#GivingTuesday
Help Us Keep the Kitties Healthy, Safe, and Clean!
People tell me all the time that they want to start a rescue or sanctuary.
Take care of unwanted kitties. Decrease the number of homeless cats through adoption and TNVR.
I remember that feeling - the longing to nurture and rebuild kitties that had been neglected, abused, injured, or had special needs. The pull to help is strong, especially if you are a fixer, nurturer, or natural helper with a love for cats.
Few people get to realize this dream. In part because of the expense, as well as the many practical things - space, supplies, equipment, staff. Those who decide to go for it often find it is overwhelming and unsustainable. It is important to know your limits. And to rely on your village - that's you!
Speaking of necessities,
our ask for #givingtuesday2021 is:
CCAS needs a commercial,
heavy-duty washer and dryer -
the kind you find in laundry mats.
From our research,
the median price for a set is about $2500.
Please give if you can - and share!
(This is Napster aka Napoleon on the left. Nap is one of the CCAS kitties. He is from LA and has Manx Syndrome. Sweetest guy you will ever meet. He's about 3 now and came to CCAS when he was less than a year old.)
You may wonder WHY we did it - took on the responsibility of caring for a dozen +/- cats with special needs IN OUR HOME? The short answer - because I fell in love with Izzy, our first special needs cat, before I knew she had medical issues.
Izzy was born with Manx Syndrome aka Feline Spina Bifida. She looks normal and acts normal, so I had no idea. Her symptoms are invisible. And she has personality-plus!
When I asked to adopt her, I was warned that she had been adopted and returned three times due to this problem. The shelter had decided to keep her and take care of her rather than putting her through that again - a wonderful thing for a shelter to do!
But two things happened: my *fairness thing* kicked in and my *this is what I want so how can I get it* thing kicked in. I didn't think Iz should have to live her whole life in a shelter - she was six at the time. She is 16 now and doing quite well for an old girl.
Being a social worker, my life is all about justice - I wanted Izzy to have everything any other cat would have. My career (and personal history) taught me to fight for what I need or want - and to fight for your needs and wants (within reason). The same goes for animals.
I remember that feeling - the longing to nurture and rebuild kitties that had been neglected, abused, injured, or had special needs. The pull to help is strong, especially if you are a fixer, nurturer, or natural helper with a love for cats.
After caring for Izzy for a couple of years, we did it. CCAS was established in June 2015 - we knew how to care for these special needs cats so we would help more of them! You can read more about adopting Izzy in our origin story on the website.
Izzy's special needs were invisible symptoms. She walks kinda funny, but otherwise, you would never know. She and cats with this condition have neurological problems that prevent them from peeing and pooping without help.
I know it sounds gross, but if you deal with litter boxes or have ever cared for a baby, it is not that big a deal. It takes 3-5 seconds to *squeeze* her bladder aka expressing the bladder and a minute to make her poop aka evacuate her bowels.
Before we knew it, people all over the country found out we could care for these cats with *litter box problems* that are the main reason cats are euthanized. Nobody likes cat pee or poop in their house - including me. I get that.
But - if you learn how to help kitties that can't perform these so very important functions, it can save their lives. There are thousands of people in the US and abroad who do this. Some use diapers, others express/evacuate the kitties, and most do both.
The dirty little secret in rescue, shelter care, and sanctuary care that most do not realize
is the amount of work involved - even for healthy cats.
Cleaning behind an incontinent cat is the same as taking care of a baby - but they never get potty trained. Diapers forever - or washable pee pads, waterproof pillow covers, blankets, and pet beds in our case. LOTS of laundry.
Multiply that by 12 or so and remember that incontinence means accidents. These cats are prone to digestive problems and urinary tract infections. That increases the laundry and cleaning a lot on those days.
I have done five or more loads of clothes daily for the past week. Seven loads yesterday when we stripped all the cat beds for clean sheet night! Our pretty sophisticated (secondhand) set is not equipped for this amount of work. You get the message@
We are not looking for sympathy just being real - we need a better washer and dryer;-)
If you can give, please do! And share with others who may be interested!
We appreciate you more than you know! Without your support, CCAS could not provide the care and necessities these special kitties need to say healthy, safe, and clean!
Auntie Angela's visit to the new sanctuary.
"I fell in love with Merlin long before I ever met him. I couldn't believe his will to live as I read about him running to LuAnn during the fire 5 years ago. I mean the little man has no feet. I have made toys and beds and got to meet him this year.
Actually, I got to meet everyone when I went to deliver some new beds I made out of some cool drawers a neighbor was giving away. All of the fabric of the liners is waterproof so it makes it easier to clean them once they take off the fabric covers to wash.
What a bunch! Merlin and Cyndi (she has no back feet) were in the new bed and Charlie (blind) was playing nearby. Billie waltzes by on his way to pester the Great Dane, Lincoln, who has to be over 170 pounds and is so gentle and loving of them all.
I then went upstairs to meet the big boys. Oz and Tuck chased one another around their new *clubhouse* bouncing off furniture. I had to duck my head a couple of times as Oz landed on the back of the sofa where I was sitting! Oh - and then I met little Izzy. A complete love bug that attacked the catnip plant I brought immediately. She stands in the pot and eats the plant from the vine!
A lot of the kitties "leak" pee and/or poop, especially when they are resting or asleep, as LuAnn mentioned above. I was amazed that it did not smell of urine. I mean not AT ALL. I mean with so many incontinent cats, you would think it would smell, but no.
They take such good care of them all and keep their environment clean and safe. The cats have plenty of beds and places to hang, but their space also has to be covered to catch the "dribbles" that may leak out between potty times. All of these must be washed every day. It is a lot of work and a lot of cleaning, washing, and drying!
The new place is loaded with toys for the kitties to play with. Those big boys play nonstop! It is so nice for them to have all that space to run and play! It's not all work - LuAnn and Chris get to play and snuggle with them - that's the best part!
I am happy I found out about CCAS and glad to support them. All the cats are just great - especially Merlin! I was so glad he let me sit with him and touch him! He doesn't always allow that, I'm told. It warms my heart to see them playing with toys and things I donated.
If there is any way you can contribute to this fundraiser, please do! Your gift toward the purchase of a washer and dryer will be money well spent to keep the kitties healthy, safe, and clean!"