Meowaukee® helps shelters and rescues save Milwaukee's most misunderstood cats.

Meowaukee® is a feline behavior organization based in Milwaukee, WI, built around one simple idea: a cat labeled “difficult” is often just a cat who hasn’t been understood yet. We work with the people who care for these cats - shelters, rescues, and cat owners - so that misunderstood cats get the time, patience, and support they need to find a home and keep it.

Fear looks a lot like aggression

A shelter is a scary place for a cat. Even a sweet, social house cat can hide, hiss, or swipe when it’s frightened, and that fear is easy to mistake for aggression. Cats labeled as aggressive or unadoptable often wait longer for a home, and when space runs tight, they’re often the first to be euthanized. What they really needed was time, understanding, and the right support. Shelters and rescues care deeply about these cats, but most don’t have the resources to give them that.

How we help shelters and rescues

That’s where we come in. We give shelter and rescue partners the programs, training, and ongoing support to understand what each cat is really telling them, make their shelter stays less stressful, and help them become adoptable. Every program is built to fit how that organization actually works - its space, its staff, its daily routine - so the change is practical, lasting, and theirs to keep.

How we help cat owners

We also go to the source. Behavior is one of the most common reasons cats are surrendered, so we help Milwaukee cat owners understand what their cats need and work through challenges at home, before a shelter ever enters the picture.

Powered by volunteers, funded by our store

Meowaukee® is completely volunteer-run, and our work is funded by our online store - featuring apparel, home goods, and accessories inspired by cats and Milwaukee. Every purchase helps fund our work for misunderstood cats.