HART’s Winter Update 2025
Happy Holidays from all of us at HART!
As the year comes to a close, I want to thank everyone who has already given to our Year-End Fundraiser. Your kindness and generosity mean everything to us and to the hundreds of cats and kittens who find safety, care, and love here at HART.
As of November 26, we’ve raised $55,234. toward our $120,000 goal, but we still have a way to go. Every dollar truly matters. Your gift helps us feed hungry cats, provide warm beds, cover lifesaving medical care, and give extra love to those who have been through so much before arriving at our shelter.
HART doesn’t receive public funding. Everything we do depends on people like you—people who believe that every cat deserves a chance. Your compassion keeps our doors open and gives hope to cats who might otherwise have nowhere to go.
Please consider making a gift today. Even $20 can help provide comfort and care to a cat who needs it most.
From all of us at HART, and from every cat whose life you’ve touched, thank you for believing in us and for helping make their second chances possible.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Claudia Meyer-Maaseidvaag
Shelter Manager, HART of Maine
Wilbur’s road to recovery update!
As you might recall from our last mailer, Wilbur, our sweet, 9-year-old orange tabby, underwent two major surgeries this summer to repair severe hip dysplasia, dislocated kneecaps, and a torn ACL. It has been a long and difficult road, but Wilbur has shown nothing but courage, heart, and an incredible will to heal.
We’re thrilled to share that Wilbur is doing wonderfully in his recovery! He’s currently living at the shelter, where he receives special treatments such as acupuncture and cold laser therapy by the fabulous Dr. Lynda Bond (pictured above) and physical therapy sessions to help strengthen his legs and keep him comfortable. Of course, he’s also surrounded by plenty of love and affection from our staff and volunteers.
Wilbur’s transformation has been inspiring to watch. Once shy and unsteady, he now moves with confidence and greets visitors with his gentle, affectionate personality. His resilience reminds us why every effort we make is worth it, and why your support truly changes lives. It is your generosity that gives cats like Wilbur a chance to feel better.
And the best news of all? Wilbur will soon be ready for adoption! After everything he’s overcome, he’s almost ready for his forever home, one filled with the same care, comfort, and love that has helped him heal.
Volunteer Spotlight
In this issue, we’re shining the spotlight on 14-year-old Sylvia Elliott! Every other Saturday evening, Sylvia joins her mom, Megan, on the Feeding Team to help care for the cats at the shelter. Whether she’s refilling bowls, tidying rooms, or offering a gentle lap, she brings a calm, caring presence the cats adore. Sylvia and her family also are a part of HART’s Kitten Foster Team, giving moms and kittens a loving start before adoption. Her dedication shows that kindness has no age limit!
WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO START VOLUNTEERING AT HART?
I started volunteering at HART because I have always wanted more cats, but my dad says we can’t have more than three. I have been volunteering with my mom since I was eleven, and it is a fun thing that we can do together. We love it!
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT BEING ON THE FEEDING TEAM?
My favorite part about feeding the cats is how happy they always are when they get their food.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE CAT OR ROOM AT THE SHELTER?
I don’t have a specific cat or room that I like best consistently. It usually depends on the day. Fat cats are my favorite, like Tank who was in Room 4 for a while. Every day after my mom and I leave, we talk about our favorite ‘cat of the day’ and favorite ‘room of the day’ while we’re driving home.
WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU’VE LEARNED ABOUT CATS SINCE VOLUNTEERING AT HART?
I’ve learned that adopting a cat is a process, and you often can’t just walk in and leave right then with a cat.
WHAT’S THE MOST FUN OR MEMORABLE MOMENT YOU’VE HAD AT HART? WHETHER IT’S IN THE SHELTER OR AT HOME FOSTERING?
This isn’t really a moment, but one of my favorite parts about volunteering at HART is listening to the cats eat after you bring them wet food. The happy sound of a bunch of cats all lapping up wet food is very satisfying!
DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS AT HOME?
I have three cats, one of which we adopted from HART. I also have a rescue dog named Tillie, and sometimes we get to foster kittens as well!
WHAT WOULD YOU TELL ANOTHER KID YOUR AGE WHO’S THINKING ABOUT VOLUNTEERING AT HART?
I would tell them to definitely do it. If you are skeptical, then try once a month or every other week at first. Volunteering relaxes me, and it makes me happy to see all of the cats and find out who got adopted. Oh, and make sure you wear shoes you don’t care about, because you will definitely drop food on them. Also, be prepared for your legs to be sore when you get home.
Happy Tails for Speck
We’re thrilled to share that longtime resident and volunteer favorite, Speck (aka Speckles), has finally found her forever home! You might remember her, as she spent 1,288 days at HART and has graced our website, mailers, and social media with her beautiful face and the tiny freckle on her nose.
When 15-year-old Speck arrived at her new home, she walked in like she owned the place, exploring every corner and quickly claiming a guest room as her kingdom. Full of personality and totally comfortable expressing herself, she will tap a family member’s leg if dinner is late, wave her paw for attention, and race to the top of her cat tree to greet her adopters face to face. Between naps in her Cuddler bed and cozy snuggles under the blanket with her new humans, she loves watching the world from the window and enjoying her wonderful new life.
Her adopters first saw her online years ago and never forgot her. When they learned she was still waiting for a home, they knew it was meant to be. Now she greets them at the door each day, coexists peacefully with the other fellow furry friends, and fills their home with warmth and joy. Speck didn’t just find a home; she found her forever family.
Your gift makes stories like Speck’s possible. Help us create more Happy Tails. Donate today at hartofme.org/2025-year-end-fundraiser.
Your Donations at Work…
Every Dollar Saves Lives
When cats arrive at HART, they’re met with love, comfort, and top-quality care. That care often comes at a high cost. Every cat receives vaccinations, a microchip, testing, and spaying or neutering, and many need specialized medical treatments that can cost thousands of dollars. As a no-kill shelter, we never turn away a cat because of medical needs. Instead, we give each one the compassionate care they deserve, no matter their condition.
Each year, we provide a safe haven for hundreds of homeless cats, offering them warmth, healing, and hope. We receive no public funding, and every dollar that keeps our doors open comes from kindhearted supporters like you. Your donations make it possible for us to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome cats who have been surrendered, abandoned, injured, or abused.
Below, you’ll see a breakdown of where our funding comes from, and how your generous contributions directly help HART cats, changing the lives of these amazing felines every single day.
Please Donate Today!
HART CATS NEED YOUR HELP
At HART, every cat receives the medical care they deserve, thanks to the kindness of donors like you! Every gift, no matter the size, makes a real difference for our cats.
To the left, you’ll see examples of what your donation can provide, for instance, just $40 covers vaccinations for one cat upon arrival.
Will you give to our Year-End Fundraiser and be a hero for HART cats?