Thanks to our partnership with the Merced SPCA and LA County, we’ve been able to help cats impacted by the devastating Southern California fires find safety, care, and a second chance. One of these kitties is Junie, a beautiful 12-year-old tabby with a story of heartbreak and hope.
When Junie and her mom were forced to flee their home in Altadena, the chaos of the escape left Junie disoriented and frightened. In the confusion, she slipped away from her mom, and, being both blind and deaf, wandered unknowingly toward the danger.
Tragically, she suffered burns to her face, ears, and nose before being found and brought to an LA County shelter.
Sadly, after losing everything and realizing her new housing situation wouldn’t allow her to keep Junie, her mom made the heartbreaking decision to surrender her.
Now in our care, Junie is a sweet and affectionate kitty, full of grace despite all she’s been through. She loves soft pets, chin scratches, and the comfort of being near someone who cares. She’s still receiving treatment to ensure she’s healthy and stable but should be available for adoption soon.
Junie dreams of a home where she can be the only cat, receiving the care and love she needs to navigate life without sight or hearing. She just needs time, patience, and a quiet place where she can feel safe again.
To learn more about Junie and the cats in our care, visit our website at ninelivesfoundation.org/adoptions. And if you’d like to support our rescue efforts, please consider making a donation — your generosity helps us save lives every day.
The Easter Bunny isn’t the only one bringing joy this weekend — our Adoption Center is full of whiskered wonders ready to hop into your heart!
All month long, we’re offering reduced adoption fees to help our adult and senior kitties find the loving homes they deserve. Adoption fees for adult cats (five months to six years old) are just $50, and senior cats (seven years and older) are free!
And this weekend only (April 17 through April 20) we’re adding a little Easter magic: adoption fees for kittens under five months old are also just $50.
Whether you’re searching for a snuggly sidekick or a playful little “peep,” we’ve got just the right kitty to fill your basket.
Our Adoption Center is open Thursdays and Fridays from noon to 5:00 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Visit us at 3106 Rolison Road in Redwood City to meet our adoptable cats in person, or check out all our available cats online anytime at ninelivesfoundation.org/adoptions.
Meet Bert!
We’re delighted to shine a spotlight on Bert Picot, a valued member of the Nine Lives family! While Bert joined our Board of Directors in December 2023, he’s been part of our community since March of that year, when he began volunteering on our cat care and enrichment team.
“I enjoy working with the cats because it’s an opportunity to significantly improve their quality of life while they’re at the Adoption Center,” he shares. “They need interaction and socialization to stay happy and adoptable, and I love providing that for them.”
Motivated by a deep connection to Nine Lives’ mission, values, and vision for the future, Bert saw an opportunity to offer even more. “There is a real need here,” he says, “and with my professional background and creative mindset, I believed I could help Nine Lives rise to meet it.”
Bert and Brad cheering on the Warriors
After a long career as an entrepreneur in the live event ticketing industry, Bert is now enjoying retirement with his husband, Brad, and their two cats, Freddy and Worm.
When he’s not at Nine Lives, he enjoys cooking, hiking, traveling, and watching the Warriors. A lifelong Grateful Dead fan, he also has a soft spot for improvisation – both musically and in life.
We’re so grateful for Bert’s insight, energy, and heart. His dedication helps shape the future of Nine Lives — and the lives of the cats we serve.
Send Love and Save Lives
This spring, honor the special people in your life with a gift that gives back. Just in time for Mother’s Day on May 11 and Father’s Day on June 15, we’re offering a new collection of heartfelt eCards — perfect for the cat lovers in your family.
A preview of our Mother’s Day eCard
When you send a Nine Lives eCard, you’re not only celebrating someone you care about — you’re also making a meaningful impact. Your honorary donation helps rescue and care for homeless, at-risk cats and kittens until they find families of their own.
It’s a gift of love for the person you’re honoring, and a gift of life for the cats your donation supports!
Browse our new eCard designs and give a meaningful tribute to someone special. Every card saves lives and sends love!
Spring has arrived, and with it comes one of the most critical times of year at Nine Lives: Kitten Season. We’ve already rescued over 60 neonatal and orphaned kittens from the streets, high-risk shelters, and other dangerous situations, and more are coming every day.
These tiny babies will need weeks of medical treatment, careful monitoring, and the support of a loving foster home to recover and grow. It’s a hands-on, heart-driven effort fueled by the belief that every kitten deserves a chance to thrive.
One of those kittens is Lil’ Surfer, who came to us at just four weeks old, weighing only a pound. He had been abandoned at a local shelter and was perilously close to euthanasia due to a severe, necrotic wound stretching across his belly and groin that left him unable to urinate.
Lil’ Surfer was crying in pain, and without immediate intervention, this tiny kitten wouldn’t have survived.
Our dedicated medical team sprang into action, performing emergency surgery and providing hours of intensive care. Thanks to their skill and compassion, Lil’ Surfer’s wound was treated, his pain was eased, and he could finally begin to heal.
Today, Lil’ Surfer is stable and recovering well, but his journey is far from over. He still needs weeks of treatment before he’ll be ready to find his forever home. And Lil’ Surfer is just one of many kittens in need of rescue and care.
Stories like Lil’ Surfer’s remind us why we’re committed to rescuing and fighting for each kitten’s life. But Kitten Season is our most challenging and costly time — and now it spans nearly the entire year.
To keep performing these lifesaving interventions, we urgently need your support during this critical time.
Please consider making a lifesaving donation today to help us rescue and heal more kittens like Lil’ Surfer. Together, we can give these little fighters the future they deserve.
