FERNDALE (WWJ) - One Metro Detroit cat rescue is asking for help after dozens of felines from a local home ended up in their care this week.
According to their post on social media, the Ferndale Cat Shelter said any and all donations are appreciated as they seek to provide vaccinations testing and other medical needs for 18 kittens and 27 adult cats.
The shelter said the couple who owned the animals were "well-intentioned," but asked to help when they realized their situation had gotten out of hand.
"I’m grateful for these people (with the 45 cats) reaching out and not feeling ashamed,” Deanne Iovan, executive director of the state-licensed nonprofit shelter, told the Daily Tribune. “They are animal lovers and they got in over their heads. At least they had the presence of mind to reach out when they needed help.”
Iovan said the man who came to shelter underestimated how many cats they had in the home, telling shelter staff there were 10 kittens and 10 cats total. Instead, it took rescuers nearly five hours on Monday, April 3rd to crate and transport over 40 cats from the home and bring them to their facility at 686 Livernois in Ferndale.
Iovan explained the cats were all examined for fleas, ticks and possible injuries once they arrived and a general health assessment was preformed.
“They are all surprisingly healthy," she stated.
With more than 40 news rescues to triage, vaccinate, combo test, deworm, and spay or neuter, the shelter said it can use all the help it can get.
"At a time when kitten season is already in full swing, this places enormous stress on our resources," FCS added. "We are in desperate need of donations to meet the immense needs of this new group of rescues."
The shelter posted a plea for donations on its Facebook page earlier this week and by Friday, they've been able to raise almost $7,000.
In addition to taking in cats in need, the FCS's also funds their medical care, arranges foster homes and find them lifelong families of their own.
The organization is strictly an animal rescue and does not provide walk-up veterinary services to the general public. Anyone who finds a sick or injured cat is asked to take the animal to the nearest veterinary clinic.
The shelter shares part of its space with their Catfé Lounge, which has a storefront off Livernois Street, where visitors pay a $15 donation to drink coffee, tea or juice and play or hangout with cats up for adoption.
Iovan told the Daily Tribune that she thinks 2023 will be a big year for cats finding their lifelong homes after the shelter saw over 600 adoptions.
“It’s the beginning of April and we’ve already adopted out 220 cats” this year, she said.
Iovan said they hope place the 45 cats they took in this week up for adoption as soon as they are ready. The donations will go towards all their medical care as well as any other rescues that come in during this time.
In the end, Iovan said she does see a silver-lining and hopes the cats' story encourages others to seek help if they find themselves over their heads.
“I hope more people reach out when they get in situations like this,” Iovan said. “It’s helpful and creates awareness.”
Donations can be made to the Ferndale Cat Shelter at ferndalecatshelter.org.