Alabama Cat Lover Rescues Almost 1,000 Felines From Kill Shelters, Illness, & Injury

By: Kelli Brinegar
For more than five years, Kelli Brinegar has been using her ability to write and her passion for research to tell the tale of what cats are thinking and why. She has provided care to more than 30 cats in her lifetime.Read more
| December 2, 2021

In Phenix City, Alabama, cats in need have a friend in Pat Swift. Four years ago, she opened her home and heart to save cats and kittens from the sad fate of being euthanized. With the creation of Pat’s Rescue Cats, she’s rescued almost a thousand cats and kittens from being marked for death because of overcrowding and illness.

Now, Pat not only rescues felines from kill shelters, but she also takes in the cats who are in a bad way and require serious care. They’re the cats most people will never grace with a second glance, but Pat makes sure every kitty gets their chance at happily ever after. And, this season, she’s asking families to consider adding another cat to the family.

Saving All the Cats

Though the operation has only been running for a few years, Pat has always been driven by the need to save animals. She feels she came by the need to help them honestly, telling WRBL, “I think it came from my father.

“He was just so kindhearted, I was always close to my dad,” Pat shared. “He was always bringing home dogs and cats and ducks… we had a German Shepherd from Vietnam that was a service dog for a short period of time… I’ve always had that connection with my father.”

Like her father, Pat brings cats home to give them a safe place to heal and get ready for their future forever homes. With her, sick and injured kitties get the love and support they so desperately need. And when Pat goes to animal control or the shelters, she explained, “I don’t just go in and say, ‘I want beautiful kittens to adopt.’ I pull the ones who are most in need to begin with.”

With more than seventy cats currently in her care, things can get expensive pretty fast.

“The primary thing that I need is help with vetting expenses and food.”

You can help Pat’s mission by messaging Pat on Facebook or sending her an email at patsrescuecats@gmail.com. Cash donations and supplies are greatly appreciated and always needed.

Is it Time to Grow Your Family with Whiskers and Purrs?

Pat hopes that residents of her area will consider adopting a cat this holiday season. So, if you feel it’s time to give a cat or kitten a chance at forever, adoptions can be arranged via her Facebook page. And, look for some of Pat’s Rescue Cats at the Auburn Petsmart every Saturday. If now is not the right time to adopt a cat into your family, consider giving to Pat’s cat-saving cause and help her rescue cats in need this season.

For all your amazing work giving cats a second chance to find their forever, the cat lovers of iHeartCats.com salute you, Pat Swift. Keep up the fantastic work!

H/T: www.wrbl.com
Feature Image:  @PatsRescueCats/Facebook