https://www.facebook.com/104983015153367/

Found-a-Feline Cat Rescues, Wellington (2026)

27/09/2026

FOUND-A-FELINE RESCUE TIP

SPRING HAS SPRUNG… BUT SO HAVE SOME HIDDEN DANGERS

Spring means warmer days, gardens coming back to life and a lot more time spent outside.

It also means something we don't always think about — our cats may suddenly be exposed to things that haven't been around during winter.

Plants are flowering and bulbs are coming up. People are clearing gardens, spraying w**ds, fertilising lawns and putting down slug, snail and rodent baits.

Some of these things can be extremely dangerous to cats.

And sometimes the risk isn't coming from somewhere down the road.

It may be something we've put in our own backyard without realising the danger.

SPRING FLOWERS — INCLUDING DAFFODILS

Daffodils are appearing everywhere at this time of year, but they're not as innocent as they look when it comes to our pets.

Daffodils can be toxic if eaten, with the bulb containing a particularly concentrated amount of the toxic compounds.

So if you've been planting spring bulbs, have a curious cat who likes digging in freshly turned soil, or have cut daffodils inside the house, it's worth being aware of the risk.

KNOW WHAT'S GROWING AROUND YOU

You don't need to panic about every plant in the garden or somehow control everything growing beyond your fence.

But spring is a great time to take a walk around your property and actually look at what's growing.

Find out what the plants are if you don't recognise them. Pay attention to new growth, flowers, berries, seeds and bulbs, and check whether they're safe around cats.

And remember — the danger doesn't stop at the front door.

Flowers and plants we deliberately bring inside count too.

⚠️ LILIES DESERVE A SPECIAL WARNING

Some lilies are extremely dangerous to cats. It isn't only chewing the plant that can cause a problem. Pollen can get onto a cat's coat or paws and later be swallowed when they groom themselves.

If you're unsure whether a lily is safe around cats, don't take the chance.

BAITS, SPRAYS & GARDEN CHEMICALS

Spring is also when many of us start reaching for slug and snail bait, rodent bait, insecticides, w**d killers and fertilisers.

Before putting anything down in an area your cat can access, stop and check the label.

*Is it safe around cats?

*Do animals need to stay away while it's wet?

*How long before they can safely return to the area?

*Could pellets, spills or residue be accessible?

Cats can also ingest substances that get onto their paws or coat when they groom themselves, so they don't necessarily have to deliberately eat something for exposure to occur.

Store garden products securely and never leave packets, pellets or spills where animals can access them.

If your cat roams, unfortunately you can't control everything they may encounter. But you can reduce the risks on your own property.

A catio, secure garden or other contained outdoor area can also reduce exposure to hazards on neighbouring properties or surrounding bushland.

KNOW THE WARNING SIGNS

Possible poisoning symptoms can include:

• Sudden vomiting or diarrhoea
• Excessive drooling or foaming
• Weakness or wobbliness
• Tremors or seizures
• Difficulty breathing
• Unusual behaviour or extreme lethargy
• Collapse
• Any sudden, unexplained deterioration

If you know or suspect your cat has eaten, licked or come into contact with something toxic, contact a vet immediately.

Don't wait for symptoms to appear.

If possible, take the product packaging with you or photograph the plant or substance involved. This information may help your vet identify what your cat has been exposed to.

Never try to make your cat vomit unless a veterinarian specifically instructs you to.

Spring is beautiful — and we certainly don't want everyone terrified of their gardens.

We just want cat owners to take an extra minute to look around and ask:

What's growing here?
What am I putting down?
And is it safe for my cat?

That little check could make all the difference.

Please share to help other cat slaves :)

Found-a-Feline Cat Rescues
Search • Support • Rescue • Reunite
Text preferred: 020 466 7744

23/09/2026

COULD YOU BE PART OF OUR FOSTER NETWORK?

Found-a-Feline is looking to expand our small network of trusted foster homes throughout Porirua and surrounding areas.

And fostering doesn't always mean committing to weeks or months.

Sometimes we literally just need a safe place for the night.

Rescue doesn't keep business hours. Cats and kittens can come into our care late at night, after hours or at very short notice, and sometimes we simply need somewhere safe and warm for them to land while their next step is arranged.

We're looking for people who may be able to help in a few different ways:

ON-CALL / EMERGENCY FOSTERS

We're particularly keen to build a small team of local on-call fosters who are happy for us to contact them at short notice.

These placements are often just overnight — somewhere safe for a newly rescued cat or kitten to stay until another rescue, suitable foster home or other arrangement can be organised the following day.

Occasionally we may need help for a day or two instead.

Being on our on-call list doesn't mean you have to say yes every time. It simply means we're able to contact you and ask if you're available when the need arises.

So we are looking for:

SHORT-TERM FOSTERS

Sometimes we need a temporary home for a few days or a little longer while we organise the animal's next step.

ADOPTION FOSTERS

These are for cats and kittens who are already adoption-ready but need a suitable temporary home while we search for their permanent family.

Found-a-Feline continues to handle their advertising, enquiries and adoption process. The foster provides their everyday care, love and a suitable environment where approved potential adopters can come and meet them.

KITTEN FOSTERS

We'd also love to hear from people experienced with younger kittens who may need more hands-on care, monitoring and socialisation before they're ready for their next step.

Previous kitten experience is particularly valuable for these placements.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE AVAILABLE FOR EVERYTHING.

Maybe you can't foster for several weeks, but you'd happily give a rescued cat a safe bathroom or spare bedroom for one night.

Maybe you'd rather foster an adoption-ready cat for a few weeks.

Maybe you're the person who loves the tiny ones and doesn't mind kittens attempting to dismantle your house one curtain at a time.

All of those people are useful to us.

We're particularly looking for foster homes in Porirua and surrounding areas, as staying reasonably local makes emergency drop-offs, supplies, ongoing support and adoption meet-and-greets much easier.

Having your own pets doesn't necessarily rule you out. Depending on the individual animal and circumstances, a spare bedroom, bathroom or other secure area separate from resident animals may be suitable.

There is no obligation to accept every placement. We'd simply like to build a trusted network of people we can contact when a situation suitable for them arises.

INTERESTED?

Please privately message the Found-a-Feline page and tell us:

• Your suburb
• Who lives in your household
• Any pets you currently have
• Your experience with cats and/or kittens
• Whether you have a secure separate area available
• What type of fostering you'd be interested in:
— On-call/emergency overnight
— Very short-term (1–3 days)
— Short-term fostering
— Adoption fostering
— Kitten fostering

Even if all you can offer is one safe night, we'd love to hear from you.

Sometimes one night is all we need to get a rescued cat or kitten safely from where they've been to where they're going next.

Found-a-Feline Cat Rescues

Search • Support • Rescue • Reunite

Text preferred: 020 466 7744

19/09/2026

WANT TO SUPPORT FOUND-A-FELINE?

A few people have asked how they can financially contribute towards the work we do, so we’ve made a permanent post with our details for anyone who would like to help.

Found-a-Feline is run entirely through our own time, equipment and the generosity of our community.

We provide search & recovery support throughout the Wellington Region, along with lost-cat advice available NZ-wide.

Your contributions help us with things such as:

Search & recovery equipment
Thermal imaging equipment
Humane traps & rescue nets
Microchip scanning
Fuel for call-outs and searches
Emergency supplies and other rescue costs

Even a few dollars genuinely helps keep us out there helping lost, found and vulnerable cats and kittens.

FOUND-A-FELINE CAT RESCUES

Bank: BNZ
Account number: 02-0548-0347384-002
Account name: Laura Cook
Reference: Your name or “donation”

Found-a-Feline Cat Rescues is an independent rescue and is not a registered charity. Financial contributions received go directly towards our rescue, search and recovery work.

Thank you so much to everyone who helps keep us doing what we do — whether that's financially, by sharing our posts, joining searches or simply keeping an eye out for a missing cat.

Every bit makes a difference and helps keep us out there.

Found-a-Feline Cat Rescues
Search • Support • Rescue • Reunite

020 466 7744 — text preferred
[email protected]

19/09/2026

FOUND-A-FELINE RESCUE TIP

*SPECIAL EDITION*

ONLY EXPERIENCED TRAPPERS SHOULD SET TRAPS!

We don't usually put up two Rescue Tips in one day, but while putting together today's Lost Cat Myth Busters post, one particular piece of commonly given advice that we as rescuers dread seeing needed much more than a few lines:

“Just set a trap.”

This is important enough that we didn't want to leave it until another day.

Only experienced trappers should be setting humane cat traps.

If you have no trapping experience, please don't borrow, hire or buy a trap and attempt to work it out yourself. Contact an experienced rescue or trapper for help.

Humane traps are incredibly valuable tools in rescue and lost-cat recovery, but trapping involves far more than putting food inside a cage and waiting for a cat to walk in.

Most importantly — there needs to be a plan BEFORE a trap is ever set.

What is going to happen if:

The target cat is caught?

The wrong cat is caught?

An owned cat is caught?

An injured or sick cat is caught?

An unidentified cat is caught?

Or another animal entirely enters the trap?

“It's not the cat we're looking for, just let it go” isn't necessarily an appropriate plan.

That cat may be somebody's missing pet.

A cat caught during trapping should be checked for identification, including being scanned for a microchip where appropriate. If an owner can be identified, the goal should be to safely reunite that cat with its family — not simply open the trap wherever it happens to have been caught and assume it will safely find its own way home.

Where a cat is released matters.

A frightened cat coming out of a trap can bolt.

If an owned cat has been trapped away from home and is simply released somewhere unfamiliar, you risk turning somebody else's cat into a displaced or missing cat.

If an owner is identified, the cat should be returned safely to its home and the circumstances discussed with its owner.

Depending on why and where the cat was trapped, the owner may also need advice about safely keeping their cat contained while it settles and re-establishes familiarity with home and its surroundings before being allowed to roam again.

The responsibility doesn't end because you caught the “wrong” cat.

Once you've trapped an animal, you've taken responsibility for its welfare.

This is one of the many reasons a trapping plan needs to exist before the trap is set.

A bad trapping experience can also make the actual recovery harder.

A frightened cat may panic once confined and potentially injure itself trying to escape.

A cat that triggers a trap without being properly secured, escapes from one or otherwise has a frightening experience around a trap may become extremely wary of entering one again.

And if that happens to be the cat you're actually trying to recover, you've potentially just made the job considerably harder.

A SET TRAP MUST BE PROPERLY MONITORED.

An animal confined inside cannot simply walk away.

It cannot choose somewhere safer or more sheltered.

It cannot escape from something frightening or threatening it outside the trap.

A trap should never simply be set and forgotten while somebody goes about their day, goes to work or goes to bed.

Knowing how to physically set a trap does not make somebody an experienced trapper.

Experience is knowing whether trapping is appropriate in the first place.

It's understanding the animal you're trying to recover.

It's knowing when not to set the trap.

It's having a plan for the target animal AND anything else you may catch.

It's knowing what happens after capture.

And it's accepting responsibility for every animal that trap confines.

So if somebody online tells you to “just set a trap,” please remember that trapping isn't a simple DIY solution.

If you aren't an experienced trapper, don't set the trap. Contact someone who is.

Humane traps themselves are not cruel.

The planning, knowledge, experience, monitoring and responsibility behind their use are what make trapping humane.

Please share to help other cat slaves :)

Found-a-Feline Cat Rescues
Search • Support • Rescue • Reunite

Text preferred: 020 466 7744

19/09/2026

FOUND-A-FELINE RESCUE TIP

LOST CAT MYTH BUSTERS

Your cat has gone missing. You’re panicking. You post online asking for help — and suddenly you have 50 different people telling you 50 different things to try.

Unfortunately, some of the most commonly shared lost-cat advice isn’t always helpful and, in some situations, can actually work against getting your cat home.

“Sprinkle their used kitty litter around outside.”

This is probably one of the most common potentially detrimental pieces of advice we see.

Putting used litter around your property isn’t creating a magical scent trail leading them home.

What it can do is advertise a cat’s scent to other animals.

Neighbourhood cats, roaming entire males and other territorial animals may investigate or begin hanging around the area. If your missing cat is already frightened and hiding nearby, suddenly having unfamiliar animals wandering around their home territory can make them even less confident about coming out of hiding or approaching the house.

“Keep food outside so they have something to come home to.”

Again, this sounds logical — but that bowl isn't reserved for your missing cat.

Food left outside can attract neighbourhood cats, strays, roaming toms, hedgehogs and other hungry visitors.

Now imagine your frightened cat is hiding within your property or, at most, only a couple of properties away.

They may be waiting until everything becomes quiet enough to move. Instead, food is bringing extra animals onto or around the very property we're trying to encourage them to approach.

You can unintentionally turn home into a busy feeding station when what your missing cat really needs is a quiet, familiar and safe place to return to.

Food is actually one of our most valuable recovery tools — which is exactly why we don't recommend wasting it by simply leaving bowls of it sitting outside.

How, where and when food is used matters.

“Walk around the streets calling their name.”

It feels like the obvious thing to do, but walking further and further away repeatedly calling can spread your voice over a huge area.

A frightened cat may hear you perfectly well and still remain completely silent and hidden.

Calling absolutely can have a place in a search — but where, when and how you call matters.

“Just set a trap.”

Humane traps can be incredibly useful in lost-cat recovery — but setting a trap isn't as simple as putting food inside it and waiting for your cat to walk in.

The wrong trap setup, poor placement, inadequate monitoring or trapping at the wrong stage of a search can create additional problems.

You also need to know what you're going to do if somebody else's cat — or another animal entirely — enters that trap instead.

A bad experience with a trap can also make an already frightened cat much more wary of entering one again, potentially making recovery considerably harder.

Please don't borrow or obtain a trap and simply set it because somebody online has told you to. If trapping is needed, get advice from someone experienced in humane trapping first.

We think this subject is important enough to deserve more than a paragraph, so a Special Edition FAF Rescue Tip about safely using humane cat traps will be following this post today.

“They’ll come home when they’re hungry.”

Please don't rely on this.

A cat that normally comes home reliably and suddenly doesn't may be trapped in a shed or garage, injured, frightened into hiding, displaced from familiar territory or simply unable to get home.

THE BIGGEST MYTH: Every missing cat should be searched for the same way.

They shouldn't.

An indoor-only cat that accidentally escapes can behave completely differently from a confident outdoor cat that suddenly fails to return.

A timid cat can behave differently from a bold, social cat.

A recently moved cat, an undesexed cat, a cat frightened by an incident, or a cat missing somewhere unfamiliar can each require a different approach.

The circumstances matter. The cat matters.

Before trying every piece of advice offered online, get advice based on your actual cat and the circumstances surrounding their disappearance.

If your cat is missing and you're unsure what to do next, send Found-a-Feline a message.

Tell us about your cat, whether they're normally indoor or outdoor, when and where they disappeared, and what was happening around the time they went missing.

We can help you work out what to do instead — and where to start.

Please share to help other cat slaves :)

Found-a-Feline Cat Rescues
Search • Support • Rescue • Reunite

Text preferred: 020 466 7744

14/09/2026

*FOUND-A-FELINE RESCUE TIP*

Photograph your cat’s markings BEFORE you ever need those photos.

Most of us have a phone absolutely FULL of photos of our cats.

Sleeping.
Looking cute.
Looking ridiculous.
Sitting in a cardboard box they apparently prefer over the expensive bed we bought them.

But how many photos do you have that actually show their identifying features?

Take a few minutes today and get clear photos of:

• Both sides of their body
• Their face from the front
• Their chest and belly
• All four legs and paws
• Their back and tail
• Any unusual patches, scars or markings

Don't rely on colour alone.

When we're comparing a missing cat with a possible sighting, tiny details can make a huge difference — a white toe, a different-coloured paw pad, the shape of a chest patch, stripes on the tail or even where one particular marking starts and finishes.

This is especially useful with cats such as black cats, tabbies, tuxedos and gingers, where two completely unrelated cats can look almost identical in a quick photo.

And while you're doing it, make sure you have your cat's microchip number saved somewhere you can easily find it and that their registration/contact details are current.

You hopefully never need any of this.

But if your cat ever disappears, you'll be bloody glad you spent five minutes doing it while they were safely sitting at home.

Please share to help other cat slaves :)

Found-a-Feline Cat Rescues
Search • Support • Rescue • Reunite

05/09/2026

*FOUND-A-FELINE RESCUE TIP*

Don’t let the cat carrier mean “VET!”

Where is your cat carrier right now?

If it only comes out of storage when it’s time for a vet visit, your cat may have already learnt exactly what it means.

Carrier appears = something scary is about to happen.

We’ve recently seen just how quickly this can turn into a very serious situation.

A cat was due to go to the vet for treatment, but when the carrier came out, the cat recognised what was happening and took off. Sadly, the cat never made it to that appointment and was later found away from home in a very poorly state, unable to move. The infection it had originally been booked in to have treated had progressed very quickly while the cat was missing.

Fortunately, a kind person found the cat in their garden, recognised that something was seriously wrong and immediately got the cat the help it desperately needed.

Thanks to that finder not turning their back and leaving an obviously unwell cat to suffer, the cat received treatment and is now doing well.

It’s a good reminder that something as simple as where you keep your cat carrier can make a real difference.

At Found-a-Feline, we strongly recommend leaving your cat carrier out all the time if you can.

Make it part of the furniture rather than something that suddenly appears before a stressful event.

- Leave the door open or remove it if your carrier allows.

- Put a favourite blanket or bedding inside.

- Occasionally pop treats or toys in there.

- Let your cat sleep, play or hang out in it if they choose.

- Never chase your cat around the house with the carrier.

- If you can't leave it out permanently, bring it out well before you need it — ideally days before a planned appointment, not five minutes before you're due to leave.

The aim is for your cat to think:

“Oh, that's my little hidey-hole.”

Not:

“OH S**T. THE VET BOX!”

And there's another important reason to do this:

Emergencies!

If there is a fire, earthquake, evacuation or your cat suddenly needs urgent veterinary treatment, you don't want to spend precious time trying to get a terrified cat into an object they've spent their whole life learning to fear.

A carrier should be a safe, familiar place for your cat — not an announcement that something unpleasant is about to happen.

A little preparation now can prevent a whole lot of stress later.

Search • Support • Rescue • Reunite
Found-a-Feline Cat Rescues 🐈

03/09/2026

We want to hear from cat owners about catios! 🐱

A catio (short for cat patio) is an enclosed outdoor space designed for cats. We’re conducting a survey to better understand why cat owners choose to install (or not install) a catio, what factors influence these decisions, and, for those who have one, how cats use them once installed.

Whether you have a catio, have considered getting one, or just want to share your thoughts on catios, we’d love to hear from you.
The survey is open to cat owners aged 18+ living in New Zealand and takes approximately 10-15 minutes to complete.

Your experiences will help build a better understanding of the barriers and enablers to catio installation and may help inform recommendations for cat owners, veterinarians and animal welfare organisations.

👉 Take the survey here: https://adelaideuniwide.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dioEQlXDa4vRRoW?Source=Socials

Thank you for taking part!

17/08/2026

If you're thinking of getting into animal rescue, here's something you need to know:

You need to build armor, not just for the hard work, but for the people.

You’ll need more than compassion. You’ll need resilience. You’ll need to remind yourself daily why you started, because the world will test you.

People will cheer you on when you post a happy rescue story. But when you say no, because your rescue is full, your funds are low, or your team is exhausted, those same voices will criticize you.

They’ll forget the animals you saved and focus on the one you couldn’t take.

Don’t let it change your heart.

Some people will praise your care, your process, your kindness, until they want to surrender a pet, and you ask questions or try to help them work through it. Suddenly, you’re the worst person for them.

That’s part of the job.

You’ll lose relationships. Some friends won’t understand why you fight for animal rights. Others will be cold to you when you’re being too dramatic for them after spending the night with a dying rescue.

Let them go.

People will call you every hour, message you at 2am, expect you to be available around the clock. And when you finally pause to breathe, they’ll say you’re fake, you don’t care.

It’ll sting, but keep breathing anyway.

Other rescuers will criticize how you operate, even if they’ve never set foot in your rescue. Some will help. Others will just talk.

Focus on the work, not the noise.

You’ll see things you can’t unsee. You’ll witness cruelty. And sometimes, no matter how fast you get there or how much you spend, you’ll still lose the animal.

Those are the nights you’ll sit and cry alone, and no one knows that.

But even in that pain, you’ll keep going.
Because despite all of it, the judgment, the burnout, the loss, the work matters.

Every life saved is a reason to continue.

Rescue is beautiful, heartbreaking, and unforgiving. But if you’re in it for the right reasons, you’ll find strength in the heartbreak and purpose in the pain.

Just don’t lose yourself in the process.

Felt like this was much needed right now. For my friends, my partner and all my rescue friends struggling and for everyone who wonders why I don’t respond, why I dont answer your calls, why I forget things, why I miss or cancel appointments… it’s because of this.

Copied from a fellow Rescuer....

Found-a-Feline Cat Rescues

27/09/2026

23/09/2026

19/09/2026

19/09/2026

19/09/2026

14/09/2026

05/09/2026

03/09/2026

17/08/2026

Address

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share

Listing takedown request