5 things cat lovers should know about the Uniontown rescue cats who slipped out a window
Cat people know one determined feline can change the whole room. At a rescue shelter in Uniontown, Ohio, one open office window turned into a major search effort, and now volunteers are doing everything they can to bring the cats back.
1. One cat found the weak spot, and others followed
At Whimsical Whiskers CatFae & Rescue, owner Heidi Wiegel said an office window screen was clawed out after the window was accidentally left open. She described one cat making the move and 18 other cats going with it.
For any rescue, it is the kind of moment no one wants to imagine. For cat people, it is also the most cat thing possible: one bold fluff makes a choice, and suddenly there is a full-scale feline exit.
2. The count has been moving as cats are found
Wiegel said 16 cats were missing from the rescue shelter on Cleveland Ave NW in Uniontown. By Monday morning, she said nine of the felines had been located, leaving nine still to find.
That changing number says a lot about how active the search has been. Cats are being found, but there are still more out there, and the rescue is continuing to track every lead it gets.
3. These cats need a careful, gentle search
This is not a simple neighborhood cat chase. Wiegel said many of the cats are scared and especially vulnerable.
The rescue operates as a cat cafe, and the cats come through the nonprofit Whisper in Time Companion Re-homing. According to Wiegel, that program serves people who have passed away or moved into nursing homes, assisted living or memory care, as well as other end-of-life care situations. In other words, many of these cats have already been through major upheaval.
4. Volunteers are in full rescue mode
The search has included traps, flyers and long hours. Wiegel said her team has been scrambling, and supporters have stepped in with food, traps and overnight help because the traps cannot simply be left unattended.
She highlighted help from Michelle Ketler, who has been handing out fliers, bringing supplies, setting traps and watching them through the night. The rescue is also open to donated drone services, which shows just how many tools are being considered to spot and recover the missing cats.
5. Tuna, sardines, homeowner permission, and one clear goal
Wiegel said the team plans to keep following leads and using traps baited with tuna or sardines. She added that they know where a couple of the cats are, and after speaking with homeowners and getting permission, traps have been placed on those properties.
The rescue says it will not stop looking. Every cat, Wiegel said, was entrusted to them to be matched with a new person, and that responsibility is guiding the whole search. The shelter also plans to install custom-made grills on all of its windows so this cannot happen again. However long it takes, the goal is simple: get the cats back where they belong.
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