Out of the Cage! (Holiday 2010)

Cats in the Shelter...

by Julie Bank, Executive Director, Animal Care & Control of New York City

I have a 12-year-old kitty at home named Carmen. She is a beautiful, long-haired tortoiseshell who originally arrived at an animal shelter at eight months old, unspayed, nursing her kittens. As an active foster parent I decided that I had space to take her and her brood in for a few weeks while the babies grew. The experience started off normally — clean the box, socialize with the kittens, play, play, play — but it quickly turned into an amazing lesson of perseverance and motherhood.

You see, Carmen's health began to fade quickly as she heroically struggled to provide for her young ones. I stayed up hours watching her do everything she could for those kittens while her own health was impacted. I was amazed at the tenderness and focus she had as she met their needs. The veterinarian was concerned that she was so young, and skinny, her health impacted by motherhood, and that the best decision was to place the kittens in a different foster home and to focus my attention on her needs. I remember this causing me to think about where she came from. How long had she been living on the street? What kind of food (if any) did she eat on a regular basis? Had she ever had the kindness of a human touch telling her things were going to be OK? When the new foster mom came to pick up the kittens, Carmen let out a meow as if she was saying, "You're in good hands, it's going to be OK." Carmen slept for what seemed like days and ultimately pulled through her struggle. Carmen deserved more and became a permanent member of my family.

Animal Care and Control of NYC (AC&C) rescues and cares for over 26,000 cats a year. Unfortunately, cats in the shelter are the most at risk of euthanasia. There are many factors that play into this. It's very stressful for them, and as a result their immune systems become compromised. Not as many people come to adopt cats as they do dogs; maybe it's because there is such an overflow of cats available in the community. If you adopt from a shelter, however, you will get a cat who is already spayed or neutered, a big plus! Also, there doesn't seem to be the same type of value that the community has regarding cats vs. dogs. It could be because of the many myths and fallacies that still exist about cats. Many people are still not spaying and neutering cats, which is contributing to the overpopulation problem. (There are low-cost options to help you with spay/neuter). People are still allowing their own cats outdoors instead of keeping them safe from the elements. I hope this changes soon. Maybe it's because people abandon their cats in the street thinking they can survive on their own rather than bringing them into a shelter where they will be cared for and adopted. For those of you who have lived with cats, you know how special they are. For those of you who have never experienced the warmth and energy of a cat in your home, you don't know what you are missing out on, and I encourage you to open your mind. Dog people can become cat people too…I promise!

Today, I am asking everyone to consider adopting a cat and complete your family. We see all shapes and sizes and ages, all with their own story of love and survival. Join AC&C and many other adoption groups at the Whiskers In Wonderland holiday adoption event on Dec. 18 and 19 to find the cat of your dreams. You can visit the AC&C shelters in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Staten Island, seven days a week or visit www.nycacc.org to see pictures of available cats. If you cannot adopt a cat, consider fostering, as that will go a long way in saving lives. If you already have a cat, be responsible and have your cat spayed or neutered. Your actions can make a huge difference.