CAT TOWN BLOG
Every Cat is Family
I know from experience that Cat Town does all they can to help the cats who need the most support. My story starts with a cat named Bruno, the first of three wonderful cats I adopted from Cat Town. Bruno was an 8 year old black cat with a cauliflower ear. Before he came to Cat Town, he had been in a cage for 7 years…
Progress Report: Huey
After an injury left him unable to feel his tail and bladder, Cat Town took Huey under our wing. We knew this extra-friendly cat would need extra-special care, and we’re happy to report that, thanks to your donations, his medical condition has dramatically improved!
We noticed Huey was not treating his paralyzed tail with the care he would have if it had any feeling. Our vet agreed this put him at risk of future injury, and amputated his tail for his safety. Huey got top notch recovery care from his incredible foster, who happens to be a veterinary technician and made sure he healed up great after his surgery. We suspect that the unlimited cuddles may have helped, too.
KITTEN WIRE: BREAKTHROUGH ALERT WITH SUZY
OAKLAND — Can a cat who spent the early months of her life on the streets learn to like people?
At Cat Town, we know the answer is yes, given the right conditions.
That's what we're working on with a cat named Suzy, one of the kittens born homeless during the 2017 kitten season. This tortie girl with tufts of black, tan and orange fur managed to evade a rescuer's humane traps for months. As her littermates found their way to Oakland Animal Services and then on to Cat Town, which found them homes, Suzy remained a stray.
Looking Past the Fear
The Oakland shelter takes in thousands of cats each year. Some are confident, and greet you purring, while others hide behind their litter boxes, or hiss at the sound of their cage door rattling open. Before Cat Town, many cats never left the shelter because of how they react to life in a cage.
I wanted Cat Town to focus on these cats at the back of the shelter. The ones who rescue organizations wouldn’t risk taking. I thought, if people could see these cats, there would be others who would want to help them, too. Thankfully, I was right.
KITTEN WIRE: BEFORE AND AFTER
OAKLAND — We're keeping this week's Wire short on words because a picture is worth 1000!
Check out some of our current members of the Forgotten Kitten Project in their early days with Cat Town side-by-side with more recent progress shots.
What a Transformation
I have two hearts — one for Oakland Animal Services and one for Cat Town.
Which is why I must tell you how much Cat Town has changed the shelter.
When I began volunteering at the Oakland shelter 9 years ago, contagious diseases, even if treatable, were often cause for euthanasia. The shelter has just one vet for hundreds of animals, and there was no capacity to help these sick cats without also risking the lives of healthy ones.