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...
Why Cats Hide: Understanding Feline Behavior During Stressful Seasons
Quick Takeaways Cats hide for many reasons—instinct, stress, medical issues, or simple preference. Seasonal stressors like Halloween visitors, loud parties, or holiday...
Do Cats Experience Seasonal Depression? Spotting the Signs
As autumn leaves begin to fall and daylight hours shrink, many of us notice changes in our mood and energy levels. But what about our feline companions? While the...
Is Pet Insurance Worth It? A Practical Guide for Cat Owners
Veterinary bills can transform from routine expenses into financial emergencies faster than you can say "emergency surgery." Last year, the average cat owner spent over...
From Street to Stable: How Barn Cats Help Communities
When we think about solutions for feral cats, most people imagine trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs or shelter adoptions. But for cats who can't adapt to indoor life,...
Adopting After Kitten Season: Why August is a Purr-fect Time
Adopt a Kitten This August: Why Post-Kitten Season is the Purr-fect Time The height of kitten season has come and gone, but the need for loving homes hasn’t eased. With...
Beyond the Myths: Why Black Cats Still Struggle to Find Homes
Black Cat Adoption: Debunking Myths and Changing Perspectives Sleek, mysterious, and often misunderstood, black cats face unique challenges when it comes to adoption....
Traveling with Cats: The Do’s, Don’ts, and Must-Haves
Headed out of town with your cat? Learn what to pack, what to avoid, and how to travel safely and stress-free—whether by car, plane, or train.
Too Hot to Handle: Summer Heat Safety Tips for Community Cats
Learn how to protect outdoor and feral cats during extreme summer heat. This guide offers essential safety tips for TNVR caretakers and volunteers.
Why Sterilizing Your Cat Matters: Pros, Cons, and What to Know by Sex & Age
Understand the pros, potential risks, and ideal age for spaying or neutering your cat—plus facts from leading feline veterinary experts.
Booms, Hides, and Human Hugs: A Cat’s Guide to Surviving Fireworks Season
Fireworks can terrify cats. Learn how to keep your feline safe, calm, and stress-free this July 4 with these expert tips—told from a cat’s POV.
How Fireworks Impact Feral Cats—And What You Can Do About It
Fireworks terrify feral cats. Learn how July 4th impacts community cats and what you can do to protect them from fear, injury, and trauma.
The Summer Survival Guide for Community Cats
Summer is deadly for outdoor cats and kittens. Learn how to prevent heatstroke, provide relief, and help stray cats survive the heat.
Why Summer Is Prime Time for TNVR—And How You Can Help
Summer is the most urgent time for TNVR. Learn why kitten season is so deadly and how you can help prevent suffering for outdoor cats through GiluFunds.
🐾 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
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.
What to Do If You Find Kittens Outside: A Step-by-Step Guide
You’re out for a walk and spot a litter of tiny kittens tucked under a bush or hiding near a building. They’re quiet, alone, and your heart tells you: I have to save them.
But before you act, pause.
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
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?
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
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
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
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
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)
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.