About Us
Charlie's House is a cat sanctuary in Pickering, Ontario. It is a home for cats who have run out of other options.
Many of them are the cats who wait longest: older ones, shy ones, cats who need to stay with a friend. Here they don't have to wait to be chosen, and if a cat settles enough to be happy in a home of their own, we would be glad to help them find one.
There are no cages. The cats roam free indoors and share a safe, enclosed outdoor space where they can sit in the sun and breathe fresh air. Charlie's House is run by volunteers and professionals.
The cat behind the name
Charlie's story
Charlie used to have a home. But one day, he was left outside.
Some people think a house cat can take care of itself outdoors. That is not true. Charlie did not know how to survive out there on his own. He was found outside, in the middle of winter, when it was thirty-five degrees below zero.
He was not alone. A cat named Scarlett was with him.
They stayed close together, like family.
Learning to trust again
When Charlie first arrived, he was very sad. His ears were flat. He sat quietly in the corner of his litter box. He hissed whenever anyone came near.
He was scared. But he was also safe now. Slowly, with patience and love, Charlie began to trust again.
One kitten
Charlie and Scarlett had not yet been spayed or neutered. Charlie was neutered the very next day. But it was already too late — Scarlett was expecting kittens.
They had one kitten, a little ginger girl. She found a loving family of her own.
Home, together
Charlie and Scarlett needed to stay together. They found their forever home right here — no cage, no more waiting.
Charlie has been home for [number] years now. He is gentle. He is sweet. He does not ask for much — just his food, and a little bit of love.
He is still a little shy around new people. But he is happy. He is home.
Why Charlie's House was built
There are other cats like Charlie — cats who were once someone's pet, who ended up outside, who never learned how to survive on their own.
That is why Charlie's House was built: a home with no cages, where cats like Charlie can roam free, with a safe, enclosed outdoor space to enjoy the sun and fresh air, and finally feel safe.