We all know that deadmau5, a.k.a. Joel Zimmerman, is a massive cat lover. This is, after all, the same DJ and music producer whose catalogue includes feline-friendly titles like “Cat Thruster,” “50 something cats,” and “Bitter Kitten (heck, his late cat Professor Meowingtons even had a cult following of his own).
Now, the Niagara-born DJ is turning his cat-dad reputation into real-life help for dozens of local animals in urgent need.
According to Oakville News, Zimmerman stepped in to cover $30,000 in medical expenses and overall care for 27 cats and kittens recently rescued by the Humane Society of Oakville, Milton and Halton (HSOMH) from a Milton home.
The shelter said the animals, ranging in age from three months to three years old, hadn’t previously received veterinary care and would need full treatment (think wellness exams, vaccinations and spay or neuter surgeries) before they could be made available for adoption. One cat also required emergency surgery for pyometra, a life-threatening uterine infection.
The situation became even more urgent days later, when nine more cats and kittens from the same home were surrendered, bringing the total to 36.
With the new additions, HSOMH was caring for 101 cats and kittens in total at the time, putting even more pressure on the shelter and making donations super important.
Enter deadmau5. Zimmerman reportedly contacted the shelter through Instagram after learning about the rescue efforts, surprising staff with an offer to cover the $30,000 cost tied to the cats’ medical care and daily support! And Zimmerman appears to be having a little fun with the rescue effort, too, inviting fans to help name the cats.
“Just when you least expect it, something incredibly cool happens,” HSOMH Executive Director Jeff Vallentin told Oakville News, noting that the shelter didn’t expect to open Instagram and find a message from deadmau5.
Vallentin said the donation has also boosted awareness for the local animal shelter.
“It’s not every day that a local celebrity uses their platform to shine a spotlight on animal welfare and help introduce millions of people to our mission,” he said, adding that the financial support will make a real difference, but “the attention and engagement have been just as meaningful.”
