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Joy

On July 28th, 2024, some very seriously sweet kittens were born in Laredo, TX. With many strays in the area and little resources, they remained outside with their mother. Unfortunately, their mother was attacked by a loose dog and did not survive. The kind people feeding strays in the area quickly stepped in and rescued this sweet pair from the elements…and certain death.

The pair was bottle-fed until they were old enough to eat wet food on their own. Quickly growing and spunky, they captured their rescuer’s hearts. Jiji, the tiny black kitten, developed a penchant for climbing on shoulders. Joy, his sister, knew the comfort of a home when life on the streets was all she knew. Their future seemed bright, with adoption on the horizon.

The rescuers worked with a local rescue to get them adopted, but unfortunately, they tested positive for feline leukemia. The rescue could no longer take them in, and their rescuers didn’t have anywhere else to turn. So, they reached out to Shadow Cats in November of 2024. Our hearts absolutely melted, hearing their story, and we opened our doors to them.

Jiji and Joy are quickly coming out of their shells. Joy waltzes out with her tail up and a curious look in her eye when playtime is offered. She is a little more reserved, but once she trusts you, she can’t stop purring! But what’s absolutely adorable is that this normally shy girl feels so confident in the presence of her self-assured brother, it’s so sweet to see. These angels no longer have to worry about life on the street, and no matter how long or short their lifespan is with feline leukemia, we will do everything in our power to make sure it’s an incredible life.

Welcome home, Jiji and Joy. We are so excited to see you blossom and grow.

Joy has 1 Sponsor

Jewel Walker

Jiji

On July 28th, 2024, some very seriously sweet kittens were born in Laredo, TX. With many strays in the area and little resources, they remained outside with their mother. Unfortunately, their mother was attacked by a loose dog and did not survive. The kind people feeding strays in the area quickly stepped in and rescued this sweet pair from the elements…and certain death.

The pair was bottle-fed until they were old enough to eat wet food on their own. Quickly growing and spunky, they captured their rescuer’s hearts. Jiji, the tiny black kitten, developed a penchant for climbing on shoulders. Joy, his sister, knew the comfort of a home when life on the streets was all she knew. Their future seemed bright, with adoption on the horizon.

The rescuers worked with a local rescue to get them adopted, but unfortunately, they tested positive for feline leukemia. The rescue could no longer take them in, and their rescuers didn’t have anywhere else to turn. So, they reached out to Shadow Cats in November of 2024. Our hearts absolutely melted, hearing their story, and we opened our doors to them.

Jiji and Joy are quickly coming out of their shells (if Jiji ever had one to climb out of in the first place). Jiji tends to play with his toys like a boxer. He is quite the ham and is hardly camera-shy. His self-assured nature inspires confidence in his normally shy sister; they’re just precious, especially together. These sweet kittens no longer have to worry about life on the street, and no matter how long or short their lifespan is with feline leukemia, we will do everything in our power to make sure it’s an incredible life.

Welcome home, Jiji and Joy. We are so excited to see you blossom and grow.

Jiji has 2 Sponsors

Laura Cano

Kailey Watson

Kibble

Here at Shadow Cats, our focus usually falls on cats that are abused, abandoned, have special needs, and are living a dangerous life on the streets. We don’t usually take kitties from other rescue organizations unless they are at risk of euthanasia, but exceptions are made sometimes. Kibble was that exception.

In November of 2023, Kibble arrived at Austin Pets Alive! He had a previous tail amputation that they had to fix, a neck wound, and a huge bladder. They are unsure of his prior history. With a lot of time, effort, medication, and a tremendous amount of love, they nursed this sweet bunny-butt angel back to health. Kibble and his little nub tail moved in, and he was all set up to be adopted, with one catch: he needed to have manual bladder expressions. No big deal, right?

Unfortunately for Kibble, it ended up being a bigger deal than anyone hoped. He waffled between being able to urinate and defecate on his own and needing expressions, and developed lesions in his bladder. So, it was hard to find him the perfect home with such unique medical complications. Kibble went to three different adopters with the bright-eyed hope that he’d find his forever home, but each time, he was returned.

It became glaringly clear that getting this kitty adopted, no matter how sweet, energetic, and incredible he was, was going to be difficult. So, APA reached out to Shadow Cats: where we welcome special cases like Kibble, and embrace them. We had some room in Harmony and were touched by Kibbles’ story and how much effort APA had put in to find him the best outcome possible. So, we agreed to give Kibble that forever home he’d been hoping for!

In September of 2024, our Sanctuary Director drove to APA to pick him up and brought him home for good. Kibble is a very active boy; his previous tail injury and incontinence don’t stop him. To give him an outlet, we’ve placed a cat wheel in his isolation room with plans to move it into Harmony with him. He’s already figured it out and loves to go on runs!

Kibble is a free spirit, a quick learner, and an absolute sweetheart. Our team is plenty used to bladder expression kitties after caring so diligently for Pawl & Crinkle Fry. Kibble will receive exemplary care, sunbathe on the Harmony catio, and have playmates in Harmony ready for his rowdy energy when he moves. Maybe he can bunny-watch with Bruce, Crinkle Fry & Leo!

We feel so thankful to have Kibble among us and feel privileged to give him the soft place to land he’s always wanted, for forever this time.

Kibble has 3 Sponsors

Karen Smith

Jennifer Basham-Klijn

Allie Dono

Goji

In April of 2024, a sweet black cat found a family of cat lovers. He stopped by their home every morning and evening for a wet food treat for three weeks. They were able to get this little sweetheart and bring him to the vet, where he was fixed, vaccinated, and tested for feline leukemia and FIV due to his status as a stray. Unfortunately, he wound up testing positive for feline leukemia, a story we are all too familiar with here at Shadow Cats.

Their hearts broke since they had planned to keep this little panther but they knew that Goji deserved the world and worked tirelessly to find a place for him to go. Thankfully, we had the space to take this sweet boy, and he joined us at Shadow Cats in May of 2024! We kept his name, gifted by the people who rescued him, and we have collectively and quickly fallen in love with this sweet boy.

Goji is the sweetest little lovebug you’ll ever meet. He loves attention, loves a good belly rub, and loves to play! It was hard for us to get pictures of him because he was so playful and affectionate during his photoshoot, but the photos came out great anyway. Just look at those eyes! He’ll melt your heart (we know he melted ours). We’re so excited to see this boy’s personality shine and so excited to have the chance to give him a belly rub, or two…or three!

Welcome home, Goji!

Goji has 2 Sponsors

Christopher Biggins

Patricia Heltke

Delilah

In March of 2024, a sweet little kitten was found hiding in the bushes outside of a home. The residents couldn’t resist her sweet face and took her in, set on getting her veterinary care and a forever home! When taking her to the vet, the usual surprise happened that ends up happening with a lot of Shadow Cats…Delilah tested positive for feline leukemia. Still, they tirelessly searched for a home for this precious girl, but none could accommodate her condition. That’s why they reached out to us!

So to Shadow Cats Delilah came, and what a lover she is. She chirps at you, and isn’t shy about crying out for attention if yours is focused elsewhere! And when you stop to love on her, this sweet girl will make endless biscuits and even roll over on her back for a tummy rub. She is absolutely darling and has the most beautiful green eyes. She hasn’t decided how she feels about other kitties yet, but we will give this sweet angel all the time she needs to acclimate successfully. Welcome home, Delilah!

Delilah has 4 Sponsors

Lana Stone

Terri Torko

Sallie Newell

Jeni Johnson

Dottie

In March of 2024, Shadow Cats was contacted by a volunteer from Rainbow Journey Sanctuary. She informed us of a sad situation that resulted in a very uncertain future for the kitties at their Sanctuary, and we were happy to help! We took on three kitties from Rainbow Journey Sanctuary, and have been working towards getting them as comfy as possible in their new homes. One of those kitties is Dottie!

Dottie has a condition called Eosiniphilic Granuloma Complex where small plaques form in her mouth. We currently do not know what triggers this condition, but research suggests it could be tied to allergies. Thankfully, the condition is easily managed, though it gives her mouth a slightly puffy appearance. We think it just adds to her cuteness! And boy, is she cute! Dottie loves people, loves affection, and on her last day of isolation decided it was time to join Oasis and climbed right over the baby gate and into the living room! She walked around the room like she’s lived here for years, and we already love her like that’s the case!

Dottie has 3 Sponsors

Pam Lind

Shirley Johson

Marian Mitchell

Marshall

Montgomery County Animal Shelter in Texas acquired the sweetest boy in March of 2024. With the most beautiful eyes, a steely grey coat, and the propensity for biscuit making, Marshall stole the hearts of his rescuers. He loved to snuggle so much that they were sure he’d find a home and fast, but unfortunately, sweet Marshall tested positive for both FELV and FIV, leaving his options limited.

Shadow Cats was sent the sweetest images of Marshall being cradled like a baby and loving every moment of it. We had the space, and how could we turn down this precious boy and those big, sweet eyes? Marshall joined us at the end of March, and while he was a bit timid at first, nothing brought him out of his shell quite like a good scritch and a loving pet. He seems to love love and has a lot to give, always happy to find a lap to make biscuits on. Though his future became uncertain for a time, we’re so thrilled to have Marshall with us now, where he can live comfortably and always know a warm lap. We’re excited to get to know this sweet boy more as his personality unfurls when he joins the ranks of Cookie’s Annex.

Marshall has 2 Sponsors

Angie Noelle

David Newell

Crinkle Fry

In March of 2024, a woman who had been feeding a sweet community cat reached out to us. She told us that he had been coming to her backyard for two years, having been abandoned by his previous owner as a kitten. The normal routine of feeding and socialization was broken up though when this sweet kitty was found with a grievous injury and had to be rushed to the emergency vet. He received lifesaving care and was left in APA’s capable hands.

APA works tirelessly to give homeless kitties a place to call their own, and the newly minted Crinkle Fry was in need. Shadow Cats had the space and plenty of experience with incontinent cats that require bladder expressions. We didn’t have the heart to change his precious name, it suits him so much! This sweet, goofy boy loves attention, is extremely chatty, and doesn’t seem to have a care in the world related to his tail-pull injury. He now calls Shadow Cats his home, and we’re ecstatic to watch this sweet boy grow and recover.

Crinkle Fry has 1 Sponsors

Peggy Willenberg

Leo

Leo was rescued as a former community cat when his foster, Rebecca V, found this gentle giant suffering from some painful abscesses. She brought him to a vet right away, and upon examination, it was discovered that he was FIV+ and also struggling with asthma. He was given some steroids to help with his breathing but exhibited symptoms of diabetes shortly after. She took him back to the vet where her worries were confirmed: sweet Leo had diabetes. Knowing that Leo needed a new level of care with this diagnosis, Rebecca searched for a solution. She reached out to Shadow Cats and we were able to take Leo in December of 2023!

Leo is a big boy…weighing nearly 20 pounds! But in personality, he’s quite gentle and sweet. He sports an intense look, but there is nothing intimidating about him. He loves to be petted, and if you give him some diabetes-appropriate treats, he’ll become a fast friend of yours. You’ll find he’ll come out of his shell in no time. We’re thrilled to have Leo with us, named for his lion-like appearance, and so very excited to take advantage of all the snuggles this sweet boy has to offer.

Leo has 3 Sponsors

Rebecca Verdi

Alejandra Vela Marin

Stuart McKnight

Marigold

Our sweet ginger siblings did not have the easiest start to their lives. They were rescued by Friends of Rescue Animals, which supports the Garland Animal Shelter, from a situation where they were unable to get the proper nutrients and became malnourished. Both Marigold and Saffron struggled with stunted growth. Unfortunately, when they were examined by a veterinarian, it was discovered that both of these precious babies had Feline Leukemia. This created some bumps in the road on their journey, as finding a home for a bonded pair with feline leukemia is challenging. Thankfully, we had space here at Shadow Cats and took in these sweethearts in December of 2023.

Marigold is quite shy, but she’s incredibly sweet. If you hold her, you’ll hear her purring, and once she’s comfortable with you, she loves to play and has that sweet kitten energy about her! She has a beautiful sandy coat, and the biggest, softest gaze! She’s a special little girl, and we’re so excited to have her here and learn more about her as time goes on.

Marigold has 2 Sponsors

Hillary Rodgers

Lana Stone