Author: Frances Vega

Spartacus’ adoption story: My husband and I were celebrating our 26th anniversary in Greece. One evening we heard what sounded like a kitten crying in distress, so we began searching for it and found an abandoned kitten just hours old. We couldn’t reach him, but after some quick thinking we were able to carefully extend a selfie stick and balance him on the end that holds the phone while slowly pulling him up until we were able to reach him.
Lucky for him we foster neonatal kittens so we already knew what to do with a kitten that small, however, since we weren’t home, we didn’t have any of our usual supplies (bottle, formula, blanket, etc). Knowing time was of the essence for kittens this small, we frantically tried to gather supplies but had difficulties finding what we needed; pet stores were closed, the nearest vet was closed, and the grocery store only had goat’s milk, which we bought as a last resort, however, we had to find a pharmacy to get an eyedropper to feed him.

As we rushed to find a pharmacy that was open, we happened to find a vet that only opened in the evenings. Thankfully he had one box of kitten formula which included a bottle and nipple. We quickly made a bottle and fed him right there; this was just the beginning of our journey…
We tried to find a rescue that could take him, but the few we found would not take a kitten that young. Knowing that we couldn’t just leave him to die, we altered our plans to only include events that we could take the kitten (now named Spartacus) with. I kept him warm by keeping him in my sports bra. We fed him every 2hrs and took him everywhere with us- the subway, tourist events, restaurants, a ferry to the next island, and yes, even the plane back to Athens. When the time came to return to the States, we packed up a little “diaper bag” for him and off we went. The flight was long, and we were happy to be home where I had all my supplies on hand in the nursery we had set up for kittens.

We placed Spartacus, who was now roughly 1.5 weeks old, in the incubator to provide him the best environment so that he could continue thriving. After just a couple of days in the incubator, he started showing signs of separation anxiety, so we decided the best thing for his well-being was to continue taking him everywhere with us since that’s what he was already accustomed to, so that’s what we did.

Our intent was only to foster him, like all the other babies we take in, but we ran into some health issues which included FCKS (Flat Chested Kitten Syndrome), only one working lung, and EPI (Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency). Any one of these are life threatening, but to have all of these at one time stacks the odds against him. Not knowing what his fate would be, we worked closely with the vet to try and overcome these things. He’s now 3-months-old and has beaten the odds, proving to be a true Greek warrior! He’s now part of our family and still goes everywhere with us, including out of State trips.

About Happy Paws Kitten Rescue: Happy Paws Kitten Rescue is a non-profit organization dedicated to caring for, providing medical treatment, and re-homing homeless, abandoned, and abused cats in East Tennessee. We are also dedicated to promoting proper care of animals through community education and to strengthening the human-animal bond.

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Boog’s adoption story: Meet Boog “aka Custard” aka Lil Booger aka Mr. Boogalou, was adopted officially on 12/2020 from McPherson County Humane Society in McPherson, KS. He was my first foster fail!! I’ve fostered for McPherson County Humane Society off and on for a few years. He came into the shelter with his mom and four other siblings. Unfortunately, Boog needed a little more attention and needed to go into a home where he could be monitored closely. He was barely one pound when I brought him home and was covered in ringworm. After having Boog in our home for a few months, we knew his forever home was with us. He was such a cuddly kitten and needed to be around someone at all times. Boog just fit into our family perfectly. I had lost my orange tabby Morris of 16 years earlier that year and I feel like Boog came along to help me heal. Nowadays Boog spends his day bird watching or participating in the Indy 500 with his brother Hero. Boog is a talker, it can be 3 am or 9 pm and he wants to make sure everyone in the house knows what he’s doing and where he is. #catdaysofsummer

About McPherson County Humane Society: The McPherson County Humane Society was founded in 1979. We promote animal welfare and work hard to prevent animal abuse and/or neglect. We constantly stress the need and benefit of having all pets spayed or neutered! We are proud to have a stellar reputation of cleanliness and calmness at our cat shelter, which comfortably houses around 100 cats at any given time. Every one of our cats is tested, vaccinated, and spayed/neutered (age appropriate) before leaving our shelter.

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Possum’s adoption story: A few years ago my former next door neighbor from childhood, a neighbor I used to babysit with her two brothers, posted a picture of a kitten she had rescued with her local rescue after a hurricane. I commented that it was the cutest kitten I’d seen and that it would be adopted quickly! My friend fostered the kitten and was coming home and did I want to adopt the kitten? I did! I am a sucker for a kitten, but had just winnowed the herd down and had no cats and two dogs. Well, from 2,000 miles away at the R.E.A.L Cruzan Cats Rescue on the shores of Fredericksted in the US Virgin Islands via two different types of airplane and one very devoted foster mother came my little Possum. I drove to the airport in Cleveland from Erie along the shores of Lake Erie, thunder and lightning booming, I thought we should have called her Stormy instead! She quickly became the queen of the roost and commandeers the dogs to do her bidding. She is THE best cat I have ever, EVER had and I am grateful every single day that we have her! Thank you Cruzan Cats! #catdaysofsummer

About REAL Cruzan Cats: R.E.A.L. Cruzan Cats is dedicated to the protection and humane treatment of cats on St. Croix through Rescue Education Adoption and Love. We are committed to a single goal – to improve the lives of cats living on the island of St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. Explore our website to learn more about everything that we are doing to evoke a change. We are a private, non-profit organization dedicated to working with devoted volunteers and concerned individuals to help these cats in need to get neutered/spayed, vaccinated, and ultimately off the streets and into loving homes!

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Winnie’s adoption story: Winnie is a kitten that was rescued by Lynn with Lynn’s Rescue Kittens in Fort Worth, TX. Her mama was a feral cat and she was rescued along with her siblings from a life on the streets! And thank goodness, considering she is a PRINCESS at home. She has a corgi best friend that she likes to play and take naps with, and spends most of her day sleeping in her hammock or playing with ice cubes (they’re her favorite). She’s very social and friendly and likes to snuggle under blankets with us. We knew Winnie was the one by the adorable videos Lynn sent us and her silly little face when she was a baby. We are so incredibly thankful for the wonderful rescue that Lynn runs (on her own!) and how much she cares for every kitten she rescues. Winnie is such a perfect fit for our home and we love her more than we thought possible! #catdaysofsummer

About Lynn’s Rescue Kittens: Lynn’s Rescue Kittens is a small, independently owned and run business that provides rescue for abandoned kittens who don’t have anyone to care for them. Little did I know that 3 years after I retired early, to care for my husband full time who had a stroke a few years prior, that my life’s purpose and focus would be changed forever by rescuing one feral kitten in my community! My focus is in rescuing kittens who are 4 to 8 weeks old. I’m now providing a great start to their lives and ensuring they find the perfect forever home. All kittens are spay/neutered, microchipped and have 1st series of vaccines.

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Beatrice’s adoption story: When I was 11-years-old I really wanted a cat. I saved my Christmas money as well as some money from chores. Before we got the cat my mom and I bought a litter box, food, collar, and some toys so we would be ready for the cat. The day my mom and I went to the PALNV Cat Cafe to look at cats I was very excited. When we got there the first thing we saw was a black cat meowing loudly at the door. She almost ran out when we opened the door to see the cats. I saw a cute calico cat, but it was too scared. I looked at some Siamese cats and one had a broken tail. We also looked at a gray kitten, but she was too little. As we were looking at other cats the black one kept running up and climbing on my lap. Her name was Beatrice. We decided that we would keep looking before making a final decision. After seeing all the cats there wasn’t another cat as friendly or curious as Beatrice. We brought her home that day and she meowed for forty-five minutes in the car. Once we got home and I saw that Beatrice loved to chase toys I knew she was the best choice for us. Beatrice is a one-of-a-kind cat and I am grateful that she is my pet.

About PALNV: PALNV started in California in 1993 to help abandoned, abused and neglected pets. They moved to Las Vegas, NV, after the recession. It took a couple of years to decide what was needed most in our new community and the decision was made to help community cats find their forever homes.

We opened Rescued Treasures Cat Café in August of 2019 and adopted 40 cats. We were shut down for three months in 2020 due to the Pandemic but still managed to take in 335 cats and kittens and find homes for 299. The first quarter of 2021 we took in 146 cats and adopted 84.

Our cats are from the streets. They have been abandoned and even though they are living on the streets they are very sweet loving cats. We also take out medical cats and kittens from our local shelter. We are always looking for volunteers, donors and fosters to help save more lives. Our passion is being a part of the solution to saving our community cats!

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Violet Louise and Rube Mae’s adoption story: These two lovelies were found wandering the streets in northwest Indiana where they were dropped off at the county humane society. From there they made their way in a couple of days to the wonderful St. Sophia’s Forgotten Felines in Wheaton, Illinois. It was there my husband and I saw them and immediately fell in love. We actually had gone to adopt another cat we had seen on St. Sophia’s website. That kitty was not anxious to leave St. Sophia’s. As we looked around we saw these tiny twins of grey fluff; tiny even though they were two years old. Our previous cat, Tyger, had died the year before at the age of 22 and our dog of 18 years had just died a few weeks before. Our home did not seem complete with no furry ones about. Named Reeses and Pieces they were ready to cuddle with us. Reeses was quite friendly, inquisitive and ready to play. Her sister just wanted a comfortable lap to snuggle in. We gathered them up, signed the papers and, headed home. There was only one problem, their names. Our son, who lives five hours away, suggested in a phone call, that since they were wearing red and purple collars we call them Ruby and Violet. I added the second names after my aunts because they reflected their personalities. Ruby & Violet have provided hours of fun and love. Violet has gone from six pounds to nine and Ruby from just under six pounds to seven. They feel secure and will greet visitors giving their stamps of approval before wandering off to watch the wildlife outside the patio door. Our home is now complete again.

About St. Sophia’s Forgotten Felines: St. Sophia’s Forgotten Felines is a non-profit foster-based cat rescue in Wheaton, IL. Established in late 2010, St. Sophia’s strives to be the best in temporary care for cats in transition. What does this mean? It means that the cats in our care aren’t intended to stay in our care. Our hope is a home for every adoptable cat — no more homeless cats!

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Rocky’s adoption story:  Rocky loves other cats! There is no cat the Rocky won’t cuddle with! Rocky came to Pets Lifeline from an overcrowded shelter in Santa Cruz. He came with his three housemates who were quickly adopted. I had spent time with Rocky at the shelter as a volunteer and knew he was a special boy. I was sad to see his housemates go without him. It appeared he missed them terribly. I decided to adopt Rocky, who is a senior cat, perfect for my household. I also have a special needs foster kitty at home. When he first arrived at my home he went looking for his former housemates. Fortunately, he met my foster girl and immediately began sleeping with her and they quickly bonded. He is a joy to have in my family. Rocky now welcomes any new kitties.

About Pets Lifeline: Before 1982 there were no local animal shelters or resources available to help the Sonoma community cope with the problem of stray and abandoned animals. This lack of animal services motivated a handful of dedicated animal lovers to create a local animal welfare organization. Thanks to the community, Pets Lifeline was established.

It was in 1987 that Pets Lifeline bought the property on which it now stands and built the main shelter structure. The house on the property became a thrift store serving as a fundraising source for the fledgling shelter. Over the last three decades, additions and modifications have been made to bring the Shelter into its current living form. In 2000, the thrift store was replaced with the beautiful fenced dog yard and later, a new roof along with temporary mobile structures were added.

Today, Pets Lifeline (PLL) has adopted over 15,000 animals, staying with its core mission to find forever homes for the stray and homeless cats and dogs in Sonoma Valley. In addition, PLL offers a wide variety of programs, such as a low-cost spay/neuter clinic, dog training classes, a kitten fostering program, and a feral program that is the most successful in the county. The shelter prides itself on its Humane Education curriculum that offers an after school program and a 10-week summer camp.

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Sophie, Sebastian, and Ash’s story: We adopted three cats from Purrfect Cat Rescue in Crystal Lake IL. We had just lost our two senior kitties that I had since I was a teenager (a year apart) and so we went to Purrfect Cat Rescue to help heal the hole in our hearts. We first adopted Sophie and Sebastian. They were a year old and had been relinquished back to the shelter because they had tummy troubles. We saw them and scooped them up right away and fell in love! My husband (who was not a cat person until he met me lol) decided that we needed another cat!! I was hesitant, but warmed up to the idea and then a few months later we adopted Ash as a kitten. Now our home is complete with our three wonderful fur babies all thanks to Purrfect Cat Rescue!! The ladies who run the shelter are some of the best people we know #catdaysofsummer

About Purrfect Cat Rescue: This organization started out of need. Cats left behind at a mobile home park were being fed by residents, but cats were multiplying. Animal Control was going to trap and euthanize the cats. I stepped in to catch the cats and get them spayed/neutered. This is how it started more than 10 years ago.

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Beauty, Marcel, and Juniper’s adoption story: We lost our orange tabby Bella early this year to a hawk. Broke my husbands heart. I have been following House of the Happy Cats website for many months looking for the perfect orange tabby to bring home found out she was having an adoption day at our local Petco so I went. My plan was to pick up an orange tabby named Juniper, well as the picture will show, I fell in love with three so now we have Ginger, Poppy, and Bogo. Told my husband it was adopt two get one free. Our hearts are full. #catdaysofsummer

About House of the Happy Cats: We are first and foremost a sanctuary that provides safe haven for cats who otherwise would be killed at potential kill shelters. We do public adoption events on weekends at our local Petsmart, but we can also do private meetings at the rescue if requested. We greatly appreciate and use fosters when available and allow for trial ‘foster to adopt’ situations as well. Also, we do our best to assist people who are trying to rehome an animal to make sure it has the best chance of finding a safe, suitable new home.

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Frankie’s adoption story: I had been wanting a cat with cerebellar hypoplasia for a few years after coming down with a neurological condition of my own. I had grown up with dogs, but once I became chronically ill, I knew I would not be a good dog mom. I had applied for a few cats, but they were a plane ride away so it didn’t work out. I joined a Facebook group that focuses on cats with CH. I saw a post about a new organization (Rise Again Animal Rescue) starting up and they had two kittens with cerebellar hypoplasia. I applied for both but the boy had a lot of applicants. I awoke to a text the next morning saying it was between me and one other applicant for the girl. That evening, I got the message saying she would be mine. I cried tears of joy. Six days later, my stepdad, mom, and I left for a 3.5 hour drive to New Jersey to pick up my baby! She is now 9.5 months old and 10.8 pounds. She is hilarious, which is fitting because I named her Frankie (Bergstein) after my favorite character on Netflix. She enjoys puzzles, watching TV with me, bathing her sister Grace, and sitting for treats.

About Rise Again Animal Rescue: Our mission is to focus on the welfare of the most vulnerable abandoned animals – newborn kittens, special needs animals, and medically urgent cases. By providing a nurturing foster home environment and comprehensive veterinary care prior to adoption, we ensure their ability to rise above their past challenges and forge a resilient and trusting relationship with their new families. We will also offer post-adoption support, educational resources, and collaborative opportunities to local municipal shelters, TNVR groups, and other nonprofit organizations which fall under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and are operated for charitable purposes.

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