Plumbing Company Gives $5K to Save Overlooked Cats

When donations dried up for a small cat rescue in Evanston, Illinois, help arrived from an unexpected source: a plumbing company that believes community care extends to four-legged neighbors too.

J. Blanton Plumbing just donated $5,000 to Paws and Claws Cat Rescue, a local organization that specializes in saving the cats most shelters struggle to place. Black cats, older cats, and shy tabbies often get overlooked in favor of kittens and friendlier breeds.

Founded in 2020, Paws and Claws has rescued nearly 900 cats from six states, focusing on animals at risk of euthanasia. The rescue opened a permanent adoption center on Chicago Avenue in 2023, but when local giving dropped in 2025 during economic uncertainty, the small nonprofit felt the squeeze immediately.

The donation comes through Unclogs for Dogs, a campaign J. Blanton Plumbing launched to connect routine home services with animal welfare. Every qualifying drain cleaning helps fund local shelters and rescues across the communities they serve.

"Paws and Claws saves cats that a lot of people overlook," said Aizik Zimerman, CEO of J. Blanton Plumbing. "We're proud to help them keep doing it in Evanston."

The plumbing company also sponsored Rally for Rescues, a community event held at Baker Park on October 17 that brought together local animal welfare groups and residents. Paws and Claws publicly thanked the company, writing, "Together we are saving lives and building community."

The Ripple Effect

The donation will cover veterinary care, food, litter, and daily expenses for cats waiting to find their forever homes. For a donor-funded rescue operating without government support, that kind of gift can mean the difference between saving more animals or turning them away.

Small rescues often serve as the safety net beneath the safety net, taking in the animals larger shelters can't accommodate. When one falters, vulnerable animals have nowhere else to turn.

J. Blanton Plumbing serves homeowners across Chicagoland with emergency plumbing, drain cleaning, and sewer repairs. The company has been family-owned since 1993 and offers the drain cleaning promotion to residents who want their service to support local animal welfare at the same time.

Every overlooked cat that finds a home proves that second chances come in all forms, even from the most unexpected places.