(See You Saved Their Lives on page 2) ALLEY CAT ACTION® Alley Cat Allies Newsletter | alleycat.org | Summer 2025 For Alley Cat Allies’ More Than 1.5 Million Supporters and Activists Across the Nation and Around the World Follow us on social media! /AlleyCatAllies You SAVED Their LIVES These cats have a bright future because of your support These are tales of hope, healing—and your impact. Each story we share about a cat whose life we’ve touched offers a small (but meaningful) glimpse into our broader mission. That mission includes expanding access to veterinary care, educating communities, confronting cruelty, and building lasting protections for cats everywhere. Because of you, lives are being transformed. Our work has never been more urgent. But together, we’re making a difference for cats every single day, and we’re not slowing down! A Chance Detour Saved Bean When she saw a small black cat lying motionless on the side of the road, one of our team members didn’t hesitate to cancel her dinner plans. She stopped the car cold, grabbed the bag of cat treats she always keeps on hand to coax the cat closer, and rushed him to the veterinarian. Bean, as we called him, turned out to be just a kitten at less than a year old. In what we believe was a case of severe neglect and abandonment, he was covered in fleas, emaciated, and FIV positive. But even in his fragile state, we knew he had so much life left to live. He just needed support—and because of you, Alley Cat Allies could provide. Today, Bean has put on weight, has thrived with regular veterinary care, and is beyond sweet. He’s been constantly purring and “making muffins” from the beginning—and with a bright future ahead of him, he’s not about to stop anytime soon! BEAN WATCH: An Update on George: We’re Still Seeking His Shooter
www.alleycat.org 2 | ALLEY CAT ACTION, SUMMER 2025 After Long FIP Recovery, Chifileit Reunited with Her Family WILLY Cat #5,000 with Atlantic County grant CHIFILEIT connections with and provides support to veterinary professionals who have the experience and skill to take it on. So, Chifileit beat FIP and made it—and then some! Today, she dives into every bowl of food with enthusiasm and, rather than shy away due to pain, soaks up all the affection she can get. 5,000 Cat Milestone Reached with Atlantic County TNR Grant (continued from page 1) You SAVED Their LIVES With her unbreakable spirit—and expert veterinary care covered by Alley Cat Allies—Chifileit pulled through an arduous recovery from feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). And this season, her family was finally able to bring her home! Without treatment, which can be challenging and multifaceted, FIP is fatal. When we first took on Chifileit’s care, she could barely stand up straight and refused to swallow more than a mouthful of food. But Alley Cat Allies forges powerful WATCH: Chifileit finally goes home with her family. Chifileit Reunites with Her Family As of the beginning of summer, Alley Cat Allies surpassed a milestone of 5,000 cats helped in our latest Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) collaboration with the Humane Society of Atlantic County (HSAC). To continue the lifesaving momentum, Alley Cat Allies has issued a new grant to help 1,000 more cats and kittens in the next months. And, we’re keeping up our support for the county’s first-of-its-kind community cat food bank, which serves more than 800 cats every day. “HSAC’s work with Alley Cat Allies is setting the standard for how a community TNR program should function. Collaboration is key, and through Alley Cat Allies’ support and leadership and our close work with local advocates, we are reaching more community cats than ever before,” said Steve Dash, executive director of HSAC. Happy One-Year Adopt-a-Versary to George George plays hard with toys, jumps on windowsills to gaze out at the yard, and walks around like he owns his home. And he does it all on only three legs.
ALLEY CAT ACTION, SUMMER 2025 | 3 www.alleycat.org GEORGE Then GEORGE Now Because around this time last year, George was the victim of a heinous act of cruelty. He was shot in the leg and left to carry the weight of his wounds. His caregiver had to rush him to the veterinarian after she discovered him limping. Alley Cat Allies immediately jumped in to cover the cost of surgery to remove George’s injured leg, which could not be saved. And so began his long road to recovery. (See You Saved Their Lives on page 5 Donate your vehicle to Alley Cat Allies! Do you have a vehicle that’s taking up space or that you no longer need? Turn it into a lifesaving gift for cats. For more information or questions about Alley Cat Allies, please call our Development Team toll-free at 1-866-309-6207or email donate@ alleycat.org. DIFFERENT WAYS TO GIVE TO ALLEY CAT ALLIES! The Cat-aylst Society is an exclusive group of compassionate individuals who have pledged to make monthly donations to Alley Cat Allies, which serve as the foundation of our lifesaving work. Visit alleycat.org/ catalyst to join today. MONTHLY GIVING PROGRAM Join Cat-aylst Society the GOLDIE But George is a fighter, and it wasn’t long before his story touched the hearts of those who would become his adoptive family. Since he was brought home, our team has had the pleasure of visiting him several times. We’ve seen firsthand his transformation, and how he hasn’t let his harrowing ordeal stop him from living his life to the fullest. Recently, George celebrated the one-year anniversary of his adoption! We’re so happy to celebrate this milestone with you, our supporters, who helped save his life. Here’s to many happy years ahead for George! Saving Kittens’ Lives: From Day One to the Home Stretch Last issue, we told you the story of Bud, Buttercup, Blossom, Bee, and Bloom—kittens who faced nearcertain death in an animal shelter before they were even a week old. Alley Cat Allies acted swiftly to rescue them, and their mother, just in time. We couldn’t turn back the clock and advise whoever first found them to Leave Them BeTM rather than bring the whole family to a shelter. But we could provide the expert, loving care they needed to grow up strong and healthy. And that’s exactly what we did, with your support every step of the way! WATCH: Impact Story: Saving Blossom and Her Family
www.alleycat.org 4 | ALLEY CAT ACTION, SUMMER 2025 Rhode Island Is on the Road to Ban Cat Declawing in Legislation and Beyond IMPACT Our SPUD Since our founding in 1990, Alley Cat Allies has stood strong against cat declawing. We connect with legislators to urge the passage of declawing bans, mobilize advocates to speak out to end declawing in their communities, and spread education and awareness about the realities of this cruel and potentially debilitating procedure. And in Rhode Island, our call for lifesaving change was heard! Alley Cat Allies sent testimony in support of the state’s ban on declawing throughout its process and rallied Rhode Islanders to urge their legislators to pass the vital legislation. Both the state House and Senate passed the bill—and it is now officially LAW! The ban will take effect on September 1. This is an incredible victory for cats throughout the state…and we’re not finished, yet! With your continued support, we are keeping up the fight to end declawing across the U.S. and Keep Cats’ Claws On Their PawsTM. Miami-Dade County Withdrew a Proposed Community Cat Feeding Ban The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners heard the voice of the people! A proposed ordinance to criminalize the feeding of community cats was withdrawn from its agenda after swift and intense backlash from advocates in the county and beyond. MISS MOLLY CRICKET The moment we learned about the cruel proposal, Alley Cat Allies mobilized people throughout Florida to speak out in defense of Miami-Dade County’s community cats. We greatly thank all who took action with us: your voice made the difference. Without our outspoken advocacy, community cat caregivers in the county could be facing $100 fines for their compassion and community service. A feeding ban would also have done irreparable damage to the county’s longstanding Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program, which relies on strategic feeding for success. Alley Cat Allies Offers Expert Legal Assistance in Cruelty Cases When cats face unimaginable cruelty, Alley Cat Allies takes action in court to achieve justice and set a standard for investigation and prosecution. We are offering our expert legal assistance in the prosecution of horrific cases— such as that of a “serial cat killer” in Orange County, California, a man who violently threw a kitten to the ground and ended her life in Lee County, Florida, and an Atlantic City, New Jersey, man accused of throwing two cats in the air and letting them “crash” to the ground. We always stand ready and willing to provide our decades of expertise in the fight against cruelty. We have impact-focused and groundbreaking new initiatives on the horizon, so stay tuned.
ALLEY CAT ACTION, SUMMER 2025 | 5 www.alleycat.org 7920 Norfolk Ave., Suite 600 • Bethesda, MD 20814-2525 Tel: 240-482-1980 www.alleycat.org OUR MISSION: To transform and develop communities to protect and improve the lives of cats. ALLEY CAT ACTION, Volume 35, Issue 4, SUMMER 2025 © 2025 Alley Cat Allies. All rights reserved. We may make this material available for use by other groups, but none of it may be reproduced in any format without specific written permission from Alley Cat Allies. Alley Cat Allies is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and tax-exempt organization. Alley Cat Allies’ federal employer ID number is 52-1742079, and our CFC number is 10964. All contributions, donations, and gifts are tax deductible, as allowed by law. In this summer marked by severe heat waves, Alley Cat Allies is sharing information and resources on how to keep community cats cool and safe. Because though community cats thrive in all climates, you can still lend a helping hand. Find all of our top tips at alleycat.org/SummerWeather. Hydration is key Provide cats outdoors with plenty of water sources and keep them topped off. Use deep bowls to prevent water from evaporating and place them in shaded areas. You can even freeze water bowls! Choose wet food Throughout the summer, feed community cats wet food instead of dry—it’s nutrition and hydration all in one. To ensure bugs don’t swarm the food, pick up any uneaten food after the cats have finished. You can also create a “moat” with baking soda or food-grade diatomaceous earth around the bowl! Provide outdoor shelters for cats An outdoor shelter built specifically for cats gives them a cool, shady space to hide away in the most extreme weather. Be sure to place them in hidden, shaded areas! Provide cooling items for cats Place frozen water bottles beneath the bedding in cats’ outdoor shelters. You can also try a cooling mat created for cats. Cover them up, or cats may find them unpleasant to step on. If it’s too hot to be out, it’s too hot to TNR Community cat advocates can do Trap-Neuter-Return in all seasons, but should always use best judgment. If there are dangerous heat advisories, save the trapping for another time. While trapping in the summer heat, it’s more critical than ever to only set traps in grassy, shaded areas and move trapped cats IMMEDIATELY to a temperature-controlled area. TO BUD Today, the siblings are all grown up and have found forever homes of their own! To be part of their transformation from tiny newborns with closed eyes and folded ears to bright-eyed, bushy-tailed young cats was a true privilege. And as you read this, we’re strategizing even more community change and humane education that will save so many kittens like them! (continued from page 3) You SAVED Their LIVES Get ready for Global Cat Day® and National Feral Cat Day® 2025! For updates, keep an eye on GlobalCatDay.org. #CatsAreCommunity
6 | ALLEY CAT ACTION, SUMMER 2025 www.alleycat.org Community cats live long and healthy lives in their outdoor homes. However, there may come a time when you spot a cat outdoors who appears unwell. Maybe she is limping, or lethargic, or you can tell she is wounded. In these cases, it is critical to seek veterinary care IMMEDIATELY. Alley Cat Allies has launched a new resource to help advocates take swift action to save cats’ lives in a health emergency. How to Save Sick or Injured Cats Outdoors: A Quick Guide to Save Cats’ Lives is now available at alleycat.org/SickOrInjured! When cats’ lives are on the line due to injury or illness, these are the critical do’s and don’ts: DON’T: Bring a sick or injured cat indoors, confine her to a cage, and not seek veterinary care. To do so is cruelty. DO: Immediately contact a veterinarian when you see signs of injury or illness in a cat, and create a plan for her care. DON’T: Keep a cat in a small cage for months on end until they are recovered. Doing so can cause extreme stress and even hinder recovery. DO: Provide a larger recovery area, consider a catio or large enclosure, or treat cats in their outdoor homes if possible. DON’T: Treat cats with DIY remedies or medications not recommended by a veterinarian. How to Help Sick or Injured Cats Outdoors NEW RESOURCE: There are many medical care myths online that can be dangerous or even deadly to cats. DO: Ask your veterinarian for treatments that meet the needs of community cats, who live outdoors and are often unsocialized to people, and your own budget. You’ll find guidance and suggestions on all of the above—and much more—in our brand-new resource! TAKE ACTION Receive our action alerts and other emails. alleycat.org/SignUp With just a few clicks, you can make a difference in cats’ lives and help transform communities. Here are online resources to help: SAVE A CAT WITH A MOUSE DONATE Support our work with cats and kittens. alleycat.org/Donate QUESTIONS? Looking for assistance with cats? Get the help you need! alleycat.org/GetHelp LEARN Advocate for cats in your community. alleycat.org/CommunityChange
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