From Lebanon with Love: Tabby's Place Welcomes Cats from War Zone

Day after day, animal rescuers scour Beirut’s war zones for signs of life. As survivors themselves, these heroes are driven to save the innocent. But when they find cats whose needs exceed their grasp, Lebanon’s rescuers turn to a shelter in New Jersey.

5,628 miles from Beirut, Tabby’s Place: a Cat Sanctuary is a harbor for cats from hopeless situations. Although 95% of its residents come from the United States, Tabby’s Place devotes 5% of its cage-free haven to international cats with nowhere else to turn. The Tabby’s Place “lighthouse” is visible worldwide, with cats having come from as far as Turkey, Oman, and Japan.

Tabby’s Place’s partnership with Animals Lebanon dates back to 2019, when the Beirut group feared for the future of a paraplegic kitten named Chocolate. Lacking the resources for her delicate care, Animals Lebanon dared to contact the sanctuary known as a champion of cats with advanced needs. A life-saving friendship was born, and Chocolate (now in a forever home and thriving) pioneered the trans-Atlantic journey now traveled by dozens of cats.

Last week, Tabby’s Place welcomed six fragile newcomers from Beirut. As always, Animals Lebanon selected the cats on the basis of extreme need. Tabby’s Place is uniquely equipped to nurture them, with 22 years of expertise in treating complex medical and behavioral issues.

The little travelers will rely on that experience and devotion, as life in the war zone has left them embattled in body and spirit.

Ricky the kitten sustained fractures to his leg and spine, while pocket-sized Twix was found struggling to breathe, with both hips broken. Odessa survived both the Beirut port explosion and deadly feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), and gentle Spain is adapting to life on three legs. Tangerine tabby Obi is timid as he recovers from intestinal injuries, startled by sounds that remind him of the air strikes of Beirut. Dainty grey Peeka is voracious, not yet convinced that food will keep coming.

At Tabby’s Place, each survivor will find a world of mercy. The sanctuary is committed to providing cutting-edge medical care for its new arrivals. In addition, a skilled Behavior Team will ensure the traumatized cats feel secure and comforted.

Saving cats from hopeless situations requires kindness across continents. Cat lovers may support the Beirut cats with a donation to Tabby’s Place at www.tabbysplace.org, or by mailing a check to Tabby’s Place at 1100 US Highway 202, Ringoes, NJ, 08551. Now through September 30, all donations will be doubled for emergency and intensive care.

In a world that can feel callous and cold, love still goes the distance. Tabby’s Place is grateful for Animals Lebanon and all who embrace the littlest, the last, and the lost.