This year’s theme is “The Evolution of the Cat Revolution”.
Marcy: What the heck does that mean?
Cynthia: It means that cat rescue outreach, TNR (spay/neuter/return), and Spay/Neuter clinics are growing!
More feral cats are being helped by ordinary people, rescue volunteers, shelters working with rescue groups, and big corporations like PetSmart giving out grant money than ever before!
Marcy: Yeah!
Cynthia: According to Alley Cat Allies, “In the last decade, the number of local governments with official policies endorsing TNR has increased tenfold, with hundreds of cities and towns successfully carrying out TNR programs.”
penelope kitten (squeaking): yay yay!
Cynthia: So amazing! But…
Marcy: What?
penelope kitten: uh oh.
Cynthia: We still have a long way to go. Far too many cats are still getting killed at our shelters due to lack of space. Too many feral cats are giving birth.
penelope kitten: no no.
Cynthia: All is not hopeless! Look at the progress made! We need to keep going!
penelope kitten: how how?
=^..^=
Cynthia: Here’s what is needed and what any person who wants to help can do. And, as we say in animal rescue – Nothing Is Too Small!
- Donate Money. So easy but so needed. Money helps with vaccines, spay/neuter costs, transportation costs, flea medication, emergency vet costs, etc. Donate to animal shelters, local 501c3 rescue groups, or that one individual who TNR’s in your neighborhood but is not affiliated with a group.
- Donate Cat Food. Many cat rescues need food donations to help the feral colony caregivers take care of their colonies.
- Donate your Time. Participate in cat rescue outreach efforts – help at a spay/neuter clinic – help with transporting animals to and from clinics and adoption events.
- Become a kitten foster parent. More foster availability means that when a feral cat colony is being TNR’d and kittens are discovered – those kittens can be taken off the street and socialized and then put up for adoption.
Cynthia: Just think lovely readers – if no one had helped that cute cat sitting by your side, your cat may well have ended up a feral cat!
penelope kitten: no no!
Cynthia: It’s true, Penelope. For example, if I found you even two weeks later than I did – you would have been too wild to tame and you would be living your life on the street instead of in a comfy house with unlimited food and water and love!
Marcy: Oh great. Here come the lectures on how lucky we are. Blah blah blah…
Cynthia: You two are so lucky!
Marcy and penelope kitten: Yeah yeah. We know!
Marcy’s shelter picture:
Penelope Kitten (so scared) with her sister shortly after being trapped:
13 Comments
OMG!! I hardly recognize Marcy and P-Kitty!! So young and so scared 🙁 Thank you for spreading the word and letting everyone know how they can make a difference!
Aren’t they so little and so cute but so pathetic? Poor kitties. But they were lucky ones!
xo,cynthia
Great information. Every day should be feral cat day.
Yes!!!
xo and meow and squeak,
cynthia + marcy + penelope kitten
This is wonderful.
Thanks!
Thank YOU for recently rescuing and opening your heart and home to two rescue cats!! You are the best!!!
xo and meow and squeak,
cynthia + marcy + penelope kitten
awww….marcy as a kitten!!! She still looked haughty even then…lol 🙂
poor pkitty….she was so small 🙁 Her little sister ws adorable too. Luv torties! 🙂
PKitty’s sister got a lot of attention and was easy to adopt out. I love the phrase “tortitude” – cause that’s what she had. She was so fearless and talkative. Marcy languished in the shelter for a long time before we came and took her home. She was such a little scaredy cat! lol – not anymore!
xo,cynthia
marcy was a scardey cat?? are you sure you got the right kitty? 🙂
Love the baby pics and the PSA. It made me remember our last cat, she was a year old at the shelter and quite skinny. She was in a big room with other cats and aloof from them. When we walked in, she ran over to us, and then was with us for 13 years. When she died, we donated her food and lot of medical equipment (fluids, needles, IV lines, and even the meds) to someone we know who helps rescue feral cats. It was good to feel that we at least helped other cats. Sigh. Your 4 are very fortunate to have ended up with you.
Awww… Vik – you are such a great cat parent! I can’t imagine what you had to go through with all that medical stuff. Your kitty was a lucky cat to end up in your hands. And how wonderful that you donated all those medical supplies and food to someone who helps the ferals. That was probably appreciated more than you will ever know. Rescuers who care for ferals are such awesome humans. 🙂
xo,cynthia
When I was teaching, I led a program where seniors picked a topic of interest to research and then completed a related service learning project to further the cause. One of my students looked into feral cats and organizing a TNR program in the local community. I think people forget about feral cats, and while this student started the project with a passing curiosity, she became really engaged and passionate about it. I appreciate your specific and doable strategies for helping diminish the feral cat population.
<3 Liz
http://www.withwonderandwhimsy.com
Oh wow! That is amazing! Love it when the younger folks get involved. I think TNR becomes a lifetime commitment. I’m going out trapping tonight. Keep your fingers crossed for me. And the cat!
xo,cynthia