08/18/2026
Sometimes, all it takes is one person willing to step in to make a difference. When a kind Samaritan learned about a property where a cat colony had grown out of control, she knew she couldn’t simply walk away. After seeing the suffering these cats were facing, she stepped in with guidance from our staff and began humanely trapping them to get them the help they needed. Among the cats from this colony was a tiny three-week-old kitten named Nox.
When Nox arrived in our care, our team found swelling and discharge around a perfectly round hole in his skin, the telltale sign of a bot fly larva burrowed underneath. Poor Nox was clearly uncomfortable and restless.
Our team covered the area with petroleum jelly to cut off the larva’s access to air and bring it closer to the surface. After a couple of tries, they carefully grasped it with tweezers and pulled it free. Once the larva was removed, the relief was immediate and Nox finally settled down. After everything he had been through, he was finally able to relax and fall asleep.
Nox was given antibiotics, and his wound was thoroughly flushed and cleaned before he headed into a foster home. There, he was introduced to another kitten around his age, and the two quickly became little best friends. After such a difficult start, Nox now has a safe place to rest, recover, and simply be a kitten.
But Nox wasn't the only cat who needed help.
About a week later, our foster program welcomed more cats from the same colony: a mama cat with her three five-week-old kittens and her sole surviving 3 month old kitten from a previous litter.
Today, Nox and the other cats have a second chance at a brighter future. A chance to be safe. A chance to heal. And, most importantly, a chance to know what it feels like to be cared for.
It truly takes a village to help cats like Nox. From the person who stepped in to help this colony, the staff who provided guidance, to our veterinary and foster teams, to the people who support our work, every helping hand makes a difference. Please consider making a donation today. Your support helps provide the medical care, food, safe shelter, and the love these cats need to heal and grow.
Starting today, The Black Dog will match donations dollar-for-dollar up to $25,000! This is a shared matching pool across all participating organizations. That means you must donate sooner, rather than later, to help Simply Cats receive double the donations: donate.clearthesheltersfund.org/page/just-strays-animal
