True to her legendary namesake, Dolly has plenty of charm, a sweet disposition, and a way of winning over just about everyone she meets.
This stunning two-year-old dilute calico came to Nine Lives in August from one of our local rescue partners. After a little TLC and treatment for an upper respiratory infection, she quickly made herself at home.
While she waits for her big break—a forever home—Dolly can usually be found lounging contentedly in her favorite bed, surrounded by her beloved plush mouse and toy collection.
She is exceptionally gentle, affectionate, and happiest when leaning in for soft chin scratches or slow-blinking at you from her cozy quilt.
With her soft pastel patches, luminous green eyes, and easygoing nature, Dolly has no trouble building a loyal fan club. Yet despite all her admirers, she’s still waiting for someone to make it official and take her home.
If you have an empty spot on the sofa and room in your heart for a loyal, purring companion, Dolly might just be the one you’ve been waiting for.
Come visit her at our Adoption Center, open Thursdays and Fridays from noon to 5:00 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. No appointment needed!
Backpacks are packed, alarm clocks are set, and summer schedules are giving way to the hustle and bustle of school and work. But while you’re getting back into a routine, your cat may suddenly be spending more time home alone.
The good news? Enrichment doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. A few everyday items can easily satisfy your cat’s natural instincts while you’re out.
Go Vertical: Cats love to climb and observe their surroundings from above. A sturdy bookshelf or a sunny window perch offers great vertical territory without the footprint of a bulky cat tree.
Make Mealtime a Treasure Hunt: Skip the food bowl and turn feeding into a game. Try placing kibble in a box filled with crumpled paper, under a few paper cups, or in other easy-to-find hiding spots. Start simple and ramp up the challenge as your cat gets the hang of it.
The kittens love their window perch!
Change Things Up: You don’t need a mountain of toys. Rotating just two or three items every few days keeps familiar spaces feeling fresh. Novelty itself is enriching!
Think Inside the Box: Before tossing that delivery box into the recycling bin, turn it into an activity center. Cut a few paw-sized holes into the sides and toss in crumpled paper or a few treats. Your cat can paw, sniff, and explore at their own pace.
Yakko exploring his enrichment box.
Mental stimulation is vital for our shelter cats, too. Our Cat Care & Enrichment volunteers are trained to provide daily playtime, sensory exploration, and companionship while learning each cat’s unique personality.
Want to help our shelter cats have happier, more enriching days? Consider becoming a Cat Care & Enrichment volunteer at Nine Lives!
DAF Day is October 8
If you have a Donor Advised Fund, DAF Day is a great opportunity to put those funds to work for cats and kittens in need. Giving to Nine Lives through your DAF is simple: just select DAFpay on our donation form. It’s quick, secure, and ensures your gift goes directly to saving lives.
Prefer to give through your financial institution? DAF gifts can be mailed to:
Nine Lives, Attn: Kristy Ettinger
749 Brewster Avenue
Redwood City, CA 94063
For EFT details, email giving@ninelives.org. Please ask your financial institution to include your name with your gift so we know who to thank!
Donating stock is another smart way to give. When you donate appreciated stock, you can avoid capital gains tax and deduct the full value of your gift. It’s fast, safe, and easy through DonateStock.com—you can give directly from your brokerage account in minutes.
* This information is not tax advice. Tax benefits vary based on individual circumstances. Please consult a tax advisor before making your gift.
Liam’s Corner
Every once in a while, I think it’s important to stop, take stock, and really look at what we’re accomplishing together. And this year, there’s a lot to be proud of.
As of today, we’ve performed more than 7,000 surgeries—nearly 2,000 more than this point last year. We’ve already surpassed our total for all of 2025, and we’re now pushing toward an ambitious goal of 10,000 surgeries by the end of this year.
Our rescue work tells the same story.
More than 1,200 cats and kittens have come through our doors in 2026—up 35% from this time last year.
Already, 1,050 have found forever homes, and another 200 are in our care, either at the shelter or with foster families.
To me, this is what our growth is really about. It’s not about bigger numbers for the sake of being bigger. It’s about being able to say yes more often.
Yes to the shelter asking us to take another litter of kittens. Yes to the community cat who needs surgery. Yes to the family who loves their cat but can’t afford veterinary care.
That’s exactly why we’re taking part in Champions for Pet Health on September 25 and 26.
As part of this Bay Area initiative to expand access to veterinary care, our team will provide free spay and neuter surgeries and vaccines to help Bay Area families access the care their cats deserve.
By removing financial barriers, we ensure pets stay healthy, happy, and right where they belong: with the families who love them.
But growth like this doesn’t happen by accident—and it certainly doesn’t happen for free.
Every surgery requires anesthesia, medications, supplies, and a skilled veterinary team. Every cat we rescue needs food, vaccines, medical attention, and a path to adoption. Our new campus gave us the room to do more. Now, we need the resources to sustain it.
If you believe in what we can do together, please make a gift today. Your generosity helps us keep saying yes—to more rescues, more surgeries, and more cats who need us.
