Seattle Persian and Himalayan Rescue (SPHR) was founded in 2004 with the goal of rescuing purebred Persians and Himalayans from kill shelters. The organization obtained its 501(C)3 nonprofit status in 2009.

We strive to rescue every adoptable (and many unadoptable) Persian and Himalayan from the shelters we work with in the Northwest, and also do our best to assist owners that need to rehome cats. When we have the space and funds, we extend our care to other breeds of cats as well as mixes and domestic (mutt) cats.

Our mission is to provide compassionate support to felines through education, rescue and permanent placement. SPHR focuses on Persians not only because they need us, but also because they are highly adoptable due to their popularity. By focusing on highly adoptable cats, we are able to achieve a very high number of adoptions per year, and thus are able to save the most cats with the few resources we have available.

SPHR is run by a small group of volunteers that devote an enormous amount of time, care, and energy to saving these wonderful creatures. We operate solely on donations, and thus have a very tight budget. Despite this, we are able to provide excellent veterinary care to all our cats in need with the help of Dr. Teri Byrd and her staff at Madison Park Veterinary Hospital in Seattle. With Dr. Byrd’s help, we are able to treat almost every cat that needs our care.

We operate through a network of foster homes, so many of our rescue cats live in calm and cage free environments. Please email our This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you are interested in joining this network of caring foster volunteers.

We also show our cats at the Petco University District, 809 NE 45th Street, Seattle, WA 98105. Phone: 206-548-1400

Please see a list of our adoptable cats here.

So You Think You Want a Persian

Persian cats are a very appealing breed for many reasons, including their good looks and charming personalities. They come in about every color imaginable, including the color pointed Persians also known as Himalayans. However, this breed also has health-related and maintenance issues that potential owners need to be well aware of before committing to adopting a Persian. Read more.