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…
“I am grateful to Cat Town for giving us both that gift. The way they supported him, and me, told me everything I needed to know about them.”
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 at another rescue, waiting to be adopted. I immediately fell in love with him. He was a sweet cat with the loudest meow, and he instantly bonded with my resident kitty. However, Bruno quickly became ill.
Adopting suddenly meant hospice care, instead of the many years of human strength head butts I had envisioned. Cat Town stepped in and covered 100% of the expenses for Bruno's end-of-life care, answered all of my questions, and checked on us often. With Cat Town’s help, Bruno lived his last months in a home, knowing he was loved, and purring next to me every night before bed.
I am grateful to Cat Town for giving us both that gift. The way they supported him, and me, told me everything I needed to know about them.
After a couple of months, I asked Cat Town if they had other cats having trouble being adopted. They told me about Ollie, an FIV-positive cat who had been dumped at Oakland Animal Services, covered in fleas and scabies. His eyes were practically swollen shut. He was missing some teeth, and needed to have more teeth pulled. I wasn’t sure I was ready to adopt yet, so agreed to foster Ollie so Cat Town could give him the medical care he needed… but that lasted all of one day. I had to adopt him.
Today, Ollie is healthy. He still squints a lot and is a little cross-eyed, his tongue falls out from time to time when he sleeps, and his feet and tail are too small for his body. In other words, he could not be more perfect!
Ollie loves other cats, so when his cat buddies passed away last year, I could tell he was lonely. I reached out to Cat Town, and knowing me as they do, they said they had the perfect cat for me: Tony! Tony is a senior cat with FIV, and at the time, had a bad cold, and an ear infection. The Oakland city shelter had asked three other rescues if they would help him, but all declined. Cat Town got him into foster care, and put him in their senior medical program, “In It for Life,” so they’ll cover his medical care forever.
Once I met him, there was no going back. Tony is a sweet and loving cat. He’s always sneezing and drooling, but he makes up for always being damp with his goofy nature. He and Ollie have become buddies, which is exactly what I hoped for.
Cat Town found the perfect cats for me because they spend time getting to know each cat in their care. They treat every cat like family — and because of that, my cats got a chance to get out of a cage and find their way to me, where they belong.
I hope you’ll help more cats find the people waiting to love them with a gift today.
Thank you,
Jennifer, Adopter of Bruno, Ollie & Tony
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.
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.
“Huey is such a snuggler!” reports his foster mom. “He always wants to be on my lap, and when I wouldn't let him because I was on my laptop, he laid on the arm rest and very, very slowly let himself slide down until he was nestled in the crack next to me. Such a sweetie.”
- Shanti P., Huey's foster mom
Leading up to his surgery, our staff worked closely with the team at Claremont Veterinary Hospital to get Huey’s bladder under better control. After carefully trying a variety of medications, we found one that’s given us hope. In fact, with this latest medication, his foster mom reports that Huey’s bladder now typically only leaks when he’s fast asleep for long periods, usually at night. “He takes his pills very easily,” she reports,“ and since we started his new medication, he’s only leaked twice during the day, and just a small amount. Not like before.”
Despite all he’s been through, Huey remains a love-bug. In his foster home, even the resident “grumpy old girl” cat has succumbed to his charms — the two now sleep and cuddle together, although he is still unsuccessful in getting her interested in playtime. We’d love to find him an adopter who can shower him with affection, and would especially love to get him into a home with another cat who loves to play!
We are thrilled that the new medication is giving Huey more control, so he can get the affection he craves all day long. To maintain his progress, Huey will need to stay on his medication, prescription food, and get screenings every 6-8 months to make sure he doesn’t have an infection or crystals.
If you’d like to adopt Huey, you can schedule an appointment to meet him by emailing info@cattownoakland.org. And if you’d like to help more cats get the vet care they need, please consider making a donation to our Emergency Medical Fund.
UPDATE!
Huey has been adopted by his foster, Shanti, who writes:
”I underestimated Huey’s charms! He was so happy to be in a home and very clearly smitten with Clover... He would make gentle nudges and give her the sweetest little meows and before long they were napping together, grooming each other, and playing together. Clover has has always been afraid of nearly everything, but I can see Huey teaching her and giving her confidence. We’ve become a little family without even trying.”
We could not be happier for Huey, Shanti, and Clover! Thank you for making this wonderful adoption possible!
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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.
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.
Photo by Liz Lazich.
That means she had no positive interactions with humans during those crucial early months. So socializing her will, understandably, take longer than it did for her 4-month-old siblings who came to Cat Town.
Photo by Laura Blangsted.
Suzy is the epitome of a forgotten kitten.
She was about 8 months when she was finally trapped — humanely — and taken to Oakland's municipal shelter and then on to Cat Town, where she is a member of our Forgotten Kitten Project, receiving regular socialization from specially trained volunteers and staff.
When she arrived, she was prone to hissing and swatting at people. In comes the stinky food rewards. And the patience. And the regimented protocols designed to make her feel safe and to document even the most subtle signs of progress.
And then the other day, a heartwarming breakthrough. One of Cat Town's cat care attendants documented her clear delight upon his entering her private room at the Studios, where she was recovering from an illness. She arched her back in happiness, rubbed and marked furniture and in general showed signs she was happy to have a human in her presence. Camden, the cat care attendant, reports that it wasn't her first time — and that she has even shown interest in him when he's not carrying food!
We are so happy with Suzy's progress, though not surprised.
Suzy has been at Cat Town since New Year's 2017. Now at about age 1, she's not ready to be placed up for adoption, but we know she is making great strides and that day could come soon. Now, over her bout with a medical condition, she is in the Adoption Center.
Look for Suzy when you come to visit this weekend. She's not ready for pets. But ask the volunteer on duty about talking to her in a soothing voice or offering treats (available at RAWR) to help her continue to progress.
We don't know when Suzy will make her next breakthrough, but we are all counting the days until we can touch those tufts of fur.
Cat Town is working to help other rescues across the country replicate our work with Forgotten Kittens thanks to a generous grant from Maddie’s Fund. First visit to the Cat Town blog? Learn more about our Forgotten Kitten Project in our regular Kitten Wire dispatches.
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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.
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.
At the shelter, we weren't sure who Teslas would be, but we knew we had to get him out. Phot by Andrew Dorman.
People like you help us take in cats who, in a cage, act aggressively — hissing, growling, swatting. You help us take in cats who, in a cage, freeze with fear — trembling, avoiding human touch, wincing at the constant sound of nearby barking dogs.
It always feels risky pulling one of these cats from the shelter. But because of your support, when we meet a shelter cat overwhelmed stress, we look past their fear. We bring them to Cat Town.
At Cat Town, Tesla was able to relax and learn to trust people. Photo by Cathy Niland.
Cage stress makes many cats forget themselves, but the same cats who flounder in a shelter setting thrive in foster care. Aggressive cats turn playful when they can burn off their energy. Once-fearful street kittens learn to trust humans in our cage-free Adoption Center.
Suddenly, these cats feel safe enough to show us who they truly are.
Before Cat Town started taking these chances, we were told these cats couldn’t be saved. Now, your support helps cats with nowhere else to turn get adopted every day.
Thank you for making Cat Town possible!
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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.
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.
Forgotten Kittens grow a lot during their time at Cat Town, but it's important to remember that their journey is only beginning. When they're adopted, new families will need to welcome them home with patience and understanding. If you're thinking about adopting, be sure to email us at info@cattownoakland.org.
Please note: not all the cats featured in this post are available for adoption yet.
Cat Town is working to help other rescues across the country replicate our work with Forgotten Kittens thanks to a generous grant from Maddie’s Fund. Learn more about our Forgotten Kitten Project in our weekly Kitten Wire dispatch. Be sure to check out our full series.
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