Lillie and her Kittens By Assistant Director, Diane Kamp
Lillie has a story to tell. Lillie came to Castaway
Critters in August 2010 with seven of her kittens. This was
the third known litter that Lillie had to endure. We first
heard about “Mommy Cat”, (later we named her Lillie)
in May of 2010 when we received a call from a homeowner in Landisville, Lancaster County who asked us to
take a mother cat and her five kittens – her “Spring”
litter. Lillie spent her life living under a trailer. Lillie also
had three legs. Somewhere along the way she injured
her right, rear leg losing her foot and leg up to the first
joint.
Arrangements were made to meet the homeowner to pick up Lillie and her kittens half way between
Harrisburg and Hershey because the woman did not
drive and had to have her daughter meet us. However,
at the last minute we received a call from the homeowner
that she was not going to give us Lillie and the kittens
because she was “unsure” of us and “fearful”. Please
note that this person did not have access to the internet,
never saw our web site and was not familiar with Castaway Critters rescue. Although she was referred to us by
Lancaster Humane League she decided that it was best
to keep “Mommy Cat”. We told her to please, PLEASE
get this mother cat spayed, but somehow we knew that
would not happen. And we were right.
In late August 2010 we received a second call
from this homeowner who by now was crying and begging us to take “Mommy cat” because the cat had a third
litter of seven kittens – her “Autumn” litter. They were all
living under her trailer again. I told her that I would
send a volunteer directly to her home to pick up “Mommy
Cat” and the new litter. Our dedicated volunteer Carrie
Booth drove to Landisville to retrieve the cats.
Upon arrival in our care, we named Mommy
Cat “Lille” and volunteers proceeded to examine the
cats; all were highly infested with fleas. Each had to be
bathed and flea treated immediately. Lillie was very ill
with an upper respiratory ailment and was full of worms,
fleas and parasites. She was malnourished and scared
but did a wonderful job caring for her kittens. As soon as
the kittens were weaned we moved them into caring foster homes where they were vetted, spayed/neutered
and eventually adopted. Lillie came to live with me and
was put on extended medication until she was healthy
again. Once her health was restored she was spayed
and eventually taken to the Animal Hospital of Dauphin
County where the wonderful vets and staff surgically
removed the remaining stump of her leg to ease her pain
and discomfort. Lillie had a hard time with the surgery
and we were very worried but after convalescing in foster care she has recovered beautifully.
Lillie (right) is a quiet, easy going
small cat. She is white with buff markings
and has a pretty little face. She gets
along very well on three legs. She uses
her litter box faithfully, likes to sleep
under the bed and enjoys a small bowl
of milk in the morning for breakfast.
She loves her head to be petted and has
a funny little meow. Lillie is waiting for
her forever home and does not take up
much space! For an opportunity to visit
Lillie please go to our web site,
www.castawaycritters.org.
Another devoted mom, Marigold, and her kittens.
COMMUNITY CATS
We tell the tale of Lillie and her kittens to illustrate the suffering that
thousands of female stray cats endure year after year. This scenario plays out
over and over again and many people just sit by and let it happen. But if you
feed them, fix them! Castaway Critters will loan traps and guide you towards
low-cost spay and neuter clinics in our area.
Not only do female mother cats suffer from repeated pregnancy and
lactation but their kittens suffer too. Untold numbers of kittens may die from
disease, malnutrition and exposure. You may not see this but it does happen.
Not all kittens survive in the wild. Each year Castaway Critters receives hundreds of calls and emails requesting assistance for stray cats and kittens. We
cannot keep up with the demand. Often callers want us to “just get rid of
them” assuming that we can come in, trap and remove cats for them. Although
we do our best to pick up stray kittens and spay mother cats, we cannot remove and relocate all cats. However we can coach you how to trap, spay/
neuter and release these cats and provide a safe haven for their continued
care (TNR – TRAP, NEUTER and RETURN).
There are many low and no-cost spay/neuter assistance programs in
our area and with a little effort you can help these strays. We cannot do it
alone; we must all care about these “community cats” because if we do not,
the suffering and the complaints of “too many cats” will continue. Please take
responsibility in your neighborhoods, team up with likeminded people who
care about the welfare of these animals. Get involved. Do it now. You can
make a difference.
For more information on feral cats and feral cat care go to our website or to
Alley Cat Allies www.alleycat.org.
Offering hope and new beginnings...to the lost and forgotten, the sick... and the abandoned.
P.O. Box 1421
Phone: (717) 531-5010
www.castawaycritters.org
Harrisburg, Pa
E-mail: [email protected]
Become a fan of our Facebook group!
Choosing the Dog That is Right for You By Foster, Carrie Booth
MEET AND GREET
NAME: Pete & Boomer
AGE: 9 & 5 months
LIKES: Getting Attention, Yachting
DISLIKES: The Kardashians, Drama
Did you know that pet/owner mismatches is the
main reason that owners surrender their pets to shelters?
There are several important factors that a person needs
to consider before adopting a puppy, or any dog in
general. It is essential that any person looking to adopt
a pet take an honest look at their lifestyle, including
their schedule, activity level, and even their age. Here
are some things to consider when deciding on whether a
puppy or an adult dog is a better fit for your life.
than a puppy, because they are more focused and
calmer, which means they have a longer attention
span.
4. Nobody likes to admit that they are getting
older, but it happens to all of us. Keep in mind that
most dogs can live to be 12 to 15 years old. Are
you young enough to make that long of a commitment to your new pet?
5. Puppies love to run and play and go go go,
but do you? If you do not have the same activity
1. Puppies are not housebroken in most cases, or are and physical fitness level as a young dog, then
just in the beginning stages of learning. Puppies need
consider getting a dog that doesn’t need to be on
to go to the bathroom on a regular schedule and cannot the move the majority of the day.
hold it as long as an older dog.
Adopting a dog is a tremendous amount
2. What you see is what you get when you adopt an of responsibility. The best thing that you can do is
adult dog. You already know their size and temperato make sure you are making the right decision
ment. This isn’t necessarily the case with a puppy who
about the type of dog you are adopting, so both
will still grow and develop a personality all its own.
pet and owner are happy and have a lifelong
3. Do you think you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? commitment. Sometimes the quiet, calm adult dog
It is actually often easier to teach an adult new lessons is the best fit for you.
Honor Your Loved One’s Life
NAME: Farrow AGE: 10 months
LIKES: Everyone! Reading James
Joyce
DISLIKES: Airport security, Peas
By Volunteer, Nancy Sharp
The Memorial link on the Castaway Critters home page was created to give supporters a venue for honoring
pet loving family members, as well as companion animals who have passed. Honoring the memory of a
loved one with a donation to Castaway Critters not only serves as a gift of remembrance, but it is truly a gift
of life given to the rescued dogs and cats.
The sad loss of a loved one is often remembered with memorials to an organization that was there for the
loved one at the very end of life…these remembrances are necessary and appropriate, but where is the
remembrance that celebrates the loved one’s lifetime of passion for companion animals?
Castaway Critters gratefully and graciously receives donations in memory of family, friends, and
pets. Donors who make a memorial contribution will have their remembered loved one and the contributor’s name included on the Memorials page on our website. Additionally, donors may choose to submit a
photo with their remembrance, as well as words of tribute. Please see additional details on our website.
You may not have a pot of gold, but your donation will help provide a lucky day for a Castaway
Critters cat or dog! Here are a few ways your generous donation will help.
NAME: Charles AGE: Mature
LIKES: Being brushed, CNN
DISLIKES: Insurance Agents, Mold
$50 FeLV/FIV Tests & Vaccines (Cat)
$75 Spay/Neuter Surgery (Cat)
$100 Spay/Neuter Surgery (Dog)
$125 *Guardian Angel Sponsorship (2 Cats)
$200 Approx. 200 lbs of cat & dog food
$250 *Guardian Angel Sponsorship (Dog)
NAME: Jack AGE: 3.5 months
LIKES: Being cute, The Ellen
Degeneres Show
DISLIKES: Being lonely, Jell-O
*Covers adoption fee for an animal currently being fostered
and waiting for a “forever” home. Thank you for your support!
Donate via PayPal on our web-site or
send a check or money order made payable to Castaway Critters to our address
above.
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Address:
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