Told by Co-Founder Laurie

Our most harrowing rescue began with a Facebook plea for help: An orange mama cat with four kittens had been trying to jump into people’s cars at the local cemetery. We were told that one kitten had been adopted, but the three remaining babies and their mama were still at large. Hurrying onsite, we found the super-friendly orange mama who followed us and, true to her reputation, hopped into our car!

She was secured in a carrier, and after investigating the nearby wooded area bordering the cemetery, we found two of the three remaining kittens perched on a log across a ravine. A volunteer nabbed them both by hand and they happily joined Mamacat in the car.

Then we noticed a rough-looking man standing back near the headstones, watching us. When we approached him, we were thrilled to see the third kitten— climbing on his shoulders. We explained that we'd rescued the kitten's mama and siblings and asked if he'd let this baby join her family to get the medical care and safe home she needed. When he refused, we offered to buy her and explained the challenges of pet care, vaccinations, spaying, etc. but he cut us off, saying, “You act nice, but now I know you’re really Lucifer.” 

When pressed further on what he’d do if she needed vet care, he replied, “I’d turn her into a glove and wear her on my hand forever.” Stunned, we heard him add, “I’d like to skin you alive too… how would you like that?” — and realized it was time to leave. 

It was agonizing to walk away, but we weren't going to leave that baby behind. As soon as we were out of earshot, we called another member for backup and watched the man, kitten in hand, walk back to his campsite in the wooded area where we’d caught the babies.

In record time, our backup arrived with a pocketful of cash. She hurried to the man's campsite, where she saw him, holding the kitten in one hand — and a large knife in the other. She greeted him casually, and after refusing $100 and then $200, he finally accepted her offer of $300 — all the money she'd brought. Still holding the knife, he took the cash… and handed the kitten to our backup, who grabbed her and left.

Seeing her emerge from the bushes with that kitten in hand was a triumphant moment... and as soon as we placed Ransom in the carrier with her family, we hightailed it out of the cemetery ASAP, feeling deeply fortunate.

A week later, while listening to the news, we learned just how fortunate we really were. Not long after this rescue, the same man had murdered a local restaurant worker without any provocation. At his trial he pleaded no contest to that murder charge and a year-old charge for an attempted murder… and was incarcerated for life. 

Shocked by this awful tragedy, we were relieved that the mission ended well for the cats: Mama Marmalade is an elderly woman's beloved companion cat, Ransom and her sister were adopted by a stellar local cat-loving couple, and the third kitten, Orangeade, joined his forever family out of town.

That quadruple happy ending helped to mitigate the horror of the rescue and its tragic aftermath... and we will never forget the contrast between the cats' dream lives today and the nightmare they (and we) might have faced in the cemetery. 

Thank you for making these success stories a possibility for our community’s most vulnerable cats. To make more happy endings please donate here.