FoCo shelter takes in dozens of Houston cats amid Harvey devastation

With Houston animal rescues bracing for an influx of abandoned and homeless pets in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, several shelters are stepping up in other cities, including Fort Collins.

The Fort Collins Cat Rescue & Spay/Neuter Clinic will be helping Houston-based shelter Rescued Pets Movement by taking in about 36 of its cats as it clears out room for animals displaced by Texas' torrential flooding. 

Rescued Pets Movement, which regularly partners with Fort Collins Cat Rescue, will be driving the cats up in a van next week, delivering them around 11 a.m. Sept. 8.

From Sept. 8 to Sept. 10, the Fort Collins Cat Rescue will be waiving adoption fees — thanks to sponsor Dennis Schick of Remax Alliance — for all of its cats and kittens as it frees up space for another kitty delivery from Houston in the near future. 

“The devastation down there is tremendous and everyone across the nation, I think, is asking, 'how can we help,'" said Ashley Boothe, director of development for the Fort Collins Cat Rescue. 

"It was second nature," Boothe added. "We're doing what we do best, which is saving kitties lives."

NoCo:How you can help Hurricane Harvey victims

More than half of the cats brought in by Rescued Pets Movement will be adult cats. At least one, a cat named Moose, was evacuated from his foster home due to the flooding. Others were already on site at the Houston shelter, but need to be moved out to create more space for animals displaced during Hurricane Harvey. 

Larimer Humane Society, which is currently busy moving to a new shelter location, will be helping Houston shelters, as needed, later in September. 

Fort Collins Cat Rescue can house up to 60 cats and kittens at its on-site shelter and has the ability of helping more than 200 more by placing them in local foster homes, Boothe said. It currently has 297 cats in its care across its on-site shelter, foster home network and off-site adoption locations, Boothe said. 

Local:Larimer County considers plan to make foothills more resilient

Some of the Houston cats have already been prepped for adoption and will be on Fort Collins Cat Rescue's adoption floor after quick, day-of intake exams next Friday. Others, including kittens, will need more time and will be placed in the rescue's foster home network.

Adoption fees, which go up to $175 for kittens and $100 for adult cats, will be waived from Sept. 8 to 10 at the Fort Collins Cat Rescue location, 2321 E. Mulberry St., Suite 1, and at the following off-site adoption locations: Petsmart, 4432 S. College Ave., Poudre Pet & Feed Supply locations, Hank's Pet Food Market in Loveland, Animal House Rescue, Fort Collins Veterinary Emergency & Rehabilitation Hospital and VCA Veterinary Specialists of Northern Colorado.

To further help Rescued Pet Movements in Houston, visit rescuedpetsmovement.org for information on relief efforts and donation information. 

More:Colorado first responders aid Texas hurricane response