UPDATE 2/12/25: Stanford Shopping Center has not officially given us a 30 day notice yet due to the new tenants not yet securing their permits. This means we are staying until further notice! Our final day will be postponed until we receive a 30 day notice. We also had a great meeting with the city of Palo Alto, and they have since done some code revisions and approved our retail use! This means, we are allowed to continue our operations in the city of Palo Alto, whether at the Shopping Center or elsewhere! More details on the update can be seen on our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DF9SSYZJoAZ/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

UPDATE 2/1/25: In an unrelated event, Stanford Shopping Center has informed us that they have found new tenants for our current space. Unfortunately, this means our last day at the shopping center will be 3/2/25. However, we are still seeking retail use approval from the city so we can be back in Palo Alto, whether it be at the shopping mall, or elsewhere. Thus, we would still appreciate any support for our petition! Thank you so much to everyone who has supported us so far!!

Mini Cat Town is a 501c(3) nonprofit kitten rescue operating retail adoption floors in 5 different shopping centers across Northern California.

Mini Cat Town is at risk of closing its doors in the Stanford Shopping Center due to a classification issue with the planning department of the City of Palo Alto. Previously approved as a “Retail Pet Store,” we are now being re-classified as a “Kennel and Boarding” operation, despite meeting all definitions of a Retail Pet Store (i.e. being open to the public, and providing goods and services to the community). Because they revoked the use on December 2nd, this left us with less than 30 days to rehome all our cats, cease operations, and evacuate the space- all during the busy holiday season! This threatens our ability to provide care for our cats and continue matching them with loving homes.

Edit 1: They have since granted us an extension until January 30th, 2025. 

Edit 2: The January 30th, 2025 deadline has been taken off the table while additional information is being reviewed!🙏 We are hopeful for a favorable outcome!

Edit 3: No further code enforcement will be taken with Mini Cat Town until Spring 2025, when a decision will be made.
- Ed Shikada (City Manager)

What’s Happening?
The planning department of the City of Palo Alto has revoked our retail pet shop status, claiming that keeping cats overnight constitutes “boarding.” Because Palo Alto does not have a direct definition for "Boarding" or "Boarding Facility", California law defines boarding as: 

“Pet boarding facility” means any lot, building, structure, enclosure, or premises, or a portion thereof, whereupon four or more dogs, cats, or other pets in any combination are boarded at the request of, and in exchange for compensation provided by, their owner. 

Per this definition, it does not apply to our rescue work or adoption floors. As a nonprofit kitten rescue, we showcase our cats for adoption with the use of our retail space (similar to the cats showcased and kept overnight at Petcos and Petsmarts across the US). The City’s decision could force us to close our doors, leaving the cats without a safe space or visibility for adoption. 

Why This Matters
Mini Cat Town is more than a cat adoption center. It’s a community hub where rescue cats find their forever homes. Reclassifying us as a kennel jeopardizes our mission and limits the public's ability to adopt and support rescue efforts. We also operate 4 other adoption floors in 4 different shopping malls and cities under the same retail classifications. If other retail adoption models like Petco and PetSmart can operate in commercial zones across the United States, why can't we? At the end of the day, the planning department of Palo Alto is defining "boarding" as they choose and choosing not to allow us to operate when they previously approved our retail use. 

How You Can Help
We currently have the support and approval of council member Patrick Burt, but we are working to convince at least 3 other council members to change or clarify the rules, making us compliant in the eyes of the planning department. We need your support to convince the Palo Alto City Council to reinstate our classification as a “Retail Pet Store.” Speak out during the Public Comment Day every Monday, send emails and letters, and let the City know how much Mini Cat Town means to you and our community!

Contact the Palo Alto City Council

Mayor Greer Stone
Email: Greer.Stone@CityofPaloAlto.org | Phone: (650) 329-2384
Vice Mayor Ed Lauing
Email: Ed.Lauing@CityofPaloAlto.org 

Councilmembers:
Patrick Burt: Pat.Burt@CityofPaloAlto.org
Julie Lythcott-Haims: Julie.LythcottHaims@CityofPaloAlto.org
Vicki Veenker: Vicki.Veenker@CityofPaloAlto.org

City of Palo Alto General Information:
Phone: (650) 329-2100

To submit a public letter to the City Council:

• Send an email to: City.Council@cityofpaloalto.org
• Send mail with the following address:
  Office of the City Clerk: City Hall, 7th Floor
  250 Hamilton Avenue
  Palo Alto, CA 94301

What to Say
Share your story and passion for Mini Cat Town! Emphasize:

- Why you support us staying open.
- How we are different from a kennel and align with other retail pet shops.
- The importance of fair treatment under zoning laws.

Together, we can show the City of Palo Alto how vital Mini Cat Town is to our community and ensure our rescue cats continue to find homes. More information on how to contact the city of Palo Alto can be found on their website here.