KCS Origins

Kitty Charm School earned our name organically back in 2006, while fostering cats in the guest suite of our home for local rescue groups. One by one, we became known for our ability to turn the most traumatized ‘unadoptable’ cats into loving, charming kitties. When a number of ‘unadoptables’ were the 1st to be adopted after being fostered in our home, someone teasingly asked us, “What are you running over there, some kind of Kitty Charm School?”  Needless to say, the name stuck.

In 2009, Kitty Charm School owner Sarah Haynes lost her beloved 16 year-old Hatty-Cat to a coyote, when a well intended cat sitter accidentally let her outside. After this tragic experience, Sarah began looking for much safer boarding accommodations. While many places were well marketed, what she found was that the accommodations just weren’t acceptable… “Condos” that were the equivalent of a college shower stall…unmonitored “Playrooms” where kitties are mixed with unknown cats and must fend for themselves. Shouldn’t all kitties feel safe and loved?

In 2010, Sarah test marketed the idea of Kitty Charm School as a B&B in the 2-room guest suite of her home. With a Craigslist ad and some photos of the Kitty Wonderland she had built for the foster cats, Kitty Charm School took off quickly. After a succession of 5 Star Yelp ratings, Kitty Charm School was completely booked through the end of the year.

In early 2011, after much searching for the right place, Sarah landed a 3,000 square foot sunny store-front facility just down to the street from her home in Mill Valley CA. While the new location is much larger, we have successfully retained the home-like feel of the original Kitty Charm School B&B.

New Beginnings

After 20 years of service to the Mill Valley feline community, Sarah decided to retire and placed Kitty Charm School in the very capable hands of John Welder. John is an avid cat lover and has rescued eight kittens. Four are still living with him today and more rescues are planned. John had always dreamed of owning a business and leaving his high-tech career to purse something more fulfilling like supporting cats and their owners. 

In 2022, Victoria came on board as Manager. While in grad school, she was working at a vet’s office as a receptionist and become know as the “cat person”, forever happy to check in and weigh the feline patients. When she heard KCS was hiring, a job working specifically with cats seemed perfect and it was an instant fit. She and John were a great duo.

After 4 years at KCS and with John deciding he and his family would relocate to Southern California, he decided to sell Kitty Charm School to Victoria. He remains a consultant and close friend to us. Having gotten to know the business and so many of the kitties who come to board with us over the years, Victoria is excited to take on this challenge. She has 3 cats of her own who board at KCS when she goes out of town so you may see them around – King, Arwen, & Rex.