Late last year Steve saw an ad in the local paper that volunteers were needed for a local no-kill cat rescue. He thought that sounded like a good idea. So, he asked me to make the call. We went out there a couple of days later and found a beautiful ten-acre site with several buildings. Edna lives on campus and owns the land. She has lots of cats in her own abode. Cheryl is the oft on campus manager. There are somewhere around one hundred and fifty well-cared for cats. Most of these critters will have this as their permanent home for their natural lives.
All cats are tested when they come through the door for FIV and feline leukemia. Unfortunately, all too many have one or the other. FIV is not fatal, nor is it transmitted to other species or other cats unless there is a very deep bite. These cats could have a normal healthy life in a home with no other cats or other cats that also have FIV. Most of them just want lots of love and attention.
They are also wormed, given flea resistant drops on their backs, shots, spayed or neutered and adopted out if possible. The facility could use lots more help both in volunteer time and money.
Steve and I work a couple hours twice a week. I have gained so many friends among the residents…Sam, Monkey, Scarlett, Dash, Belly Button, Charlie, Ivy, Jewel, the Golden Girls (Blanche, Rose, and Sophia—no Dorothy as the only other cat in that litter was a male and became David) and, oh, so many others. Some of them will jump up on various stands at my request to get their attention. “Okay, kids, time for a little attention. Get up on your perch and I’ll do some pettin.’” And, they do. They just want love and attention. My main job is cleaning litter boxes. It is just poop, after all. Feeding. Watering. Cleaning the floors. But when these chores are done, it is time for talkin’ and scratchin’.
Some of the lucky ones will find homes. Most of the healthy kittens will go to good homes. Some of the kittens, however, have tested positive for FIV and will have to stay where they are.
Steve also does some handyman work on occasion.
It is enjoyable with great satisfaction, yet there is a note of sadness that so many have to share large rooms with all these other felines forever. Most of us who volunteer have cats of our own. Steve and I have four of ours and one foster care cat from the rescue. If I were younger and had a tad more money, there would be more. Our foster care cat came with the name Boogie. He has a mark at the end of his nose that makes him look like there’s a booger there. He was supposed to be a barn cat. HA! He meowed so much that he drove Cheryl crazy. He wasn’t meowing for a barn (which Cheryl insisted was why he made so much noise), but just to get out of there. We call him Barney. He is outside most of the day, but welcomes time in the house for his afternoon nap and comes in at night. Barn cat, my foot.
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| "Barney" the barn cat. (HA!) |
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