Kitty Post: It Takes a Village: 27 Cats, One Family, and a Rescue Story with Heart

It started with kindness. A Lanham family began feeding a few stray cats in their neighborhood—just a few cans of food for some hungry visitors. But as the days turned into weeks, their compassion grew into a full-time mission. More cats arrived. Many were friendly, some clearly in need of care, and before long, their home was bursting with 27 cats.

Some were sick. Six adult males were unneutered and spraying indoors. Dental issues, vet bills, mountains of litter and food, the situation had gotten out of control. Yet through it all, Maria and her family poured their hearts into caring for the cats. These weren’t just strays anymore; they were loved.

That’s when Beltsville Community Cats (BCC) got the call.

While Lanham is outside of our typical service area, and BCC doesn’t usually handle rehoming, we knew we had to help. This wasn’t just a rescue mission, it was a call to compassion.

A Community Comes Together

We quickly rallied support. BCC coordinated spay/neuter appointments at Spay Now Columbia and partnered with Prince George’s SPCA for vaccinations and other critical treatments. Outlaw Kitties and Alley Cat Allies generously helped BCC cover the veterinary costs.

Then came one of the biggest logistical feats of the effort—Last Chance Animal Rescue stepped in with a van and volunteer driver to transport 19 cats to a special SPCA wellness clinic. It was a major milestone.

The family, understanding the importance of sustainable care, decided to keep nine of the cats—those older or less socialized—ensuring they’d still have a loving home.

But where would the rest go?

That’s when the Humane Rescue Alliance (HRA) in Washington, D.C. opened their doors. On May 2, BCC volunteers transported 16 cats to HRA’s Oglethorpe Street facility. Just two weeks later, six cats had already found forever homes, including a resilient little tripod girl who had lost a leg but never her spirit.

The Power of Partnership

This entire rescue wouldn’t have been possible without the network that binds our community together. The Prince George’s Community Cat Alliance (www.pgcatalliance.org) has been instrumental in building bridges between local cat rescue groups, creating a powerful collective of compassion. Thanks to this collaboration, things that once seemed impossible now move with remarkable speed and efficiency.

We’re beyond grateful to PGSPCA, Spay Now, Last Chance, HRA, Outlaw Kitties and Alley Cat Allies and the other volunteers who stepped in when it mattered most.

Want to Be Part of a Life-Saving Team? Beltsville Community Cats needs you!

We’re always looking for help—for fostering, transporting, feeding feral colonies, or caring for cats at our adoption centers at Petco in Laurel and Pet Supplies Plus in Beltsville.

Want to volunteer? Email us at hello@beltsvillecats.net or call 240-444-8353.Not able to volunteer? No problem! Donations of cat food, kitten supplies, or funds are always appreciated. You can give at www.beltsvillecats.net/donate.

It truly does take a village. And when that village comes together, feline and human—are changed forever.