An initiative by
OnlyPaws Cat Rescue Jamaica
HELP US BUILD A CAT SANCTUARY
$1 lays 1 brickĀ
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5 Bricks
US$5
20 Bricks
US$20
50 Bricks
US$50
100 Bricks
US$100
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JOIN THE MOVEMENT
The suffering won’t end until we create a safe space for the cats and tackle cat overpopulation at its roots. That’s exactly what OnlyPaws Cat Rescue JA is working to do with our #savecatsinjamaica campaign.
We’re a grassroots rescue fighting every day to save the most vulnerable cats in Jamaica: the abandoned, the injured, the abused, the sick and the unwanted. But without a physical sanctuary, our ability to help is limited.
This is what we do but we can do so much MORE with your help!
FOOD
OnlyPaws Cat Rescue JA currently provides dry & wet cat food daily for rescued cats & kittens. A full belly means safer, healthier kitties, less roaming to find food, less hunger & less danger. Help us keep their bowls & hearts full. ā
TNvR
Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return.
OnlyPaws Cat Rescue JA is actively carrying out TNVR across Kingston, JA but our impact is limited by funding. Your donation helps reduce cat overpopulation and prevents future suffering.
RESCUE & REHOME
From the streets to safe homes, our mission is to find loving homes for every rescued cat. Yet, some cats require socialization & foster care and without a dedicated physical sanctuary, our rehoming efforts fall short.
VET CARE
We strive to provide essential veterinary care to cats in need but our efforts are often limited by the lack of available foster homes. A dedicated sanctuary would give these cats the space to heal and the care they deserve.
LOVE
So many street cats live and die without ever knowing a gentle touch or a kind voice. We exist to change that. With your help, we can spread so much more love for the cats in Jamaica & change the way Jamaicans view cats.
SILENT SUFFERING
āEvery day in Jamaica, countless cats suffer in silence. Born on the streets or abandoned by owners who simply don’t know better, they face a slow, painful life filled with hunger, disease, abuse and fear.ā In places like Downtown Kingston, the struggle is unimaginable. Tiny kittens barely days old try to survive in filthy drains, dodging cars, dogs and cruel hands. Many don’t survive their first week. The ones who do survive often grow up sick, malnourished, injured or terrified of humans. Most cats live and die in the shadows, unseen and unloved. Not because they don’t matter but because no one ever gave them a chance.
LACK OF EDUCATION
One of the biggest problems is a heartbreaking lack of education about animal welfare in Jamaica - especially for cats. Most people in Jamaica aren’t taught how to care for animals. They don’t know the importance of spaying or neutering or even that cats feel pain just like we do. To a lot of Jamaicans, street cats are just pests and not precious lives. With little to no effort to spay/neuter, many people let their cats continuously breed unchecked or abandon them when the kittens come. Kittens are often seen as burdens & most times dumped in unfamiliar places while the breeding cycle continues. Jamaica is facing a serious cat overpopulation crisis and without public education on spaying and neutering, it will only get worse.
LACK OF EMPATHY
In Jamaica, cats aren’t just unwanted: they’re feared, hated and misunderstood. Business owners chase them away. Landlords poison them. Tenants are told: “No cats allowed.” Both adults and children throw stones or even glass bottles at them, kick them, pour water on crying kittens; the abuse is unspeakable. Many Jamaicans still believe that cats are cursed or bad luck. Others call them nuisances or thieves, just for trying to find food. Sick or injured cats are left to die slowly because "it’s just a cat." This is the harsh reality for most cats here and it's become normalized. Although some Jamaicans care deeply for cats, widespread dislike and misunderstanding of them remains a serious issue.
LACK OF SUPPORT & ADVOCACY
āāThere are no cat-only shelters in Jamaica. No government support. Animal welfare laws exist, but they’re rarely enforced, especially when it comes to cats. The few no-kill animal shelters that exist are overflowing and forced to turn away animals daily. Grassroots rescues are doing their best with limited resources. The JSPCA (Jamaica Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), the island’s most well-known facility, isn’t no-kill, in fact, animals are euthanised simply because there’s no space. The managing director of the JSPCA says that cats are the hardest animals to be adopted. Most people don’t know where to turn if they want to help a cat in need. āāāā
BE PART OF THE MISSION & SAVE LIVES
HOW THIS CAMPAIGN BENEFITS YOU
Your compassion leads to real, lasting change that saves countless lives.
You already care about cats, now you can help create real change. Every day, thousands of cats in Jamaica face starvation, injury, abuse and neglect. TNVR reduces the number of kittens born into this harsh reality, stopping the cycle of suffering before it begins. But many cats still need a safe place to recover from illness or injury and feral cats require socialization before they can be adopted. That’s where the Cat Sanctuary comes in! Your support will create a refuge where cats in Jamaica are cared for with love and respect, giving you the satisfaction of knowing your kindness will make a concrete difference, no matter where you are in the world.
By joining this campaign, you’re helping us build a future where cats in Jamaica are safe, healthy, loved and valued.
Where your funds will go:
Your donations will help us build Jamaica’s first dedicated cat sanctuary, tackle cat overpopulation through TNVR and invest in a long-term, self-sustaining solution. Every dollar will be used with transparency, accountability and purpose to create lasting change for the cats, communities and Jamaica as a whole.
Lease Land
We need to secure safe land for our sanctuary.
Basic Supplies
Furniture, cat houses, beds, blankets, towels, litter boxes, toys, cleaning supplies & more
TNVR Program
Carriers, crates, cat traps, spay/neuter & vaccination
Operational Costs
Office supplies, computer, transport fuel, security, etc.
Construction
Start building the Cat Sanctuary.
Vet Supplies
Covers meds, wound care, test kits and essential tools to treat sick and injured cats.
Vehicle
For rescue missions, vet visits and supply runs.
Community Outreach
Volunteer recruitment, awareness campaigns, social media management.
Utilities & Maintenance
Electricity, Water, Internet, AC, Repairs, Cameras
Food
Wet & Dry Cat food, treats, feeding bowls, auto-feeders
Staff
Salaries for caretakers, vet, cleaners, rescuers and admin
Adoption Program
Marketing, screening supplies, pet starter kits.
