Rescue and Relax

09/17/2025

Pipette update! 🧬🧪😸 This sweet, sassy, and determined girl has been absolutely THRIVING since her health scare back in June.

You may recall, Pipette experienced a serious respiratory emergency at eight weeks old when her windpipe temporarily collapsed. With hospitalization and lots of love and care, she made a full recovery and has been able to run, play, and snuggle just as every kitten should!

Pipette is now five months old and almost ready for adoption, but first she will need spay surgery. Her complex medical history makes it essential to perform the procedure at a primary care vet’s office with oxygen monitoring and intubation. The cost is going to be much higher than a spay and neuter clinic—around $400.

We can’t express enough how grateful we are to everyone who pitched in to Pipette’s life-saving care in June. If you’re able to, please consider donating to her spay so we can get her past this last remaining hurdle before finding her forever home. Every little bit helps!

You can donate directly via Instagram/FB or send donations for Pipette’s care to Rescue and Relax on Venmo, PayPal, Cashapp, or Ko-fi:

Or via Zelle at [email protected]

Cash or checks can be sent to Rescue and Relax, 104 East Swissvale Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15218

08/09/2025

Do you like board games? Do you like cats? Then join us this Tuesday, August 12th, for a night of board games at our cat lounge! We're hosting this event in collaboration with Games Unlimited and all proceeds for the night will go towards our rescue kitties.

We’ll start at 7pm and continue until 10pm-ish. Games Unlimited is bringing plenty of games for our guests to enjoy, including MLEM Space Agency, Isle of Cats, Calico, Boop, Race to the Raft, Shuffle & Swing, Cat in the Box, Cat Lady, and more!

Thanks to their generosity, every $5 donation will earn you a raffle entry for a chance to win your own copy of Cat Lady or Shuffle & Swing! Order your tickets in advance, and you’ll receive a bonus raffle entry.

We suggest a donation of $10 per person to attend, though we are happy for you to join us regardless of the amount you are able to donate. We will prioritize those who registered for tickets in advance if seating becomes limited.

Get tickets at rescueandrelax.com/events

If you simply wish to donate, you can find our Venmo, PayPal, CashApp, and Ko-fi

07/02/2025

We’ll be closed on Friday July 4th (but open on the 5th and 6th!)

The kitties are all curled up in anticipation of the noisy and exciting fireworks this weekend. They’re excited to get attention and pets when we’re open again on the 5th! Swipe to see more of Daisy and Bowser’s cuteness. (they’re bonded and adoptable!) 🥹😻

And just a reminder to make sure your pets are secure indoors prior to the fireworks on Friday! Lots of noise and excitement can result in animals trying to run away because they’re scared, but having them in a secure room with comfort items can go a long way to keeping them calm. 🎆😸

Hope everyone enjoys the holiday on Friday and we look forward to seeing you during regular open hours on Saturday!

06/10/2025

UPDATE: Pipette is coming home! 🎉

After performing a fluoroscopy, the outstanding doctors at the OSU Veterinary Medical Center were able to determine that Pipette’s respiratory distress was not caused by a congenital windpipe defect, but a temporary collapse of the windpipe. We’ll still need to manage her condition medically to hopefully prevent future breathing issues, but this diagnosis is a MUCH more favorable outcome than a congenital issue! With proper treatment, the doctors expect Pipette will be able to have a great quality of life. 🥹

Because she has been doing great without supplemental oxygen since Sunday and eating like a champ, OSU determined she can safely return home. We can’t wait to reunite her with her mama for some R&R💕 and her siblings, too, for supervised play time. 🥰

Thank you so much to everyone who has already donated to Pipette’s care and shared this fundraiser. 🙏🏻 As a fully volunteer-run organization, Rescue and Relax depends on donations to help save the lives of cats and kittens like Pipette. We still have large balances due at BluePearl and OSU, so please continue to share and spread the word!

You can donate directly via Instagram/FB or send donations for Pipette’s care to Rescue and Relax on Venmo, PayPal, Cashapp, or Ko-fi:

Or via Zelle at [email protected]

Cash or checks can be sent to Rescue and Relax, 104 East Swissvale Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15218

06/08/2025

Please keep little Pipette in your thoughts today! Her foster parents are currently transporting her from Pittsburgh to The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center to hopefully find answers around what’s causing her respiratory distress.

Pipette came to us at two weeks old with her mom and three siblings, Petri, Bunsen, and Beaker (Science kittens! 🧫🧪). She thrived for the first several weeks in foster care, learning to walk, play, and eat solid food like a champ.

Now at eight weeks old, we had hoped Pipette and her siblings were in the homestretch on their way to adoption, but she very suddenly declined on Friday evening. 🥺

We rushed her to BluePearl Emergency Center immediately after finding her struggling to breathe. She needed to be hospitalized through Sunday morning while being kept on oxygen and antibiotics for what they hypothesize is a congenitally narrow windpipe or windpipe collapse, and a possible upper respiratory infection exacerbating her breathing issues. The doctors and staff at Blue Pearl did an incredible job helping Pipette through a tough situation and get her vitals more stable. 💖 But we still have a long road ahead.

The cost for Pipette’s care is already near $3,000 with more testing estimated around $3-5k to come. If you are able to, please consider donating to her bill to help us get the best possible care for this sassy and playful girl.

⭐️ Any and every little bit helps! Sharing this post is also a great way to support Pipette, whether or not you’re able to pitch in financially.

You can send donations for Pipette’s care to Rescue and Relax on Venmo, PayPal, Cashapp, or Ko-fi:

Or via Zelle at [email protected]

Cash or checks can be sent to Rescue and Relax, 104 East Swissvale Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15218

05/14/2025

‼️REQUEST FOR DONATIONS‼️

Our kitties were treated so well at Rivers Veterinary Urgent Care today ❤️

Lark, Tiger, and Midge all had bloodwork and urinalyses sent out to make certain they're in good health.

Dr. Niehaus was amazing, as usual, and spent time discussing each kitty's unique issues. And the techs and staff gave them lots of reassuring snuggles 😽

Lark had a quick ultrasound to make sure her recent bloating was not caused by free fluid accumulation (we were so anxious it could be wet FIP!). Fortunately none was seen and it's she's likely just an extra chonky girl! But the bloodwork will give us peace of mind since her typical nosey, needy behavior has been subdued this past month.

Midge came to us along with 4 other cats that were surrendered during an eviction. Midge is reportedly 10 years old and was with her owner since she was a kitten. However, Dr. Niehaus says she's in great shape with good dental health and could pass as 5 years old! 🥰 Midge's foster mom noticed that she lays in odd positions (she sploots like a chubby corgi 😻) and that her gait sometimes looks abnormal. She also has a soft bulge on her abdomen and we wanted to be sure it wasn't a hernia or mass. Luckily, Midge's X-rays looked great - though her intestines sit entirely on the right side of her body. Apparently that's just her normal. 🤷‍♀️ There's mild arthritis in her knee, so she'll start on Cosequin and a weight loss diet to help alleviate strain on her joints.

We haven't posted often these past several months. Honestly, our team has been so busy it's been difficult to even stop and ask for help. Sadly, our vet bills have been adding up and we're in desperate need of help to pay down our balances.

⭐ Please donate and share!
Consider setting up monthly donations and asking your employer about charitable contribution matches.
Visit rescueandrelax.com/donate to see more ways to help our rescue efforts.

Call Rivers Veterinary Urgent Care at 412-998-9030 to leave a payment on our account under Rescue and Relax.

Find us on Venmo, PayPal, CashApp, or Ko-fi

Or Zelle at [email protected]

Send cash or checks to Rescue and Relax, 104 East Swissvale Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15218

05/07/2025

Meet Monty! This sweet orange boy is adoptable! 😸🍊

A friendly guy through and through, Monty loves to be near people and get pets. He’s definitely not a lap cat but will happily hang out next to you for hours just chilling. A clever and friendly guy, he likes to be around people but is also good doing his own thing sometimes.

Monty is about 2 years old and still likes to play! Whether it’s with a toy on a string, a spring, or even chasing his own tail, Monty will happily play either with you or on his own.

He initially came to us after being found as a stray with a bad bite wound. He’s since healed and is now in great health, but whatever encounter he had out in the wild left him wary of sudden noises and movements. With time, space, lots of pets, and positive reinforcement, he’s gotten very comfortable at his foster home and can blossom in a new home too!

However, given the sensitivity to sudden/loud stimuli, he’d do best as a solo cat and not around small children, but is a very good boy overall.

Monty is currently in foster care, so please apply to adopt or reach out to [email protected] if you’d like to learn more or meet this lovely little dude and see if he’s the right fit for your home and heart!

05/05/2025

Our power is back on! The lounge will be open with regular hours this week and the kitties are excited to get all the pets and scritches! 😸💡✨

These pics were taken mere moments after our lights came back on and caught Daisy especially confused as to what cruel circumstance would dare interrupt her very comfy lounging 😹

05/03/2025

The cat lounge is still closed after our loss of power, but you can stop by our table today at the Spring Artists' Market at Pittsburgh Center For Arts & Media 😺🎨🖌️

Our Tween Volunteers will be selling their handmade items to help us raise funds for all the new cats and kittens we've taken into our rescue this Spring! We'll also have some miscellaneous pet and cat-themed items for sale. 🐕🐈‍⬛

So come check out our goods and learn more about the important work we do to rescue and re-home cats throughout the Greater Pittsburgh area. Ask us about adoption, fostering, volunteering, donating, and special events at our cat lounge.

If you can't make it, you can still donate online to help us cover medical bills and cost of food and supplies. It's already shaping up to be a busy kitten season, and these little creatures eat like nobody's business 😹

Send a donation through Venmo, PayPal, CashApp, or Ko-fi

Or thru Zelle to [email protected]

Send cash or checks to Rescue and Relax, 104 East Swissvale Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15218

If you'd like to contribute to our veterinarians directly call...

Rivers Veterinary Urgent Care at 412-998-9030 or

Paw Prints Veterinary Clinic at 304-296-7387
..and leave a payment on our account under Rescue and Relax.

05/02/2025

Sorry folks! We'll be closed until further notice.

Tuesday's storm has left our cat lounge without power. Don't worry - the kitties hardly notice aside from having to drink still water since their fountain isn't flowing 😹

We'll post an update if we're able to reopen this weekend. Otherwise, we'll plan to see you next week during our normal business hours!

04/17/2025

We’re going to be closed this Saturday and Sunday for the Easter holiday! Wishing everyone a happy spring weekend, and the kitties will see y’all when we reopen next Friday the 25th! 🌸😸

04/15/2025