Salem MA Cat Aid

05/03/2024

*EDIT: FOUND AND HOME SAFE!*

This guy is one of my former fosters. Please be on the lookout in downtown Beverly. He is neutered, microchipped, and about 3 years old.

05/02/2024

Bozo is a med/long hair tuxedo cat that has been missing since Monday night 4/29 near Appleton and Orne (North Salem/Greenlawn Cemetery area).

He is shy and probably hiding. Check under porches and sheds, but do not chase or approach so he doesn't run. Owner can be reached at 617-935-2474.

04/21/2024

04/06/2024

Carmela (aka: Cammy) - Missing Cat – Dewey Drive area

Carmela the cat went missing from the Dewey Drive area of Salem on Sunday, March 31st. If you’ve seen Carmela, or know her current whereabouts, please contact our Animal Control Officer (ACO), Don Famico at (978) 744-0171 x. 50121 ([email protected]).

04/06/2024

If you can't make the May 1st rabies clinic at the Salem PD, Cape Ann Animal Aid has several days and times open and you don't have to be a Gloucester resident. Dogs and cats, and they also offer microchipping.

More info and date booking here: http://bit.ly/caaaclinics

Dog licenses are due on April 30th in Gloucester. Do you need your updated rabies vaccination? We have several appointments available for low-cost vaccines this month at CAAA! Appointments are required; our clinics offer both rabies and distemper vaccines for cats and dogs.

Learn more and sign up at bit.ly/caaaclinics

*Clinics are available to anyone regardless of city of residence, and are available to both cats and dogs!

04/05/2024

**EDIT: ALL SET, kitties will be fostered by a lovely person here in Salem❤️❤️**

Courtesy post: FOSTERS NEEDED BY APRIL 30.

A Salem local is being displaced from their home at the end of the month and needs a temporary foster or two for their two cats. Please continue reading for info, and if you can help I'll put you in touch with their owner.

Timeline: April 30th until ??? This is ideally NOT permanent placement, but when the person will be able to find housing is uncertain.

Cat info: One male and one female, both neutered/spayed. Both seniors, no known health issues. They don't love each other so they can go to two separate fosters.

IMPORTANT: They are not up to date with rabies vaccinations, but I am willing to pay for these if you can bring them to the Salem PD vaccine clinic happening Wednesday, May 1st.

Because of the financial hardship, the owner cannot currently help provide food or litter, but I can likely help source this for you as well.

Please comment below or message me if you can possibly foster, and I'll put you in touch with their person.

03/28/2024

It's the last day of the semi-finals! And honestly.. Bear is in 10th place so there's no way she's making it past this one. But ✨thank you✨ for helping her get this far! She beat out thousands and made it into the top 196 cats AND helped raise money for PAWS. That's all a really big deal.❤️

Unfortunately for her (and me), her "celebration" is starting prescription food, B12 injections, and a vet visit thanks to her IBD getting worse. The universe has weird timing.

Bear is a 7 year old forever kitten, with adorably crossed eyes and terrible depth perception.

03/25/2024

This man! From the streets of Salem, to barn helper living his best life. I can't believe it's only been a year.❤️

Our little shadow 🐈‍⬛ cozily supervising seeding in the greenhouse. Vesper loves his life here, with safe warm sunny resting spots all over and pals to visit all around the farm all day every day. We even got a raving review from a neighbor about how he cleared their shed of mice and they asked if he takes tips! He requests all tips in the form of smelly fish, please.

It's been a big glow-up for our guy since he joined the farm a year ago from his city street cat days.

03/22/2024

Oh hey Bear, WELCOME TO THE SEMIFINALS. If she beats out this group, then there's just the final round.❤️

As always, never ever feel obligated to buy votes. And if you plan on it, I recommend waiting for the 2-for-1 voting days - I think there's two or three of them?

Not holding any strong expectations, it's all been an unexpected surprise so far! Thank you all for cheering her on!

Here's some bonus content of her being a very good cat to Chili the foster, teaching him that other cats are pretty okay (he totally has a crush on her).

https://americasfavpet.com/2024/bear-4f5b

03/21/2024

Just a reminder that I can help you find affordable spay/neuter resources in MA!

If you're not in a rush (since the wait list is currently ~7 months long), you can apply for a MA Animal Fund spay/neuter voucher: http://www.mass.gov/info-details/spayneuter-voucher-program

Otherwise, the Catmobile is fantastic! http://mrfrs.org/catmobile/

03/20/2024

I'm telling you, there is something extra special about a reformed spicy cat's love. They somehow always end up being extra affectionate when they come through here.

In my last post about Chili's adoptability, I forgot to tell you the basics!:

-He's about 2 years old.
-Neutered, chipped, up to date on vaccinations. Recent booster happened on March 6th.
-His blood work came back great, and the vet said his only physical issue was/is being overweight. But a happy home and exercise is making a difference already!
-He came with the name Chili, and responds to it/comes when called.
-I said this before but - no young kids, yes to other cats, but not dog tested.

Are you a cat savvy person that would like a ginger shadow to follow you around and snuggle you at night? Could this be your guy? Send me a message.❤️

03/19/2024

In other news, here is day 11 of fostering the most spicy man that's ever passed through. He went from no one being able to touch him without animal gloves, to loving kisses. He just wants to follow me around all day and will snuggle at any open lap opportunity.

He's also officially looking for his forever home! He needs a quiet house, preferably with someone who works from home or is maybe retired. MUST understand cat language and give him patience, as he's likely to be scared about another transition. He is great with other cats, untested with dogs. No young kids please.

Please message me with any questions you might have about him. I'm picky about who adopts my reformed spicy cats, so please expect me to ask you questions in return.❤️ From there, you'd fill out an application with Hull Seaside Animal Rescue. We can also have you meet him virtually (sorry, I'd rather not have strangers in my home, but if I know you or you're a friend of a friend, you're welcome to come over!).

More photos coming in the comments!

03/19/2024

I promise I'm not going to be up in your feed often about this. I went to the page today and am SHOCKED that Bear is in first. What if we actually make it through the whole thing?!

https://americasfavpet.com/2024/bear-4f5b

03/18/2024

03/17/2024

This very clingy handsome man is meeting a potential adopter tomorrow. He has made such huge progress in a short amount of time. He couldn't be touched at the shelter without animal gloves. And now he's a stage 5 clinger.

Then there's immediately another scared "unadoptable" cat at Hull Seaside Animal Rescue waiting to arrive and be showered with love until humans are less terrifying.❤️

I know, it's maybe surprising that I'm fostering for a shelter not quite local to Salem, but my bestie volunteers there and I'm certainly not going to say no when there isn't another option. Not everyone (understandably!) can take in the scared or spicy ones, but it's one of my favorite and most rewarding things.

03/14/2024

In other news, Chili's spice level continues to lower daily.❤️

(Forgive my weird position, I was putting on makeup when he needed to get involved - he insists that I "powder" his face with a brush and then he settles in.)

03/13/2024

Edit: he's been adopted!

Read this! Help covering his insulin is a really big deal. (Another reason I love Cape Ann Animal Aid )

03/07/2024

Meet Chili! He arrived this morning and now takes first prize for the most vocally upset foster I've had. He's settling in great though. Scared and confused, not thrilled, but also not hiding. So far he loves snacks, and is a catnip fiend. Also 10/10 very handsome.

03/05/2024

I don't get updates on all of my rescues or former fosters, but this previously well known dumpster diving Salem stray has been doing great in his new home! Thank you Cape Ann Animal Aid for sharing the update with me.❤️

03/05/2024

Selfish post alert: I signed my girl Bear up for this a couple of months ago, not expecting anything to come of it. And she somehow crushed the group rounds?! She just fell to second but I think she has a shot of making it to the final rounds!

Notes: Please don't feel obligated to buy votes or verify your identity with a CC. Verifying your ID through FB isn't sketchy in this case. If you do buy votes, the money is donated to PAWS, which is a really excellent rescue organization.❤️

Bear is a 7 year old forever kitten, with adorably crossed eyes and terrible depth perception.

03/04/2024

Me: I'm taking a break. Everything is heartbreaking all the time.

The Universe: Okay but how about this boy that was surrendered because he's at risk of behavioral euthanasia?

Me and my toxic trait: I can fix him.


Edit: all set on the rug because you are AMAZING.❤️

Related: if anyone has a 4x6 or 5x7 carpet that they are getting rid of, could you consider donating it to me? The foster room needs a newer one. I have one in the Amazon wish list but I wanted to ask here first.

03/03/2024

I appreciate the person who tagged me in the original post when this cat is found, but unfortunately I can't take in any unvaccinated strays, even for a night. But folks can always message me and I can share resources/help with a plan!

/// 04 March 2024 - - UPDATE///
Cat has been reunited with its owner.
/// 04 March 2024 - - UPDATE///

This cat was found around the Churchill Street / Tremont Street area near Mack Park yesterday evening and brought to the police station. If you know who this friendly cat belongs to, please contact our Animal Control Officer, Don Famico, at (978) 744-0171 x. 50121 ([email protected]).

02/28/2024

Hey friends, I'm sorry I've been so quiet here. I'll try to keep this brief:

It's been a really crappy year in animal rescue and I have to step back a bit.

1. 90%+ of the messages I get here are about rehoming cats. It's not really what I do and I can give advice or resources, but ultimately I'm going to suggest surrendering to a trusted shelter. Primarily because the shelter will be able to update medical care AND MOST IMPORTANTLY vet applications for future adopters. Giving away your animal on Facebook or wherever is a very unsafe route for them. But most people say they'll feel guilty about a shelter surrender, even if it's the best thing for the cat.

2. Salem has a law in place now that didn't exist when I began feeding strays in the Point. I can't legally leave food out anymore. This really, really sucks. HOWEVER if you are in Salem and feed strays on your porch, let me know. I can get some food to you.

3. My hospice foster died last summer, and my long term relationship ended (which is only relevant because I went from a team of two to it just being me). Then I fostered a pregnant mama who had her babies here, but mama ended up carrying a disease that neither myself nor the shelter knew about, and due to her immune system being weakened from being a kitten nursing kittens, the disease was "activated" and she passed away quickly and unexpectedly. This in particular was the event of the hellish year that crushed me (and made me need to throw out/replace a lot of my things and sent me into a panic about my own cats being exposed).

Then my recent intake, the sweet young cat found abandoned in an apartment, also unexpectedly became ill, and passed away while under medical care at the shelter.

I understand that rescuing comes with heartache, that it isn't all cute kitten raising and happy rehoming. But I need a break. Mostly because it hurts quite a lot right now. And I'm currently deeply afraid of having any unvaccinated cats in my home, even briefly, even with all of the (medical grade) cleansing and tossing of my belongings.

But also, selfishly, I don't get paid for this and I don't want to. I get donations sometimes, mostly for supplies, and that helps immensely. Thanks to you folks, several foster litters have been easily fed, and I've been able to set up a proper enclosed nursery. But at the end of the day this isn't my job, and things have really sucked financially, so I do need to focus on work so I can support myself and my permanent cats (this goes back to the relationship thing - I'm now paying all of rent/bills instead of half, etc).

So, I'm here for you all if you need cat advice - behavioral stuff, if something sounds like a medical emergency, if you catch a stray and need me to help transport them to the shelter/scan for a chip/search for an owner.

But I need boundaries for now too. I will not help anyone rehome their cat, but I will repost things and if you DM me, give you shelter contacts. I cannot take in any temporary fosters without proof of vaccination for the time being.

I'm sorry, I hope you understand. It hurts that I can't save every cat. And I truly need a break from the death part of it.

🚩And like I said in another post, I won't name names, but do NOT give any potential stray or lost cats to folks who do not have a shelter contact or rescue plan they are willing to be transparent about. There's a couple of screwed up people trapping cats in Salem right now who aren't giving them proper medical care in one case, but in both cases neither of them are contacting animal control (a legally required step) or trying to search for a potential existing owner.🚩

02/28/2024