Cat Care & Welfare
How to Keep Your Cat Safe This Halloween

How to Keep Your Cat Safe This Halloween

Quick Takeaways • Chocolate, candy, and wrappers are toxic to cats and must be kept out of reach. • Costumes can restrict movement and cause stress—avoid dressing up...

🐾 The 5 Most Common Mistakes People Make During Kitten Season—And What to Do Instead

🐾 The 5 Most Common Mistakes People Make During Kitten Season—And What to Do Instead

Every spring, social media lights up with adorable photos of tiny kittens found outside. And while the instinct to help is a good one, well-meaning actions can sometimes do more harm than good.
Kitten season is a high-stakes time for rescuers—and the choices we make as individuals can literally mean the difference between life and death for a kitten.
So let’s talk about the most common mistakes people make during kitten season—and what you should do instead.

🐾 Inside a Rescue During Kitten Season: What It Really Takes to Save Lives

🐾 Inside a Rescue During Kitten Season: What It Really Takes to Save Lives

Kitten season sounds adorable—until you live through it. Behind every viral video of rescued fluffballs lies a reality that few people see and even fewer are prepared for. At Gilu, we believe it’s time to open that door and show the truth.
So today, we’re taking you inside a kitten rescue effort—through the eyes of the people who do this work every single day. The fosters. The trappers. The veterinary teams. The ones racing against time to keep fragile lives from slipping through the cracks.

Kitten Season Do’s and Don’ts: How to Help Without Hurting

Kitten Season Do’s and Don’ts: How to Help Without Hurting

Each spring, well-meaning animal lovers come across tiny kittens outside and rush to “rescue” them. But during kitten season, the wrong kind of help can actually cause harm—to the kittens, the mother, and even the rescuer. Before you scoop up that litter, take a breath. Here’s what you should and shouldn’t do to truly make a difference.

What Is Kitten Season? Everything You Need to Know

What Is Kitten Season? Everything You Need to Know

Every spring, animal shelters, rescue groups, and community caregivers across the U.S. brace for a familiar—and heartbreaking—reality: kitten season. While it may sound cute, kitten season represents a time of crisis for stray and feral cats, when the number of kittens born outdoors skyrockets. Understanding what kitten season is and how you can help is the first step toward real, lasting change.

From Feral to Friendly: Can a Cat Be Socialized?

From Feral to Friendly: Can a Cat Be Socialized?

In a quiet Philadelphia neighborhood, a cat named Oliver once prowled the streets with wary eyes and a rigid stance, his life defined by survival. He had spent years dodging cars, scavenging for food, and retreating from human contact. But today, Oliver sleeps soundly in a sunlit living room, his paws kneading a soft fleece blanket as he purrs contentedly beside his human guardian. His journey from feral to friendly was neither simple nor guaranteed, but it proves one of the most persistent questions in feline welfare: Can a truly feral cat be socialized?

Feral vs. Stray Cats: Misconceptions That Lead to Mistakes

Feral vs. Stray Cats: Misconceptions That Lead to Mistakes

Many people use the terms “feral” and “stray” interchangeably, but they refer to very different types of cats. This misunderstanding often results in well-meaning but harmful actions. Stray cats are socialized to humans and have lived in homes before becoming lost or abandoned. Feral cats, on the other hand, have never been socialized to humans or have spent so much time away from people that they behave like wild animals.

Indoor Cats or Catios? Choosing a Safer Future for Your Pet

Indoor Cats or Catios? Choosing a Safer Future for Your Pet

When it comes to ensuring a long, happy life for your feline companion, keeping them indoors is one of the best decisions you can make. Indoor cats live significantly longer than outdoor cats—often 10–15 years longer—because they are protected from various dangers, including traffic, predators, disease, and harsh weather conditions.

Demystifying FIV: What Every Cat Lover Should Know

Demystifying FIV: What Every Cat Lover Should Know

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) is one of the most misunderstood conditions in the cat world. Often compared to HIV in humans, FIV carries an unfortunate stigma that makes adoption challenging for affected cats. However, the truth is that FIV-positive cats can live long, healthy, and happy lives, just like any other cat.

From Stray to Safe: Helping a Friendly Cat Find a Home

From Stray to Safe: Helping a Friendly Cat Find a Home

Not every cat living outside is feral—some are lost, abandoned, or simply seeking human companionship. If you’ve encountered a friendly stray cat, you might wonder how to help them find a safe and loving home. Placing a cat in a home requires patience, planning, and the right resources to ensure their long-term well-being.

How to Tell if a Cat is Feral or Stray (And How to Help)

How to Tell if a Cat is Feral or Stray (And How to Help)

Encountering a cat outdoors can be a heartwarming yet concerning experience. Is the cat lost? Was it abandoned? Or is it a feral cat that has never known human companionship? Understanding the difference between a feral cat and a stray cat is crucial for providing the appropriate help.