About Us


Our history ...
Founded as the Arizona Animal Anti-Cruelty League by Sister Theresa Seraphim, a Russian Orthodox nun from England. Sister Seraphim moved to Southern Arizona in 1965 and to Tucson in 1969 and lived at this location until she passed away in 1990. During her tenure at The Hermitage, Sister Seraphim rescued not only cats, but chickens, guinea hens, peacocks, a handful of dogs, and a donkey.
In 2013, through the American Sanctuary Association, our cage-free shelter became an accredited sanctuary. We remain the only accredited cat sanctuary in Arizona.
In October of 2017, we moved into our expanded 9000 sq-ft, cage-free shelter. Here we house 200+ cats at any given time and rescue about 700 cats annually. With the addition of our medical suite, The Hermitage can provide state-of-the-art care for our cats including spay/neuter surgeries; dental procedures; laser treatments to assist in recovery; and more. Every cat is given a full exam every six months, allowing us to take a preventative approach to their care. Our in-house X-ray equipment allows us to diagnose many conditions without costly visits to outside veterinarians. This care is especially essential for our cats with special needs, such as FIV, FeLV, diabetes, or other chronic issues. Our ability to provide this comprehensive care in-house greatly reduces the stress on the cats, reduces our costs, and improves the cats overall well-being.
No-Kill Philosophy...
At the Hermitage, we adhere to the principle of no kill in that no cat in our care will ever be euthanized to make room for another. Cats in our care will never be euthanized except in case of terminal and painful illness or when compassion demands it because there is no reasonable alternative. These decisions are based on medical evidence and not taken lightly. Learn more about No Kill advocacy.
Who We Are
Our Team

Amber Nix

Emma Crawford

Erica Giles

Nancie Hubbard

Tiffany Johnson

Sydney Marine

Victoria Martel

Rachael Meek

Holly Simon

Ayla Stephens
Board of Directors

Captain Felix

Duncan

Olivia Arrestad

Michelle Eggett

Katie Filous

Cheryl Johnson

Andy Kiel

Natalie Meier

Liana Sharp
The Hermitage Board of Directors meets monthly, usually on the fourth Thursday of each month.
Public attendance is welcome.
If you are interested in becoming a Board Member, please fill out our application and give it to one of the current board members, drop it off at The Hermitage, or email it to [email protected].
*Applicants are subject to Board approval.