Mews News: Turn a Shelter Cat into a Shelter Pet!

December 9, 2022

Mews News:

Turn a Shelter Cat into a Shelter Pet!

Monday was Celebrate Shelter Pets Day! Observed every year on December 5th, it is a day to celebrate the rescue pets in our lives and raise awareness of the animals still living in shelters who desperately want to find forever homes.

Although we celebrate our shelter cats every day of the year, we want to take this opportunity to tell you about a special kitty that has been waiting a long time to finally make the transition from shelter cat to pampered pet.

Durante is a floofy one-year-old tabby who was rescued from a hoarding situation in the Modesto area. He had spent all of his life in a garage, amongst almost thirty other cats, with no litter box and a minimal amount of food and water.

When he arrived at Nine Lives, he was understandably anxious and afraid. He hid under the cubbies in his room for weeks. Then we noticed that he’d come out in the late evenings, when the Adoption Center quieted down and only a volunteer or two remained. Eventually, he ventured into the open, ready to (slowly) make friends.

Thanks to our cat care and enrichment volunteers, Durante has come a long way in the past twelve weeks. He loves chin scratches and soft pets on the head. He enjoys napping on the shelves and the cat tree, and will give you the side-eye if you disturb his slumber. He may look fierce, but deep down he’s a gentle giant.

We think Durante would thrive in a quiet, patient home. Will you be the one that can make him feel safe and loved?

If you want to turn Durante or any of our other shelter cats into a shelter pet, come by our Adoption Center this weekend! As of yesterday, our new hours are Thursday through Sunday from noon to 5:00 pm.

And Speaking of Adoptions...

We’re partnering with Best Friends Animal Society to Bring Home Holiday Happiness!

In honor of Best Friends' National Adoption Weekend (December 9th through 11th), all adoption fees will be reduced $25. That means that adoption fees for available kittens and adult cats (up to 10 years old) will be $100 per cat and senior kitties (10+ years old) will be $25 per cat.

This three-day national adoption event brings together animal welfare organizations, like ours, across the country to help us all save more lives by connecting adoptable animals with their future families.

Check out our adoptable kitties at ninelivesfoundation.org/adoptions, then come by our Adoption Center this weekend between noon and 5:00 pm. Our kitties can't wait to meet you!

Holiday Gift Guide

Need gift ideas? The Nine Lives Foundation 2023 calendars make great holiday gifts for family and friends, and your purchase helps us rescue more at-risk cats and kittens!

Calendars can be purchased online, by phone at (650) 368-1365, or in person at the Clinic or Adoption Center for $15 plus tax. Want to save yourself a trip? You can have them mailed to you for a $5 shipping fee.

Please contact us at calendar@ninelivesfoundation.org with any calendar-related questions.

The Many Modes of Holiday Giving

While the holidays are a special time to spend with family and friends, year-end is also an important time to plan for annual charitable giving and the impact it may have on the upcoming tax season. We recommend that you obtain independent advice from a qualified tax or legal professional before December 31, 2022 if you are considering any of the following. Early planning may be able to save you money while helping cats!

Appreciated stock: Did you know you can give a cash equivalent by donating appreciated stock to Nine Lives? Simply select the stock and number of shares you wish to donate. To receive our banking details that will be needed for the transfer, contact our accounting department at accounting@ninelivesfoundation.org.

Enjoy Tax Benefits by Giving Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) and Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)

Required Minimum Distributions (RMD): An RMD is an IRS-mandated amount of money that you must withdraw from traditional IRAs or an employer-sponsored retirement account each year. It’s important to understand when you need to take an RMD, how to avoid potential costly penalties for late distributions, and how to maximize your withdrawal strategy. The IRS now requires you to start taking RMDs at age 72 (previously 70 ½).

Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD): A QCD is a direct transfer of funds from your IRA custodian, payable to a qualified charity, and excludes the amount donated from your adjusted gross income. Some age (70 ½ years or older) and other requirements exist, but this is an excellent way of supporting your favorite non-profit while lowering your taxable income. Contact your IRA/employer-plan custodian for instructions on requesting a direct payment to Nine Lives of your RMD.

On behalf of our feline friends, we at Nine Lives are grateful for your consideration and support. Let’s save lives together!

Liam's Corner

We have some exciting developments to look forward to this holiday season. I am thrilled to introduce… Nine Lives Santa Paws 2022!

With the cold weather fast approaching, we are committed to rescuing as many cats as we can from overwhelmed shelters, bringing them into our care, and placing them in homes with loving families. However, to save as many vulnerable lives as possible we needed some help.

To our great delight, a few weeks ago we received a call from volunteers Bob and Felice, who wanted to put their commitment to animal advocacy into action.

They wanted to use Bob’s pilot license to save lives, and a few short weeks later they had recruited a fleet of pilots to help bring cats into our care!

Our Santa Paws pilots will be flying to areas across the Central Valley — from Stockton to Fresno — to secure cats that are at high risk of euthanasia, and then transport them to Nine Lives via the San Carlos and Palo Alto airports.

Thank you, Bob and Felice!

We welcomed two groups of kitties yesterday and today, and additional flights are planned for next week. Upon arrival, the cats are examined by our veterinarians, vaccinated, spayed/neutered (if necessary), and provided with whatever medical and behavioral care they need to help them find loving homes.

Santa Paws pilot Harvest picking up his passengers at the Fresno Airport.

There have been lots of twists and turns already — with weather delays and rescheduled flights — and I am so grateful to everyone involved for being committed to the cause.

Thank you to Bob and Felice, the volunteer Santa Paws pilots, our rescue partners at the Stockton Animal Shelter and Fresno Furry Friends, and to the Nine Lives staff and volunteers for going the extra mile.

Of course, none of this would be possible without your support. We are so thankful for your generosity this Giving Mewsday — and every day. Each cent counts when it comes to the world of animal rescue and we would not be able to save these vulnerable kitties without your dedication.