Fitchburg Friends of Felines

01/26/2025

We are getting down there wire with finding a home for 3 yr old Seamus, the FIV+ once shy kitty from a hoarder home, suffering from stomatitis, kicked out into the woods over the summer in a small town in MA, now fixed and fully vetted, with much less teeth, and a complete cat loving love bug!

Seamus is in need of a forever home, as his foster family is traveling in February. This sweet kitty is loving with humans and cats alike. We are unsure how he would be with dogs, as he is shy, so a hyper pooch probably would not be a good fit for this sometimes standoffish type.

Can you help find Seamus the loving home he deserves?

His profile is on PetFinder: https://www.petfinder.com/cat/seamus-special-needs-fiv-74651332/ma/fitchburg/fitchburg-friends-of-felines-inc-ma574/

We do foster to adopt, to ensure he is perfect for your family, so you take the time needed to acclimate him to your new space. Please email, message on FB, call, or apply to learn more! Applications are here:

https://forms.gle/1RifYXk6SerKr6q16

Email: [email protected]
Hotline: 978-222-3170

If you cannot take him in, please share to help spread the word!

If you are able to help us cover his dental and other medical costs. The link below is to PayPal that also accepts credit cards. Your donation is tax deductible as we are a 501(c)3 nonprofit, and ever $5 goes a long way!

https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=8KVXDG6JF8ZPA

Thank you for caring about Seamus!

01/22/2025

Please be on the lookout for pets in the cold!

🥶⛑️🐾 What to Do If You Find a Hypothermic Cat (or other pet) 🐾⛑️🥶

If you find a cat that appears cold, lethargic, or unresponsive, it may be suffering from hypothermia, which can be life-threatening. Here’s how to help:

1️⃣ Bring the Cat to a Warm, Safe Place - Gently wrap the cat in warm, dry blankets or towels. Avoid sudden temperature changes—DO NOT place the cat near a direct heat source like a heater or hot water.

2️⃣ Check for Immediate Danger - Look for signs like cold ears, paws, or body, shivering, or labored breathing. If the cat is unconscious or unresponsive, seek emergency help immediately.

3️⃣ Warm the Cat GRADUALLY - Use warm (not hot) water bottles wrapped in cloth or a heating pad set to low to SLOWLY warm them up. Place them near the cat but never directly on its skin.

❗DO NOT wash or bathe the cat, DO NOT use direct heat sources or try and get the cat to eat or drink❗Contact a rescue group or veterinarian for immediate assistance - it could mean the difference between life and death.
‼️ If you need help, TEXT US (504.415.0137), we will assist you the best we can‼️
Please like, comment and share to spread the word!! 🙏🙏

01/22/2025

Leominsterites! Remember that stray cat that everyone knew for 2 years and kept posting on Facebook? Then 4 months ago he ended up with a huge gash on his neck, so Fitchburg Friends of Felines took him in, got him 12 stitches that fixed up his neck so good you can't even tell he had a wound, and got him 4 months in a beautiful room with Windows and a human that loved on him so much he became the biggest Love bug Walmart Greeter who just hogs human attention! If you're interested in adopting, please consider reaching out to Standish humane society to scoop him up before someone else does!

01/22/2025

Our Pumpkin.... This is the kitty that everyone in Leominster seemed to know, who showed up at a feeding station with a chunk missing out of his neck. He spent 4 months with us at Fitchburg friends of felines during his quarantine in a beautiful room with Windows for him to look out of and a human for him to love on. He became such the Love bug and demanding of his humans attention. Now that he is out of his quarantine we are thrilled that he is being exposed and hopefully finds me his forever humans soon.

If interested in pumpkin, please follow the link to Standish humane and fill out an application! This Walmart greeter deserves a family of his own!

01/22/2025

A reminder about pets in cars... Please don't leave them outside nor in unattended vehicles.

We’ve been receiving a few calls about dogs left inside cars, while owners are shopping and dining.

Please be reminded that pursuant to M.G.L. C 140 S 174f, ‘a person shall not confine an animal in a motor vehicle in a manner that could reasonably be expected to threaten the health of the animal due to exposure to extreme heat or cold.’

We will respond and we may cite under the law.

About a week ago, a dog was left inside a motor vehicle while its owners sat at a bar inside a local establishment, from at least 5:30pm-until a little after 8:00pm. It was 24 degrees outside as it neared 8:00pm. The restaurant manager, whom we applaud for her position, advised the dog’s owners that even though they started the vehicle a few times, their staff was uncomfortable monitoring the dog all evening [for them] and that if there is a next time, the establishment will choose animal welfare over patronage.

Last evening, two dogs were left inside a motor vehicle while their owner was shopping inside a store. It was 18 degrees outside during this time. The vehicle’s engine was ‘off.’ There was enough concern and time passed, that someone who noticed the dogs, called police.

Heat, remote starts, climate controls, ‘it was just for a few minutes’—are often just as inexcusable to us in winter as they are in summer- and we still have the determination as to whether or not we feel the animal could be ‘reasonably at risk’.

As for cold-weather breeds…sure some may have more textbook ability to withstand the cold, but as a family pet, these breeds are still often not sufficiently acclimatized, or possess well-stoked internal furnaces, or have fully developed breed-depicted winter coats, to reach a level that prepares them for extreme drops in temperature.

Our mission is to protect animals and uphold the laws. Please leave pets at home when you go out, especially during this cold snap.

And if you’re out and ‘you see something, say something’.

[Photo: Dog inside a frosty car, courtesy of Getty Images]

01/22/2025

Does anyone recognize this black and white tux, unaltered male, in Leominster, MA, Pine Street, Mount Pleasant Street area?

He seems to be coming all hours if the day and night to a local feeding station. Yesterday he appeared with a small wound in his cheek as seen in one picture, that tonight seems to have grown (picture a bit grewsome to show).

If you know anything about this Kitty or who the owners are, please call or text the Fitchburg Friends of Felines Lost and Found cat hotline at 609-800-4CAT (4228), or PM us with info.

Thank you for caring about this little love!

01/21/2025

Update on Archie, the kitty posted on
the Leominster, MA Community pages a month ago Sunday about a white and gray cat laying on the side of Viscoloid Ave. The PD could not find him. Some Good Samaritans located him, but he ran off. We also could not find him, but he turned up two days later, and was trapped at his local hangout feeding station.

The vet said luckily there were no broken bones, but he hit something hard, smacked the side of his face, and his right lip was cut and swollen and is bruising on the inside. They gave him his vaccines, dewormer and flea treatment, tested him for disease, and got antibiotics to cover the bases.

He has been with his foster family for a month now, and for a full grown male unfixed feral, he is doing fantastically on the social front!

We have his neuter scheduled for early February, When he is off his antibiotics and is healed.

We know he has it in him to be a domestic kitty. We need to give him that opportunity. It just takes a patient human. And we found two humans! And they are making fantastic progress!

He definitely knows their routine now which is great. The fosters are starting to work with him on being ok near them and their hand/more movements using the Churu sticks as a bribe. It’s a good thing he is food motivated!

He is a very vocal kitty and loves when the fosters spend time in the room with him. He gets sad when they need to leave but definitely enjoying having them in the room.

Could you see yourself as a socializer, getting shy kitties out of the corner? We have 5 siblings we were just made aware of under a year old that are in need of love and attention.
please message us on FB, email us at [email protected], or call our hotline at 978-222-3170 to become a foster, or Foster to adopt.

If you can help with his vet visit and have $5 to contribute, all monetary donations go directly to medical and prescriptions, and is a tax-deductible donation.

Both PayPal and credit cards are accepted at this link:

https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=8KVXDG6JF8ZPA

Thank you for your caring about Archie!

01/19/2025

It has been a month since we sent an update on Seamus, the once shy kitty with a tough life in a hoarder home, suffering from stomatitis, kicked out into the woods over the summer.

We got him vetted, fixed his teeth so he is no longer suffering from that horrible dental disease, and his fosters made him a LOVE BUG!

Seamus is now in need of a forever home, in the next couple weeks. His foster family is traveling mid February, so we would love to find this sweet kitty who is loving with humans and cats alike a permanent residence with a loving family.

Can you give Seamus the loving home he deserves?

We do foster to adopt, to ensure he is perfect for you, your family, and other critters in your home, so there is no pressure in committing immediately to an adoption, and you take the time needed to acclimate him to your new space. Applications are here:

https://forms.gle/1RifYXk6SerKr6q16

We are also hoping some may have $5 to help us cover his dental and other medical costs. The link below is to PayPal that also accepts credit cards. Your donation is tax deductible as we are a 501(c)3 nonprofit:

https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=8KVXDG6JF8ZPA

Thank you for enabling us this ability to continue to change the lives of these homeless cats!

01/18/2025

Update on our Little Miss May, our old lady who needed a Christmas Miracle, who came to us last year as a feral from Clinton, MA whose feeder surrendered her as one day she appeared at the feeding station with half her tail only showing bone.

After her tail amputation, 4 month quarantine per MA state rabies protocol for wounds of unknown origin, and a very a needed dental, she was free to be a sweet and adorable love bug.

She had other ideas.

She is feral. We are being patient. Very, very patient.

It has been over a year.

She is advertised on Petfinder, but no one seems to want her but us. And that is okay.

Friday before Christmas her foster mom found drool coming from her mouth, mixed with blood.

The vet took us in immediately, but could not find any issues with her mouth, but the doctor mentioned the bottom of her mouth seemed "hard", and is suspecting a tumor, or something in her stomach.

She got fluids, an antibiotic, take-home drugs to stimulate her appetite, and more of her tummy meds to help settle her stomach, as she was vomiting without it from a month prior.

Since she decided food was not her thing, any food, our vet gave us approval to try any food at this point, in hopes she starts to enjoy food again.

We brought out the big guns: liquid and dry treats, baby food, low sodium broth, tuna based canned food, a smorgasbord of everything she used to like and new stuff she may not have tried.

The doctor even prescribed the Royal Canin recovery shakes.

She is stubborn. We are more stubborn.

We may have finally found what she is craving: Friskies Gravy Swirlers dry cat food and Fancy Feast Dry.

Who knew she does not have expensive taste?

We will take it! We are still presenting her mousse, gravies, bisque, soups... Most of which she turns her nose up to.

Good thing she is cute.

Last week she showed progress on two fronts: the other being socialization.

Miss May decided it would be a good day to come out of her hidie hole and seek out her foster mom for pets.

After a full 5.29 seconds of half tail swagging petting and love time, she gazed into the eyes of her forter, and showed her appreciation with a swat, then walked back into her hidies hole.

We consider that progress.

If you feel you are up for the challenge of getting a stubborn old lady to enjoy life with a human, her profile is here:

https://www.petfinder.com/cat/miss-may-69384573/ma/fitchburg/fitchburg-friends-of-felines-inc-ma574/

If you are able to help with her last medical bill, it is also appreciated. The below link accepts both credit cards and PayPal, and is a tax deductible donation.

https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=8KVXDG6JF8ZPA

We would love for her to be both healthy and happy. We appear to be getting her eating and back to healthy. We now want her happy.

Thank you for caring about Miss May!

01/18/2025

A toast to Betty White on her heavenly birthday. She would be 103 today.

She gave back to the rescue community and was an advocate to animals in need.

Even after her death, the Betty White Challenge raised over $13M towards shelters and rescues.

We salute you, and appreciate all you have done for animals in need.

01/15/2025

Update on Milo, our muted orange tabby with thumbs, surrendered by a family who could not afford care.

Milo's fever of unknown origin finally broke, thanks to the amazing team at Leominster Animal Hospital and our dedicated foster parent, also in the veterinary field. The Doctor does not believe we are dealing with a cancer at this time.

His diligent foster mom has been giving such amazing care, and able to get him to eat on his own, so no more forced supplemental feedings have been necessary. He has gradually been getting back both his strength and appetite, and appears to finally be on the mend, after two weeks of nail biting struggles.

Thank you for your prayers.

His medical bills could use some assistance, if you happen to have a spare $5, and have a credit or debit card, or PayPal. We do not receive regular funding, so every penny counts. Your donation is tax deductible:

https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=8KVXDG6JF8ZPA

Do you have room in your heart and home for a kitty? Would you be interested in becoming part of our amazing foster network, and change the lives of these homeless loves?

Please email, call, or message us if interested!

Phone: 978-222-3170
[email protected]

Or if you can fill out our Foster application, we certainly welcome it.

https://forms.gle/1RifYXk6SerKr6q16

Thank you for supporting Milo, and our other kitties in need.

01/14/2025

Stevie Update! This guy is our latest lap cat amputee, who was rocking a new figure New Year's eve with one less leg, and seemed to get along great, when he is distracted.

Unfortunately, he decided to get a new hobby of being Houdini when it came to his e-collar, and started working around his collar to chew at stitches.

We brought him to the vet Friday, who said no worries! He had not caused any infection and did not do any damage by removing the four stitches he really didn't appreciate, but the remainder were intact!

By Monday, things had changed.

He continued the hobby of chewing stitches over the weekend which unfortunately caused infection. On Monday, his return visit was not what are expected. He was a proud recipient of a whole new set of 15 stitches, and take two with trying to keep him from chewing them out so his skin can heal properly.

He is on pain meds, so he is feeling good and not uncomfortable. But trying to figure out how to leave his sutures alone is a fun little challenge for our foster, who again has stepped up to the challenge.

Good thing Stevie is cute.

Ironically, it looks like she found a perfect solution with a puffy little collar that ironically, was on our other Foster named Steve who also had a chewing issue due to allergies. Luckily Steve is now on allergy shots which is keeping him from chewing so the collar is free for Stevie to enjoy! Or, not enjoy much, but tolerate.

Luckily the drugs help him not mind much.

Did we mention how adorable he is? He is available to a home with or without kids, with someone who enjoys a cat on their lap, or chest, or wherever Stevie can lay on you. He likes other kitties, but probably kitties his age or younger, as the older cats don't seem to appreciate his playfulness.

His profile is here if interested:

https://www.petfinder.com/cat/stevie-special-needs-amputee-71894636/ma/fitchburg/fitchburg-friends-of-felines-inc-ma574/

If you have a spare $5 towards his seemingly continuous visits to the vet, 100% of your tax deductible donation goes to the medical needs of our kitties. Your support is why we can care for these kitties.

https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=8KVXDG6JF8ZPA

Please share so we can help Stevie, And thank you again for supporting our mission of saving every one!

01/12/2025

Update on Beatrice, aka: Betty, aka: Sweetie. She is another very young amputee with so much love to give, but her right hind leg that would not cooperate with the rest of her body.

After surgery in November, she underwent her spay surgery, and series of shots, with plenty of time to recoup between procedures.

We are thrilled to report that she has fully completed her medical, and the foster parent has decoded to adopt this sweet love. She befriended the resident kitty of the home and is now a spoiled, integrated member of the family, with a new bff.

Interested in giving the same opportunity to a kitty in need, by becoming foster, or a volunteer, from the comfort of your own home, dedicating as much or little time as you can spare? We could use the help!

Please consider filling out a volunteer form, PM us, call our hotline at 978-222-3170, or email us at [email protected] for info. on how to help homeless kitties in our community.

If you have a spare $5, 100% of your tax deductible donation goes to the medical needs of our kitties. Your support is why we can care for these kitties.

https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=8KVXDG6JF8ZPA

Thank you again for supporting our mission of saving every one.

01/11/2025

Meet our newest kitty needing some prayers: Milo.

He is a sweet orange tabby with thumbs, surrendered by a family who knew he was sick but could not afford care.

Fitchburg Friends of Felines was happy to see what they can do.

Milo immediately went to our Veterinarian, who diagnosed him with a fever of unknown origin. The hospital performed many tests and blood work, but they could not get a definitive answer.

So, on Monday, we have an appointment with a specialty hospital with their internal medicine group for an ultrasound and to hopefully find the culprit of whatever is making this baby sick.

Our P*P is suspecting cancer. We hope not.

His diligent foster mom is also a vet tech, so we know he is in the absolute best care. He is receiving supplemental feedings twice a day, as he is just nibbling on food and has no appetite.

We could use your help.

The internal medicine consult will most certainly run over $1000. If you have some change in your pocket, we hope you consider helping with his medical bills. If everyone was able to give just a couple dollars, this kitty would be dept free. :) Your donation is tax deductible:

https://www.paypal.com/donatte?hosted_button_id=8KVXDG6JF8ZPA

We have kitties like Milo, and healthier ones, in need of a foster home. Would you be interested in becoming part of our amazing foster network, and change the lives of these homeless loves?

Please email, call, or message us if interested!

Phone: 978-222-3170
[email protected]

Or if you can fill out our Foster application, we certainly welcome it.

https://forms.gle/1RifYXk6SerKr6q16

And, most importantly, please keep Milo in your prayers.

Thank you for supporting Milo.

01/10/2025

Stevie update, our foster who started 2025 with one less leg, and is in need of a home.

Stevie was trapped 6 months ago with a wound of unknown origin which earned him a 4 month quarantine as required by the MA Department of Agriculture.

At 4 months, when he was set free to roam the home, we discovered a limp. With months of consults and surgeon visits under his belt, he finally got the amputation he desperately needed on New Years Eve.

Stevie unfortunately has discovered a new hobby: escapism of his e-collars. He started this hobby on his way home from the surgeon, getting the plastic collar off before he even got home.

He pulled that one off several times so his vigilant foster family tried a variety of other collars. Stevie has found they are not his style, and has pulled out 4 stitches in the middle of the night when no one is looking as he again pulled a Houdini with a collar.

Unfortunately, his incisions were showing signs of redness, so back to the vet he went to make sure there was no infection. Luckily, the Dr. has advised he will heal, no need for additional antibiotics, not to do anything but continue to be more stubborn than him with the callers, and he is going in Monday for suture removal.

Luckily, his pain meds are making him a bit drowsy, so hopefully he is uninterested in continuing this habit.

He has proven to continue to be a love bug to this whole ordeal, and even to pull off a beautiful photo shoot with the Foster family. Unfortunately, he still needs a home. He may be best as an only Kitty or with a family that is patient with him as he is gradually introduced to four-legged friends. He tried to make friends with the other kitties at the old foster home, but they were uninterested in a young, playful friend.

Would you give this new tripod a chance at a forever home?

Please email, call, or message us if interested!

Phone: 978-222-3170
[email protected]

You can view his profile here:
https://www.petfinder.com/cat/stevie-71894636/ma/fitchburg/fitchburg-friends-of-felines-inc-ma574/

If you can help with his medical bills, which continue to mount, any help is also greatly appreciated, and is tax deductible:

https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=8KVXDG6JF8ZPA

Thank you for supporting Stevie and his road to recovery!

01/02/2025

Looking for a New Year's Resolution you can not only keep all year, but be proud of?

How about making the difference in the lives of homeless cats?

No, we don't care how old it young you are. Our youngest volunteer to date is 6, and oldest in her 80's... But you would swear she is 60!

Got even a half hour a month? We will take it!

No time at all? You can simply give $5 to the cause, knowing you just gave to the medical needs of less fortunate kitties, or commit to as little as a half hour a month to dedicate to enhancing the lives of cats that need it the most.

Allergic? You don't even have to leave your home or come in contact with a cat to help.

And we have volunteer positions you never even knew existed.

We need help feeding our feral cat population in 2 cities. You may drive by a feeding station every morning and not even know it. Can you stop by to leave some food? We give you the food. You make the drive by feeding happen!

Can you respond to those who reach out on Social Media, to let them know we are a resource for helping a lost or found cat.

Are you ocd and love to organize? We get donations in that need to be sorted and distributed.

We need socializers: those willing to visit foster homes and spend time with kitties that need attention the most. If you want to scoop a litterbox while your there, that is welcomed, too!

Got time to put up posters for lost cats? We tag team with a driver and poster hanger to make it efficient.

Can you help with fundraising or merchandising to raise money for the medical bills of our cats?

Can you pick up donations from generous people and businesses?

Do you have a space in your home and heart to take in a foster kitty, to give that kitty love and attention for as little as a day, or maybe longer?

Can you transport kitties to and from vet appointments or to our local shelter partners?

Could you monitor our incoming messages for those in need our help?

Are you a good writer, who can create entertaining profiles to get our homeless kitties adopted?

So many things to do, and not enough people to do it.

What are you interested in?

Please let us know by filling out a volunteer inquiry here:

https://forms.gle/pM13MHUMN3ATdbTAA

Or, if you can give a couple dollars to our medical bills, or maybe make a recurring donation for a couple dollars every month, please consider here:

https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=8KVXDG6JF8ZPA

Thanks for considering helping kitties in need, and have a wonderful 2025!

01/01/2025

Does anyone recognize this seemingly in-tact, friendly male? He has been hanging around the Pleasant St. / Longsjo area of Fitchburg since the fall, now breaking into a neighbor's mud room most days.

Please contact Animal Control with owner info. or call or text Fitchburg Friends of Felines lost and found cat hotline at 609-800-4CAT (4228).

Thanks for caring about this love!