Hello Friends, 

My name is Elle, and I am a student at Samford University. For my internship over the summer, I decided to reach out to the marketing and development team at Furkids to see if they needed any extra hands. I was thrilled to be able to join the team and help in any way I could. I decided to first go visit the cat shelter to better understand Furkids and meet some of the cats. Here is the story of my experience!

Welcome In

Whenever I heard someone bring up an animal rescue, I would immediately think of the sad videos during Christmas of all the animals in cages giving teary-eyed looks to the camera. I can now say I have never thought of that when I am at Furkids. I met cats free roaming the grand area, rubbing against all who walk through the front door. Seeing the beautiful open windows where they can view all the wildlife around them and even be outside in the catios is heartwarming. If anyone is looking for a nice place to study or get some work done, the cat cafe is a quiet and peaceful area to pet some cats and enjoy the scenery. Fresh coffee and purring cats are a great mix. 

Volunteers

You will notice that there are many people doing various tasks. These are the volunteers, and they are some of the kindest people you can meet.​​ They advocate for these cats, help clean their areas, socialize with the more frightened cats, and one even told me that “if anyone says anything bad about these cats to let them know.” These people are here because they want to come and spend time with these animals and help in any way they can. And to be honest, can you blame them? You get to pet cute kitties all day. 

Grand Adoption Room 

Walking into the Grand Adoption Room at Furkids Cat Headquarters for the first time felt like stepping into a peaceful retreat tucked away in the woods. As a college student used to the chaos of campus life, I was immediately struck by how calm and open the space felt. The tall wooden ceilings and huge windows filled the room with natural light and offered beautiful views of the trees just outside—like the cats were a part of nature. It wasn’t like any shelter I’d seen before. The cats were free-roaming, lounging in sunny spots, peeking out from cozy corners, and curiously greeting visitors. The room felt less like a shelter and more like a modern sanctuary built to give these animals the peace and space they deserve. 

The Impact

Since the opening of the cat shelter in December of 2023, Furkids has adopted out over 4,000 cats! This is an amazing number and keeps growing as more people find fur-babies to enrich their lives. After speaking with some of the volunteers, they told me to go check out the rooms and just get to know some of their residents. It is interesting to see all the different rooms.

You may see some that have cats that are FIV+ or have FELV. There are also rooms for kittens and seniors because you never know what type of cat will steal your heart. I first stopped in Room 4, which holds some of the most well-known cats in the shelter that just need a little more TLC, “tender love and care.” 

Eileen, 3 year 3-year-old orange tabby. Broken pelvis with bathroom problems. 

Room 4: Eileen 

As soon as I walked in, a pair of big green eyes stared up at me. The sweetest orange cat had attached herself to my leg, rubbing back and forth, trying to get some attention. I soon found out from the volunteer who was doing a little cleaning in there that Eileen had found her next victim. The volunteer had made me aware that Eileen had lost some motion in her back legs due to being hit by a car. At the age of 3, she had already been through so much and had a narrow pathway to adoption due to a human accident. It broke my heart that such a sweet girl could be overlooked because of something she had no control over. I gave sweet Eileen a ton of scratches, and she had a fun time playing with a feather toy that was in the room. For having less motion than the average cat, she was able to pounce on those toys. 

Kya, a 5-year-old tortoise, is very soft and loves pets. 

No Cat is the Same 

It is interesting to see not only the varying colors you see in the cats but also the vast personalities. The cats that you meet in the shelter differ as much as we do from each other. Being around these cats, you notice some who are very outgoing and beg for attention, and those that are more reserved but appreciate the soft pets that are given. There are even cats that will flop over and show you their bellies, but do not be fooled; it may be a trap in a fluffy disguise. 

Walking in the doors and immediately getting greeted by cats was a special moment. The Grand Adoption Room and Cat Cafe were scenic and peaceful, with cats climbing the scratching posts or playing with the volunteers. It was a different experience being able to go room to room to see the different personalities of these cats and their quirks. It truly tugs at your heartstrings to meet these special cats that are so deserving of homes and families that may never find one. I want to advocate for these sweethearts who are waiting for the right person to come along and see how special they are. And who knows, your best friend could be waiting for you in one of those rooms.