World Spay Day

Our dedicated Outreach volunteers actively participate in spay and neuter advocacy in the community and cat retention program efforts including connecting cat owners with resources and providing access to litter, food, and other necessary cat supplies to enable cats to remain with their families. We offer low-cost alternatives to those who might not otherwise have the funds to alter cats. In addition, we work with the community and with other local rescue groups to prevent increases to the feral cat population. Last year, our Outreach volunteers assisted with the spay/neutering of 1045 cats, with 424 surgeries in the third quarter alone.

Feline Rescue’s Outreach Program will surpass subsidizing 10,000 spay/neuter surgeries this year.

Freya and her litter of nine kittens from late fall of 2013.

Here's a story that illustrates the community need and how Feline Rescue’s Outreach Program helps facilitate spay and neuter surgeries.

Working together to save cats

By Kari Cedergren

SITUATION
In May 2016, my realtor and friend, Rebecca from Cartwright Realty contacted me about a property her clients wanted to buy. But there was an issue. Rebecca’s clients would not close on the property unless the community of accumulated cats were removed. The selling realtor was supposed to “take care” of the animals, but had not. With only weeks left until closing, Rebecca took matters into her own hands. She estimated there were 50 cats in this colony that needed homes … and fast. As an animal lover, volunteer, and sustaining patron of the Tri-County Humane Society and Minnesota Horse Welfare Coalition, I wanted to help my friend, Rebecca and save some feline lives.

SAINTLY CITIZEN
A saintly soul, Susan, the property’s owner, loved her outdoor cats. She built shelters for them in old sheds and filled them with mattresses, blankets, and straw. She housed and fed her furry friends and they were fruitful and multiplied. Susan never considered what might happen when she was no longer able to care for herself. She was moved into a nursing home, leaving her community of cats to fend for themselves.

A SOLUTION
The situation was out of control. Rebecca caught most of the cats and placed them with various humane agencies. Thankfully there are local organizations to help concerned citizens do what is best for unwanted animals. Tri-County Humane Society (TCHS) led by Vicki Davis, Executive Director does incredible work in the Saint Cloud community. Their building is small but they help the same number of animals as institutions twice their size. Through a few phone calls and some coordination, TCHS helped with the majority of Susan’s cats. The kittens and a few more of the friendlier cats were adopted out as house cats and a large number were placed through TCHS’ Barn Cat program. The Barn Cat program places cats that are unfit to live indoors for various reasons. These cats are fixed.  They go on to live fruitful lives but do not multiply.

THE COSTS
There are costs to fix animals. I wanted to find a way to help cover some of TCHS’ costs for fixing Susan’s cats. Feline Rescue in Saint Paul is a nonprofit that operates three Programs: Shelter (Adoption), Foster (Adoption), and Outreach. The focus of the Outreach Program is to help concerned citizens cover some of the costs associated with Trapping, Neutering, and Returning (TNR) outdoor cats back into the community and to coordinate resources for members of the community needing veterinary care, food, or other resources for their cats. The Outreach Program of Feline Rescue is supported by donations, grants, and volunteer hours. Grant money the Outreach Program received from Chuck & Don’s Pet Food & Supplies earlier this year was used to help cover a portion of the cost of fixing Susan’s cats.

CALL TO ACTION
25 years ago these animals would have been destroyed. Thanks to the dedication of the Tri-County Humane Society and the willingness of the Outreach Program at Feline Rescue to share their grant money from Chuck & Don’s Pet Food & Supplies, Susan’s cats are now enjoying life in their new locations. These 50 cats represent a much bigger problem in the State of Minnesota, however. There are many, many more cat colonies that are being fed by concerned citizens like Susan, and the task of Trapping, Neutering, and Returning them - or better yet, finding them indoor homes - is a large one.

Through awareness, concerned citizens now have more humane options for handling outdoor cats.  We need you to continue this work.

Donate to the Trap Neuter Return (TNR) program for community cats through Feline Rescue’s Outreach Program by visiting FelineRescue.org/Donate-Now. Please designate your donation to ‘Outreach Program’.

Earning Bucky's Trust

Cap and Bucky are brothers who were born outside and rescued during a TNR project.  Volunteers Stacey and Brian, who have helped many foster kitties find their forever homes, agreed to work on these shy brothers to get them ready for adoption. Having the patience to help scared kitties come out of their shells is rewarding. Here is an update on Cap and Bucky after just a few weeks in their foster home: 

Thought I would give you an update on the boys. Cap is doing amazing, he's like a normal indoor cat, and has connected with the other cats in the house. He loves to snuggle and be pet, and is extremely playful/destructive towards cat toys. All I need to work with him is being picked up.

Bucky, on the other hand, is a different story. He's taken longer to warm up to us than any other cats we've had. He's just started to come out of hiding though, and has been VERY curious about us lately. He started out just peeking around the kitchen to watch us (I make sure he watched us interact with the other kitties in a very positive way). Now he comes out to eat with the rest of the kitties (he LOVES the other cats, he rubs all over them; he will soon learn that to be friends with the other cats he'll need to be friends with us, because the cats follow us everywhere we go in the house). He will let us get a little close to him (he will run down the stairs if we get too close, but comes right back), he does hiss and growl still, but when I go to hand feed him treats he will swat them out of my hand, he does it nicely though with no claws, so that's a good sign.
I had a breakthrough with him last night and he followed me to the living room and sat on the coffee table and ate treats I gave him. (I also caught him in the kitty tree with Cap last night.)

Little by little Bucky is improving every day with us, he just takes a little more time than some of the others. We do have a big kitty tunnel in our kitchen that he feels very safe in; you can tell he wants to be a part of the family already, but is just scared. So he likes to lay in the cat tunnel and watch us, to be around everyone and still feel safe.

A few days later:

Bucky has already improved so much since I sent that email. He is now staying in rooms with us and the other cats because he's so curious about us, and LOVES all the cats. We have now gotten Bucky to be able to eat out of our hands. He still doesn't like being touched yet, but when we do pet him, he doesn't run much. 

Cap and Bucky don't mind the dog at all, very dog friendly.
Cap has started to cuddle in bed with me every now and then, and he loves to lick and nibble on fingers and toes. 
I can't wait to see more of Bucky's progress. (He's definitely food motivated now.) :)

New friends looking for a home together

Last week, we told Pinocchio's story on facebook. She's been a stray the last couple of years. When she came inside, her teeth were so bad that they all had to be removed to provide relief from her pain. Recovery is going great, and Pinocchio is eating like a champ. This week, Pinocchio is looking for a home with her new best buddy Mouser!

Pinocchio and Mouser met in the recovery room at Feline Rescue. Mouser was rescued from animal control, where he was in danger of being euthanized because he was scared and considered not-adoptable. Far from it. Mouser turned out to be a sweet and mellow boy.

Pinocchio had her surgery on last Monday. On Tuesday, as Pinocchio was recovering, we moved Mouser's kennel across from hers so they could talk to each other. Mouser is a talker, and we had noticed that Pinocchio perked up and would start eating when she saw another cat. On Wednesday, we started leaving Mouser's kennel open so he could come closer to her. He would sit outside her kennel to keep her company.

On Thursday, Mouser was to be adopted and he seemed nervous. The nice family came to pick him up, and I have never seen such a nice and mellow cat throw such a fit. Mouser made it very clear that he did not want to go. Sometimes when the cats talk, we just have to listen. The family left without him, and Mouser calmed down and spent the rest of the night sitting with Pinocchio. They shared a snack in her kennel.

On Friday, Mouser and Pinocchio went quietly together to their new foster home. Their foster mom reports that while it took Mouser a grand total of five minutes to adjust to the place, Pinocchio was scared and will take longer to adjust to a new home. She can see that Mouser makes Pinocchio feel more secure. When Mouser sits by her, Pinocchio immediately relaxes and lets out cute little meows.

Pinocchio and Mouser are looking for a forever home together. To hear more, please call Molly at 651-295-3758 or email outreach@felinerescue.org.

Tom and Maisy: Bonded Pair Seeks New Home Together

Tom was rescued almost three years ago. He had spent the winter outside and was in rough shape.

Tom was dirty and scared but was taken in by a kind person who taught him to trust again. He looks great now!

 

Tom loves to hang out on a lap and will sometimes sleep next to his people in bed. Wherever the people are, he's usually nearby. Tom needs a little time to warm up to strangers, but he's gotten a lot better over time. If you feed him, you'll be his best friend. He LOVES food. Tom is about 6 years old.

Maisy joined the family about two years ago as a foster cat. She is about 5 years old and was rescued from an outdoor colony in December, just before it got really cold.

Maisy was very shy and scared but has since become more comfortable and has learned to seek out affection from people on her own terms. She loves living indoors, though she's still easily spooked by loud noises and sudden movements. Maisy has learned a lot from Tom, and they are now partners in crime.

Now that Maisy’s foster needs to move out of state and can’t take both Maisy and Tom along, he’s decided that they can't be separated so it’s better to help find Tom and Maisy a new home where they can stay together. They have been together for more than two years and love to play and snuggle with each other. Shy Maisy will adjust better to a new home with her best pal Tom along.

Tom and Maisy have been very lucky so far. Now they need good luck once more to find their forever home. If you are looking for a sweet pair of cats, please consider this gentle orange guy and his sweet little friend. Call Molly for more information at 651-295-3758 or email outreach@felinerescue.org

Hughie and Lulu: one year update

A year ago, Hughie was a lonely and shy stray kitten rescued from animal control. Lulu was a 6-week-old kitten fending for herself outside in the early cold snap after her mother and siblings were trapped and brought inside without her. Once rescued, Lulu met Hughie in foster care, and from there life got better and better for both of them.

Here's an update from Mercedes, who adopted the best friends together:

I was just musing about how happy I am to have them in my life! They are both doing awesome. So much personality, and wonderful to see how they've grown and opened up.

Hughie is still a shy guy, and has that flight response from his feral streak, but he loves snuggles and he's perfectly comfortable around me. He follows me around and helps me get ready for work and sleeps curled up on my feet at the computer. He's very playful when he thinks no one is watching, and he carries the crocheted toy you left with him everywhere.

Lulu is a great influence on him, and makes him braver than he'd otherwise be. He's gotten big and strong (12.5 lbs) and he's built like a panther, but he's so gentle and sweet...

Lulu is a character. She's affectionate, brave, and a natural hunter. She is "cat" incarnate. Tiny and fearless, she keeps the house bug free, while cuddling in my lap every second she gets. She loves to be talked to, and is so adorable it hurts.

Both of them sleep with me every night, and they love each other to death. They're both model citizens. I couldn't imagine life without them.

Thanks again for bringing them into our lives. The work you do is so great.

Hansel and Gretel all ready for adoption

Kittens who are born outside sometimes take a little extra time to socialize to home life. We’re so grateful when we can find foster homes willing to do this rewarding job. When you adopt these kitties, you reap the rewards too. You get to bond with some great cats, knowing that they otherwise might have struggled to make it through the winter outside. And the lucky cats get to experience warm homes and loving families!

Hansel and Gretel are two friendly kittens looking for a great home together. 

They were caught as part of a trap-neuter-return project in St. Paul. But they were way to sweet to be living outside.

In their foster home, they have turned into wonderful pets. They get along great with the people, dog, and other cats in their foster home. Hansel is quite the snuggler.  And Gretel just loves to play!

 

Watch videos of them here:

https://www.facebook.com/lifechangingthing/videos/vb.526280066/10153543752705067/?type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/lifechangingthing/videos/vb.526280066/10153543757200067/?type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/lifechangingthing/videos/vb.526280066/10153543756405067/?type=3&theater

To meet them contact Molly at 651-295-3758 or email outreach@felinerescue.org.

Adopt to help more community kittens

These community kittens were taken in by volunteers so they could learn to be house cats and wouldn’t have to try to survive the winter outside. Now they’re ready to find good homes, to make room for more cats and kittens to come inside too!

Pumpkin Patch

This Saturday October 10^th from 1-3 pm, meet rescued cats and kittens at Woody’s Pet Food Deli in St. Paul and Woodbury.

Joey, Emma, and Eliza

Apple and Huck

Biscuit

In Woodbury meet Pumpkin Patch, Biscuit, Huck and Apple, Eliza, Joey, Emma, and Danny and Dellwood.

In St. Paul, meet Elizabeth and Ethan, Fluffy and Daisy, and more! Call Molly for more info: 651-295-3758. 

http://felinerescue.org/adopt-a…/available-cats-and-kittens/

Oneida and Emily, Mama Cat and Baby Cat

Stray momma cats have it tough out there. Feline Rescue volunteers try to also keep their interests in mind when rescuing and placing their more adoptable kittens.  

 

Oneida had five kittens outside in the spring. Kind neighbors kept them fed and were eventually able to catch the whole family and care for them until a foster home could be found. 

Oneida’s four boys have all been adopted (two by two), and now she is hoping to find a forever home with her kitten Emily. Emily was the only girl in her litter and happened to be the shyest and most independent of the bunch. She is a pretty Siamese-tabby mix.

Oneida is a sweet cat but a good and protective mother, so earning her trust takes patience and understanding. Luckily she found Bree, a volunteer who has successfully fostered many untrusting cats rescued through Feline Rescue’s outreach program. These shy kitties are just as deserving of good homes as any other cat. Here’s an update on Oneida and Emily (also called Mama Cat and Baby Cat) from Bree:

“The cats are doing well. They are both eating off my lap now as you can see in the pictures. Mama cat is still hesitant to eat but she slowly makes her way over. Baby cat is totally comfortable with it. I can pet her during feeding time but I can't pet Mama [yet]. They both have big appetites. 

They are both scared of my hands, although I bent down to pet baby last night and it was like it felt good, but then once she realized it was me petting her she got a little scared.   

 

They are both playful, baby more so than mama. She will play with toys and also feather wands, I always find small things in my sink that she must have been playing with on the vanity. She and mama and [my cat] Felix will all play "hide and pounce" around the couch, it's pretty cute. 

Baby will often come upstairs with Felix and me when I go to bed, although she hangs out in the other room.

I think both are making good progress. Both started out terrified in their crate when they saw me, but now they are running around the house. Mama cat used to not even want to be in the same room with me without hiding, but she will now eat in the same room as long as it looks like I'm not coming towards her. She does hiss a lot at me, but she's not mean, I think I will hear less of it as she becomes more comfortable. “

With more persistence, scheduled lap-time meals, treats, and toys, Emily and Oneida will continue making progress and are sure to find just the right patient and understanding family someday. If you are interested in adopting them email outreach@felinerescue.org