Our Mission
To provide a better life for homeless cats as well as re-home those that are adoptable.
The Forgotten Ones of Northeast Florida is a sanctuary set on seven acres in Northeast Jacksonville’s Pumpkin Hill area.
We provide shelter, care, food, and affection for homeless cats and kittens.
Many of these cats and kittens are former pets that were thrown out or abandoned in the streets to make it on their own.
Frequently Asked Questions
Aren't all homeless cats feral?
A common misconception is that most homeless cats are feral, meaning that they were born and raised in the woods, away from human contact. Whereas in some cases this is true, most homeless cats are former household pets that are turned out (in some cases tossed from the window of moving cars) and now have to search for ways to survive in an often threatening new environment.
But cats are very independent! Can't they make it on their own?
Cats that have lived most of their life with a ready supply of food and water are ill-equipped to survive on their own. Along with having to forage for the food they need to sustain them, they now have to deal with the dangers they encounter on a daily basis, from cars, dogs, coyotes, and callous and unfeeling people.
I would like to help by getting some of the homeless cats in my neighborhood spayed and neutered, but I am on a limited budget and can't afford it. What can be done?
In Jacksonville, organizations such as First Coast No More Homeless Pets (FCNMHP) will spay and neuter cats and kittens either free or for a nominal fee. Their TNR (trap, neuter, and release) program, now used in many places around the country, involves spaying and neutering, then returning the cats to their colony, which in most cases is managed by a colony caregiver that along with providing food on a daily basis also provides medical care when necessary.
The Jacksonville Humane Society provides a similar program (call for details), and other such programs are provided in most cities.
I found some kittens in the woods and I brought them home. Did I do the right thing?
In most cases, no. Kittens in the woods generally are being cared for by their mother, who may be off searching for food but will return. If you suspect the kittens have been abandoned, keep an eye on them for a day or so. If at the end of that time they are still there and there is still no evidence of their mother, it may be that something has happened to her and it is time to take them home.