Shelter Me: Brenda's Cat Rescue

NORTH PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- When Kathy Harmer decided to adopt Charlie from Brenda's Cat Rescue, she had no idea she'd end up walking away with two cats.

"One of Brenda's volunteers said are you sure you don't want a brother? I'm like no, I don't want two," says Harmer.

But when she actually met Hemingway, she had a change of heart.

"I came back with my little cage, he peeked his head up and I just was like fine. Throw him in the bag too," Harmer says.

The two brothers are inseparable and live seamlessly with Kathy's other cat, Stella.

"They lay together and he's always the one that puts his arm around the two of them," says Harmer.

Brenda Malinics started Brenda's Cat Rescue 20 years ago but she's been rescuing cats since she was 7 year old.

"I saw the problem in North Philadelphia and I couldn't ignore it," says Malinics.

There are an estimated 400,000 stray cats in Philadelphia and the rescue is dedicated to pulling as many as they can off the streets and into loving homes.

"We will go the extra miles for the cats because we feel that they've suffered enough in the street," Malinics says.

Piper is a sweet, mellow girl who would love a quiet home.

"She is absolutely a loyal companion and she would make someone a great pet," says Malinics.

Maybelline loves to find a lap to curl up on.

"She doesn't have a tail anymore because she was found with a very badly injured tail which had to be amputated," Malinics says.

Carly is shy but very loyal.

"She loves her treats, she loves to eat, she loves people," says Malinics.

Max and Mia are siblings and need to be adopted together.

"They are full of trouble and curiosity and joy and happiness," Malinics says.

While Captain Jack would prefer to be the only pet.

"He's big, he's bold, and he's very handsome," says Harry Robbins, Captain Jack's foster dad.

And Reagan is a tuxedo kitten, who is about 16-weeks-old. She has a sister named Veil, who would come with the adoption. She is shy, but very calm, consider and loves neck rubs.

If you're interested in adopting any of the animals you've met today you can visit the Brenda's Cat Rescue website.

And, if you'd like us to share your shelter success stories, post a picture to the FYI Philly Facebook page using #6abcshelterme and tell us where you adopted your pet and how much they mean to you.

We'll be featuring your stories on upcoming Shelter Me segments.

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