Feline parvovirus (FIV) is the highly contagious virus that causes feline panleukopenia, an illness responsible for the destruction of rapidly dividing cells in major systems of the body. For kittens, panleukopenia often proves fatal as their little bodies can’t fight always fight such a powerful virus. And when cat rescues and fosters face parvovirus infections, the medical costs can add up in a hurry.

But thanks to food donations from the Rescue Bank, cats and kittens, like the litter of orange kittens that came to Azrael’s Place sickened by this devastating cat virus, receive get the veterinary care they need to make it to their chance at forever. None of this can happen without you though. Because you have great taste and shop with iHeartCats.com, you’re helping fund the food donations rescues and shelters so desperately need.

Image Courtesy of Azrael’s Place

Saving Lives Made Possible Thanks to Rescue Bank and You

Every purchase you make donates money to hungry cats, all thanks to a partnership between iHeartCats.com and Greater Good Charities. The Rescue Bank, a pet food distribution initiative within the family of Greater Good Charities, has been keeping hungry bellies full for over a decade. To date, the Rescue Bank has delivered over 275 million meals to shelters and rescues across the country.

Because we’re all working together to keep cats fed, rescues like Azrael’s Place have been able to pay the mounting medical bills, the group explaining, “We could not afford to save cats and kittens without the help we receive from Rescue Bank. The food (and occasional litter and vaccines) donations are crucial for our efforts.”

Azrael’s Place/Facebook

And when it came to the litter of FIV-infected kittens, those efforts were sorely tested.

Fighting FIV in the Tiniest of Fluffs

The orange kittens were only four weeks old when they came to Azrael’s Place in Lyons, Illinois, and they were severely ill. In spite of the rescuers’ work, three of the six kittens were lost to FIV. Their tiny bodies were just too overcome. Three kittens remained, but at only a pound, they were “weak, congested, dehydrated with fluid dripping from their eyes and nose.”

Image Courtesy of Azrael’s Place

Though sick, the fight was strong in them, and in the care of their foster family and the medical team at Fox River Animal Clinic, these babies worked hard to beat what Azrael’s Place describes as a “devastating kitty disease.”

Image Courtesy of Azrael’s Place

The orange kittens’ foster mom said, “I pray that these three little guys get the miracle they deserve and we want for them.”

With The Rescue Bank and you, this miracle looks far more likely. With food covered, Azrael’s Place and their foster extraordinaires can focus on helping cats and kittens get healthy. For example, the orange kitten foster mama can concentrate fully on everything the kittens do, asking, “Is it too weird that the highlight of your day is seeing your 1 lb. fostering kitten producing a solid poop as big as his body?”

And there is the magic of The Rescue Bank and you!

Shop & Give Back!

The following products provide quality food for shelters and rescues, helping them reserve more of their precious funds for medical expenses, supplies, and spreading the word about their adoptable pups and kitties.

Feature Image Courtesy of Azrael’s Place