HELP! 

Have you found a litter of kittens? Did you see an injured cat? Are you no longer able to care for your pet? Do you need help with stray or feral cats in your area?

Below is information and resources to help you should you find yourself facing any of the above issues. Most rescues are run by a small but dedicated group of volunteers who work full time and have families to care for. We have limited time, space and funds which makes it impossible for us to help every cat or kitten in need even though we wish we could. 

The only way to really make a difference in the homeless pet population is by asking our communities to get involved which is why we have created this page. It will give you information on low cost spay and neuter clinics, foundations that loan traps and fix feral or community cats, charities that can help with vet expenses, alternative options to taking pets to the shelter. 

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Help! I found kittens!

If you have found a small kitten or a litter of kittens, first assess the situation.

• If kittens appear to be critically injured, they must be taken to the vet right away. If you cannot afford a vet then they should be taken to the shelter. It is inhumane to allow an animal to suffer even though we fear they could be put down at the shelter. However, many shelters do work with rescues and try to place animals while the shelter vet examines them. 
• If kittens are in a relatively safe place, keep an eye out for mom. Usually she is near by looking for food and will come back to feed her babies in an hour or two depending on their age. If you have a cardboard box, put the kittens in the box right where you found them. It will help keep them confined until mom comes back.  
• If kittens are in a dangerous area or it appears they have been abandoned by mom, try to determine if they are not weaned and need to be bottle fed. Bottles and formula can be purchased at your local pet store or goats milk can be used. Cow's milk CANNOT be used.  Bottle babies also need to be stimulated in order to pee and poop since they cannot do that on their own. Go to  for videos on how to bottle feed and care for bottle babies. .  If kittens are a little older, make a slurry for them to eat by mixing wet pate food with water until its a running consistency. Put a small around on your finger and wipe across their mouth or in their mouth. Once they get the hang of it they will slurp it up on their own.
• Once kittens are safe and eating, start reaching out to rescues to see if they might have space. Often times rescues will be full but they will most likely be able to help if you can foster until adopted. 

Help! I found a cat!

If you have found a cat, first assess the situation. 

• If the cat appears to be critically injured, the cat must be taken to the vet right away. If you cannot afford a vet then the cat should be taken to the shelter. It is inhumane to allow an animal to suffer even though we fear they could be put down at the shelter. However, many shelters do work with rescues and try to place animals while the shelter vet examines them. 
• If the cat appears to be relatively healthy or have no life threatening injuries, observe the cat to see if the cat is friendly or feral. If friendly, take cat to a local vet or shelter and ask for a chip scan. Vets should not charge for this. If the cat is chipped, the vet or shelter will notify the chip manufacturer who will then notify the registered owner. If no chip or owner is located, keep the cat in a safe area with food and water while you reach out to rescues. Often times rescues will be full and have no available fosters. If you offer to foster until adopted, most rescues will be able to assist you with vetting and adoption of the cat.
  
• If the cat is feral, look to see if he/she has a tipped ear. A tipped ear will let you know the cat has been fixed and vaccinated. They usually part of a colony that is being cared for by rescue person or group. If the ear is NOT tipped, the cat must be TNRed (Trap, Neuter, Return). TNR is the most humane practice for feral cats. It is not humane to trap and relocate feral cats. These cats are familiar with the community they live in. They have their routines, places to hide and sources for food even if limited. Therefore fixed feral/community cats must be returned to their very same spot they were trapped. It is also recommended that those in the community provide food and water for them. Once all the community cats are fixed and cared for they will eventually reduce in numbers. Trappers usually have a long waiting list so best for you to trap yourself before cats get pregnant and your neighborhood is over run with feral cats. Trapping sounds intimidating but its actually very simple. Foundations such as Fixnation in Sun Valley, CA, Golden State Humane Society in Long Beach, CA loan traps for free (with a deposit), offer free training on how to trap,  as well as provide and low cost spay/neuter and vet services.  

Help! I can't keep my pet!

If you are faced with the possibility of having to re-home your pet, first assess the situation.

• If you need to re-home your due to behavioral issues, please sure to consult your vet and rule out any possible medical issues that could cause these problems.
• If your cat is not using the litter box properly, be sure the cat doesn't have a urinary track infection. That is typical one of the the main causes of litter box issues. If a UTI is ruled out, be sure your cat is not allergic to their litter. Its best to try a few different types of  litters to see if your cat favors one over the other. Dr. Elsey's Attract cat litter is made to encourage cats to use the litter box. Cats prefer clean litter boxes, and often will not use them if they are dirty. Scoop your litter at least twice a day and completely clean your boxes once a week. If you have multiple cats, use multiple litter boxes. 
• If someone in your family has become allergic, wipe down your cats with cleansing wipes a few times a week. This will help reduce exposure to the saliva that many people are allergic to. Also, consult your doctor on what type of allergy medication might work for you. 
• If your cat has become aggressive, try to determine what could be causing the change in your cat. Could it be something has recently changed in household making your cat insecure, intimidated or afraid? If so, make your cat feel safe and protected. Try to make a safe place for your pet to feel comfortable. If it seems to be a health issue, take to your vet and determine if medication might help calm them down. We also recommend trying calming pheromones in a diffuser or collar such as Feliway.
• If you are moving start the search early for pet friendly apartments. It can be difficult to find pet friendly places to live but starting early is key.  Its also helpful to offer landlords a pet deposit in exchange having a pet on their property. Many times landlords have had bad experiences with irresponsible pet owners. Try to convince the landlord that you will care for their property like its your own and you will be sure to care for your pet responsibly. 
• If you are not able to find a pet friendly landlord, ask your family and friends to adopt your pet. If they cant, ask them to foster until you can find a rescue that can help you adopt them out. Another option would be temporarily board your pet at a vet clinic or petsitter until you can find a rescue with space. 
• If you are a victim of domestic violence, contact SPCALA to ask about their program to care for pets of people leaving their abuser. 
• If you cannot afford to vet your pet, please see the list below of foundations and organizations that will help with financial aide and low cost vet care.

RESOURCES

Low Cost Vet Services

SNPLA

FIXNATION

​KINDER4RESCUE

THE SAM SIMON FOUNDATION
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THE LUCY FOUNDATION

FIX LONG BEACH

THE AMANDA FOUNDATION

HEAVEN ON EARTH

Financial Assistance

SCRATCH PAY

CARE CREDIT

IAN SOMERHALDER FOUNDATION

THE PET FUND

RED ROVER RELIEF 

ACTORS AND OTHERS

​PETER ZIPPI MEMORIAL FUND

MADDIE'S FUND

Feral And Community Cat Services

SNPLA

FIXNATION

ACTORS AND OTHERS

GOLDEN STATE HUMANE SOCIETY 

Supplies

FELIWAY BEHAVIOR PRODUCTS 

DR. ELSEY'S ATTRACT LITTER

PET AG BOTTLE BABY SUPPLIES 

TOMAHAWK HUMANE TRAPS FOR TNR

Education

MADDIE'S FUND INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS 

PET AG INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS

KITTEN LADY

BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES 

FIXNATION TNR VIDEOS
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