Blog - Page 2 of 21 - Ten Lives Cat Rescue

July 25, 2023June 9, 2023Volunteer

Volunteer Spotlight: Angela

Did you know that Ten Lives Cat Rescue is run entirely by volunteers? We currently have over 100 volunteers in various roles helping us achieve our mission—to save homeless, abused, and abandoned cats by providing veterinary care, rehabilitation services, and then placing them into loving adoptive homes.

Angela has been volunteering with Ten Lives for about a year but has been involved with animal rescue for much longer! Angela is one of our amazing fosters, and she is a part of our Community Cats team. She also helps manage our social media inbox—if you’ve reached out to us, there’s a chance you have spoken to Angela! Angela has three resident dogs named Griff, Gus, and Riley, and one cat names Penny. She is currently fostering Barry, a six-week-old kitten and former bottle baby, and Ziti, a two-year-old pregnant cat. We are thankful Angela chose to volunteer with our rescue and appreciate everything she does!

1. How did you start volunteering at Ten Lives?

I’ve been involved in animal rescue for over five years and have always enjoyed working with both dogs and cats. I am now working from home full time and have the time and love to give to a foster animal. I try to help in any way I can within the rescue with fostering, trapping, and other support!

2. What motivates you to give back to the community with Ten Lives?

I absolutely love being able to support our community by caring for foster cats and community cats. The Ten Lives volunteers have built such a connected community that we are able to support people in the entire state of RI; whether that’s through owner surrenders, trap-neuter-return (TNR), or abandoned cats. Through the rescue’s social media messages, I can see that there are so many people in our community who care about the kitties they see outside, and it’s amazing we are able to help them.

3. What is your favorite memory while volunteering with us?

This year I had the privilege of learning how to bottle feed, and I was able to help a two-week-old kitten that was found in a machine at the landfill early on a Saturday morning. I was able to pick him up and bring him home, figure out how to bottle feed and stimulate him to eat/use the bathroom, and he is now thriving. He is now six weeks old and is eating kitten food. It was an amazing experience, even having to get up to feed him every three hours for a few weeks. The experience was incredibly rewarding, and I will certainly be helping with bottle feeding kittens again soon.

4. Why should others consider volunteering with us?

There are so many different roles within our organization, which makes it easy to find one that you enjoy and fits your schedule. The team support we have within Ten Lives is amazing, and I always know that I can reach out on Facebook or directly to the others volunteers and can receive support with any issues I may be having. The best part about Ten Lives is that you are never expected to get in over your head or put in a situation where you feel overwhelmed. Our Intake Coordinator, Kim, works with our fosters to find the right fit for each person and cat’s situation.

5. What do you love to do when you aren’t volunteering?

I love to spend time with my dogs and go for hikes in our area.

Are you interested in volunteering with Ten Lives Cat Rescue? Read about our open volunteer roles and fill out a Volunteer Application, become a foster, sponsor a Forgotten Feline, support The Lazzy Fund, and purchase needed supplies through our Wishlist!

July 8, 2023July 7, 2023Adoption

June 2023 Adoptions

This past month, 26 cats and kittens found their forever homes!

Eight of the cats adopted this month had been with our rescue for 100+ days.
Five cats were adopted by their foster families.
Four cats were recipients of The Lazzy Fund.
Four kittens adopted this month were born in our rescue.
Three senior cats were adopted.
There were two double adoptions.
One cat recently graduated from our Forgotten Feline program.

Our rescue relies heavily on donations from our amazing supporters to help us give the cats in our care the best possible chance at long, healthy lives where they are cherished by their forever families. In response to the cats in our program’s needs, we have created our Forgotten Feline program to help scared and under-socialized cats regain trust and confidence. We have also created The Lazzy Fund, which gives a second chance to those cats who have been neglected and forgotten, including cats in need of critical and lifesaving medical care.

Mitzi Mittens and Puss in Boots are 13-year-old bonded sisters who joined our rescue in August 2022. They belonged to an older gentleman who was moving to long term assisted living, where he was unable to bring his two cats that he had raised from kittens. Since they are a bonded pair, the man’s family tried everything they could to have them be kept together. However, no one that they reached out to was able to guarantee that for them. The family eventually made the heartbreaking decision that it would be better to euthanize them rather than have them separated. They made an appointment for this to happen, but then, at the suggestion of Second Chance Cats of Kent County, they reached out to Ten Lives Cat Rescue. We immediately agreed to help and took them in, promising that we would keep these bonded seniors together.

At the time, Mitzi and Puss’s foster mom, Cate, already had one foster cat in her care, but we were able to move that cat to another foster home to make sure Cate had space to take Mitzi and Puss in. One hour before their euthanasia appointment, they were dropped off at Cate’s house to begin their time in our rescue.

At first, Mitzi and Puss were terrified. They had lived in one home for 13 years and had never even left the house to go to veterinarian appointments. The first few nights, Cate tells us they hid under her bed and made sweet comforting noises to soothe each other. They are truly bonded!

They didn’t eat for a few days, but eventually started to relax and moved around the room at night when Cate was asleep. They never ate or came out from under the bed in front of Cate for weeks. Once they started to come out and socialize with Cate, she realized that they had the sweetest personalities. Mitzi was like the older sister—a little more outgoing and the first to explore outside the room. She was not too happy to find three other cats and a dog beyond her safe room and had a lot to say about it in the beginning. Puss was happy to stay in their room and stay safe in the “cat cave” (Cate’s bed).

Since their former owner had never brought Mitzi or Puss to a veterinarian, they required some vetting, which included vaccinations, blood work, getting spayed, and dental surgery. In addition to that, Mitzi had a heart murmur and needed an echocardiogram before her dental surgery. Puss also had some hair loss on her tail due to stress or anxiety and needed an extra vet visit. While specialty services can be expensive, we believe funds should not be the limiting factor when making decisions about life-saving care, and we have remained committed to that since we were founded in 2018. Thanks to the generous supporters of The Lazzy Fund, both Mitzi and Puss were able to receive the care they needed in order to live their healthiest lives.

Over her time in foster care, Mitzi discovered that Cate has a cozy gas fireplace, and she learned that she loved lounging next to it. She also started to snuggle with Cate by wrapping around her neck while giving wet nose bumps and rubbing cheek to cheek. Puss prefers her cuddles in Cate’s bedroom, but is always up for a belly rub!

After spending 10 months with these beautiful girls, Cate couldn’t bear the thought of not having them be a part of her family and decided to adopt them! When Cate gets up in the morning now, all five cats mill around the kitchen waiting to be fed, along with her dog. Mitzi and Puss took many months to get used to a large, bouncy, barking dog, but they finally have relaxed around her.

We are so happy for Mitzi Mittens, Puss in Boots, and Cate, and cannot wait to receive more updates!

Congratulations to Binx, Clover McBiscuits, Curtis, Fiddle, Haunting Vanessa, Huxley, Ivy, Jasper, Lavender Lace, Leela, Lobster, Locust Glen 1, Martin, Meowio Hilario, Minnie, Mitzi Mittens, Perfume Puff, Puss in Boots, Shrimp, Sir Angel, Snowflake, Stardust, Stella-Louise, Stuffie, Vanessa 3, and Walnut for finding their forever homes!

Are you interested in adopting a cat from Ten Lives Cat Rescue? Take a look at our adoptable cats!

How can you help the cats currently in Ten Lives’ care? Sponsor a Forgotten Feline, become a foster, apply for one of our volunteer opportunities, donate to The Lazzy Fund, or purchase a needed item on our Wishlist.

June 28, 2023June 9, 2023Volunteer

Volunteer Spotlight: Erin

Erin started volunteering with our rescue after she adopted her cat, Nelly, from our program in early 2022, and wears several hats! She started out as a weekly PetSmart volunteer in the Fall of 2022 and joined our incredible foster team a few months later. Erin can also be seen at events and markets, and she is part of our Fundraising Committee. We are truly grateful for everything Erin does for our rescue!

Erin has two resident cats: Judy, a four-year-old calico, and Nelly, a two-year-old tuxedo and Ten Lives alumna, and one dog: Beebe, a seven-year-old Maltese/Yorkie mix. She is currently fostering Wednesday, a two-year-old black panther, who will be looking for her forever home once she breaks out of her shell.

1. How did you start volunteering at Ten Lives?

My interest in volunteering really started after the adoption of Nelly from PetSmart in March of 2022. That was when I began to learn more about the rescue. Being a part of the Facebook adoption alumni page also made me realize how busy the rescue was, and it made me want to contribute back in some way! My role with Ten Lives started when I began volunteering to help take care of the cats at PetSmart on a weekly basis. This really helped get my feet wet with volunteering within the rescue. From there, I realized I had space in my house to help foster cats as well (Nelly’s former acclimation room!). Ten Lives made it super easy to transition into fostering with all the support and advice the group has given. I also started assisting at events and markets and assisting with the fundraising efforts.

2. What motivates you to give back to the community with Ten Lives?

Being able to give forgotten and homeless cats a second chance has really been my biggest motivator. The connection that I have already witnessed with new owners and their adopted cats has been so lovely. On a selfish level, it has been good for my mental health as my time spent with the cats at PetSmart and fosters at home have been a calming focus for me.

3. What is your favorite memory while volunteering with us?

Seeing updates from families of our adopted cats! I especially love to hear updates about undersocialized ones. Being able to witness their transformation within the rescue and watch them settle in with their new families has brought me a lot of joy.

4. Why should others consider volunteering with us?

There are so many other needs than just fostering, and Ten Lives would love to help to find you the perfect role! I myself started by just volunteering one day a week to help with the adoptable cats at PetSmart, but there really is something for everyone and their level of commitment.

5. What do you love to do when you aren’t volunteering?

I love spending time with my husband, whether adventuring around the world or at Disney. When we’re home, we enjoy going for “after dinner dog walks” around the neighborhood (sometimes with Judy joins us in her cat stroller, too).

June 12, 2023June 13, 2023Adoption

May 2023 Adoptions

24 cats and kittens found their forever homes in May, and it was an exciting month!

Ten of the cats adopted this month had been with our rescue for 100+ days.
Six kittens were born in our rescue and were adopted at 10 weeks old.
Five cats were adopted by their foster families.
Five cats who were adopted this month recently graduated from our Forgotten Feline program.
There were three double adoptions.
Three cats were recipients of the Lazzy Fund during their time in our rescue.
Two cats were adopted as part of our Working Cat Program.
Two senior cats were adopted.

Miss Daisy was rescued by Purrfect Match Cat Rescue in Tennessee. She was part of an overcrowding situation, and Purrfect Match took in over 20 cats. Miss Daisy is 17 years old, has hyperthyroidism, and tested positive for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). Unfortunately, Purrfect Match was not having any success with adoption due to Miss Daisy’s age and medical considerations, and their Executive Director asked if we could help. Our Executive Director, Melissa, stated, “I think the wonderful thing about being a rescue in New England is that we have adopters looking for so many different types of cats, which enables us to help cats like Miss Daisy.”

Melissa and our Foster Program Manager, Sabrina, flew to Memphis to bring Miss Daisy back to Rhode Island. Due to her age, we didn’t want to have her travel up on the transport truck. Miss Daisy was a phenomenal traveler. She wore her harness perfectly and even walked through security with Melissa. She made a lot of friends along the way, including the airline staff who gave her Delta Wings.

One of our fosters, Beth, took Miss Daisy in, and she quickly made herself at home. Within two months, Beth realized that she couldn’t say goodbye to Miss Daisy and adopted her! Beth told us “I just can’t help it. I’m keeping this sweet girl. I can’t imagine her making another move—she’s home.” We are thrilled for Beth and Miss Daisy, and know that Miss Daisy will spend her golden years living her best life!

Congratulations to Ahri, Andrews 4, Blacky, Cabbage, Coriander, Cuddles, Duck, Dusty Rose, Goldie, Gus Gus, Haunted Chocolatier Jr., Ivory, Jane, Kijaro, Mischief, Miss Daisy, Oscar, Penelope, Potato, Spongebob, Sweet Pea, Toby, Whiskey, and Zazu for finding their forever homes!

Are you interested in adopting a cat from Ten Lives Cat Rescue? Take a look at our adoptable cats!

June 4, 2023June 3, 2023Events, Fundraiser, Lazzy Fund

Thanks for Raising Your PAWS for Cats!

In April, Ten Lives hosted its second online auction, Raise Your PAWS for a Cause, to raise vital funds for cats in our community. We received an outpouring of support from small and local businesses, individuals, and artists. Their generosity allowed Ten Lives to offer an incredible selection of items ranging from vacation packages to handmade jewelry.

This year, Raise Your PAWS for a Cause featured a gift card raffle to support The Lazzy Fund. In 2019, Ten Lives established The Lazzy Fund to provide life-changing care to medically fragile cats in our community. This program is at the heart of our mission, and in 2022, it provided $55,000 in veterinary services to rescue cats!

With support from generous donors, we offered more than 100 incredible auction and raffle items! Over 900 individual bids were placed and more than 200 raffle tickets were sold. After seven days of intense bidding, participants raised $12,000 for cats in our community!

Celebrating Generosity

To celebrate our auction and raffle winners’ generosity, we invited them to Raise Your PAWS for a Cause’s pickup party at the Aspray Boat House in Warwick, RI. Our guests enjoyed tasty bites and beverages generously donated by Shaidzon Beer Company, Whalers Brewing Company, Dave’s Market, Sweets by NB, Seven Stars Bakery, Z Pita Chipz, Trader Joe’s, and Shaws while mingling with fellow Cat Advocates.

We had an incredible time meeting fellow cat lovers and learning more about why they support Ten Lives. Our community is essential in carrying out our mission and improving the lives of cats. Their continued support has allowed Ten Lives to provide services to over 2,000 cats since May 2018!

Thank You, Sponsors!

Sponsors allow Ten Lives to accomplish more with your donations.

This year, Raise Your PAWS for a Cause was generously sponsored by our friends at Butterbang, Estner Injury Centers, June Realty, and Sarah Francis. Their Gold PAW sponsorships will allow us to direct 100% of the funds raised to veterinary care, spay and neuter services, and food for cats in our community.

Ten Lives’ sponsors are dedicated to changing the landscape for cats in Rhode Island and ensuring that we can have a bigger impact with our resources. We are deeply grateful for their commitment to cats in our community!

Thank you, Cat Advocates

A big thank you to the donors, sponsors, event participants, and volunteers who made Raise Your PAWS for a Cause a success! With your support, we surpassed our fundraising goal and can advocate for more cats in 2023. We believe that transformational change is possible when compassionate and dedicated individuals work together. We are incredible grateful to work an amazing community of Cat Advocates!

Photos by Sarah Paquin Photography