By Sara Beth Williams–
A property on Old Auburn Road once home to Citrus Heights Preschool for 50 years will soon be transformed into a low cost spay and neuter clinic for cats as the city is poised to begin construction on the interior.
After the abrupt closure of Citrus Heights Preschool, the property, comprised of two buildings, was purchased by the city in October 2024.
Almost one year later, the Citrus Heights City Council approved a pilot 18-month lease agreement between the city and FieldHaven Feline Center, which would bring low cost spay and neuter services to Citrus Heights.
Following the finalized lease agreement, effective Jan. 1, 2026, city staff, RMW Architecture & Interiors, a consultant firm, and FieldHaven, began working together jointly to “evaluate existing conditions” of one of the buildings in order to determine what improvements were needed before the cat clinic could occupy the space.
After opening bids on Aug. 12, 2026, the city selected a bid from American River Construction, Inc. for $457,000 for the 7555 Old Auburn Rd. tenant improvement project. The contract was unanimously approved Wednesday night by the Citrus Heights City Council, allowing the city to now move forward with construction.
Planned improvements include replacing floors, doors, and minor electrical and plumbing, which are covered in a base bid, along with adding an ADA restroom and ADA pathway outside.
Additionally, the city listed three potential additives for the project, including. replacement of windows, ceiling tiles and lighting if funds allow.
The base bid came in at $255,000, plus a $25,000 supplemental contingency for change orders. Estimates for the replacement of ceiling tiles came in at $24,000, converting lights to LED is estimated to be $38,000, and full window replacement is estimated to cost $115,000, totaling $502,700.
The previous fiscal year budget originally allocated roughly $500,000 for the expected project, and those funds have been rolled over to this year in order to cover the cost, city staff said.
Currently, FieldHaven has temporarily moved into a second building on the property, at 7569 Old Auburn Rd., Executive Director Mackenna Gwaltney confirmed. The nonprofit plans to begin operating on felines by the end of September.
The low-cost clinic will focus its efforts on helping the feral cat community and those who trap, neuter and release felines to help control the kitten population. Services offered by FieldHaven will only be spay and neutering for felines, and will not include well checkups or other major surgeries. Spay and neutering requests must be done through appointments which can be booked on the nonprofit’s website.
Once interior construction is complete on the 7555 Old Auburn Rd. building, FieldHaven is expected to move out of 7569 Old Auburn Rd. City staff said the second building will be utilized as an Animal Control Services center and also needs interior remodel, which will occur at a later date.
