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The Shelter

At AniMeals, we believe every life is precious. Our primary focus is to care for cats. We take the cats that no other shelter will accept; the old and infirm, the youngsters born to community cats, felines that need socialization, cats that require medical assistance, and the cats who have been forgotten. We are a haven for those that have run out of options.

We are a medical and behavioral-focused shelter. Incoming felines receives a “ nose to toes” exam in our Intensive Care Unit. We also have instituted quarantine holds to monitor for illness, disease, and injuries for all new intakes to facilitate fully informed adoptions.

The cats in our care will remain with us until they are matched with loving companions. Our cats reside in 10x10x6 kennels with food, water, cat trees, toys, hiding spots, and litter boxes. We strive to create an environment for them that does not feel like a shelter. They get to run around, play, and lounge in their very own “studio apartments.”

$1,621 Thecostof shelter operationsfor oneday.

January 2024 to September 2024

Cats and Kittens

Taken In: 263

Cats and Kittens

Adopted Out: 248

Veterinary Care

AniMeals is committed to taking in felines with significant, but treatable or manageable, medical conditions. Because we operate a no-kill facility, it is our duty to work with a veterinarian to identify medical needs and establish treatment plans to improve the quality of life for cats in our care.

gets rebandaged by Dr. Jackson from Animal Blessings Pet Hospital.

Linus

Veterinary Care

So far in 2024, Animal Blessings Pet Hospital donated over $114,206 of services to AniMeals. They donated $36,286 in free wellness and problem exams, x-rays, ultrasounds, and more. They also provided $77,920 of in-kind spay and neuter services. The Animal Blessings staff worked hard to accommodate every exam request, even outside of our longstanding Wednesday appointment. AniMeals couldn’t do the lifesaving work without their compassionate care.

New this year, Dr. Scott Jackson conducted inshelter visits every other Thursday -- on his day off. Almost immediately, Dr. Jackson’s rounds eliminated the backlog in rabies vaccinations, and he created treatments plans for cats on the spot. Some cats still needed specialized care at the clinic, but we didn’t have to cart as many cats across town. It’s been a lifesaver.

AniMeals used individual gifts to cover $71,895 in veterinary bills for spays, medications, specialized surgeries, and critical bloodwork. Veterinary care is the second largest expense we incur at AniMeals.

Please consider a gift today!

$1,100 Exams and Surgeries for One Week $750 Spaysand NeutersforOne Week

$330 Medicineand VaccinesforOne Week

$3,000 Spaysand NeutersforOne Month

Shelter Manager Josie helping Dr. Jackson vaccinate kittens in the shelter.

Critical Care Fund

Oftentimes, homeless animals that come to AniMeals are in need of urgent care. Many suffer serious illnesses from neglect. Some have broken bones and/or life-threatening injuries. Most, if not all, critical care cases require specialized veterinary services that come with a premium price tag.

Little 6-week-old Diana was found taped inside of a diaper box with her littermates. During her intake exam, AniMeals staff noticed that she was not putting weight on her front left paw. An x-ray indicated that Diana was suffering from a complete spiral fracture and needed pins to heal her leg. The veterinary staff at Animal Blessings performed the surgery setting her on the road to a full recovery. When we asked, our community covered the $650 veterinary bill (and then some)!

January 2024 to September 2024

$24,036 Spent in Critical Care Cases

25 Critical Care Patients

Diana

Spiral Fracture

Critical Care Cases

Cinder, a 4-year-old Domestic Longhair, was an owner surrender who did not get along with the other cats in the house and was urinating inappropriately, likely due to pain and declawed paws. Staff noticed that her tail had no muscle tone and she had a significant limp in the back of her left leg as well. X-rays showed a broken paw in multiple spots and a dislocated tail. The veterinary team at Animal Blessings Pet Hospital placed pins in her paw and amputated her tail. The surgery cost $881, but Cinder is more comfortable now and looking for a loving companion to take her home.

Because of our singular focus on felines, we house cats with medical needs that other shelters may not be able to care for due to resource constraints.

Critical Care Cases

It’s truly a miracle to witness Sprout and Roxy’s transformation from emaciated cats to playful felines since their arrival at AniMeals in April 2024. They were transferred to us from Missoula Animal Control after being rescued from a hoarding situation with 15 other cats. Sprout and Roxy were half of their healthy body weight when they arrived and presented with upper respiratory infections that were not responding to antibiotics. Roxy also had ulcers on her back lower gums.

Concerned about the potential for highly contagious calicivirus, AniMeals quarantined the girls in our new observation room. Shelter staff gowned up each time they entered the room to prevent the spread of the suspected virus to other cats in the shelter.

Roxy showing off her best side.

A swab test revealed that Sprout and Roxy were actually suffering from a bout of feline chlamydia, which is very different from the human version. Feline chlamydia is a bacterial infection and is usually transferred between unvaccinated cats living in close proximity to each other.

We started them on a stronger antibiotic to fight off the chlamydia, and administered gabapentin to ease Roxy’s oral pain. Thankfully, an oral biopsy ruled out cancer in Roxy. They were placed on the floor for adoption once we identified and addressed all medical concerns.

These days, 8-year-old Sprout gets her steps in on her cat wheel, and 13-year-old Roxy has enough energy to play vigorously with Sprout in between her “old lady” naps.

Roxy and Sprout are still looking for a compassionate human to adopt them together and let them live in the lap of luxury.

Critical Care Cases

Tawn, a distinguished 14-year-old tabby, was left outside of our shelter on a cold morning in January 2024. His owners left a note stating they had exhausted all of their financial resources at the local emergency veterinary clinic with no real diagnosis or a way forward.

Once set up in a nice warm kennel in our Intensive Care Unit, our staff noticed that Tawn was eating and drinking in excess, clear signs of an untreated medical condition.

Bloodwork revealed an overactive thyroid which meant that Tawn needed daily medications to manage his hyperthyroidism. We also noticed that Tawn was presenting with backpain, which was diagnosed as a slipped disk and is now treated with daily gabapentin.

Our staff and Shelter Buddies loved visiting with Tawn, but he needed a permanent home. Good things can come from social media, and in this instance, Tawn pulled at Shelbie’s heartstrings.

After much consideration, Shelbie adopted Tawn in late August. He now spends his days lounging in the sunlight, on the bed, in his hidey hole, and across Shelbie’s arm.

AniMeals will pay for Tawn’s medical expenses related to his diagnoses for the duration of his life. We are grateful to the Petfinder Foundation for a $1,000 grant to help cover Tawn’s medical expenses.

“Tawn is doing really well. I’m completely smitten with him. And he seems to really love it here.”

Shelbie Tawn’s Adopter

Gaia’s Landing Program

The Gaia’s Landing program is designed to remove barriers to adoption for cats with significant, but treatable or manageable, medical conditions. This year, AniMeals audited the program to ensure sustainability, and at the same time, put the medical decisionmaking power in the hands of the adopters.

AniMeals is committed to covering the cost of exams and prescription food and drugs related to diagnosed medical conditions at the time of adoption. Companions also now have the flexibility to schedule their own vet visits at Animal Blessings Pet Hospital. After all, adopters are their cat’s best advocate, and we want all Gaia’s cats to have current treatment plans in place that are guided by a veterinarian.

Currently, 53 cats are enrolled in the Gaia’s Landing program. Gaia’s Landing is an extension of our sheltering services and is only made possible because of the generous support from donors who believe common conditions are not the end of the road for cats. We spend almost $6,000 each month just in special food, medicines, bloodwork, and procedures to make sure each cat’s condition is well-managed.

Without this program, more cats would be put down at local veterinary clinics or overcrowded shelters that do not have the capacity to care for cats with ongoing medical needs. Please consider a gift to support a Gaia’s kitty today!

Fostering Resilient Felines

Tiny 8.3-ounce Luigi was found alone by a concerned kid outside of Bridge Pizza on the Hip Strip in Missoula. His ears were still folded and estimated to be only two weeks old. Lea, our marketing specialist, bottlefed him until we found a longterm foster for the little tike. He is now happily homed.

Kittens arrive at our shelter as singletons, in pairs, or with a queen. Since January 1, AniMeals has taken in 144 kittens. Fifteen fosters housed almost every single kitten, some fostering multiple times. We heavily rely on fosters because kittens are our most vulnerable population.

Not only do we have kitten fosters, but we also have medical, hospice, and socialization fosters, too. Medical fosters provide quiet homes for cats healing from major surgeries. Hospice fosters offer palliative care for cats with progressive medical conditions. Socialization fosters help “scaredy cats” grow in confidence and learn to trust humans.

Even as we go into the holiday season, we still have kittens and adult felines in foster homes. Will you make a gift to help cover the cost of our foster program?

Luigi was one of our first bottle babies of 2024.

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Reimagining the Working Cat

Formerly the Barn Cat Program, the Working Cat Program places cats that are not suitable as household companions into farms, stables, plant nurseries, breweries, feed stores, or warehouses. AniMeals will only adopt working cats in pairs or groups of three, and we stress the importance of providing food, water, shelter, and warmth as cats cannot live on mice alone. We also require a minimum four-week acclimatization period to condition the cats to stay nearby.

Dr. Steven DeLisele, owner of Alberton Orchards in Alberton, Montana, adopted a couple of working cats to help out around his Montana ranch and glamping resort.

"AniMeals has allowed Alberton Orchards to adopt several working cats. They have been a tremendous help around the ranch keeping mice in check. While the cats are often hidden, it is a pleasure to see the occasional cat run through our orchard. Thanks AniMeals for your help. "

This year, AniMeals found suitable operations for 15 working cats.

The Honey Fund

AniMeals offers programs that extend beyond our shelter walls. Our medical fund keeps pets and people together even in the event of a costly, unexpected medical bill. The Honey Fund provides financial support to pet owners who need a little extra help covering treatments and surgeries for illnesses or injuries with a good prognosis.

This year, AniMeals was awarded a $10,000 grant -- a combination of $2,500 from Clearwater Credit Union and $7,500 from the FHLB Member Impact Fund to help more pets and the people who love them.

Between January and September, 23 dogs and cats have been recipients of the Honey Fund. This program helped cover the cost of bloodwork for senior dogs and cats, several dentals and tooth extractions, eye enucleations, treatments for systemic infections, a total ear canal ablation for a cat, and more.

Jax the Bassett Hound had a large mass growing on his backside. His companion was concerned because it became uncomfortable for Jax to sit or walk due to the size of the growth. Funds covered a portion of the procedure. Jax is enjoying his daily walks again without the extra load.

$200 CoversOne HoneyFund Request

Animal Food Bank

AniMeals began as an animal food distribution group in 2003 with the mission of addressing pet food insecurity in shelters and rescues. We still operate one of the most accessible animal food banks in Western Montana.

$1,260 Fill the Pet Food Bank for One Week

Stocked exclusively by the generosity of community members, we offer specific programs for the homebound and disabled, people in crisis, and community cat caretakers.

Recipients of the Homebound and Disabled program receive enough pet food to sustain their animal's diets for a month. We offer limited home delivery services as volunteers are available. People in Crisis addresses immediate pet food insecurity needs. Quantities of food are based upon the number and types of companion animals. Community cat caretakers are people who feed stray and feral cats living near their dwellings They often do not ask to be caretakers, but are ase suffering.

January 2024 to September 2024

Kibble Donated to AniMeals: 10,607 Pounds

Food Distributed by Programs: People in Crisis 3,339 Pounds Homebound and Disabled 11,377 Pounds Cat Colonies 5,943 Pounds

Total Kibble Distributed: 10,459 Pounds

Ezra Lu

Maple Molly McGuire

Katie

Ways to Get Involved

Gifts of time and talent are just as impactful as fiscal donations. So far this year, 83 volunteers donated 1,262 hours in service to our felines.

Become a Shelter Buddy

Our Shelter Buddy program helps under-socialized cats grow in trust and become more adoptable. Shelter Buddies set aside time to hang out with a particular cat each week. It can be as simple as playing with a string toy, reading to them, or just sitting nearby.

Clean Kennels

The first thing staff does every morning is reset the shelter before we open to the public. Cleaning kennels includes refreshing blankets, sweeping the floors, scooping litter boxes, and filling food and water bowls. It’s the most critical time of day at our shelter.

Help with Laundry

Laundry is the biggest ongoing daily task at AniMeals. Help us run a couple of loads and fold laundry.

Volunteer Hours

Stop by the shelter anytime Friday through Wednesday between 12pm and 6pm.

In-Kind Donations

Donations may be dropped off during open shelter hours. We accept towels, blankets, toys, beds, food, and much more! 1700 Rankin Street, Missoula, MT 59808