Trapped and brought to the Oakland shelter as a young adult, a scrawny street cat named Lavender would scramble away from any hands reaching into her cage.
A group of volunteers had just started Cat Town in 2011. I was up for a fostering challenge and took Lavender home to stay in my bathroom. During our visits, she’d make herself as small as she could, her tense body quaking each time my hand would make contact. I realized, sadly, that she viewed me as her captor.
So much of the life-changing and life-saving work Cat Town is able to do is because of our volunteers. Whether it’s transporting a cat to the vet or simply helping with laundry, every task adds up to making a big difference in the lives of vulnerable shelter cats in Oakland. And what better way to kick off Volunteer Appreciation Week 2018 than by celebrating our April Volunteer of the Month, Hali B.
Hali is a rock star volunteers who helps out in so many ways; working as an adoption counselor, fostering kittens, and assisting with planning Cat Town’s upcoming fall event, to name a few. She’s also been one of our generous donors, supporting our organization and its continued growth.
I talked with Hali about why volunteering at Cat Town is such a rewarding experience, and why she's supports our mission, with her time and with her donations.
We're celebrating the completion of our new mural created by local artist Michelle Chan (AKA EKKE).
Michelle originates from Los Angeles, but has long called the Bay Area her home. Her art captures a mixture of colorful, whimsical characters with heavy influence from both the LA graffiti art scene and Asian-American pop culture. She is passionate about culture, community, and empowering youth through art. She says, “As an artist, I think it's important to support my community. I'm excited to help Cat Town raise money to save cats because I've seen with my own eyes how much they accomplish. Cat Town is one of many reasons I'm proud to call Oakland my home."
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.
OAKLAND — At first, it was just a glimpse of blue eyes peeking out from a hiding place. Sightings of Tyra, who came to us shy and a bit jumpy in early March, were few and far between.
But lately, we've noticed this member of the Forgotten Kitten Project showing more of her playful side. And we think the dedicated playtime — involving other cats and plenty of different toys — has helped her gain confidence and show her energetic kitten self.
