Cat Action Team

29/01/2025

As we continue to TNVR (trap-neuter-vaccinate-return) one particular colony of feral cats, we are desperately trying to find new homes for them. Their current environment is unsafe and they need a safe place to land.

Do you have a barn or outdoor structure that could provide safety for a pair of working cats? They will help reduce the rodent population on your property and all they require is access to food, water, shelter, and veterinary care as needed.

We provide all supplies needed to acclimate barn cats into new properties. If you're interested in providing some with a new home, please submit an application through our website or email [email protected].

28/01/2025

Our extra special boy Izzy is still looking for a family!

Izzy was brought indoors last spring by a kind community member. Sadly, his caretaker has to move into assisted living and he needs another kind soul to love him. He's a bit shy at first, but loves the indoor life.

Izzy is about two years ago. He is in great health, but is FIV+. With regular vet care (as we expect all our adopters to provide), Izzy should live a long happy life (many of our followers often chime in with stories about their FIV+ kitties who live to ripe old ages!).

If you're willing to give this sweetheart a home, please put in an application through our website.

27/01/2025

We still have some of our adorable calendars left so we're offering a Buy One, Get One sale while supplies last!
Order here: ➡ https://form.jotform.com/242293638080155

A donation of $15 is needed to receive a calendar as a premium, for pick-up. BOGO SALE: For each calendar purchased, you will receive another calendar for free!

A donation of $20 is needed to receive a calendar as a premium, shipped or hand delivered to you. BOGO SALE: For each calendar purchased, you will receive another calendar for free!

Once your order is received, please allow CAT volunteers up to (5) business days to get your order ready for pickup and/or delivery.

27/01/2025

Ebony and Rex are two particularly gorgeous siblings who were born this past fall. Ebony is the stunning black smoke long hair with a grey "stole" around her neck. Her brother, Rex, is also pretty fancy with his adorable mustache.

These two are still quite shy and need a patient adopter who will give them a chance to acclimate. At this point, we're thinking they'll do better together and are currently only adopting them as a bonded pair.

Other than being shy, Ebony and Rex are healthy and completely ready to be adopted. If you're interested in giving them a loving home, please fill out an application on our website.

Ebony DLH black smoke female with a beautiful coat and grey "stole" around her neck. Rex is her SH white and black brother with an adorable mustache. Fixed, vaxxed, tested negative, very shy. Not sure whether then need to be adopted together, but probably.

26/01/2025

We are thrilled to announce that the Jessica Beath Foundation is offering CAT a $7,500 matching grant to help us make ends meet. 😻 We have until March 31st to reach their match--Please help us!

Veterinary and food prices continue to rise, which makes it difficult to keep helping cats who need us. A donation today can help us TNVR more cats, provide food and medical care for fosters, in-need pet owners, barn cats and colony cats. ❤

Please consider making a donation of any size to bring lasting change to the cats and kittens who need it most. Because of the generosity of donors thus far, we've already raised $4200. Help us make it to $7500! ➡ https://catactionteam.org/donate

26/01/2025

We have another sweetie to introduce: Meet Hudson!

Hudson is a very handsome, tuxedo male from Louisa. As you can see, he's very fancy in his little tux and has some quirky, but endearing features to him. We believe Hudson was born with a little bobtail and he has a slightly deformed right ear. While his ear looks different from other kitties', it doesn't bother him or cause any problems.

Hudson is a bit shy, but is with an excellent foster who is helping him feel safe with humans. He's only about eight months old and we know he'll be a great companion.

Hudson is neutered, vaccinated, and tested negative for FIV/FeLV...so that means, he's ready for his forever home! If you're interested in a kitty with some extra special features, consider putting in an application for Hudson. Apps can be found on the website.

25/01/2025

If you're a newsletter subscriber, you've already been introduced to this handsome boy, but if you missed it, meet Lonesome George!

Lonesome George is only six-months old and was rescued from a trailer park in Waynesboro. When he came to us, he had a bad injury and infection in his tail and had to have his tail amputated. Despite his rough start, George is oh-so-sweet! He adores being brushed and has so much love to give.

George has been neutered, vaccinated, and tested (negative for FIV/FeLV). He is ready for a home of his own! Please put in an application today to adopt Lonesome George...and make him not so lonesome.

25/01/2025

Calendars are now BUY ONE, GET ONE!!!
Order here: ➡ https://form.jotform.com/242293638080155

A donation of $15 is needed to receive a calendar as a premium, for pick-up. BOGO SALE: For each calendar purchased, you will receive another calendar for free!

A donation of $20 is needed to receive a calendar as a premium, shipped or hand delivered to you. BOGO SALE: For each calendar purchased, you will receive another calendar for free!

Once your order is received, please allow CAT volunteers up to (5) business days to get your order ready for pickup and/or delivery.

Check out this sneak peek of one of the adorable feline friends featured in the 2025 CAT calendar! Isn't he precious?!

If you haven't yet placed your order, you can do so here: https://form.jotform.com/242293638080155😻 These calendars make great gifts and are chock full of adorable locally loved cats!

24/01/2025

An extra special shoutout to Connie Falcone and the Joy Makers of Salem United Methodist Church in Palmyra: THANK YOU!!!

Connie is a CAT volunteer and the caretaker of one of our colonies. Everyday, she makes sure a group of community cats get fed and watered.

After helping us with our winter shelter building event in December, Connie decided to make more houses to help even more feral cats survive what is turning out to be a pretty harsh winter!

Connie joined up with the Joy Makers group at Salem United Methodist Church, who agreed to help make shelters. After posting online to the styrofoam coolers donated, they also bought sheets of styrofoam to line the coolers. Connie and the Joy Makers added straw and taped up the houses. Together, they made around a dozen winterized shelters and Connie has already given some out!

Thank you all for your initiative and your commitment to helping out our local cats! You are a gift and we appreciate you!

23/01/2025

Introducing Kringle & Frosty!

These little boys are exceptionally sweet and are ready for a home.

As you may have guessed, Frosty is the little white baby ☃ His foster reports that he is a purring machine! Frosty is all about head rubs, back scratches and belly tickles. He really likes to be held and cuddled. If you're looking for a snuggle-bug, choose Frosty!

Kringle was a little bit slower to be won over by humans--pets and cuddles weren't cutting it...but then he discovered STRING! Kringle is about his string. He carries it around if he gets it away from Frosty. Being played with helped him trust humans and Kringle is now comfortable being held (but doesn't like to cuddle too tightly). He enjoys head rubs and tummy rubs and has a great purr!

His foster's phone broke and they hope to have clearer pictures of the boys soon, but we think you can tell how beautiful they are from the ones here. If you're interested in adopting one or both kittens, please put in an application through our website.

22/01/2025

The numbers are in! You all helped us do some incredible work last year and we're excited to share the impact with you!

In 2024...
😻We neutered 350 male cats
😻And spayed another 440 female cats
😻We found homes for 49 cats and kittens
😻We provided over $30,000 worth of food for Colony Maintenance Program (feeding feral kitties) and our Pet Retention Program
😻$6500 of that amount came from food donated during our food drives!
😻 We helped cover medical care for dental work for 12 cats, 2 enucleations, 6 amputations (3 tails, 3 legs), 1 broken jaw and eye socket, and various other medical issues

We couldn't have done any of this amazing work with YOU, our amazing community members and volunteers! Thank you for all you've done for us and for the cats of central Virginia. We're grateful to you and appreciate your continued support as we charge ahead into this year!

20/01/2025

ADOPT DON'T SHOP! This goes for dogs too.

I title this photo: The Discarded Cats Breeders Don’t Show.

It’s no coincidence that the two highest-need kittens I’ve ever cared for—Chouchou and Miette—were discarded by breeders. Both were born with congenital issues that require significant medical care, including surgeries to correct cleft palates, stenotic nares, and angular limb deformities. These conditions aren’t accidents…they’re the direct result of breeding for extreme physical traits.

The flat faces, tiny noses, oversized eyes, and skeletal builds prized by breeders and breed enthusiasts come at a devastating cost. These features may look “cute” to some, but they are inherently unnatural and, for many cats, lead to lifelong health problems. Kittens like Chouchou and Miette are casualties of human aesthetic preferences, bred into existence for profit and abandoned when their medical needs outweighed their monetary value.

As Persian breeders continue to select for brachycephalic profiles that push noses inward, it’s no surprise that some, like Chouchou, are born with skull deformities that limit even the most basic functions of eating and breathing. I’m thrilled that we’ve been able to help him overcome both through multiple surgeries, but the interventions we’ve had to take have been challenging, not to mention that he didn’t deserve to go through any of that in the first place.

Miette, a Persian/Ragdoll mix, was bred to inherit traits from both breeds: Persians’ small frames combined with Ragdolls’ large size and predisposition for skeletal problems created the perfect storm, resulting in legs so malpositioned that she cannot walk without splints and will need multiple extensive, expensive orthopedic surgeries in the future. I’m so angry for her, and so sad that this sweet little soul will have to experience an intense recovery for a condition that could have been prevented.

I share this to say that when you see fancy, fluffy, purebred cats, please remember that there is a dark side—there are unseen victims of extreme gene selection. Real, living beings who deserve to be able to eat, to breathe, to walk, to jump, to play.

Anyway. This photo pretty much says it all. ❤️

20/01/2025

Cats live in a vertical world. Look around your house and I’ll bet you can point to various elevated locations where your cat likes to hang out. It might be the top of the refrigerator or maybe on top of a bookcase or tall dresser. There are several reasons why a cat chooses those locations. The higher up a cat is, the more visual advantage and warning time. The cat can easily see anyone approaching. If you live in a multicat environment, this can play a big part in easing tension because a more timid cat has adequate warning of a potential opponent entering the room. Another benefit to vertical space is that a more assertive cat can “claim” the highest spot as a show of status. This can often reduce any actual physical confrontation two cats might have.

16/01/2025

Beautiful panthers, Colin & Dexter, are still searching for their forever families. Initially we thought that they needed to be adopted together as a bonded pair, but, it turns out, they're not too bonded. Colin and Dexter may be adopted together or into separate families.

Dexter is the more social of the two, but Colin receives love happily when approached gently. Also, sweet Colin is our tripod kitty, having lost an arm to nerve damage--but he doesn't know he's any different and lives life as if he has four legs 🥰

Both boys are healthy and cleared by the vet for adoption. To adopt one or both boys, please put in an application through our website.

These boys are older kittens (born this past fall) and will bring lots of joy to your life!

15/01/2025

Introducing Izzy!

We bet you had not idea from this picture that, until recently, he was considered a feral cat--he looks pretty well adjusted to indoor life! 😆

Izzy is about two years ago and was found as a stray cat in a neighborhood in Crozet. He is in great health, but is FIV+. Most FIV+ kitties tend to live long, happy lives with veterinary care. Transmission to other cats is only possible through deep, blood drawing bites and risk is low if they coexist without fighting.

This handsome boy was brought indoors in April 2024, but, unfortunately, his caretaker needs to move into assisted-living. Can you help us find Izzy his new forever home? If you're interested in Izzy, please submit an application through our website.

Izzy will need a family that is patient and willing to allow him to adjust to his new digs (as every adopter should be with every cat!).

13/01/2025

We are still in drastic need for safe places to rehome outdoor cats. These cats are generally feral or semi-feral and are being moved as a last resort due to unsafe living conditions.

These cats are considered "working" animals and provide rodent control is a safe way, eliminating the need for toxic, dangerous alternatives. They need access to shelter, like a barn or shed, daily food and water, and veterinary care as needed.

If you can offer a safe place for working cats, please email [email protected] or fill out an adoption application through our website (you may indicate that you want barn cats). We will provide all the supplies and support needed to successfully transition them to your property. All working cats have been spayed/neutered and are vaccinated.

09/01/2025

Congratulations to Ardys and her new human, Joyce! We're thrilled to share that Ardys is officially a foster failure and now confidently has a forever home. She has come so far from her start in an outdoor colony. We're grateful for her happy future!

08/01/2025

Ozzie found his forever home and a catio! It was love at first sight for cat mom Lynne who wanted him to have indoor and safe outdoor access, so she bought a DIY catio plan. Ozzie's catio is painted to complement her home and has lots of vertical and horizontal space to enjoy watching the squirrels and birds while she enjoys peace of mind.

Thinking of a catio? DIY Catio Plans take the guesswork out of building one, or you can hire a carpenter to build the plan for you. SAVE 10% with our organization's promo code CatActionTeam10... Plus, 10% will come back to us as a donation from Catio Spaces! DIY PLANS LINK: https://catiospaces.com/catios-cat-enclosures/diy-plans/