These plants are vet-approved and safe for cats to explore:

• Spider plant, Boston fern, prayer plant
• Haworthia succulents & air plants
• Bromeliads & orchids
• Chinese money plant & cast iron plant
• Christmas cactus, African violet, ponytail palm
• Babies tears, polka dot/zebra calathea, bird’s nest fern

Some plants are highly toxic to cats and should be removed or placed out of reach:

• Lilies, sago palm, pothos, dieffenbachia, peace lily
• Azaleas, rhododendrons, oleander, amaryllis, tulips, daffodils
• English ivy, hyacinth, chrysanthemums, kalanchoe

Even a small nibble can cause vomiting, drooling, kidney failure, or worse.

Placement and Enrichment Tips:

• Use hanging baskets or shelves to protect greenery.
• Offer cat grass, catnip, or silver vine as safe alternatives for chewing and enrichment.

The post Ask a Vet: Which plants are safe to have in my household? appeared first on MRFRS | The Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society.

During this time, MRFRS’ Catmobile program was offline as we also struggled with finding veterinary teams with experience in high quality, high volume mobile surgery to staff the vehicles. We understood the negative impact of being off the road and not bringing much needed spay/neuter surgery to the public.

That’s why we are excited to be bringing the Catmobile program back online, starting with a clinic in late December and now with multiple dates and locations each month! After an extensive rebuild of our older Catmobile to join forces with our newer vehicle, plus successful efforts to staff both of them with highly skilled veterinarians and veterinary technicians committed to feline health, the Catmobile program is coming back on the road! This progress marks an important turning point in the fight to reduce feline overpopulation in our state and bring access to low cost spay/neuter surgery to communities across Massachusetts.

If you’re interested in scheduling a spay/neuter appointment for your cat (or to share with a friend), please book your appointment.

The post Catmobile Getting Back on the Road! appeared first on MRFRS | The Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society.

To address this growing crisis, the MSPCA has launched Action for Pet-Inclusive Housing, a campaign advocating for legislative solutions that would reduce pet discrimination and keep families together. Proposed measures include eliminating breed-specific bans in public housing and insurance policies, capping excessive pet fees, expanding pet-friendly emergency shelter options, and strengthening protections for seniors and renters with pets.

In 2025, at Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society, we saw more than 30% of our surrenders were tied to housing issues – whether that was moving somewhere that does not allow cats, or the owner was unable to afford the cost prohibitive monthly pet fees.

While concerns about property damage and insurance costs persist for some landlords, others report that pet-inclusive policies lead to longer tenancies and more stable renter relationships. Advocates emphasize that supporting pet-inclusive housing not only helps families stay together, but also eases pressure on shelters and allows animal welfare organizations to focus resources on prevention, emergency response, and life-saving care.

The post Pet Discrimination in Housing: A Growing Crisis in Massachusetts appeared first on MRFRS | The Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society.

The mission of the Massachusetts Animal Fund (MAF) is to end animal homelessness in the state and to support local animals in need. The Fund accomplishes this by:

• Offsetting the costs of vaccination, spaying, and neutering of homeless cats and dogs, as well as pets owned by low-income residents;
• Assisting with the training of animal control officers to create uniform enforcement of animal control laws.

MRFRS is proud to be one of the many organizations that partner with the Fund as we bring access to spay/neuter surgery through our Catmobile program for residents who have MAF vouchers.

The work done by MAF is primarily funded by the voluntary tax check off (Line 33F) on the Massachusetts resident income tax form. When you sit down to do your 2025 taxes, please take a minute to help animals in our state by going to line 33F. It’s an easy way to positively impact the health of cats and dogs in Massachusetts!

The post Help MA Animals When You File Your Taxes appeared first on MRFRS | The Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society.

Yoda’s Story: How One Small Cat Received a Second Chance Through FARS

Yoda came into his parents’ lives during an unusually snowy spring, described as an endearing stray with pinchable cheeks, wise old-soul eyes, and a calming presence that made everyone who met him feel instantly at ease. Earning his name and the frequent remark that he was “a good little man,” he was a gentle spirit who seemed to radiate gratitude from the moment he stepped inside their home. It didn’t take long for Yoda to earn his place as a deeply loved family member.

But like many stray and community cats, Yoda carried more than just a big heart. He lived with chronic health challenges, including Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), and required regular veterinary care to stay comfortable and thriving. Still, his joy never dimmed. He played, explored, cuddled, and continued to greet each day with his quiet, steady enthusiasm.

Then came a setback. When one of Yoda’s eyes began to deteriorate and specialists recommended an enucleation, the cost—nearly $3,000—felt overwhelming. His parents had already taken in multiple semi-feral cats over the years and spent countless hours and funds helping strays through trap-neuter-return (TNR) and rehoming efforts. They wanted to give Yoda the care he desperately needed, but the financial weight felt impossible.

That’s where FARS stepped in.

The Feline Assistance Resources and Support Program (FARS) provides financial support to pet owners facing unexpected or unaffordable medical expenses for their cats. The program exists to keep cats with the families who love them and to ensure that treatable conditions never become life-threatening simply because of cost. For many families, FARS is a lifeline during one of the most stressful moments of pet ownership.

For Yoda, that lifeline changed everything.

With support from FARS donors, Yoda received his surgery and recovered fully, returning to his sweet, joyful self. His parents were able to focus on his healing rather than the financial strain, and Yoda went on to enjoy a comfortable, love-filled life.

Yoda’s mom shared this message for the community:

“If you are a FARS donor and you are reading this, I cannot thank you enough. And if you are a pet owner and/or know someone in need of what the FARS program can help with, I highly suggest applying because that is just the beginning of what could be possible.”

Yoda’s story is a reminder of the incredible difference compassion can make. For every cat like Yoda, and for every family who just needs a little help, FARS ensures hope is always within reach.

The post When Help Arrived: Yoda’s Journey With FARS appeared first on MRFRS | The Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society.

While a small amount of plain, cooked turkey might seem relatively safe for cats to eat, holiday recipes usually call for the turkey to be brined or seasoned. These processes add hefty amounts of salt, pepper, and herbs to the meat, making it unsafe for pets to consume. Also, recipes that contain onion or garlic are extremely toxic to cats because they cause oxidative damage to their red blood cells. For these reasons, it’s safer to avoid giving your feline friend any of your human holiday dinner.

If your cat should ingest something they shouldn’t and they start to show signs of toxicity (i.e., vomiting, diarrhea, poor appetite, or loss of energy) – or they eat anything containing garlic, onion, chives, leeks, chocolate, or alcohol – immediately call one of the following:

• Your veterinarian or an after-hours emergency veterinary clinic
• Pet Poison Helpline®: 855-764-7661 (an $85 consultation fee will apply)

Stay safe this Thanksgiving and share only a post dinner nap with your cat – that’s something you can both enjoy!

The post Ask a Vet: Is it okay to give my cat some of my holiday dinner as a treat? appeared first on MRFRS | The Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society.

While it’s not uncommon for cats to vomit the occasional hairball, they can potentially create life-threatening blockages in the digestive tract. You should see your vet right away if your cat is lethargic, refuses to eat for more than a day, or has episodes of unproductive vomiting.

To reduce the risk of hairballs and their complications:

• Brush your cat regularly
• Try cat food formulated for hairballs
• Add more fiber
• Increase water intake

The post Ask a Vet with Dr. Sam: What are hairballs and why do cats get them? appeared first on MRFRS | The Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society.