feline defenders - National Cat Protection Society

FELINE DEFENDERS
of the
National Cat Protection Society™
FALL 2012
6904 W. Coast Highway
Newport Beach, CA 92663
(949) 650-1232
newport@natcat.org
9031 Birch Street
Spring Valley, CA 91977
(619) 469-8771
springvalley@natcat.org
The National Cat Protection Society™ is a
shelter whose primary mission is dedicated
to the protection and welfare of cats.
EDUCATION
EVENTS
Providing humane education to respect age…
Keeping you informed of community events...
Cat Age in Human Years
Have you ever wondered exactly how
old your cat is in human years? American
Humane Association compares cat to
human ages, within the stages of life from
kitten to geriatric:
Cats
Humans
Kitten
0–1 month 0–1 year
2–3
4
6
Cats
Humans
Prime
3 years
28 years
2–4
6–8
4
5
10
6
Junior
Cats
Humans
Senior
11 years
60 years
32
36
12
13
40
14
Mature
64
68
72
Geriatric
7
12
7
44
15
76
12
18
2 years
15
21
24
8
9
10
48
52
56
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
80
84
88
92
96
100
104
108
112
116
Based on information from:
Connecting with Cats. (2010). American Humane Association.
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT (Continued from page 4)
In addition to volunteering, Alice loves singing and playing the ukulele!
She plays with a group of ladies at Island Bazaar in Huntington Beach
four times a year, the Alzheimer’s Family Services Center in Huntington
Beach two to three times a year, the VA Long Beach Medical Center
in Long Beach, and local retirement centers. She also performs at the
Huntington Beach Pier.
You’re one talented lady, Alice! We’re also so glad you have a knack
with kitties – thank you for bringing it to NatCat!
FELINE DEFENDERS
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Newport Beach Events
November 11, 2012, 9 a.m.
VPI K9K Pet Cancer Awareness Walk
A 3K pet walk and fair with pet products, services, and contests
(benefiting the Animal Cancer Foundation)
at Catalina Landing, 320 Golden Shore, Long Beach
(949) 975-1812
May TBD, 2013, 1 to 4:30 p.m.
National Cat Protection Society™ Open House and Fundraiser
An open house and silent auction that supports our cats and kittens
at the Newport Beach shelter
RSVP (949) 650-1232
Spring Valley Events
October 6, 2012, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Kindred Spirit Animal Ministry Animal Fair
A holistic animal fair with workshops and adoptions
at Balboa Park, 6th Ave. and Laurel St., San Diego
(619) 546-8147
December 9, 2012, 1 to 5 p.m.
Gaslamp Holiday Pet Parade and Pet Expo
A pet parade and expo
at Gaslamp Hilton Park, 401 K St., San Diego
(619) 233-5227
June TBD, 2013, 1 to 4:30 p.m.
National Cat Protection Society™ Open House and Fundraiser
An open house and silent auction that supports our cats and kittens
at the Spring Valley shelter
RSVP (619) 469-8771
If you’d like to receive the latest news and announcements from NatCat, please
send your e-mail address to newport@natcat.org.
NATIONAL CAT PROTECTION SOCIETY, INC.
A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
Founder: The Late C. Richard Calore
President: Denise Johnston
Vice President & PR Director: Gerri Calore
Financial VP & Legal Counsel: Richard Tanzer
Editorial Advisor: Nanci Burris
Editor-in-Chief: Alexis Ravey
Art Director: Steve Kinkaid
www.natcat.org
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FELINE DEFENDERS
NEWPORT BEACH
SUCCESS STORY, BORIS
HESPERIA CATS
On June 12th, a red Persian we named Boris
was left in a carrier at our back gate with an
eye condition and a note. The note was from
the previous owner, saying that he was 5
years old and had been attacked by a dog,
and that she couldn’t take care of him or
the eye issue. We quickly discovered that
Boris is quite a guy – that loves to talk, purr,
roll around on his belly, and be held.
Last June, we warmly welcomed three
cats without hope from the City of Hesperia
Animal Control Department, Hazel,
Napoleon, and Delilah. Now a 1-year-old seal
point Snowshoe female, Hazel is very friendly
and sweet. Napoleon, a 3-year-old gray and
white domestic shorthair male, is everyone’s
buddy. And Delilah, a 1½-year-old black and
white domestic shorthair with one blue eye
and one yellow eye, is a darling lap cat with
an endearing mischievous streak.
To fix his eye, our veterinarian Dr. Barry Love referred him to
ophthalmology specialist Cindy Mar, DVM, DACVO at Southern
California Veterinary Specialty Hospital. She diagnosed Boris with a
bilateral corneal sequestrum, which is common in cats with a flatfaced profile. This profile can keep the eyelid from completely closing,
causing dryness and black plaque in the eye. Dr. Mar shaved some
of the growth and two weeks later, removed even more. His eyesight
is a now bit cloudy, but he is most importantly healed!
After the treatments, our volunteer Jean Pugh fell in love with him
immediately. With two Persians already at home, she was familiar
with the eye condition and fine with taking him in for future treatments
as necessary. We know you’re keeping your eyes on each other for
health – we wish you all of the happiness in the world, you two!
Soon after receiving them, we also received
a letter from shelter representative Melinda
Fisher. She kindly said, “Thank you so much
for taking the three Hesperia Animal Control
cats into your beautiful facility. I know you
have many requests to take cats, so we were
all so appreciative you took three out of a
hopeless situation. Until adoption, these three very lucky cats will have
a very nice life with all of you. I was quite impressed with your place –
an extremely clean and happy atmosphere. The staff was really
friendly – thank you for the tour.”
Since then, we’re delighted to report that two out of the too-cute trio
have been adopted. To meet sweet Delilah, visit her today!
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT,
ALICE FOWLIE
NatCat FEEDBACK
Alice Fowlie has been lending our kitties her love
for five years! After Alice retired, her pet-sitting
neighbor suggested she stop by the shelter to
learn about our volunteering opportunities. She
did and since then, has had a whole lot of fun just
petting the kitties vs. doing the dirty work she had
to do at another shelter.
We hope you enjoy purr-using Feline Defenders every quarter. Let
us know what you think or what you’d like to see in future issues at
newport@natcat.org!
CAT CLUE
Alice fell in kitty love the first time at NatCat with Patches. When
Patches was moved to Spring Valley, Alice missed her so much that
she caught a ride with another volunteer, Dora, to Spring Valley to visit
her! She has cultivated many relationships with the people here too.
In a purrfect world, kittens should stay with their mom until
they’re 10 to 12 weeks old. Otherwise, they may start suckling
and kneading their owner or clothing. For more on suckling and
kneading, check out page 8.
Continued on page 3
FELINE DEFENDERS
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5
FELINE DEFENDERS
SPRING VALLEY
FEATURED FRIEND,
TIGERLILY
Tigerlily is a 2-year-old tabby domestic longhair.
Really sweet, she loves people and sitting on
their lap. If you seek a friendly and affectionate
lifetime companion, look no further than Tigerlily.
VOLUNTEER
SPOTLIGHT,
DONNA BUTTNER
Donna Buttner has been bringing our
cats joyful company for more than 20
years! Why are we all so lucky? “The
shelter is sparkling clean,” she says.
“The staff and volunteers make sure the cats are happy. And I can
relax in the serene environment while enjoying the kitties.” Donna works
at San Diego State University during the week, but likes to spend
Saturdays at NatCat. She makes sure to come prepared each time too,
generously bringing canned cat food on paper plates to our retirement
cats. “This way, the shy cats even feel comfortable approaching me,” she
explains. “I’ve formed many rewarding relationships with many cats over
the years, which is why I encourage more people to visit them. They may
find that they get more than they give!”
No wonder our cats adore you, Donna. All of us here sure do – thanks for
everything!
FELINE FIELD (Continued from page 8)
Based on information from:
Cats Who Suckle and Lick People. (2012). The American Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
Krieger, Marilyn. How Can I Stop Cat’s Suckling Behavior? (2009). CatChannel.
Theberge, Gigi. Cat’s Suckling Behavior Similar to Child’s Thumbsucking. (2006). North
County Times.
NatCat protects and defends all felines – of all breeds and mixes.
Knowing increasingly more about felines can help you understand your
own cat’s behavior and desires. Visit Feline Field in Feline Defenders
every issue to obtain such knowledge, which can only nurture a happier
and healthier relationship with your faithful friend.
FELINE DEFENDERS
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44TH OPEN HOUSE AND FUNDRAISER
What a day! Our 44th Open House and
Fundraiser was just delightful. Over our
few hours together, many of us admired
our two new permanent buildings, Gino’s
Den and Krull’s Place for the first time.
As you likely know, NatCat is one of few
shelters that houses our kitties in open
spaces and now, these spaces are solid in
structure and decked in accommodations.
Before and after wandering through
them and the other areas including our
environmentally enriched Retirement
Home, we enjoyed goodies – edible, raffle,
and silent auction, alike! Our supporters
happily scored all kinds of gift baskets and all levels of gift
certificates. We also had a full array of artistic jewelry and scarves
for purchase. Of course, all of the proceeds went to our kitties!
In addition to our generous supporters, we were graced by the royal
presence of Miss Vista, Miss Teen Vista, and Vista Strawberry
Festival Court members. Regularly visiting various events all over
San Diego County, graduate Ashton Knowles, freshman Elise
Odom, and sophomore Kelly Barnes elected to kindly support our
kitties for the day. When they aren’t formally representing their
courts, Ashton likes visiting places around the county with the
enthusiasm that made her a cheerleader; Elise plays basketball,
runs track and cross country, and plays the oboe; and Kelly plays
field hockey, serving as the captain last year. And they all love
spending time with their animals, of course! Ashton has twin dogs,
Tucker and Roxy, Elise has two cats, Nugget and Wolfie, and Kelly
has one cat, Trinity. They were just a joy, adding smiles to our
special day – thanks for joining us, ladies!
CAT TIP
Did you know that cats usually can’t stand citrus scents? That’s
why you can use them to discourage certain behaviors. For more
on aversive training, check out page 10.
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FELINE DEFENDERS
FELINE FIELD
Helping you get to know more about your cat...
Suckling and Kneading
Wondering why your cat licks or suckles
your skin or clothes while kneading and
purring, like he is nursing? Essentially,
he may find it comforting because he
was orphaned or weaned earlier than
6 weeks old, or may be anxious, ill,
or bored, just to name a few possible
reasons. Older cats that start the
behavior should visit your veterinarian,
as it may be a symptom of
hyperthyroidism, which occurs in up to
30% of cats over 10 years old.
If your cat suckles and kneads to the
point that it bothers you, try these tips
every time he starts:
NatCat MEMBERSHIP
Help NatCat offset the costs of producing our quarterly newsletter by
becoming a purroud NatCat member. Your membership also furthers
our other efforts as a non-profit organization entirely dependent on the
loyal support of our members and friends.
Choose from three types of membership:
Membership
Cost
Annual
$10
Supporting
$250
Lifetime
$1,000
• Quickly and consistently but gently walk away, without startling
him. “You may need to keep this up for several weeks or months
before you notice a reduction in the behavior,” says the ASPCA.
To become a member, contact a NatCat shelter.
• Use a toy or treats to distract him.
MEWS NOT TREES
• Attentively play with him for five to 10 minutes, once or twice a day
to reduce anxiety.
• Provide a chewable item such as thin rawhide lightly coated with
fish oil or cat grass to satisfy him.
• Identify and remedy any source of stress. Common sources are
nearby dogs, arguments, crowding, and confinement. Remedies
for these situations may be hiding places, high places, or activity.
Want to help us save resources
along with cats in need? Notify
newport@natcat.org that you’d like
to receive our e-newsletter, NatCat Mews,
linking to our latest Feline Defenders
online vs. receiving it in print by mail.
• Spray a product like Grannick’s Bitter Apple® on your clothing.
If you’re worried about compulsion, contact an animal behaviorist.
Continued on page 6
Like National Cat Protection Society – Spring Valley at
http://www.facebook.com/natcatspringvalley and National Cat
Protection Society – Newport Beach http://www.facebook.com/
natcatnewportbeach to learn the latest at NatCat!
FELINE DEFENDERS
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RETIREMENT RESERVATIONS
Plan for your kitty companion’s future today. Just call our Newport
Beach or Spring Valley shelter to reserve space in our retirement
program, locking in the current rate and promising lifetime care for
your furry friend.
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FELINE DEFENDERS
CAT CABLE
Supplying the latest information in cat care...
Aversive Training
What can you do if your cat constantly exhibits bad behavior? If you yell
or hit her, she will only fear you. But through aversive training, which is
training that uses sensations your cat won’t like but won’t associate with
you, you can discourage the behavior.
These sensations include:
• Smells such as citrus scents or colognes
• Sounds such as pot lids or hand clapping
• Tastes such as nontoxic repellants
• Textures such as duct tape or rough surfaces
“You can pick, choose, and adapt your tools to any situation,” says
the HSUS. Just make sure that your cat connects the sensation to the
behavior. “If you squirt him or blow the whistle after he is finished, he
won’t connect the consequence with his behavior and your effort will be
wasted,” adds the HSUS.
Want specific examples? If your cat scratches your carpet or furniture,
try spraying it with cologne. Does she like to jump on tables? Place
cardboard on your table, with double-sided tape on the top of the cardboard. Before your cat chews your cords, spray a little bitter apple on
them. To discourage plant digging, place aluminum foil on the soil.
Based on information from:
Just Say No: Aversive Training Your Cat. (2010). The Humane Society of the United
States (HSUS).
Syufy, Franny. Whose House Is This, Anyway? How to Win Territorial Battles with Your
Cat. (2012). About.com.
Visit Cat Cable in Feline Defenders every issue to read the latest in cat
care. If there’s any specific information you’d like to see in Feline Field
or Cat Cable, please notify the Newport Beach shelter.
FELINE DEFENDERS
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Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way
Protect the Ones You Love
Give the gift of quality life after you’re gone by including
the National Cat Protection Society™ in your will.
Our humane education programs teach animal population control
and responsible cat care to children and adults. These programs
aim to reduce the number of unwanted cats and enhance animal
welfare for years to come.
Your bequeathed donation can support these efforts by helping
us promote the humane treatment of all animals and adoption of
the homeless cats continually entering our shelters.
Please write today for our free brochure:
“Planning for Your Charitable Donations”
c/o National Cat Protection Society™
6904 W. Coast Highway, Newport Beach, CA 92663
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FELINE DEFENDERS
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National Cat Protection Society™
PO BOX 6218
Long Beach, CA 90806
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