We’ve all heard the age-old adage that cats have nine lives. But according to a well-known rescue group in Western New York, some cats need an extra chance.
The group is known as Ten Lives Club (TLC), and it was started fourteen years ago in the garage of founder Marie Edwards. After several years, it was moved to a larger building in the Boston/Concord area outside of Buffalo, New York. As the rescue continued to grow and needed more space, it was moved to a rented warehouse in Hamburg, New York, a suburb of Buffalo. Three years ago, TLC was able to buy a building in Blasdell, New York.
TLC is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization that gets their funding from donations, fundraisers and grants when they are able.
TLC rescues cats and kittens from all over. Some are obtained through owner surrenders, some come from the local SPCA and city pound. Others come from out of state shelters where they are at risk for euthanasia. All cats that come into TLC undergo vaccines such as rabies and distemper, are de-wormed twice and receive flea meds. If the cat or kitten is afflicted with ear mites, that is treated as well. TLC takes the health of their cats very seriously. They have their own full-time veterinarian, vet tech, vet assistants, and volunteers to help with the cleaning.
The TLC facility is quite large and is divided into many sections. There is a vet’s office where spay and neuter surgeries are performed, another room specifically for cats needing medication and a separate infirmary for very sick cats.
Several holding rooms accommodate cats that are in different stages of processing and a meet and greet room for potential adopters to select cats.
FIV cats, and shy cats are kept upstairs. TLC is strictly a no kill shelter and will not turn cats away who have medical problems such as FIV. TLC’s philosophy is; these cats did not ask to be born this way. Since FIV cats have a compromised immune system, any signs of illness requires seeing the vet for treatment. TLC not only works diligently to rescue cats and save them from euthanasia, they also have an amazing network for getting the cats into permanent, loving homes.
Currently, they have ten pet stores that showcase their cats and kittens for adoption. TLC relies on volunteers for the various stores. These volunteers clean cages, socialize and play with the cats.
TLC is always in need of fosters to take pregnant cats into their homes until the kittens are born and old enough to be spayed/neutered and shared for adoption. The fosters also take in young kittens that require bottle feeding.
Although TLC does not take in feral cats, they will offer advice and referral to organizations that do. They do provide food to feral cat colonies.
Of course, all this work takes money. TLC has at least one fundraiser a week and as many as three in a week. Fundraisers include a recent picture with Santa, winter wreath sales, pancake breakfasts, chili cookoffs and meals at restaurants.
Volunteers are also integral to fundraising. They make raffle baskets, jewelry for sale, and run the fundraiser events.
Donations from 2017 enabled TLC to add another building to house cats with ringworm, and to add a warehouse and a fundraiser room.
To learn more about this amazing cat rescue, visit their website.
Or their Facebook page.
If you have questions, please email [email protected]
Donations can also be mailed directly to:
Ten Lives Club
P.O. Box 253
North Boston, New York 14110
“Time spent with cats is never wasted.”
-Sigmund Freud
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I commend the shelter for running it the way shelters should be run.
God bless you and all you do for these fur-babies
I am a volunteer for Ten Lives Cat Club and am proud to be part of this fabulous rescue. The cats that are up for adoption are extremely well cared for by both staff and volunteers. I adopted my beautiful cat, Freddie, from Ten Lives and he is a love. Ten Lives takes excellent care of the cats in all ways – I cannot recommend this rescue highly enough to anyone who is looking for a feline addition to their family.
I just adopted Callie from their Eastern Hills mall location. She is busy exploring my house but keeps coming by my chair to check on me. So soft and curious , I know we will be movie watching buddies very soon. Wonderful cat adoption site, clean & it’s obvious they care deeply for their temporary charges.