THE RECORD NEW WESTMINSTER
Site updated Wednesday, August 10, 2005 02:34 PM
Cats need homes
Christina Myers, staff reporter
Wanted: Sweet but homeless feline seeks animal lover with big heart. Loves naps in sunny spots, a good mouse chase, batting at flies and the occasional catnip cocktail. Must be patient and kind and enjoy loud purring at all hours of the day and night. Good sense of humour preferred.
If cats could place want ads, the classifieds section in the Royal City Record would be overflowing right now.
This year has seen a large increase in the number of stray cats and new kittens, and local rescue groups are finding themselves hard-pressed to keep up.
"This year has been bad," says Royal City Humane Society volunteer Doreen Stocks. "All the groups are saying the same thing - we've had so many stray moms with kittens."
The society currently has about 200 cats and kittens needing adoption or fostering.
"Every day there's more calls coming in, someone has spotted a stray or a cat with kittens."
Stocks says she's not sure why there's a spike this year but it may be as simple as people not taking the time to spay or neuter their cats.
"It's frustrating. We thought we were making a difference. I think maybe people have gotten complacent, they weren't seeing as many kittens. Maybe they were starting to forget the message: spay or neuter."
The society also takes in cats whose owners may not be able to continue caring for them due to illness, death or re-location. Combine that with this year's jump in new births and the society is bursting at the seams.
The group has a small shelter on Third Avenue that's currently full, and its adoption space at Petcetera is also at maximum.
Dozens of volunteers with the group are fostering cats in their own homes, usually on top of the cats they already own.
"It can get to be a lot for the volunteers. But you want all the cats to have a home of their own, and you go to the shelter and you see all these little faces looking up at you. So many of them are abandoned, they're hungry, possibly sick - you just have to do what you can to help."
Stocks says that, while many people prefer to adopt kittens, there are many more adult cats desperately in need of a home. For those who may not be able to commit to a permanent adoption, the society is always looking for people to foster for a period of time.
"As well as adopting, we need people who can foster, people who are willing to take cats into their home, either temporarily or permanently. Sometimes these are cats who have illnesses or who are quite elderly and may die soon, or short-term placements for pregnant moms and for new kittens."
Stocks says the society is always grateful for donations of food and litter, but cash donations help them cover veterinary expenses.
"That's our big expense. The vets give us a really great discount, but we have so many cats."
And, for those who can't adopt, foster or donate, there's still a very simple way to help the society: spay and neuter pets.
"Please don't bring more kittens into the world. Every shelter is full of adult cats who would dearly love to get a home."
And with financial support from the city to help cover the cost of spaying and neutering, Stocks says there's no excuse for not getting it done.
"Anybody who can't afford to to do it, we happily spay and neuter cats in our community. If it's ever a case of someone who can't afford to, that's not an excuse. There are other groups around that raise money exclusively for spaying and neutering, so it's out there."
To find out more, stop in at the PAWS adoption centre in the Petcetera at Queensborough Landing, call 604-524-6447 or visit www.rchs.bc.ca.
published on 08/10/2005