The Cats Sass Rescue

WE NEED PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING TO RESCUE RIGHT NOW.

We are going to say something that may be difficult to hear.

The number of surrender requests coming into rescues has become absolutely overwhelming, while adoption rates have fallen to painfully low levels.

Every day, our inboxes are filled with requests for cats who need somewhere to go. Cats whose owners are moving. Cats whose owners are getting divorced. Cats whose family has a new baby. Cats who are urinating outside the litter box. Cats who don't get along with another cat. Cats who need expensive medical care. Cats who are elderly. Cats who are fearful. Cats who must be the only pet.

And the heartbreaking truth is:

There simply aren't enough homes.

Rescues cannot magically create foster homes, adopters, or space.

And we need people to understand something particularly important:

Not every cat has a place in rescue.

A cat who must be an only cat is extremely difficult for a foster-based rescue to place. Most foster homes already have resident cats. We cannot put a cat who cannot tolerate other animals into a home where it will be frightened or constantly stressed.

Likewise, there is not an endless supply of safe, appropriate places for sick, medically fragile, or very elderly cats.

Putting a 15- or 16-year-old cat with kidney disease, arthritis, or other age-related conditions into a shelter or rescue environment can be devastating. They lose their familiar home, their person, their routine and everything they know. Then they are surrounded by unfamiliar people, unfamiliar smells and, often, other cats.

What happens?

They become scared.

They stop eating.

Their medical problems worsen.

Their stress increases.

And sometimes they decline incredibly quickly.

Rescue is not always the better option.

Sometimes the kindest thing you can do for an elderly or anxious cat is to keep them in a quiet room in your home, away from other pets, and give them a safe, predictable environment. A cat does not need an entire house to be happy. A quiet room filled with their bed, litter box, food, water, familiar smells and, most importantly, their person can be a wonderful quality-of-life solution.

We also need to talk about responsibility.

We understand that life happens.

We understand that circumstances change.

We understand that people can find themselves overwhelmed.

But when you take an animal into your family, you also take on the responsibility of helping that animal through life's difficult moments.

Before surrendering a cat because of a behavioral or medical issue, please:

1 Talk to your veterinarian. A sudden behavior change may have an underlying medical cause.

2 Research the problem. Litter box issues, aggression, anxiety, inappropriate scratching, introductions between cats and many other issues often have solutions.

3 Give your cat time. Cats do not adjust to major changes overnight.

4 Look at your environment. Sometimes a simple change in routine, separation, enrichment, litter box placement or creating a safe room can make an enormous difference.

5 Ask for help before reaching the crisis point. Your veterinarian, reputable behavior resources and experienced cat people can often provide solutions that don't involve surrender.

And please understand this:

Calling a rescue does not guarantee that we have somewhere for your cat to go.

We can love cats tremendously and still be unable to take them.

We can want to help and still have to say no.

We can understand your circumstances and still not have a safe placement.

This isn't because rescues don't care.

It's because we are full.

Our foster homes are full.
Our adopters are scarce.
Our veterinary expenses are enormous.
Our existing cats still need us.
And every empty spot we have is already needed by another cat.

Meanwhile, there are wonderful, highly adoptable cats sitting in foster homes waiting months for someone to choose them.

That is the part people don't always see.

When adoption rates fall, cats don't simply disappear from the system. They remain in foster care. And as those cats remain, there are fewer spaces available for the next cat who needs help.

The entire system backs up.

We desperately need people to ADOPT.

We need people to FOSTER.

We need people to SPAY AND NEUTER.

And we need people to understand that responsible pet ownership doesn't end when things become difficult.

If you are struggling with your cat, please don't wait until you are desperate. Reach out to your veterinarian. Do your research. Ask questions. Look for solutions.

Because right now, the rescue community is drowning.

And the only way we are going to change this is if we stop treating rescue as the automatic solution to every difficult pet situation and start recognizing that keeping animals in loving homes whenever it is safe and possible is one of the most important forms of rescue there is.

Rescue. Rehabilitate. Rehome. Repeat.

But we cannot do it without the community.

Please adopt. Please foster. Please spay and neuter. And please—when things get difficult—fight for your animals before asking a rescue to take them.

Chantell is a dedicated volunteer with The Cats Sass Rescue. Her compassion for animals runs deep and is rooted in generations of animal lovers in her family. One of the most influential people in her life was her aunt Bev.

Aunt Bev cared profoundly for all animals, especially cats. She was incredibly proud of Chantell - of her commitment to rescue work, her tireless efforts, and the love she shows every single day to animals in need.

Aunt Bev recently passed away, and in her final act of generosity, she ensured that her legacy would continue to support the cause she believed in. Through her will, she made a provision to donate to Cats Sass Rescue. A few days ago, the rescue received her gift. It was both a touching surprise and a deeply appreciated contribution.

On behalf of everyone at Cats Sass Rescue, we extend our heartfelt gratitude. Thank you, Aunt Bev, for your compassion during your lifetime, and for helping a small rescue that works tirelessly to care for animals. Your kindness will not be forgotten.

All of us at The Cats Sass say, with deep appreciation, THANK YOU, AUNT BEV!

Hello fellow cat lovers! I come to you again for help. Our donations have been extremely sparse over the summer and costs have been extremely high. We have about 65 cats in our care currently and we have 25 of them currently waiting to be vetted this month. We also have about $2500 owing in vet bills that need to be paid.  if you have been following our page for a while, you know that this year has been extremely tough and the amount of kittens coming into our care this year has been the highest it’s ever been. We have amazing partners that have helped with transfers and vet care and for that we are extremely grateful but we still need your help. Donations over $20 are eligible for tax receipts.
Any amount helps!
You can send e-transfers to [email protected]

*pictures of some of the kitties currently in our care* ❤️❤️

UPDATE: Foster found! Thank you everyone!

I just got a message about another drop off on an acerage. This sweet face is friendly, so obviously had humans in her life previously. She is not a barn cat. She is about 6 months, and my fear she is already pregnant. Is anyone interested in taking this sweet girl into there home? Winter is coming and I’d hate to see her struggle outside but the rescue is currently zero intake.

Not the update that we wanted to share. Sweet Oakley tested positive for Panleuk. Her body was fighting so hard but in the end she was just too little. She crossed the rainbow bridge peacefully. 

We had to rush sweet Oakley to the vet this afternoon. We suspect she’s been fighting a URI for sometime and it’s taken a toll on her little body. Lethargic due to Low glucose and anemia. She was brought in by a lovely lady who was concerned about her.
We are unsure what will happen in the next few hours, but we are staying positive.
If you are able to donate towards Oakley’s care, we would be extremely grateful. As most of you know, it’s been an extremely difficult spring/summer for the rescue and our funds have been drained.
You can send an e-transfer to [email protected] . Donations over $20 are eligible for a tax receipt.
You can also donate directly to Family Pet Hospital who is handling Oakley’s care.
E-transfers can be sent to: [email protected] (make sure to let them know it’s for The Cat’s Sass Rescue account or “Oakley”)
Thank you to all of our wonderful supporters.

If you’ve ever had an interest in learning to trap, or what goes into “Trapping a Colony” consider helping our friends over at WWP.

After yesterday’s on event at SAVE - Southern Alberta Veterinary Emergency, I headed into Calgary and came home with 23 traps from Canadian Animal Task Force. The other traps we’ll be using are already with BHARS, which means we’ll have quite the collection of feline Airbnb accommodations ready to go!

On September 9th alongside our parent rescue, BHARS, we will begin trapping two colonies, with approximately 70 cats expected to be TNVR’d. They’ll head to Calgary on the 10th, have surgery on the 11th, and come home on the 12th. If even half of those 70 cats are female, and each had an average of two litters over the next year, that’s roughly 70 litters prevented in ONE year. At an average of four kittens per litter, that could mean around 280 kittens never being born into already struggling outdoor colonies. 🤯 That’s the kind of impact TNVR can make!

And we need some extra people to pull this off! We’re looking for people who want to learn how to trap, especially anyone interested in continuing as part of our trapping team when our regular trappers aren’t available. If trapping isn’t your thing, we’ll also need help transporting cats and cleaning traps afterward. If you’d like to be part of these four very busy days, email [email protected] and tell us where you’d like to help. Seventy cats, two colonies and four days gives us one incredible opportunity to change what the future looks like for these colonies, and with our community beside us, we’re making it better, together. ♥️🩶🐾

Is there anyone that can foster a young male (unfixed) for a month or so? He needs some daily medication and also a special food (we are trialing some things that he might be allergic too). He is a very sweet guy who loves to be loved. If you are able to open your home for Brennan, please message me right away.

This rescue spotlight is Jorgie. He has been with us since March 2025 and he is looking for his own furrever home.

Artwork was created by our friends over at LethFURidge. Look for more amazing artwork done by their group of amazing local artists on our page.

If you don’t vote consider voting at least today. The 6 rescues that get the most new votes today get some moola!!!!

Vote for The Cats Sass Rescue to share in $2,500,000 Each year MyGivingCircle gives $2,500,000 in grants and donations

This Tuesday is GivingTuesday at MyGivingCircle, an initiative designed to encourage generosity and giving.

To celebrate GivingTuesday, MyGivingCircle is donating an extra $3,000 to the 6 Charities that get the most new votes today on GivingTuesday.

Can you take a moment to vote or donate to us today at https://mygivingcircle.org/the-cats-sass-rescue/vote?affiliate=mgcCshare

If you make a one-off donation to us today we'll get an extra Vote for every $ you give. A donation of $50 = 100 Votes

Or make GivingTuesday the day you become a regular giver and MyGivingCircle will multiply your first months donation by x 5. Giving $50 a month = 250 votes.

Click to Donate : https://mygivingcircle.org/the-cats-sass-rescue/donate?affiliate=mgcCshare

Please make GivingTuesday the day you vote or donate to us to help us get the most new votes and share $3,000 today

Vote or donate to us at https://mygivingcircle.org/the-cats-sass-rescue/vote?affiliate=mgcCshare

Vote for The Cats Sass Rescue to share in $2,500,000 Each year MyGivingCircle gives $2,500,000 in grants and donations