In 2009, shortly after my husband, Steven, and I started volunteering at the Oakland shelter, we realized that a mom with kittens had taken up residence in our backyard. Knowing very little about the world of cat rescue then, we brought the kittens to the shelter when they were about 10 weeks old. We assumed they would quickly get socialized and adopted, but a couple of weeks later, a fellow volunteer let me know that one of the kittens couldn’t be touched and was going to be euthanized.
Last month had every kind of Cat Town cat adopted: from A (Abby) to Z (Zeus). We celebrated the adoptions of long-timers like Buffy, who spent 553 days in our care, and instant classics like Rudy, who spent less than 2 hours in the Cat Zone. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we were able to help a few “In It for Life” seniors like 10-year-old Harrison, as well as sick kittens like Monkey and Maru, who received care through our Emergency Medical Fund…
This month we’re turning the spotlight on Nicole G., one such counselor who does amazing work helping our cats find loving homes. Not only does she volunteer each week in the Cat Zone, but she is also a case manager; following-up and working with adopters of some of our special cats who might need a little time to adjust to a new home.
When visiting Cat Town, it’s not uncommon to hear a volunteer use the term “under-socialized” when referring to one of our adoptable cats. These cats, due to their challenging or fearful behavior in a shelter, are typically considered “unadoptable” by most rescue organizations. Part of the magic of Cat Town is that we believe in the potential of every cat and frequently get these cats out of cages and into a safe environment, where they can grow comfortable and confident enough to show their true personalities — all while waiting to find a good home.
