Amazing how one small incident can turn into something impactful.
About six years ago, April Moore was doing some yard work and found an abandoned baby kitten. She took it home and educated herself on how to bottle feed and raise it.
“It opened my eyes to the world of rescue and the need that exists, in our backyards and across the country,” said Moore, founder of April’s Kittens, a nonprofit dedicated to saving the most vulnerable cats.
That includes those that are critically injured, medically complex or have other special needs. April’s Kittens will host its grand opening May 16 at 7247 Roosevelt Road in Forest Park.
Its mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome cats who would have otherwise faced euthanasia or homelessness, while also expanding access to affordable veterinary care for stray cats and low-income families.
Moore has worked under various rescue organizations over the last few years and estimates she has fostered as many as 1,000 cats and kittens out of her home in Melrose Park.
“With my starting the orphan kittens where you have to bottle feed them, that’s my expertise, but that branched out to special needs and medical cats,” she said. “We’re the place that will take the ones that are. the worst off.
“We needed a bigger space. We decided to buy the building in Forest Park and hope to rescue about 1,000 cats a year here.”
Like humans, every cat has a different story. Take Zara, for example. Someone found Zara in a cat carrier on the side of a road with a note that said she was paralyzed and please help. A heartbreaking story, but with a happy ending.
“We didn’t even hesitate,” Moore said. “She suffered from a broken spine, but we’re fitting her with a wheelchair, and we tend to her needs.
“She made it to the perfect place. She’s with us, and she’s so happy.”
Zara is also available for adoption, Moore added.
Anna Buchik is a director at April’s Kittens, handling the back-office work for the 501(c)(3) nonprofit, including coordinating with other rescues and building and maintaining its website.
The biggest challenge of being a nonprofit isn’t hard to guess.
“It’s incredibly hard to find funding for 501s that are starting out,” she said. “There are lots of different organizations, but bigger companies will offer grants to rescues. We were able to overcome that, but it was difficult.”
If you’re in Forest Park, Oak Park or the surrounding area, and you find a cat in need of help, the best thing to do is to reach out via April’s Kittens’ social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. From there, it will advise on the situation and intake if available.
“It’s the backbone of what we do as a rescue,” Buchik said of social media. “We have this following of people who have cats. It’s a huge resource for support. We get donations from supporters on social media.”
Moore said the aim of April’s Kittens is to make it a fun place to hang out for those looking to perhaps adopt. Light food and drink, like smoothies and coffee, will be available. It will also host fun events like birthday parties and cat yoga. To clarify, the cats won’t be the ones doing yoga.
Buchik added, “We don’t want it to be a one-and-done experience. We want to host educational classes for other fosters. We want to keep the community engaged in what we’re doing.”
Moore said she’s looking forward to being a big part of Forest Park.
“We’re we can bring a family fun, uplifting spirit and atmosphere to Roosevelt Road particularly,” she said.
“Maybe we’re pioneering something.”