Get ready to fall in love with Jack, an incredibly sweet 8-year-old kitty whose gentle spirit shines through — even if his appearance is a little rough around the edges. With his white fur dotted with big black spots, Jack is undeniably handsome, though he does look a bit scraggly right now: he’s quite thin, his fur is yellowed from messy mealtimes, and he’s healing from a few scratches. But behind that scruffy exterior is a heart overflowing with love.
Jack came to Nine Lives after a series of tough breaks. He was first rescued in Fresno, but lost his home when his guardian faced financial hardship. Wanting to give him the safety he deserved, she reached out to us for help.
By the time Jack arrived, he was frail and dehydrated. His fur was matted and patchy, and his mouth was in agony — most of his teeth were missing, and the few that remained were horribly diseased, turning every meal into a struggle. On top of that, he was fighting ringworm and a painful urinary tract infection.
But what a difference expert veterinary care can make! After receiving dental surgery at our clinic, Jack can finally eat comfortably — and he truly loves his meals. Since his surgery two weeks ago, he’s gained over 20% of his body weight! His wounds and infection have healed, and his ringworm treatment is coming along well.
Despite everything he’s been through, Jack is pure sweetness. His previous guardian described him as “incredibly sweet and happy,” and we couldn’t agree more. He adores people, loves curling up in laps, and starts purring the moment he’s touched.
Jack isn’t quite ready for adoption yet, but when the time comes, we know someone special will see past the scruff to the loving soul within.
To learn more about Jack and the other cats in our care, visit our website at ninelivesfoundation.org/adoptions. And if you’d like to help us save more cats like Jack, please consider making a donation — your generosity truly saves lives.
Nine Lives has once again been certified as a no-kill organization by Best Friends Animal Society! This recognition is a testament to the incredible impact we’ve made together.
Last year, we rescued nearly 1,000 cats and kittens from the streets, high-risk shelters, hoarding situations, and other dangerous circumstances. We also partnered with over 50 rescue organizations to expand our reach and amplify our impact.
Nine Lives staff with our new plaque 💙
Despite taking in many sick, injured, and medically complex cats, we maintained an extraordinary 98% live release rate. Our commitment to helping the most vulnerable felines is at the heart of what we do!
This success is thanks to our incredible veterinary team, staff, and volunteers. They provide compassionate and skilled care every single day, ensuring every cat gets the best possible chance at a healthy life.
Thank you for helping us keep our promise to these cats. We are, proudly and forever, a no-kill lifeline!
Fight the Fungus
Over the past few months, we’ve welcomed dozens of ringworm-positive kittens into our shelter. While the name might sound a bit intimidating, ringworm is far less scary than it seems!
Ms. Krabs is one of our current ringworm patients
First off, it’s not a worm at all — it’s a common, treatable fungal infection, very similar to athlete’s foot in humans. While it can cause some hair loss and flaky skin, with proper care, these kittens will go on to live perfectly healthy lives.
Sadly, many shelters lack the resources to treat ringworm, often leading to euthanasia for affected kittens. But at Nine Lives, we’re committed to giving every one of these kittens the chance they deserve.
That’s where YOU come in. To ensure these vulnerable kitties get the care they need to thrive, we desperately need more ringworm foster parents. While treating ringworm is a bit more hands-on than your average foster experience, it’s totally manageable and deeply rewarding.
Here’s a snapshot of what ringworm care looks like:
Oral Medication: A daily pill (one week on, one week off).
Medicated Baths: Twice weekly with a special shampoo — just lather, wait ten minutes, and rinse!
Cleaning: Their foster space needs a deep clean twice a week.
Weekly Check-ins: A quick “toothbrush test” helps us track the kitten’s progress.
Timeline: Most kittens need four to six weeks of foster care.
Former ringworm patients available for adoption
Want to be a hero? Fostering ringworm kittens truly saves lives. If you have some extra time, patience, and don’t mind a bit of laundry, we’d be thrilled to have you join our team.
Is your cat ready to be a star? Our 2026 Calendar Photo Fundraiser is open for submissions through July 31, and your cat could be crowned our “Cover Cat” or featured as a “Cat of the Month”! Every photo submitted will be included in the calendar, so every cat is a star!
Simply snap a photo of your cat’s best pose and upload it to our fundraiser website. Then, encourage everyone you know — your family, friends, co-workers, and social media followers — to vote and make your cat a star! The entry with the most votes will grace the cover of the Nine Lives Foundation 2026 calendar.
Each photo entry is a $35 donation to Nine Lives and includes one vote and a complimentary copy of the 2026 calendar. Want to boost your cat’s chances? Additional votes are just $1 each.
Each entry and vote helps us save homeless cats and kittens and provide low-cost spay/neuter services for pets in our community.
Don’t miss this opportunity to show off your beloved pet and support a great cause. Submit your photo and vote today!
Every day at Nine Lives, we witness incredible acts of resilience and inspiring transformations. It’s what we see in the hundreds of cats and kittens who arrive at our doors desperate for help.
Already this year, we’ve rescued over 700 cats and kittens — and kitten season is far from over. Many arrive fragile and facing serious challenges. But every single one matters. Just ask Little Miracle! (You can watch her story on ABC7 News here.)
Two weeks ago, during rush hour on Highway 85, two tiny kittens were spotted dodging speeding traffic. One tragically didn’t make it. The other, now named Little Miracle, wedged herself deep inside a car’s tire well after a kind driver stopped to help. What followed was a harrowing rescue: multiple drivers, CHP officers, and a tow truck operator worked together to free her from danger.
Little Miracle ❤️
With singed whiskers and burned paw pads from the hot engine, Little Miracle was rushed to Nine Lives. She weighed just 2 pounds and was battling ear mites, dehydration, and trauma. But she was alive.
Today, under the care of our veterinary team, Little Miracle is safe, healing, and discovering the comfort of indoor life. Her appetite is strong, her spirit even stronger, and now she has the chance every cat deserves.
Little Miracle’s story is extraordinary, but she’s not alone. Every week, more cats and kittens just like her arrive at Nine Lives in urgent need: fragile, overlooked, and fighting to survive.
The demand for this lifesaving work keeps growing, and even when our resources are stretched thin, our commitment never wavers. But we couldn’t do it without you. Together, we turn the hardest cases into true miracles.
If Little Miracle’s journey has moved you, please consider making a donation today. Your generosity saves lives — on highways, in shelters, and everywhere in between.
