Conference misery::feline_v1

4717.0. "JUNE - NATIONAL CAT MONTH " by DACT6::COLEMAN (ULTRIX-ee in Training) Thu Jun 13 1991 10:11

Yesterday I was in the vicinity of a local SPCA, and since it's
national "Adopt a Cat" month, I decided to go in and see what 
the over-population looked like this year...

What makes me REALLY happy is the way that this particular
SPCA has done to make itself as clean as possible. They didn't
do this before, but now they have a cleansing solution on top
of the cat cages, stating that if you touch a cat to PLEASE
clean your hands before you touch another. SMART MOVE!! And this
is the first time that not ALL the cats had conjunctive-itis
or the likes.

Well, back to the kitties. The first room had about 5 cages
with anywhere from 2-5 kittens. I'd say there were about 15
kittens. I spent about 5 minutes at each cage playing. Of course,
I found one ADORABLE little black and white long-hair, that just
kept crying at me to play with him! Probably about 6 weeks
old! I told him that I already had 3, and that I'd have to buy
a bigger house in order to take him too! He understood.

The next room had about 8-12 more kittens (really surprising --
considering I've seen all their cages FILLED with 6-8 kittens! 
Anyhow, There were also about 6 cats there as well. Well, let me
tell you, talk about personality! Those older cats were SO
FRIENDLY! STARVING For attention! There were people there
"oohing" and "aahing" at the kittens, and I was too. But they
always COMPLETELY ignore the older cats! (Sort of like the
human race -- ignore the "old fogies"!) Anyhow, I talked
with them, and they were very attentive! I played with them 
more, and they really seemed to enjoy it!

The volunteers kept asking me if I wanted to see any, and
I told them I was just here to visit -- I didn't bring a
large enough car to take all of them home with me!

Well, I just wanted to let you know that I stopped by and visited
some of our Unwanted furry faced friends, and made them a
little happier for a few moments! (Of course I also made
a donation as well!)

Cheryl, Gracie,
Charlie (an SPCA cat) and Shanti (another SPCA cat)

    The Humane Society of New England in Nashua, NH is overflowing with
    terrific feleuk-free cats -- please stop in during the month of June to
    adopt! 
    
    The address is 24 Ferry Road, phone (603) 883-8512. For more
    information, write me on CUPMK::PHILBROOK.
    
    Mike

    There is no way that I could visit a shelter without taking one or more
    home.
    
    Too bad there isn't some way - and I am sure all of you have attempted
    to come up with some ingenious idea - to find homes for these unwanted
    cats.
    
    Are Nursing Homes - in the states of Mass and New Hampshire - allowing
    resident pets?  The only reason I single those out are because each
    State probably has it's own laws...and I live in Mass - near the New
    Hampshire border.
    
    What I find is that although shelters and the like need money to keep
    them up and running efficiently - what is lacking is the human contact
    that these cats/kittens crave and need.  
    
    Sorry, I get in a snit when I get to thinking about those babies living
    in cages...especially when my Otis and Tiffany have the run of the
    place - they're own blankets - music to nap by - etc. etc. etc.!
    
    Maybe my priorities aren't in the right place - but I really hope that
    when I can save some money (after my kids are out of college) I will 
    have a place where I can give lots of cats a chance at the good life.    
    
    Marilyn (the dreamer)