Craig Street Cats

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

This week Craig Street Cats moved to a new webserver, and the journey has been a tad traumatic.  I think everything is in its proper place now, but if you find any whoopsies, please be sure to let me know.

It’s a very good thing that this move was completely virtual.  The poor cats have been trying to figure out why things are topsy turvey around here — schedules all out of whack, mom up all night working on the computer, less cuddle time (oh horrors).

We have some new additions around here.  While I’ve been working away on this site, some very caring people have been finding cats and kittens that needed rescuing.  Kathy brought in the 2 kittens that needed vet care, as well as a big, black tom cat that we’re calling Kettle.  The youngest kitten has been adopted already (Kathy couldn’t resist ).  Kettle and the other kitten have appointments for neutering coming up soon.

June called just before Christmas about some kittens she had been feeding for quite awhile.  She was concerned about how they would survive the winter, so we went out and rescued them on Boxing Day.  June was obviously doing a very good job of feeding the babies, because they are incredibly sturdy — tending toward pudgy.  They have appointments with the vet, as well.

Things are starting to get back to normal around here, so I should have some photos of the new arrivals by the end of the week.  I hope.

It seems that kitten season isn’t quite over. Two new babies came in over the weekend, both from the same colony, but different litters. They are beautiful, long haired, black and white cuties, but both babies are very sick. They’ve been to see the doctor, and will be in quarantine for 2 weeks. They’re both on antibiotics and getting subcutaneous fluids several times per day.

This could have been a tragedy if it were not for Friends Fundraising for Animal Shelters, a very generous vet, and help from Darcy’s ARC. Thank you to all of you.

Which brings me to a painful realization. Up to now, Craig Street Cats has been operating on a very thin shoestring. Some very generous people have donated money, food, and supplies, but the vast majority of ongoing expenses has been coming out of my pocket. The arrival of the kittens at a time when I did not have the personal resources to cover their expenses is a wake up call. We need funds on hand at all times. We need an emergency fund. We need a room other than my bathroom to house sick kittens. It’s time to get serious about fundraising.