Action News Now reporter Christine Stoddard visits the Paradise Animal Shelter to preview the new cat facility. 30 cats can now live in a building separate from the dogs.
PARADISE, Calif. - The Paradise Animal Shelter celebrated the completion of its new 1,800-square-foot cat building, ending a project that was mandated nearly two decades ago. The facility now has separate housing for up to 30 cats, away from the dogs.
The new building includes cat condos, cages and a socializing space called the cat group room. The room leads to an outdoor area dubbed the "cat-io," a cat patio.
The Butte County Grand Jury found in 2008 that the shelter needed more room for its cats. Colyer, a veterinarian, said fundraising challenges and the Camp Fire delayed the plans.
"The grand jury mandated that we upgrade the facility," said Art Colyer, president of Paradise Animal Shelter Helpers, the volunteer organization that serves the shelter. "So the effort had been started, but it was a problem with funding and, you know, getting all the things necessary to actually make the project happen."
The shelter broke ground on the expansion in August 2024. The facility was completed in October 2025.
"I adopted a cat from here 17 years ago and he was only 8 weeks old, and he's precious to me," said Shirley Kamm, an office assistant who has worked at the shelter for 20 years. "I have lost him, but he's helped me through thick and thin, and there's nothing better than having a pet. And this expansion is amazing, so now the cats can be separate from the dogs."
The new cat building stands where the Paradise Public Works Department building once stood. Mollie StJohn, animal control supervisor, said that building was lost in the Camp Fire, which made space for the cats.
StJohn said the facility will keep animals at the no-kill shelter safe. She hopes the community will help spread the word about the shelter.
"Really just word of mouth to people that, you know, shelters really aren't what they used to be, you know, come by, see what we do here, see the animals in our care," StJohn said. "We care for all of them. And there's still such a stigma about shelter not being a great place for animals."
StJohn said the shelter has been a no-kill shelter for the past 10 years.Â
The shelter's grand opening celebration is Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. Starting next week, the Paradise Animal Shelter will be open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
