CATS CRADLE
RESCUE REPORT
CCR Logo drawn by Meagan Day
F al l
&
W i n te r
20 11
Website: http://www.catscradlerescue.org
.
Happy Holidays!
Our Thrift Shop is open
Thursday – Sunday 1111-5
(Closed Dec. 24 -25, 31, & Jan.1)
We have lots of seasonal items,
decorations, and cookware and
serving items to make your holiday
planning/decorating easier!
Advantage II Flea Treatment now available
for sale starting at
$11 for cat or $13 for dog
For a small donation, we will also do
“caticures” (manicures for pointy kitty claws),
or show you how to do it yourself!
Stop by, Say Hi, Shop around and find
Delightful items to Buy!
Help us buy cat and kitten food by
saving the Purina Weight Circles on
the sides of bags of Purina Cat (and
Dog) chows and dropping them off
at our adoptions!
At The Animal
Rescue Website
you can donate
a bowl of food
to animal rescue with a click – it’s free and easy
to do. Here is the link showing how it works
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com
CCR News & Needs
>^..^<
Our Thrift Shop on Market Street in Ventura is getting
Better and Better each month as new donated items
arrive and are made available for sale!
If we could find some friendly people to help out for a
few hours a month, we could keep the store open more
hours each week. The volunteer jobs there are both
easy and interesting since we never know what sorts of
donated items will arrive. It is also fascinating to see
who will buy what! We need people who can sort
through donated items, stock the store, and help
customers find their treasures.
If you have a few hours available to spend with us to
help us sort and sell items to help our foster cats, please
contact Phyllis at 805-649-6913
2011
2011 CCR Adoptions and TNR
(Trap,Neuter, Return) statistics:
Over 280 cats and kittens were adopted
to loving homes by November 2011!
200 other kittens and cats are currently
being fostered in CCR volunteers’ homes.
(Unfortunately 90 of those were rescued just
this year and have not yet found homes.)
TNR(Trapped, Neutered, Returned) over
300 feral cats and kittens
TNR – Over 1000 Spayed/Neutered
Feral cats are being cared for on a daily
basis by volunteers at over 25 feral
feeding sites in Ventura County.
"Cat's motto: No matter what you've done wrong,
always try to make it look like the dog did it." –
Author Unknown
Our Happy Endings!
Gunner
Now!
(formerly Tom-Tom)
Shared by Debra Polk
Fang got his name when he
arrived at the center – our
volunteers were trying to
see how old from his tiny
teeth 8 -10 wks 13 oz (a
normal 8-10 week old kitten
should weigh 32-40 oz!)
Shared by Megan and Rich Ault
Then
I just opened the CCR newsletter and was flipping
through it when I saw the photos of the two kittens
named Garmin and Magellan. AH-HA! Those two are the
brothers of our little kitty named Gunner (formerly
named Tom-Tom)! I ran over to Gunner and asked him if
he remembered his brothers, but he wasn't interested,
lol. After a week of debating what to rename Tom-Tom,
we chose the name Gunner because this little guy did
nothing but purr - NONSTOP! Too cool, right?
He reminded me of a little machine gun with his rhythmic
purring, so the name Gunner stuck. He cuddles with us
all the time and still purrs away. He is my therapist - I lie
in bed every night and watch him clean himself at the
foot of our bed as it puts me to sleep. Tom Tom hasn't
grown very large either, as the owner of Garmin and
Magellan had said about Garmin. Tom Tom is probably 67 pounds roughly, and he is a playful and healthy little
guy. He plays with our dogs like he is one of them and is
such a blessing to have in our lives, he always flops over
on his back when he wants something, usually petting.
I could go on and on about how great he is and that he is
the best kitten in the world, but that may raise a debate,
lol. I have included photos of Tom Tom to show everyone
that he is doing quite well, and now we all know where
the three little kittens are.
We know that times are tough!
We Thank You for Your Support!
Morpheus and Pan – 2011-2011 (FIP)
Little Guy – 2011-2011 (4 mo. old – FIP)
Whiskers 2011-2011 (FIP)
Paddles 2011 – 2011 (FIP)
Lulu – 2011 – 2011
Blockhead
9 years old
2002-2011
His head was bigger than
his tiny gray tabby body
with enormous eyes looking
up at the Cats Cradle
Rescue volunteers. He was so little he had to be taken
everywhere his foster went so he could get frequent
feedings. Everyone who saw him loved him – he was so
tiny yet so playful – with the heart of a lion – he never
gave up – he was a survivor! A lady who was a previous
Cats Cradle adoptor came into our adoption center on
Market Street one day, saw him and was instantly
smitten with this special kitten.
Unfortunately it didn’t work out and he is back with us
again. Please help us find a new loving home for Fang.
Check out our webpage!
Please check out our newsletters online in COLOR
http://www.catscradlerescue.org/index_files/Page805.htm
With the cost of printing and postage increasing every
year, we are working hard to use email/web delivery
for newsletters so we can use those $$ for rescue
instead of for paper, ink, and postage.
If you truly enjoy reading our newsletter and need to
receive a hard copy of the newsletter, please let our
editor know. If you would prefer to receive it via
email, please let us know and share an email address
with us. We promise not to sell, loan, or share
email lists with any other organization.
Please email our editor at
[email protected], or send a note to Cats
Cradle Rescue, P.O. Box 5774, Oxnard, CA 93031.
In Loving Memory…
Tom Berg, CCR
Board Member &
Volunteer Foster
1946-2011
Wanted: A Happy Ending
for Fang!
Cassidy
19 years old
1992 -2011
Any money we save on printing and postage goes
directly to our feline friends and please keep in mind
that every $.44 stamp = a can of cat food! A
newsletter costs about $.35 to print & staple.
We are now offering advertising space to individuals
and companies who would like to purchase small
(only $25.00 for a business card-sized and we can
scan the card for you!) in our next issue.
Please call 485-8811 or email [email protected]
if you are interested in purchasing an ad space.
Sweet
Seniority!
Annie was the sweetest cat in the
shelter. She loved to be petted and
groomed. She adored attention and
playing with humans, but she could
also spend hours entertaining herself. Everyone who
met her fell in love with her. And yet no one wanted to
take her home. Why? Because Annie was 8 years old.
It's easy to understand why someone would not want to
take an older cat home. I know how difficult it is to part
with a cat that has become a part of your family, and it's
a sad fact that the older a cat is, the sooner that moment
will come. But because of this mentality, sweet cats like
Annie often have to live out the rest of their lives in a
shelter, stuck in a small cage instead of being in the
comfort of someone's lap.
If you look past a cat's life expectancy, there are many
advantages to adopting an older cat. They already have a
developed personality, so you know exactly what you're
getting yourself into. Kittens and young cats may grow
up to have a personality that is not compatible with your
lifestyle. With an older cat, though, you can choose the
cat that's perfect for you.
Older cats also tend to require less energy from their
owners. Although every cat is different, chances are you
will not have to constantly worry about what kind of
trouble your cat has gotten into this time! Many people
want to get a kitten because they are cute, and don't
realize how high maintenance the little fluff-balls are...
it's almost like having a baby!
Older cats are great for someone who has never had a
cat before, or for anyone who does not have as much
time to devote to their pet. You may be worried that an
older cat is more susceptible to diseases and health
problems. While this is true, many times you also have
the benefit of knowing an older cat's medical history. You
can tell a lot about what a cat is predisposed to from the
problems that it's had over the course of its life.
Being older does not mean the cat is running on
borrowed time, either! I've known many old cats that
were much healthier than some younger cats. A cat is
only considered "senior" once he reaches 11 years of age,
and even then there are plenty of things you can do to
keep the cat healthy and happy.
For instance, more frequent vet visits can help spot and
prevent potential health problems. Past 11 years old, a
cat also benefits greatly from a change in diet. Simply
changing an elderly cat's food to a senior cat specific food
can help maintain his quality of life and even prolong life
expectancy.
So next time you decide to get a cat, don't just walk right
past the older cats! Remember that older cats like Annie
can have a lot to offer... and more importantly, you have
a lot to offer them. Living out your last years in a cage is
a sad fate. Take an old cat home with you! You will both
be happy with the decision.
Three Loveable Adult Cats
Need Forever Homes
These 3 adult
cats were
adopted as
kittens from
Cats Cradle.
Unfortunately,
due to a death
in the family
they now need
to find new homes. We would LOVE to find one home
that could take all three, but realize that happy ending
might be too much to hope for. They are respectively 7,
8, and 9 years old, but in general good health according
to our vet. They just need someone to love them and
they are Extremely loving cats.
Sawadee is a 7 year
old male Siamese mix
with white feet. He is a
lover who wants
nothing more than to
climb up on your chest
with his paws on your
shoulder and purr and
be petted. He is very
quiet for a Siamese.
He does have an issue
with his feet called
“pillowfoot” where the
big pad of his foot is swollen and puffy. Our vet says it
currently doesn’t require treatment, other than good
care. It doesn’t seem to bother him at all; he climbs and
jumps normally for a cat of his age.
Didi (right) is an 8 year
old very dark tabby
with white feet who is
also very loving. She is
a bit more cautious in
new environments so
she appears to be a bit
shy, but watch out!
Once she gets to know
you, she lets you know
that she wants to be
petted NOW and a lot!
She also is a talker and
lets you know immediately when she wants attention!
Beethoven is a
big, big black and
white longhaired
bundle of LOVE!
He is the oldest of
the trio at 9
years, but in good
health. He enjoys
being brushed
and getting lots of
attention and is
very comfortable
around the other
cat at his foster home. Come and meet them at our
Adoption events at Petco in Camarilllo!
Seven Cajun Kittens!
From a posting on Face Book
– author unknown
"My pets/fosters are not disposable. They may have
imperfections, may eventually have health problems,
and be a lot of work. But when I got them, I promised
them a forever home. No matter what their faults
are, they are good at something, and deserve to be
loved and have a forever home. They are not only my
pets/fosters, They are a part of my family."
What is a Cat?
These seven kittens arrived in California in the trailer
of a semi that travelled for a week to get from
Louisiana to Oxnard. We don’t know when Momcat
put them in the trailer, how long she was with them, or
when she left them, never to return, but when the
truck carrying them arrived in Oxnard and the truck
driver found them, 2 were too weak to suckle and all
were very skinny, hungry
and dehydrated! They
were the size of newborn
kittens and they were
about three weeks old.
The truck driver contacted
Cats Cradle Rescue for
assistance and a volunteer
experienced in critical care
for neonatal kittens met him and picked up the kittens
for fostering. Originally he planned to help foster
them when they were weaned, but his work schedule
didn’t allow that so they are being cared for by Cats
Cradle Rescue volunteers and being shown at our
adoptions in Ventura and Oxnard. Here is a photo of
how they look now, happily snuggled up to an older
Gentle eyes
that see so much,
paws that have
the quiet touch.
Purrs to signal
"all is well"
and show more love
than words can tell.
Graceful movements
touched with pride,
a calming presence
by our side.
A friendship
that will last and grow small wonder
why we love them so.
Author Unknown
foster friend.
Cats Sleep Anywhere
Cats sleep anywhere, any table, any chair.
Top of piano, window-ledge, in the middle,
on the edge.
Open drawer, empty shoe, anybody's lap will do.
Fitted in a cardboard box, in the cupboard with your
frocks.
Anywhere! They don't care! Cats sleep anywhere.
Eleanor Farjeon (1881 - 1965)
The Alpha Cat Syndrome
By Nicholas Dodman BVMS DVA DACVA DACVB,
Director of Animal Behavior Clinic, Professor, Dept Clinical
Sciences, Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
(Editor’s note: This article was reprinted with permission of
Dr. Dodman, author of “The Cat Who Cried For Help”, “Dogs
Behaving Badly”, and The Dog Who Loved Too Much”.
Cats are supposed to be warm and friendly creatures,
seeking owner approval, petting and cuddles and
purring their way through peaceful evenings at home.
But not all cats are this amiable or this compliant.
Some have an agenda of their own and seemingly
refuse to take no for an answer.
These are "alpha cats." They are natural leaders; they
refuse to be led and attempt to take charge of
practically every situation. These cats like their food
when they want it and the way that they like it ... or
else. They may only let you touch them for short
periods of time and then again, only on their terms.
They rebel when admonished and demand attention,
access, and assets - when the mood so takes them.
You don't own an alpha cat – he owns you, or at
least, he thinks he does.
When alphas don't get their own way, they bully and
pressure you into immediate action. They may bite
your nose or toes to get you out of bed in the
morning. They may shriek their demands for food until
you are forced to give in. They may growl if
approached while eating and some are protective of
their toys and naptime. And watch out if you try to pick
up your alpha cat or pet him when he's not in the
mood. He may bite or claw his negative message to
you in no uncertain terms.
Perhaps the most classical component of the alpha
cat syndrome is petting-induced aggression. Alphas
will jump up on your lap and allow themselves to be
petted – but only for a short while. And when they've
had enough, they narrow their eyes, glance sideways
at the petting hand, and their tail begins to switch from
side to side. This is the writing on the wall that heralds
an imminent meltdown: Suddenly he'll swat, bite, and
maybe roll onto his side so he can attack you with all
five sharp points simultaneously.
What to do? In essence, they must be shown who
calls the shots, who is really charge, and who is the
supplier of all good things. Then and only then will
their bossiness be honed into acceptance and
respect. The name of the behavior modification
program is "Nothing in Life is Free." It is a nonconfrontational "tough love" leadership program in
which the cat is required to earn all valued assets
from the owner. A prerequisite is a modicum of
training so that the cat can be called upon to carry out
some task before being issued certain resources.
•Avoid all confrontations. Make a list of situations
and things you do that cause your cat to become
aggressive and conscientiously avoid these
situations. If your cat bites you to make you get out of
bed, shut him out of the bedroom at night. You may
need to have earplugs handy to mute the noise of
caterwauling or door scratching at first but the cat's
insistent phase should pass within a few days. If your
cat bites you when he is on your lap and you are
petting him, do not allow him onto your lap for a while
until he has learned some manners. Also, learn to
read the warning signs and ration your petting.
•Training. Despite popular opinion, it is quite possible
to train a cat to respond on cue. The best way to
accomplish this is with click and treat training. The
whole process is explained in detail at
http://www.petplace.com/cats/clicker-training-yourcat/page1.aspx . Clicker training basically involves
three steps.
Step One Teaching the cat that the click of a plastic
"frog" or clicker heralds the arrival of delicious food
treat.
Step Two The cat learns that he can make the clicker
click by performing certain actions.
Step Three The cat is rewarded with a click and a
food treat only if he performs an action after being
cued.
Take the action of sitting, for example. First click and
treat the cat for nothing. This is called "charging" the
clicker. Next click and reward sitting when it occurs
naturally. Once the cat has grasped the concept and
starts approaching you and sitting for a click (and thus
a treat), escalate to the third step of the process,
adding a conditional stimulus, in this case the word
SIT. Using this technique I trained my cat to sit on cue
in three days and she has never forgotten it. Try to
teach your cat one new "command" per month. If this
course is followed, in time you will find that pretty
much all behavior problems, including biting, simply
melt away.
•No free lunch. Feed your cat twice daily so that you
control when he gets fed. At mealtime a cat should be
hungry. Have him SIT before you click and put down
the food bowl. The meal becomes the reward. No SIT
= no food that mealtime. If the cat knows how to SIT
on cue this request is perfectly fair. If he ends up
missing a meal or two this will sharpen his appetite
and thus the likelihood that he will respond as
directed the next time. You will have made the meal
conditional upon the cat showing you respect and
good manners. Think of it as requiring the cat to say
"please."
(continued)
•Working for petting. Petting should be rationed to
keep your cat hungry for your attention. Petting and
attention are supplied only when the cat does
something to deserve them, like responding to a voice
cue or hand signal. This is particularly advisable if
petting-induced aggression is a feature of your cat's
aggressive repertoire. Even if your cat has performed
well enough to deserve petting, be cognizant of a
deteriorating situation. Furtive sideways glances and
a twitching tail mean that it is time to quit. To avoid
this situation, keep petting sessions short and never
try to pet your way out of an aggressive moment.
As always, we
we would like to extend our heartfelt
thanks
thanks to the organizations that helped
helped us
immensely in our rescue efforts again this year.
year.
•
The PETCO Stores in Camarillo,
Camarillo, Port
Hueneme,
Hueneme, and Ventura,
Ventura who generously
provide space and support for our
weekend adoptions and rescue
operations. www.petco.com.
•
•Put your cat's toys away and supply them only
when he has done something to deserve them. Allow
the cat free access to the toy until he loses interest
and then pick it up and replace it in the toy chest (or
drawer).
Petsmart,
Petsmart who recently agreed to allow
Cats Cradle to hold weekend adoptions
in the Oxnard store.
•
•Ration games. As useful as games are to help your
cat blow off steam, they are also fun and as such
should only be engaged in only when your cat earns
the right.
Dr. Chong, DVM
DVM and her friendly
assistants in Camarillo who work tirelessly
to heal the sick and injured cats and
kittens we encounter in rescue. (805)
482-9865
•
The caring staff of the Mercy Crusade
Low Cost Spay and Neuter Clinic at the
corner of Vineyard and Oxnard Blvd. in
Oxnard where most of our adoptable
cats & kittens receive their spay or neuter
operations. http://www.dogcatfix.com/
•
Diane Bentz, R.V.T and Clinic Director, Dr.
Debbie Bitterly D.V.M. and their highly
skilled team at Valley Veterinary Clinic
Charitable NonNon-Profit Corporation who
support us in our TNR work in Ventura
County. (1659 E. Los Angeles Avenue,
Simi Valley, CA 93065, Telephone (805)
584-3823 www.valleyvetnonprofit.com)
•
Dr. Wilson and her helpful staff of The
Animal Doctor Veterinary Clinic in their
brand new facility at the corner of
Telephone and Cachuma in east Ventura
who have offered a free well-cat vet visit
for CCR cats or CCR kittens adopted
May 1, 2009 or later.
http://www.theanimaldr.net/ 805-6478596
•Never respond to attention seeking (demanding)
behavior. Act dumb. Walk away. Disappear. Deliver
what the cat wants later, on your terms, and only in
response to the successful accomplishment of an
assigned task like sitting, coming when called, or
waiting patiently.
•Fire engine service. If your cat starts trying to bite
you or acts aggressively in any way, remove yourself
from his presence for a few hours (turn, walk away,
and leave the cat alone) or herd the cat into another
room for time out. If withdrawal of your company is
the result of your cat's shenanigans, as opposed to
you turning into a big squeaky toy, he should soon get
the picture that you mean business and will not allow
yourself to be victimized. Cats learn. You should, too.
I looked at all the caged animals in the
shelter, the cast-offs of human society. I saw
in their eyes love and hope, fear and dread,
sadness and betrayal. And I was angry.
“God,” I said, “this is terrible! Why don’t
you do something?” God was silent for a
moment and then he spoke softly. “I have
done something,” He replied. “I created
You.” ~ Jim Willis
Our Adoption Events - Please share this info!
Cats Cradle Rescue
Adoption Center
& Thrift Shop
Please come and visit our updated
facility at 4160 Market Street, Unit
#10, Ventura (corner of Donlon
and Market Street – one block past
the DMV Office on the same side of
the street)
Thrift Store hours:
Thur. – Sun., 11-5 pm
(except holidays)
Adoption Days/Information
Sat. 11-5 call Phyllis @ 649-6913
Sun. 11-5 call Monica @ 2120328 or Deb 218-9445
Port Hueneme
PETCO
Ventura
PETCO
545 West
4300-A East
Channel Islands
Main St.
Blvd
Ventura, CA
Port Hueneme,
93003
(805) 984-3470 (805) 639-3016
For Adoption
information
(dates and
times) and
available cats at
this location:
Please call
805-485-8811
Camarillo
PETCO
Oxnard
Petsmart
177 West
Ventura
Boulevard,
Camarillo
2021 N
Oxnard Blvd,
Oxnard
(805) 981-4012
(Las Posas
exit, near
Target)
For Adoption
information
(dates and
times) and
available cats
at this
location:
For Adoption
information
(dates and
times) and
available cats
at this
location:
805-384
384-5435
Please call
805-485-8811
Please
lease call
805 - 485-8811
485
Sat. 11-4
11 pm
Some
Sundays
Noon--5 pm
Please call
805-485-8811
Your business card could be here!
Please call 805-649-6913 for more
information on advertising your
business or service in this
newsletter. (It doesn’t even have to
be cat-related!)
Yes, I would like to make a donation to Cats Cradle Rescue in the amount of:
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Please direct my donation to
The Feral Food Fund The Louie Fund
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Email address – please print clearly
Then clip and mail your tax-deductible
deductible donation to:
Cats Cradle Rescue, P.O. Box 5774, Oxnard, CA 93031
Please mail email my thank you letter. Save $$ - my check will be my donation receipt.
receipt
We are a non-profit 501c3 organization.. EIN: 77-0552733
Thank You
for Saving a Life!
Cats Cradle Rescue
P.O. Box 5774
Oxnard, CA 93031
Can You Help?
Any donation, large or small, helps our all-volunteer group provide food,
veterinary care, spay and neuter programs, vaccinations, and emergency
care for Cats Cradle cats and kittens. All donations are tax deductible, and
will be acknowledged. 100% of what you donate goes directly to benefit our
rescued cats and kittens.
Our Wish List:
President:
Phyllis Berger
Treasurer:
Debra Polk
Secretary:
Jennifer Barrett
Board Members:
Monica Harrer
Sharon Stover
TNR Coordinator:
Gina Brenner
Newsletter Editor:
Georgetta Brickey
[email protected]
Cat & Kitten Food – always needed!
Purina brand cat food weight circles cut from the bags
Cat care items (scratchers, carriers, beds, towels, blankets, etc.)
Financial Support (every dollar and cent helps!)
Safe sites for feral cats to call home
Foster homes for cats/kittens until “forever” homes are found
Volunteers to help with:
Adoptions & Thrift Store (staffing, sorting, paperwork, etc.)
Transportation (to and from vet clinics)
Temporary care for rescued cats and kittens
Call to arrange a drop-off if you have gently used items to donate to our
Thrift Shop or cat-related items. Send your financial support to
Cats Cradle Rescue, P.O. Box 5774, Oxnard, CA 93031
Website: http://www.catscradlerescue.org/
(805) 485-8811