Kitten season is upon us!
Every spring and summer, Community Concern for Cats volunteers seek out the newborn kittens and their struggling mamas as the homeless cat population explosion builds again. We’re directed by calls from the concerned and compassionate public, and by our own “kitty radar” to the fields, backyards, parking lots, hillsides, culverts, dumpsters and abandoned buildings where the little families hide and try to survive.
For the past 30 years, CC4C has been one of the few Contra Costa groups that brings cats and kittens in from distressed conditions outside, rather than “pulling them” from the county shelters. Both kinds of rescue are needed. But the kind of tough, time-consuming, heart-rending, case-by-case rescue we do is critically important to the many suffering cats in our communities.
CC4C is especially grateful for the support we receive to fund our outdoor day-and-night trapping, and our indoor warming/feeding/comforting/taming efforts, once the little furry beings are captured and safe. Your joining us in financial partnership makes it all possible.
Occasionally there’s a rescue story that relates to both a county shelter and an outside rescue. That’s the story of BATMAN.
BATMAN has a superhero name, because this little 6-month-old black cat survived being hurled out the window of a moving car. One day a family (parents and two children) drove to the county shelter in Pinole. The father stated they were mov-ing and couldn’t keep the cat. Pinole had a temporary moratorium on pet surrenders, and the man was told to take the cat to the Martinez shelter. Instead, the man dumped his cat outside the shelter door. When caught by a shelter employee, the man threw his cat back in the car and drove off. Fortunately, CC4C member Julie saw it all and suspected the cat was still in danger. She followed the car several blocks – in time to see the man toss BATMAN out the window into a ditch! Julie quickly picked up the terrified little cat, and he got the CC4C pre-adoption treatment: neutered, microchipped, vaccinated, treated for fleas and worms, and showered with love. Despite his cruel experience, BATMAN is friendly, loves attention and is now living happily with a lovely couple with 3 dogs he dotes on – a home much kinder than the one he used to know!
Another example of the throw-away mentality that creates more homeless cats:
One mile out on the Iron Horse Trail off Monument in Concord was the dumping site of a panicky mother cat and five 5-month kittens. They cowered under a Hwy 242 overpass, where they may have run after being pitched over the freeway guard rail. All were thankfully in good shape but traumatized and had to be trapped. Trundling loaded traps down the Trail and across Monument Blvd. – twice – was a dicey part of the experience. The mom, Petunia, and two of the kittens, Poppy and Dahlia, still await the comfort of a new home.
Rescued from the iron horse trail.
BATMAN’s harsh experience didn’t destroy his trust in people, but the mama cat will need months of gentle foster care. Most of CC4C’s rescues need a lot of TLC to overcome their fear – either fear from the physical and emotional harm they’ve experienced (abuse, abandonment, neglect) or fear of humans in general from lack of positive contact (semi-feral or born in the wild).
Your Donations
Your donations over the years have made it possible for us to heal the wounded, cure the sick, and fix those that would too readily add to the homeless cat population. That adds up to hundreds of spay/neuters, hundreds of new homes, and hundreds of thousands of dollars spent every year. A few generalized specifics that show you how the costs mount up:
- $25 feeds a litter of kittens for 1 month or a malnourished cat for 2 weeks
- $50 pays for vaccines and basic antibiotics to prevent or cure common upper respiratory problems, or prevent wound infections
- $100 helps pay for a female spay or 2 male neuters
- $150 funds the crucial bloodwork needed to diagnose an illness
- $500 can end the pain of infected or damaged teeth and gums with cleaning and extractions
- $750 mends a broken leg
Other valuable ways to be our patron:
RESCUED TREASURES, our thrift store bulging with beautiful things, can be your go-to place to bring your superfluous, superior sellables, and a source of new delights for you and your home. It’s located at 1270 Newell in Walnut Creek, a block from Whole Foods, and open 7 days a week. Hours: Mon-Sat 10-5 & Sun 12-4
CAR DONATIONS are another area of mutual benefit: you can dispose of your unwanted car, get a tax deduction, and benefit CC4C. Go to www.cardonationservices.com or call 888-686-4483 and specify CC4C to benefit from your donation.
Rescued June 12, 2016 8:30am
If you listen hard, you might hear that CC4C’s foster homes are also ALIVE WITH THE SOUND OF MEWING!
It’s our rescued cats and kittens, adding their thanks to those of CC4C’s volunteers for all the good you do by supporting our work! We are very, very grateful!!
Sincerely,
The Volunteers of Community Concern for Cats
P.S. Visit us online to donate, and to see fun photos and videos of dozens of adorable adoptable cats and kittens. Spread the word to your family and friends — networking leads to new homes!