Winnipeg Lost Cat Assistance (WLCA) exists to reunite lost cats with their families by providing search resources and education on lost cat behaviour.
WLCA exists to reunite lost cats with their families by providing search resources and education on lost cat behaviour. WLCA advocates for the humane treatment of cats, early spay and neuter, TNR, and keeping all cats indoors or supervised outside at all times, in their own yard. We provide education on various cat-related topics of public interest. WLCA has "extreme" views on the protection of ca
ts. We regularly post the realities cats face on the streets, from injuries, to illness, homelessness and death. We are here for the well-being of the cat and as such, will express our concerns about the welfare of any cat, if necessary. WLCA helps community members help themselves by providing education on cat care. WLCA and its search and rescue volunteers will often assist in searches of lost cats under special circumstances (injury, geriatric, on medication, illness). WLCA's rescue arm (WLCA Homeless Cats) will take in up to 5 homeless cats at a time to rehome responsibly so long as there are funds and foster homes to do so. WLCA is a non-profit organization in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, on Treaty No. 1 Territory, the traditional lands of the Anishinabe (Ojibway), Ininew (Cree), Oji-Cree, Dene, and Dakota Nations, and the homeland of the Métis. Donations can be made in the form of e-transfer to [email protected], or via cheque made out to Winnipeg Lost Cat Alert and sent to Box 39099 Inkster Park, Winnipeg, MB, R2X 3B3. No receipts will be issued as WLCA is not a registered charity. All donations go toward the care of the rescued cats WLCA is responsible for.
I've noticed that Facebook is having a hard time with comments. I see three in my manager view but on the actual display to the public, I can see one. I don't know what games they're playing right now, but if you have commented and can't see it, it's thanks to Meta.
NO REST FOR THE WEARY
I had taken August off from work to rest because construction has been taking a toll on my hands. Waking up with stiff fingers is annoying at best.
But life had other plans for me. No sooner did I get Beni off one of the blocks WLCA manages, one of our feeders alerted me to a kitten who had been teleported in from somewhere nearby. You see, for the last eight years, this block gets one dumped, socialized, black and white kitten a year. Whomever is doing this knows about the feeders and puts them in one of the yards. This is not fair to the last of the litter that could not find a home, it’s not fair to the feeders, and it sure isn’t fair to me, who was supposed to be on vacation. But I digress.
I had tried to trap this little one right after Beni had gone to boarding but they were a no show. I trap-sat for six hours. But, apparently, today was the day. This had been weighing on me. I don’t like loose ends. I headed out around 3, hoping it would be fairly quiet and as soon as I put the trap down, I saw the little one poke their head out of a hole in a shed. I went back to my car and got my remote trigger ready aaand kitten got spooked by a passing car. Their second attempt at getting to the bait was a success. GOTCHA!
This poor little kid is so filthy, with thinning fur and one ear flap half torn off. They are longing for their mother and siblings. Where are they? Every time they hear a kitten meow, they respond. They want their family. How heartbreaking to know they’ve barely been alive two months and have already suffered so much.
Our newest rescue will be seen by a vet in short order. They will be vaccinated, treated for internal and external parasites and bathed. They will also get a name.
I will keep everyone posted on their progress. And yes, I will be looking for a foster home for this baby after their two week quarantine and a clean bill of health.
As always, donations can be made via etransfer to [email protected].
FOR MANY CATS, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE
You will all recall the rescue of Fluffy, the kitty who had been missing from Killarney for five years.
It has taken some time to sort out his health situation, but he is finally on his way to getting better. His rescue could not have come soon enough. Although we often see cats who are underweight, have diarrhea, vomiting, are dehydrated and have bumps and bruises, Fluffy had a serious underlying condition that would have killed him in fairly short order.
Fluffy, on his journey to get home, had become diabetic. What that means is all those well-meaning people who have dry food out for homeless cats, were unknowingly contributing to his demise. No community feeder could know he was diabetic unless they were able to monitor his weight and how much he ate, drank and peed. Most people would not have known he was a senior cat just by looking at him, either. But this makes it all the more important to ensure friendly cats aren't left to live outside without regular vet care, if at all.
Fluffy's body wasn't getting the energy it needed because his lack of insulin was preventing the carbohydrates he was ingesting from getting into his cells. That carbohydrate was just floating around in his blood waiting for the right signal to move to where its needed, but the signal never came. Fluffy would have eventually died from dehydration and starvation.
But his story has a happy ending even though he has this very serious, but treatable, condition. He is now getting the insulin his body needs so he can use the energy from his food. Any cat with diabetes is put on a "meat and vitamin" only diet to reduce the amount of carbohydrate his body has to try and move out of his blood. So he will start gaining weight and will feel much better very soon.
Don't leave friendly cats out there, people. If they're easy to pick up, just do it. Find a way. It's one thing to ask people to trap cats who are shy or unsocialized, but what's so hard about helping a cat who is asking for help? Rosanne literally saved Fluffy's life.
LUCKY GIRL
This stunning, dilute tortoiseshell is Lucky, one of the three cats our wonderful volunteer entrusted to us when she passed on, recently.
Lucky is an enigma. We knew so little about her when we got her, other than she was rescued as a wee kitten and grew up with Tami, and she was terrified the day I went to get her from the only place she called home. I was informed, family could not get close to her, that she would hiss and growl and run away or swat.
Since moving to her foster home, she has gone from displaying shy behaviour to showing hints of wanting so badly to interact and play but being thwarted at every turn by her brother and sister from another mother and mister.
She seems to be the outcast of the three and it may be because she is a more nervous cat that the other two. Or it might just be because Archie and Mimi want all the attention.
To give Lucky a chance to show her true colors, foster mom has set up a separate area on the floor they're on where the two of them can interact without interference from Archie and Mimi. I hope to find out whether Lucky will do better as an only cat in an adoptive home. Sometimes we think cats are happy together or that they want to be together because that's all they've known. But sometimes, that's not the case and we often see cats blossom when they're away from siblings or other cats who may antagonize them.
I have witnessed Mimi get in Lucky's face, Archie take over play when it was Lucky's turn and I've seen Lucky be sweet, gentle and wanting attention.
I was discussing our evaluations in a previous post, and this is a great example of what we do so we can determine the right kind of family for each cat. The question for me at this point is, "What is best for Lucky?" Given what we have consistently seen- what we interpret as the dampening of her spirit - we are going to give her the opportunity to be herself in a space of her own.
I've said it would be a tall order to find a home for all three of the cats together - but maybe in the end, that's not what's best for them. We will keep everyone posted on their progress in the weeks to come.
Thank you to everyone who has so generously donated to the care of Tami's three kids. It's because of all of you and their amazing foster that all of this is even possible.
WE TAKE OUR TIME
What do you get when you adopt a cat from WLCA? Peace of mind.
Any cat that comes into care under WLCA isn't quickly put up for adoption once they have been spayed or neutered. Most of the cats we deal with have been on the street for some time and come with health, or behavioural, issues. It's not their fault people have let them down, and I'm not about to be the next person that does the same thing.
We had several questions about why we were sending Beni to foster rather than just adopting him out. The response would be the same for any cat we acquired - we don't know enough about them yet.
Had we adopted Beni out soon after he was picked up, the new family would have been stuck with vet bills for a vet visit because of his itching and breathing issues. He may have also gone to a wonderful home - but the wrong home - for his needs.
WLCA has never had a cat returned in the 13 years we have been in operation, save for Tami's kids, under those tragic circumstances. The reason is simple. We get to know the cats and choose homes that make sense for them. Simple, yet effective. This method doesn't allow us to rescue a lot of cats every year, but every cat that is rescued is in a home that knows everything about them and agrees that they're a good match - no surprises.
WLCA is about quality, not quantity, and that's what counts for the cats under our care.
So, we make sure we take note of quirks, likes and dislikes, strange behaviour, food preference, medical conditions and how therapy is working for them, how they deal with other animals, other environmental issues that could make them uncomfortable in the long-term and possible deal-breaking habits for some families.
When you adopt from WLCA, you will have a similar amount of information as though you were adopting a cat that was owner-surrendered. In addition, you get tech support for you new friend for as long as I'm alive. Should some issue arise, message WLCA or email and I do my best to provide guidance for the issue at-hand.
As nice as it is to see these cats go up for adoption quick, it's even better when you see them in a great foster home until they have a new story to tell, so their next home will be their last.
Picture: Greystoke as a baby, rescued by Rosanne a few years ago, now in his amazing forever home with two other WLCA cats.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Our dear, sweet, handsome Hygge has found his forever home after eight months in foster care.
I cannot thank Elaine enough for the love and care she provided him while they waited to find just the right home.
That family came along thanks to Beni’s post. They responded with a foster application and I just thought Hygge was a good fit. The whole family is thrilled!
It didn’t take him long to find the toy basket and a new toy. We wish you many happy, healthy years together!
FOSTER FOUND FOR BENI!
Thank you to everyone who expressed interest in caring for Beni while we assess him for adoption and thank you to the three people who submitted a foster application.
I have selected a foster based on his current medical needs. Since before coming in to care, Beni was very itchy, and I thought it was from a flea infestation. He was treated with Revolution and his itching seemed to abate. But when I spent more time with him, I noticed the itching was still there.
There were no signs of fleas at all and his skin was a nice normal color and texture, so I thought he may have a food allergy. Back to the vet we went and they agreed a novel protein diet for a month would be beneficial to find out if this is an allergy. Also, Beni had an episode of very laboured breathing while he was doing something where he was purring a lot. I hadn’t seen anything like this before and neither had the vet. We did an x-ray, which, thankfully, looked fine. He will be on special food, in a quiet and calm home with someone who will be monitoring his breathing and itching.
I was very fortunate to get a variety of home situations including one that meets his immediate needs.
He’s happy, eating, looking outside his window from his cat tree and has some nice, quiet company. I will keep everyone posted on his progress.
He should have been named Raymond, because everyone loves him.
If you would like to help with Beni’s care, his special food is $4/can and he eats 1.5 of those a day. His vet bills total almost $500.
E-transfers can be sent to [email protected] with the heading “For Beni” as we are also receiving donations for Tami’s three kids in care. I like to keep funds separate for each situation so people know their money is going to care for the cat they’d like to support.
SING IT WITH ME!
B-B-B-Beni and the vets....Beni, Beni, Beni, Beni and the vets....
Beni has just returned to his boarding facility with a gold star for best boy. He didn't even need to be placed on the exam table, he just jumped up there and said, "Beni? Present!!"
His leg laceration is healing well, he has no ear mites or fleas or other buddies, his fur is sparse in some areas but is growing back. His mouth, though interesting to look at, as it was put back together like Humpty Dumpty, has nothing irritating going on in there. His jaw seems to have settled into a place where it's comfortable. He has also tested negative for FIV and Feline Leukemia.
Beni is an attention-craving cat who just loves being pet. He can't get enough of that. He is also curious and calm at the same time. This kid is going to lower someone's blood pressure for sure.
Sadly, we still have not found a foster home for him.
Although we received three offers to foster, one of the offers backed out as they were going on vacation. One applicant is in the process of adopting one of our other available cats because they did not have an allergic reaction to that cat, and we have not heard back from the third possible foster (just dropped off the face of the Earth, it seems - hasn't even seen my messages).
So, Beni will continue to be boarded, for too much money, until we find the right place for him. He is a patient kitty who knows he's in good hands, but would really prefer to have attention all day long.
If you are interested in fostering Beni, please message the page for a foster application. We will review each application to ensure we select the best situation for Beni as well as the family and resident pets.
UPDATE
Thank you to the people who have offered space for Beni and to the person who offered to help with boarding fees should fosters fall through. I appreciate all of you so much! I will keep everyone posted on the situation as it unfolds.
---------------------
MEET BENI
He may have been named after the Japanese word for "red" referring to carthamin red from the safflower. Or maybe it's just a unique way of spelling Benny. We'll never know.
What we DO know is Beni (formerly a nameless, homeless kitty), was found in late December 2023, in St Boniface, with a severely broken jaw. Was this the result of being hit by a vehicle? While no one alludes to the cause, because he had no other head trauma, it's likely this was the result of cruelty perpetrated on a friendly, homeless cat.
A cat lover from the area went out and trapped him, not knowing if he was friendly or not, because he needed immediate help. It took less than a minute for this poor, injured kid to walk into the trap because he had been starving since his jaw was broken - who knows how long he suffered that way? His body score was a 2/9 when he arrived at WHS for emergency surgery.
They removed several teeth and installed a cerclage wire to align his jaw and keep the bones together, as it was fractured in several places. They sent him to a foster home to heal before putting him up for adoption. It took a month before they removed the wire and to this day, his bite is slightly misaligned, but he can eat.
He was adopted at the end of January and that person named him Beni. A few months later, Beni was rehomed. We don't know why he was rehomed, but he had only resided with his adopter for three months. Then, another blow to poor Beni. His new human died. And then, Beni was put outside and he was homeless again.
As luck would have it, there was a feeding station two doors down from where he last lived. He found the food and a derelict car to live under. Beni had acquired the worst kind of friends living under that car - fleas. He also started frequenting another feeding station in the area and was noticed by that homeowner, who told me about it. These two stations are managed by WLCA. Any cat that winds up at either location gets approached or staked out to see what is needed.
Beni was friendly. I was called to the second location when he was there one day last week and he allowed me to pet him and followed me for food. At the time, I didn't know this was the cat with the broken jaw I had read about, nor did I know his story, but I saw how itchy he was. He allowed me to apply Revolution to kill off those fleas and let me read his tattoo.
I let him go on his way while I canvassed the people on the block to see if he lived somewhere. After getting nowhere with that, I called his tattoo in and found out WHS had been notified his owner had passed away. He had been outside for some time - yet again.
So, I asked both my feeding station managers to let me know when he was around again and I was notified he showed up at one of the locations. I raced down to see him and was able to lure him into the garage and then put him in a carrier.
I had permission to bring him back to WHS. But I couldn't. It just didn't seem right for several reasons. First and foremost, they have over 600 animals in their care right now. That's a ridiculous number. One more that isn't injured or sick was going to leave less time for attention for him and others. The other reason was, with 60 cats and kittens available for adoption, and some who have been there for months, what were his chances of being adopted at this time? WHS is short foster homes, so would he sit in adoptions for a long time? Possibly.
He also needs a home that will not let him down. Rehoming a cat after three months? While we don't know the circumstances, and it's great they found an alternative to returning him to shelter life, sadly, it was not meant to be for the poor kid.
I just couldn't sleep at night not knowing what would come next for this sweet kid. How much more pain, discomfort and suffering would he need to go through before he went home with someone who would love him, and keep him, until he was old, grey and ready to say goodbye?
I would love a foster home for him. He is currently being boarded to the tune of $450/month. I hope to find him a foster before a month passes. He deserves more than a large condo. He has an appointment Friday with our vet so they can have a look at the gash on his leg and give him a once-over.
He is only three years old and has been through hell. He should not have to deal with shelter life again.
If you are not fostering for anyone else and can provide a home for Beni until the right family comes along, please comment or message the page.
He was originally in foster care with a small dog and another cat. He was great with the dog and became friends with the cat.
Is WLCA overextended? Yeah, maybe. We now have five in care - which is my limit. You can help by fostering, adopting (Hygge) and donating to [email protected].
MIRACLE ALERT!!
Fluffy, missing from his home in Killarney for FIVE YEARS, was found in Winnipeg and is back with family who has moved here!
HUGE thank you to Rosanne (WLCA volunteer), who saw the post on WMFCW and ran out to get him.
Fluffy was posted as a sighting in Weston and when Rosanne read that he was on Lock St., she got in touch with the person who reported him (she didn't want him to become a victim of the Lock trapper, who relocated cats far away). They couldn't take him in, so she headed out to find him. It didn't take long for her to spot him and he came running. He almost got stuck trying to get through a fence, but it was easy peasy picking him up and putting him in a carrier.
Home she went with this beautiful cat. She contacted me about his tattoo, which looked very strange. It was in the LEFT ear rather than the right, and it was a turquoise tattoo. I went to her place to read it as it was faded and needed a bright light from behind to get it right. She asked if I had ever seen one like it. We have seen these from Saskatchewan on occasion but Sask did not have a clinic code that matched his tattoo. A Calgary clinic did, but they never used that color of ink and they didn't do left ear tattoos. I checked the Manitoba tattoo codes list but only had the 2020 version which did not have the clinic code either. I downloaded a more recent one which, thankfully, had the clinic code listed (2022 version). It turns out that was the correct clinic and in speaking with the owner, all the cats had the same type of tattoo in the left ear. This is not standard for MB, but perhaps a vet from Sask came to work in MB and that was their standard practice. Who knows?
So, I called the owner at the number they provided and the person on the other end asked, "You have Fluffy??" with disbelief in her voice. I replied that I believed it was him and could they send a photo. It turns out their daughter lived in Winnipeg and had some photos. It also turns out she works at WHS. What are the odds??
So this is Fluffy, reunited with his person, who was just beside herself over the whole thing. She also has Fluffy's sibling at home. Fluffy had a vet appointment today and we hope he will bounce back from his long ordeal. He has a few health issues to deal with, but nothing out of the ordinary for a cat that has been missing for this long. In fact, he looks really good compared to others who have been missing for less time.
It is clear that Fluffy had help on his journey to get back home. We thank everyone who was kind to him and kept him as safe as they could. Thank you to the person who reported the sighting and many thanks to Rosanne for just going to get him, no questions asked, and thanks to WHS for helping him get better!
He is now with the people who loved him most and is getting the care he needs. We will provide updates when we get them.
Folks, make sure your cat has a tattoo or microchip, make sure your contact number is current with the clinic that did the tattoo or chip company and always check for ID if you find a cat! Never know how long they've been gone and who is missing them.
For those of you who still have missing cats, this is proof that cats are survivors. Just because you give up looking for them, doesn't mean they're never going to come home. Don't give up hope. It just might be your turn one day.
TRIBUTE TO TAMI RIFFEL
Amazing cat mom, volunteer, friend and family member
And remembering her beloved furkid, Bradley
--------------------------------------
Deepest condolences to everyone who loved Tami and Bradley.
It's hard to know where to start. Eight years has gone by so fast and so much has happened, I can't even remember how Tami started volunteering for WLCA. Our first Messenger conversation was when Tami asked how to donate to WLCA. I probably hit her up for volunteering as a moderator then and there - and the rest is history.
Many of you, who had messaged in to tell us your cat was missing, or that you found a cat, or had some other situation, would have conversed with Tami on her usual days to volunteer. You would have found her kind, caring and helpful in every situation. You may remember something she told you, or how she helped you with search tips or that she provided info on where to get your cat spayed or neutered. Tami was always professional, quick-thinking and followed up on situations that were not straight-forward. She always contacted hundreds of people at the end of every year to ask if their missing cats had been found, and updated our files (as our other volunteers have also done every year).
Tami didn't just moderate for WLCA, she also fostered for us. She was a really great foster mom and an even better foster fail, lol! She took on Bradley, who was found in St Boniface in 2016, sick and dehydrated from being abandoned outside on his own. He had been taken from someone who put him on Kijiji and the person who picked him up was trying to sell him in Norwood for $5. When they discovered no one wanted an older cat, he was left outside to fend for himself. Thankfully, a community member noticed him and notified us. Because he looked unwell, WLCA took him on as a rescue and got him to WHS for immediate care. He had more concerns than WHS could take on and would have been unadoptable with everything that was going on with him. So, we got him to our vet who treated him, mainly for mycoplasma, and Bradley was on his way to recovery. Having had him for quite some time, Tami fell in love with him and kept him for a friend for her one cat, Tommy. Gentle Bradley became a snuggle cat for the other cats that were to come into Tami's life. Sadly, Bradley passed away the weekend prior to Tami's untimely passing. He was 17 or 18 years old and I was happy Tami had given him the life he so deserved for the eight years he was with her.
Tami was also a foster home for three kittens from Lorette. Charlie, Archie and Mimi were going to be part of a cat cull in the fall of 2016. WLCA went out to rescue 6 feral kittens. Three were Siamese and three were not. So, we split the group with Rescue Siamese, and they took on the wee Siamese kids, WLCA the non-Siamese. They adopted one of the kittens to a family, who later wanted a friend for their new kitten and that family wound up adopting Charlie, so brother and sister were together again and are still together to this day.
Tami had Archie and Mimi for several months as these little ones had upper respiratory and couldn't be spayed or neutered until they were over their colds. It took them some time and antibiotics, but they were finally both done. When it came time to adopt them out, we did our best, but without a venue to adopt cats and kittens out, it was very difficult finding them a home. A few months went by and then a few more and Tami wound up adopting them because they became family in that time and Tommy, and Bradley, loved them.
In 2019, along came Lucky. Tami and friend of hers had rescued a little tortie kitten with the intention of having her live with her friend and her little dog. It turned out Lucky hated dogs, so Tami, knowing Tommy, her eldest cat, was getting way up there in age, decided to add another furkid to her family. So then, there were five. Tommy passed away several years ago, and with Bradley's recent passing, the three youngest were left.
It's really hard for me to believe Tami isn't here anymore. I have our conversation about finding a temporary sitter for the three kids while her flooring was being redone in her home. I was having a really hard time finding anyone to cat-sit. She thought she might have a solution and was going to get back to me when she suddenly wound up in the hospital. The last thing she said to me was, "They're not in the way at all while the flooring is being done, so don't worry about it for now. Still in hospital." And I responded, "Sorry to hear you're still there. I hope they can get you better fast..."
And that was the last time I heard from her.
The next message was a family member letting me know she was gravely ill. And then she was gone. And I was stunned. How could this happen?
It didn't need to be said that WLCA was taking her kids. Both Archie and Mimi were WLCA rescues and we always take back our own, if at all possible. And I wasn't about to break the three up at this point just because Lucky wasn't a WLCA cat. So, I typed up an urgent plea to the WLCA Nation and several people responded with offers of help but there was one person who offered space with no time limit. And I am so thankful for that. That one act of kindness in a storm made me feel like I wouldn't fail Tami.
And now, I have to believe she's out there guiding my decisions - her, Bradley and Tommy.
The kids have settled into their foster home very quickly and are doing well. We are learning about them every day - likes, dislikes, quirks, funny things. Archie is the cuddly big brother who grooms the girls, like it or not. Mimi loves her window perch and Lucky is coming out of her shell. She was terrified when I went to get her - the house being renovated and her mom, missing. She has calmed down considerably and is starting to show her sweet nature.
All three kids will be looking for a new home. Would I like them to all go together to one home? Yes. But I know that's a tall order. In a perfect, and just world, none of this would have happened. I have to do my best for them. It will take some time to find out if they can be split up, but I won't do it if it's not right for them. Tami wants what's best for them and so do I.
If you knew Tami, if she helped you when you lost your cat or if she transported your cat to their spay or neuter appointment or if she helped you in some other way and you would like to help care for her kids until they find their new homes, you can etransfer [email protected].
Rest in peace, Tami and Bradley. I hope you have reunited with Tommy and the others out there. I'm watching for signs. Every day.
Hallelujah!
We have found an amazing foster home for all three kids! Thank you to the angels who offered to help with this difficult situation!
——————-
HELP!!
I have an urgent need for a longer-term foster home for three adult cats. One of our dear, amazing former WLCA volunteers has not been well lately and today, I have been informed by a family member they are on life support. It is not looking good.
They adopted two kittens from WLCA eight years ago and rescued another kitten who is now an adult a few years ago. All three are sweet kids who get along great with each other. They have had regular vet care and do well with other cats.
We might be able to split them up for two homes (brother and sister together) and newer cat in another home.
Family is not able to take over their care, long-term, at this time. The cats have also recently suffered the loss of one their senior cat friend whom they always snuggled with. Their world is upside-down right now.
The cat in the centre of the photo has passed away. Missing from the trio left is a female tabby.
Please comment if you can help! They would require a room of their own to start off as they will be scared.
**** Note: for those of you suggesting WHS emergency boarding, this is not a situation that would be covered by that program (in addition to WHS being very short on fosters right now).
Dear WLCA Nation,
This world is full of injustice and the other day, we saw the illegal eviction of dozens of people from the Stratford Hall apartment building at 285 College Ave. Included in that eviction may have been people’s cats. Not everyone who lived there had a place to move to in such short notice and as a consequence may have had no choice but to leave their cat behind or outside.
If you live in the area surrounding this building, please be on the lookout for cats you have not seen before. Be kind and provide food and water. If you can bring them in and check for ID and call the tattoo number in to WHS, the cat may be able to be reunited with their person once they have a new living arrangement. This is a travesty of our tenancy system, on so many levels, and helping displaced cats can help their displaced people.
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Winnipeg Lost Cat Assistance posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Send a message to Winnipeg Lost Cat Assistance:
NO REST FOR THE WEARY I had taken August off from work to rest because construction has been taking a toll on my hands. Waking up with stiff fingers is annoying at best. But life had other plans for me. No sooner did I get Beni off one of the blocks WLCA manages, one of our feeders alerted me to a kitten who had been teleported in from somewhere nearby. You see, for the last eight years, this block gets one dumped, socialized, black and white kitten a year. Whomever is doing this knows about the feeders and puts them in one of the yards. This is not fair to the last of the litter that could not find a home, it’s not fair to the feeders, and it sure isn’t fair to me, who was supposed to be on vacation. But I digress. I had tried to trap this little one right after Beni had gone to boarding but they were a no show. I trap-sat for six hours. But, apparently, today was the day. This had been weighing on me. I don’t like loose ends. I headed out around 3, hoping it would be fairly quiet and as soon as I put the trap down, I saw the little one poke their head out of a hole in a shed. I went back to my car and got my remote trigger ready aaand kitten got spooked by a passing car. Their second attempt at getting to the bait was a success. GOTCHA! This poor little kid is so filthy, with thinning fur and one ear flap half torn off. They are longing for their mother and siblings. Where are they? Every time they hear a kitten meow, they respond. They want their family. How heartbreaking to know they’ve barely been alive two months and have already suffered so much. Our newest rescue will be seen by a vet in short order. They will be vaccinated, treated for internal and external parasites and bathed. They will also get a name. I will keep everyone posted on their progress. And yes, I will be looking for a foster home for this baby after their two week quarantine and a clean bill of health. As always, donations can be made via etransfer to [email protected].
Hanging out with Lovey (aka Brodie) and Taffy at WHS These are the sweetest, most gentle boys around. They love being combed, having their bellies rubbed and being snuggled. They are big, lovable kids who need a home and each other. They have been together their whole lives. If you are looking to adopt a pair of mature cats, these 8 year olds would surely make you happy every day. You can find them in condo 11!
Visiting with Captain CC (my first of three winter rescue cats) right now! Chubby Cheeks looks amazing! No more oily fur and he is sooo happy to get his treat. He has been trying to make friends with his roommate, but he’s not having any of it yet, so CC just decided to let him have his space. Again, he’s FIV+ which means he needs more attention paid to little things that crop up like a watery eye or sneezing or not eating. He also has a heart murmur which needs regular monitoring by a vet. He cannot go outside to protect his health because he is immunocompromised by the FIV. He would do best in a home that understands FIV. He can live with other cats and can live as long a life as other cats without FIV with proper care. He is in Condo 12 at WHS, now playing with a ball. If you are interested in adopting him, please make sure to wash your hands before you enter the room to meet him and be respectful of the other cat who is very shy by being quiet and only having a couple of people in at a time.
I wanted to play but Chiclet had other ideas. There are days when you can literally see her remembering things from when she used to live with people. She had forgotten how to play and now even plays on her own. Nice to see her batting balls around. It's sad there are so many cats in some areas, that people have to resort to Return to Field (RTF). This is the same process as TNR, but for friendly cats. It should only be a temporary measure until the cat can be brought indoors to rehome. Sterilizing, vaccinating and returning them to the community only serves to reduce reproduction and buy some time. But it is not in the best interest of the cat. Friendly, homeless cats are subject to abuse as they approach people rather than keep their distance. Over time, they harden and become less social and tend to get labeled feral. But they are not, so any cat that is slated for TNR, should be assessed once in custody, to see if the cat is actually social. If so, they usually just need time and patience to trust and remember.
Here's an update on our other sweetheart - Bear! Our handsome little guy is doing great and has regained his confidence. He is super happy to be pet, has head bumps for everyone and is getting to know the resident cats at his foster home. This once shy kid, from Windsor Park, has taken big strides to becoming ready for adoption!
Want your business to be the top-listed Pet Store/pet Service?
