Located in Portland, Indiana, the Midwest Pet Refuge shelters more than 100 pets that are available for adoption. Most of the animals there were rescued as strays, and await their forever home. In addition to providing shelter and food to 135 animals, the refuge also features a bookstore and shop to attract visitors. Photos by Grace Duerksen and Rylan Capper

Ashtynn Stultz looks at cats with his mother, Kyrstin April 9, 2022 at Midwest Pet Refuge in Portland, Ind. In addition to providing shelter and food to 135 animals, the refuge also features a bookstore and shop to attract visitors. Rylan Capper

A cat sits perched among stacks of books, waiting for attention from the next visitor April 9, 2022 at Midwest Pet Refuge. The refuge was founded in 2013 and moved into its current building, a former chuch, in 2021. Rylan Capper

An orange tabby cat sits above a sunny window at the Midwest Pet Refuge April 9. The group holds over 100 cats in the building, which was formerly a church and day-care center.

Mary Adair cleans a litter box April 9, 2022 at Midwest Pet Refuge in Portland, Ind. Adair volunteers at the refuge every Saturday. Rylan Capper

Buckets of cat litter sit stacked against a wall April 9, 2022 at Midwest Pet Refuge in Portland, Ind. Rylan Capper

Peeking out from behind his own body, an orange tabby cat climbs on top of a cage that holds several other cats April 9. All cats from the Midwest Pet Refuge center are adoptable and most of them used to be strays.

A cat looks on as Tara Drumm scoops a litter box at Midwest Pet Refuge April 9, 2022 in Portland, Ind. Drumm owns and operates the refuge with entirely volunteer help. Rylan Capper

Sticking her paw out in hopes of catching a passerby’s eye is a young cat at the Midwest Pet Refuge April 9. While most of the cats in the building roam freely in different rooms, some cats are held in quarantine due to parasites such as ringworm.

An older feline resident of the Midwest Pet Refuge Center sits atop stacked chairs in the supplies room April 9. Attached to the refuge is a bookstore called Cat Tales where some of the group’s cats roam in their free time.

Mary Adair refills a litterbox at Midwest Pet Refuge April 9, 2022 in Portland, Ind. Volunteer staff clean litterboxes and replace food and water every day at the refuge. Rylan Capper

Tara Drumm refills food bowls April 9, 2022 at Midwest Pet Refuge in Portland, Ind. The refuge invites visitors in with a bookstore and shop complete with roaming cats. Rylan Capper

Tara Drumm pets a cat as she refills food and water bowls April 9, 2022 at Midwest Pet Refuge in Portland, Ind. The refuge adopts out about 25 animals every month. Rylan Capper

Molly Stults request the attention of a black cat at Midwest Pet Refuge April 9, 2022 in Portland, Ind. The refuge adopted out 250 cats in 2021. Rylan Capper