do more — more rescues, more medical care, more chances at happiness for every life that crosses her threshold.
This rescue doesn’t chase headlines — it chases outcomes:
• cats given shelter and safety
• kittens given days full of play instead of fear
• feral colonies supported through humane efforts
• cats whose medical needs might otherwise remain unmet
That’s not “cute rescue stuff.” That’s life-saving work.
Beyond the Door: The Work They Do Every Day
A calm, thoughtfully designed cat lounge at Calla’s Critter Rescue Kitty Garden with soft seating, climbing posts, and enrichment structures for rescued cats. Photo credit:Ceara Rahne Photography, LLC
Calla’s Critter Rescue provides:
Sanctuary and Quality Care
Cats are cared for physically and emotionally until they’re ready for their forever homes.
Adoptions with Thoughtful Matching
Through carefully managed applications, references, and home-match considerations, the rescue helps ensure homes are sustainable and appropriate.
Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) Efforts
A vital part of the mission is humane community cat population management. The team helps trap, neuter, vaccinate, and return feral cats to stabilize colonies and reduce suffering.
Medical Care
This includes vaccinations, spay and neuter surgeries, orthopedic care, illness treatment, medications, and extensive follow-ups.
In every part of this work, the rescue approaches cats with patience, dignity, and the belief that every life matters — no matter the scars or challenges.
Who Keeps the Wheels Turning (and the Cats Safe)
Calla poses beside an Easter Bunny mascot at a Calla’s Critter Rescue community event | Photo credit:Ceara Rahne Photography, LLC
Rescue is often portrayed as a single heroic figure standing in the middle of the chaos.
The truth is quieter — and much bigger.
Calla’s Critter Rescue exists because of a deeply interconnected team of people who show up in different ways, at different times, for the same reason: cats who need care, patience, and someone willing to do the work.
At the center is Calla, serving as President — coordinating intakes, medical care, fosters, adoptions, volunteers, emergencies, and everything in between. But this rescue has never been a solo effort.
It has always been a shared one. Click on each name below to learn more about the wonderful community of volunteers at Calla’s Critter Rescue below.
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Calla’s mother, is the Vice President and the person who helped start this entire venture. She is a critical care veterinary nurse specializing in neonates — the tiny kittens whose survival depends on precision, experience, and calm under pressure. When lives hang in the balance, she is the one guiding decisions, teaching, and stepping in without hesitation. She is Calla’s right-hand woman in every sense.
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The rescue’s Secretary and Application & Adoption Manager, is the organizational backbone that keeps everything moving. He manages adoption applications, medical records, follow-ups with adopters, and ongoing check-ins with cats long after they go home. His office has effectively become the rescue’s filing cabinet. Steve also handles transportation to and from spay, neuter, and medical appointments — a role he’s filled for years — and fosters cats himself. His wife, Colleen, supports the rescue through donated gift baskets, baked goods, and constant behind-the-scenes encouragement. Steve and Colleen is indispensable to Calla’s Critter Rescue and one of the people who keeps Calla grounded when things get overwhelming.
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What began with fostering two orange tabby siblings evolved into transforming their finished basement into a full rescue space.
Ceara is a right-hand woman to Calla — her photography captures the individuality and spirit of every cat, giving them the visibility they need to find homes.
She also leads marketing and website design, shaping the rescue’s public presence with intention and clarity.
Daniel’s support is steady and deeply felt; the care he gives foster cats shows through in every successful placement.
Together, they have become family to the rescue.
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Karisa Scott-Edwards is the master of organization and cleanliness — two things rescue cannot function without.
She deep cleans both public locations and the kitty quarantine shed weekly, fosters cats, manages volunteers at Craig’s Cat Café, and ensures food, litter, and supplies are always stocked. She takes on challenges without hesitation and serves as Calla’s left hand — keeping systems running and spaces safe.
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With more than 30 years of experience meticulously documented, Jen is the person Calla turns to for guidance when situations are complex or unfamiliar.
Jenn manages her own large colony, fosters, and collaborates closely with Calla to place cats into homes. Her depth of knowledge provides reassurance in moments when experience matters most.
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With over 15 years of independently rescuing and funding stray cats, Laura’s intuition, attention to detail, and gentle approach have made a lasting impact. Her fosters thrive because she treats them with patience and care.
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Janine Phelps is a neonatal bottle feeder and longtime mentor to Calla from her years as a veterinary technician. Janine’s experience, confidence, and willingness to take on fragile cases make her a critical asset — especially when tiny kittens need round-the-clock support.
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Pati Werkheiser is a bottle feeder, foster, and caretaker at Craig’s Cat Café, she is always willing to help — scooping, feeding, cleaning, and stepping in wherever needed. Her consistency and kindness make daily operations possible.
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Lisa Reinoehl has fostered and volunteered with Calla’s Critter Rescue for several years and now leads the kitty quarantine shed volunteer program.
She manages her own feral colony, ensures cats are fixed and fed daily, and is often the first to help when others find sick or injured cats.
Lisa represents the ideal foster — observant, dedicated, and deeply invested.
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Chrissie Fletcher volunteers consistently and is often the first to supply food, litter, or anything else the rescue needs. Her fierce love for cats shows in every task she takes on.
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Monica Billman and her husband fostered a litter this year and handled it with care and dedication. Though they are currently taking a break, their contribution helped multiple kittens reach safety and stability.
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Rachel Allison joined as a new foster and excelled immediately. She treats her foster kittens as her own, providing the socialization and stability they need to thrive. Her impact was felt quickly and deeply.
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Diane Barszowski joined the quarantine shed volunteer team without hesitation, taking on some of the dirtiest, most demanding work. Cleaning and caring for cats and kittens didn’t deter her — she stepped in and stayed.
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Kim, a newer volunteer at Craig’s, stood out immediately for her empathy, public-facing skills, and ability to connect with families during events. Her knowledge and kindness have already made a meaningful difference.
Sadie and Mirah came to the rescue as adopters — adopting three cats from Craig’s — and quickly became volunteers. Their insight from both sides of rescue helps improve systems, clarify information for the public, and increase exposure for adoptable cats. They bring fresh perspective while fully understanding the emotional realities of rescue.
Alyssa, Calla’s sister, fosters when she can and assists with bottle feeding, medicating, and daily care. Her support is steady and reliable, even when her capacity is limited.
Izzy, a high school student and new foster, balances school, sports, and extracurriculars while dedicating real time and energy to socializing and caring for foster kittens. Her commitment is already shaping confident, adoptable cats.
Finally, the entire team at Animal House Retail for Rescue plays a vital role at the Calla’s Kitty Garden in Pottstown, PA — contributing cleaning, feeding, scooping, intake support, advocacy, and space for quarantining and housing cats when needed. This includes Becky, Hannah, Brandt, Linda, Vayda, Jodi, Alyssa, Casey, Rebecca, Jenn, Kadyn, Marybeth, and Steve. Their collective effort makes it possible for Calla’s Critter Rescue to function day to day.
This is what keeps the wheels turning.
Not one person.
Not one role.
But a community built on trust, shared responsibility, and care that doesn’t quit.
Craig’s Cat Café: Where Rescue Meets Community
Sweet Piston, adopted from Calla’s Critter Rescue out of Craigs Cafe in Spring City PA | Photo credit:Ceara Rahne Photography, LLC
One of the most meaningful ways Calla’s Critter Rescue connects cats with people is through intentional, community-centered adoption spaces — places where cats are allowed to simply be themselves.
At Craig’s Cat Café in Spring City, rescue and everyday life intersect in the most natural way. Hoomans come in for coffee and conversation, sit on the floor, slow down — and let the cats decide how (and if) they want to engage. There’s no pressure. No rushing. Just time, presence, and trust. The cat café creates a calm, public-facing environment where cats can socialize at their own pace, show their personalities, and form genuine connections with potential adopters. Volunteers handle daily care and coordination, while adopters get to meet cats exactly as they are — playful, reserved, curious, confident, affectionate, or all of the above.
Then there’s Calla’s Kitty Gardens in Pottstown, a quieter but equally vital part of the rescue’s ecosystem. This space provides another adoption and care environment where cats can decompress, recover, and continue socialization outside of a traditional shelter setting. It’s designed with the cats’ comfort in mind — offering consistency, enrichment, and the space needed for healing and growth. For many cats, especially those who need extra time or stability, Kitty Gardens is where confidence blooms.
Between these spaces, cats are given choice, dignity, and time — three things rescue cats rarely get enough of.
And because of that approach, adoptions don’t just happen —
they happen thoughtfully, sustainably, and again and again.
Adoption Practices with Purpose
Interior of Calla’s Critter Rescue Kitty Garden featuring cat shelves, climbing structures, cozy furniture & pets! Photo credit:Ceara Rahne Photography, LLC
Calla’s Critter Rescue doesn’t rush placements.
Cats are adopted through a thoughtful process that includes applications, medical transparency, and matching cats to homes that meet their specific needs. Kittens aren’t adopted before they’re developmentally ready, and adopters are supported with information, guidance, and follow-up.
These aren’t hoops — they’re safeguards.
They protect cats, respect fosters, and help ensure lasting, successful placements.
Pennsylvania is full of rescues doing important work — but not all operate with this level of individualized care.
Calla’s Critter Rescue understands that:
• some cats need extended medical time
• some need calm, structured socialization
• some need foster-based healing environments
• some need humane TNR support to reduce suffering at the community level
Their mission goes beyond finding homes.
It’s about healing lives and educating communities on what rescue truly requires.
The Cost of Doing It Right
Adoptable kitten explores a handcrafted rope bridge and wooden cat shelves inside Calla’s Critter Rescue | Photo credit: Ceara Rahne Photography, LLC
Rescue is expensive — emotionally, physically, and financially.
Medical care, spay and neuter surgeries, vaccines, food, litter, emergency treatments, neonatal supplies, transportation, and volunteer coordination all come at a cost.
Calla’s Critter Rescue works hard to keep adoption fees accessible while absorbing enormous behind-the-scenes expenses. That’s why donations, sponsors, fundraisers, and community support aren’t optional — they’re essential.
Local rescues survive on visibility and trust.
This one earns both.
A Vision Bigger Than Survival
Right now, Calla’s Critter Rescue operates the way many small rescues do — through a carefully coordinated network of foster homes, volunteers, and partner locations. It works because of trust, communication, and an extraordinary amount of effort behind the scenes. But it also comes with limits.
That’s why Calla’s Critter Rescue is actively working toward a long-term goal: a dedicated facility of its own.
Not a warehouse. Not a one-size-fits-all shelter.
A thoughtfully designed space where cats can heal, decompress, socialize, and receive care without being moved between multiple locations — especially during critical recovery periods.
A place where:
cats recovering from illness or surgery can rest quietly,
shy or undersocialized cats can adjust at their own pace,
neonates can receive consistent, specialized care,
and fosters and volunteers can work together under one roof when needed.
This vision isn’t about replacing foster homes — they will always remain the heart of the rescue. It’s about supporting them. Giving the rescue more flexibility during emergencies, kitten season, and medical surges. Creating breathing room when resources are stretched thin.
Support for a future facility doesn’t come from one big moment — it comes from many small ones layered together over time. People helping in the ways they can, when they can.
That might look like:
Donating toward medical care, supplies, or long-term rescue goals
Becoming a recurring supporter, even at a small monthly amount
Sponsoring a cat, a litter, or a specific medical case
Partnering as a business to provide funding, materials, or services
Fostering or volunteering, which frees up space and resources
Sharing adoptable cats and rescue updates, helping cats move through the system faster
Showing up to events and fundraisers, where community momentum builds
Every share helps. Every donation matters. Every “I see you and I support this” adds up.
Every year brings more cats, more medical needs, and more people asking for help. A dedicated space would allow Calla’s Critter Rescue to say “yes” more often — and to say it sustainably, without burning out the people who make this rescue what it is.
Reaching that goal will take time, planning, and community support. It will require the same things that built this rescue in the first place: trust, teamwork, and people who believe that small rescues deserve big opportunities too.
With continued partnerships, sponsors, donors, and advocates, this next chapter isn’t just hopeful — it’s achievable.
Photo credit: Ceara Rahne Photography, LLC
Following Calla’s Critter Rescue helps amplify adoptable cats, foster needs, fundraisers, and urgent updates. It’s also how you’ll see the everyday reality of rescue: the wins, the hard days, and the cats whose lives are changed because people showed up.
You can learn more about their mission, apply to foster or adopt, explore ways to donate, or support upcoming events here:
Website: https://www.callascritterrescue.com
Email: callascritterrescue@gmail.com
Locations: Callas Kitty Gardens in Pottstown PA | Craigs Cat Cafe in Spring City PA | Network of Foster Homes
Every follow, share, and conversation helps keep this work going — and helps ensure Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable cats aren’t forgotten.
Article by Stray Cat News
