Helen Sanders CatPAWS on Cat Rescue, Kitten Season, Fostering & Adoption

Every cat deserves safety, compassion, and the chance to be loved.

Yet during kitten season, rescue organizations and shelters across the country become overwhelmed as countless cats and kittens struggle to survive without homes, medical care, fostering, or support. Behind every rescue is a network of people dedicating their time, energy, resources, and hearts to saving lives that might otherwise be forgotten.

At Helen Sanders CatPAWS, that mission has been at the center of their work for more than a decade. Founded in 2010, the nonprofit rescue and advocacy organization focuses on rescuing cats and kittens at risk of euthanasia, supporting fostering and adoption efforts, providing education and resources to the community, and helping make spay and neuter services more accessible. Their work not only saves lives, but also helps create healthier communities and a more compassionate world for animals and people alike.

In this thoughtful conversation, Deborah Felin-Magaldi, Director of Helen Sanders CatPAWS, shares insights into the realities of rescue work, the challenges shelters and rescues face during kitten season, the importance of fostering and adoption, and the life-changing impact compassion can have — both for animals and for the people who help save them.

Deborah, for readers meeting you for the first time, can you share a little about yourself and your role with Helen Sanders CatPAWS?

I got started as a kitten foster over 20 years ago for a shelter, fostered for other shelters and rescues prior to co-founding CatPAWS in early 2010. My role now is primarily managing, education, fundraising.

What inspired your passion for animal rescue and helping cats and kittens in need? Animals have no voice on their own and need us to advocate for them, for their very lives often. 

June is National Adopt A Cat Month. Why is this such an important time to raise awareness about adoption and fostering?

Adoption and fostering can mean a cat gets to have a life! Instead of becoming another grim statistic or struggling for survival, they can become someone's buddy and be cherished and loved, and bring comfort and love to their person or family.

Many people may not realize how overwhelming kitten season can be for rescues and shelters. Can you explain what happens during this time of year?

Especially in more temperate climates like Southern California, 'kitten season' is nearly year around. It is when unaltered cats produce litters in greater numbers than can be rescued or sheltered. Kittens often succumb to disease, predators, defects from inbreeding, as do moms from exhaustion birthing litter after litter. If kittens do make it into shelters, those under 4 weeks are among the most euthanized animals in shelters because of how much care they need, beyond the capacity of most shelters to provide.

What are some of the biggest challenges rescue organizations are facing right now? Money, time, people, the need is big and never ending.

What should people know before adopting a cat or kitten?

That it entails a commitment of time and of money as well. In addition to the usual expenses of food and supplies, medical issues can arise unexpectedly and are costly People should consider their capacity to support the animal for a lifetime, despite changes in their own lives.

How can fostering help save lives, and what would you say to someone considering becoming a foster?

Fostering can be the bridge between an animal not surviving and going on to finding a home and having a cherished life. Fostering can be among the most rewarding efforts a person can undertake. It will change you saving a life - knowing that a being is alive because of your efforts!

What are some of the most rewarding moments you’ve experienced through rescue work?

Encouraging people to foster, having people who have never done it become 'hooked' on it, also first-time 'trappers' who do TNR - trap/neuter/return - to help the free-roaming cats in their neighborhood. Seeing people be the 'someone' who does something!

How can people support organizations like Helen Sanders CatPAWS even if they are unable to adopt right now?

Veterinary care for the cats we rescue, as well as providing low and no cost spay and neuter is expensive! We always need and welcome monetary donations. If in our Long Beach/north Orange County area we also need committed volunteers and foster home providers to join our Team. And of course - adopters!

If you could leave readers with one message about compassion, rescue, and the impact of adoption, what would you want them to remember? 

An animal who is alive because of your efforts is an incredible, tangible accomplishment. Whether through adoption, fostering, volunteering or any aspect of animal care and rescue, you can look at that life and say 'I helped do that!'

What stands out most in this conversation with Deborah Felin-Magaldi is the reminder that compassion creates real, tangible change.

Whether through adoption, fostering, volunteering, donations, education, or advocacy, every effort matters. Every rescued cat represents a life given another chance — a chance for safety, comfort, connection, and love.

Rescue work is not always easy. It requires time, commitment, emotional energy, resources, and community support. But as Deborah beautifully reminds us, there is something incredibly meaningful about knowing a life exists because someone chose to care.

At a time when so many shelters and rescue organizations continue facing overwhelming need, National Adopt A Cat Month offers an important opportunity to raise awareness, encourage fostering and adoption, and support the people working tirelessly behind the scenes to help vulnerable animals survive and thrive.

To learn more about Helen Sanders CatPAWS, support their mission, foster, volunteer, donate, or adopt, visit:

https://helensanderscatpaws.com/

Facebook: facebook.com/HSCatPAWSInstagram:

@helensanderscatpawsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CatPAWSRescue