Above & Beyond

How one special kitty is helping hundreds of others.

Former Marin resident Mark M. Glickman was inspired by his cat, Joe Willie, who had significant medical needs when Mr. Glickman adopted him 35 years ago. In the years since, Mr. Glickman has dedicated his generosity to providing second chances for hundreds of cats in need at Marin Humane and has given one of the largest financial gifts from a living donor in our history.

The Joe Willie Project funds medical, behavioral, and placement help at an unprecedented level to promote the adoption of senior kitties and other cats with special needs. These cats can languish in shelters for months and are viewed as unadoptable by many prospective adopters. The Joe Willie Project is changing that.

“One of the toughest aspects of caring for animals in a shelter is the amount of time it takes a kitty with medical or behavioral challenges to get adopted,” said Nancy McKenney, CEO and president of Marin Humane. “With this remarkable gift, Mark has challenged us to shift the paradigm and remove obstacles, so these special cats are more readily adopted.”

Video presented at GALA 2018

The Joe Willie Project funds three important aspects of feline care and protection:

First, it provides pre-adoption medical assistance for senior cats or others with medical challenges that are either waitlisted until staff veterinarians have time to address their needs or, in some cases, put up for adoption “as-is.” Substantial funding allows us to seek assistance from private veterinarians to address health concerns and minimize the amount of time cats spend waiting to become available for adoption.

Second, the gift allows us to address behavioral challenges by having an additional full-time cat behavior specialist who can focus on issues that delay adoptions or result in a cat being returned to the shelter. The behavior specialist expands the capacity of our free cat hotline, in-home visits, adopter conferences, online resources, and more. The donation also paid for the construction of five state-of-the-art “kitty condos” specially designed to reduce anxiety in a sometimes-stressful shelter environment.

Finally, The Joe Willie Project helps place “career cats” in safe, caring environments. Career cats are mid-spectrum cats that are not happy as house cats, yet not independent enough to live on their own as feral cats. Working with Marin Friends of Ferals, we find adopters who provide basic shelter and food in crawl spaces, outbuildings, barns, or other protected areas. Funding also supports post-placement medical care for career cats. Marin Humane and Marin Friends of Ferals coordinate the placement and transition of these cats to places where they can practice all their innate feline behaviors in a semi-protected environment.

According to Mr. Glickman, “Historically, cats have not been treated with the same level of respect, understanding, or attention as other animals. For decades, Marin Humane has been at the forefront of this issue, seeking to change those perceptions. I am hopeful that my gift will allow them to continue their work in new and innovative ways.”

You can join The Joe Willie Project to support cats in our care and help them as they transition to their forever homes!

Recent Happy Tails from The Joe Willie Project

KATNIS AND PETA

Katnis and Peta first came to Marin Humane as kittens in 2019 and were adopted immediately. After their adopter passed away, the pair—now adults—were surrendered back to the shelter in 2024. Though bonded, they arrived tense and defensive, growling and hissing whenever people approached. Despite this, it was obvious they craved attention; they simply struggled to feel safe in their new environment. They were adopted quickly due to their striking tuxedo looks but soon returned when their new guardians experienced litter box issues, biting, counter surfing, scratching, and continued growly behavior—much of which stemmed from misunderstandings about normal cat behavior.

When Katnis and Peta returned a second time, their behavior in the shelter confirmed what staff had suspected: despite their close relationship, the two cats competed intensely for resources—attention, food, and play. In the presence of people, their bond shifted into rivalry, amplifying their stress and reactive behavior. The team made the difficult decision to separate them into adjoining runs, and within days, both cats transformed. Peta relaxed completely, becoming affectionate, playful, and free of growls. Katnis steadily shifted from anxious and conflicted to social and talkative, with her remaining stress behaviors fading quickly once she no longer had to vie for human attention.

Freed from competition, each cat finally had the space to show their true personality. Peta was soon moved to a larger room and quickly became a volunteer favorite, while Katnis enjoyed visitors, lap time, and long conversations. Two weeks later, both were adopted—just one day apart—beginning their new lives separately but simultaneously, no longer burdened by rivalry and finally able to thrive.

This happy ending could not have happened without the special funding from The Joe Willie Project for our expert Feline Behavior Associates.

POLKA DOTS 

Polka Dots, a young tuxedo cat, arrived at Marin Humane after his guardian felt the other household cats didn’t want him around—a predictable outcome for an intact former neighborhood male still adjusting to indoor life. Shy at first, he slowly warmed up to staff and volunteers with cheek rubs, Churu treats, and wand play, and after neutering, he began showing his affectionate side. Soon, he was climbing into laps, meowing loudly for attention, and becoming the charming “lap barnacle” he’d once been in his previous home.

But his growing need for constant closeness turned into a challenge. Polka Dots resisted being removed from laps, sometimes hissing or even nipping when visits ended. He launched himself onto people’s laps, shoulders, and backs the moment they entered his run, making routine care tricky and even leading to a ten-day bite quarantine. During that time, our expert staff worked intensively on “lap etiquette,” using towels, treats, and clicker training to teach him to sit, stay grounded, and accept gentle removal. Just as he made progress, a fast-growing neck abscess required surgery, but he recovered quickly and continued his training with renewed success.

With time, space, and consistent handling, Polka Dots gradually relaxed. Moving to a larger adoption room helped him burn energy, watch the world go by, and rediscover play. His demanding edge softened, and he blossomed into a confident, affectionate cat ready for the right home. That home arrived when a friend of a Feline Intervention Team volunteer came to meet him—and instantly fell in love. Renamed George, he now sleeps with his adopter, “helps” with yoga, enjoys visitors, and lives a happy, balanced life, no longer overwhelmed by the need for constant attention but still full of love.

These are just a few of many “tails” of success! Come find your own purr-fect feline friend and visit our cats available for adoption today.