Leila Qari, Executive director
Leila is the founder and Executive Director of Denver Cat Rescue. Leila has been working in the cat rescue world since 2014, and has found both her passion and her purpose in helping cats.
Leila also founded and continues to operate Denver Cat Company, Denver’s cat cafe, which showcases rescue kitties up for adoption in an interactive social environment.
Before rescue, Leila worked as a litigation attorney. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in mindfulness-based counseling at Boulder’s Naropa University.
Leila is originally from Pakistan but loves Colorado and considers herself lucky to live in Denver.
Photo courtesy of Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite.
INSIDE THE CAFE
At any time, you can expect to meet between 15-20 rescue cats at Denver Cat Company.
We play mellow music and there is a small library of books and games for patrons to enjoy . . . an environment where students, remote workers, families, couples, and friends can all feel at home. We also have a curated gift-shop with cat-themed items for purchase.
Although we enforce rules for the safety of the cats and to ensure a good experience for all customers, we trust our customers to regulate their own behavior. Our atmosphere is relaxed and comfortable.
We have the option of memberships for regulars. Inquire when you visit!
Denver Cat Company is one of the many small businesses around Denver started by an immigrant and is proudly staffed entirely by cat ladies, all of whom were at one point loyal customers of the café. We love that our staff tends to stick around, and if you are a regular, they know your name.
Pictured: a customer cuddling a sweet rescue baby. Photo credit: Rescue board member Han Uitenbroek.
OUR RESCUE WORK
Our non-profit arm, Denver Cat Rescue, rescues and rehomes about 400 cats annually with the help of an incredible network of over 100 foster families in the Denver Metro Area. We welcome new fosters!
Our kitties get a cage-free, enriching environment at the cat café while they wait to meet their forever families. Usually, they don’t have to wait too long. We have an excellent track record of finding our rescues wonderful homes very fast. The cat café allows customers to truly get to know a cat’s personality before adoption, which means our placements are usually successful long-term.
You can follow the Rescue Instagram for advance sneak peaks at which foster kitties are slated to come to the café next, and to read post-adoption updates.
Denver Cat Rescue is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (EIN: 83-3901701) and you can make a tax-deductible donation to support our work.
Pictured: Our veteran foster Meghan with a rescue alumnus, Chase. Photo credit: Rescue board member Han Uitenbroek.
WISHLIST FOR THE KITTIES
Denver Cat Rescue relies on donations for our work. We maintain a wishlist on Chewy. Your donation is tax-deductible and you can donate any amount to help us with rescue expenses.
If you order anything for us online, you can have it shipped to us at 3929 Tennyson St., Denver, CO 80212 (make sure to include your information so we can send you a thank-you note!). You can also bring it in to the café.