Where can I see all the cats and kittens you have for adoption? 

We do things a little differently than other rescues. While you can follow our Facebook page to see some of the kittens we have and what we have been up to, we don't always post our kittens online. Making sure a kitten or cat is a good match for you and your family is our #1 priority. Many times people see a photo and get hung up on looks. A kitty might be gorgeous but if it spends it's life hiding under your sofa because your kids scare it, no one is happy. We review your application and conduct a phone interview and then give you some suggestions on the PURRFECT fit. We will send you photos and tell you about kitty. You will then go and meet kitty in it's foster home (or do a virtual meet and greet if needed) and spend time getting to know each other. Many times, we will get a kitten into the rescue and already have it's family approved and waiting. After 1000 adoptions, we have gotten pretty good at matchmaking! 

 

What types of animals does Heart of a Lion Rescue take in?

From March-October, we take in orphaned kittens under 4 weeks that are located in rural counties or shelters. Bottle feeding kittens requires specialized equipment and training which we provide to our fosters to ensure the best success rates. We also take adult cats from shelters as foster space allows. We do not take in dogs or other animals. 

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Do you take owner surrenders?

We do not take owner surrenders.  Please visit the Charlotte Humane Society to fill out the owner surrender form at https://humanesocietyofcharlotte.org/services/surrender-your-pet/cat-surrender-form-2/. If you got your cat from a rescue or breeder, please contact them for instructions on surrendering back to them. The majority of rescues and breeders have this requirement in the contract you signed. Please be aware that the Charlotte Humane Society does NOT require an adoption application for cats and kittens. We do not agree with this policy and encourage you to use them as a last resort if you are unable to re-home your baby yourself.  Additional options may be listed at https://www.petfinder.com/animal-shelters-and rescues/search/.

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I found a healthy/friendly cat or kitten over 4 weeks or I have been feeding a mom and/or babies and need help getting them placed. Can you take them? 

Because we are a small volunteer rescue without a facility, we stay at maximum capacity. Our first priority is always singleton orphans under 4 weeks and adolescent and adult cats in rural counties and shelters. Occasionally, in the winter, we are able to make exceptions but this is rare. We recommend trying to place the kittens yourself by advertising with good photos on Next Door, Facebook, checking with friends and family, co-workers, etc. Always charge a small adoption fee and check references. You are welcome to send us an email with photos and a description of the animals you need help placing and we will respond within 48 hours only if we can help. Our email is heartofalionrescue@yahoo.com. If you are in Mecklenburg County, please email animals@cmpd.org or is this is an emergency, call 311 and tell them you have an emergency issue and they will patch you through to Charlotte Animal Control. If you are in Charlotte and are able to keep the kittens and need help placing them, please contact the Charlotte Humane Society. They will assist with guidance and vetting. PLEASE NOTE: Charlotte Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control is attempting to become a no-kill shelter and feels the best way to accomplish this is by reducing the number of cats and kittens they accept. Therefore, they will not take in healthy strays. They are required legally to take in owner surrenders over 4 weeks or confirmed orphan kittens (mom has passed). Please take this into consideration when calling them for help. 

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I found an injured or sick friendly cat or kitten outside that appears to be over 2 lbs. 

If a friendly cat that looks malnourished or injured approaches you looking for help, especially in a commercial area, please take to a vet to scan for a chip and report to your local animal control. If the cat is injured and it's after hours,  please take the cat to the closest emergency vet. Most vets will see injured cats during normal business hours and any vet can scan for a microchip.  If you are unable to afford care, please take the cat to animal control if you are in Union, Gaston, Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Lincoln, Anson, York, or Lancaster county.  These shelters will scan for a chip, evaluate the animal and post as lost. They will actively pursue rescue for all adoptable animals and if the animal is severely injured, they can humanely euthanize. Sadly, there are many things worse than death and leaving an injured animal to die from a predator attack, a wound, or starvation is never okay. It's very possible the cat was lost or dumped and needs your help. PLEASE DO NOT WALK AWAY.  

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I found a tiny kitten alone (under 2 lbs or unable to walk yet). 

If the kitten is too small to walk and hidden, most likely mom is nearby. Quiet kittens are usually happy kittens. Watch from a distance to see if mom returns in the next 8 hours. She might be out looking for food. If the kitten is crying loudly, cold, or in an unsafe area, you may remove the kitten. The most important thing is to keep the kitten warm. Kittens over 4 weeks (about 1 lb that are able to walk easily) are usually able to eat mush. DO NOT FEED COW MILK AND DO NOT FEED A COLD KITTEN. Kitten Lady provides guidance on feeding a small kitten here: http://www.kittenlady.org/kitten-care. If you are unable to care for the kitten and in Mecklenburg County, please physically take the kitten to the Charlotte Animal Control as soon as possible (24 hours max). They are open 7 days a week from 6am to 10pm. If you are in a rural area, please send us an email with photos of the kitten and we will respond as quickly as possible with instructions. Our email address is heartofalionrescue@yahoo.com If you not heard back within 24 hours, please take the kitten to a veterinarian office and surrender it if you are unsure how to care for it. If you are unsure of the kitten's age, here is a useful guide. https://www.alleycat.org/resources/kitten-progression/

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I saw a cat at a grocery store, under my shed, etc. but it ran away when I approached.

Community cats live in almost every neighborhood and commercial area in this city. If the cat runs from you, it's most likely feral and should either be TNR'ed (trapped, neutered, released) or in some cases, if the cat has a clipped ear, it's part of a colony already and has been part of a TNR project. Friends of Feral Felines can give you guidance and loan traps for TNR. You can reach their hotline at 704-348-1578. The Humane Society of Charlotte also has a TNR program and you can learn about it here. https://humanesocietyofcharlotte.org/services/community-cats-program/

 

Do you have a facility I can visit?

Our rescue is 100% foster-based. We do not have a facility. We have adoption events as needed by appointment only. To meet any of our cats, you must have an approved adoption application on file. Please click on the Adoption Application link at the top of this page to complete. 

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How can I make a donation?

Monetary donations can be made by clicking the DONATE NOW button on the top of our page or by check (please contact us for the address to send). Gift cards to Revival Animal Health, Allivet, Chewy, Petsmart or Petco are always welcome. We also have an Amazon Wish list that can be found here: http://a.co/gxjSvbn. We can accept cleaned gently used cat trees and hard carriers. We cannot accept used litter boxes, toys, pet beds or anything fabric due to our little ones not yet formed immune systems. We do take donations of all kinds for fundraisers so please contact us if you are interested in learning about how you can help. Most large employers will make donations on either a matching program or volunteer hours. Click the Double the Donation link to see if your company matches!

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Can I make a donation in honor of a human or furry friend?

Yes! Click the donate now button and then email us the recipient and giver name and we will send you a certificate to present to them within 1 week. The email is heartofalionrescue@yahoo.com

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I'm down on my luck and need help with pet food or care. Can Heart of a Lion Rescue help?

We will also do our best to help our community pets. If you are in Mecklenburg county, please visit https://humanesocietyofcharlotte.org/retention/pet-food-bank/. If you are not in Mecklenburg, please fill out the form at www.heartofalionrescue.org/foodassistance for help with dry food. For other assistance, please contact us and we will do our best to help or guide you in the right direction. 

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Do you need volunteers?

We ALWAYS need fosters or help with transporting cats and kittens to vet appointments. We do not need adoption event help at this time. If you would like to talk to us about long term volunteering of a special skill (i.e. website help, fundraising, etc) please contact us. We definitely can put you to work. We do post fundraising event volunteer opportunities on our Facebook page as they are available and those are available to all ages.  

 

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Why don't you have a phone number listed? 

We are strictly a volunteer organization and most of our volunteers work full time. We have found the FAQ portion of our site is helpful in most situations and if not, emailing below is the most efficient way to communicate with us.