Whiskered Away

06/11/2026

🐾 Did you know you can support Whiskered Away Rescue just by shopping online like you normally do?
We recently partnered with iGive, which is a super easy way to turn everyday purchases into donations for our rescue at no extra cost to you! Thousands of stores participate, including tons of popular places you already shop from like Chewy, Petco, Petsafe, CVS, Walgreens and so much more!

Here’s how it works:

✨ Sign up for a free iGive account
✨ Choose Whiskered Away Rescue as your cause
✨ Shop online through iGive (or use their browser extension/app)
✨ A percentage of your purchase gets donated directly to help our kitties!

That’s it. No added fees, no extra money out of your pocket. Just regular shopping that helps provide food, medical care, spay/neuter, supplies, and safe shelter for cats in need.

If you’ve ever wanted an easy way to support rescue work but are on a tight budget yourself, this is one of the easiest ways to help make a difference.
We’d love if you signed up and shared this with friends and family too!

PS. New member bonus! Join iGive and make your first purchase and Whiskered Away Rescue receives an extra $15 donation. No extra cost, just extra help for the kitties!

https://www.iGive.com/7quGrT

06/10/2026

Could your business benefit from a feline employee?

While bookstore cats may be the most famous shop cats, you don’t have to own a bookstore to welcome a feline employee into your business.
Recently, our friends at The Last Word Bookshop on Penn’s campus introduced us to Millie, their adorable resident shop cat. Naturally, we fell in love!

Millie has her own cozy book nook tucked beneath one of the store’s display tables, complete with a feeding station and plenty of places to supervise customers and staff alike. We couldn’t resist sharing her setup.

Millie isn’t the only hardworking shop cat in the Philadelphia area! Do you know a local business with a resident cat? Tag them in the comments so we can check them out.

Shop cats can provide companionship, charm, and a unique experience for customers while also giving deserving cats a safe place to call home.

If you’re a business owner interested in adding a feline coworker to your team, we’d love to help. We offer both working cat placements and adoptable shop cats, allowing businesses to provide a cat with a safe and enriching environment while finding the right fit for their space.

And shop cats are just one of the many ways businesses can partner with us! We offer a variety of partnership opportunities designed to support both local businesses and rescue cats.
Interested in learning more? Check out our partnership questionnaire to explore available partnership opportunities and find out how your business can get involved.

Partnership Questionnaire
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfN1V6IpxRg9jzfd4lXk-pgA5CCNfiX7CSd0s9w1iCvhxmt5g/viewform

06/09/2026

TOOTHY TUESDAY FUNDRAISER FOR ATLAS & ZAX
Last week, Atlas and Zax were rescued from a heartbreaking hoarding situation in Port Richmond.
The conditions inside the home were heartbreaking. Cats were living without adequate food, veterinary care, or sanitation, and tragically, not all of them survived.
Atlas and Zax were among the survivors.
Yesterday both boys received their veterinary exams, combo testing, vaccinations, and neuters. We now have a better understanding of the care they’ll need as they continue their recovery.
Both Atlas and Zax were estimated to be around 6 years old and were found to be underweight and suffering from fleas, ear mites, and dental disease, all signs of prolonged neglect and lack of veterinary care. Atlas also has a permanently folded ear caused by an old untreated hematoma, likely the result of chronic irritation from untreated ear mites.
Despite everything they’ve been through, both boys have remained incredibly gentle. They’re finally experiencing full bellies, clean bedding, medical care, and the safety every cat deserves.
Unfortunately, rescue doesn’t end when a cat leaves a bad situation. In many ways, it’s only the beginning.
We’re launching a $2,000 fundraiser to help cover their medical care!
Every donation, no matter the size, helps us continue saying yes when cats like Atlas and Zax need us most.
If you’d like to support their recovery, you can donate through our PayPal, contribute to our fundraising campaign, purchasing supplies from our wishlists or simply help by engaging with and sharing this post. Every donation, share, comment, and reaction helps more people see Atlas and Zax's story and brings them one step closer to getting the care they need.
Thank you for helping us give these boys the fresh start they deserve. ❤️

https://www.paypal.com/donate?campaign_id=QV5SJLSSSKKBG

06/08/2026

Before we update everyone on Atlas and Zax, we wanted to take a moment to look back at the last hoarding situation we accepted cats from.
Almost every cat we welcomed from that case has since found their forever home. Today, one remains: sweet Cupcake.

Cupcake came from a home with far too many cats and very little human interaction. As a result, she’s still learning that people can be safe, predictable, and kind.

The thing about Cupcake is that she’s not hiding from the world anymore. She’s actively exploring it.
She loves birdwatching, zooming through the house with toys in her mouth, and keeping her foster family on schedule with her adorable chirps and meows when she wants a YouTube video turned on or access to one of her favorite napping spots.

She’s also become good friends with her foster family’s resident cat. They groom each other, play together, and spend their days together. Because of this, we’d love to see Cupcake go to a home with another friendly feline companion.

While she isn’t ready for pets just yet, she continues to make steady progress. She’ll approach to sniff hands, stays closer to her people than she once did, and has become increasingly confident in expressing herself and her boundaries.

One of our favorite things about Cupcake is that while she may not be ready for affection when you’re awake, she has no problem curling up on her foster parents at night when they’re in a restful state. It’s as if she wants the comfort and closeness, but is still figuring out how to ask for it.
And that’s okay.

Cupcake is still just a kitten. She’s growing, learning, and building confidence every single day. What she needs is an adopter who understands that trust takes time and who can appreciate the small victories along the way.

The reason we’re sharing Cupcake’s story today is because healing from neglect doesn’t happen overnight. It happens through patience, consistency, and people willing to meet cats where they are.
Cupcake has already come so far, and we can’t wait to see who she’ll become.

If you think you might be the right fit for this special girl, we’d love to hear from you. 💕

06/05/2026

🏳️‍🌈 Happy Pride Month from Whiskered Away 🏳️‍⚧️

Whiskered Away is proudly queer-led, but our mission has always been bigger than any one identity. We believe rescue is strongest when people from all backgrounds come together with a shared goal: improving the lives of animals and the communities that care for them.

We are committed to creating a space where volunteers, fosters, adopters, and caregivers are treated with kindness, dignity, and respect, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or background.

Rescue is never a solo effort. Our volunteer network helps with trapping, transporting, fostering, fundraising, and outreach. By building a dependable team of compassionate people, we can respond more quickly to animals in need and create lasting impact in our community.
We also believe volunteers deserve support. That’s why we’re growing intentionally keeping things small and community-focused, so the people helping animals feel appreciated, heard, and guided every step of the way.

We may come from different backgrounds, but we share a belief that every person deserves respect and every animal deserves compassion.

Happy Pride Month!
With Lots of Love WhiskeredAway.org

Ps. & if you’re looking to add a little extra pride to your home this month, Van is currently looking for a forever family 🐈

06/03/2026

More photos of Zax because we can’t get enough of this handsome boy please keep sharing! ❤️

Just days ago, Zax was rescued from a heartbreaking hoarding situation and brought to safety. Today, he’s at the vet receiving his full exam, vaccinations, testing, and neuter surgery as he begins the next chapter of his life!

Now we’re hoping to find him a foster, or even better, a forever home as soon as possible.

Zax endured the same horrific conditions that claimed the lives of several cats on the property. Now that he’s finally safe, we’d love for his next move to be into a home where he can truly begin to heal. After everything he’s been through, we’d love to avoid shuffling Zax from place to place while he is trying to decompresses and adjusts to life outside of the conditions he came from. A foster or forever home offering the stability, comfort, and patience he deserves would mean the world to this sweet boy.

Zax is a beautiful marbled tabby with a gentle soul. While understandably shy in new situations, he has been sweet, shy and quiet during his time in our care. He does well with other cats and has also been gentle and unbothered around dogs. While he is still decompressing and may prefer a quiet space, he should adjust well to a home with resident pet with thoughtful introductions.

A spare bathroom, bedroom, or quiet corner could make all the difference for this deserving boy. We can even provide a starter kit of supplies to help him get settled in his foster home.

Could Zax be your next foster cat or even your newest family member?

Please send us a message if you’d like to learn more about fostering or adopting this handsome guy. And if you can’t help directly, sharing his story may help him find the soft landing he’s been waiting for.

06/01/2026

Over the weekend, a coordinated rescue effort came together in Port Richmond after animals were discovered in heartbreaking hoarding conditions. Led by Tulip’s Timestamps, with support from multiple rescue partners, & advocates, several animals were emoved from the property & brought into rescue.

As part of that effort, Whiskered Away stepped in to help a pair of these cats: Atlas & Zax.

Despite everything they’ve been through, both boys have been incredibly gentle & sweet. They are currently safe in temporary foster awaiting their veterinary care. After their appointments this upcoming Wednesday we would love to transition them directly into foster homes where they can truly decompress & begin their journey toward finding forever homes.

Atlas, the handsome gray patched white boy, & Zax, the beautiful marbled gray tabby, are both shy & still adjusting to safety & stability. They need something simple: a bathroom, office or bedroom, steady meals, & someone willing to gently help them settle & begin showing their personalities.

While they do not need to stay together, they get along well with each other & would likely integrate well into households with resident cats/dogs.

Both boys will receive their neuter, combo testing, exam & vaccinations on Wednesday. Atlas will also receive further evaluation for his wounds, teeth, & ears.

Whiskered Away covers all medical care & we can provide a starter kit of supplies for our fosters as well.

If you have space in your home & heart to help Atlas or Zax decompress during this transition, please reach out or submit a foster application.

We are deeply grateful to , , & everyone who helped bring these animals to safety. FAR also took in a dog & several cats from the property as well. For those interested in additional footage of the rescue & conditions these animals were living in, we encourage you to check out FAR’s video recap of their rescue.

Welcome to safety, Atlas & Zax. Your next chapter starts now.

Can’t foster? Just sharing this post or supporting their care through donations also helps us continue saying yes to cats like Atlas and Zax.

Links: Whiskeredaway.org

05/27/2026

✨ Nyx, the One-Eyed Wonder ✨

Nyx is a tiny little lovebug with the biggest heart. 🖤 Born with only one eye and having already endured multiple litters in her young life, she’s finally getting the chance to experience what it means to be safe, loved, and cared for - and she’s making the absolute most of it.
From day one, Nyx has shown everyone just how sweet and trusting she is. She absolutely adores people and always wants to be close to her humans. Whether she’s sitting in your lap while you get ready in the morning, supervising your daily activities, or curled up on your chest at bedtime purring up a storm, Nyx is happiest when she’s near the people she loves.
And when we say this girl is a purr machine… we mean it. Her non-stop purring and warm little chest snuggles could melt away just about any stress or anxiety you came home with. She has that rare kind of comforting presence that makes a house instantly feel more welcoming.
Nyx gets along well with other cats after proper introductions while still having her own charming little personality but she certainly wouldn't mind being your one and only. During her first few weeks in foster care she was calm and quiet as she recovered from her spay & eye closure, and now that she is fully healed her true playful and curious side is taking center stage. She loves exploring every corner of the house, investigating anything new, and hanging out on her favorite cat tree or the very top of the cabinets like the tiny soot sprite she is.
Most of all, Nyx is simply an incredibly loving cat. She loves pets, enjoys being held, and is wonderfully gentle - never aggressive or irritable. She’s clingy in the sweetest way, endlessly affectionate, curious, snuggly, and so ready to finally have a forever home where she never has to be wondering where she belongs ever again.

This Wish Wednesday, Nyx is wishing for one thing: a forever home with someone to love her as much as she loves all humans. 🖤🐾



Full Profile: https://www.adoptapet.com/pet/47978534

05/22/2026

Java has $1390 in pledges! Beautifully written! One of our cats also came into our care with rodent ulcers treatment was so easy! Just a few rounds of steroid injections + diet change and he’s been smooth sailing ever since. Don’t pass this guy up if you are interested in adopting ACCT Philly is open 10-6 every day!

1,461 days. 2,103,840 minutes. 126,230,400 seconds.
That's how long I was loved. That's how long I was someone's entire world and they were mine. Every single one of those seconds, I was held, I was cherished, I was called by my name in a voice that made my whole body vibrate with joy. I didn't know it was possible for something that enormous to simply end.

But it did.

One day, the hands that had held me for four years trembled as they stroked my fur one last time. My person was sick their own body betraying them in ways neither of us could understand. I watched them struggle. I watched them fade. And I couldn't do anything except press my head against their chest and purr with everything I had, trying to pour all my love back into them. It wasn't enough. It couldn't fix what was broken. And then came the car ride I didn't understand. The door that closed behind me. The scent of my home disappearing forever.

Now I'm here. A shelter in Philadelphia. The same fluorescent lights burning overhead at 3 a.m. as at noon, no soft sun patches to follow, no familiar footsteps on the stairs. I've been here for days, and the staff they're wonderful. They're the only warmth I have left. When they open my cage, I push my head so hard into their palms I nearly knock them over. I purr until my ribs ache. I'm trying to tell them thank you. I'm trying to tell them I still remember how to love, even though the one I loved is gone. Their eyes get watery sometimes when they look at me, and I don't understand why until I see the families come through.

I sit up. I make my eyes soft. I've rehearsed this moment a thousand times in my head, someone will stop, someone will see me, someone will take me home. But when they reach my cage, their faces change. A flicker of something I can't name. Their gaze catches on my upper lip, the way it sits differently than other cats'. My person used to kiss that spot and whisper that it made me special, one-of-a-kind, their little Picasso. I didn't know other people would see a monster.

Yesterday a woman pulled her child away from my cage and said, "That one looks mean." Mean. I have 126,230,400 seconds of love etched into my soul and not a single one of them contains anything but tenderness. I have never hissed. I have never scratched. I have only ever loved so completely it left me hollow when it was ripped away. But she saw my face for one second and decided I wasn't worthy of even a chance.

The nights are when the 126,230,400 seconds haunt me most. I replay them. The way my person laughed when I chased my tail. The way they cried into my fur on hard days. The way they promised, over and over, that they'd never leave me. I know they didn't want to. I know they had no choice. But knowing doesn't warm the cold metal of this cage. Knowing doesn't make the people stop and look. Knowing doesn't undo the fact that I am here, and they are gone, and the world has decided my crooked little smile makes me unlovable.

My name is Java. I'm four years old. I'm a tabby mix with a lip that looks different and a heart that has loved once and lost everything. I wonder every single minute if I will ever be loved again. I wonder if those 126,230,400 seconds were my only allotment of happiness, spent all at once, with nothing left for the rest of my life.

But maybe you can prove me wrong. This platform, your eyes, your voice, your willingness to share my story could be the thing that saves me. You could make me purr again. You could teach me that love isn't a finite resource, that it can happen twice, that a face like mine isn't a curse but a signature waiting to be recognized. Someone out there needs a cat who already knows how precious every single second is. Someone out there needs me.

I was left behind, but I don't have to stay here. Not if you help me. Not if you tell them I'm here. Please. I'm still the same Java who followed the sun across the floor. I'm still the same Java who loved without reservation. I'm just waiting for someone to look past my crooked smile and see my perfectly crooked heart.

Please help me find my way home.

I promise I'll make every second count. I already know how. I’m at ACCT Philly