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Willie's Whisker Rescue
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Found a cat? Need help with yours?

Willie’s is a small foster-based rescue, and we’re almost always full. We take in as many cats as we have foster homes for, which is never as many as need help. This page will get you an answer faster than a message to us will.

Is the cat hurt, sick or in danger right now?

Don’t wait for us. Call a 24-hour emergency vet, then let us know.

  • Capital District Veterinary Referral Hospital

    222 Troy-Schenectady Rd, Latham

    (518) 785-1094

  • Upstate Veterinary Specialties

    152 Sparrowbush Rd, Latham

    (518) 783-3198

I found kittens

Don’t scoop them up yet. Their mom is almost always nearby, hunting or hiding from you, and kittens do far better with her than with any rescue. Your first job is to find out whether she’s coming back.

  1. 1

    Watch from far away

    Move well out of sight for 2–3 hours. Mom won’t come back while people are close. Can’t watch? Sprinkle a ring of flour around the nest and check for paw prints later.

  2. 2

    Figure out their age

    Under 1 week
    Eyes closed, ears folded flat, umbilical cord may still be attached.
    1–2 weeks
    Eyes starting to open, blue. Can’t walk, just crawls.
    3–4 weeks
    Ears up, wobbly walking, teeth coming in.
    5–8 weeks
    Running, playing, eating wet food. Eyes changing color.

  3. 3

    Then decide

    If they look clean, plump and quiet, mom is caring for them. Leave them be, and plan to get mom spayed once the kittens are 8 weeks old.

    If they’re cold, wet, dirty, crying nonstop, or mom hasn’t come back in 6+ hours, bring them in.

If you bring them in

  • Warm them first. A heating pad on low under half a towel-lined box, or a warm water bottle wrapped in a towel.
  • Never feed cow’s milk, and never feed a cold kitten. It can kill them.
  • Then contact us using the intake form below, with photos.

Kittens over 8 weeks

Kittens old enough to eat on their own can be socialized and adopted, or spayed and returned outside if they’re feral. If they’re friendly, fill out the intake form. If they hiss and hide, see community cats below.

I found an adult cat

Many friendly “strays” are someone’s outdoor cat, or a lost indoor cat who’s a few streets from home. Before anything else, try to find their people.

  1. 1

    Check for a microchip. Any vet office or shelter will scan for free. It takes a minute.

  2. 2

    Try a paper collar. Tape a paper band around their neck: “Is this your cat? Call 518-…” If they have a home, you’ll get a call.

  3. 3

    Post a found-cat report. Neighborhood Facebook groups and Nextdoor, plus a call to Mohawk Hudson Humane Society and the APF in case someone is searching.

  4. 4

    Call your town’s animal control officer. People looking for a lost cat often call them first.

No owner after a week, and the cat is friendly? Use the intake form below and we’ll see if we have a foster home.

An orange and white cat sitting on a sidewalk

Cats in my neighborhood

If outdoor cats keep having kittens near you, the long-term fix is trap-neuter-return (TNR): the cats are humanely trapped, spayed or neutered, vaccinated and ear-tipped, then returned to where they live. The colony stops growing and settles down. These groups can help.

I need to rehome my cat

We understand, and we won’t judge. Cats almost always do better going straight from your home to a new one than through a rescue, and you get to meet the new family yourself. Willie’s is usually full, so please start here.

Rehome directly

Adopt-a-Pet Rehome lists your cat where adopters already search, and screens applicants with you. Ask friends and coworkers too: a personal recommendation is the strongest listing there is.

Can the problem be solved?

Litter box trouble is often a medical issue a vet visit can fix. If cost is the problem, the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society’s pet food pantry and the low-cost clinics above can help you keep your cat.

Moving?

Many landlords allow a cat with a pet deposit, and a letter from your vet showing your cat is spayed and vaccinated helps. Ask before you assume the answer is no.

Still need us?

Tell us about the cat. Paige reads every request, and if Willie’s has room, she’ll reach out.