


Kitty love is abounding so far this year at the Animal Rescue League of Boston.
Just a handful of cats taken in last week from an overcrowding situation in Bristol County remain up for adoption. The 19 others from the bunch of two dozen have already found new homes, ARL media relations officer Mike DeFina told the Herald.
“These cats for the most part are social, they are friendly,” DeFina said. “They may need a little bit more time to settle into their new homes, but really it’s only a matter of having patience and letting them settle in on their own. They will be great pets.”
DeFina declined to comment where specifically the cats came from in Bristol County, but their caretaker had been working with the ARL over the past several years to ensure the cats were in good care, he said.
The ARL has taken in three other large influxes of cats that had been involved in separate overcrowding situations, and less than a dozen remain available.
Altogether, the organization has rescued more than 100 cats in 2023, a number DeFina called quite large compared to the 60 that the ARL brought in at this time last year.
Cats in overcrowding situations often tend to face chronic medical challenges, and since they’re used to interacting more with other animals than people, they typically have behavioral issues, DeFina said.
“We do see this on a fairly regular basis,” he said of overcrowding instances, “but we have the experience and the capability to deal with these situations. It’s always a good reminder that if you or anyone you know does have an overcrowding situation, certainly reach out. We are here to help not only the animals but the caretakers as well.”
For assistance, the ARL encourages you to contact local animal control or its field services department at 617-426-9170 ext. 563 Tuesday-Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.