Helping Cats in Southeastern NC

24/08/2024

Lottie Moon is an adoptable Cat - Dilute Tortoiseshell searching for a forever family near Wilmington, NC. Use Petfinder to find adoptable pets in your area.

18/06/2024

NEWS for our Cat friends and Supporters: RescueConnect now has a Walmart Wish List registry with Needed items for the cats and kittens we are helping locally. If you shop online at Walmart, you can click supplies that can be shipped to RescueConnect fosters!
Thanks so much!
https://www.walmart.com/registry/RR/e5e0a3af-31ca-4e84-8a4e-66776a48c946

07/06/2024

Cat friendly support needed for these small kittens with RescueConnect

04/04/2024

This includes an update about a local effort to help some cats that are in need of vetting and support.
Donate if you can....
www.rescueconnectnc.com/donate

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/9Kq3dSZjJdgz5USi/?sfnsn=mo&mibextid=RUbZ1f

Update 4/3/24: Rescue friends, our cat team has now trapped and vetted 26 cats from the cat colony behind a shopping area in Hampstead. **That's 26!!!! ** A lot more than we realized were there when we were asked to start helping. Two of the recent cats were riddled with bite wounds from fighting and our vet team cleaned, flushed, and medicated those cats. They are currently on antibiotics and cage rest. We hope to find a sanctuary for these 2 so they never have to fight for food or safety again. We'd appreciate any support in medical bills, food, or donations towards a sanctuary intake fee. - thanks, Margaret
www rescueconnectnc.com/donate

Update 3/8/24:
So far we have done Trap/Neuter/Return for 8 females and 6 males.
There are likely 3 generations of cats in this colony. Several volunteers are assisting on site, 2 are Fostering a few of the more tame cats in hopes of finding them indoors adoptive homes. The vetted cats receive several days of indoor recovery after surgery, and we make sure they are eating well and active when released back to their known environment. We know there are more than originally thought to be here....THANKS to everyone who is supporting this community effort!!💗
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Friends I know we write a lot about dogs on our page. But I want to tell you a little bit about our Cat side and what we’ve been doing since the first of this new year. We have a very small TNR team that consists of Karen Boone, Margaret, Godwin, and myself in the Hampstead area. In the last two weeks we have trapped 13 cats in a single location (we started out looking for one injured cat here,), 6 in another (we started looking for four here )with more to go!
At minimum each of these cats cost us between 80 and $100 depending on their general body condition when we take them for TNR unless we use our county shelter who is overrun with animals themselves to fix.
Out of these 19 cats nine were females and 10 were males. We’re getting to the last of them at one location and these cats are in desperate shape. They are approximately 5 to 6 months old are desperate for food because the older ones will fight to the death for the same food, the younger ones dont have a chance. We see the same scenarios over and over and over again because people are giving free kittens away on Facebook and craigslist and marketplace, people giving these kittens homes had very good intentions to give them a home, but the newness soon wore off. They were put outside when they started soiling in the house or the people had to give them up so they could move and they just left them behind. This has created a crisis for all of us. You cannot un-see some of the things that we see . You cannot not do something either. You are all in or out, there is no middle ground. There is not a shortage of rescues in Wilmington, but there is a shortage of volunteers. Volunteer to hold a feral or shy cat overnight before surgery and for a couple days after surgery. We have a shortage of volunteers that can transport these cats to and from the clinics, because we work full-time jobs too and often work late into the evening to make up for the time that we have to spend in the morning and early afternoon getting them to and from the clinic. We give up our days off, our vacations, $ for nice dinners out to pay for neuters and vaccines just to give that cat one more chance. it’s hard to do this when we see so many animals overlooked. We have a shortage of volunteers that will call and make clinic appointments so we’re texting with the clinics and emailing the veterinarian hospitals before we start our full days work like I said, you’re either in or you’re just out and as we get ready to fall into kitten season, the season that keeps on giving, the same people are out there setting traps, buying sardines, clearing the dollar tree of canned food so that we can leave some behind for those we didn’t get to eat. We have a crisis in Wilmington folks not just in my backyard but your backyard, in your communities yard under your sheds and in your car engines. We can’t do it all on our own. We need more help or countless animals are going to continue to die in your backyard, in your community, in your car engines, if you follow this page is because you care about animals. Both the cat and dog side of our rescue does every thing it can but we can’t do it all by ourselves. 18 faces are waiting for us to make sure that their colony caregivers have enough food on hand, someone to fill-in when they need a night off. All it takes is a dollar a day from half the people on our page to help get us over these humps that seem to never end. I saw a new Starbucks is opening in Hampstead. I was tickled to death about that and then I had to stop and think for that five or six dollar a cup coffee that’s an indulgence how many animals are going to die this week or be desperate enough for food to come out in the middle of the day when it’s not their thing because I didn’t set aside 50 Cent in a coffee can.
So tomorrow we’re gonna start a coffee can chronicle. We’re going to post every day a picture of a cat that has been saved through TNR.
We are gonna try to describe for you where they came from without telling you the exact location we’re gonna ask you to put aside $.50 in a coffee can every day and at the end of the week call up our veterinary hospital and make that donation toward our medical account.
Number 19 didn’t make it, so tonight I’m throwing a dollar in a coffee can for cats like number 19 to maybe catch them early enough and give them another chance.

Donate here on FB
or through our PayPal
RescueconnectNC.com/donate

17/03/2024

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! ☘️



Photo found online.

14/02/2024

Cat friends, can anyone donate to help?

RC supporters: our cat team volunteers have TWO TNR projects underway in Hampstead NC. We need funding for the medical care for these stray cats. Can we get some help with the costs of spay/ neuter for about 10-12 cats?? We need to raise about $900 to cover S/N and rabies vaccines for these forgotten souls... Thank you!
www.rescueconnectnc.com/donate

26/12/2023

If everyone who "liked" the post would donate $2 or $3 it would be a tremendous help for the rescue cats of RescueConnect

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=757701019733657&id=100064812965847&mibextid=UyTHkb

RescueConnect was started to help the overwhelming number of homeless beagles and bassets that find themselves homeless in North and South Carolina.

23/12/2023

Here's some faces of cats RescueConnect helped in 2023

23/12/2023

We have a cat loving local donor who has challenged us to see if we can fundraise for RescueConnect $500 before the end of 2023. This person will MATCH the contributions up to $500. That would double the impact of the donation. Will you help? This money will go towards medical expenses on stray and shelter cats taken on by RescueConnect Animal Rescue in Wilmington NC
[email protected] is the PayPal donation address
Or
www.RescueConnectNC.com/donate

RescueConnect was started to help the overwhelming number of homeless beagles and bassets that find themselves homeless in North and South Carolina.

14/09/2023

Cat Friends of Eastern NC, please consider sharing and supporting with funds for local kittens and cats.

Summer of Kittens! PLEASE READ!

Bodie, Cara, Bain, and Mollie came to RescueConnect with their feral momma, from a neighborhood in Wilmington. At first they thrived, momma taking the best care of them she knew how, as this was her first litter at the tender age of 6-7 months. Left on the streets to survive and now with 4 babies. A neighbor befriended her and reached out to rescues in Wilmington NC area.
It has been a tough summer, with local rescues in hyper mode-- working to save as many lives as possible. RescueConnect stepped up to help this litter and fix momma so she would never know uncertainty of unwanted pregnancy again. Mom cat was healthy and was safely returned to the neighbor that befriended her. She is now indoors and has a safety net.

Her babies stayed with one of RC’s best fosters to nurture and love. But something went terribly wrong. At 6 weeks old, the foster woke to find one kitten had passed away, cause unknown. We urgently took the remaining kittens to the vet to make sure we weren’t missing anything. The kittens appeared healthy from exam and the death of Cara may have been an anomaly. Two short days later Bodie died unexpectedly. Now we were even more worried! Our stellar team, once again, examined the remaining two babies and no outward signs of illness could be found. Was there some genetic reason these kittens stopped thriving?? The next day Mollie died. At this point we have invested in their lives close to a thousand dollars, with still no known reason for their passing. In an effort to rule out any or everything, our vet submitted an extensive blood test to a special laboratory to see what results we could determine. Now there was only one remaining baby. Alone, but much loved -we desperately wanted to save Bain. Test results came back that these babies had not one but TWO potentially fatal illnesses that took them fast and broke our hearts.
**Calicivirus AND pan leukopenia***. We have no idea where their exposure came from, as the momma cat was healthy, no outward signs. Was she a carrier? We don’t know. We likely will never know. But what we do know is Bain is still alive, being nurtured, loved and raised in his wonderful foster home.
This kind of care is expensive-- it’s a risk we take on when we commit to saving cat lives. The cost to save Bain and kittens like him is staggering. The daily care, blood tests, vet exams, necessary medications are not cheap. Will you SHARE and SUPPORT RescueConnect Animal Rescue in the ongoing mission to help local NC cats?? The needs continue….
Ways to help:
*PAYPAL to [email protected]
*Donate on our website: www.rescueconnectnc.com/Donate
* Facebook Fundraiser link here
*Call our vet office: Sound Cat Vet and NOTE for RescueConnect 910-686-0131

14/05/2023

17/03/2023

Big Yard sale fundraiser to benefit the (non profit) JPR pet food pantry in Jacksonville NC
March 18th +19th. Onsville Drive

24/02/2023

Happy Friday!

21/02/2023

Did you know these license plates support spay and neuter programs around the state of North Carolina?
When you put one on your car you are supporting groups like WAC in their efforts to end pet homelessness in NC by spaying and neutering pets.

19/02/2023

Local RescueConnect organization is caring for sweet baby kittens with severe eye infections. Please consider a donation to help get them all the continued treatment they will need to get healthy and vetted for future adoption! See links for ways to contribute. Thanks Cat Friends!

Hello Friends and Followers, Our cat team has taken into care a litter of 6 week old kittens with severe eye infections. WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT for continued treatment . They are currently on 4 medications to treat bacterial and viral infection and corneal damage/repair. Some may require future surgery. RescueConnect will be providing the foster care, medical treatment, and future vetting of these babies. *PLEASE HELP* by making a donation today for these SWEETHEARTS during February, "heart month".
THANK YOU 🐾

* Gray/ White tuxedo "TJ" ❤️
* Black/White Tuxedo "Curtis" ❤️
* Gray Long hair "Austen" ❤️

You can use our Facebook fundraiser link on this post

OR you can donate on our website at www.RescueConnectNC.com/donate

OR you can donate by PayPal to [email protected]
Please note for the "Eye Kittens".

28/01/2023

PLEASE SHARE--- LOST CAT "COSMO". Siamese mix last seen in Delco, NC. ****MICROCHIPPED ---was a rescue cat from RESCUECONNECT in Wilmington NC
SEE THE POSTER for details

26/01/2023

Preparing to Lose Your Indoor Cat

I lost my cat Zane once, he was gone for 90 seconds. That was the time it took me to run to the kitchen and retrieve a can of food. Back at the front door, I opened the can, tapped the lid on the edge and laughed with relief as a gray streak rushed out from under some shrubs and made a beeline for the can. Oh that all cats would be so easy! The reality is that many indoor-only cats get outside and a large number are never found. Cats escape from faulty carriers during moves or trips to the vet. They dash outdoors when visitors come, fall through window screens while bird watching or let themselves out when a maintenance man leaves the door open. All this got me to thinking. Parents enroll their kids in swimming lessons to prevent drowning. They teach them to avoid strangers and to look both ways when they cross the street. But what do we do to prepare our indoor-only cats for an unexpected adventure in the outdoor world? We don't. They are safely indoors and we intend to keep it that way! So, I'm going to share a few tips that will help your indoor-only cat make it back home safely.

The first thing you need to know is that most cats go into survival mode when they find themselves in strange environments. What do they do? They find the closest hiding spot and hunker down to hide. Once concealed, they often stay put for days or even weeks. They instinctively know that dangers exist, and keeping hidden is their best defense. So, what can the owner of an indoor-only cat do to increase their chances of getting him back?

1- Teach your cat to recognize and come to food or treat sounds. When in hiding mode, most cats will stay put when their owners call. But they will sometimes come to the crinkly sound of a treat bag or the sound of an opening can. And many will come to familiar "sweet talk" or other sounds you use when feeding them or cuddling. Your spouse may look at you funny, but by making the same sounds every time you feed, you are training your cat to recognize and respond to that sound.

2- Build a catio or enclosure or screen in a deck area. This is a great way to introduce your cat to the outdoors while protecting them from predators, cars and cat-hating neighbors. When a cat knows his yard, he isn't as likely to panic and disappear and he will have some street smarts to help him survive if he is lost outside. If a cat escapes outside, open the catio door or create an opening so they can re-enter on their own.

3- If you have a potential door dasher who doesn't know the world outside the door, put a hiding spot or two right near the exit of your door. A deck chair with a dark underside or table with a cover make nice hiding spots. Most cats will go for the first cover they see so having someplace handy to hide may make them easier to find. Just be sure to take your time moving towards them so you don't spook them farther away. Unfortunately, if you have a chronic door dasher, this will only work the first few times.

4- Don't stop looking! The single biggest risk factor for a cat not getting back home is their owner losing hope and giving up. Many indoor only cats remain invisible for a long time. We know people who have given up after weeks of looking, only to find out that their cat was within 30 feet of their house the entire time. Setting traps right away and passing out flyers is critical, but not giving up is the most important thing of all!

Of course prevention is always best, so here are a few more tips.

-To reduce the risk of door dashing, never greet your indoor cat at the door. Instead, designate an official greeting place a few feet away from the door. Cats will quickly learn that this is the place to get attention and treats.

-Keep a can of rocks or pennies by the door and shake them when the cat approaches. Most cats dislike the sound and will come to associate the opening door with that annoying sound.

-Buy a cat deterrent to put by your door. Motion sensitive sound devices and electronic pads can teach cats to stay away from the door area.

-Keep cats in carriers when traveling in a car and triple check the carrier to make sure the door is latched.

-If you are expecting visitors or are planning to have work done on your home, consider locking your cat in a bedroom with her favorite treats, toys and bed.

-Make sure your cat is microchipped. Rescues, humane societies and shelters often provide inexpensive microchipping.

-Finally, we recommend making up lost pet flyers before you lose your cat. Trust me, if your cat is lost, you will want to be out looking for him, not sitting in front of a computer trying to put together a flyer.

24/12/2022

Merry Christmas Eve to all our cat friends

22/12/2022

Please prepare a safe place for any strays you feed...

21/12/2022

23/11/2022

Hope everyone has a good Thanksgiving

12/11/2022

Here's our special boy, Batman, looking bright and feeling right on this rainy Caturday.

05/11/2022

26/10/2022

Friends: we routinely get local requests for help in getting stray cats spayed/neutered. if you want to offer a donation towards expenses that RescueConnect would pay to get these cats fixed, IT WOULD SURELY GO A LONG WAY TO HELP COMMUNITY CATS in eastern NC.
Consider a donation to www.rescueconnectNC.com/donate. Make a note for " Community cats".
Or Donate to our fundraiser link on this post! Thanks so much!

11/10/2022

GREAT NEWS FOR FRIDAY!
Word from Batman's foster mom Shelley Mayfield that he had his follow up today at his vet and Batman is now considered "cured from his liver shunt". This is amazing news and is possible because so many people contributed to his Go Fund Me fundraiser. He is expected to live a normal and long life!
He is proud to show off his belly hair is growing back.😺

04/09/2022

We are just 4 days away from Batman's liver surgery at ECVR in Wilmington NC. He is feeling perkier on his medicine regimen and we look forward to helping him get the treatment he needs. He may be in the hospital there for several days. Thanks SO MUCH for all the support from many local angels 💞

www.rescueconnectNC.com/donate

01/09/2022

Helpful tips for fostering/ socializing

20/08/2022

Batman is under care of RescueConnect in Wilmington NC. All donations go to RescueConnect in this fundraiser. Please help as his work up scans and surgery need scheduling

Batman has a story to tell, but first, a little background. Batman was raised from a kitten by Jeff… Ava Werstlein needs your support for On behalf of Batman

15/08/2022

Helping Cats community, we need your help!
Donations can be made to the RescueConnect PayPal @ [email protected], or directly to Eastern Carolina Veterinary Referral at 910-790-1070 on the RescueConnect account for Batman.

Batman has a story to tell, but first, a little background. Batman was raised from a kitten by Jeff… Ava Werstlein needs your support for On behalf of Batman