Shawn turns feral kittens into loving pets!
Shawn Simons wasn’t a cat person, but when she found a colony of feral cats near her home, she decided to help . . . and her mission grew and grew and grew!
On a foggy spring night, Shawn Simons was startled by a rustling noise outside her Los Angeles home.
Flashlight in hand, she shone the beam of light across the yard . . . until it landed on a fluffy Siamese kitten with bright blue eyes.
Shawn panicked. Adorable as he was, she had never spent much time around animals. What do we do? she wondered. Her husband, Kyle, an animal lover, scooped up the tiny kitten and brought it inside.
At first Shawn thought the kitten was alone. But soon she discovered another— then another, and another . . . and not just kittens but also full-grown cats.
That’s when they realized they didn’t just have a stray momma cat who’d had a litter of kittens. They had a colony of feral cats— cats that are born and live their whole lives in the wild. “It doesn’t take long for a few cute kittens to melt your heart,” Shawn says with a smile. And she and Kyle began rescuing the kittens and finding them homes with their friends and neighbors. But it seemed like as soon as they’d place a sweet kitten, another feral momma cat would have a litter. That’s when it struck Shawn, her heart breaking: This feral cat problem is serious.
Kitty “charm school”
Shawn
decided to research feral cats and was stunned to learn that experts estimate there are as many as 70 million of them in the U.S. Yet with little to no human interaction, they’re often terrified of people. The most humane thing to do, Shawn learned, is to let them live on their own.
But there was something she could do to help stop the kitten overpopulation: A trap, neuter, return (TNR) program.
So they installed humane traps. And, one by one, Shawn would take the cats from her backyard to the vet to get fixed.
As word spread, neighbors started reaching out for help with cats near them. And the more cats Shawn helped, the more her passion for animals grew.
Then, at a Best Friends Animal Society conference, Shawn learned that there was hope for the hissy feral kittens she’d found who seemed unadoptable, too.
They could become loving family pets— if they could be socialized while they were young (typically under four months old, and ideally under eight weeks).
She jotted down tips like feeding kittens on a fixed schedule, offering one- on- one attention and exposing them to many different people— all while offering yummy snacks and soft pets— to show
that people are good, not scary.
And in that moment, the Kitty Bungalow Charm School for Wayward Cats was born.
“Headmistress” Shawn bought a large trailer to house the kittens on her property.
“I used to think when cats hissed, they were aggressive. But they aren’t mean; they’re just scared. All they need is a little understanding— and love— to feel safe and happy,” she recalls.
Soon, family and friends were rescuing feral kittens, too, that Shawn and volunteers would work with to help alleviate the cats’ anxiety.
One feral cat they named Sparkle would hiss at anybody who came near her, but was a tender, devoted mom to her three babies. As her kittens grew and became more socialized, Sparkle began to relax, too. It was no surprise when her sweet kitten Luna was adopted— and Sparkle had made such a transformation that the same couple adopted her, too! They’re the most adorable pair! Sparkle loves to find new places to nap and Luna is adventurous, inquisitive and playful. We’re so lucky to have them in our lives! their new mom Erica e-mailed Shawn.
From hissy to home
For Domino, a smart kitten with a big personality, new so--
cial skills helped him find a home with a new mom and dad, Tammy and Rockie.
Domino is such a joy and a great big brother to another rescue kitty. He’s beautiful inside and out! Tammy wrote to Shawn.
When Shawn found a four-month- old Maine Coon, she was anxious and terrified of people.
But with slow, constant reassurances, Shawn built up trust, even getting the kitten to elicit her first purr. Now, she has a loving home with Moriah, who was so enamored with her furry friend that she started volunteering at Kitty Bungalow!
She's learned the words “yogurt” and “chicken,” and she’ll pop her head over the couch when I ask her if she wants some. She’s super cute and a great friend. I love having her in my life! Moriah told Shawn.
“Helping a cat is an amazing feeling,” Shawn beams. “When you see a hissy kitten start to purr for the first time, you know you’ re making a difference.”
And not just for the cats, but their new families, too: A woman who adopted a cat after fleeing an abusive relationship wrote: This kitten helped me learn about unconditional love— and that’s given me the self-confidence I need to begin a new chapter of my life.
As Shawn’s nonprofit grew, she relocated her “school” to a 1,500 square foot building with “kitty class- rooms,” where more than 100 volunteers take turns socializing cats. When they “graduate,” the furry felines don a cap and are awarded their own diploma. And, once they’ re neutered, they find loving forever homes.
Shawn even offers a “homeschooling” program for folks who rescue a cat and need advice, medical aid or adoption photos.
To date, Kitty Bungalow has found loving homes for more than 1,800 kittens and provided TNR for more than 6,000 cats!
“Our goal is to make sure that no feral cat ever sees the inside of a shelter ,” Shawn says .“Because every animal deserves to live a happy, healthy life filled with love !”
“Our perfect companions never have fewer than four feet.” COLETTE