A community cat in Maui. Alley Cat Allies provided food to cats on the island while covering the cost of lifesaving veterinary care for fire survivors.
Alley Cat Allies was on the ground in Maui, Hawaii, again to provide critical veterinary care and food support to the many cat survivors of the historic wildfires.
Recently, we flew a veterinary team out to the island to examine, treat, and vaccinate cats who lived through the disaster but were displaced from their homes. The clinic was an extension of Alley Cat Allies’ rapid response after the fires, during which we brought food to affected cats outdoors in the most impacted communities and provided medications, kitten milk replacer, flea treatments, and other vital supplies for indoor and community cats.
Maui community cats enjoying a meal courtesy of Alley Cat Allies.
In the aftermath of a disaster, especially one of this magnitude, it’s all too easy for cats’ needs to slip through the cracks. Alley Cat Allies is committed to being their safety net—even if it takes providing a costly but critical procedure. When we were told about Lucky and Charm, two tabbies rescued from the fire impact zone with severe dental issues, we didn’t hesitate to cover the costs of emergency surgery to prevent deadly infection.
We’re relieved to say that, though their condition was severe, Lucky and Charm made it through their procedures with a positive prognosis. And at the same time, even more community cats in the Lahaina area received food supplied by our team on the ground.
Lucky, a survivor of the Maui fires, recovering after receiving dental surgery covered by Alley Cat Allies
The work is far from over. Though local animal organizations initially feared that most cats and kittens did not escape the flames, the truth is cats have incredible survival instincts. In our 33 years responding to disasters, Alley Cat Allies has experienced cats emerging days or even weeks after the most unimaginable conditions. Maui is no exception.
Cats and kittens will continue to need support for a long time to come, whether they are indoor cats whose families lost their homes in the tragedy or community cats who escaped the flames but are living in limbo, displaced from their original outdoor homes.
Alley Cat Allies’ incredible supporters give us the ability to provide that long-term aid, whether it’s as simple as a can of food or as complex as a high-risk surgical procedure. Thank you for being by our side as we save cats, like Lucky in Maui, every single day.
One of the best ways you can act in the event of a disaster? Be prepared ahead of time. See our disaster preparation guide and create your own emergency plan.
Every gift you give directly supports Alley Cat Allies’ work to protect cats and kittens, including our disaster response. Give with confidence and save lives.
A community cat in Maui, where Alley Cat Allies has provided food, critical supplies, and veterinary support to cat survivors of the wildfires.