New Beginnings for Cats

08/20/2024

We are in need of replacing the windows in the Main Shelter. This is a massive cost for the shelter. With that being said as a nonprofit facility we do not receive any government assistance. We are asking our community for help in caring for the cats here. Some of our cats our immune compromised so keeping as much of the cold air out as possible is extremely important to maintain their health. We appreciate your assistance with any amount you can donate. The cost to replace 1 window is approximately $250.00 not including labor costs. You may also donate via Venmo -smicker, Zelle Kim Smicker 815-474-2782 or for credit card call Kim.

08/16/2024

We are in need of replacing the windows in the main shelter. This is a massive cost for the shelter. With this being said as a non profit facility we do not receive any government assistance. We are asking the community for any help they can give no matter the amount. The cost of replacing a window is approximately $250.00 this does not include labor. If you would be interested in sponsoring a window please contact Kim via messenger or at 815-474-2782.

08/16/2024

😉​​​ You decide who wins our August contest! Vote today. 😉
👍 VOTE HERE: https://woobox.com/vui246!
👍 ​​​​Select the VOTE option underneath the picture of the organization you’d like to vote for. It’s that easy and will only take a few seconds!
👍​​​​​ Each Facebook account is allowed one vote per day, and we’ll accept votes until August 31st at 11:59 pm CST!
👍​​​​​ The organization with the most votes in our poll on August 31st at 11:59 pm will win $500!
👍 Best of luck to all of our nominees!
👍​​​​​ View our charity contest rules here: https://bit.ly/2UyngeS!
👍​​​​​ VOTE HERE: https://woobox.com/vui246!

Every month Toyota of Bourbonnais will be hosting the "Vote For Your Charity" contest to support local organizations.

08/04/2024

Hi. A few weeks ago we took in two sweet 17-year-old kitties, who recently lost their owner. Sadly, one of the family members was planning to dump them outside and we couldn't bear to see that happen, so we took them in right away!
Fluffy and Bandit are trying to adjust to the shelter life and are doing well, all things considered. But we know this is not the best for them. They have lived their whole lives in a home and would love nothing more to start over again in a new home.
All they really want is a nice sofa to rest on and some love and attention. Of course they would also like some food, water, and treats!
We are looking for someone special who is willing to foster or adopt them and give them a place to spend the rest of their lives. If you feel that you are the right person/family to do this please reach out to Beth, our foster/adoption coordinator, at 815-325-9129. We thank you in advance! 💕

07/04/2024

Today is a very special day at Harry's House - our buddy Hansel is celebrating his golden birthday! Hansel has been leukemia positive since he was a kitten and today he celebrates his 4th birthday! We do not take this milestone for granted, because, sadly, some leukemia positive kittens don't make it into adulthood. Hansel is also blind but that never stops him from living his best life! He loves to play with toys, enjoys catnip, and playing with his best friend, Elsie! We are beyond grateful that we still get to celebrate birthdays with Hansel! Happy birthday, dear sweet Hansel! We love you to the moon and back, little buddy! 🥰 💕 😻

07/03/2024

Hi! My name is Dodger! I was found as a kitten, born to a feral mom, in the backyard of a very kind person. Fall was upon us, with winter quickly approaching, and she feared I would not survive the outdoors. It took about 2 months to catch me, as I enjoyed the game of dodging in and out of the patio furniture, flower gardens, and most of all the driveway culvert (so that's how I got my name). I was fostered for 7 months and was then brought to New Beginnings for Cats to further my social skills with other cats, as well as humans. I have achieved these skills and am ready and eager to find my forever home! I am very social, energetic, super playful, and always on the go, making friends with both cats and humans. I would be a perfect fit for a family with kids who could entertain me, or a younger person or couple who could keep up with me. My adoption fee is $60, which includes all vaccinations, 3-year rabies vaccine, spay, and microchip. For further information or adoption, please contact NB4C adoption coordinator, Beth Palumbo at (815)325-9129. If no answer, please leave a message and Beth will get back to you. Thank you for considering adoption! (Oh, and NB4C will provide a cat tunnel since I love to play hide-n-seek in them)!

07/03/2024

Please remember that animals can become very frightened of the fireworks. Please keep your animals inside for their safety.

06/24/2024

Hi from Harry's House! We wanted to share a great update on one of our FIV kitties, Gerald, who was adopted a few months ago. A wonderful lady named Lori fell in love with Gerald and knew he was the cat for her, in spite of being FIV positive. Gerald used to be in a feral colony and was quite shy when we first took him in. Lori reports that he has now become a snuggly lap cat! She gives us regular updates on him (which we love).
In her lastest update she said the following things: "I want other people to realize how wonderful these babies are and they should be given a chance to have a loving family. Gerald has my heart. My daughter said it best, 'Come get a dose of Gerald' because he is so loving and comforting".
Thanks, Lori, for taking a chance on a guy like Gerald - he's so lucky to have you! 💕😻🩷

06/21/2024

Please remember to put water out in the shade for all of the outside animals.

06/16/2024

Meow! My name is Montana and I live at the shelter with many friends. We are in desperate need of two new storm doors, two new screen doors, and new door framing at our shelter. Our current doors are almost 20 years old and the framing has holes in it, which allows rain and snow to enter our shelter. During the winter it gets pretty chilly in here!
Our quote to replace all of these doors is about $2500, which is a huge expense for us right now! We've had several recent medical cases taking up many of our funds.
We humbly ask for any donations towards this project and/or sharing this post. You can mail a donation to PO Box 187, Momence, IL 60954 (please write "doors" on the memo line). Our Venmo is -Smicker.
On behalf of my friends and me, we thank you! ~Montana

06/03/2024

Hi! My name is Hansel and I am one of the wonderful leukemia positive kitties that live here at New Beginnings! I've had leukemia since I was a kitten, but thanks to the great care I receive, I am getting ready to celebrate my 4th birthday! (I am also blind, but I get around just fine!)
For my birthday, I am asking for donations of paper towels, as my caretakers currently have none here at the shelter. If anyone would be willing to donate some, I would appreciate it! If you would like to drop them off at the shelter, you can also ask to meet me - I love visitors!
I also hear that we are in need of some laundry soap and bleach to keep everything clean here for us!
Thanks for supporting kitties like me!

05/29/2024

Hi! We’re Rhubarb and Goober (named after the peanut butter and jelly), four year old siblings. Our story began on 4/12/2020 when we were born at the shelter. We were adopted out as kittens and have been together ever since. Our lovely owner provided us with much love and care until she passed away, and the family members were unable to keep us. Through no fault of our own, New Beginnings For Cats took us back into the shelter, where staff and volunteers continued to give us much needed love and care.
We are together in a free roaming room and are making new friends, since we are very social. However, we seem to always reunite throughout the day and night. That’s what brothers and sisters do! We are loving, friendly, sweet, and enjoy playing. We also enjoy cuddling and would be a perfect pair for humans of all ages. Our adoption fee is $120.00 for the two of us, which includes all vaccinations, three year rabies, spay and neuter, and microchip.
For further information or adoption, please contact New Beginnings For Cats adoption coordinator, Beth Palumbo at (815)325-9129. (If no answer, please leave a message and Beth will get back to you). Come out to the shelter to meet us and consider giving us our new fur-ever home. Remember, two are more fun than one!

05/28/2024

Hi! My name's Teddy and about a month ago I was featured in the Daily Journal newspaper, in their article about adoptable pets. I consider myself somewhat of a celebrity now (and, yes, I will give you an autograph)!
However, no one has come out to the shelter to meet me yet. I would make a great friend and family member, for any one who is willing to accept that I'm a little shy at first. I am a very sweet guy!
Now, don't get me wrong, I enjoy living at the shelter, especially going outside in the catios with my friends. But, my dream is to have a family and home to call my own!
If you'd like to come meet me, please come by the shelter! 😻

05/16/2024

Hi! Come join us this Sunday, May 19, at the Rhubarb Fest, located on the grounds of the Kankakee County Museum. We will have a booth at the Fest from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and we will be selling items to help support our kitties at the shelter! Some of the items we will be selling include cat toys, gift baskets, T-shirts, hats, and catnip mats (which the cats go crazy for!)
We hope to meet you at the Rhubarb Fest!

04/29/2024

(Teddy was our featured kitty in this weekend's edition of The Daily Journal!)

Meet Teddy - a 6 year old kitty, who was surrendered to us on 7/6/2019. He was approximately 14 months old at that time and living on the streets of Chebanse. A kind individual noted he was injured and appeared sick, so we took Teddy in and nursed him back to health. Teddy is currently living at the shelter, where he spends his time free-roaming with other cats, playing with staff, and going out to the catios to enjoy time in the sun. Teddy is loving and sweet, but initially shy until he gets to know you, then his true personality shines! He loves being petted with neck rubs, which brings out his Big Purrs! Don’t overlook this shy guy, as he would make the perfect companion! Teddy would do best in a forever home that has no dogs or young children, due to his shyness. He would be able to live with another cat that’s calm and quiet like he is. Please give Teddy a chance to finally have a home to call his own! His adoption fee is $60.00, which includes all vaccinations, 3 year rabies shot, microchip, and neuter. Teddy would love for you to come out to the shelter to meet him! ❤️
For further information or adoption, please contact New Beginnings For Cats adoption coordinator, Beth Palumbo at (815) 325-9129. Thank you, in advance, for considering adoption.

04/24/2024

Hi! With the weather getting warmer, we are opening up our outside catios, so that our kitties can enjoy the sunshine and fresh air! We would like to enhance their outside experience this year by putting new or gently used kids' sand tables (empty - no sand, please), picnic tables, slides, etc. for them to sit in or on. We are also looking for new or gently used plastic lawn chairs. If you have an item you might like to donate, please message us or feel free to just bring it out! We have included pictures as examples of what we think might work best for our kitties! Thank you so much, as always, for the help!

04/14/2024

A few months ago we took in a sweet 12 year old cat named W***y Wonka. He had recently lost his owner and had nowhere to go. On his intake exam, he was found to be diabetic. We worked hard with our vet to get his glucose controlled; our vet even attached a Libre glucose monitoring sensor that he wears every day for constant glucose readings.
A few weeks ago, a young couple named Lauren and Logan wanted to adopt a cat that might be harder to place in a home. We introduced them to W***y Wonka and they fell instantly in love with him! They fostered him for a week to learn how to take care of his diabetic needs and decided to officially make him part of their family (including their former New Beginnings cat named Aimee)!
Lauren works from home so she is able to watch W***y's glucose monitor closely. They give him insulin shots twice a day, and W***y doesn't mind at all. Most of the time he is snuggling with them! They couldn't love him more!!
Thanks, Lauren and Logan, for taking a chance on a special cat like W***y Wonka! The world definitely needs more people like you!

04/10/2024

Hi from Harry's House! Lucy and Jackson are two of our oldest leukemia positive residents. They have lived together for over 7 years! During that time, they have developed quite the friendship; it's rare to see them apart. On Monday, Lucy (the brown and white kitty) had to have a dental procedure done (thanks Bradley Animal Hospital for the excellent care you gave her!). She had to stay overnight at the vet and Jackson missed her very much. Yesterday, they were reunited and they haven't left each other's side. We are grateful for all of our supporters who make it possible for cats like Jackson and Lucy to live a wonderful life at New Beginnings!

03/26/2024

Elsa was recently returned for no fault of her own but didn’t stay long! She was adopted Saturday, the same day she was posted as our first cat of the month, in The Daily Journal. Our staff made sure she went home with a copy of herself in the paper too!
Congrats and thank you for adopting!
Make sure to stayed tuned in for our Cats of the Month featured in months following!
🐾😸💖

03/20/2024

Hi from Harry's House! We have exciting news - Gerald, one of our senior FIV+ kitties (and former colony cat), was adopted by a wonderful lady! Lori came out to meet the FIV+ and leukemia positive kitties because she wanted to give a special needs kitty a loving home. Although she fell in love with all of them, Gerald captured her heart (I mean, look at that face, who wouldn't love him)! Gerald will be snuggled and loved for the rest of his life - he's such a lucky guy! Thanks, Lori, for taking a chance on a kitty like Gerald! It is our dream that our other kitties, like Gerald, will find their forever homes!

03/20/2024

Farm and Fleet in Bourbonnais currently has pheromone calming collars and pheromone calming diffusers with coupons (one per purchase) if anyone has any extra pocket change to help our kitty friends feel less stressed!
We have had great success with behavior modification and reducing shelter stress using these and Feliway products as well!
🐾💖😸

03/03/2024

A big thank you to all of our volunteers for helping with the Spaghetti Dinner yesterday! We couldn’t do this without your help. Barb, Carole, Kathy, Sheryl, Cheri, Mike, Ann, Laurie, Paula, Beth.Kim.

03/03/2024

It’s our longest resident Champ’s 16th birthday today!
He has been here since he’s been a year old and once was a feral barn resident!
He got his name from Harry because he was always the first out of the door when the barn doors were opened in the spring!
He’s lucky enough to get a home for his birthday with his favorite person, one of our staff members, Jessi!
Can everyone please send him some birthday cheer!
🎉🎁🥳💖

03/03/2024

03/02/2024

Serving 4-7 pm today!

02/25/2024

Sneak peek of one of our raffles for the Spaghetti Dinner. You might be the lucky one to win this jar of scratch off lottery tickets !