08/26/2026
A few weekends ago, employees at a recycling center in Worcester were going about their regular day when they made a concerning discovery: a wounded cat in a recycling bin.
They promptly brought the cat into the Worcester Animal Rescue League (WARL) for help. Staff noted the cat, now named Recycled Rita, had a painful abscess on her neck that required more immediate attention than WARL could provide, as their veterinarian was not available that day.
WARL is a close friend and partner of ours and when they called, our team was ready to help. Rita was transferred to the MSPCA at Nevins Farm where, despite everything she had endured, she remained sweet and allowed our team to examine her. Her wound was significant, so that same day our clinic team surgically cleaned it, placed a drain, and spayed her.
Rita is feeling much better, but her journey is far from over.
Because she arrived with a wound of unknown origin, Rita must be treated as a potential rabies exposure and complete a state-mandated four-month quarantine. Without an eligible foster home, Rita will spend four long months in the shelter, far longer than the average stay for an otherwise healthy cat.
Rita’s story highlights the importance of collaboration among Massachusetts shelters. WARL serves New England’s second-largest city, and is one of the shelters the MSPCA-Angell has supported through the Massachusetts Animal Shelter Support coalition as it works to strengthen and rebuild essential programs. When one organization needs help, our shared network allows another to step in, and animals like Rita benefit greatly from that support.
Rita is one of several cats in our care who are waiting out their quarantine after arriving with a wound of unknown origin. Qualified foster homes can transform that wait, giving cats like Rita the comfort of a home while freeing critical space for the next animal in need.
If you have received a pre-exposure rabies vaccination and are interested in fostering an animal for a few months as they complete quarantine, we would love to hear from you!
