Ella's Feline Rescue Mission

11/11/2024

We are hosting an adoption event next Saturday, 11/16, from 10-2 at our rescue headquarters: 549 Main St. in Springfield. We have many cats and kittens who are really hoping to find a home for Thanksgiving. Come and see about a feline family member to your home for the holidays.

07/11/2024

We are putting out another plea for funds for eye surgery for Smoke, a cat who came to us early this year with lesions all over his body, mouth ulcers, infection in both ears, and eye problems. He will need one of his eyes removed due to complications from untreated Bartonellosis. He dealt with significant pain for a long time and we really want to give him the life he deserves. Read more about Smoke's story on the GoFundMe page we started for him. Scroll down the page to make a one-time donation and to see a photo of him when he first came in.

Ella's Feline Rescue Mission is raising funds for a sweet cat named Smoke who … Robert Wilk needs your support for Help Smoke Live Pain-Free: Eye Surgery Fund

05/11/2024

Cayenne and Agave are two adorable sisters, about 11 weeks old. They were found living under someone's porch with their mom. They are a bit shy at first but very cuddly and playful once they feel comfortable. They are BFFs and must be adopted together. They would do best in a quieter home.

05/11/2024

Mark your calendars for our Pet Photos with Santa fundraiser! November 23rd from 11-1 at the Forest Park Winter Farmer's Market. Pets of all kind are welcome- all animals must be leashed. Kids are welcome too. Photos will make great holiday cards! Lauren Lachut, a local professional photographer, has generously volunteered her time and we have a wonderful Santa and Mrs. Claus who I'm pretty sure are the real deal (you'll agree when you meet them).

02/11/2024

Time to start thinking about holiday gifts! We are doing a See's Candies fundraiser, now through 12/6. Chocolate is a great gift, and See's has some of the best. For those like me who prefer vanilla, caramel, and butterscotch flavors, their assorted lollipops, walnut squares, and molasses chips are amazing!
https://www.yumraising.com/secure/ellasfrm_ellas_feline_rescue_mission68/SheWil8713/

31/10/2024

29/10/2024

Happy National Cat Day! Do something special to celebrate your feline family members or, if you don't have a cat (or need another one!), consider adopting one of the many wonderful cats and kittens we have available for adoption.

29/10/2024

Smoke went for his follow-up appointment at Animal Eye Care of New England this morning and the news was not what we'd hoped. The pressure in his eye has increased significantly and cannot be reduced with medication. He will have to lose his eye. This will still allow him to have a quality of life and will eliminate his pain so, while we hoped it would not come to this, we are glad that there is a solution for him. He will have surgery on November 13th and we need to raise funds for this. We have created a GoFundMe for anyone to donate any amount. Even $5 helps a lot. Smoke has been through so much and is such a loving and good-natured cat. We will do everything we can to eliminate his pain and give him the life he deserves.
You can donate through the link below; scroll down on the GoFundMe page to make a one-time donation.

Ella's Feline Rescue Mission is raising funds for a sweet cat named Smoke who … Robert Wilk needs your support for Help Smoke Live Pain-Free: Eye Surgery Fund

27/10/2024

Today is National Black Cat Day and I am posting in honor of my beautiful, sweet, much loved and much missed black cat Lucky, whom we lost on October 17, 2023. Lucky was a feral cat who came around my house off and on for years for the food I put out for ferals (he was ear-tipped, so had been neutered at some point). It was clear he had not had an easy life, as he sometimes showed up with injuries, some clearly human-inflicted. He wouldn't let anyone come near him for a long time, but one day he decided to settle down outside my house. He spent all his time in the garage, back steps, or driveway and slowly began to trust me and let me pet him. It was on this exact date 7 years ago that I was able to get him into a carrier, get him to the vet, and bring him inside my home. The vet estimated him to be about 10 years old and FIV positive. He was my beloved pet for 6 years before succumbing to kidney disease. In spite of being a previously feral cat, Lucky was one of the most loving, affectionate, sweet, and playful cats I have ever known. He brought so much joy to my life and, in spite of the pain of losing him, I do not have one second of regret for taking in a senior, FIV+, formerly feral cat. If you've never been blessed with a black cat, I urge you to bring one into your life. The negative stereotypes could not be farther from the truth: as anyone who has had the good fortune to share their home with a black cat can tell you, black cats are typically incredibly affectionate, cuddly, and good-natured. They are usually good with kids and adapt well to other pets. They are good at reading peoples' emotions and comforting people when they need it. We do get many people still who say they do not want to adopt a black cat, but we also get a lot of people who say that, after having a black cat as a pet, they will never own another type of cat. We get many people who want a black cat because they have friends or family with black cats and those cats are just so wonderful.
I also urge people to take a chance on a shy cat, an older cat, a scared cat, or one with FIV or other medical needs. Not every cat gets a great start in life but they all deserve a great life. I'm so happy I gave Lucky the home he deserved, and he gave me a great life too.

23/10/2024

Those who have been following our page for awhile may remember a cat named Smoke who came in at the beginning of the year. Smoke came to us at the beginning of January after we got a call from a young woman that her grandmother had died and left her cat behind. She went on to say that the cat was suffering and bleeding, so of course we went out right away and got the cat. When we took Smoke in, he was covered with open sores, some of which had become so bad that he had no skin left on his left leg. He also had severe ulcers in his mouth and both ears were badly infected. We were able to get him to the vet right away and he was initially diagnosed with, and treated for, Eosiniphilic Granuloma Complex. The treatment made a big difference but did not fully control his condition. Smoke also had some scarring and weeping in one of his eyes that worsened over time, prompting the vet to refer us to Animal Eye Care of New England. We learned from them that Smoke had glaucoma and uveitis, the latter of which caused him considerable pain. The veterinary eye specialist who examined him said that he was likely in constant pain and had likely been that way long before he came to us. They also suggested that Bartonellosis, commonly called "Cat Scratch Fever," may have been the cause of all of his symptoms. We tested him for that and he was positive. He underwent a long course of antibiotics that cleared up his skin, ulcers, ear infections, and uveitis. However, his eye issues were fairly advanced and there was a point where the vet thought he might need to have his right eye removed. A new eye drop thankfully relieved the pressure in his eye and we are hopeful that his eye care needs will be controlled by eye drops and he will be able to keep both eyes. He has a follow-up appointment next Monday, 10/28, and we will learn then if the eye drops will be sufficient or if he will require surgery to remove the eye. Please keep your fingers crossed or say a prayer for Smoke. We will keep you posted. Below is a photo from when Smoke first came in compared to how he is now in his amazing and dedicated foster home.

22/10/2024

We will be holding a Pet Photos with Santa Fundraiser at the Forest Park Winter Famers Market on Saturday, November 23rd. We are looking for a photographer to donate their services for this event. This is a great marketing tool for an existing photography business or a great way for a new photographer to gain some experience. Please email [email protected] or call/text 413-351-6450 if interested.

21/10/2024

Meet Rescue. He came to us after a man heard tiny meows coming from a cardboard box on the sidewalk in front of his house. He opened the box to discover this adorable and sweet, but scared, little guy. Thankfully, the man cared enough to contact us and bring us the kitten. Rescue is now in a foster home and is the most cuddly little guy. He loves to sleep curled under his foster parent's chin and sit on his shoulder. He will be ready for adoption in a couple weeks. He must go to a home with other cats or be adopted with one of the many other kittens we have in care right now.

15/10/2024

We have a lot of kittens and pregnant cats in foster care and can hugely benefit form donations of food and litter. Our biggest needs right now are canned food and non-clumping litter. Even small amounts help. The link to our Amazon Kitten Wishlist is below and we also have a wishlist on Chewy. Chewy allows you to purchase e-giftcards in any amount, which is also helpful, as we can then purchase what we need most.

13/10/2024

Tag Sale and Book Sale Fundraiser Friday 10/18, 10-4 and Saturday 10/19, 9-3 at 11 Acushnet Ave. in Springfield (corner of Main and Acushnet). Furniture, clothes, games, toys & stuffed animals, kitchen items, home decor, CDs, DVDs, artwork, Halloween costumes, and lots of holiday decorations for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Chanukah. We also have tons of books of all genres, for all ages. All proceeds benefit homeless cats and kittens.

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11/10/2024

Three of our Lonely Hearts (Juju, Sam, and General Mittens) have been adopted! They went to wonderful homes and we are super happy for them. We are also delighted to report that Cloud, our beautiful Silver Lynx Bengal, found an absolutely perfect home for him. We still have several lonely kitties who have been waiting a long time for homes. It breaks my heart to see these beautiful cats with wonderful personalities be turned down time and again. If you are thinking of adding a feline family member to your home, please ask us about our Lonely Hearts. They all have discounted adoption fees.

03/10/2024

Is anyone up for fostering a pregnant cat? We are getting so many calls about pregnant cats and kittens. Fostering is a hugely rewarding experience and you will get to see the babies go from tiny newborns to rambunctious and adorable kittens in their prime. It is a great way to enjoy kitten cuteness and energy without committing to a cat for life. Email [email protected] or call/text 413-351-6450.

03/10/2024

We've had an extraordinarily high number of cats come in over the past few months with Urinary Tract Infections. In the majority of cases, the owner surrendering them had no idea they had UTIs; we figured it out through symptomatology and having a urinalysis completed at the vet. Many of the cats who are surrendered due to aggressive behavior or peeing outside of the litter box simply have a UTI. Feeding a diet of only dry food is one of the main causes of Urinary Tract Infections in cats. Cats' bodies are designed to get moisture from food, not from drinking water, and cats who are fed dry food often do not get enough water and get dehydrated easily. This can lead to UTIs and kidney problems. Male cats, in particular, often have crystals build up in their kidneys that can lead to death. Most cat nutrition experts (that are independent of pet food companies and therefore non-biased) are strongly opposed to feeding cats primarily dry food. We always recommend that at least half a cat's daily food intake come from wet food. Cheap wet food is better for cats than expensive dry food. We know that some cats won't eat wet food (we have a couple of pet cats that won't eat wet food or will only eat a little of it), so it is important to ensure that they get enough water. There are many inexpensive models of water fountains for cats on Amazon or Chewy that encourage cats to drink water.

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02/10/2024

Female orange cats are not very common, but we have two! Both recently had kittens; now their babies are all adopted and they are looking for homes where they can be loved and cared for. Nala is short-haired and Uma is medium-haired. They are both under a year old, both very sweet and affectionate, and will do well in pretty much any household. Email [email protected] or call/text 413-351-6450.