RSL Haven

26/08/2024

According to Wikipedia:

A feral cat is an unowned domestic cat (Felis catus) that lives outdoors and avoids human contact; it does not allow itself to be handled or touched, and usually remains hidden from humans.[1][2] Feral cats may breed over dozens of generations and become an aggressive local apex predator in urban, savannah and bushland environments. Some feral cats may become more comfortable with people who regularly feed them, but even with long-term attempts at socialization, they usually remain aloof and are most active after dusk. Of the 700 million cats in the world, an estimated 480 million are feral

From Stray Cat TNR ...

PLEASE do not refer to a friendly cat as "feral" simply because that cat lives outside - using stray or community cat is better.

The word feral means the exact opposite 🔁 of friendly and describes temperament ONLY.

Feral DOES NOT refer to a cat who is:
❌ Dirty
❌ Ear-tipped
❌ Homeless
❌ Unaltered
❌ Injured

🤔 A feral cat can be all those things, but those things don't make him feral.

❗️ The words feral and friendly describe the cat's temperament ONLY❗️

Feral DOES refer to a cat who is:
🐈‍⬛ Unhandleable
🐈‍⬛ Unsocialized to humans
🐈‍⬛ Fearful of people
🐈‍⬛ More comfortable visiting at night

You may be asking yourself, "What difference does it make?"

Since adult 'feral' cats are not socialized to people, they are likely to be euthanized if brought to shelters, so it is in their best interest to continue living outdoors. TRAP, NEUTER, RETURN is their best option for a better life for truly feral cats.

'Friendly' outdoor cats who are thriving and don’t have identification indicating they are lost can be fixed and returned to their outdoor home or fostered and adopted after a stray hold period if those resources are available in your area.

✅️ No matter if the cat is friendly, feral, scared, stray, semi-feral, or feeder friendly, make sure all the cats you feed are spayed/neutered and vaccinated.

23/08/2024

20/08/2024

Any dog fosters willing to help, please reach out to Marcia / Riley’s Rescue 🙏

10/08/2024

Fosters are not just for kittens! There are many adult and senior cats in need. If you’re interested, please contact a local shelter or rescue!

09/08/2024

UPDATE: 8/10/2024

Thanks to SCFN (Sandy, Shari and Melany), Humane Society of South Brevard (Rachel), RSL Haven (Tammy, Matt and Sherri) ALL the cats have been rescued !

URGENT – PLEASE SHARE!

Palm Bay, FL

While walking her dogs this morning, a friend of RSL Haven was approached by a neighborhood resident who asked if she was “the cat lady”. The man then went on to explain that his wife had recently passed away and he was being evicted from the garage they had been living in, with 12 cats and that he had no place to go. He asked for help with placing the cats. Our friend called me and we went back to talk to the man about the situation to determine what might be done to help him and the cats. There are 12 cats and all appear healthy and friendly (with a couple of exceptions). They are all 8 to 12 years old and are neutered/spayed. He was unsure as to whether any are up-to-date on vaccines or combo tested, so, most likely, not. They have been indoor cats all their lives.
When asked how soon he needed to vacate the garage they’re living in, he said, “Yesterday”! So, it’s a reasonably urgent situation.
Is anyone able to take in any of these cats? They’re a mix of black (3), brown tabby with white (3), torties (2), brown tabby (2), a gray tabby and an orange and white. Please let me know ASAP if you’re willing to adopt one or two of these cats. If you’re unable to go to pick them up, I can arrange transport to you. Please SHARE if you can't adopt!

04/08/2024

Please consider helping if you’re able!

29/07/2024

Anyone interested, preferably in central to north Brevard, please contact Janelle with Five Friends!

If anyone is interested in fostering we could use a few more, solid people! We have 9 young adult cats coming tomorrow evening and are on call for some dogs - we are not exactly sure when they’ll arrive, but we need foster homes ready and waiting.

Fostering isn’t easy - your cats will get mad at you and your dogs will bark. The foster cats will likely be scared and might not eat and may even get sick (stress does this to them). The foster dogs will bark, likely go potty inside at first, and may not even be house trained. 😅

We ask that you think about this before committing. The downside to not having a facility is we can only take the animals we have a foster home for. If the foster changes their mind, we get stuck with no where to safely keep the pet. So we do ask that you make sure you want to do this before signing up!

Fostering is very rewarding and worth the trouble. We need your help to help these animals in need!

We prefer fosters in northern Brevard to limit our time driving around to deliver supplies, pick up animals for vet appts, etc.

https://www.shelterluv.com/matchme/foster/FFRF/Cat

https://www.shelterluv.com/matchme/foster/FFRF/Dog

26/07/2024

This is true everywhere! And, lest we forget, these dedicated volunteers spend their own money on gas, food, meds and TIME! Be kind!

We’ve mentioned a few times that the waitlist for getting a trapper is in bad, bad shape. Since then we have been met with a few very understanding and patient messages, and a lot more not patient messages. This is a reminder that we have zero paid staff, only volunteers. Our volunteers all have jobs, families, and a house full of pets to take care of. Most weeks we have 2 trappers who tackle up to 4 stray cat locations. And that is amazing. They do this before and after their jobs and in between getting indoor cats to appointments as well.

We have all voluntarily signed up for this madness because we care a lot and want to improve cat’s lives. No one wants to voluntarily sign up for demanding and impatient messages that show no appreciation for the service we are providing. Please keep this in mind when you request our help. We want to help, we really do. That’s why we are here. But, be nice. And be patient.

Thank you 💚

25/07/2024

Well, let me tell YOU!

Free, yes, FREE, spays and neuters are available in Brevard County through the county shelter (BCSO Animal Services) for strays and feral cats, and through Brevard Spay Neuter Clinic and Brevard Humane Society at low cost, or, if you can't afford it, through the Daphne Foundation. If you need help, call one of them for further guidance!

NO EXCUSES!

23/07/2024

20/07/2024

FREE cat spays and neuters are still available at Brevard Spay Neuter Clinic in Palm Bay, 321-724-1141 and/or Brevard Humane Society in Cocoa, 321-636-3343 sponsored by the Daphne Foundation.

And strays & ferals free at the BCSO South Animal Care Center. Drop off Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri or Sat 11-6; Wed 1-6; Sun 12-4. Cat will be returned for free by an officer in 5-7 days.

15/07/2024

We have many FIV+ cats at RSL Haven and they all live peacefully among the other kitties!

FIV isn't a death sentence. When properly introduced (as all cats should be to increase chances of harmony), they can be comingled with healthy cats. I've done it countless times!💜

10/07/2024

But, in order to achieve population control through attrition, caregivers, feeders and trappers must spay and neuter the colony cats!

FREE cat spays and neuters are still available at Brevard Spay Neuter Clinic in Palm Bay, 321-724-1141 and/or Brevard Humane Society in Cocoa, 321-636-3343 sponsored by the Daphne Foundation.

And strays & ferals free at the BCSO South Animal Care Center. Drop off Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri or Sat 11-6; Wed 1-6; Sun 12-4. Cat will be returned for free by an officer in 5-7 days.

06/07/2024

Sad, but true!

FREE cat spays and neuters are still available at Brevard Spay Neuter Clinic in Palm Bay, 321-724-1141 and/or Brevard Humane Society in Cocoa, 321-636-3343 sponsored by the Daphne Foundation.

And strays & ferals free at the BCSO South Animal Care Center. Drop off Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri or Sat 11-6; Wed 1-6; Sun 12-4. Cat will be returned for free by an officer in 5-7 days.

04/07/2024

Yes, it’s true! Please spay or neuter your pets, or that stray you’ve been feeding, or those feral cats down the street! It’s “free” if you live in Brevard County (FL) at Brevard Spay Neuter Clinic, Brevard Humane Society, or the county shelter. Call for details, please!

03/07/2024

Indeed! There are so many rescues that could use a little extra! It won’t go to waste… or will it? 😺

24/05/2024

Microchips DO work! this little gal was brought to us last night by a concerned citizen who fed her and, when the cat followed her home, brought her in and called us. We found a microchip and filed a found Pet report with the microchip company this morning. A half hour later, the owner called and was very thankful that her kitty had been found. They have since been reunited!

22/05/2024

An all too familiar scenario that I know many of my FB Friends can relate to.

We are are very small rescue with over 165 kittens currently!! Every day we answer nearly a dozen emails/messages asking for help with the same response - Sorry, we're full😿

Imagine this scenario... You only have room for 1 kitten >

A) A sweet Tuxedo the owner says all her family was run over outside...and she wants her gone...if you don't come get her she is letting her outside...

B) A Tiger kitten little shy but allows petting...they got him from Craigslist but unfortunately he doesn't get along with their new puppy so he needs to be gone immediately or they are taking him to the shelter...

C) The shelter is closing in less than 10 minutes and without a rescue commitment ASAP they will euthanize a solid Black super friendly kitten with a URI..

Which do you choose?? A? B? C?... All knowing the others may not survive???

Difficult, heartbreaking, unfair... you decide to save all 3 but where do you put them? There's no space, money is tight & all fosters are completely full...you can't save all 3 because no one is offering to help..😱🥺

‼️Choose‼️

Welcome to the sad reality of pet rescues everywhere...everyday 💔
Would you foster if you could prevent these kittens from dying??….guess what... IT DOES!!!

We post this every year & every year it just gets worse 😭The REAL answer is to take action BEFORE it becomes an issue. SPAY & NEUTER - eliminate these unwanted litters!!!

10/05/2024

To all the trappers and concerned caregivers - Thank you! ❤️❤️❤️