Spirits Place

05/21/2026

The reality of cat rescue (and animal rescue, in general) isn’t as idyllic as some like to portray. The ugly truth is that there are still animals dying on the streets every day. These deaths are simply buried under the “no kill” narrative. Just because you can’t see the suffering doesn’t meant it doesn’t exist. Just because the death doesn’t occur within the walls of a shelter doesn’t mean it shouldn’t count.

“Many people don’t see this side of rescue. They don’t see: the infections, the dehydration, the parasites, the injuries, the slow losses. Because those kittens die quietly, out of sight” - Cat Life Maine Inc.

We’ve said it many times…spay/neuter is the only way out of this crisis. While adoption programs are an integral part of animal rescue, adoption by itself won’t solve the problem. Until accessible, affordable spay/neuter resources are prioritized, the animal welfare community will continue to struggle.

Thank you, Kate (and the Cat Life Maine Inc.) for this TNR truth bomb.

TNR Truth Bomb Tuesday

🟧 Kitten Survival Reality (Hard Data)

⸻
Let’s talk about survival rates.

• Up to 80% of kittens born outdoors do not survive. That’s an average of 1 kitten per litter that survives past juvenile.
• Orphaned kittens have survival rates as low as 30%, even with experienced care
• Neonates rely on maternal antibodies that disappear within weeks

⸻
Most people never see this side of rescue.

They don’t see:
• the infections
• the dehydration
• the parasites
• the injuries
• the slow losses

Because those kittens die quietly, out of sight.

Kitten season isn’t real in Maine.
They do not stop being born throughout winter.
They just don’t survive.

⸻
This is why prevention matters.

Spay and neuter. Every cat. Every time.

Not because it’s easier.
Because it prevents suffering.

05/15/2026

Since the beginning of the year, we have facilitated the transfer or adoption of over 125 cats and kittens. This is in addition to hosting S/N clinics with our friends at Animal Welfare Society, where just over 250 cats have been fixed (to date). If this trend continues, we are on track to help nearly 1,500 cats. Unlike our shelter counterparts, we don’t have funding through town contracts or the support of corporate donors. Our team of volunteers is simply committed to helping as many cats as we can. There is such a great need that individuals and shelters across the state are stepping up.

We don’t share these numbers to show off or bash shelters. We share these numbers to bring attention to the fact that while the state of Maine and other states across the country are boasting about being “no kill” there are still cats (and other animals) dying on the streets in staggering numbers. It’s difficult to account for a life lost when the animal doesn’t even enter the shelter to begin with. Or worse, the animal enters the shelter, is deemed feral and euthanized…gone, as if he never existed. But when the root of the problem isn’t being addressed, lives will continue to be lost. Turning an animal away doesn’t save them, it moves their death from inside the shelter to out on the street. But an overwhelmed system can’t keep up.

While there are many shelters and rescues stepping up there are some contributing to the never ending cycle. Shelters and rescues who intake without offering S/N support to their community are part of the problem. To intake dozens of cats from one area and not make a targeted effort to stop the breeding, is negligent. To be gifted but not use funds allocated for S/N simply because it’s too much to manage, is lazy. To host kitten showers but not offer S/N support, is insane.

There are leaders in the animal welfare community who are offering the necessary services to help both people and animals. We can’t forget that animal welfare is inextricably linked to human welfare. These shelters recognize the importance of S/N and are committed to such programming, including TNR efforts. We are lucky enough to call these shelters our friends; ARLGP, AWS, Somerset Humane just to name a few (and there are many more).

Then there are entities who simply exist, making no significant contribution. And we are cleaning up their backyards and their streets. This is a call to action; the animals need the animal welfare community to rally. Because every life matters.

05/08/2026

You may have noticed that we’ve been absent from this space for several weeks. While drafting and posting updates on Facebook seems like a simple task, sometimes finding the time to do so is impossible. Especially when the team members responsible for posting are also the ones caring for the cats. But rest assured, we are still here.

Warmer weather brings more requests for help. Cats are on the move. People are cleaning up their yards, opening up camps and spending more time outside and, as a result, noticing the activity of neighborhood cats. In the last week, we have taken in cats found on vacant lots, cats desperately searching for food and cats simply suffering on the streets. Concerned citizens have taken action, advocating for cats who had no other options. When the system failed these cats, these citizens stepped up.

We anticipate this spring and summer will bring even more requests for help than ever before. While some shelters boast live release rates and save percentages, giving the public the impression the problem has been solved, an ugly truth remains; there are still cats suffering and dying on the streets. There aren’t less cats in need of help, the shelter model has simply shifted responsibility prioritizing the most adoptable or low cost cases. Meanwhile, abandoned cats are trying to survive on the streets, intact owned cats are continuing to reproduce, sick and injured cats have nowhere to go and small rescues are overwhelmed.

We need sustainable, life saving, community minded solutions: accessible - affordable spay/neuter services, accountability of animal welfare agencies and community support.

Because every life matters.

05/08/2026

People make time for the things they truly care about. 💯 We love a good, impactful narrative!

💬“𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙠𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙨 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙.”
💬“𝙢𝙮 𝙣𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙗𝙤𝙧 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙨 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚.”
💬“𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢?”
💬“𝙞 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚.”
💬“𝙞 𝙘𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙖𝙛𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙙 𝙞𝙩.”
💬“𝙞 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙤.”

We hear these things every. single. day.

And truthfully?
That’s exactly where the problem starts.

Because everybody wants something done…until it requires THEM to do something.

Every single ear tipped cat you see?
⏰That took time.
💰 That took money.
💪🏼 That took effort.
That took someone getting up early, trapping in the heat or cold, coordinating appointments, transporting, recovering, educating, and showing compassion instead of just complaining.

Nobody has “extra” time.
People make time for the things they truly care about.

𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐬:
𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞.

❌The source is NOT the shelter.
❌The source is NOT the rescue.
❗️𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝘀.

You cannot breed your way out of this crisis.
You cannot dump your way out of this crisis.
You cannot remove your way out of this crisis.

SPAY. AND. NEUTER. is the ONLY solution.

People love to say:
“someone should do something.”

But community change starts when people stop passing the responsibility onto everybody else and finally decide:
“Maybe I should be part of the solution too.”

𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐭.

04/18/2026

FOUND CAT: Does any one recognize this fella? Neutered male wearing a turquoise collar. Brought in on 4/17 from the Garland Road in Dexter. He was believed to be accidently locked in a garage overnight and may be trying to find his way back home. Very Friendly. Please email [email protected] or message us here if you know who this cat is or have any information that may help reunite him with his family. Thanks for Sharing.

04/16/2026

We love a community in action!

On Sunday, Kristen and her husband, Billy, visited our shelter with a very special donation. Kristen is a photographer and hosted a “40 over 40” event in February where she photographed (bo***ir) 40 women over 40. The women who participated chose Spirit’s Place as the recipient of the donations. They raised $800!

Not everyone understands our mission and even fewer people care about these cats. But Kristen, her husband and her friends do! They know we advocate for the cats left behind, forgotten, discarded. The cats that even the animal welfare community makes the villain. This group recognized the plight of these cats and chose to be a part of the solution.

“Every woman who showed up, donated, shared, and supported us during our 40 over 40 event…YOU helped make that happen.” - Kristen

We’ve said it many times…a community in action is a compassionate one. Our mission is made possible by individuals who care and who are dedicated to being part of the solution, no matter the obstacle. This group thought outside of the box and helped cats in the process.

Thank you to Kristen, her husband and the women who chose us!

04/16/2026

Our friends at Aubuchon Hardware in Newport are celebrating their grand re-opening tomorrow and into the weekend!

Matt and his team have been steadfast supporters of our work, supporting our mission and helping us change lives. Their store cat is a former Spirit’s Place resident!

We are happy to be a part of this celebration and are touched that in the chaos of planning this event, Matt thought of us!

Tomorrow and Saturday, members of our team will be at the Newport location. Mary, our beloved volunteer, will be there tomorrow with some merchandise and on Saturday, our rockstar fosters, Manda and her children, will be cooking lunch. This is great opportunity to support a local business and learn more about saving lives.

We hope to see you there!

04/15/2026

We really couldn’t have said it better ourselves. It’s time to take our feelings and emotions out of the equation and do what is right for the cats. Too many cats are on the receiving end of poor outcomes because people can’t see the reality of what we are facing. Thank you Cat Life Maine Inc. for sharing your thoughts. We are all in this together.

🐾 TNR TUESDAY 🐾
“It’s a bandaid on a gushing wound.”

That’s what I say every time someone asks me how I feel about TNR.

Because the truth is—
I don’t believe cats should have to live outdoors.
I don’t believe survival should mean fighting, freezing, starving, or suffering.

So why do I do it?

Because this isn’t about my feelings.

It’s about science.
It’s about research.
It’s about results.
And most importantly—
It’s about spay and neuter.

TNR works.
Not because it’s perfect…
But because it’s the only proven method to stop the cycle where it starts.

And here’s the part people don’t want to hear:

There are cats who are truly feral.
Cats who were born outside, survived outside, and cannot safely live indoors.

We failed them.

They didn’t choose this life—we allowed it to happen.

So now?
They deserve better.

They deserve a safe colony.
A warm place to sleep.
Food. Medical care.
And someone who will show up for them every single day.

That’s what TNR does.

It doesn’t undo the past—
But it makes sure we don’t fail them again.

Without it, one unspayed cat and her offspring can produce hundreds of thousands of cats in just a few years.

That is preventable suffering.

We don’t need more rescues trying to keep up with an endless flood of kittens.
We need to stop the flood.

👉 We need access.
👉 We need affordable, high-volume, high-quality spay/neuter clinics.
👉 We need to fix every cat, every time.

TNR isn’t the end goal.
It’s the emergency response to a crisis we created—and continue to ignore.

And until we as a community take spay and neuter seriously…

We will keep putting bandaids on a wound that never stops bleeding.

Every cat. Every time. 🖤

03/26/2026

Some cats are scared of the vacuum while others… well they go for rides on it.🤷🏻‍♀️

Do your cats love a vacuum ride too?!

03/25/2026

This cat was found in Pittsfield and transported to us by a concerned citizen. He had been seen in her neighborhood for several days. If this cat belongs to you or if you have information in regards to an owner, please reach out to us via FB Messenger or [email protected].

Maine Lost Cat Recovery