About ACR

Alley Cat Rescue is helping to solve the crisis and tragedy of unwanted and abandoned cats.

• We are saving lives with innovative hands-on programs.
• We have rescued thousands of cats and placed them in loving homes.
• We assist with all aspects of feral cat care, wildlife predation and rabies control.
• We also provide information on cat health, cat behavior, feline diseases, and special needs.

Email or write us for a list of our publications:
Alley Cat Rescue, Inc.
P O Box 585
Mount Rainier MD 20712
Phone: 301-277-5595
Email: acr@saveacat.org

See ACR financial details on Charity Navigator

Mission Statement

Alley Cat Rescue (ACR) works to protect cats on several levels: locally through rescue, rehabilitation and adoption of cats and nationally through a network of Cat Action Teams, called CAT. ACR is dedicated to the health, well-being and welfare of all cats: domestic, stray, abandoned and feral.

Nationally - ACR promotes compassion and humane care for cats through the following:

• Cat Action Teams assist groups and individuals to help domestic and feral cats
• We assist cat caretakers with cat behavioral problems
• ACR promotes a better understanding of feline diseases
• Provides hospice care for terminally ill and older cats
• ACR programs keep cats out of the shelter system, thus reducing euthanasia
• ACR promotes neuter-before-adoption
• Promotes early-age spay/neuter
• Promotes TNR programs for feral cats.

Locally - in Maryland and D.C., we actively rescue stray domestic cats and kittens from the streets and find them good homes.

• We take in unwanted cats and give them a second chance, when otherwise their owners might drop them off at an over-crowded shelter or abandon them.
• We sterilize all those we rescue prior to adoption to prevent "accidental" litters.
• We provide information to cat caretakers to prevent the abandonment of cats and to foster strong bonds between humans and cats.
• ACR runs an adoption program at a local PETsMART on their Luv-a-Pet room

ACR helps feral cats...

• We also attack cat overpopulation at the source by sterilizing feral cats, thus preventing the births of hundreds of homeless kittens.
• We rescue feral kittens, tame them and help them to become loving companions
• ACR provides information and guidelines on all aspects of feral cat care and control
• ACR has published a booklet on Feral Cats: Colony Management and Facts & Myths about Cats & Wildlife Predation

Reducing the Number of Abandoned & Relinquished Cats

• We help people with allergies to keep their cats
• We offer solutions to behavioral problems
• We provide information on zoonotic diseases (diseases that can be transmitted between cats and people).

Benefits of Spaying and Neutering

• Sterilized cats live longer healthier lives
• Sterilized cats do not roam as much or spray to mark their territory
• Sterilizing cats will ultimately save the community money by reducing the burden on local shelters
• A single unsterilized female cat can produce hundreds of kittens in her lifetime.

Why do so many cats need our help?

• Cats are prolific breeders
• Females have 3 litters per year with an average of 4 kittens per litter
• Thousands of cats are abandoned each year many to the streets

Through ACR's Cat Facts series, we provide information, advice, and publications to encourage and help people keep their cats, and to give cats a better life.

ACR believes that all so-called "pest", "nuisance", and "exotic" animals should be treated with kindness and compassion.

Please become ACR's partner and help put an end to the senseless killing of cats. Together we can also stop the overpopulation of feral cat colonies, as well as reduce their suffering.

AWARDS AND HONORS

• ACR's newsletter, Alley Cat Mews, and booklet on Feral Cat Colony Management, each won a Certificate of Excellence and a Muse Medallion from the Cat Writer's Association in 2002.
• ACR's Louise Holton was presented with the Animal Kingdom Kindred Spirit Award and Animal Champion Pin from the Doris Day Animal Foundation.

When giving Louise the award, DDAF Executive Director, Holly Hazard, stated "people are often tempted to look the other way or give up in despair when they come across non-human beings in distress. Fortunately for the many cats you have assisted, your empathy and compassion compelled you to act where others would not have."

• In 1998, Louise was awarded the National Humane Achievement Award by the Humane Coalition of Massachusetts.
• In 1997, Louise won a Muse Medallion from CWA for her series of articles on feral cats published by The Animals' Voice Magazine. These articles can be seen on ACR's website.

The CWA PRESIDENT'S AWARD sponsored by the Cat Fancier's Association, is presented to the best entry among all Muse MedallionTMwinners in the regular contest categories.

The winner is Louise Holton "Veterinary Care: Guidelines for Veterinarians Treating Feral Cats," published by Alley Cat Rescue.
This award was judged by Fran Pennock Shaw, CWA President. Her comments about the winning entry include: "In addition to serving an excellent purpose by benefiting feral cats, this article fully meets its own goals of providing information and guidance to veterinarians and feral cat caregivers."


Alley Cat Rescue and Louise Holton have received Certificates of Excellence from the Cat Writer’s Association in 2006, 2004, 2002, 2000, 1999, and 1998 Feral Cat Colony Management and Control: Fact and Myths about Feral Cats. The first-ever handbook on humane, nonlethal cats for feral cats.

Available from ACR. Please send a check for $10 to cover printing, postage and handling to: Alley Cat Rescue, P.O. Box 585, Mt. Rainier, MD 20712

PRIVACY POLICY

Personal information collected by Alley Cat Rescue, Inc. may include an individual's name, address, e-mail address, telephone number, and any additional information a member or supporter wishes to provide. All information is kept in a secure database protected by reasonable network security.

This information may be reviewed, updated, or deleted by contacting acr@saveacat.org or 301-277-5595. While Alley Cat Rescue does periodically exchange or rent membership lists to other organizations with similar goals, the traded data only includes names and addresses.

E-mail addresses and phone number are never exchanged. Furthermore, anyone may opt out of all address trades by contacting Alley Cat Rescue at:

Alley Cat Rescue, Inc.
P O Box 585
Mount Rainier MD 20712

Phone: 301-277-5595
Email: acr@saveacat.org

Cat & Feral Facts

If you would like to learn more about Cat Facts, Feral Cat Facts and Cat Predation.

Feline Health

If you would like to learn how to take better care of your cat or learn general feline health.

Newsletters

If you would like to download previous newsletters or receive the ACR Newsletters by mail.

ACR In Mexico

If you would like to find out how successful the ACR efforts were in Mexico this year.