11 Cats Found Abandoned in Mobile Hotel Room; Friends of the Mobile Animal Shelter Asks Public to Foster or Adopt

MOBILE, Ala. — Eleven cats were found abandoned in a hotel room in Mobile, and the volunteers now caring for them are asking the public for help making room.

The Friends of the Mobile Animal Shelter announced Friday, Oct. 16, that it assisted with an animal control call involving the 11 cats. The group did not identify the hotel or say how long the animals had been left there.

Scared, but starting to come around

According to the shelter group, the cats are very scared but are starting to come around.

Animals that have been abandoned, especially in an unfamiliar space like a hotel room, are often frightened and stressed when rescuers first reach them. They may hide, refuse to eat at first or react defensively to handling. With time, patience and a calm environment, many gradually begin to trust people again.

That process takes time, which is one reason the cats are not yet available for adoption.

How the public can help

Although the 11 cats cannot be adopted yet, Friends of the Mobile Animal Shelter says there is still an important way the public can help them.

The organization currently has multiple cats and kittens in its care that need homes. Adopting or fostering one of those animals would free up space so the newly rescued cats can be kept safe and comfortable while they recover.

Anyone interested in fostering or adopting is encouraged to reach out to the Friends of the Mobile Animal Shelter.

Why space matters

Shelters and rescue groups work with a limited number of kennels, crates and foster homes. When a large group of animals arrives at once, as with these 11 cats, every available spot matters. Each adoption or foster placement opens room for an animal in need, and that space can make the difference between a crowded, stressful setting and a quiet place for a frightened animal to settle in.

Mobile’s animal welfare community has dealt with capacity strains before. Earlier this year, the city’s animal shelter on Owens Street received two dozen dogs in a single morning, pushing the facility past its limits and forcing a temporary pause on non-emergency intake. And as Hurricane Isaias approached the coast earlier this month, the city sought foster homes for dogs to help keep animals safe during the storm.

Fostering: a short-term way to save lives

Fostering means caring for an animal in your home temporarily until it is ready for adoption or finds a permanent home. Foster homes give animals a calmer environment than a busy shelter, help them get used to living with people and free up shelter space for new arrivals. Rescue groups typically work with fosters on supplies and veterinary care, though details vary by organization.

For people who are not ready to commit to adopting, fostering can be a meaningful way to help, and it often makes a big difference for shy or frightened animals like the ones rescued from the hotel room.

Other ways to help

People who cannot foster or adopt right now can still support animal rescue efforts in other ways:

• Share adoption posts from Friends of the Mobile Animal Shelter with friends and family who may be looking for a pet.
• Volunteer with local rescue groups or the shelter, if opportunities are available.
• Donate supplies or funds to trusted animal welfare organizations.
• Spay and neuter your own pets to help reduce the number of unwanted animals.
• Report abandoned or neglected animals to animal control rather than trying to handle the situation alone.

Abandonment is never the answer

Animal welfare advocates consistently urge pet owners who can no longer care for their animals to reach out to shelters and rescue groups for help rather than leaving pets behind. Abandoned animals can quickly suffer from lack of food, water and care, and leaving animals in a closed space puts them at serious risk.

The bottom line

• What happened: 11 cats were found abandoned in a hotel room in Mobile.
• Who responded: Animal control, with assistance from Friends of the Mobile Animal Shelter.
• The cats’ condition: Very scared, but starting to come around.
• Adoption status: Not yet available for adoption.
• How to help: Foster or adopt one of the other cats or kittens in the group’s care to free up space.

Anyone interested in fostering or adopting can contact Friends of the Mobile Animal Shelter to learn more about the cats and kittens currently waiting for homes.