Craig Street Cats

Lots of interesting things have been happening around here.  Throughout November and December Craig Street CAts was the recipient of some amazing acts of generosity.  We were able to bring most of our bills up to date and had a little left to take care of some storage and transportation issues that have been plaguing us for quite awhile.

Storage has been a huge issue around here.  As much as I love my character home, I have to admit that it is sadly lacking in the closet department.  Part of the funds raised were used to buy cabinets and storage containers for all of the cats’ assorted paraphenelia (food, dishes, toys, medical supplies, towels, blankets . . .).

 Some of you already know that we were able to buy a used van last week.  It’s very nice to be able to do all the things that need to be done without having to wait for someone else to be able to give the cats and me a ride.  It’s also very nice to NOT have to pay cab fare when nobody is able to ferry us around.  That’s the good stuff.

Of course, being mobile now, the first thing I did was take critters to see the vet.  It turns out that just about all of them have ear mites.  Now, ear mites are a very common thing.  They are not an issue when you have one, or two, or even six cats.  When you have 23 cats and 20 kittens, however, ear mites are no laughing matter.  All of the cats have to be treated.   On top of that whopper, we have 12 kittens going in for spay and neuter over the next 2 weeks.  Another 8 will have to go within a month after that.

We had almost 3 glorious months where there was enough money to pay the bills as they came in, and a little left to do things that needed to be done.  Now it’s back to reality and the need to get out and do fundraising.  There truly is no rest for the weary.

It’s been a crazy month.  So far we’ve had 24 kittens come through, taken 4 cats in for TNR, rescued another 4, and had 1 cat take up residence in a wall in the back porch.  We have also added a feeding station on Valour Road.  Quite a month — and it’s only half over

The cat in the wall did, eventually, come out.  It was coming out to eat at night, and finally succumbed to the yummy salmon in the trap.  The poor fella was mighty scared after his ordeal, so I couldn’t transfer him to a kennel to wait for the next round of TNR.  He was released, and I hope he’ll wander back into the trap when it’s set in July.

The kittens are doing very well.  Another 8 have gone up to Pet Traders for adoption, leaving 7 here.  It’s very nice to be working with only one kitten pen.  For the last couple of weeks there have been 3 pens FULL of babies, and it was taking 6 hours per day just to feed and clean up after them.  We won’t be taking in any more kittens until the first week of July, but there are quite a few waiting to come in.

Next week (June 22 to 28) we’ll be at St. Vital Centre, in the community booth by Appelt’s.  We’ll be taking some of the adoptable cats there, for a few hours per day, and hope to find lots of adoptive or foster families for our amazing cats.  Of course, we’ll have lots of kitten cards, catnip toys and cat beds for sale, and we’ll be accepting donations, as well.  This is a major fundraising opportunity for us, and we’re hoping to do well.

life jumps up and smacks you upside the head.  After the success of our rummage sale, I was feeling as though, maybe, we had moved into the black, and things could get back to what passes for normal around here.  No such luck.

9 cats and kittens have come into care over the past week.  All of them are at least partly social, which means that they cannot go through the Humane Society TNR program, and must be taken to private vets for sterilization.  Another 5 kittens and 2 queens will probably be coming in over the next few days.  These are also social.

The money we raised at our rummage sale and at the Forks last week (a total of just over $4,000 for the two events) will run out long before the last of the current crop has been adopted.  Another major fundraiser is going to be necessary in order to make it through the summer. 

I’m thinking music, summer breezes, fruity drinks with little parasols in them.  Hmmmm.  Stay tuned.

For a month when I was supposed to just keep the feeders full and count cats eating, January was incredibly busy.  A total of 7 cats were taken in for spay and neuter.  Since they were all in the house for several weeks before their surgeries, they cannot be released.  This means they are all in the house, being socialized, and available for adoption.  So, we now have 8 kittens and cats ready for their forever homes.

January also saw the beginning of what I hope will be a long relationship with the Health Sciences Center.  Once a week we have a table on the main floor by the coffee shop, where we spread the word about Craig Street Cats and do some fundraising.  We try to book Thursdays, but sometimes end up with a Tuesday.  So far we’ve booked Feb. 5, 12, and 19.  If you’re at HSC on any of those days, drop by and say hello.

Plans are under way for a major fundraising event in May.  We hope to hold a 2 day rummage / bake sale at R.A. Steen community center.  Details will be posted as soon as they are available.  LOTS of volunteers will be needed to organize and run this event.  If you can help, please call 223-6652, or email cats@wolseleygirl.com