Rescuing an older cat who needed help 

We were found one summer night by an abandoned pregnant momma cat. She was so emaciated at the time that we didn’t know she was carrying babies. Since all shelters were closed that late at night, we brought her home and set her up with food, water, a litter and a blanket in our garage. The next morning, we found out she’d had three kittens during the night. Since she and the kittens would have been euthanized, we decided to foster them even though we already had three other cats. We ended up finding loving homes for momma and two of the girls and ended up keeping one. Lily was with me for 18 years. She passed away a couple years ago from terminal kidney disease. But she had a wonderful 18 years as an indoor cat with lots of love.

I adopted a cat just like her, same age, same situation. One of the best decisions of my life

"I can't hear her heart now because she's purring so much" damn who's cutting onions in my room?

Aaaannd..all of this time, work and food, and veterinarian care, all costs lots of money. Please, please donate what you can to these rescue centers. I know also, that Flatbush Cats has a list of meds, food and other supplies that can be ordered online and shipped to them directly. This help is so important. Thank you all rescuers who are spending some very cold nights in the streets caring and rescuing..there is also a major snowstorm coming this way for the next two days.

Can we take a moment to recognize how great of a person this guy is.

At that age, she’s probably had multiple litters, maybe even cats that you’ve rescued in the past. One of my best cats was an older girl when we got her. We could tell she’d been a mouser because she would behead and disembowel her toy mice.

5-7 isn't even that old for a cat! that's practically within their prime. my vet told me once how indoor cats really only start declining in their mid teens and can live into the 20's more commonly now. my cat is 13, and while he's no spring chicken, he's still an active old man!

I adopted a 4-year-old cat as my last cat and she was the sweetest cat I've ever lived with. I HIGHLY encourage anyone I talk to who is thinking about getting a pet to try an older animal, knowing that they are a less popular choice. Thank you for your sweet videos and the incredible work you do.

When I was a kid my dad found a small cat outside his workshop in an industrial area. She was rail thin and pregnant. The vet said with her growth stunted that she wouldn't be able to give birth on her own. If we didn't find and get her to a vet for a c-section the birth would kill her. My parents decided to go ahead to have her fixed and terminate the pregnancy. So sad, but she was so weak it gave her a chance to recover fully. She had a long happy life with our family. Thank you for giving Bella that same chance. ♥️

You’re seriously wonderful people. Bella is a beautiful girl. She’s so lucky to have such a loving family and that loving family is lucky to have her.

You guys are incredible.

It is a sensitive topic, it is very brave of you to talk about it. But it was delivered with so much love and care ❤ Wish you luck and inspiration to continue doing what you do

when they said "waiting for their moment in the sun" and showed Bella lying in the sun puddle.... i teared up

She is incredibly lucky to have crossed your path and had someone who opened their heart and home to her. She looks extremely appreciative of her new life. May she have many years of skritches and love.

The way she looks out of her eyes: you can see what a darling she is. So glad she has a loving home now. Thanks to all involved.

Ohhh how I wish people wouldn’t age-judge. So happy Bella found her forever home, and that you found Bella before she ended up unwanted in a shelter. This pretty cat deserves a good home and a good life.

as someone who worked in an animal shelter... truly, it's hard to make that decision to spay a pregnant cat and i think all of us (i know i did) grieved for the unborn kittens. but it was something we really do have to do to keep rescuing those kitties out there with our limited resources. thank you so much for talking about it, it's definitely one of the hardest topics to touch on as people who work in animal care and rescue. she's a lovely kitty and i'm so happy you saved her

You have chosen an incredibly difficult path in life with it's attendant pain and heartbreaking decisions. It is clear to me that you are both fueled by love, you are very special people.

My family took in a stray cat we'd been feeding roughly 15 years ago now. When she first started coming around mom said no to bringing her inside because we already had 7 or 8 cats at the time. She'd come running whenever I called for her. When she hurt her paw or was bit, we took her to the vet; then she quarantined in my room for a month. She only ever got along with one of our other cats, and was estimated to be around 8 years old. I named her Into, and she spent her days sleeping or playing in my room, and had a heated blanket to sleep on I took her with me when I moved out. She passed only 3 or 4 years after we brought her in from kidney disease. We now have an 12ish year old we adopted who has diabetes, and I love him to death along with our other 2 kitties. When he passes I definitely want to adopt another senior kitty

Personally, I prefer to adopt adult cats. I don’t have patience for a high energy kitten, or teenage cat.

I grew up in those freezing NYC winters. I cannot begin to know how hard it is for those suffering mamas/to be. Spay/neuter saves lives. Some people just cannot understand how important this is. Bella finally got the life they all deserve. PLEASE SPAY/NEUTER 🙏🏽😻😻😻

I came here like a jet because I love every post you guys make

05:23 "Draw me like one of your French girls."

I adopted an older cat a few years ago from a shelter and she has been one of the best pets I've had the pleasure of having in my life. I always recommend people looking for new pets to not be scared off by older animals, they still have plenty of love to give!

I truly wish we could save them all. I just loss a senior cat last week. He wasn't with me long,but I gave him better than he had before.

This is a cat who look for a home.

I expected the happy end to be with kittens. Took a while for the message to sink in.

lovely cat. more people need to understand euthanasia. lots of people hear "kill shelter" & get the idea that they shouldnt support kill shelters, when really, kill shelters need the most support.

Older cats (and dogs too) have a particular charm and still have a lot of love to give! It's kinda disheartening that they get adopted less :(

I am a volunteer in a shelter in the Netherlands. Cats are not killed overhere. They can stay as long as it takes. Sometimes even more than a year. We have cats of all ages, with 3 legs or one eye. It doesn't matter. We find a home for all of them. I like what you're doing and I support FC with $5,50 a month.

The biggest issue IS lack of resources and low-priced spray and neuter services. Thank you for saving her and for all Flatbush Cats does to find cats homes and raise awareness. ❤️💪🏻😻

For me, I would much rather see pregnant spaying than unwanted kittens born in the streets to a horrible life. Some sweet day none of this will be necessary thanks to the efforts of the TNR community. Love to them all. 😢❤️

Heartbreaking truth. If only every single cat can encounter a miracle like this - what a dream this world would be. Meanwhile we try our human best to help cats in various plights - domestically & overseas. Not much - but we try our best. Please thumbs up & comment for more advertising revenue to this worthy cause.

thank you for addressing this difficult topic. 800,000 cats per year is too many. i hope more people will give money and resources to help TNR programs.

I just love this video. I am this babies Cat Sitter and she is so very precious. Her mom and dad could not love her more. Thank you so much for saving her and for doing everything that you do.

It's such an important topic to talk about - it is an essential tool for cat rescue just as much as any other. We found what we thought was a kitten in our back yard one day in the middle of winter which turned out to be a grown cat, albeit extremely small in stature, weighing just under 3kg. We realised she was pregnant and took her to the vet who spayed her and terminated the pregnancy. At the time we simply didn't have the resources to take her in and also had a sickly older cat that we would not have wanted to stress out by introducing a new cat. A few years later, our first cat had sadly passed away but that gave us a chance to take in the little one who we had been taking care of as an outside cat. I'm so glad the vet performed the procedure. I know she would've had trouble protecting her babies from the tomcats and other dangers given how tiny she was and I know it was the best choice for her, as well as not having to go through the trauma of birth. She's now a total indoor cat getting food straight to her bed 5 times a day.

Shelter. A safe haven. Warmth in the winter. Coolness in the summer. Fresh food and clean water. Humans who love and protect instead of hurt or hate or chase away. These are blessings for a cat or a human. Why, if we are so advanced, can we not provide enough for people and animals in need? -- That mama cat may have had a home some years ago, to accept a human place to live so readily, although I'm sure she was desperate for enough food and for a safe place to give birth and care for her babies. -- Where I am, we are going to have reacord-breaking high temps getting into the 100's by the end of this week and into next week, with no chance of rain. That's about two weeks of temps at least a month earlier than normal, breaking records. That's going to stress out people and cats and dogs alike. -- I'm going to put out a water bowl under the stairs by my apartment door to the parking lot. The strays need help. I'm handicapped, and getting rides and budget are very tough lately. I don't have a good, easy way to get my own two cats, both rescues from the same situation, to the vet; one is overdue to be spayed, the other was spayed last year. -- I don/t really have apt, space for another cat, but if another stray kitten shows up, I'd do it. It is kitten season, and the strays are breeding. There is a new crop of regulars after the last batch disappeared, but one or two who are still around with the new ones. It's unbelievable and constant. The need for help is always there. -- About threee years ago, I fostered a mom cat and her kittens, right before the pandemic lockdown, and oh, by the time I could find any no-kill shelter to take them, the kittens were so big and eating me out of house and home! But they got to a shelter where they could be adopted out, and the mama and kittens were safe, had their shots, and mama had been spayed before I got them there. It was worth it. (Mama cat had decided my apt. was the place for her and her babies, and invited herself in. Haha.) Moral: even if you can only two a little bit, do that and work on it. I can't do a whole lot, but I can do a little for the strays still. It makes me feel better, even when the strays are too feral and scared to approach for help. At least they get a little food and the idea that some humans are kind enough to help a little. The reward of a rescue, like my own two cats, is worth it.

She has a loving nature the age shouldn't matter.

Thank you. It took me a while to understand. Vets and people working in animal shelters are not heartless souls. They have to decide what is best and possible. Nobody said it would be easy working there. Sometimes I don't get people overreacting to such decisions. I mean, what exactly would they do if they had no recourses, money, space and time? It was a sad situation, yes, but the best option for Bella. She is such a sweet heart! Our first cat was a stray from the street and lived with us for nearly 16 years. Our current kitty adopted us when we visited our local animal shelter. Back then she was about 6-7, and now being about 17 years old she is on medications due to age. But she is still the snuggle bug that followed us around in the animal shelter. And we explicitly didn't want a kitten. Best decision ever!

Flatbush Cat folks you are amazing!!! So many people don't understand what feral, unwanted cats go through. They think cats are happy roaming the streets living off of rodents and producing litter after unwanted litter of kittens, many of which will never survive to the age of one year. And terminating unborn kittens is heartbreaking. The first time I made that decision I cried. But it was equally heart wrenching to find kitten after dead kitten abandoned by their moms who could not care for them and to find 25 live kittens, 6 weeks and younger, in an alley, with no one to claim them. I have rescued cats ( some dogs) for 25 years and it is not easy and not cheap. If anyone reads this, please consider donating to Flatbush Cats, your local rescue or shelter or an individual who rescues. I know these are difficult days but any dollar, bag or can of food helps. Thank you!

She looks similar to a cat I've been feeding in my neighborhood. I think my neighbors just stopped taking care of him 😔

😊💜 Thank you !

Beautiful story. Love my cat that I adopted a few months back who is 13 years old with diabetes in remission, arthritis, and early signs of kidney disease. His medical issues don't phase me and are treatable with a special diet and liquid glucosamine that I add to his wet food. He's loving senior life, basking in the winter sunlight and spoiled rotten.

I'm a "failed foster" many times over. Oldest cat I've fostered was approx. 12 years old. Rescued from the streets. Was obviously once someone's pet. She became part of my family. We've had her for 3 years now. I have 10 cats. 8 of them are rescues and the love that I get back from them is just wonderful. Suffice to say, all of them are neutered, spayed and all are indoor cats. None of them will ever be left out in the cold again. Here in the UK we don't have kill shelters. Only cats that are too badly injured or terminally ill are PTS and all cats adopted from rescues, many of which are local run by volunteers are neutered or spayed before adoption. In the case of kittens, the adopter must sign an agreement to have the kitten neutered/spayed with a letter from the vet confirming this when they are old enough. You do an amazing job. Thankyou for saving these cats.

We are so greatful that.people like you exist and work and offer so much in this difficult and often bitter world. Thank you. Greetings and best wishes from Athens, Greece.

Ah yes, time for my regularly-scheduled Flatbush Cats cry session

I love that you not only rescue these animals (and release again when appropriate), but you are so knowledgeable and you share that knowledge with us so we also can know better. And you do everything you can to address the root(s) of the problem(s). Your approach is really stellar, and I applaud you for it.

I always have adopted older cats for this reason, it breaks my heart that people would think they are too old when what they are is experienced in giving love and bringing joy

The work you do, the videos you make, the cats you rescue. All amazing. Thank you.

Thank you for spreading the awareness about spay abort. The truth is, cats don't become depressed when they lose their litter to a spay abort. they don't know what's happening and become so much more relieved to not have the burden of carrying kits. Thank you for doing what you do.

Sweet Bella 🤗🤗🤗❤️❤️❤️ Thank you Flatbush ❤️🙏🏼

I adopted 7 year old cat that was in shelter for 6 months and days away from being euthanized. I love her she took a while to trust me but now she's a sweetheart. Adopt an older cat they have lots of love to give too.

Kudos for bringing up a difficult topic. It's not a simple decision to make and easy for people on the outside to judge. But you're the ones making a difference.

I appreciate your sensitive approach to a difficult topic. Sometimes in life there is no ideal answer and you have to make hard choices.

I’m sooooo happy for Bella I rescued 7 cats from out doors and planning on rescuing many more 2 of my rescue cats are senior cats , and I adore them

People not wanting to adopt older cats (and animals in general) is the exact reason I want to adopt/foster older animals and animals with special needs. I may not be able to have them as long as a young cat but I'd rather save anx give an older one the best rest of their life they can have.

I love people who loves animals 😊😘

I'm not in the US but I follow your stories and I am so thankful that caring people like you are out there helping. Our first cat my wife and I adopted was an 8-10 year old "senior" from a rescue organisation here in Australia. He was so grateful and loving and everything we could have hoped for and we had a happy almost-8 years with him. He suffered a serious stroke a few weeks ago and due to his age the vets told us that there was nothing they could do other than to help him move on. I was there with him and held him as he took his final breath. Once the pain eases a bit I will again adopt an older senior rescue because they all deserve love and a safe home (and will adopt a 2nd, slightly younger cat as well to keep them company).

God bless the old cat got helo, care som kind

I must be like cat heaven to be bought in off the cold street to a heated apartment and be well fed and groomed. Bella really likes that brush.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for Helping :) :)

"She became a master hunter, feared by all" Adorable

I don't find this story sad at all. It is so wonderful that Bella got a beautiful home and the love she deserves. What I find sad are the kittens that are born on the streets and have short tortured lives. Poor little things did not ask to be born. Hopefully one day most of these community cats will be spayed and neutered and this sad cycle will end.

"There are plenty of cats just like Bella in a shelter near you, just waiting for their moment in the sun..."

We have 6 cats: 4 from the local animal shelter; one stray that wandered into our yard; and the oldest one, now 14, that was in a box of free kittens at a farmer's stand. It takes all of our spare time caring for them. I know there's so many more that need homes, but we can't do anymore. Two of our friends have 8-10 cats. Collectively we've given homes to many.

What a heart warmer ❤️

What you do is hard, but know that I have been changed by this video. I adopted a dog that was obviously pregnant when she was spayed. I was horrified, but now I see the wisdom. I’d have taken her pregnant so for that aspect I’m sad. This girl dog has so many problems (fear, anxiety, syncope) having and raising a litter may well have been too much. Thank you for opening my eyes to the shelter side of this situation.

2:39 Her just staring out the window like “wow, I can’t believe I’m not outside anymore” broke me

I know it’s not all happy endings and feel good moments. I know you all,work incredibly hard to save these cats. But this was a much needed, happy video for today. ❤️

A comment a year later. I for one am in agreement with your decision. There is no room for over-sentimentalism in these situations. You have good judgement, compassion, expertise and common sense. Anybody who can't see the necessity of doing this is just sentimental, which has nothing to do with real love. You people are heroes 🦅❣️

Older cats make The Most Wonderful pets❣️😻🙏 They are awesome mellow companions who know what you want vs. the crazy, unfocused (yet wonderful in a different way) young cat energy ‼️ RIP Morissette ❣️😸🌠🌠🌠 I LOVE you FOREVER, Miss Kitty...🐾🐾🐾

Watching your rescues has taught me a good deal for how to help the fosters that we get here. My roommate runs a cat café where every cat is up for adoption. The café sources cats from local shelters and gives them love and care and helps find them their forever homes. They had over thirty adoptions in the first three months! Right now, we've got a kitten as a foster who's not very spicy, and is starting to realize human hands are okay. She's a fluffy little maine coon mix named Freja, and I can't wait to help her find her forever home.

OK...I was confused and went back to re-watch this vid, because at the end it's clear that Bella has a tipped ear, so I'm thinking: "how the heck is she pregnant?". I now see in the opening feed/trap shots that her ear is not tipped. What a sweet tabby - I wonder if she was dumped cuz she sure isn't feral. Bless everyone at FBC and the lovely people who took her in and gave her a safe, healthy place to have her litter. Have a great life, Bella.

Thank you for all you do. While part of Bella’s story is sad, the rest of her life won’t be because you made a tough decision and hopefully you get comfort in seeing her loved and thriving.

I’ve had cats for practically my whole life, 72 years, and most were strays that found their way to our house and though we didn’t have my, they lived with food and a place to sleep and be warm in cold weather…Most are just memories and now I have just one, my Laralyn, sixteen, found outside in a box before her eyes were opened fully, and now is the apple of my eyes and the queen of our house and I will love her and give her the best of me as I love her as all who own pets. Those who for reasons can’t continue to keep them, please find them another home or take to a shelter, please🙏

My cat ran away from a drug house she came to my back door and begged to come in. I couldnt say no to that angel face talking to me. Shes slept against my face on my pillow for 4 years now. Ive never experienced a more greatful animal in my life.

You guys are awesome!

I had to spay a pregnant stray cat ..she was older, had probably had so many pregnancies and babies so many times already ..I took her to the vet and had it done ..and now she's happy and healthy

Bella was the right name for this one, she's absolutely beautiful

I sobbed. I wish my old man wasn't so territorial.

You Flatbush Heroes are the BEST... 🙏💓💓💓💓💓💓👍🐱🐈

I love your work, the videos, the music in the videos and your voice! Thank you 😻

Thanks! Hope this helps a little.

Clipped ear Bella. Beautiful personality. Lucky girl.

God bless Bella and her adopted parents. Nothing makes me feel better than to hear furbabies adopted and lead a happy life. Thank you ❤️

Thank you for the all of the important work you do fostering cats, practicing TNR, and the crucial advocacy work you do here on you RU-vid channel. You handled the delicate topic of spaying pregnant cats with compassion and understanding. I'm so happy Bella has a new lease on life and is being cared for in the way that she truly deserves.

We just lost our first cat about a week ago. We'd adopted her just over four months ago. She was estimated to be well over 15 years of age, had kidney disease, and likely a brain tumor as well. Her name was Mabel, and adopting her was one of the best decisions we ever made. It brings me joy to hear happy endings such as this, and to hear you advocate for senior cats - as well as those in difficult situations. Thank you for all you do. ❤

You know what, little Bella probably had had lots of babies that she lost to the elements anyway. Sad and hard as it was to make that decision, you are beautiful people, given the fact that you actually care. God bless you all...

It is a horrible situation to be in, but I do understand why it has to done, you do a marvellous thing for these cats, and I am so happy for Bella, she is a beauty, and you have given her the chance of a wonderful life, no more starving on the streets, no more babies born on the streets to suffer, bless you ❤️❤️❤️

Cats don't choose to have kittens. Its just biogical instinct when the hormones are released. Whilst speying a pregnant cat is tough, we have to concentrate on the animals already here and inneed. It is a necessary decision and never taken lightly.

Thank you for all.you do. I do the same thing in my neighborhood! When I first moved here, ten years ago, there were hundreds of cats. I've lost count of all I've socialized and found homes for. This past summer, I could not find one litter. I have, however, a mommy and daughter family, that can't be separated. They ate now ten and nine years old. I feed them breakfast and dinner every day. They let me pet them, and I've only been able to pick mommy Kiki Little Soldier twice. It breaks my heart every day, especially on these cold winter nights. I will stay right where I am, and pray, they will move in with me one day. I have a family plus living in my home, all past 12 years old now. They were feral too. One, is a three-legged with one eye. Smartest and toughest big guy ever. I kept him with his mother. No one wanted a crippled cat, but he's so amazing. All those people missed their chance. A few years back, I was able to find a few donors, to help me feed these furbabies. I don't know what I would have done without their help! Thank you again for all you do. It's not an easy job, but know this, you have a heart of gold. I share your videos in hopes some of my donors will see what you do. I live in Troy NY and I am, the 9th Street Cats! Keep up the good work. Much Love to all of you, and the Flatbush Cats. Rosie

She's looking like a bobcat with her "no-tail" 😍

A new vid yaaay. Thx for rescuing these adorable animals and the great content.

Thank you all for doing what you do. I really want to start fostering one day, and your videos are a huge help for someone in my position. Btw, Bella is such a sweetheart.

Aww...she ended up being a total sweetheart. I adopted an adult cat, glad I did. Kittens are cute, but adult cat's are too and they deserve a second chance. Thanx for the video

Thank you Flatbush cats The Beautiful People of Brooklyn

it always makes me angry when people hate kill shelters but dont go out of their way to donate and help them become no kill,

Aww happy ending.xxx

I've had top do this once in my life but the little girl cat who might not even have survived having her kittens went on to live 22 more years comfortably.

I rescued my Daisy (she was around 11 months old back then) after 3 months feeding her on the streets, she was too shy and did not go into traps. One day in early March I saw her mating so I knew I had to catch her by hand, otherwise there would be more cats. And I did it. Right the next day I went to the vet and had her castrated and also chipped. Just in time before there was a pregnancy. Now she’s sitting next to me here in homeoffice and enjoys her new life. She watched this video with me.