Cat of the Day

12/28/2024

During college I worked at a local animal hospital. One weekend, I stopped by and was told of a kitten that was scheduled to be euthanized. I went to find the kitten but only found what seemed to be an empty cage. Back in the corner of the cage was an orange ball of fur. The kitten was barley moving and seemingly lifeless.

She had been struck in the head by a dog at her previous owners and could no longer walk. The owners choose euthanasia instead of treatment.

I asked the veterinarian to delay the procedure till Monday and I would foster her through the weekend. I wanted her last days to be filled with love and affection.

I spent the weekend taking care of her. She would eat if food was held to her mouth and go to the bathroom if she was held up in her litter box.

Despite all of this, she still could not move. She would simply lay motionless whenever she was laid down.

Sunday night arrived and she still hadn’t walked, I had lost hope. I knew that a life of being helpless and immobile was not fair to her. I laid down with her and said a prayer while she purred next to my cheek.

Monday morning arrived and my family and I began saying our goodbyes. My father held her and I began to cry. But then a miracle happened... At that moment she leapt from his chest to the floor. I jumped down, fearing she was hurt or injured. But she was neither. She was walking! Slowly and sideways, but walking none the less! Her coordination and balance slowly improved and she has walked every day since.

Beepers, as I later named her, has become a permanent member of my home. She is my miracle kitten and truly the best cat I have ever owned. She loves to be cuddled and runs around the house like she's been doing it her whole life.

Everyday I'm thankful I walked into the clinic that day, and that she walked into my life.

12/28/2024

Animal Humane New Mexico took in 59 shelter pets evacuated from the Ruidoso area that has been impacted by wildfires.

The South Fork fire destroyed more than 17,000 acres and burned over 1,400 homes and buildings. The shelter pets at Humane Society of Lincoln County were evacuated just in time as the smoke and flames inched closer.

The shelter survived the fire and flooding that followed with minimal damage and opened their doors to displaced pets.

Thanks to your generous donations, the evacuated dogs and cats were comforted with new toys and tasty treats at Animal Humane New Mexico.

12/28/2024

I had just moved into my first apartment as a single mother. I was feeling very alone and guilty that my daughter had no one to play with. So I decided on getting a cat, so we would both have a friend.

After browsing the newspaper's I came across an article that read "15 kittens please help!" I called and drove over that afternoon, newly purchased cat carrier in hand.

After looking at all the orange tabby kittens I was having a tough time choosing, when a kitten, much smaller than the rest, and only an empty socket where an eye should have been, appeared. I specifically wanted a female kitten, but the other female kittens wanted no part of me or my rambunctious preschooler. Can't say I blame them. We were quite the package.

I asked about the small one-eyed kitten and was told, "Oh, you don't want that sickly one. She's the runt of the 15 kitten litter. Nobody wants a one-eyed cat. We're just going to put her to sleep."

Knowing how it feels to hear you're unwanted, home with us Dixie kitty came. Four hundred fifty dollars' worth of veterinary care and four years later, Dixie is still here and my best friend. She put up with my daughter dressing her up in baby doll clothes and never so much as hissed or struggled to break free of the silly outfits. She put up with me crying late nights, comforting me. She even put up with my new husband, our new house, and a great new cat condo.

Dixie has been constantly by my side, during my lowest times and my happiest times. She was there on my daughter's first day of kindergarten. She was there on my wedding day. When loved ones passed. She is the most patient cat I have ever known. She truly is my best friend. I believe that day, Dixie saved me, just as much as I saved her. Plus, who doesn't want a winking cat?

12/27/2024

12/27/2024

Every time

12/27/2024

True Rescue in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, recently took in a litter of stray kittens around 8-9 weeks old. Upon closer examination, they noticed that one had four ears.

This rare genetic mutation causes the little feline no harm and just makes him even more adorable. The shelter plans to have their vet examine the 2-pound kitten but based on their research state, "We will have him fully checked by a vet, but from what we know, the inner ear is completely normal and will cause no issues, other than having extra flaps to clean!"

His caretakers have named him Audio because "he has built-in surround-sound speakers". They are having a blast with cat puns and sharing the sweet feline with their followers.

They wrote, "We'll videotape him soon and share his cuteness with everyone because this baby is simply ear-resistible (sorry, can't stop)! Welcome to True Rescue, Audio, where love has no boundaries!"

12/27/2024

I am Orange Kitty.

I had a home… well, what you might call a home. My owner’s live there. I have been on my own finding food and shelter for many years. I had fleas and tics all over me. My owner’s didn’t care. They didn’t care that I was left alone in freezing weather. I lost part of my ear because of you.

I came across a house one day. A house where I saw other, happy cats in the window lounging on a cat condo. I sat on the other side of the glass looking in thinking “I have a dream”. “Why can’t I too have that?”
Just then, a human came out of the house. I have a hard time trusting humans. After all, it was humans who left me alone to fend for myself.

I keep my distance from the fat, happy one who wants to pet me. Her voice is very soothing. She reaches out calmly with her hand. She gives me cream and kibble to fill my empty stomach. She reaches out to me to fill my empty heart. She worries if I don't come by everyday. She really cares about me.

I really didn't know what it feels like to be loved.

To my previous owners, you lost a wonderful cat. You didn't think I was worth your time, care or money. Someone else thinks I am.

I have a new "family". I am safe, cared for and loved.

I am orange kitty... hear me roar.

12/27/2024

When her owner died, the family couldn't keep her, and my friend's family, who didn't really want her, took her in. When I told them I thought she was gorgeous, they begged me to take her. I couldn't because of living situations.

However, eight months ago, I got my own place, and she came to live with me. I have been obsessed with her ever since. The weird thing is, I have never been a cat person. I never owned a cat. It's always been all about the dogs. And I still love dogs! I love all animals, really. But anyway, with cats I was always like, "aw so cute" but "not for me". Until I met this fluffy little demon kitty.

She's actually super sweet and affectionate when she's not running around the house like a maniac. I instantly fell in love with her. She was declared to be my cat. I renamed her because her name used to be Cuddles, but nobody ever called her that. As soon as she became mine, she adapted to me, her name, and her new home quickly and easily.

She is pretty attached to me now. I can't even go to the bathroom without her following me in. And I am 100% okay with that. It's like we were meant for each other. She chose me and I love her.

It's unlike any experience I've ever had with an animal. The dogs in my life were chosen by my family, and while I loved them both to pieces, they didn't choose me the way Cleo did. It was a special attraction between us. And now I can't imagine life without her. She sleeps with me on my bed at night, we have meowing conversations regularly, she brings me toys to play with her, and she greets me at the door every time I come home. I would be so lonely without her. She's my little baby.

12/27/2024

It had been a year since losing our beloved Mensa cat Pike when we received an email from the Nevada Humane Society about a "young senior cat" who needed a home. Tobey had been in the shelter for over four months and was not coping.

His original mom had been admitted into an assisted living facility and could only take one cat. In one fell swoop, he lost his mom, his brother, his home and everything he knew and was traumatized being away from them. He had begun hissing, spitting, and biting and was placed in quarantine for a month.

After that, he would let female staff handle him but no male staff. He would get sick if he heard other cats fighting in other rooms, so he had to be kept separately. I went down to the shelter (I'm a volunteer) and met Tobey, and he hissed and swatted at me, as well. Undeterred, I spent an hour with him that day and began socializing him and gaining his trust.

12/27/2024

Jack first came to my house about six years ago. She was scared and hungry and wouldn't let me near her.

I started feeding her, and after several months, she was brave enough to show me her five 4-week-old kittens in the backyard. She still wouldn't let me touch her, though.

I live-trapped her and the kittens and took her to a local rescue for TNR. I found homes for her kittens and returned her to my backyard. She suddenly decided to let me pet her and quickly started a daily routine with me. She would run to greet me when I came home from work in the morning, and we would have several minutes of together time before she left to go about her day.

One day, Jack didn't come greet me in the morning. I was so worried about her! I left her favorite foods out for her and walked all over the neighborhood looking for her. I eventually gave up looking and decided something awful had happened.

Six months later, I looked out the kitchen window and saw Jack staring at me from the top of the trash can. I screamed and ran out to her. She was as happy to see me as I was to see her. I don't know where she had been for six months, but I truly believe that she was trying the whole time to get back to me. We quickly fell back into our old routine.

A couple of months later, Jack showed up in the morning with a limp. She had hurt her paw. This once feral cat allowed me to pick her up and place her in a cat carrier to take her to the vet. On the ride there, I decided it was time to try to integrate Jack into my household of six other cats. I had her tested for FIV (negative!) and brought her into the house.

She has finally decided that I can be her human and loves living in the house. We were meant to be together!

12/26/2024

It was February 2010, and I had recently lost my 13 year old kitty. I missed having him shadow me and needed the companionship. We went to the local shelter, and I found Starlight, a four month old short-haired kitten who stole my heart! She quickly made herself at home with me, and we formed a deep bond.

Unfortunately, we had another older cat who didn’t appreciate this new interloper. Being an active kitten, Starlight wanted to play with Jasmine, who wanted nothing to do with her. We discussed the possibility of getting another cat to play peacemaker, but we were reluctant to add another cat to our household.

After she’d been with us for four months, I randomly visited the shelter’s website to see the available cats. Imagine my surprise when I found Starlight’s picture back on the adoption page!

In the photo, she was pictured with another cat, cuddling together. He was a long-haired male cat, who looked very much like my Starlight, and they were the same age. I called the shelter and confirmed it... He was her brother! He had been adopted before Starlight, but his new owners could not keep him when they moved to a new apartment.

We went to the shelter that day to meet Spock. He was very easygoing, gentle, and very playful. We made the decision to bring him home and reunite him with his sister.

They didn't recognize each other at first, and for a few hours, I wondered if I'd made a mistake. But by that evening, they had begun romping around and playing together! Starlight had someone to play with, and Spock's easygoing nature made him the perfect peacemaker between Starlight and Jasmine. They have all been a joy to our lives ever since!

12/26/2024

These innocent cats were eating scraps of human food and trash to survive after their owners abandoned them. A concerned neighbor called Muncie Animal Care & Services about the number of cats living in the home.

When attempts to contact the owners failed, the property manager was contacted and went to the home to find over 20 cats abandoned without food or water... Many of the felines are suffering from eye infections and other life-threatening illnesses. One female gave birth at the shelter and none of the cats are spayed or neutered.

They are all weary of humans and some are even labeled as "feral". Many of the cats are refusing to eat cat food as they are used to eating human food scraps and garbage.

The shelter wants to save them all and believes with proper medication and nutritious food all will make a full recovery. Several cats have eye conditions that are being closely monitored and treated. They hope to save their eyes, but time will tell.

Once the cats have been sterilized, vaccinated, and cleared by the veterinarian they will be put up for adoption. Many have a long road to recovery and will need months of medical treatment.

Their former owners have been tracked down and are being charged with neglect.

Pets receiving critical care facilitated by an Emergency Animal Medical grant may not be eligible for adoption until they have completed their course of treatment. If you would like to inquire about adoption of a specific animal, we strongly encourage you to visit the shelter’s specific website first as that is often the most up to date place to learn about available pets and review the adoption policies and process.

Sadly, hoarding and neglect cases are common with dozens of animals needing care and homes. Animals in crisis arrive daily at shelters across the country.

12/26/2024

Zaphod was found in December 2013 with his back left tibia bone broken and sticking through his skin. X-rays revealed he was shot and the bullets were still in his leg, leading to infection.

The doctors estimated he had been living in that condition for about two weeks, based on how far the infection had spread. The leg was amputated in January 2014 to prevent it from spreading further.

After Lisa rescued Zaphod, he developed an urethral obstruction and interstitial cystitis. He spent two nights at the emergency vets office under sedation with a catheter inserted. Luckily, this was caught early on and no renal damage occurred.

One of the doctors treating him was the same one who performed the amputation and remembered what an affectionate cat he is.

His treatment was expensive, but she doesn't regret getting him. He's the sweetest, loving boy and most grateful kitty ever, who's gone through more than any animal should.

Zaphod and her other kitties, Surprise and Brie, are finally getting accustomed to each other. He seems to have too much energy for them! He meows when he's separated from them now, although he's fine hogging my daughter at bedtime.

12/26/2024

UPDATE: THIS CAT HAS BEEN ADOPTED 💜

Meet Winky. The 4-month-old kitten was born on the streets of Kentucky to a feral momma cat and lived in a cat community. The little feline was struggling to survive due to several health issues. She was discovered one day by a dedicated caregiver who feeds and cares for the stray cats.
Winky was unsure of humans and avoided being trapped for weeks. When she could no longer run due to her health declining, the caregiver picked her up and contacted Lawrence County Humane Society for help.

The shelter rushed the sick kitten to the local veterinary hospital. Winky arrived with a severe upper respiratory infection, dehydrated, and suffering from malnutrition. These issues were addressed first and then they inspected her infected eye.

The eye is beyond saving and the only option is to remove it.

The shelter reached out to Greater Good Charities' Emergency Animal Medical fund to help with Winky's medical bills. The fund helps save the lives of homeless pets with grants to cover medical expenses. These life-saving grants wouldn't be possible without your support.

Winky has a bright future ahead of her once she receives eye enucleation surgery. Will you help her start her journey towards healing and growth?

"There is no doubt that this little kitten would not have survived in the colony without the immediate medical intervention we were able to provide her. However, we continue to monitor her recovery and will ensure she is fully vaccinated, dewormed, spayed, and socialized prior to finalizing her adoption into a loving, forever home," shared the shelter.