The day’s surprises didn’t end there either. “We weren’t ready to accept 18 new babies,” Natalie said, explaining that the shelter was already at full capacity. To add to the chaos, a mother cat and her kitten were left in their lobby shortly after the totes arrived, bringing the total number of rescues to 20 in less than an hour.

With space short at the shelter, Stray Rescue of St. Louis turned to the community, putting out a plea on Facebook for foster families and donations, and the community didn’t hesitate.

“Our fosters stepped up in a big way—they are all in foster homes now,” Thomson said. The cats will remain in foster care until they are spayed or neutered, after which they’ll be ready for adoption into forever homes.

The shelter emphasizes the importance of spaying and neutering pets to prevent situations like this, and Thomson shared a reminder that the number of abandoned animals is rising.

“There are too many unwanted animals. If you are in over your head, please contact a rescue or shelter near you for help—there are resources out there,” she said.