Feline Rescue, located at 593 Fairview Ave is full of furry creatures all waiting to find their forever home. Cats are brought into Feline Rescue through other shelters, animal control and people who abandon their animals at the door.

“Our mission is working with stray, abandoned and abused cats and get them into a home. We want them to be permanently adopted… Every cat is wanted,” said Phil Manz, executive director of Feline Rescue.

The cats are kept in three tiered kennels with one level for play, one for food, and one for their litter box with the animals being able to easily maneuver through the levels through tunnels connecting each tier. The rescue is staffed mostly by volunteers who feed, play with and generally care for the cats. Amanda Thompson has been a volunteer at Feline Rescue for the past two years.

“I want to be a veterinary assistant, so I thought it would be good to start working with a rescue and I want to own my own rescue one day,” Thompson said.

The shelter also offers fostering options. Fostering is primarily used for kittens. This is because kittens are more fragile and have lower immune systems so being in a shelter puts them at higher risk for getting sick.

“In the foster home they can be with their mom. Babies pass away much easier in shelter situations. Foster homes have a higher survival rate for babies,” veterinary assistant Rebecca Holloway Doyle said.

Hamline senior Adrienne Novy adopted her cat, Laurie, through Feline Rescue. Novy was looking for an emotional support animal and thought that a cat would be easier to take care of than a dog.

“My friend had adopted her cat from feline rescue and I had a couple other friends and coworkers that have also adopted from them. They said nothing but wonderful things,” Novy said.

Initially, Novy was going to adopt a cat named Hamburger Helper but soon learned that the cat had already been claimed. She then had to start the adoption process over.

“I wanted a cat that was snuggly and was chill and I could play with it, and I could also leave them alone for like eight hours when I do a shift at work,” Novy said.

Because the initial adoption fell through, Feline Rescue waived the adoption fee. Novy said that once she met Laurie for the first time, she knew it was the right decision.

“I picked him up and it felt right,” Novy said.  “The week that I had gotten Laurie, my family’s dog was diagnosed with a very aggressive cancer, so I felt like this little guy couldn’t have come into my life at a more perfect time.”

If you have any questions or are interested in adopting or volunteering, you can contact Feline Rescue at info@felinerescue.org.