Toffee, who received medical care and food after Hurricane Milton through Alley Cat Allies’ disaster response.
Right now, Alley Cat Allies supporters like you are providing lifesaving care to cats and kittens impacted by both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. Cats like Jack, Flash, and Toffee have been swept from disaster zones in Florida and into safe spaces to recover thanks to Alley Cat Allies disaster response in collaboration with advocates, organizations, and veterinarians on the ground in impacted communities.
Jack, a community cat who received medical care and food from Alley Cat Allies post-Hurricane Milton
The Alley Cat Allies Rapid Response Team has had to leverage Alley Cat Allies’ decades of expertise in disaster relief to help meet the widespread need of affected cats and caregivers. Not only were cats and people alike displaced from their homes by the back-to-back storms, millions were (and many still are) left without power—including the shelters and veterinary clinics relied upon to protect animals in emergencies.
Alley Cat Allies was on the ground in Jasper County, South Carolina, after Helene to help more than 100 cats and other animals in a shelter struggling through days of power loss. We brought generators to get operations up and running again and rushed in flea and tick treatment, immune support, cat and kitten food, and vaccines for hundreds of cats, among other critical supplies.
Muffin, a kitten rescued after Hurricane Milton and receiving care funded by Alley Cat Allies.
Now, Alley Cat Allies is delivering that same vital support to cats and kittens impacted by Milton in Polk and Hillsborough Counties in Florida. Working with local advocates, organization Street Cat Project of Polk County, and Paws Plus Veterinary Clinic, we’re helping indoor and community cats alike with a large amount of food, medical supplies, and coverage for a variety of needed veterinary treatments. This is far-reaching work that’s just getting started—and we have you to thank for making it possible.
Community cat Jack is one of many to receive Alley Cat Allies-funded treatment, and is back in his outdoor home. His caregiver has a supply of food to continue his scheduled meals. Dusty, who was found with a wounded eye, weathered the hurricane with Street Cat Project and received treatment he needed for an ulcer. He has since recovered and has also returned to his outdoor home.
In Lakeland, Paws Plus Veterinary is just now getting up to speed again thanks to an Alley Cat Allies-delivered generator pumping in power (outages are still widespread in the area) and has a full list of cats and kittens who need immediate support.
Padme after examination by a veterinarian. She is being cared for by Alley Cat Allies Hurricane Milton response grants.
Alley Cat Allies is covering the costs of medical supplies, any needed treatments for wounds or other conditions, and both medical boarding and boarding for the cat family members of people displaced from their homes, who need a safe place for their animals to stay temporarily. Another generator will be arriving soon to enable critical surgeries.
Jasper, Padme, and Muffin were first on the list, and are receiving vaccines and other medical treatment. Three kittens and their mother, who were rescued by a Paws Plus Veterinary staff member, are being treated and boarded until they can be adopted. The stories of our supporters’ lifesaving impact are still pouring in.
After Hurricane Milton, Jasper is recovering at Paws Plus Veterinary Clinic with care covered by Alley Cat Allies.
Additionally, Alley Cat Allies is gearing up to support post-disaster Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) in South Carolina and Florida communities. While community cats have incredible survival instincts, as they begin to emerge in the aftermath of storms, they can find themselves displaced from their original outdoor homes and make their way into new colonies. That is a perfect opportunity to expand the reach of TNR and ensure these new cats are spayed or neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, and eartipped.
Thank you to our dedicated donors and supporters for helping us hit the ground running to protect cats and kittens after disasters. We are saving lives right now because of you, and we will keep you updated as the long road to recovery continues. If you would like to give to support Alley Cat Allies’ disaster response, visit alleycat.org/Donate.