Say hello to the newest stars of our team: the Quarterback Kittens! Montana, Brady, and Mahomes arrived at Nine Lives as vulnerable free agents — three tiny kittens abandoned in a cardboard box outside our clinic one weekend in June. Sick, scared, and alone, they faced an uncertain road ahead. | | |
All three were battling serious upper respiratory infections, and their little bodies were covered in ringworm. Brady, ever the underdog, also had an infected wound on his cheek that needed extra attention.
It took weeks of dedicated treatment — a regimen of antibiotics, eye drops, and medicated baths — along with plenty of tender loving care before they were finally healthy enough for their spay and neuter surgeries.
| | Adorable team captain Montana 💛 | | |
Now, fully recovered and thriving, they’ve finally made it to the big leagues: our Adoption Center! They've come a long way from those scary first days and are ready for their chance to be drafted by a loving family.
Montana is a confident little lady who embodies the "Joe Cool" spirit of her famous namesake. Mahomes is lively and charismatic, the first to greet visitors and always up for playtime. Brady tends to be a cautious observer, but once he learns to trust you, he'll reward your patience with a big, rumbling purr. Together, they’ve shown courage, teamwork, and the kind of spirit that makes champions.
| | All-stars Mahomes (L) and Brady (R) | | Come meet them this weekend and see if one (or more!) of these future MVPs is the perfect fit for your family's starting lineup. Our Adoption Center is open Wednesdays through Fridays from noon to 5:00 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. | | Order Your 2026 Calendar! | | |
Our 2026 Calendar Photo Fundraiser was a huge success, and it's all because of you! Thank you so much to everyone who entered, voted, and helped spread the word.
Each of the 193 amazing cats entered will be featured in the 2026 calendar. You can see the full cast of kitties who participated here.
| | The top three entries from this year's fundraiser. | | Our beautiful keepsake calendars will be available in the Fall, and they make unique and thoughtful holiday gifts for all the cat lovers in your life. You can pre-order your calendars now for just $20 each. They can be picked up at our clinic or Adoption Center when they're ready, or shipped to your home for an extra $5. | | We recently received a heartwarming update about Pussywillow, four months after her adoption from Nine Lives. | | When Pussywillow’s mom came into our Adoption Center earlier this year, she wasn’t sure she was ready for a new cat. She had recently lost her beloved Corelle (also a Nine Lives kitty), and was just there to pick up her calendar. But then she met "Natalie" (now Pussywillow). | | |
Her mom remembers being hesitant because Pussywillow was FeLV+, but the sweet kitty looked at her so endearingly. She reached in to pet her, and she immediately started purring. Pussywillow couldn't seem to get enough of the attention and chin scratches.
"It truly was an instant bond," her mom says. "She tugged at my heart."
| | | When they got home, Pussywillow was a bit shy and would run away and hide. She spent much of the first few days under the bed, only coming out to eat at night. Eventually, she was lured out from under the bed with a fishing pole toy — she couldn't resist the urge to play. Soon, she was racing around the bedroom at full throttle, chasing toys. | | | | |
Before long, Pussywillow started jumping up on the couch next to her mom. Her mom shares, “She started to lay down next to me; then she started putting her paws on my lap for chin scratches and pets.”
Now, Pussywillow is a joyful, playful companion who chases toys late into the night, only to be found snuggled next to her mom’s head in the morning.
| | Pussywillow has truly blossomed. At her last vet visit, she even tested negative for FeLV! Her mom says that Pussywillow has won her heart — hook, line, and sinker. | Want to see your Nine Lives kitty featured in a future newsletter? Share their story with us at superstars@ninelivesfoundation.org! | | |
Kitten season has always been a busy time at Nine Lives, but this year feels different. The Bay Area is in crisis, and we’re feeling the weight of it in every corner of our shelter and clinic.
Our team has worked tirelessly to respond, rescuing almost 850 cats and kittens already this year — over 20% more than this time in 2024. We've also performed over 4,000 low-cost spay/neuter surgeries to help prevent overpopulation.
| Every one of those numbers represents a story. And one story in particular is staying close to my heart this season — the story of Moon. | | | | |
Moon came to us from an overwhelmed municipal shelter in the Central Valley. She arrived severely underweight and with a raging double eye infection that left her barely able to see. But she wasn't alone — there was one tiny kitten by her side, the sole survivor of her litter.
Sadly, her kitten’s fragile body couldn't hold on, and Moon was left alone.
| | Even in her grief, Moon still chirps softly when touched, leaning into any hand that offers comfort. She quickly bonded with our shelter veterinarian, Dr. Liu, who is determined to give her a fighting chance. | | |
Moon's left eye is so severely damaged that she has lost her vision in it and it must be surgically removed. Her right eye, though scarred, still shows some residual signs of vision. Dr. Liu is hopeful that with diligent care, we might be able to save it. We’re doing everything we can to get her healthy and pain-free again.
Moon’s resilience, even after so much loss, is why we fight so hard during kitten season. For every Moon out there, there are hundreds more who need urgent care, shelter, and love.
| | | If you can help us during this unprecedented kitten season, we need you more than ever. Your donation gives cats like Moon the chance to heal, to feel safe, and to know love again. | | Thank you for your continued support. Let’s save lives together! | | |
Liam Montgomery
Executive Director, Nine Lives Foundation
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Nine Lives Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization with Tax ID 20-2150714.
All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
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