Crisis: Please Help These Abandoned Cats

7.21.23

At the beginning of this month, a colony of cats living on a rental property in Culpeper was abandoned by its tenant following eviction proceedings. These animals had been left to fend for themselves, starving and in dire physical condition. It would be wrong to call them feral, as the majority have proven to be quite social and even friendly.

My name is Cuper Vargas. My partner Bree and I are caretakers of a small animal shelter in Culpeper County, Virginia. This sanctuary for cats was founded by Animal Allies: a volunteer-led, no-kill rescue organization. Since learning of this crisis, our mission has been to save these poor creatures, provide them with needed medical care, and find them permanent, loving homes without resorting to euthanasia.

To date (and with the help of Mad Cats and Cause4Paws) we have rescued 17 cats from the property, plus 4 tiny kittens just born in our shelter. At least 14 remain at the colony site. Spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations, and treatments for illnesses and injuries have begun.

Without any real idea of how successful this fundraiser might be, we chose a starting goal of $2500 to put toward the rescue and care of these animals. I am amazed and humbled by how quickly that amount was raised, a testament to the love and generosity in our communities.

But this care is expensive and the need is desperate. The basic costs of spaying/neutering and vaccination are compounded by illness and injury. Multiple cats have open, infected wounds about their heads and ears, all suffer respiratory infections, and one shows signs of neurological impairment. So we continue to ask for your help.

I offer tremendous thanks to those who have already given. And please help us by continuing to share this link.