Coastal Bend Cat Rescue

28/08/2024

Time for some cat rescue Q & A!

Q: I have an indoor cat that never goes outside. Do I still need to get it fixed?

A: Yes, yes, yes…a thousand times YES. Female cats as young as four months old can go into heat. Once they begin their heat cycles they can mate and become pregnant. It happens really early, so your kitten could literally end up having kittens! Kittens having kittens is dangerous, and our rescue has seen very serious complications from this.

Female heat cycles can also become very annoying for the cat’s owner. The female cat will be VERY vocal, obnoxious around other pets, and often she will do absolutely anything she can to try and get outside to mate (we have even heard stories of cats breaking out of screened in windows and patios). Their biological instinct to mate is very strong, but spay surgery reduces your female cat’s desire to roam in search of a mate.

Another reason to spay a female is for health reasons. Spay surgery reduces the cat’s chance of pyometra (infection in the uterus), mammary cancer and urinary tract infections. All of these things can be very serious health complications and even fatal.

An unneutered male cat is even MORE obnoxious. Unfixed male cats spray or urine mark their territory (which is very smelly!) They also have a tendency to fight other cats over territory and females, and roam. Neutering a male cat tends to have very positive effects. The cat’s disposition typically becomes much friendlier and more calm. Neutering also reduces the cat’s chances of testicular cancer and other disease.

If you feed any outdoor cats and they are not fixed we highly recommend making arrangements to get them fixed at a local low-coat spay/neuter clinic. And if your indoor cat is not fixed because you think it’s not that big a deal, PLEASE reconsider. Spaying and neutering is the only way to prevent cat overpopulation and suffering, and it is the kindest thing you can do for the animals you care for. ❤️🐾

27/08/2024

CBCR Family we will need your help caring for our newest intakes...Kitten Nugget and the Dippin’ Sauces!

Nugget and his siblings were abandoned in a box outside the Sandia, Tx Post Office last week. They were so lucky that a good Samaritan recognized the risk of leaving them out in the sweltering heat. She took them home and reached out to us immediately. Luckily we had an available foster and were able to take them in right away!

These kittens are around 5 weeks old. The look healthy and well cared for...making it extra sad that they were left the way they were. Nugget is missing feet on both back legs. Our vet thinks this is a congenital anomaly. He is able to walk on his stubby back legs but has some skin breakdown where his limbs touch down. We will be working with our vet to determine a long term plan that will help him ambulate comfortably! There may need to be some degree of surgical correction!

Can you help Nugget and CBCR? Consider a donation towards his care! Can’t donate...Comment, Like and Share this post! We want to provide the best long term outcome for all kittens and cats in our care and you can help!

25/08/2024

Sunday Snuggles!

24/08/2024

Guess who’s all grown up and ready for adoption?!? The Baby-Sitter’s Club Kittens!

Mama Kristi, Claudia, MaryAnne, Stacy, Dawn, Mallory and Jessi have left foster care for their next great adventure! They have transitioned to where they will be looking for their very own family to go into babysitting business with.

Mama Kristy takes a minute to warm up to new people, but she is so sweet and loves pets and scritches...she has excellent organizational skills after keeping her 6 little clones in line for the last 10 weeks. Claudia is a leader who is always looking to rope her sisters into new games...but she is not willing to share the Churus! Mallory is sooo sweet...always content to cuddle and snuggle. MaryAnne is quite the thinker...always 2 steps ahead of the group. Jessi is an explorer...she will leave no mountain top (or shelf, or chair or box) unexplored. Stacy likes to find a cozy place to hide and watch all of the action. And Dawn has a mission in life to remove the feathers from all the toys!

We can’t wait until these babies find their permanent babysitting assignments! Think one (of more) of these cuties will make a purrfect pets for you? Email adoptions@thecatterycc today for an adoption appointment!

22/08/2024

Happy Purrsday from some of our current foster kittens!

“Anybody have special weekend plans ahead? Ours include napping, tuna treats and lots of play time!”
🐾🐾🐾

21/08/2024

Let’s talk about tube feeding! Tube feeding is a skill and a resource that is especially valuable in the world of neonatal cat rescue. Our rescue is blessed to have this skill set within our team with some of our more experienced bottle feeders. We utilize it when very small neonatal kittens do not take to a bottle. 🍼 It can be especially helpful for orphaned premie kittens.

Tube feeding involves the introduction of a tube down the kitten’s esophagus into their stomach. Instruction and practice with a trained professional are highly recommended—do not try to tube feed a kitten without guidance and training (improper tube feeding can cause aspiration and even fatality). Kittens can be tube fed from birth up until around 2 pounds or once teeth come in at 4-5 weeks old.

Each kitten is unique with how they adapt to tube feeding, but tube feeding has helped us save lives when we otherwise would not be able to help the kitten in need. Tube feeding can be used in kittens who refuse a bottle after multiple attempts, kittens with cleft palates, kittens who are sick and do not have the energy to eat, and other various scenarios. A huge thank you to our dedicated fosters who have taken the time to learn this skill set under training. We are so grateful to have this resource to help us save lives! 🐾🐾🐾

20/08/2024

In Tuesdays News we have some new bottle babies to introduce! Meet - Panthro, WilyKat, and WilyKit. We were contacted by iCAT (Islander Cat Assistance Team) who asked if we could help after a college student had found three kittens in a car parking lot at TAMUCC. The student was concerned for them being on the hot pavement.

We assume mom must have placed them in a car and they fell out when the car was parked on campus. The college student had already bought kitten formula, a bottle, and a syringe. He had also asked a vet tech friend to help teach them how to bottle feed. He was prepared to care for the kittens until a rescue was available.

Thankfully one of our foster’s had just became available so we were able to take them in. We were so amazed and thankful on how much care the college student took to care for the kittens before we were able to get them.

WilyKat had to spend a few nights with one of our medical fosters for eating issues but is doing great now. WilyKit has a congenital anomaly believed to be flat chest syndrome along with swimmers syndrome. She is a very happy and sweet girl though and will be visiting the vet soon. We will update y’all with her progress.

This may become a long project but we will do our best to provide them with the care they need until they are ready for adoption. 😊

19/08/2024

Aloha and congrats to Lilo & Stitch! This adorable brother and sister duo have had a blast at their foster’s house but it’s time to catch a nalu 🌊 🏄‍♂️ 🌊 and find their own furrever home or homes. These two cuties will be chillin at the Cattery, showing off their limbo moves until then. It would be great for them to be adopted together but if not they will always be ohana. If you think they would make a purrfect addition to your ohana then please email: [email protected] to request an adoption appointment!
Mahalo~

&Stitch

17/08/2024

Today is Black Cat Appreciation Day!

Why a special day for black cats? Well, why not?!!? Here are a few facts about black cats that make them unique:

Black cats are the least likely to be adopted. Only about 25% of black cats in shelters and pet rescues are adopted.

Black cats are hard to photograph. Because their fur naturally deflects light, photos of black cats are often unflattering.

Black cats are not unlucky. If a black cat is crossing your path, the animal is going somewhere.😁

Black cats can change color. Black cats often appear brown or grey in sunlight.

Adopt your very own black cat…CBCR alumni Truffle is available at for adoption!

15/08/2024

Congratulations to our little Truffle the sweet treat! She graduated foster care and will be continuing her career in confectionery at the Cattery! We are so excited she was excepted into their bakery program and can’t wait to see who makes her part of their family in her new furrever home! Guaranteed that she will make the best honey butter biscuits ever!
If anyone is looking for a kitten that is sure to feed the sweet tooth cravings please email [email protected] for an adoption appointment ASAP, this little girlie has so much spice and she is ready to show off her skills! 😁🐾

14/08/2024

Our little engine kitty Rendezvous has zoomed her way through foster care at high speed. She has finished her road trip parked at , where she waits to find her permanent garage home.

Rendezvous is such a sweet girl. Her motor purrs along in purrfect condition. She was so happy in foster care and will make a great pet for any home! We are so thankful for the kitty heroes who rescued her! Email [email protected] today to set up an adoption appointment to meet her!

12/08/2024

Happy Monday!! Have a long week ahead? Don’t worry, we got you covered. Check out our kittens jokes. Guaranteed to put a smile on your face… unless you’re a sour puss!🤭

12/08/2024

Sunday Snuggles!

04/08/2024

have officially graduated both Culinary Arts School and foster care. They have decided to start a deli shop at a new establishment! You can find PB&J, BLT, and Meatball Sub setting up shop at the Cattery! French Dip stayed back with one of the other fosters (Celaena) so she wouldn’t be alone…they both needed a little more time to bake in foster care. French Dip will spend a week showing Celaena how to work a cash register and they will both be joining the rest of the Summer Sandwiches next week.

If you are looking for a purrfect sandwich, consider adopting PB&J, BLT or Meatball Sub today! Email [email protected] for an adoption appointment ASAP, these kittens won’t be here too long, who doesn’t love a kitten sandwich! 😁🐾

02/08/2024

TGIF! Ready for weekend kitty cuddles!

01/08/2024

Meet some local Kitty Heros!

Madeline and her family heard a kitten crying in the car engine. For 3 days they kept trying to catch her and she would run back into the car so they left the car where it was and didn’t drive it. They tried to entice the baby out with food without success. Finally, they worked as a team to get he kitten out. Madeline crawled under the car and shooed the kitten upwards, and her dad was able to grab it. They reached out to CBCR for help and now this little cutie is safe in foster care.

Meet Rendezvous, named after her safe hiding place! No one knows how she got there, but car engines often seem like a safe place for a cat or kitten to hide…that is until the car turns on and carries them far from home! She’s doing well in her foster home and has been quite vocal about her change in circumstances. We think she is shouting to the house “Yay! I’m rescued!”

We don’t think Rendezvous will collect much mileage in foster care to get her tuned up for adoption since she appears to be 7-8 weeks old. We are so thankful for Madeline and her family for their patience in rescuing her!

31/07/2024

We were contacted by animal control last week with 4 approximately 2 week old kittens that were surrendered without a mom. Four kittens is a big load for a single bottle feeder, luckily 2 of our fosters were able to split the litter so that we could take them. Even better, they all get to hang out together twice a week to accommodate foster mom work schedules.

Meet Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tinman and Cowardly Lion! These little munchkins are doing great in foster care! They are now firmly on the yellow brink road and heading toward the Emerald City. It will take about 8 weeks for these little ones to be adoption ready, but we are sure the Wizard will send them off to the purrfect furrever homes over the rainbow once they are ready for adoption!

30/07/2024

Check out the story Love Meow did on the 80s Movie Marathon kittens!

A pregnant cat was left alone outside. She fawned over the people who helped her and waited until a stormy day to have kittens. Heathers and her kittensCoastal Bend Cat RescueA tabby cat was left behind when her family was evicted. Heavily pregnant, she wandered th...

28/07/2024

Update on
Our little Truffle has been very busy living up to her name. She is both a sweet and playful kitten and also the other kind of truffle; the kind of delicacy that is found in the ground; a fungus. 🍄🍄🍄

Truffle’s mom must have had ringworm and passed it onto Truffle because when she was found and we picked her up she was only about 3 days old. Ringworm can take 4-14 days to show symptoms and it started in her ears so we did not see signs until she was 2 weeks old.

Truffle has been in quarantine at her foster’s house while being treated. She is almost 4 weeks into her treatment but don’t think this has brought her spirits down. This beautiful girl loves to play with her little washable toys and she gets the zoomies just like the rest of them. She has super cute coo’s and her meows are just loud enough for her to remind you she wants attention or food… and Truffle can eat! She let her foster take a couple pictures of her but due to her hair-loss she wanted to approve the pictures herself. 😉Feel free to leave her a “get well soon” comment or throw her some heart emoji’s. 🐾🖤

27/07/2024

Rainy days are perfect for Saturday snuggles!

26/07/2024

CBCR has an amazing foster team!

One of our fosters saw a plea on Facebook for help with a juvenile cat who had been stuck in a tree for 4 days. She and her husband reached out to the original poster and offered to help since they had an extension ladder.

They thought they would just be handing over to the original poster…but they suddenly had an unexpected cat to find a place for. They took him to the vet to see if he had a microchip (sadly he didn’t), then she reached out to CBCR leadership for help. We started working on a plan to get him into a foster home and we were brainstorming shelter intake when we found out that had reached out to offer to take the cat!

We are so proud to have such amazing people on our team who are so dedicated to the stray cats and kittens in our community!

25/07/2024

Let’s talk about RINGWORM. Ringworm is very common in pets, and it’s no fun for pet owners. But the good news is that it’s VERY treatable. It’s actually a much bigger deal for shelters and rescues because it spreads so easily and can prevent cats from being adopted until the infection clears up. but for pet owners, it’s no biggie!

Ringworm isn’t actually a worm, but rather a fungal infection that can affect a cat’s skin, hair, and nails. The name originated from the round, red, target-shaped lesion surrounded by a scaly ring mostly seen in humans with ringworm. In cats, you’re more likely to notice hair loss and scaly lesions of any shape. Ringworm transmission occurs through direct contact with the fungus. It can be passed by direct contact with an infected animal or person, the soil, or a contaminated surface. The fungal spore is very hardy and can survive and remain dormant on bedding, carpet, furniture, brushes, and/or other surfaces for up to 18 months. (This is why it’s a pain for rescues and shelters to deal with!) Direct contact with a fungal spore can cause infection. With cats, your most obvious sign of ringworm is hair loss and patches on the fur. A veterinarian can definitively diagnose the infection.

So, how do you treat ringworm? Treatment is usually a combination of medication applied to the cat’s skin and fungal shampoos or dips/rinses. Treatment may also involve an oral medication, depending on what your vet prescribed. It’s critical to clean your cat’s environment at home to reduce further spread and lower the risk of reinfection. In a rescue environment, we use a veterinarian grade cleaning product called Rescue Disinfectant to clean and prevent cross contamination. Infected animals shed spores into the environment, so disinfection of the areas where your cat spends time is as important as treating your actual cat.

If you hear the word ringworm, don’t run for the hills! Remember that it’s easily treatable, and your cat may just need a little extra care for a while. ❤️

23/07/2024

A good Samaritan reached out to us for help with some orphaned kittens she had found.  She had finished her gym workout, and as she got to her car, she heard kittens crying.  She looked under the next car and saw 4 miserable babies. One of them had a fresh ear injury. We suspect that their mama stashed them in a car engine while she was off finding food and the babies  got transported to the gym while mama was gone.  This is likely where the 4th baby got injured.
 
We didn’t have an immediate opening, so we gave some advice on how to care for the babies and the injury.  The finders did a great job and kept us updated on how the little family was doing.  So when we had a foster home open up, 3 of the babies moved into our care.  They fell in love with the injured kitten and it has  a permanent home with a family member! We hope someone finds mama and gets her fixed so that future babies wont suffer if she hides them in unsafe places!
 
Meet Pilates, Zumba and Yoga…The Gym Rats! We anticipate their time in foster care will be spent doing jazzerclaws, purrlotes, kittybell workouts, wiskerlifting, toebean flexing and fluff boxing.

21/07/2024

We were contacted by CCACS last weekend to ask if we could take in 3 approximately 3 week old kittens. We did not have an available foster, but one of our mama-baby fosters took one look at these cuties and stepped up to bottle feed (not something she usually does 🙂)!

Meet Firefly, Lickety Split and Applejack...The My Little Pony Kittens! This adorable trio has had an easy transition into foster care. We don’t know how they ended up orphaned at Animal Control, but we do know they entered foster care HANGRY and ready to eat! They settled into a purrfect schedule for a less experienced bottle feeder to manage. In a week they have started nibbling on dry food and using the litter box already...we think these ponies are so smart!

Firefly is full of purrsonality. She loves to talk and will loudly proclaim her need to always eat first. Lickety Split is a laid back lover. She likes to go with the flow and follow her siblings’ lead. Applejack is a cloud of cuteness who is leading the way in being big kid ponies! He loves to cuddle and purr with foster mom.

We are in the midst of kitten season and we have to say no to a lot of requests because we don’t have space to save every kitten. But our foster team is amazing and sometimes we are able to squeeze in kittens who are in an unsafe situation or at risk for euthanasia. We are so happy to have the My Little Ponies safe in foster care...even if we have a very sleep deprived foster ! Keep following our Social Media for all the My Little Pony Antics!

18/07/2024

Update on !

We just had lunch with 4 adorable little sandwiches, PB&J, BLT, Meatball Sub, and French Dip! They have been pretty busy. They are old enough to eat on their own and are starting to look for culinary adventures. They are ready to take any given ingredients and slap them together into a purrfect sandwich toy so they can play all day!

Momma Panini was being protective of her babies. We decided to separate Momma Panini so she could have some much needed R&R and babies could venture out from her helicopter hovering. She is doing well in another foster home before being spayed and ready for adoption. She’s ready to live her best life in a new furrever home.

The Summer Sandwich babies also went to a new foster home. A new place means new adventures! Here are a few pics of the little kitto’s exploring their new deli. They will stay their new foster home until they reach footling status and are ready to transition to a local shelter for adoption! We will keep you posted on all their progress at our next luncheon.

17/07/2024

My cat is peeing outside the litter box! What do I do?

If your cat is going outside the litter box, you’re probably ready to pull your hair out! But don’t fret, the problem can almost always be addressed and corrected with a little patience and persistence.

The first step is to rule out any underlying health issues. A veterinarian visit is recommended to make sure your cat doesn’t have a urinary tract infection or another illness causing the issue. It may take a few vet visits to get to the bottom of things, so please be patient with your fur baby!

Next, take a look at the overall cleanliness of the litter box. Litter boxes should be scooped every day (minimum), or preferably multiple times a day, especially in a multi cat household. Make sure to empty the box and do a really thorough cleaning with bleach water or other disinfectant on a regular basis, and in between cleanings—scoop, scoop, scoop! You can also wipes down the sides of the litter box with disinfectant wipes in between thorough cleanings. You wouldn’t want to use a dirty toilet, would you? Your cat feels the same!

Next, count how many litter boxes you have. The general rule of thumb is to have a litter box for every cat in the house plus one extra. Some cats do not like to share litter boxes, and depending on their social hierarchy, they may intimidate each other with litter box use. Having multiple litter boxes in different locations throughout the house is so important in multi cat households.

Take a look at the kitty litter you are using and consider trying a different kind or brand if needed. Some cats are picky when it comes to kitty litter, and we have seen older cats be especially picky if they are showing signs of arthritis since some litter types are uncomfortable on their feet/paws. If you’re using clay litter, try switching to corn litter, etc. Switching things up may be exactly what your cat needs!

And most importantly, address behavior. Litter box use with cats is often very closely linked to their stress levels. If something is going on in the household to upset your kitty, they may react by eliminating outside the box to get your attention. Never punish your cat for bad behavior (they don’t understand and will not respond well to punishment), instead reward them for good behavior, spend more time with them, offer toys, treats and catnip, and make sure you have lots of vertical space in your home for climbing. If your cat is going outside the box because of behavioral issues, this is often the most challenging cause to address. But patience and persistence can and DO pay off. 🐾❤️

16/07/2024

Hey Rescue Family, it’s Amazon Prime Day! Our rescue has updated our much needed Amazon Wishlist for foster kitty food and supplies. Can you help by sending us an item off our Wishlist? The foster kitties will be sooo very appreciative! We rely exclusively on donations to operate, so food and supply donations are extremely helpful! Thank MEW from all of us at CBCR! 🐾❤️



✨Amazon Wishlist✨
http://a.co/7Z9WI10

13/07/2024

TGIFurr-iday!

11/07/2024

Grab a bucket of popcorn, a fluffy blanket and a cuddle buddy...its time for an 80’s movie marathon!

We were contacted by another local rescuer about a very pregnant girl who had been tossed outside when her owner got evicted. They said she had passed some bloody mucus and it looked like labor was imminent. She asked if we had any room in a foster home for her to have her babies inside and out of the heat. We didn’t, but one look at this sweet face had an officer cleaning out an extra bathroom and moving her in. She initially showed some signs, like nesting, that made us think she would have her babies any moment. Then we waited...and waited...and waited for their premiere. And this really big girl got bigger...and bigger...and bigger while she enjoyed the cushy maternity life during 2 weeks of opening credits. She waited until a hurricane threatened the coastal bend to deliver her babies. The purrfect time to cuddle up and start watching our 80’s movie favorites!

Meet Mama Heathers, Princess Bride, Footloose, Ghostbuster, Gremlin, Karate Kid and ET. This tabby crew could pack a theater with their adorableness. They love to eat, sleep, and eat some more...we expect they will grow to be just as round as mama. They have so many beautiful different tabby patterns and spotted bellies. We just love watching them…they were made for the big screen!

If you don’t have a movie marathon cuddle buddy, follow this cast on social media until these cuties are ready to leave the foster theater. In about 8-10 weeks they will be available for adoption from your local Blockbuster (aka The Cattery), and you can take home the purrfect movie marathon buddy!

What’s your favorite 80’s classic?

10/07/2024

Happy National Kitten Day!