Cats in need have a new place for shelter and care in Crystal Lake.

Deb Parquette of Barrington recently opened Purrfect Cat Rescue, 318 N. Route 31.

Parquette, a lifelong cat lover, was inspired to open the nonprofit shelter because she said there’s a need in her own backyard.

“Cats are starting to come in,” Parquette said.

The shelter has five cats, with room for about 100.

The shelter will announce its hours of operation next month so people interested in adopting a kitten or cat can begin adoption proceedings. The site currently is open for people who schedule appointments. To contact the shelter, visit www.purrfectcatrescue.com.

“There are colonies of cats out there and people move and have to surrender animals,” Parquette said. “A year and a half ago, I helped rescue more than 40 cats out of a hoarding situation in downtown Barrington. ... It was time to do something.”

Parquette’s sister, Diane Harris, helps run the new organization and has more than 20 years of cat-rescue experience.

“Cats sometimes get a bad rep because they have big personalities,” Parquette said. “Some just want to be cuddled and loved, and some want to do their own thing. It’s what makes them unique. They’re like children.”

The shelter is cage-free and has about a dozen “cat trees” for scratching and climbing. There also is a clinic for vaccinations and cordoned-off spaces for kittens.

Parquette said the shelter is funded by dedicated donors, and she will be seeking additional financial support in the coming years from cat lovers and local businesses.

“We’re going to try and help as many as possible,” she said. “I know we can’t help them all; we can only have so many here, but it’s important to help the ones in our own backyard. ... There is a huge need.”

Parquette said feral cats unable to be adopted will be spayed or neutered and released. The no-kill shelter also will partner with a local veterinarian, and Parquette hopes to foster a team of volunteers who can assist in the daily operations.

She said the cost for adopting cats will vary by age.