As we’ve previously shared, in the first half of this year alone, Nine Lives performed more than 1,400 spay/neuter surgeries. We are excited to share that we’ve now surpassed 1,500 spay/neuter surgeries! Meet Golden, a big cuddly cutie from Hayward, who has the distinct honor of being this year’s Spay/Neuter #1,000.

Spaying and neutering cats like Golden helps reduce the overpopulation of homeless cats in our community, and is the key to reducing the senseless euthanasia of so many unwanted cats and kittens each year. We are committed to serving the Bay Area community by offering low-cost spay and neuter surgeries for rescue groups, trapped stray and feral cats, and privately-owned cats in the area. You can find more about spay/neuter and the other clinical services we offer on our website.

Take Me Home Tonight! Max Edition

Max is looking for a warm spot in the sun to live out his retirement. Could your home be the perfect place for Max to hang up his hat? Max is a 7-year-old orange tabby who had a rough life on the streets before being rescued and making his way to Nine Lives. His days of chasing the girl kitties and getting into fights as a stray tomcat have left him looking a bit beaten up, but we like his rugged look! Once Max was neutered and experienced the indoor life, he realized the joys of dozing on a warm bed — and that’s pretty much all he wants to do nowadays! Max is FIV-positive. Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a common infectious disease that attacks the immune system, leaving a cat vulnerable to other infections. Although there is no cure for FIV, cats with FIV commonly live normal, healthy lives. They can also live safely with non-FIV cats, as long as they are in stable environments with other cats who do not fight. Because FIV-positive cats may become immuno-compromised, we recommend that they be indoor-only. Luckily for Max, he’d be more than happy to never get off the couch!

Max is a sweetie who loves long pets and chin scratches. He also likes dogs! As a free-roamer at the Nine Lives clinic, he was often found sharing a bed with Makayla, the front desk dog. If you’re looking for a quiet, mellow, gentleman companion, perhaps big orange Max would be the perfect cat for you. If you’d like to meet him and our other wonderful kitties, come by our Adoption Center! We are open Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00 – 6:00 pm and welcome walk-ins. Our kitties look forward to meeting you!

Bonita’s Journey

Nine months ago, a kind cat lover in the Fresno area spotted a fluffy little calico kitty with a badly mangled paw in her backyard. She was finally able to trap the kitty last month, and then kept the newly named Bonita in her garage for a few days while she sought help. Bonita’s leg had since healed and didn’t seem to cause her any pain, but she walked in the most heartbreaking way. In addition to her broken leg, the muscles on her right side were practically non-existent. She clearly needed medical care. This good Samaritan put out a cry for help to see if any rescue organizations might be able to help sweet little Bonita. She was worried that with shelters so full of kittens, Bonita might be euthanized. Fortunately, thanks to a partnership with dedicated rescuers in Fresno, Bonita made her way to Nine Lives. In fact, she was flown into San Carlos by private plane, thanks to one of the wonderful volunteer pilots from Pilots N Paws!

After arriving safely at Nine Lives, our volunteers and staff quickly learned that Bonita is a super-friendly girl who craves attention and loves to be cuddled. Unfortunately, it was also discovered that Bonita had severe nerve damage to her injured leg and would need an amputation. Dr. Jones performed Bonita’s surgery three weeks ago. A few days later, Bonita went to a foster home to recharge her batteries and heal. During the next two weeks, Bonita adjusted to tripod life like a champ. When she wasn’t soaking up the warmth of the sun from her favorite spot on the cat tree, she enjoyed playing, climbing, and exploring.

Late last week, Bonita completed her recovery and made her way to our Adoption Center. Two days later, she captured the hearts of her forever family. We are thrilled that Bonita is now happy and healthy, and will be able to enjoy a life filled with unconditional love and sun-drenched naps. If you would like to support our rescue efforts and help us save more cats like Bonita, please consider making a donation.

Ask us Anything!

Since we established a dedicated email for your feedback, we’ve received several thoughtful comments and questions. Keep them coming! We want to hear from you — we value your suggestions for how Nine Lives can do better and continue to grow. Send us your questions, comments, and suggestions to feedback@ninelivesfoundation.org.

Fundraising Update

We’d like to extend our sincerest gratitude to everyone who donated to our Mid-Year Fundraiser. We are thrilled to report that we met our goal of raising $30,000 by July 1st! Your support will go a long way in helping us cover significant expenses for vital equipment upgrades and replacements — some recently purchased over the last few months and some we plan to get soon. If you haven’t donated yet, it’s not too late! With your help, we can rescue more cats, provide life-saving treatment to more cats, and find loving, forever homes for more cats. To the entire Nine Lives Community, we are so grateful for your unwavering support. Thank you for being a part of our journey.