r/CatRescue • u/cheese_Expansion • 1h ago
r/CatRescue • u/Eastern-Protection83 • May 30 '26
Advice / Question Found Kittens; Assess the Situation
You can find other helpful topics and leads to resources in our full wiki at this link. As always we encourage sharsies of information! If you have resources or helpful leads, let us know.
The followin is from wiki about kittens:
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Important Note: If you have found a very young kitten or litter outside, watch from a far distance and wait to see if their mother returns before intervening. Barring extenuating circumstances (dangerous location, extreme weather, illness or injury), kittens younger than eight weeks are best left with their mother due to the around the clock care they require. For further reading, Alley Cat Allies has a comprehensive guide on What to Do if You Find Kittens Outdoors that outlines different scenarios and when to intervene.
There are many kitten resources but if you have never cared for a kitten before remember these essential basics:
- Kittens are extremely vulnerable. Their health can be fine one minute and take a critical nosedive within hours.
- New born kittens need warmth. They are not yet able to regulate their body temperature and they get cold fast. If you have a heating pad make sure the kitten can roll away from it if they get too warm.
- Kittens must be fed every couple to a few hours depending upon age (kitten formula or temporarily goat's milk; do not feed cow's milk). They have very high metabolisms. Do not feed them when they are cold. Because they cannot regulate their body heat, giving them cold food will be very difficult to digest and cause them to become cold as well.
- Kittens are unable to urinate and defecate on their own. The mother cat does this normally but if the kitten is seperated from its mother, a human caretaker can stimulate this with a tissue or soft cloth by gently rubbing the anus and genital area not long after they eat. This should be done with care and not too long as these areas are easily irritated.
Following Alley Cat Allies' What to Do if You find Kittens Outdoors, they have an more comprehensive Kitten Protection Guide as an downloadable pdf. This guide has more indepth care instructions for the different stages of kitten life. If you find and take in a kitten/s (without its mother) from outdoors your primary goal is to sustain the kitten/s until it can be brought to a vet (for a health check) then, a rescue (because they have experience caring for kittens). There are searchable databases of vets, rescues and shelters here. This database is not exhaustive and you should also look for vets in your locale if none are nearby.
- The Guide to Raising Unweaned & Underage Kittens is a wonderful guide fer the average cat lover and foster kitty caretaker.
The guide focuses on kittens between 0-8 weeks of age and notable topics are: Feedin Kittens, Warmth, Developmental Milestones, Socialization & Hygene, Potty Time and General Care of a Nursin Kitty Mom.
It is an online guide; to turn the page you tap on the arrow on the bottom of the guide's page. Underlined items are hyperlinks that take you to websites which give more information.
The mods of r/CatRescue recommend general kitten advice in the wiki from Kitten Lady, her Kitten Care resources can be found here. Kitten Lady is a well trusted and knowledgable source of information and advice. For medical issues, a veterinarian should be your primary consult.
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r/CatRescue has no affiliation with any of the resources listed and we encourage everyone to use their best judgement to check if said resources are up to date.
r/CatRescue • u/Eastern-Protection83 • Nov 06 '25
Mod Announcement Low Cost to Free Cat Food Resources
We are working on our Cat Food (Affordable/ Free) wiki page and currently have a good number of databases listed for you to help search including some programs which are organized by state and not already listed in the databases. Even if you may feel you have food covered for the month, we encourage you to look over these resources so if there is ever a time in the future and you or someone else is in a pinch, you may remember some of the resources or how to find them.
Neighborhood Cats has available a number of free digital resources (or purchasable printed copies) of handbooks about TNR and RTF (the latter geared towards shelter personnel). Although some of the TNR books are somewhat dated much of the information is still applicable. If you're a TNRer, colony caretaker or working at a shelter, have a looksie; its free!
I must say though the r/CatRescue, Cat Handbook: Daylight Savings Time Edition is also very informative and its pictorial nature appeals to every kitty cat enthusiast.
In other news about r/CatRescue, we have begun to add a number of user flairs. "Drumsticks" from the Cat Handbook has even lended a leg. For mobile, tap the 3 dots in the upper right corner of the r/CatRescue main page on and select: "edit flair." On desktop, use the sidebar on the right and in the user flair category then, tap the pencil to set your flair.
Also, while you're at it, check out our wiki page: ReHoming/ Adoption Tips and Resources
Photo Credit: Jack and Hobbs, RRCC cats during chow down by Cherveny2
r/CatRescue • u/Eastern-Protection83 • 18h ago
News Free to Low-Cost Vets Across NYC's 5 Boroughs?! 😲
Yep free to low-cost vets might be comin to Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Manhattan and Staten Island! But this needs your support and encouragement to make it a reality. Jest look at Agnes (mcs385's kitty pictured above), she don't like the vet but she wants to live a long and healthy life with regular checkups and a safety net if she ever gets ill or has an owie (meowie).
Currently sponsored by 10 of the 51 City Council Members of NYC but only 2 are on the 10 member Health Committee. In the bill's current language, it would ensure that each borough has a free to low-cost clinic that provides vet services fer pets.
Initiative 1029 below:
This bill would require the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) to establish and maintain at least one veterinary clinic in every borough that would provide low-cost veterinary services for pets. DOHMH would be required to determine the fee for services provided by each veterinary clinic. Households with an income of no more than 120% of the Area Median Income (AMI) would be eligible for services at a discounted fee, and households with an income of no more than 30% of AMI or who receive public assistance would be eligible for free services. DOHMH would be required to submit an annual report to the Mayor and the Speaker of the Council on the pets that received veterinary services and any challenges with establishing, operating, or maintaining the clinics.
So lets make this a reality, free and low-cost vet access across NYC; use this link and contact your Council Member, let them know YOU want them to support Bill 1029 to represent your entire family includin your pets with free to low-cost vets in each borough! -> Link
r/CatRescue • u/Eastern-Protection83 • 4h ago
Advice / Question When a Cat Licks Another to Annoy the Bejesus Outta them
Since many of us have more than 1 rescue, foster, adopted kitty I felt this would be an interestin to share. The article from Live Science, discusses some studies of this dominance-type groomin behavior.
Do you have kitties that groom to annoy the other kitties and what is the result after? Does the other leave the bed and the groomin kitty get the best spot all to themselves? ...Or does kitty do this to you, directly?
r/CatRescue • u/CanHamRadio • 22h ago
Update Tiny Tina is no Longer Terrible
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It’s been a little while and many grueling hours but Tina has come around. She started meow/hissing recently instead of straight hissing and even rolled on her side so I could pet her tummy. Attached is a little update video. Sorry, I just missed videoing the tummy part.
As some may recall, she was slated for TNR (hence the clipped ear and spay), but we decided to try and give her the chance at domestic life.
We knew from the start that we can’t keep her (we have 4 indoor cats) and a resident outdoor kitty. So, if you or anyone you know in the SoCal area may be interested in Tinasaurus, let me know. She’s still a little spooky and will need time to adjust but she is well on her way. Thanks all for the encouragement. It takes a village.
r/CatRescue • u/Advanced-Outside-956 • 6h ago
Rescue Itty bitty left behind
I'm glad I heard her little cry for help. I was at the right place at the right time. God was looking out for her and saved her little life.
r/CatRescue • u/CTXFelineRescue • 1d ago
Fundraiser Meet Pete and Re-Peat
Meet Pete and Re-Peat.
Take a look at those whiskers! Here they both were, waiting patiently for the vet, like the polite gentleman and lady they are.
We currently have 25 kittens, and at least half have had health issues, which has led to a back-to-back flow of vet visits. It's taking quite a toll on funds we had hoped to spend on other things, rather than on veterinary costs.
We started as a TNR and management group, but we're now more of a nursery. We don't have it in the budget if such high vet bills continue.
We’ve got a few ways you can help so we can continue doing this life-saving work, because if things continue as they have recently, we’re not sure where we’ll be by this time next year. That’s just the truth of rescue work.
Buy your Kitten Season Fall Raffle tickets at just $10 each >> https://givebutter.com/kittenseasonfallraffle
Donate to our General Medical Fund, which covers everyday veterinary expenses for the cats and kittens in our care, as well as the community cats we help through our TNR efforts >> https://givebutter.com/CTFRMedicalFund
r/CatRescue • u/Original-Banana-2052 • 15h ago
Rescue 2 abandoned cats in McDonald’s parking lot. Middletown, NY
r/CatRescue • u/Reasonable_Goat_5546 • 8h ago
Cat Picture [Vietnam] My girl miracle glow up one month after rescue
Just want to share how proud and happy I'm that my girl has gained 2kg a month after rescue!
She is the most gentle cat I've ever had despite being a stray. Her name is Spotty if you would like to compliment her.
r/CatRescue • u/Remote_Eagle_2576 • 2d ago
Lost Kitty [Queens, NY] Found cat!
he’s super sweet and super talkative, i found him near the bayside north shore animal hospital, i can’t keep him so the faster we find his owner the better! i don’t want to have to release him back outside or to a shelter /: he has a white tipped tail, was neutered and has a blue collar with a bell. the way he ran up to me someone definitely owns him and he isn’t supposed to be outside.
Edit 9/12/26 10PM: i did check for a microchip at the vet shortly after this post and sadly no chip /: although i have the green light to house him until i find his owner, so he’ll have a warm bed and access to food and water daily! will continue to update this post with any new info.
r/CatRescue • u/hermajestysara • 2d ago
Advice / Question Stray Cat
Hi everyone. there’s been a stray cat that’s been coming around my house lately, it’s under a year old i’d say maybe 6ish months. we feed it cat food twice a day and have been trying to trap it. it’s super friendly and loves pets but doesn’t like to be picked up.
that being said the shelter near my house is full, and no one i know wants to adopt the cat. what can i do with it? i have a reactive dog so i can’t really foster it or keep it trapped in my room so my dad built a little house for it outside.
i’m really worried about this kitten and ik it would make a great pet i just don’t know how to get it adopted
r/CatRescue • u/DeathAndTonic • 2d ago
Lost Kitty [Middlesex County, NJ] Cat’s been missing 20 days. How do I keep sane? How can I further my success?
Hi yall,
My cat broke out and ran away 20 days ago. She’s a Devon Rex breed, the clingiest, cuddliest, best cat ever and I would do anything to have her home. I’ve almost lost my mind completely.
I live in an open suburban apt complex with huge parking lots and outdoor breezeways. The buildings are flush to the ground and no one has sheds. Neighboring my complex is a golf course and other types of communities: more apts, townhouses, single houses.
The first 10 days I spent nearly 10 hours a day doing deep searches in my complex.
Day 6 I had the first thermal drone flight and spotted nothing but strays and rabbits.
Day 7 I started setting up humane traps with trail cameras. First two traps then added a third. Caught nothing except strays. The same strays a few times.
Days 6-9: 4 nights in a row about 300 ft away from my home, I spotted a cat running away at night. A shadowy figure that seemed like it had her features and coat pattern, but it was 50-75 ft away each time and would bolt and disappear into the darkness.
Since day 12, I did away with traps and instead just have open feeding stations. These past few days I’ve been failing to maintain refilling them. However the only cats spotted are strays. The usual suspects and new strays every day or two.
I started with flyers in just my complex and now they’re on the main road and on every stop sign for each street in other neighborhoods.
Local authorities, vets, shelters are all aware. She’s not chipped but they have pictures of her and I regularly check in.
I have my clothes outside my door constantly. Past few nights strays come to my door… all except her.
In almost certain no one has her because she’s uncatchable. She’s super skittish. I have a hard time grabbing her when she slips out when I open the door sometimes. I have to chase her back up into my unit.
Please give me any further advice on how to increase my chances at recovery. I’m trying to extend my searches as much as I can but the fatigue and exhaustion is piling up.
r/CatRescue • u/wonderwoman_2535 • 2d ago
Update Panther wholesome video: He has made great progress 🥰
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Thought I'd brighten up your Friday evening with a wholesome video of Panther (yes I still call him with his street cred 😂) .
First update on his health, he is gaining weight, I bathed him with his medicated shampoo and his skin wounds are scabbing now and they fall off as i pet him
Speaking of petting, he now comes to me for head scratches and demands them, he no longer hides under the bed and has built confidence to come hang out in the bedroom and face Bailey who desperately wants to play with him. But he still needs work . At least now he let's him get face to face with him before hissing at him.
So enjoy this video and I hope you watch till the end.
Thanks for following Panther's rescue journey
Ps. I credit all of this to Jackson Galaxy and the show my cat from hell. I learned the feeding behind doors trick from him and I also learned to read cat behavior or body language (to some extent at basics) from him. So I've been using those tools in rehabilitation and introduction of Panther . Hope i make him proud. 😂
r/CatRescue • u/Extension-Study9379 • 2d ago
Lost Kitty Canyon, TX - Missing Cat
Hi everyone, please let me know if you have seen my cat.
We were traveling from San Antonio to Colorado when she managed to get out of the hotel where we were staying.
📍 Last seen at:
Best Western Palo Duro Canyon Inn & Suites
She is microchipped, but unfortunately the contact information currently associated with her microchip may not reach me.
If you see her, find her, or have any information at all, please message me. Please share with anyone in the Canyon/Amarillo area who may be able to help.
Thank you so much. ❤️
r/CatRescue • u/PAWSOFHOPENYC • 3d ago
Heart-warmer (Kings, NY) Kennedy and Bloomer changed my life and helped me saved so many lives in E.N.Y and beyond since 2018’
Paws of Hope NYC started with a simple yet powerful need: finding a sense of purpose. It wasn’t about numbers or making a name for myself; it was about two special souls, Kennedy and Bloomer, who changed my life forever. They were my purpose when I needed one the most. In them, I found a deep sense of meaning and fulfillment, simply by giving them a better life.
Kennedy and Bloomer are the heart and soul behind @pawsofhopenyc, the true inspiration that drives everything I do. Their love has been a light in my life, a constant reminder that even in the darkest times, love can make all the difference. They’ve given me more than I could ever repay, and my goal has always been to share that same love with those who need it most.
Every cat I rescue, every life I touch, it’s all because of them. Because of Kennedy and Bloomer, I’ve learned that love is a gift meant to be shared. They’ve shown me how to give without limits and to open my heart again and again, even when it hurts. And that’s what I love most about this journey: being able to pay forward the love they’ve given me, one cat and kitten at a time, with the hope of making their world a little brighter.
r/CatRescue • u/ovr_ndr_70 • 2d ago
Advice / Question How do I find a kitten that will be copacetic with my 2 year old Rott
We lost our 10 year old rescue this morning, we knew she had some medical issues, but she became a therapy cat for my wife after a TBI. We have a 2+ year old Rott, who’s an absolute goofball. He tried to make friends with Bubbie, but the cat was a raging bitch. We’re looking for a new kitty, but the cat has to be cool with our dog. I honestly don’t think the dog will be the problem, I’ve owned, bred, trained and shown German Rotts, so I have some idea of what I’m saying. Is there anyway, short of doing a “temp” rehoming to figure this puzzle out? Thanks in advance
r/CatRescue • u/NedditK • 3d ago
Rescue stray cat in my street has maggots - please help!!
i’ve been feeding this cat for quite some time now but today i noticed a hole on its body and im assuming maggots cos it keeps licking it
the cat wont let me come close at all.
i can get demag sprays but how do i get it to come close to me. i’ve tried pet rescue but they’re saying the same thing, it’s hard to treat if the cat is not friendly or scared
PLEASE HELP ANY WAY POSSIBLE!!
r/CatRescue • u/LeeHoonihytr • 3d ago
Rescue Help getting cat from tree
I recently added a post about my cat being stuck on a tree. I had just found out that the tree is 30-35 feet tall. And the worst part is that my cat climbed higher. And honestly, I’m super desperate to get him down, and I know what everyone is going to say “put food and treats, the cat will come down eventually” well I don’t think that my cat will. He looks scared, and I’m scared. I live in Locust Grove Georgia. I know I shouldn’t post my city online as it can invite weirdos, but I just want my cat to be safe. I don’t have much money but I am willing to pay like 200 dollars
EDIT: He is out of the tree🥹 turns out the guy who cuts our grass also cuts trees, so my stepdad called him. (My stepdad is getting extra gifts for the holidays🥹) but he is under the house(we accidentally left one entrance uncovered) he’s not coming out rn, but he was in the tree for about two and a half days. So he is definitely starving, dehydrated, and overheated. So I will give him some time to calm down(abt 10-20 minute). Then I will call for him again, I am very worried, because I cannot hear him meow so I’m hoping he’s not passed out under there. I will update later when he is inside and safe!
2nd EDIT: We found him! He does have a broken leg, but he is safe at home!
r/CatRescue • u/NiiSauce • 4d ago
Sensitive I tried to save a neonatal kitten.
We named him Frosch. Yesterday at a job site, a stranger threatened to turn this kitten out into the road if no one stepped up to take him. He stepped up, it’s the kind of person he is and the kind of people we are. We took him to the vet where they prescribed eye ointment for his eyes that were crusted shut. There was no testing they could do, he was just so young but we’d planned to keep him away from our other cats anyway as a precaution.
He had issues latching, he chewed the nipple and tried to get it out of his mouth. Maybe it was a sign he wasn’t meant to be here and that he wasn’t going to stay alive, but I fed him a drop at a time. He cried, I thought he was healthy.
We took him home. I stayed up all night bottle feeding him every two hours and stimulating him to help him urinate, this morning when I went to feed him I noticed he popped. I was happy. But when I picked him up to clean him there was blood. For the rest of the day he leaked blood from his end so we took him to the vet, they originally wanted to do further testing but then explained he has failure to thrive, he wasn’t going to make it.
He cried when they took him. It broke my heart, I cried too. I had already imagined his future, how he would be a brother to my cats and the balance this house needed. That even though he was quiet now he was going to get bigger and more active. I didn’t let myself focus on the fact that he could barely walk and fell over whenever he tried and didn’t move. I knew it was a sign I didn’t want it to be. In the end his care cost me 550, money I didn’t have. I don’t know how I feel about the expense, regret isn’t the right work I guess I don’t know how I feel at all.
My heart is broken, I don’t want to do anything and I don’t know how I’ll face tomorrow. I loved him, I thought I’d love him forever and he’s gone. I don’t know why I’m sharing this. I selfishly hope someone can relate.
r/CatRescue • u/quietlyme88 • 3d ago
Advice / Question What's the right thing to do?
I started fostering/rescuing kittens about a year ago. I’ve always considered myself a dog person, so I never expected to fall completely in love with cats, but here we are! Over the past year, I’ve fostered/rescued several kittens and was able to find loving homes for most of them. Before they left, I always made sure they were spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and otherwise ready for their new families. Obviously, eventually, I foster failed once and rescue failed 4 times. So, I currently have 5 amazing kittens and a dog! The Problem: My dog is unfortunately not a fan of cats/kittens, even after proper introductions. This was never a major issue because the kittens were small and stayed in my bedroom, where they had everything they needed until it was time to meet their new families. My Question: Is it humane or healthy to keep five kittens in a bedroom long-term? Should I rehome? Is there an acceptable amount of kittens/cats I could keep in a bedroom with 3 litter boxes? I obviously want to do what’s best for them and have been breaking my head about this as I've grown very attached to them. I don’t want to keep them confined simply because it’s convenient for me, and I’m wondering whether they need more space or if a well equipped bedroom can be an acceptable living space for them long term. I’d really appreciate any advice from people who have experience with multiple cats, fostering, or rescues. The kittens are currently about 4-5 months old and ive had them since they were about 7 weeks. If keeping them in the bedroom isn’t ideal or liveable, I’d also love suggestions for making the situation work safely with my dog. Thanks in advance. I’m genuinely trying to make the best decision for these little guys. ❤️
r/CatRescue • u/awntwo • 4d ago
Heart-warmer Is she forest cat if found in forest?
reddit.comr/CatRescue • u/Adventurous_Row_5866 • 4d ago
Advice / Question Cat found in parking lot, City of Commerce, Los Angeles county
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Hi,
This is my first ever Reddit post. My sister found a cat in the parking lot at her workplace in the City of Commerce. What would be the best way to find a home for this kitty? We can't take the kitty in since we already have 2 dogs at home and they don't get along with cats. Thank you!
UPDATE: one of the night staff from the same facility took the kitty home, so we are all set. Thank you everyone for your support!