When we temporarily closed our intake/foster programs in April 2013, a number of kitties stayed with us.They were mostly the shy ones, the seniors, and the special needs kitties with medical or behavioral concerns. They were the ones no one had shown interest in adopting, the ones that never worked out in foster homes, the ones who had been with the rescue the longest and were adjusted to our home.
To avoid further stress for these felines, we decided what was best for them was to remain in our home to live out the rest of their lives. Here are some of their stories.
CORTLAND: A 9 year old black male kitty with a tragic past, Cortland is our biggest special needs cat. He was surrendered to the SPCA after his owner died, and was a stray before that so we do not know just what he went through or what his medical history is. When he came to use he was extremely thin, malnourished, and just looked very unhealthy overall. He was scraggly with dry, flaky skin and a lacking appetite. We ran blood work, treated him for an infection and helped stimulate his appetite with different foods and supplements. For the past year and a half, he has undergone numerous rounds of antibiotics for repeated infections, suffered hair loss on his tail, has had blood work repeated 3 times and is now diagnosed with anemia and a blood parasite that he has most likely had all along. He will likely need B12 injections and medications for the rest of his life to manage his conditions. This is very expensive and he will need to be seen by the vet several times a year. Between his medical care and special diet, he will likely be the most costly kitty we have in our care. But he is so special to us, he sleeps with us every night and follows us around like a shadow. He loves to be held and gives head butts to show his affection. Cortland is my work buddy, because he lays on the desk and watches me work on the computer at night. I don't know what I would do without him. When our black cat Logan died awhile back, it was almost as if Cortland stepped up into his role as the black shadow kitty. He began following us around and rubbing against our faces like Logan used to do, began sleeping with us at that time, and was always by my side. His behaviors mimicked Logan's to a T, and Cortland only began being so attentive and affectionate after Logan passed away from liver disease. So you can see just how truly special Cortland is to us. He is an angel in disguise. UPDATE: Cortland went to the Rainbow Bridge October 2014. RIP Cortland.
PRADA: Prada is our second biggest special needs kitty and here is why: she is a senior; she has dental issues; she has a heart murmur and lung damage from a previous bout of pneumonia; she has trouble maintaining weight and is a very finicky eater so her diet must be very strictly monitored; she loses hair in clumps when stressed (this happened in foster care); she has skin allergies and is extremely allergic to fleas (which we treat for monthly to prevent them); she is a long haired torti who matts easily and has 6-7 toes on each paw so she needs to be groomed with nails trimmed every week. In short, she is a high-maintenance cat. She is also not a very affectionate or social cat; she prefers to be alone most of the time and only wants attention in very small doses (maybe a few minutes every other day). Most people aren't seeking to adopt a cat that who would simply live in their home with little interaction. Prada is not a very good companion cat; she just needs a home to live out her life, a home that allows her to be herself and do her own thing. That's what we give her here. She is brushed every day, has her nails trimmed each week, has her weight and diet monitored, and she receives her medical care as needed. But we do not expect more from her than she can offer. We love her and just want her to be comfortable and content, as she is often ill with infections and will probably not live as long as most cats. UPDATE: Prada went to the Rainbow Bridge in early 2015. RIP sweet Prada .
AMELIA: Amelia is the grandma of the house. She is the oldest kitty, at 12 years, but you wouldn't know it by looking at her! She was a stray kitty found in 2010, with horrible skin mites and fleas along with ringworm; she ended up losing a lot of her fur and was severely underweight when we first acquired her. Since then she has made a full recovery and put on a healthy amount of weight. She was difficult to find a home for due to her age and appearance; she ended up becoming very comfortable with us (especially Shawn, who she follows like a puppy!), so how could we not keep her? Despite her age, she loves to play, and when she carries a little mouse toy in her mouth she sings! She is the most adorable little calico senior, and leaving us would be very stressful.
MINNIE: Minnie was just a tiny kitten when we found her abandoned in the park. She got her name because she was so small she fit into the palm of our hands! Minnie has always been a shy, skittish kitty. She scares easily, which we think is due to her experience in the woods as a baby, abandoned and alone. The biggest issue with Minnie that would make it impossible to send her anywhere else is that she gets aggressive when she feels threatened. She has caused some damage, including ripping Shawn's lip open with her nail, requiring him to get 5 stitches! She will lash out if we try to crate her for vet appts, if we need to restrain her for vaccines or flea treatments, if she gets closed in a room. She would not survive a shelter setting, as they would see her aggressive side and euthanize her. She would never be placed up for adoption. She is usually very sweet, although shy and reserved. But when she gets upset, it can be very difficult to handle her. For this reason, we know it would not be in her best interest to leave us. She would definitely be killed and she doesn't deserve that!
MANEA: Manea was the very first rescue kitty. I came to acquire her from a client of mine at the human service agency I worked for. The client could barely take care of herself and badly neglected Manea, who was only a couple months old at the time. Manea ended up with earmites, upper respiratory infection and horrible fleas. My boss was going to take the kitten to the shelter so I took her home instead and nursed her back to health. She grew up with lots of foster animals, including ferrets, bunnies, cats and dogs. Manea is the most laid-back cat I have ever seen. She has seen lots of rescue kitties come into our care and then go on to their new homes. Manea is always the first one to greet them and accepts every new kitty without so much as a hiss or a growl. She sniffs them to say hi and then goes on with her day. An extremely playful kitty, Manea loves new toys and catnip. Manea is the queen of the household, definitely the ring leader. She also has a bit of a mischievious side, so when something gets knocked over or messed up you know she had something to do with it!
SIMBA: Simba was one of the first kitties I ever rescued back in 2009. He was only 6 months old at the time and came from a kill shelter just days before he was scheduled to be euthanized. Simba was always nervous and took a long time to warm up to me. He never warmed up to anyone else and whenever I tried to show him to potential adopters he would freak out, run, and hide for days! When Shawn and I moved in together, he warmed up to him in time, and only recently warmed up to my mother after almost 4 years of knowing her! Outside of us, he will not come out for anyone and always hides when we have company. He also has a chronic eye condition that requires frequent care; he gets a lot of discharge from both eyes and often needs antibiotic ointments to help with the redness. But he is a huge sweetheart with those he trusts; he is a big cuddly orange guy who acts more like a dog than a cat! If we were forced to give him up it would scar him for life; he would never adjust to a shelter or a new home, it took him forever to even adjust to this one! Simba really needs the stability our home provides in order to keep him healthy and happy. UPDATE: Simba was adopted in August 2015.
PIXIE: This adorable little baby has only been with us a little over a month and we weren't planning for her to join the clan, it just happened. Ironically, she was discovered in the yard out near the street, so we believe someone ditched her there. She is far too friendly and relaxed around humans to be a stray or feral kitty. She was about 6 wks old when we found her and only a little over a pound! She is now almost 3 lbs, eating well and doing great! We are taking her Aug 29th to be spayed and vaccinated. Pixie was a blessing, as she appears merely two weeks after we lost another one of the remaining rescue cats, Lovebug, to intestinal cancer. Lovebug's death came as a devastating surprise as we did not even know she was ill until it was too late. Pixie brought joy back to our hearts after a very tragic loss. For that reason she is very special, and we would like to keep her with us to watch her grow. She is also the first young kitten my husband and I have raised together and in that way she is truly our baby. Please help us keep our baby!
MONKEY: Monkey was a 6 month old kitten when she came to us. She is a chunky tortoiseshell with extra toes on each paw, which makes her look and climb very much like a monkey, which is how she got her name. Monkey was always a sweet girl, but a bit shy and very vocal when upset. We don't know what happened to her as a kitten, but she ended up as a stray on the street before landing in the shelter and then with us. Monkey was placed up for adoption, and although many people inquired about her and even came to visit, they never chose her to join their family. Monkey can be skittish and shy with people, and this made it difficult for anyone to get to know her. In one foster home she began having behavioral problems: peeing in the hallway, hiding, and licking excessively to the point that she caused herself some bald spots. We tried a different foster home, only to have her get upset with a child in the home and scratch the child's cheek. Each time, Monkey would cry excessively and disturb the family at night, so we were forced to bring her back to our home where she was most content. Monkey was getting older and bigger (she has a big appetite! lol) and outside interest in her waned; we knew the longer she stayed with us the less likely it was that she would adjust to a new home. When the rescue closed, Monkey was one of the remaining cats, and it seems she is quite happy about that! UPDATE: Monkey was adopted in July 2015.
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
ABANDONED KITTIES NEED LOVING HOMES!
These two kitties were abandoned by their owner. =( So sad. I will never understand how someone can walk away from the pets they supposedly love. Fortunately, a kind-hearted women who lives in the same apartment complex took them in temporarily in order to find them a new home. We are sharing these cats in hopes that a caring cat lover can provide them with a safe forever home. They are NOT in our care, so all information regarding these cats is secondhand. Here's what I was told:
They are older cats (8-12 yrs est).
Grey Cat is DLH (domestic long-hair) and White Cat is DSH (domestic short-hair).
Both are presumed to be males and fixed. Medical history unknown.
Names are unknown so we will refer to them as White Cat and Grey Cat.
Grey Cat is the playful one. He likes toys, likes to follow people around, and is a great lap cat. He is a bit of a neat freak and requires a very clean litter box. He is good with other cats and children.
White Cat is the independent one. He isn't as socially needy as Grey Cat, and prefers a quiet atmosphere to relax and do his own thing. He would make a great pet for someone looking for a quiet, calm companion animal, perhaps someone who is older or single with no kids. He would not be suitable for a home with small children as he does not respond well to them (nips). He also does not like to be picked up much or touched around his paws.
There is no set adoption fee but we will require an adoption application. If you are interested in adopting or would like to know more, please email havenhousecats@aol.com. Thanks!
Friday, February 15, 2013
Black Cat Bash Photos
As usual, we had a blast raising money for the rescue kitties!
Thanks to everyone who came out to support us!
Monday, October 22, 2012
BLACK CAT BASH
9:00pm until 12:00am
Vinny's Sports Bar and Patio located at 2704 Clinton Street West Seneca, 14224.
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Come in costume and party with us at our 1st annual Black Cat Bash!Tickets are $20 and can be purchased in advance or at the door, contact us to buy in advance. Ticket includes 3 hours All-U-Can-Drink draft and well drinks, food, and entry into our costume contest. There will be prizes for best costumes, up to $100 value. We will also have 50/50 raffles, a theme basket raffle, and pool tournaments. This is a 21 and older event with proper ID required.
All proceeds benefit Haven House Cats rescue.... PLEASE NOTE: An entry ticket is not required to attend this event, it IS required for food and open bar for 3 hours. For those not purchasing an entry ticket, drinks will be at your own cost and costume contest entry fee will be $5. 50/50 and basket raffle tickets will be sold separate from entry tickets. A Special Thank you to our Sponsors: Salvatores Italian Gardens, Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Sabres, Buffalo Bisons, Buffalo Bandits, Darien Lake, Niagara Climbing Center, Anderson's, Pamela Lanich Photography, Russell's & Salvatore's Grand Hotel, & Bounce Magic. |
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Adoption Events for September 2012
Saturday, September 15th, 10 am- 2 pm
Tractor Supply4484 Southwestern Blvd.
Hamburg, N.Y. 14075
Come meet Pipsqueak, Fiona, Penny, and Prada. Four sweet, furry, felines that will steal your heart, and fill your home with love! Learn more about Haven Houses Mission and how you can join our efforts in "Saving the world, one kitty at a time"!!
Saturday, September 22nd, 11 am- 2 pm
Pet Supplies Plus3984 Seneca Street
West Seneca, N.Y. 14224
and
Saturday, September 29th, 11 am- 2 pm
Pet Supplies Plus3984 Seneca Street
West Seneca, N.Y. 14224
Stop by and see us while you shop. Meet and greet our adoptable kitties, Lovebug, Suzie, Fiona, Prada, and Pipsqueak, and help support our cause. Items for sale include magnets, cat toys, books, etc. If adoption isnt an option, there are other ways you can make their day!
Monday, September 3, 2012
URGENT: Little Grungy Is Very Ill!
9/1/12 This is Little Grungy, one of three kittens we took in about a week ago. In the past 24 hours, Little Grungy went from a fluffy ball of energy to lethargic, weak, and listless. We just rushed her to the emergency vet and the prognosis is really bad. We are so deperate to save this little girl. She is experiencing neurological symptoms and dehydration, along with a fever of 104.5. So far we have gotten her sub-q fluids, antibiotics and a steroid injection but she needs testing to find out what is causing this. The quote we received is almost $2000, which we don't have! Please help us save her! I love this little girl and I couldn't stand to see her die. If you can help save Little Grungy's life, donations can be sent to our paypal at havenhousecats@aol.com. PLEASE DONATE, SHARE, SPREAD THE WORD! THIS BABY NEEDS OUR HELP!!!!!
9/5/12 Update: Little Grungy is walking, eating, drinking and using the litter box all on her own! She is still very wobbly when she walks so perhaps some of the neurological symptoms are going to be permanent. She's still under the weather with cold-like symptoms, sleeping a lot, uninterested in playing. Cinderella's temperature is gone, she has been sleeping quite a bit too but tonight she actually started playing with her healthy sister, Little Lottie. Little Lottie has not shown any signs of this virus, thankfully. We did not hear back from the vet today regarding the bloodwork so we still do not know what disease we are dealing with. These kittens have been kept very isolated from the other kitties in the house so hopefully it's nothing that can travel through walls, doors or floors. =/ Fingers crossed for some good news from the vet this week!
9/9/12 Update: We are still unsure what caused the kittens to get so sick. Every single test has either been negative or inconclusive! All kittens are FIV/FeLV negative, fecals were negative, bloodwork inconclusive. The vet has ruled out the scary things, and none of the other kitties in the house have experienced any symptoms so hopefully we will get Cinderella and Grungy better and be done with it! Little Grungy is doing a lot better. She has been walking around and playing with her siblings, eating well, drinking and using the litter box with very little trouble, although she is still a bit wobbly on her feet. But for the most part the neurological symptoms are subsiding quite amazingly and I truly believe she will completely recover without any permanent damage.
9/20/12 Update: Grungy and her sisters made a complete recovery. Little Grungy is walking perfectly on her own, playing, eating and drinking independently. She's back to being the energetic ball of fur that she was before she fell ill. She has no permanent damage and there is no indication that she was ever sick! We are so happy for her. We never found out exactly what the virus was that caused such a dramatic, scary experience but the vet is confident that it was not FIP, distemper, FIV, FeLV, or toxoplasma. We are pretty sure it is gone and none of the other cats in foster care have come down with any symptoms. Thank you to everyone who generously donated to help save these babies. We are working on finding them forever homes now!
1/11/13 Update: As of today, all three kittens have found their forever homes! We are so happy for them. Little Grungy (whose name is now Talleigh in her forever home) was the last to go as came down with a mild cold early in December and then again after her spay. She will always be susceptible to colds as she has a weakened immune system. But lucky for her she has an INCREDIBLY understanding new mom who will do anything to keep her healthy! I love a happy ending!
Please help us save Little Grungy, a 10 week old kitten. She is very ill and needs testing to determine what is wrong. This is the quote we received for her care. We need to raise most of this in order to proceed with testing and treatment!
9/2/12 Update: Grungy is still with us. I honestly thought she was going to die last night. She was so limp and lifeless, so weak she couldn't even hold her head up to look at me. I spent the entire night holding her, giving fluids and trying to get her to eat. Force fed some A/D and gave her the Clavamox prescribed by the vet. Today she actually ate a little bit on her own (with me holding her head up) and then the craziest thing happened. I was massaging her legs and trying to get her to stand and she actually did, all on her own and took a few steps! I am so happy for her, it's progress however small. Now it's off to work and tend to the other cats, then back to the emergency vet later because our generous supporters helped us raise an amazing $800 which is enough for more IV fluids and blood work so we can find out what we are dealing with here! Thank you all for your support and generosity. I will keep you all posted on her progress.
9/2 The generosity of our friends is overwhelming! Thank you to Lauraine Griffin, Joanna March, Adrienne Trzcinski, Rosann Trzcinski, Sara Etten, Zoe Rolt, and Lucy Bradford for donating to help save Little Grungy's life! We now have almost $1100 which should cover most of what she will need and may even help pay for her 2 sisters' bloodwork. We need to make sure that whatever this is isn't going to affect all of them. Little Lottie and Cinderella are doing well so far, no signs of this illness so we are very happy about that. Fingers, toes and paws crossed that they remain healthy and Little Grungy fully recovers!
9/3 Update: Little Grungy Update: So I am pleased to announce that Little Grungy is eating dry food all on her own!!! She is holding her head up right now and remains alert and responsive. She has been sleeping a lot, stil can't get in the litter box, and is having trouble standing/walking. I have noticed that when I rub her belly she flails her rear legs but her front legs don't move at all. I'm wondering if she is going to be paralyzed in her front legs, if perhaps that is why she can't stand. I will be calling our vet first thing tomorrow to get her and her sisters in for testing. We will still be accepting donations because I know it's going to be a long, expensive road to recovery for this little girl. You can make donations via paypal to havenhousecats@aol.com or call our vet directly to donate over the phone: All Creatures Animal Hospital at 716-636-3600. Make sure you tell them you are donating to Haven House Cats.
9/4 Update: As of an hour ago, Little Grungy is walking better and actually used the litter box, but she has some bleeding around her one eye. And now her sister, Cinderella, has a fever of 104.2 and is acting very lethargic like Grungy was the first day of illness. So I am currently on my way to the vet with all 3 kittens. This is probably going to cost more now since Cinderella is having symptoms, im afraid little lottie will too. Donations can still be made directly to our vet by calling All Creatures at 716 636 3600. Be sure to tell them its for Haven House Cats. Thank you so much!
Later...
Just got back from the vet. Still not sure what illness we are dealing with, bloodwork will hopefully confirm but results won't come back for a few days. Our vet said it could be any number of things including toxoplasmosis, a severe URI that affects the inner ear, or FIP, but we aren't sure yet. Cinderella was given sub-q fluids and is now on Clavamox and Metacam, along with Grungy. They both curled up in the kitty bed together, exhausted from the vet visit.
Cinderella (left) and Grungy
9/5/12 Update: Little Grungy is walking, eating, drinking and using the litter box all on her own! She is still very wobbly when she walks so perhaps some of the neurological symptoms are going to be permanent. She's still under the weather with cold-like symptoms, sleeping a lot, uninterested in playing. Cinderella's temperature is gone, she has been sleeping quite a bit too but tonight she actually started playing with her healthy sister, Little Lottie. Little Lottie has not shown any signs of this virus, thankfully. We did not hear back from the vet today regarding the bloodwork so we still do not know what disease we are dealing with. These kittens have been kept very isolated from the other kitties in the house so hopefully it's nothing that can travel through walls, doors or floors. =/ Fingers crossed for some good news from the vet this week!
9/9/12 Update: We are still unsure what caused the kittens to get so sick. Every single test has either been negative or inconclusive! All kittens are FIV/FeLV negative, fecals were negative, bloodwork inconclusive. The vet has ruled out the scary things, and none of the other kitties in the house have experienced any symptoms so hopefully we will get Cinderella and Grungy better and be done with it! Little Grungy is doing a lot better. She has been walking around and playing with her siblings, eating well, drinking and using the litter box with very little trouble, although she is still a bit wobbly on her feet. But for the most part the neurological symptoms are subsiding quite amazingly and I truly believe she will completely recover without any permanent damage.
9/20/12 Update: Grungy and her sisters made a complete recovery. Little Grungy is walking perfectly on her own, playing, eating and drinking independently. She's back to being the energetic ball of fur that she was before she fell ill. She has no permanent damage and there is no indication that she was ever sick! We are so happy for her. We never found out exactly what the virus was that caused such a dramatic, scary experience but the vet is confident that it was not FIP, distemper, FIV, FeLV, or toxoplasma. We are pretty sure it is gone and none of the other cats in foster care have come down with any symptoms. Thank you to everyone who generously donated to help save these babies. We are working on finding them forever homes now!
1/11/13 Update: As of today, all three kittens have found their forever homes! We are so happy for them. Little Grungy (whose name is now Talleigh in her forever home) was the last to go as came down with a mild cold early in December and then again after her spay. She will always be susceptible to colds as she has a weakened immune system. But lucky for her she has an INCREDIBLY understanding new mom who will do anything to keep her healthy! I love a happy ending!
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
The Importance of Foster Volunteers
One of the biggest frustrations in animal rescue is having to turn needy animals away. Each day we receive AT LEAST one call or email from someone looking to surrender a cat or a litter of kittens. There are lots of stories: "stray cat has been living on my porch; found a litter of kittens in the backyard; my mother was sent to a nursing home and we need to surrender her two 11 year old cats; we are moving and the landlord doesn't allow cats"; etc etc. While we would love to say yes to them all (and trust me, we would if we could!) it's just not possible! Let me explain why.
Haven House Cats is a rescue group. What does that mean exactly? It means this: we are a small group of cat-loving volunteers who one day decided to devote our time and energy to saving cats. We do not have a shelter; all the cats we take into the rescue have to be placed into a foster home where they will be cared for by a volunteer until adopted. We are always low on foster homes; foster volunteers are difficult to find. Many foster volunteers sign on for short periods of time, some adopt and can no longer foster, some quit due to life changes such as moving, having a baby, illness, injury, etc. If we do not have a foster home willing to take in a cat or litter of kittens, we cannot accept those cats into the rescue. We need someone to care for them and if no one accepts that role, our hands are tied. Many times my husband and I find ourselves overburdened with foster cats in our own home due to foster volunteers quitting, or on the rare occasion that an adopted cat is returned. When a foster quits and another cannot be found, those foster cats have to return to our house whether we have room or not. It isn't in the cats' best interest to be jam-packed into a foster home. One volunteer can only give so much attention to each cat on a daily basis when there are too many of them to keep up with. What is best for the cats ins't always possible though if volunteers aren't willing to step up and help foster. When we are short on volunteers and most of the cats are at our central foster home (aka mine & my husband's house), their health, safety and basic needs are the biggest priority. Feedings, cleaning, and preventative care take up the majority of my free time. When we have as many animals living under one roof as we do (anywhere from 15-30, depending on our foster volunteers), it is EXTREMELY important to keep everything clean. Sanitary living conditions are a must in order to prevent the spread of illness. Each day I scrub litterboxes, scoop them 2-3 times, change food dishes, sweep & mop the entire house, and sanitize all surfaces (cats get on top of everything!). Sometimes there are cages to clean, flea treatments to apply, medications to administer and nails to cut. It's not an easy job and the more cats we have here due to a lack of foster volunteers, the bigger the mess! And keep in mind that this work is on top of working my paying jobs, keeping up with rescue paperwork/websites, and my personal life.
So why are foster volunteers important? The biggest reason is that fosters save lives! How? Without fosters we cannot help cats. If we are contacted by someone who found a stray or needs to surrender their cat for whatever reason, we need a safe place for the cat to go. The cat needs shelter, food, water, vetting, and love. If we have the money for vetting but no safe haven for the cat, how can we help? Foster volunteers are heros. They care for and provide love to a cat who may have never experienced it before. They help socialize shy cats so they have a better chance at being adopted. They nurse sick cats back to health and better their lives. When my home is overwhelmed with cats, I am physically unable to provide the attention each cat yearns for. Trust me I feel horrible about it! None of the cats is neglected by any means, and I am diligent when it comes to cleanliness and health care. But when it comes to affection and cuddle time, they want to love on me for hours but there's just not enough time in a day! They get pets and hugs, but I know they want more. This is another reason foster volunteers are so important. If each cat has a foster mom or dad to love on, they are much happier. I want these cats to be as happy as possible; they truly mean the world to me.
Ideally I would love to see each of our adoptable cats/kittens enter foster care so they can get more individual attention. We have 14 adoptables right now, 10 of which need a foster mom or dad. Do you think we can find 10 cat-loving individuals who are willing to care for a cat until adopted? Are you someone like that? If you can help, please email us today at havenhousecats@aol.com. We NEED you! These kitties NEED you!
Haven House Cats is a rescue group. What does that mean exactly? It means this: we are a small group of cat-loving volunteers who one day decided to devote our time and energy to saving cats. We do not have a shelter; all the cats we take into the rescue have to be placed into a foster home where they will be cared for by a volunteer until adopted. We are always low on foster homes; foster volunteers are difficult to find. Many foster volunteers sign on for short periods of time, some adopt and can no longer foster, some quit due to life changes such as moving, having a baby, illness, injury, etc. If we do not have a foster home willing to take in a cat or litter of kittens, we cannot accept those cats into the rescue. We need someone to care for them and if no one accepts that role, our hands are tied. Many times my husband and I find ourselves overburdened with foster cats in our own home due to foster volunteers quitting, or on the rare occasion that an adopted cat is returned. When a foster quits and another cannot be found, those foster cats have to return to our house whether we have room or not. It isn't in the cats' best interest to be jam-packed into a foster home. One volunteer can only give so much attention to each cat on a daily basis when there are too many of them to keep up with. What is best for the cats ins't always possible though if volunteers aren't willing to step up and help foster. When we are short on volunteers and most of the cats are at our central foster home (aka mine & my husband's house), their health, safety and basic needs are the biggest priority. Feedings, cleaning, and preventative care take up the majority of my free time. When we have as many animals living under one roof as we do (anywhere from 15-30, depending on our foster volunteers), it is EXTREMELY important to keep everything clean. Sanitary living conditions are a must in order to prevent the spread of illness. Each day I scrub litterboxes, scoop them 2-3 times, change food dishes, sweep & mop the entire house, and sanitize all surfaces (cats get on top of everything!). Sometimes there are cages to clean, flea treatments to apply, medications to administer and nails to cut. It's not an easy job and the more cats we have here due to a lack of foster volunteers, the bigger the mess! And keep in mind that this work is on top of working my paying jobs, keeping up with rescue paperwork/websites, and my personal life.
So why are foster volunteers important? The biggest reason is that fosters save lives! How? Without fosters we cannot help cats. If we are contacted by someone who found a stray or needs to surrender their cat for whatever reason, we need a safe place for the cat to go. The cat needs shelter, food, water, vetting, and love. If we have the money for vetting but no safe haven for the cat, how can we help? Foster volunteers are heros. They care for and provide love to a cat who may have never experienced it before. They help socialize shy cats so they have a better chance at being adopted. They nurse sick cats back to health and better their lives. When my home is overwhelmed with cats, I am physically unable to provide the attention each cat yearns for. Trust me I feel horrible about it! None of the cats is neglected by any means, and I am diligent when it comes to cleanliness and health care. But when it comes to affection and cuddle time, they want to love on me for hours but there's just not enough time in a day! They get pets and hugs, but I know they want more. This is another reason foster volunteers are so important. If each cat has a foster mom or dad to love on, they are much happier. I want these cats to be as happy as possible; they truly mean the world to me.
Ideally I would love to see each of our adoptable cats/kittens enter foster care so they can get more individual attention. We have 14 adoptables right now, 10 of which need a foster mom or dad. Do you think we can find 10 cat-loving individuals who are willing to care for a cat until adopted? Are you someone like that? If you can help, please email us today at havenhousecats@aol.com. We NEED you! These kitties NEED you!
Christina McNeil
Executive Director
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