Tucked away on North Market Street sits the Kitty Crib, a nonprofit cat lounge owned and operated by Moore’s Rescue Ranch.

The space opened at the beginning of September, and its owners have spent the last few months creating a warm, welcoming environment for cats and humans alike.

Born and raised in Champaign, Kim Dalluge founded Moore’s Rescue Ranch in 2021. Dalluge owns a wide stretch of land that has been in her family for generations, ever since the Moore family acquired it in 1866.

Dalluge’s mother’s maiden name was Moore, and she opted to keep the name to pay homage to her family.

“Our mission is to find and rescue animals that have been severely abused or handicapped and find loving homes for them,” Dalluge said. “We have placed over 200 animals in our two and a half years of existence.”

All of the rescue’s animals come from animal control, and they give animals a second chance by saving as many from the euthanasia list as possible.

“The process is either we contact animal control or they contact us,” Dalluge said. “First and foremost, animal control gives us an idea of what the temperament is and if they are friendly with people.”

From there, the rescue homes the cats in what is now the Kitty Crib. It works with local families to place the dogs into foster homes until they can be adopted.

After visiting a cat lounge in South Korea, Dalluge was inspired to introduce the idea to Champaign. A member of the rescue’s board spearheaded the effort, and the team worked tirelessly to turn the location into a habitable space for the cats.

“The building originally had been my father’s heating and air conditioning business,” Dalluge said. “If you can imagine, there was no drywall. It was just rafters and hanging lights and studs. There were no walls, and it was (just) a concrete floor. It was horrible.”

Despite what felt like insurmountable obstacles, Dalluge’s team did not back down from the challenge. They worked with a local restaurant to receive donations of tables and chairs, and a local church donated pews for additional seating.

“My dad had passed away by then, so our very first attempt at raising money was by selling his tools,” Dalluge said. “We made about $400, and we started investing that in the building.”

A community effort through and through, a company in the area gave Dalluge a good deal on refurbishing; board members and their families contributed time and energy to cultivating the interior.

Donna Purcell, longtime friend and former colleague of Dalluge, serves as the feline operations coordinator. She sits at the helm of all internal functions of both the Kitty Crib and Moore’s Rescue Ranch.

The pair worked together in the University’s Student Health Insurance office for over 25 years, and they formed a close friendship over their shared love of animals.

“We’d always talked about when we retire, we wanted a rescue,” Purcell said. “When her dad passed away, we were able to do something with this. This is where it started out.”

Purcell’s favorite part about the Kitty Crib is the environment it provides for the cats between animal control and adoption. The healthy alternative to regular shelter life offers enrichment that betters the lives of the cats after rescue and long into their future homes.

“The cats love it,” Purcell said. “They’re able to run around; they’re not in cages. Normally, they can go anywhere they want in here. They seem to like it, and we love it.”

Purcell and Dalluge stress that if the cats are never adopted, they will always have a forever home there.

Aside from operations, the Kitty Crib relies on volunteers from the Champaign-Urbana area to host open hours to the public and maintain the cats’ day-to-day needs. Sophia Cerda, sophomore in ACES, volunteers on her available weekends.

Cerda heard about the Kitty Crib through an Instagram ad. She was spurred to action by a combined love of animals and a need for volunteer hours for her professional agricultural sorority, Sigma Alpha. 

“I have two cats and a dog at home, and I’ve always just loved animals,” Cerda said. “Part of the reason that they opened this place is for students to get away from stressful studying, but these guys are so fun because they remind me of my cats at home.”

As a volunteer, Cerda’s responsibilities include keeping the litter boxes clean, feeding the cats and keeping the cafe stocked with warm drinks.

“It’s just a chill little side thing that’s super relaxing and, at the same, time really fun,” Cerda said. “I’d say that finding out about the animals’ different personalities is the most fun part. I’m still learning everything about these cats.”

The first time she went to the Kitty Crib, Cerda took her family while they were visiting campus. She thought it was the perfect place for families who love cats the same way hers does.

Cerda did not only share the experience with her family. She also met fellow cat lovers seeking a respite from the stress of school and work.

“There were about 15 people in here at the time, and we were laughing about the cats’ silly mannerisms and stuff,” Cerda said. “I feel like cats just bring people together in that way, too, because they make people laugh and feel comfortable, which is exactly what this place is intended to do.”

Entrance to the Kitty Crib costs $5 for students and kids and $7 for adults. Due to all positions operating on a volunteer basis, every cent goes towards veterinary care, supplies and buying coffee and hot chocolate for visitors. 

Looking forward, Dalluge and Purcell are working toward raising the funds to construct an adjunct building for dogs as well. They hope to create a program that offers children with disabilities the chance to learn how to interact with animals.

“I have a son on the autism spectrum,” Dalluge said. “He’s 30 now, but I’ve watched him struggle his whole life. We used to volunteer together out of the Humane Society, and I could see how the animals affected him in a wonderful way. I really want to see that in people’s faces.”

As the Kitty Crib and Moore’s Rescue Ranch continue to grow, they have begun exploring grants as an avenue for pushing their efforts. They are already a candidate for a local multi-thousand dollar grant but still need someone to support these goals through grant writing.

“The most rewarding part of this is to watch the faces and lives change because of an animal and a human that needed another chance,” Dalluge said. 

Both the rescue and the Kitty Crib are in the early stages of building a prosperous haven for animals in need throughout C-U. The business has been successful in its first few months open, and the Kitty Crib only hopes to continue to grow and serve the community in years to come.

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