Welcome to Matilda's Page !

We've often wondered what drew her to the house. Was it the absence of a dog in the yard? Was it the warm place she'd found to sleep in by climbing into the small opening at the base of the water heater enclosure? Did she know by using one of her senses that she had found safe shelter? Whatever the reason, we were immediately greatful for having the privilege and opportunity of befriending and caring for such a precious little cat.

Thin and fretful, Matilda’s dirty white coat and skittish response to contact were signs of possible abuse and abandonment when she appeared at our doorstep. Although nervous and flighty, it was obvious this little cat needed our attention. The delicate process in building trust began with slow deliberate movements, encouragement by using kind soothing tones and making food and clean water available to her. These simple gestures were the slight outlay for which we have been repaid many times over. Matilda is now a sweet, affectionate and gregarious member of the family.

Matilda’s plight of neglect and abandonment is not uncommon. Many cats face the same sad dilemma of homelessness, malnutrition, sickness and neglect, a cycle that repeats itself due to a lack of preventable population growth among these abandoned cats.

Hopefully, with your help this problem need not exist. In the following pages you will find tips on how you may help care for an unowned cat and what your efforts may do to prevent such neglect from occurring. For your enjoyment the pages also contain images of the website’s photogenic namesake- Matilda who may be counted among the success stories in this effort.