12/01/2024
As you all know, there are a ton of cats at the track, and caring for them, feeding them, and doing TNR is a ton of work, especially when more cats arrive weekly. This is long, but we need YOUR help, please.
This is from Paulette Cigliana, who feeds all 50-70 cats every single day, rain, snow, sleet, or shine. Many cats live in drainage ditches, some live under old trailers or sheds. Their conditions are not great. First, she wants to thank all of you who donated and continue to. Your help is much appreciated and completely essential :)
"As Thanksgiving wraps up, today is a good day to thank all who donated to the cat food drive you so generously had for me last year. It was a lifesaver due to the amount of cats I feed daily.
It's lovely that still, there are random days that I will come home from work and will be surprised to see a Chewy box on my front porch. Thank you!!!!! "
Quick Update:
"Last fall, Jodi & Aletta (of Gateway OTTBs), Jackie King, and Ashley caught roughly 20 kittens and all were placed and adopted.
Then Jennifer, a lovely volunteer, came into the picture (from heaven I think), and with her help, 53 cats have been trapped, fixed, some adopted and the rest released. No more fighting, and no more kittens. That is, until a few days ago - when we found a total of 10 dumped kittens. This makes me so mad.
Everyone knows I have been feeding the cats for over 10 years. But we are trying to round them up. Jennifer has spent an unbelievable amount of time trapping them. taking them to get fixed, and bringing them back - all on her time and money. She is an angel!!!!
This week, snow and cold weather have arrived so I am now figuring out some new places for shelters. The cats lost a few feeding stations when the track flooded and they lost the bushes that they were living in. We need insulated shelters, straw, and more food... I am sad to have to ask, but your tribe is amazing - and hoping they're able to help once again.
I had a lot of leftover turkey, so the cats ALL had hot turkey yesterday. They eat anything, mac and cheese, pasta, anything. I try to give them canned food once a week but that gets costly and more now that it's cold. Of course they love it.
THE ASK:
If people are able to donate food, please have them send Chewy or Amazon MEOW MIX, FRISKIES GRAVY SWIRLERS, FRISKIES TENDER CRUCHY COMBO or WET FOOD. Auto-ships are great too as the food gets resent at an interval the buyer chooses!! Please do not send expensive food, they love the above brands best. This is also a great inexpensive wet food option. https://a.co/d/1EtSPpH
If anyone is feeling extremely generous, Chewy also has many different insulated feral cat houses! This is just one example. https://www.chewy.com/aivituvin-insulated-feral-cats-cat/dp/1381310
Here is another: https://www.chewy.com/frisco-outdoor-wooden-cat-house/dp/387230
My address is: Paulette Cigliana, 100 Harding, Collinsville IL 62234.
If you are able to donate money, please donate to Gateway OTTBs on Venmo at -ladner. We promise to give the money to Paulette. We also have Paypal or Zelle. Or you can mail her a check.
Blessings and thank you!
Thank you all so much for caring and sharing with me. I appreciate it so much and so do my furry friends.
Have a Happy and safe Thanksgiving,
Bless you all
Paulette Cigliana
