Rescued cats looking for fur-ever homes
A number of rescued cats are looking for their fur-ever homes, and local non-profit organization AlleyCATS is asking the community not to overlook them.
AlleyCATS co-founder Theresa Nolet is hoping to raise awareness that many of the cats taken in by the organization, whether older, feral, skittish or experiencing some health issues, make just as great a companion as other cats.
“Lots of the board members, we’ve taken in ferals like that, and they live very happily in our homes,” Nolet said.
Some rescues even make great working cats, too, for barns and workshops.
AlleyCATS’s headquarters houses cats that have been recently trapped and are in the process of vet visits. They also have house cats that may have a difficult time finding a foster home.
Currently two female cats, named Athena and Martha, are at headquarters and together are looking for either adopted or foster families and may do better as barn cats. They’re best friends.
“Probably in the right atmosphere, they could be socialized,” Nolet said of the two, adding that it takes time and patience when working with ferals.
Iris, another female cat that is currently in a foster home, is shy and may do better as a barn cat, but Nolet is hoping to see her go to a home instead.
“You can pet her, but she needs someone with patience . . . as long as people are content with letting the cat do their own thing,” she said.
“Take joy in the fact that the cat is having a good life.”
Donations and fundraising helps pay for vet visits that always include spaying or neutering the cat and addressing any underlying health complications that are discovered.
AlleyCATS also supports pet owners who may require financial assistance fixing their animal through its Spay and Neuter as Many as Possible Program.
“Foster homes are the backbone of our organization, and without fosterers, that limits the amount of cats we can help,” Nolet added.
Other cats that are in need of homes are Elvis, a 15-year-old male, and Trigger, a young male that requires a special diet and would do better as a barn cat.
Mireille, an older female, as well as two young kittens named Spot and Marble, are also up for adoption, but will not be ready for new homes until after a required eye surgery in Kelowna.
Nolet encourages anyone who is interested in volunteering to visit AlleyCATS’s website, www.alleycatsalliance.org, and fill out a volunteer form. AlleyCATS can also be reached at 250-462-5951.