The Miracle Cats

On October 5th, 2018 we received a call from the Animal Control Officer in one of the towns that contracts with us. She told us there was an unknown number of cats that had been locked in a storage area for an unknown length of time. Our driver returned with 3 large dog crates, but we had no idea how many cats were inside. The crates were filthy and matted with fur. The urine smell was so powerfully terrible that we could almost taste it.

We removed the cats on by one, weighed them, gave them fluids, tested them for disease, vaccinated them, fed them and gave them Miracle names. They were all emaciated, hungry, exhausted, filthy with feces and urine and silent. The first crate contained Bennett and Dorothea who were so skinny that their hips were protruding. They had been standing on Heaven who passed away that evening and Rocky who was already deceased.

Within the other 2 carriers there were 6 live cats, Boone, Felicity, Asher, Flick, Felix and Emmeline along with 3 deceased cats. Boone, Asher and Flick were in the same shape as Bennett and Dorothea: emaciated, exhausted, starving and filthy. Felicity, a once beautiful siamese was missing her right eye and it didn’t look like it had been a surgical removal. Emmeline and Felix were in better shape with Felix being an older black and white kitten and Emmeline being a terrified pregnant all black cat. It was tough leaving them overnight, but we knew they had come to the right shelter at the right time.

The next morning they were all still alive and all are continuing to improve, except Asher. Beautiful buff colored Asher had fluid in his lungs. After two nights of the fluid returning, the vet advised us our best course of action was euthanasia. Asher passed peacefully that afternoon.

Having been bathed, treated, fed, exercised and loved, the 7 remaining Miracle Cats have made a tremendous recovery, along with taking a very special place in our hearts. Over the last few weeks we have seen their personalities emerge and their bellies fill out. Their owner finally surrendered them to us after a month in our care. We can now find them the loving homes they deserve.

This is the reason the Humane Society Waterville Area needs to remain open. The Miracle Cats are the face of animal abuse and neglect. Their perseverance and resilience is overwhelming. For all of the heartwarming, easy adoptions, there are stories like this one that need to be told. This is a true look at behind the scenes at a central Maine community animal shelter. This story is why we are so vital to the communities we serve.


On Friday November 16, 2018, the surviving cats will be available for adoption, though Executive Director Lisa Oakes, says the procedure will be far more extensive than normal, “We plan to have a special adoption process for these cats. We will be accepting adoption applications for Felicity & Boone as a bonded pair, Felix & Emmeline as a bonded pair and Flick on his own. We will require applicants to provide a letter explaining why they would like to adopt them along with 3 personal references that we will be contacting.” Oakes goes on to say,  “We want to make sure they continue to receive the exceptional care and attention we have shown them. There will be an adoption fee for each of the bonded pairs and an adoption fee for Flick. One stipulation of adopting these cats is that we receive updates from their new families every six months for the next 2 years. We plan to choose adoptive families by November 28th.”

Please consider donating to help defray the costs of caring for and housing the Miracle Cats. Any amount will help.

Download the special adoption application packet here .
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About the Humane Society Waterville Area

Our mission is to shelter animals until they find permanent homes, to educate the community about responsible pet ownership, and to advocate for the humane treatment of all animals.

The Humane Society Waterville Area opened its doors in 1970 and we have been serving the communities in our area ever since. We take great pride in helping pets find their forever homes. We provide adoptions for dogs, cats, pocket pets and more. We always have a wide variety of pets available for adoption.

Currently we serve the communities of Albion, Belgrade, Benton, Burnham, Canaan, Clinton, Detroit, Dixmont, Fairfield, Freedom, Hinckley, Knox, Mercer, Oakland, Palmyra, Pittsfield, Shawmut, Sidney, Thorndike, Troy, Unity, Waldo, Waterville, and Winslow in Maine.