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With the purchase of 93 scenic acres just west of King’s Canyon National Park the Cat Haven offers guided tours of some of the rarest cats in the world. It also promotes grass-root level support for range country conservation through Project Survival, a 501 (c) (3) organization.
Project Survival’s Cat Haven is located at an elevation of 2400′ – 3000′,15 miles west of King’s Canyon National Park, an area internationally famous for its giant sequoia redwood trees. The nearest major city is Fresno, California, forty-five miles to the west.
The facility commands panoramic views across the foothills of the Shannon Valley. It benefits from cool evening breezes, low humidity and equitable temperatures. Old growth manzanita, live oak and buckeye trees, interspersed with small to massive granite boulders, make the terrain highly attractive. Three springs on the property produce excellent water and supply a year round pond and waterfall. Cat enclosures take advantage of these natural features, providing the animals with great opportunities for play and privacy. The exhibits are spaced at intervals along a pathway which winds beneath oaks and manzanita, giving visitors a sense of discovery as they walk up to each exhibit.
Project Survival’s Cat Haven is an innovative park dedicated to the preservation of wild cats. It specializes in education and is engaged in both captive and range country conservation. It is this link to the conservation of cats in their native habitat which makes the work of the Cat Haven especially meaningful.
While some of the cats at Project Survival have been orphaned in the wild or have needed to be re-homed due to varying circumstances, we do not call ourselves a sanctuary. We provide excellent homes for all of our cats but our focus is to educate people about the plight of endangered cat species, and to raise funds for the conservation projects in the wild.
Working to mitigate problems between cats and people in the wild, these projects are vital to protecting and conserving these beautiful animals.
Project Survival is a 501c3 non profit organization.
To exhibit a variety of wild cats and engage public support for their conservation in the wild via specific projects. These projects work to meditate problems between people and predators.
To support responsible and effective captive management.
To specialize in jaguars:
a former native of North America which has not received sufficient attention.
To create a facility which can foster useful attributes in youth and encourage respect for the natural world.
Project Survival’s Cat Haven promotes the conservation and preservation of wild cats in their native habitat by educating visitors and publicizing the work done by Project Survival Cat Conservation Group. Project Survival’s Cat Haven maintains an educational room at the facility for youth programs and an outreach program. The Cat Haven is designed to act as ‘base camp’ in the belief that preserving wild cats in their native habitat is the principle justification for maintaining them in captivity. Project Survival is engaged in fundraising, including the creation of endowments, to support wild life specialists and educators working in range countries.
If you would like us to address any specific questions, you can email us at info@cathaven.com.
Dale Anderson is the Founder of the Project Survival’s Cat Haven.
Project Survival’s Cat Haven opened in 1998. When our founder Dale Anderson was in 7th grade, an educator brought a Mountain Lion named “Sam” to his school. After leaving his childhood town of Santa Rosa, Dale went to college at Oregon State, Kings River College and Fresno State. He then became a pilot for United Express for 10 years but always remembered “Sam”.
As a pilot, he was able to visit zoos around the world. At first Dale thought that he would like to have an exotic cat as a pet but soon realized that getting involved with cat conservation projects was a much better option. Dale met Dr. Ronaldo Morato ( Jaguar researcher and head of carnivore conservation in Brazil) at the Sao Paulo Zoo. Dr. Morato encouraged Dale to push forward with his dream.
To operate a facility like Project Survival, the law in California requires that you have 2 years of full time hands-on experience and training. You must have a purpose (example: Sanctuary, Re-habilitation, Education) and habitat/enclosure in place before obtaining cats. Federal and State permits are required. Not an easy task.
Dale started as a docent at Fresno Chaffee Zoo and also taught the docent training class. He then went on to get exotic cat experience at Exotic Feline Breeding Compound in Rosamond, California. He acquired the property for Project Survival during this time.
The first cats arrived in 1997. With a variety of rare and endangered species, Project Survival became a model for cat conservation and education. Chen and Argon (Amur Leopards) came from an AZA facility called Oak Hill Center. When Chen arrived, she was pregnant and soon gave birth to 3 female cubs. Then Tizana (Snow Leopard from Oak Hill), Cam and Ah Mei (Clouded Leopards), Shebeth (Melanistic Leopard), Kong and Goliath (Bengal Tigers from Marine World Africa USA), Jasiri and Morani (Caracals) to name a few.
Over the years we have had to say good-bye to many of the original cats but our family continues to grow. Each cat being a representative of their wild cousins. Project Survival’s wants that excitement generated from seeing cats up close to translate into helping wild cats across the globe.
Everyone who visits learns about the conservation projects we support.
Learn more about our conservation projects.
We provide education programs to school groups, churches and others.
Thank you to Leon and Marion Anderson, (Dale’s parents) for supporting the dream.
His other passions are his relationship with God, his family and always, to save cats in the wild.
