Sparkle Cat Rescue

29/01/2025

Help our friends at Creager's Critters Animal Foundation out and share their event and buy some tickets to their Valentine’s Day Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser! $13 individual and $28 Sweetheart Special. Carry Out Only. 4:30-6:30 pm at Hawfields Presbyterian Church in Mebane NC

Contact Susan at 336-639-0711 OR Kathy at 336-380-2093 to purchase your tickets OR stop by Suzi Q’s Pet Salon in Burlington NC at 637-D Chapel Hill Rd. Susan does so much for the animals and humans too and is a dear friend ❤️

29/01/2025

Love candles? Want to help homeless cats? Here’s how you can! - every candle is $10 and $4.70 of every purchase benefits cats. We also have car deodorizer scented hangers.

When you make a purchase at the nonprofit retail shop it’s a way of helping homeless cats rescued by Sparkle Cat Rescue.

The shop is open Fridays and Saturdays 12-4 pm

🐈‍⬛ The shop is located at 633-A Chapel Hill Rd in Burlington NC (between Rendall & Tucker Streets and a little past the skating rink. White brick building. The shop sign will be out when the shop is open.

🐾 It is not a thrift store
🐾 It is not a place to bring cats
🐾 It is a place to find gifts that give back.

🐈‍⬛ Handmade catnip toys, cat pillows/beds, handmade jewelry, costume jewelry, candles, coffee mugs, magnets, books, coloring books, collectibles, cat figurines, plants and more. There’s always something added every week as donations come in.

29/01/2025

If you want a true lap cat, McFlurry is your guy. He never misses tv night with his foster humans and also likes to pal around with the other foster kitties. He is fostering in Burlington NC with Rachel & Steve.

Apply to adopt and meet n greet via https://form.jotform.com/92366480127156
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29/01/2025

BURLINGTON NC
Sparkle Cat Rescue
Apply to adopt via https://form.jotform.com/92366480127156

Approved application required to schedule meet n greet at foster home.

I’m JACK BLACK! Why haven’t I been adopted yet? Is there something wrong with me? Why no! I’m a very curious, playful, active 4 year old adult boy, rescued in early 2022. I’m fine as the only cat. I’m fostering with other cats. The best fit for me if there are other cats in the home are cats that can stand up to me because I can be a little obnoxious. Apply to be approved to meet n greet & adopt at www.sparklecatrescue.org

29/01/2025

GIZMO is a sweet, affectionate attention seeking boy. He is under a year old. Once he’s bonded with his humans he’s all about this! Foster mom Katherine says he’s so sweet and tolerant and would do well with kids. He’s not been exposed to dogs. With proper intro to a cat-friendly dog he’d do okay. If no other animal companions in the home he will need interactive toys and regular interaction and playtime with his humans. Apply to adopt via www.sparklecatrescue.org/adopt.....

28/01/2025

Dr Bolynn at called me today with results for Mercury. My notes (I’m always typing them as vets are speaking): Mercury
Sinovial (? Sp?) biopsy
Joint fluid

And

Tissue samples from joint capsule for pathology
Culture came back negative for any bacterial growth

Histopathology came back as no diagnostic. Had a hard time finding joint capsule. Bone degraded and hard time getting good sample. Didn’t get enough of a sample to make diagnosis

Recommends immune suppress with expectation we are dealing with an auto immune disease attacking joints.

Sometimes we have to immune suppress patients in order to find infection. Have to look at different diagnostics at that point

***Prednisalone (liquid or pills) ****
Don’t start pred until he’s fully healed from surgery. Full healing (at least 2, best if 3 weeks). Would need to be on pred for at least 14 days and do recheck in 10-14 day mark. Based on findings at recheck decide if need to taper or continue for a month.

Start pred on Feb 11
Recheck Feb 24

Back story/Per my post two weeks ago prior to his surgery:

I spoke with Dr. King at about Mercury (new kitty/limping kitty) this morning. He’s had several rounds of antibiotics and still no change with his paw and leg. While it’s rare for his age, we could be looking at a diagnosis of erosive arthritis which would require him to be on steroids. We’ve decided to pursue surgery to obtain samples for biopsy and be sure we aren’t dealing with an infection the antibiotics he’s been on won’t cure. We will be setting up his fundraiser soon but feel free to donate now to help. He’s a precious loving boy that showed up as a stray at his foster mom and dad’s house and we’d like to know what he needs long term to help place him in a furever home that can take care of his needs. www.sparklecatrescue.org

28/01/2025

OZZY is a 9 year old boy, still very active and playful. He loves people and does well with kids. He’s hit or miss with some cats. Apply to adopt via www.sparklecatrescue.org/adopt

28/01/2025

Sparkle Cat Rescue requires an application be completed and approved before a meet n greet will be set up with any of our foster cats. Once approved we will reach out to you to set up an appointment.

When applying to adopt, please consider:
- Can YOU provide a lifetime commitment for the cat(s) (THEIR lifetime). Take into consideration things that could change your ability to give them the lifetime home they deserve (age, health, financial). While we do take our cats back due to unforeseen circumstances, our goal is to not have cats returned to us.
-Does everyone in the home want a cat?
-Vet care is necessary and as cats age they require more care: dental surgeries, blood work, prescription food, etc. Take that into consideration.
-If you are a first time adopter, have you found a vet you may want to use?
-Pets shouldn’t be given as gifts.
-Urinating/pooping outside of litter box. If this bothers you, don’t adopt. At some point in their life it will happen and will require a vet visit to determine if they are ill.
-throwing up - again, same as above

https://www.sparklecatrescue.org/adoption-guidelines.html

https://www.sparklecatrescue.org/adoptable-felines.html

28/01/2025

New Year, New Grant Opportunity for us.
Please vote and help us win a much needed grant from to help homeless cats. https://mygivingcircle.org/sparkle-cat-rescue

Questions about the donations option? If you donate to us via the My Giving Circle link above in this post, we DO get your donations! They are direct deposited to us via Stripe or PayPal within 2-3 days! If you pay to Feature our rescue, we do not receive that $ but it still helps us get votes.

Formed in 2014, Sparkle Cat Rescue is an all volunteer, zero paid employees, 501c3 nonprofit organization in Burlington, NC. We focus on stray cats - the ‘forgotten felines’ - abandoned, abused, homeless, injured, neglected and place them in loving foster homes for adoption in the future. They are provided medical care and spay/neutered.

We also will treat FIP cats if they are diagnosed while in our program, and counsel and support and direct cat owners to where to find treatment when they contact us if their own cat develops FIP (feline infectious peritonitis). It is a fatal disease unless treatment is immediately sought.

Founded November 6, 2014, we have rescued over 1600 homeless cats in almost ten years and also have a small base of volunteers who TNR when they have time and have prevented hundreds of homeless cats from being born.

Thank you for your support!

straycats

27/01/2025

Please donate! We have had some major expenses to start 2025 off. One of them is Mercury’s surgery. We’ve also incurred large bills for Chester and Morgana’s FIP treatment, Chopper’s full mouth extraction dental surgery, Jed and Ozzy’s senior exams and blood work and Jed’s ultrasound and now treatment for cancer.
We have other cats in our care that will need dental surgeries in the near future. The longer cats stay in our program, the more care they require.

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=NTKCWK4W5PL46

https://mygivingcircle.org/sparkle-cer-rescue

https://venmo.com/u/sparklecatrescuenc
(Last four digits of phone 9306)

Apply a credit to our vet acct by calling 336-227-9979

We named this sweet, beautiful, young boy Mercury. He was rescued last fall after he wandered up to his foster home.

Per my post two weeks ago prior to his surgery:

I spoke with Dr. King at about Mercury (new kitty/limping kitty) this morning. He’s had several rounds of antibiotics and still no change with his paw and leg. While it’s rare for his age, we could be looking at a diagnosis of erosive arthritis which would require him to be on steroids. We’ve decided to pursue surgery to obtain samples for biopsy and be sure we aren’t dealing with an infection the antibiotics he’s been on won’t cure. We will be setting up his fundraiser soon but feel free to donate now to help. He’s a precious loving boy that showed up as a stray at his foster mom and dad’s house and we’d like to know what he needs long term to help place him in a furever home that can take care of his needs. www.sparklecatrescue.org

27/01/2025

Gracie (left) and Stella heard their sweet brothers found a home and say it’s time for them! They are two sweet social girls about 5 months old. They’d love a home TWOgether. Apply to adopt via www.sparklecatrescue.org

27/01/2025

Adopt Tilly for a lifetime of love! She’s fostering with our friend Beyond Joyce's Foster Care. Apply to adopt via www.sparklecatrescue.org/adopt

27/01/2025

Yesterday Jellybean and Charlie left for their furever home. These photos taken before they left as we were trimming their nails and some before adopters arrived. Wishing them and their new family a wonderful life. They are still settling in and adjusting so we will get happy tails photos once they are comfortable with their new home. Thank you to Eleanor and George for adopting them, and for one of volunteers recommending our rescue to a friend of the adopters. ❤️ This adoption was weeks in the making. The boys were diagnosed with ringworm a few weeks ago so we had to address that and started oral meds which the adopters are going to continue.

27/01/2025

❤️ This is sweet Jed ❤️

Jed and Ozzy had their senior wellness exams at two weeks ago (around $800) for all the testing and exams) and we really could use help with their large bill. Then Jed went back to the vet last Monday for an ultrasound/cytology on aspiration ($559.31) and he’s now been diagnosed with cancer. We will give him lots of love and care. I’d love to find a dedicated medical foster willing to take Jed in and we can cover his expenses. He deserves to have more one on one attention. He is such a sweet boy.

https://venmo.com/u/sparklecatrescuenc (Last four phone digits 9306)

https://mygivingcircle.org/sparkle-cat-rescue

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VV37MVV3WLMWS

The boys are nine years old. Not bonded. Not related. We had an ultrasound for Jed on Monday since there are health concerns. Since I’ve had them, Jed has a voracious appetite and never seems to get full. He’s also been throwing up. Ozzy throws up too but not as regularly as Jed.

Jed and Ozzy 1/16/25
Senior blood work

***Ozzy ***
-just tartar on teeth
Everything else good
Labs look good.
Red blood cell count slightly decreased. (Fiv+ cause?)
Urine good and nicely concentrated
Ultrasound recommended to see if thickening of intestines
No thyroid or diabetes issues. that looks good.

Recheck PCV in 2 weeks and possible ultrasound
—————
***Jed ***
Ultrasound recommended
Muscle loss / underweight
Tartar on teeth
Right kidney a little smaller than left one

Two fat pads in inguinal region (groin area). Soft movable patches. (Nodules ? Could be mass, lymph node or tissue)***
Other lymph nodes not swollen (now diagnosed as cancer)
Decrease in hematocrit
White blood cells elevated
Eosinophils, neutrophils

Kidney values look good

Potassium level low - need to recheck (vomiting can cause this)

Thyroid level normal

No signs of diabetes or hyperthyroidism

25/01/2025

If everything goes as planned, Charlie and his brother Jellybean will be traveling to their new home in Virginia tomorrow. Their new mom and dad have been anxiously awaiting adoption and are driving to get them, even knowing they will have to continue ringworm treatment. They’ve been on oral meds for a week. The ringworm is not as severe as I’ve seen.

Charlie and Jellybean were born to a feral mom at a landscape company. Their sisters are in a separate foster home (Stella and Gracie). They had to be split up at rescue to two foster homes. We TNR’d their mama and she’s being taken care of at the landscape business.

25/01/2025

NORTH CAROLINA
Please share and spread the word to help our friends at Animal Protection Society of Caswell County

The shelter is closed to intake effective immediately due to the number of animals we have currently at the Shelter. Unfortunately, we have had increases in strays and owner surrenders since the holidays. We have no open kennels or crates

We are desperate for HELP! Please consider adopting an animal over purchasing one from a breeder. We have some amazing dogs and cats who aren’t broken, they are just down on their luck. Please consider Fostering a pet and giving them a fresh start. It costs you nothing, but some time and love. We also need Rescue help too, please.

Please help us! The only other option we have is to euthanize for space. WE DO NOT WANT TO EVER HAVE TO DO THIS.

25/01/2025

How to Build a Winter Shelter for Outdoor Cats

Providing a warm, safe shelter for outdoor cats during winter is simple and inexpensive. Here are key tips to keep in mind when constructing your shelter:

1. Design

Use strong insulation to trap body heat; cats become little radiators!
Use straw (not hay or blankets) as bedding. Straw stays dry and provides warmth.
A smaller interior area retains heat better than a large one.
2. Size

Small shelters heat up faster and stay warm with just one or two cats inside.
Two smaller shelters are better than one large one.
3. Location

If dogs are a threat, place the shelter behind a fence where dogs can’t reach it.
Face the entrance toward a wall to ensure only cats can access it.
Keep shelters and feeding stations out of sight for added safety.
4. Elevate the Shelter

Raise the shelter off the ground using 2x4s or other materials.
Place straw underneath for added insulation.
5. Small Door

Cats only need an entrance about 5.5–6 inches wide (or the width of their whiskers).
A small door helps retain heat and keeps larger animals like raccoons out.
6. Prevent Dampness

Tilt the shelter slightly so rainwater drains off the roof and doesn’t pool inside.
Drill a small hole in the bottom or side for drainage.
7. Secure the Shelter

Add heavy rocks, bricks, or pavers on top to keep it in place.
Place two shelters facing each other with a board on top to create a protected entryway.
8. Insulation Matters

Use materials cats can burrow into, like straw.
Avoid blankets, towels, or newspapers as they retain moisture and can make the shelter cold.
A little effort can make a big difference in keeping outdoor cats safe and warm during the winter months. Let’s protect our feline friends! 🐾