When guests visit Cat Tales Wildlife Center, they often see tigers splashing in their pools, bobcats lounging in the sun, or bears enjoying a snack. What they donāt always see is the mountain of workāand the budgetāthat keeps those animals healthy and safe, every single day of the year.
Running a wildlife rescue isnāt just about food (though our grocery bill is impressive). Itās about forever care. Once an animal comes to us, they have a home for life. That means every day, every week, every yearāweāre there with clean water, fresh diets, medical attention, and safe, secure spaces.
šµ The Big Picture
In our current budget (FY26):
- Annual Income: ~$669,820
- Annual Expenses: ~$589,528
- Cushion for emergencies & growth: ~$80,292
It takes nearly $600,000 a year (or about $1,600 a day) to keep Cat Tales running.
š Where Your Dollar Goes
Every single dollar is stretched to meet the daily needs of more than 40 animals in our care. Hereās how it breaks down:
- Animal Care (Food, Vet, Supplies): 24%
- Staff & Training: 14%
- Animal Homes & Utilities: 18%
- Education & Guests: 13%
- Other (Insurance, Marketing, Travel, etc.): 31%
š What That Looks Like in Real Life
- Feeding just one tiger costs about $5,000ā$6,000 a year.
- A single vet procedure (like X-rays or bloodwork) can be $500ā$1,000.
- Heating and water pumps in winter push utility bills into the thousands each month.
- Insurance is non-negotiable: $30,000 annually just to protect the sanctuary and animals.
š Why Small Gifts Matter
Even though the budget feels big, hereās the hopeful truth: most of our donors give $20 or less. And those gifts? They add up beautifully.
- $20 = a week of chicken for the bobcats
- $50 = keeps the bear pool clean and filled
- $100 = arthritis meds for a tiger for a month
Your support covers more than billsāit creates forever homes for animals who had nowhere else to go.
š Be Part of the Rescue
Every giftālarge or smallāis a lifeline. Together, our community of givers makes forever homes possible.