Ten Lives Cat Rescue

On this Cat Fact Friday, we're so excited to introduce our favorite many-toed gentleman: Ernest! 🐾

Did you know sailors once believed cats with extra toes brought good luck on long voyages? ⛵

The fancy scientific name for cats with extra toes is polydactyl. One famous polydactyl cat was Snow White, who was given to Ernest Hemingway by a sea captain. Today, around 50–60 of Snow White's many-toed descendants still live at the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum.

Those extra toes don't usually cause any health problems. In fact, they can give cats a little extra grip, helping them climb, balance, and hang onto their favorite toys.

Our Ernest certainly puts those extra toe beans to good use when he's chasing his favorite wand toy!

His perfect day includes food, pets, chin scritches, and—just to be safe—even more pets. Ernest is an incredibly affectionate, gentle giant who greets everyone with enthusiastic headbutts and is happiest when he's close to his favorite person.

When he's not soaking up attention, Ernest enjoys stretching out in warm sunbeams and dreaming about catnip lollipops and tasty treats.

Ernest is also FIV+, but that doesn't slow him down one bit. FIV is a cat-only virus that cannot spread to people or dogs, and it's very unlikely to spread between friendly indoor cats. With routine veterinary care, a healthy diet, and a loving indoor home, cats with FIV often live long, happy, normal lives.

Ernest gets along well with other cats and is ready to fill his forever home with love, purrs, and plenty of extra toe beans. 🐾

Like any good Rhode Islander, Ernest would prefer to stay right here in the Ocean State. That's why there's an anchor on the flag... right? ⚓😉

If you've always dreamed of having your very own lucky Hemingway cat, Ernest is ready to write his next chapter—with you. ❤️

Learn more about Ernest! https://tlcr.support/ToetallyErnest
Application for adoption https://tlcr.support/ApplyToAdopt

Earlier this month, one of our amazing volunteers and trappers, Karen, was driving home from work and had just gotten off Route 6 East toward downtown Providence when she spotted something in the grass.

At first she thought it was a cat, but let's be honest—when you're involved in rescue, everything looks like a cat. This time, though, it actually was.

A dirty, scared cat was sitting in the grass near the highway. There aren't any nearby neighborhoods, and we have no idea how he got there or how long he'd been there. When Karen got closer, he ran up a small embankment and disappeared into a concrete drainage pipe. Karen grabbed some food and tossed it a little closer to him, and he came right out and absolutely inhaled it. It was immediately obvious he was hungry.

Thankfully, Karen happened to have a trap with her. She baited it and placed it a few feet from the opening of the pipe. Before she had even taken half a dozen steps away, the trap door snapped shut. He walked right in.

We’re so grateful Karen stopped. It would have been easy to drive past or assume it was nothing. Instead, she checked—and because she did, this cat is now safe in our care instead of trying to survive on the side of a highway.

Since then, he’s settled into foster care and been seen by our veterinary team. While he’s doing well overall, his exam revealed significant dental disease, and he’ll need a dental procedure estimated to cost around $1,500.

If you'd like to help us continue rescuing and caring for cats like this one, consider becoming a monthly donor. Even a commitment of just $5 per month provides steady, reliable support that helps us save more lives.

Happy Father's Day to all the cat dads out there! 🐾

Thank you for opening cans on demand, assembling cat trees with questionable instructions, sharing your favorite chair, and somehow ending up with a cat asleep on you whenever you need to get up.

Whether you're the designated lap, treat dispenser, toy thrower, or resident cat whisperer, today we celebrate the dads who love their feline family members unconditionally.

Happy Father's Day from all of us at Ten Lives Cat Rescue! ❤️🐱

Looking for a meaningful way to give back as a family? We're looking for foster homes urgently!

📸 Pictured here is one of our junior volunteers with a foster kitten currently staying in her foster home. She is doing a wonderful job helping these weaning kittens learn to eat and grow!

Fostering can be a wonderful family activity, whether your family includes young children, teenagers, adults, or just you. While many people think of kittens when they think of fostering, we have wonderful cats of all ages who need a safe place to stay while they wait for their adoptive homes.

As kitten season continues, we're looking for more foster homes. Many of our most family-friendly foster cats are affectionate adults who enjoy cuddling, playing, and spending time with their people.

You don't need experience to foster. You just need:
🏠 A separate space, such as a spare bedroom, bathroom, or walk-in closet
❤️ Love and patience
📍 To live in Rhode Island

We provide:
✔️ Food and supplies
✔️ Medical care
✔️ Training and guidance every step of the way

Already have pets? That's okay! We simply require that resident pets are spayed or neutered, seen annually, and are up to date on vaccinations to help keep everyone healthy and safe.

If you're considering fostering with children, we always recommend that parents help guide introductions and interactions based on the individual cat's personality and comfort level.

Every foster home makes a difference. By opening your home temporarily, you're giving a cat a safe place to land and helping us save more lives.

Interested in fostering? Apply today: https://tenlivescatrescue.org/foster/