Cat Depot recently rescued 22 kittens and two cats at risk of euthanasia in rural Mississippi and Louisiana shelters. The rescue was a collaborative effort between Cat Depot and New Orleans-based animal welfare organization SpayMart; the animals arrived in Sarasota on May 20.

The kittens were pulled from the Pearl River Animal Shelter in Picayune, Mississippi, and the Jefferson Parish Animal Shelter in New Orleans, Louisiana. Pearl River Animal Shelter saves only 44 percent of the cats that enter the shelter. Jefferson Parish Animal Shelter currently has an 83.1% live release rate, largely due to SpayMart's kitten foster program, which was responsible for 25 percent of the shelter's live outcomes. SpayMart also pulls cats with urgent medical needs from the Jefferson Parish Animal Shelter.

Following an initial medical exam, and spay/neuter surgery, the cats and kittens will be available for adoption within the next week. Once available, additional information can be found on the cats here.