06/01/2026
Rescues can not save them all.
Spay and neuter your pets and equally as important don’t get a pet if you can’t commit to 10-15+ year.
🚨 A Message From Our Rescue Team 🚨
Lately, we've been receiving 15+ messages every day asking for help with cats and kittens in need. We wish we could say yes to every single one. Unfortunately, that simply isn't possible.
We're also seeing an increase in negative comments from people who are upset when we cannot take a cat, kitten, or medical case. We feel like there is an important misunderstanding that needs to be addressed.
Community Cats of Central Arkansas is 100% volunteer run. Every single person involved has a full-time life outside of rescue. We are teachers, nurses, administrators, parents, and working professionals. No one receives a salary. Not our board members, not our fosters, not our transporters. We are all volunteers donating our time, energy, resources, and hearts to help cats in need.
We receive no state funding. Everything we do is made possible by donations and the dedication of people who care.
Every day, we make difficult decisions about which cats we can help. We specialize in injured, sick, critical, and neonatal kittens, while also supporting overcrowded shelters throughout Central Arkansas. Even with all of that, there are times we have to tell people and even shelters no. Those decisions are heartbreaking, but they are necessary. We cannot save lives if we completely burn out the people doing the work.
What many people don't see are the late night emergencies, the endless phone calls, the sleepless nights, the emotional toll, and the sacrifices our volunteers make. Last night alone, I had 15 missed calls between 1:00 and 2:00 a.m. While we understand that people are often scared and desperate when they reach out, we are human beings too. We have jobs to go to, children to raise, families who need us, and our own mental and physical health to protect.
Eight years ago, I had never even owned a cat. My daughter begged for one, and eventually I gave in. Not long after, we found a cat that had been attacked by a dog. No one could help. Shelters were full. Rescues were overwhelmed. I didn't know what I was doing, but I did the best I could. That experience changed my life. It showed me just how much help cats in Central Arkansas needed.
What started with one cat grew into a mission. Alongside another woman who saw the same need, we built something that has now helped thousands of cats. Today, we take in more than 2,000 cats each year and handle more critical medical cases than anyone else in our area. But we're not superheroes. We're volunteers.
When people attack, criticize, or insult rescuers because we cannot help every situation, it doesn't motivate us. It hurts. It contributes to the burnout that rescue workers across the country are experiencing every day. We don't owe anyone our nights, weekends, savings, vacations, or family time. We choose to give those things because we care. We choose to keep showing up because the cats need us. All we ask in return is kindness.
Please remember that behind every rescue page is a group of exhausted humans doing everything they possibly can. We are trying. We are sacrificing. We are helping as many as we can. If we are unable to help your situation, it does not mean we don't care. It means we have reached our limits.
Please give rescuers the same compassion and grace that you would want for yourself.
We love these cats. We love this community. And we will continue doing everything we can, but we need understanding, patience, and kindness along the way. ❤️
*Pictured below is Waylon looking cute in his foster home because it just makes everyone smile 🤗
-Please comment with a photo of your cat or dog to help us cheer up on this difficult day. 💔
