Cat Welfare Advocates

Please Help Us Help Them, A 2024 Success Story

Victoria: From Her Worst Day to a Wonderful Life

Victoria’s story is a heartwarming rags-to-riches tale of love and resilience

At the end of August, she was a small, malnourished kitten trapped in a swimming pool filter in a San Jose backyard. The water level was low enough to prevent drowning, but Victoria was tangled in plastic wrap that was tightly wound around her neck and one back leg. Despite her desperate struggle, she avoided strangulation, though she sustained cuts on her leg and neck. Luckily, Cody and Thuy, the homeowners, heard her cries and rescued her. Victoria was weak, weighing only 2.12 pounds at four months old, but her journey to recovery began the moment she was pulled from the pool. Cody carefully removed the plastic, dried her off, and kept her safe.

Victoria’s journey continued thanks to a network of caring individuals. Thuy reached out to Starla, a friend who supports Cat Welfare Advocates (CWA), who in turn contacted us. We scrambled to find a foster home. Volunteer Kris asked a veterinarian friend, Dr. Rebecca, who stepped up to provide care. Victoria went from being a frightened, feral kitten to living in the loving care of Dr. Rebecca, who helped her learn to trust humans again.

In her new home, Victoria quickly adjusted to using the litter box, received a full medical exam, and was treated for fleas. Though she hissed and glared, she bravely tolerated the necessary procedures and earned a tasty Churu treat. Over the next few weeks, Victoria received additional vaccines and spay surgery, and she began to enjoy the comfort of soft blankets and the joy of toys.

When Dr. Rebecca prepared to go out of town, Victoria was placed in our adoption center at PetSmart. Though still fearful, Victoria began to explore her surroundings and play with toys, though she remained wary of new people. But the story doesn’t end there—Dr. Rebecca missed Victoria so much that she decided to adopt her. Victoria found her forever home with the very person who had nursed her back to health.

Now, Victoria has a feline friend, Squeaks, an elderly cat who has shown her the ropes of life at home. Victoria has learned to chirp like Squeaks when asking for food, and her favorite toy is a small soccer ball. Though she still dislikes being brushed, she’s grown comfortable in her new life of love and security.

Victoria’s journey is a testament to the power of compassion and teamwork. Thanks to the collective effort of CWA, Dr. Rebecca, VCA, PetSmart, and community members, Victoria’s worst day became the beginning of a beautiful new life.

From hisses to kisses, Victoria is now safe, happy, and loved.

Please consider donating to help more kittens like Victoria find their forever homes.

Please donate

Our Mission:

Helping cats and the people who love them.

Our Vision: 

We are cat-loving volunteers who help cats in need in our community.

We envision a no-kill world in which every cat enjoys the good life, including the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare*.

Helping cats:

Cat Welfare Advocates is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to helping cats and the people who love them. Cats bring us joy and we repay them by doing volunteer work on their behalf -- TNR (trap/neuter/return), our foster and adoption program, and our cat advocacy. We work to end needless suffering and to express our love of cats. Collectively we have 50+ years of experience in animal rescue; and we have the values, knowledge, heart and work ethic to make a difference in our community. Join us!

Established in 2017, we serve cats in need in Santa Clara County. Our goal is to place cats into a foster home where they can be safe, get medical attention, recover and grow up, with the ultimate goal of securing the cat a permanent home with a loving family. Our volunteers allow us to protect, foster and find homes for cats who would end up in overcrowded shelters. Not every animal can thrive in an animal shelter; the shelter workers do their best but it can be an overwhelming and scary place for an animal. We take the utmost care in getting to know our cats so that we can make a good match for our adopters and cats. We want everyone to be happy.

We view the cats in our care, like the cats in our own homes, as members of the family.

* Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare:

The welfare of an animal includes its physical and mental state and we consider that good animal welfare implies both fitness and a sense of well-being. Any animal kept by man, must at least, be protected from unnecessary suffering.

1. Freedom From Hunger and Thirst
   by ready access to fresh water and diet to maintain health and vigor.
2. Freedom From Discomfort
   by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a
   comfortable resting area.
3. Freedom From Pain, Injury or Disease
   by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.
4. Freedom To Express Normal Behavior
   by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the
   animal’s own kind.
5. Freedom From Fear and Distress
   by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.

    *Reproduced from the Farm Animal Welfare Council

We are thankful for this opportunity to help cats in our community and we ask for your support this Giving Tuesday so we can continue our labor of love.