We adopted our cats Percy & Piglet several months apart, & I can’t imagine life without them. Piglet is cute as a button, cheerful, & adventurous. Percy is clever, emotional, & so loving--he doesn’t like being away from me, which I don’t mind of course, as he’s become my best friend in the whole world. They’re such lovable cats, but it was still a hard choice, as every cat at this shelter is so beautiful, unique, & deserving of their perfect home. That’s what I love about this place. It’s a comparatively small shelter, which means it doesn’t have as much money or volunteers as a lot of other shelters, but as soon as you enter you realize how invested Carrie is in the wellbeing of every single cat. She is dedicated, honest, & so strong, and despite the sadness & horrors she has to face while rescuing & caring for these cats, she still has the ability to be so kind, tremendously patient, funny, and approachable. Although the cats are her world, her compassion extends to everyone--especially potential adopters & the people who’ve tragically had to surrender their cats. It says a lot that so many people who’ve adopted from here have gone on to volunteer or become active in cat rescue efforts; Carrie’s work is that inspiring. Every cat is vetted and socialized, and you know even the shyest kitty would blossom in a loving home. I’d wholeheartedly recommend this shelter to anybody looking for a new family member.
Carrie is a wonderful person who truly cares about all the cats she rescues. All the cats have a clean place to sleep, clean water, food, toys and receive lots of love from Carrie. She brings them to the vet and has all if any health issues treated, any shots needed, and spaying/neutering if needed before being put up for adoption. She gives these cats her whole heart and finds the best homes for each and every one of them. In October of 2022, I filled out an application and it was approved quickly and my mom and I got an appointment to see the cats/kittens in the shelter. When we got there Carrie showed me all the cats and then a beautiful long haired orange with some white cat named Twinkie. I picked him up and he fell asleep in my arms for 2 hours. He picked me. Approximately 2 weeks later my mom and I picked him up and brought him home to my house. He was a little shy at first in this new good sized house but let us pick him up and sit on the couch with us while we pet him. That night I brought him up to my bed and he snuggled up and then tunneled under the covers. The next morning when we got up he went downstairs looking for the other cats and crying loud which lasted about 5 mins and then it was over like nothing happened. He went into the kitchen and ate his food and drank his water and followed me to the couch when he was done. He liked to play with small stuffed mice and small balls when you tossed them to him. His favorite thing was his tunnel and liked some toys put in there with him. He was/is the biggest lovebug fluffy cat I have ever had. If I came back from a walk he would run down the stairs and make this excited sound with his voice. If he was sleeping upstairs during the day, one of his favorite pastimes, and then woke up he would run down the stairs to find me with the same excitement in his voice. In Aug/Sept of 2023 I started having some health issues which continued to get worse but I couldn't stand the thought of not being with Twinkie. In January of 2024 my eye doctor said I was getting worse which I knew and that I needed to think about bringing Twinkie back to the shelter. I was heartbroken and tried everything so Twinkie and I could stay together. In early August 2024 I had to face reality and call Carrie and let her know I had to surrender Twinkie. She was wonderful. My mom and I brought him back to Carrie with his favorite tunnel and some of his favorite toys and a pair of my LL Bean slippers that he liked to sleep on when I was on the computer as the shoes were under the chair next to me. I stayed there for about 2 hours petting him through the cage trying to stop the tears from rolling down my face. I miss him every day and if I feel this way I know he does also. He is waiting to be adopted again. He is a big lovebug and will follow you around to be near you much of the time, he loves to be brushed - even his tail. He loves being pet and loves to be kissed on his forehead. He loves to be picked up and you can even rock him like a baby. He loves his belly rubbed and also brushed. He would love to sleep in bed with you and the closer the better if you let him. He does understand no if you wanted him to sleep lower on the bed. He is smart and quick to learn. It breaks my heart that we can no longer be together but my wish for him is he can be loved again and he can love somebody back again soon. If interested please contact Compassion for Cats of New London County in Lisbon, CT.
Carrie is a saint! The work that she puts forth in helping these innocent animals is astonishing. These cats are well cared for and vetted. It takes a lot of time and money to run this rescue. This is my 4th cat that I’ve gotten over the years from Compassion For Cats. A great place with a variety of cats to choose from.Thank you for allowing me to love Baby Boy, now called Sam. He’s a love bug.
I have previously reviewed Compassion for Cats NL County, but would like to provide an update. I have been volunteering there since Nov. 2019, and have adopted several older kitties from this wonderful shelter! A lot of love and effort is put in by the Kitty Lady to ensure that her kitties get the best outcome - good health and loving homes. I realize there are many worthy charities to consider, but this one is dear to my heart, so I hope that this reaches as many people as possible. If you can, please help. This app is hard to do on the phone, so goodnight for now, and meow!
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I recently started volunteering at Compassion For Cats NL County after adopting two of the sweetest older kitties from the shelter. The kitties are all well cared for and loved by Carrie and all the volunteers. She rescues kitties, provides excellent vet care, and much love and attention to all the kitties that are there. Compassion for Cats is an excellent charity, and I do hope as many people as possible will consider adopting a kitty (or 2...or 3), helping out by volunteering or donating to this worthy cause. A little known fact is that many of the local Humane Societies or shelters actually turn away most of the cats, and Carrie winds up traveling far and wide to make sure they have a fair chance in life. As for me, I believe in this organization wholeheartedly, and will keep donating my time and money as much as I possibly can! Below are pics of the 2 lovebugs I adopted!
This nonprofit is the best. We adopted our Annie and Daisy here and are so thankful they rescued our girls. Carrie is very caring and compassionate with all the cats and makes sure they get the best care and homes. Cats are in great care here and Carrie works tirelessly to save every cat she can. Thank you for all you do for so many cats,
I have adopted 5 cats over the years from Compassion for Cats of NLC & also am a dedicated volunteer. I began volunteering back in 2013 to earn credits for community service towards my high school National Honor Society title. I loved the sense of helping all of these cats and continued to volunteer until present day (that’s 9 years now!). I have such a fond spot in my heart for the shelter as well as Carrie (the president of the shelter, she does it ALL) and her unwavering dedication to offering cats in need a better life. The five cats I’ve adopted from the shelter were either feral, timid or elderly and they have all come out of their shell at home and become treasured members of the family. I’m so thankful I found this shelter all these years ago because my life would certainly be much different if I had not. This is the best place to find yourself a new companion. All of the cats are given the best care (veterinary, food, enrichment, love from volunteers) and they all have such big personalities. Carrie is able to really listen to what you’re looking for and help to match you up with your best fit when you make an appointment to visit the shelter. The shelter is also always looking for dedicated volunteers who are willing to commit to regularly giving a few hours of their time a week to help with cleaning, feeding and providing enrichment and attention to the cats. It’s such a rewarding experience!! I highly recommend Compassion for Cats of NLC to anyone who is looking to adopt, if you are looking for a non-kill shelter that will do their best to get a cat a new home if you are needing to rehome, or if you are looking for a very rewarding volunteer experience.
Wonderful organization dedicated to cats. i adopted 2 cats that are brothers from Compassion For Cats 9 years ago. Carrie, along with the volunteers, work countless number of hours taking care of the cats and placing them into the right homes. I would highly recommend them when searching for a cat.
We adopted our boy Milo from Compassion for Cats years ago. He was the sweetest cat on Day 1. Today he’s even sweeter! We’re forever thankful to this wonderful organization for all the good work they do.
I adopted my precious girl, China Marie, from Compassion for Cats of NLC back in June of 2015. I had never been a cat owner, so I didn't really know what types of personalities to look for in a cat that would match with my own. Carrie Nylen, the woman who runs the shelter, knew each cat's personality by heart. She matched me up with my China girl, a cat I may never have chosen on my own. China has been a light in my life.
Carrie and her volunteers work tirelessly taking care of all the cats at the shelter. It is literally an all-day job, but you can tell they love what they do.
The cats are so well taken care of, and Carrie takes in any cat that needs to be rescued. For this reason, it's so important to receive donations and any help possible. You can be the difference in a cat's life! Thank you Carrie, and your volunteers, for being angels to these precious creatures!
This cat rescue is one of the best I've ever come across. Several months after my beloved ferret passed, I was ready to adopt again and this time I wanted a cat. Sadly, I had to pass on several cats because I knew they wouldn't be the right fit for me. Then I found a chubby little orange male on Compassion for Cats Petfinder page. I visited him and was so impressed with this rescue! ALL of the cats were beautiful, social, and well taken care of. Carrie goes above and beyond to get these sweet cats into loving homes. Not only did I adopt that little orange boy, but I added a second one because I couldn't resist him. Now I have two of the sweetest, most social, laid-back, and loving orange boys. Seven years later, they're not so little anymore! They are my handsome boys and my husband and I love them to pieces. If I ever adopt again, it will ONLY be through Compassion for Cats of New London. I'll always be grateful to them and recommend them every chance I get.
We adopted our fur babies Emmy & Jazzy 10 years ago from this amazing nonprofit shelter. All the cats are so well taken care of. We can’t imagine life without Emmy & Jazzy! Thank you Compassion For Cats New London County! I highly recommend for cat adoption!
We needed help with a feral mama and babies, and they helped capture, vet, socialize, and rehome the family. They are a small group that works very hard to care for, and raise funds for, their organization. Their kitty kick sticks are the best you can find!
When I first moved out on my own I knew I needed a cat as I’ve lived with cats since I was born, and I missed having one around horribly. But because I didn’t have my own vet records (they were in my parents names), no rescues were considering me at the time. I sent Carrie an email and she told me to come down. She interviewed me, got to know me, provided me with packets of information, and gave me a list of reputable vets. I ended up adopting not one, but two cats from her. I appreciate Carrie every day for giving me the chance to bring home my two best friends!
One day I saw a post from Compassion for cats on FB seeking someone who knew how to treat swimmers syndrome. I volunteered to “try”. Carrie set me up with everything I needed. I took in the Momma cat and her two babies. I started treatment and physical therapy on the kitten and after about two weeks he was running around with his sibling. Carrie and her volunteers are wonderful and they do everything possible to find wonderful homes. Carrie is constantly rescuing cats and kittens , even when she has no more room or even the lack of funding to rescue. They truly care about what they are doing
We adopted 4 kittens from Compassion for Cats eight years ago. They are the most sweet, social cats you’ll ever meet. The shelter is extremely clean and the cats are well taken care of. Carrie is very passionate about finding good, safe, loving homes for her animals. I would highly recommend this shelter to anybody looking to adopt a cat or kitten.
The Owner is amazing, very compassionate towards the cats. I help run another cat shelter and we work with Compassion For Cats often. Cats are happy and well taken care of
We adopted an Orange Tabby in 2016 named Shane (he was 3 at the time). He has been such a great addition to our family! The folks here know their rescues well which was key for decided one of these cuties would be best for our family! I highly recommend adopting a rescue from them!
My daughter and I adopted Hazel (Honey) a little over 2 years ago. We heard about Compassion for Cats through a friend and we called Carrie to set up an appointment to see if we could find a kitty to fit into our family. When we met Carrie, we could see how dedicated she was to these cats. We found our match (or she actually picked us, coming straight to us and meowing to us).. The adoption paperwork was was fairly extensive but we knew it was for a good reason. We left and waited for Carrie to check out our information and we got a call a few days later that we passed and Hazel was ours to take home! Thank you Carrie!
Compassion for cats does great work in Connecticut. We adopted two kittens from them and we recommend adopting from them.
Carrie is so wonderful, and this is a great shelter. They are always looking out for the best interest of the cats and they do so much good for our community ❤️
In 2014, I adopted a pair of litter mates from Compassion for Cats of New London County; Fiona, black, long hair, and curious as the say is long. Finn, black, shorthair, slightly bigger than his sister, hung back, letting Fi check things out. He was about a day and a half behind his sister where exploring their new house was concerned LOL.
At the rescue, I was instantly impressed with the cleanliness and order of the shelter. The cats were content, alert, and curious as to who these new people were, checking them out. If I recall, there were 79 cats up for adoption that day, which I find heartbreaking, but I was comforted knowing that every one was happy, healthy, safe and warm.
Carrie provided explicit instructions on integrating my kittens into their new home, loaned me a 48" crate to aid with the transition, a goodie bag of quality handmade cat toys that the rescue normally sells to raise funds (tirelessly made by Joanne, Carrie's right hand), an array of quality store bought toys, as well as the plug-in pheromone stress reducer, to help the kitties adjust to their new home, as well as a cat themed portfolio (think 2 pocket school folder) with each of their medical info, as well as discount coupons for local pet supplies and services.
The adoption contract is explicit, detailing what one must agree to in caring for the cats, and references were checked.
The rescue is constantly struggling to raise funds. Joanne tries to think outside the box when it comes to fundraising, often with limited to little success, but it's certainly not for lack of trying.
2020 has been an exceptional year, as far as the number of cats they have cared for and adopted out. I believe in August, they had adopted out as many cats as they did in all of 2019, with 4 months left in the year.
This little rescue that could truly needs a sizable cash infusion, to pay off the vet bills, and to get on an even keel financially, where they wouldn't have to be concerned when faced with taking on a sickly cat, pregnant momma kitty, or a litter of kittens.
Without question, this rescue is worthy of any funding you may be able to offer, and they will accept it with humility and immense gratitude, so they can continue their work, for the love of cats. The kitties will be grateful too!
I first contacted Compassion for Cats of New London County after the passing of my best friend of all time. I had gone to many shelters in the area that were closer to me, as I really wanted another Polydactyl and they had one. Even though when I visited that cat had already been selected by someone, Carrie gave me all the time in the world to see every cat she had, and she did have a lot! Like many people, I wanted a replacement cat, one that looked the same of my old buddy. Carrie and my best friend kept me on track, but reminded me that usually it's the cat that picks you. That is what happened when I made it to Target, a 6 month old that was thrown out of a car on Rt. 395. I finally realized that he was showing me that he was the one as he didn't let me stop paying attention to him. He was new to the shelter, so had not been fixed yet, so was told I'd need to wait a week for him. When I had to call Carrie to find out what day I could get him, and of course make sure I was approved is when I found out how busy she was with an overwhelming amount of cats and kittens. Target turned out to be the perfect new buddy, and even had no problems with my older female cat as Carrie told me how to introduce them. After that I wanted to help the shelter, but being disabled I didn't know what I could do. I started to come by Petco when Carrie would be showing cats and soon found out there was plenty I could do sitting down, and even in bed on my laptop! While at Petco with them 6 months later another kitten took a liking to me, and since Target really needed a younger cat to play with, once again a cat selected me. After all of Frankie's siblings were adopted, I knew I had to bring him home, and he and Target have been brothers ever since! I have gained so much from Compassion for cats besides my cats, volunteering for them made me feel better mentally, as I found a way to help after having to stop working years ago. Not being able to do things for others really takes a toll mentally, so finding a place that I can give to, even though it's very limited physically, helps me along with the cat shelter. Over the years I have seen all the people that Carrie makes happy when the get their new cat. Carrie works so hard with rescuing, in pain most of the time, using her own money, she helps the people as well as the cats. There's times she can't sleep knowing there's cats outside in danger, and she just does too much. To her she has no choice since there's not enough people out there helping, and never enough money, but she goes on rescuing, loving them back to health, then on to their forever homes.
I met Carrie many years ago at a cat show. Eight years ago I wanted to adopt a black kitten. I went to the shelter and found a beautiful little black angel with the help of Carrie she grew into a beautiful house panther. She was the best behaved kitten. After that I started volunteering for the shelter, which lest to me joking the board of the shelter. Carrie is a very compassionate person. All the cats and kittens are well cared for and loved. She wants only the best for her cats which is a great thing. A year later we wanted another kitten, so after a board meeting I looked at the cats and kittens. The following week we went up to look again and this sweet brown tabby kept following me around. He had been hit by a car a month before and was healing from having his leg amputated. Let’s just say it was love at first sight and with a little convincing to my husband we came home with Stitch. We were very to have adopted him as he has residual problems from his amputation. He is an awesome cat with a heart of gold. Just think if Carrie had not gone to his aid and saved him, I would not have my sweet boy. The following year my Mom had lost her last cat at the age of 22 1/2 and wanted a kitten. My neighbor called and said that there was a kitten in her yard. We were headed to Florida for a vacation, so I called Carrie and asked if she would board the kitten til I got home. Not only do she take him in, she had him neutered, tested, wormed, de-fleaed and Had his umbilical hernia repaired. I did not expect that. He was an awesome companion for my Mom and now he lives with me. Carrie and the shelter are the best. All the cats and kittens are loving and well cared for. I have had a lot of fun being on the Board and love doing fundraisers. Please support this shelter.
Carrie, the wonderful woman who runs the organization, answered the phone when I called one afternoon, when I realized I wasn't too far from her shelter. She graciously said it was okay for me to stop by and meet the kitties she had for adoption. So many sweet furry faces awaited me! She takes in abondoned animals as well as those whose owner may no longer be able to care for them. Between vet visits, adoption events, pick up and drop offs, it's amazing to see the energy and enthusiasm that goes into finding these cats the very best forever homes. My first visit led to me leaving an application for a cat and her kittens- they were just a few days old but I knew I was going to adopt the adult mom or two kittens, but I had a few weeks to decide since they each still needed each other. As the days slowly passed I grew more excited, I reached out to Carrie to see if they may be of age to come to their next adoption event, and as luck would have it they got their distemper shot that day and I was set to meet them the next day at the event. I decided that I would adopt two of the kittens, as they do well in pairs-I previously had 2 sister cats who lived to be 22. I made arrangements to pick them up the next day. My heart is full, their fluff fills all the cracks and I overflow with joy because of those kitties. Compassion for Cats of New London County did an amazing job providing them a caring and loving environment for them to start their lives, having arrived to there at 1 day old. There should be more people like Carrie, whose hearts have no limit.
I have volunteered for Compassion For Cats of New London County Inc. There are cats and kittens come from many places: feral, hoarders, cats turned in. They all receive vet care, the best of cat litter and cat food. Volunteers and Carrie, who runs the shelter spend time them, tame them and give them the best of care. Adopters are interviewed to see that they will be good cat owners.