3RD ISSUE - Ferndale Cat Shelter

3RD
ISSUE
A Quarterly Mewsletter || Fall 2015
PRESIDENT’S PURR
2015 was a year of great success for
the Ferndale Cat Shelter. We helped find
permanent homes for dozens of our furry
feline friends, held several successful
fundraisers, rescued many kittens that
were born outdoors... Oh, and we opened
the Catfe Lounge!
Read more: Page 2
CARING FOR OUTDOOR CATS
DURING WINTER
WHY IS MY CAT PEEING
OUTSIDE THE LITTER BOX?
Outdoor cats need additional care during
the winter months. The cold temperatures
and snow mean that caretakers need to
ensure that community cats have sufficient
nutrition and shelters to survive winter.
As a former owner of a pet sitting service,
I witnessed a lot of clients who had trouble
with their cats. From litter box misses,
throw up on expensive rugs, to cats not
eating when their owners were on extended
absences…just to name a few.
Read more: Page 2
Read more: Page 3
CATFE LOUNGE IS NOW OPEN!
ALLEY CAT ALLIES EVENT
After months of searching for the right
space, fundraising on Indiegogo and calling
in every favor from friends and family, our
little idea has finally come to fruition! Catfé
Lounge, located at 821 Livernois in Ferndale is that cozy, charming hang-out spot
for cats and the people who love them.
October is a big month for community cat
awareness! We were very excited when
Alley Cat Allies (alleycat.org) contacted us
about possibly hosting a workshop around
National Feral Cat Day.
Read more: Page 4
Read more: Page 4
FERNDALE CATFE LOUNGE:
A HELPER’S NOTE
My name is Abbee Sigal I am a nine-year
Ferndale resident and cat lover. I am one of
the many volunteers at the fabulous Ferndale Catfe Lounge.
Read more: Page 5
WE LOVE OUR FOSTERS!
Did you know that the Ferndale Cat Shelter
has just under 50 cats in foster care right
now? Our fosters provide a loving home
and socialization for these kitties while they
wait for their forever homes. We provide
food, litter, and veterinary care for all of our
foster cats, and only ask our fosters to give
them love.
Read more: Page 5
Saving the World, One Cat at a Time!
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE CATS
AND KITTENS BEING KILLED IN
HAZEL PARK
This is a very upsetting article and it will be
hard to read but has to be repeated. Someone is killing cats and kittens in Hazel Park.
Not only are they kidnapping and killing
strays and community cats (horrendous as
that is) - they are also taking people’s pets.
Read more: Page 6
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PRESIDENT’S PURR continued...
The Catfe allows us to give some of our adorable adoptable kitties a space to play and for potential adopters to see our kitties live, in
action! The Catfe will help us find homes for kitties much faster and allow us to increase our fundraising base, allowing us to help even
more kitties! So far, the Catfe has been a great success, and we have found homes for 12 cats in the short time we have been open.
2016 promises to bring even more good things to FCS and the Catfe Lounge. The Catfe will allow us to increase our operations and
help even more kitties. We have some great plans for the Catfe to allow for a variety of activities. We will be holding some fantastic
fundraisers in 2016, as well. 2016 also brings some renewed efforts. While we didn’t do as much with trap-neuter-return, we plan on
ramping up our TNR efforts once winter is on the way out.
FCS is much further along that I would have expected. I didn’t predict a physical location until year 3, at least. Instead, 1.5 years in and
we have a fantastic location for our kitties. Our social media outreach is tremendous, as demonstrated by our ability to get every major
news outlet in the area to cover a cat killer situation in Hazel Park, as well as raising a significant amount for a reward.
I thank all our volunteers, fosters and internal team. Without your dedication and hard work, FCS wouldn’t be as strong as it is. I thank
our adopters, who have given our kitties furever homes. I thank the board of directors for their guidance and expertise as we launch
the Catfe. I thank those who have attended our fundraisers or the Catfe, since your financial assistance has allowed us to help so many
kitties. I thank our social media for getting the word out about the Hazel Park situation. And last but not least, thanks to Angela and
Deanne. You’ve taken my little dream and made it happen.
Thank you,
Benjamin Long,
Founder, President
CARING FOR OUTDOOR CATS DURING WINTER continued...
Written by Benjamin Long, President and Founder
For example, water can freeze, meaning that even when fresh water was put out, by the time the cats visit the watering hole, they find
only a big ice cube. If you care for community cats, be mindful of the additional needs of your kitties during cold winter spells.
For nutrition, cats need additional food during the winter months. The colder temperatures place an increased demand upon their
metabolism, resulting in increased nutritional needs. Be sure to put out additional food for your community cats during winter, especially
during very cold spells. Frequent water changes are also important, so that the water does not freeze.
Equally important is proper shelter from the elements. While many community cats have shelter, such as a garage or crawl space, they
need additional shelter, namely something protected from the elements and that is dry. The Ferndale Cat Shelter sells outdoor cat
shelters, made from either insulated Styrofoam or insulated rubber bins. There are plenty of resources online to show you how to build
your own, as well. There are several things to keep in mind. Ensure that the opening is accessible for the cats, but not for other creatures.
A raised opening will reduce the likelihood that an animal other than a cat takes over the shelter. Do not put food and water in the shelter.
This will attract other critters, or resulting in the water spilling inside the shelter. When using tape to build a shelter, use cold-weather
tape. The glue in regular duct tape, for example, will freeze, resulting in loosened joints and exposure to the elements and allowing water
to seep into the shelter. When using bedding, be sure to use stray. Hay will freeze when it gets wet, while stray will not. An easy way
to remember this is “hay is for horses, straw is for strays.” Also, swap out the straw on a regular basis. Depending on how many cats are
using the shelter, the straw will break down and lose it’s insulting effect.
We have ceased our trap-neuter-return (TNR) activities for the winter. Cats are less active during winter (so are their trappers!), which
makes TNR difficult. We will reinstate the TNR program in the late winter/early spring, once the weather turns more conducive to trapping.
A little bit of extra care will ensure your community cat has a safe and healthy winter. Predictive weather reports are for a milder winter
compared to the previous two, but we all know how Michigan weather can behave. Ensuring that your outdoor kitty friends have proper
shelter and additional nutrition during very cold weather warrants their proper health during winter. Your furry friends will be grateful, even
though they won’t show it.
Saving the World, One Cat at a Time!
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CAT CARE CORNER:
WHY IS MY CAT PEEING
OUTSIDE THE LITTER BOX?
continued...
Written by Kristen Schmitt, FCS Co-founder
The most common issues I encountered were cats and kittens
having accidents outside of their litter boxes. The first suggestion I
offer up is: how often do you clean your litter box? Cats will often
go outside their box when there isn’t enough room on the inside.
A good rule of thumb is to clean a litter box once every other day
for one cat, and once per day for two or more. If you do have more
than one cat, one (1) litter box per cat would be ideal, placing them
a good distance apart from each other and at least ten feet away
from their food and water bowls. (Who likes to eat near where they
poop, I sure don’t!) Instinctually, cats like to feel safe when going
potty, so pick a place where they won’t feel trapped and that is easily
accessible.
The litter is just as important. Some cats can develop allergies to the
litter and some cats have even developed respiratory infections to
the dusty types. Stay away from heavily fragranced litters as well –
cats have a highly developed sense of smell and can become sick
if the dyes and fragrances used in certain litters are in their scope.
However, be careful when choosing pellet-type litter, especially for
older cats as they sometimes have a hard time adjusting to the
larger litter options. I endorse Dr. Elsey’s litter which can be found
state-wide or on-line. They have several varieties with a great
selection of fragrance free options that are on-par price-wise with
the popular big box brands.
If you’ve cleaned your boxes regularly and your pretty kitty is still having accidents outside their box, best advice is to get them to your
vet as they might have something internal going on — and this is their way of getting our attention to say, “hey person who feeds me, I
don’t feel well.”
Urine outside of the box is another way of cats telling us something could be wrong; from urinary tract infections to kidney issues. Now,
some cats are simply “marking,” but best to rule out problematic behavior by first making sure their health is OK, and typical solutions
from your vet will be administering steroids or antibiotics.
Once a cat pees on something, it can be near impossible to get out, especially because they will keep marking on the same spot. I have
found using/blotting cold water and baking soda into the effected area is the most healthy and environmentally friendly way to get the
smell of urine out. Using detergents with ammonia replicate the smell of urine to many cats so they just keep peeing and peeing over that
same smell.
Sometimes loving our “purr pillows” is just not enough, so pay close attention to the behavior of your cat, and take the appropriate actions
to help them feel better and live longer!
Saving the World, One Cat at a Time!
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CATFE LOUNGE IS NOW OPEN!
continued...
Written by Deanne Iovan
When you enter, you are greeted by a volunteer and introduced to the the cats available
for play and adoption. Enjoy a hot coffee or tea with a warm cat on your lap! Use the WIFI
and tweet your friends. All of this for a $10 suggested donation... not a bad way to spend
an hour of your day. Sustaining memberships will be available at the Catfé for those
repeat visitors. Catfé Lounge also offers weekly yoga and “purrlates” classes! Check our
calendar at www.Catfe.cafe for details of upcoming events.
Catfé Lounge is the first phase of a 2-part project. Part two will consist of a proper coffee
shop, complete with espresso and human kibbles for purchase. This space will be separate
from the Catfé Lounge, per health department regulations, but guests will be able to bring
their goods into the lounge, use the WIFI
and hang out with our adoptable kitties.
Revenue from coffee shop sales will support
the mission of Ferndale Cat Shelter.
Our Indiegogo campaign is still running!
We are currently looking for corporate and
private sponsors to finance the build out of
the coffee shop. This will allow us financial
sustainability moving forward!
Anyone interested in furthering our cause
can make a tax deductible donation to
Ferndale Cat Shelter, c/o Catfé Lounge,
821 Livernois, Ferndale MI 48220. Like
to volunteer? Contact Sharon Crane at
slcrane@sbcglobal.net.
ALLEY CAT ALLIES EVENT continued...
Written by Angela Fisher
On Friday, October 16, 2015 Alley Cat Allies and about 20 local TNR and Community Cat advocates from the area met for a presentation,
question and answer session and to also just network and have a conversation about best practices. It was wonderful to meet people
in person that I had interacted with mostly through Facebook, knowing they were real pros and offered vast experience to the exchange.
Before our new space at the Catfe Lounge was open, we were proud to host Alley Cat Allies for a Community workshop. Open to anyone
interested in TNR, about 20 people packed into our small space to network and talk about best practices in the world of community cats.
People came from all over southeast Michigan to discuss their personal experiences. One of the biggest take-aways mentioned by all
was this simple fact: You are not alone! People in communities that felt like they were the only person in their area caring for community
cats got to meet other people very near to them that are doing the same thing and sharing their same experiences.
We really appreciate that Brianna and Jon spent time with us as a group and individually. It was a wonderful experience I hope we will be
able to repeat! More in the months to come about the efforts that came from this for sure, so please keep an eye open for that.
Saving the World, One Cat at a Time!
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CATFE LOUNGE: A HELPER’S NOTE continued...
Written by Abbee Sigal
I have always been a cat lover; I think this stems from my grandmother Carol who has a
love and deep appreciation for cats and cat related items. I have a beautiful rescued
Siamese mixed diva named Eva Kittay. Eva Kittay has intoxicating blue eyes, a very fluffy
triple white coat with Lynx points, spots and a raccoon striped tail. She is very photogenic
(what cat isn’t?!); please join her fans and follow her @Eva_Kittay on Instagram.
It’s important to me to give back to the Ferndale community not only financially but also
through hands on activities. Volunteering, I feel is something personal that I can help make
the world a happier place. I work with other non-profit organizations and felt I could help
lend my love for cats and volunteer skills to an up and coming community organization
right around the corner from my home. Prior to the Catfe opening I was in contact with the
volunteer coordinator, she invited me to a pre-opening volunteer meeting. At first, I wasn’t
available, but my scheduled opened and I was able to make the second meeting. During
the meeting we met some of the other volunteers, learned the history of the Ferndale Cat
Shelter & Catfe, toured the facility and went over expectations for volunteers.
As a volunteer, I greet people when they arrive explain the ins and outs of the Ferndale
Catfe, help with the flow of beverages and showcase our adorable adoptable kitties. It is
a great joy to interact with the kitties and to meet so many people in a welcoming safe
environment. In the first few days that I have volunteered I have met people from Ferndale, all over metro Detroit, Ypsilanti and as
far south as Cincinnati, OH. People have learned about the Catfe through word of mouth, social media and the articles that have run
recently featuring the first Cat Café to open in Michigan.
Although I love all of the kitties at the Catfe I’d like to showcase two. I have a special place in my heart for Sally O’Malley our 2-year-old
polydactyl calico. She is a little shy with other kitties but loves to be held and petted. She has bright yellow eyes and beautiful colorful
markings. Her personality is calm and I like that she is super unique with an extra thumb! I also enjoy showing off Sanji our beautiful silky
soft medium haired petite black baby that loves the sun and snuggling. She has the most precious voice and the cutest long fluff that
sticks off her ears and a gorgeous fluffy tail. She loves to perch on the bench and watch the leaves blow outside; you can tell she just
wants to pounce. Both of these lovely ladies are fixed, vetted and ready for adoption, and would be a great unconditional loving addition
to your home!
As a volunteer, I feel I am doing my part by providing a fabulous and friendly atmosphere for patrons as well as helping to expose the
kitties to their potential forever homes. I look forward to meeting you for a beverage and cat chat soon!
WE LOVE OUR FOSTERS!
Written by Lynn McPherson
I started volunteering as the Foster Coordinator a couple of months ago, and have met so many amazing fosters and kitty cats during
that time. It’s wonderful to watch the changes that come from being in a loving foster home. The very first kittens I helped with were
very young, scared kittens when I dropped them off at their foster home. Just a couple of weeks later, I stopped by to drop off some
supplies and I couldn’t believe these were the same cats. They ran out to say hello, were running around playing, and were clearly
feeling very safe and loved in their home. The kids fell in love with the kittens and the kittens loved them right back. This is one of the
handful of foster homes that turned out to be a forever home.
We love our fosters and would not be able to help all the cats we do without such an amazing team. The socialization and love these
kitties are given makes their transition to their forever homes that much more rewarding for everyone.
Thank you to all of our wonderful fosters, and we can always use more. Please reach out to us if you have any room in your home and
hearts to help!
Saving the World, One Cat at a Time!
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THE FACTS ABOUT THE CATS
AND KITTENS BEING KILLED
IN HAZEL PARK continued...
Written by Angela Fisher
Several cats have been reported and the Hazel Park police
department is working on the case but the help of everyone in
that community is needed.
Karen’s Ferals is the group that has been responsible for re-homing
several cats (along with Crafty Cats in Ann Arbor) in that area that
are strays but that hasn’t stopped the killers.
Necropsies were ordered and funded on some of the cats by
Karen’s Ferals and the result was that the cats and kittens all
endured multiple fractures and internal injuries consistent with being
beaten to death. These cats and kittens were not killed by another
animal - they were killed by a person.
We have to keep this story in front of people and hope the reward
will help to do that.
Kitties from kitten to 12 years old in Hazel Park were found to have
been beaten to death within just a few days of each other. Someone
would have had to have been able to catch those cats and then
have the space and the psychosis to do that brutal act. It is important
to know that we are still hearing that this continues to happen.
Anyone that is capable of doing this - repeatedly - is capable of not only cold blooded animal cruelty but also moving this action to
people. They need to be stopped as quickly as possible for the sake of the other animals and the people that live in this community.
If you know anything or hear anything, please contact Janeen Gielniak at the Hazel Park P.D. at (248) 542-6161 x345 with any
information.
We at FCS recognize that several area groups contributed to the effort to save other cats in this area - and more cats have been
reported mutilated in the area. We want to use our public reach to help bring the only closure left - convict these people and get them
out of the community.
With the help of the community, we have raised $832 at this writing towards our reward goal. To contribute to the reward being offered,
please go to https://www.youcaring.com/person-whose-information-leads-to-the-arrest-and-conviction-466954.
WANT TO CONTRIBUTE?
Would you like to contribute to our next Mewsletter? Please contact the editor with ideas, comment, photos or anything you’d
like to share: lschmidtmedia@gmail.com
Saving the World, One Cat at a Time!
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is here to be your pet’s human slave
when you are unavailable. Little Bug is
Ferndale’s favorite pet care provider!
OUR BOARD THANKS YOU...
To our community of volunteers, fosters and generous people... THANK YOU!
LaPrairie Woodworks, Hartrick Veterinary Clinic, Little Friends of Ferndale, Michaels
Glass of Novi, MLS Signs of Chesterfield, Komodo Kitchen, Bubble & Bark, Green
Daffodil, Pet Supplies Plus of Royal Oak, Alley Cat Allies, Go Comedy!, George &
Marien Kissling, Keir Boving, Ryan Pulliot, Paul Roscano, Michelle Dickson, Deena
Terzo, Maggie Foreman, Julie Brennan, Lynn McPherson, Melody Malarsh, Craig
Covey, Carol Jackson, Sharon Crane
Kelly is a local graphic designer who
was kind enough to design our logo for
the Ferndale Cat Shelter.
Jim Kissling Mastering
Working with musicians from
Ferndale to Los Angeles, Greece to
Australia, from independent artists
to internationally known major-label
types, Jim puts the final touch on
their musicreadying it for release on
CD, vinyl, and iTunes.
PROVIDE VITAL
SUPPORT!
Just visit our website at:
www.ferndalecatshelter.com
and click on the DONATE button!
Snail Mail:
Ferndale Cat Shelter
821 Livernois Ave
Ferndale, MI 48220
Donation Drop-off:
Catfe Lounge
821 Livernois Ave
Ferndale, MI 48220
Events Calendar:
www.catfe.cafe
BOARD
Benjamin Long —
FOUNDER
MEMBERS
Angela Fisher —
CO-FOUNDER
Kristen Schmitt —
CO-FOUNDER
Saving the World, One Cat at a Time!
Maggie Foreman
Lynn McPherson
David Adrian
Anthony Hawkins
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