by Jackie Dale
Jackie is a part of Cat House On The Kings in Parlier and does a monthly column on the Cat House here at KRL.
Dumped at The Cat House on the Kings
tubs as found by staff
Can you please help us with a donation?
www.cathouseonthekings.com/contribute.php
Mail checks to CHOTK
7120 S. Kings River Road
Parlier, CA 93648
One of the moms and babies dumped off
25 Years of Saving Cats
The Spring Open House will be here before you know it. It is scheduled for Saturday, May 6, 2017, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This year The Cat House on the Kings is celebrating our Twenty-fifth anniversary! That is one quarter of a century of helping cats (dogs) and helping people with their cats. That is a pretty significant milestone for any organization. We will be celebrating the entire year and we hope you will celebrate with us.
The party starts with the Spring Open House fundraiser. The star of the party is always our silent auction and this year will be no different. We are once again seeking items for the silent auction and volunteers to help out at the Open House. Already this year we have taken in numerous cats requiring medical attention. With a slew of abandoned cats to care for and with the kitten season already starting, it is vitally important that the auction be its usual successful self. Please donate something and ask friends and relatives for donations. Use your imagination and be creative. Maybe an antique piece of furniture, a pair of designer shoes or outfit you bought but never wore or a gift card for stock in Disney. Did you know you could do that now? You can now purchase the gift of stock right off the gift card rack at the supermarket! The perfect gift for the person who “has everything.” A smashing idea for a donation, don’t you think?
Quilt for Spring Raffle
So let’s get those silent auctions donations rolling in now because as I said earlier, the Open House will be here before you know it.
Oh, and let’s not forget that we need volunteers to help set up, clean up, and everything in between. This is a great opportunity for a local club service project. There are two 4-hour shifts you can choose from, so please consider donating your time to help the Open House go smoothly. As said the famous English writer John Heywood, “Many hands make light work.” In an interesting aside, he also said, “When all candles be out, all cats be grey.”
If you have a question about something you want to donate or you would like to sign up to volunteer that day, send an email to Tammy Barker at tammy@cathouseonthekings[dot}com. Please put either “Volunteer” or “Auction Donation” in all capital letters in the subject line, so Tammy can spot it among the hundreds of emails she receives daily.
One Month to Catch One Cat
It has been a very long month for me. I spent the longest time I have ever spent continuously trapping one cat; twenty-eight days to catch one black mama cat. I caught her two, three-month-old kittens on day one at Universal Auto in Selma. I normally go to Selma three times a week, but now I was making the 25-minute drive (each way) everyday to check the traps. During these twenty-eight days, the kittens were being housed and cared for at my home. The kittens, boys named Herman and Floyd, were neutered and vaccinated.
The people at the used car lot wanted my help but couldn’t even seem to be bothered to call me to let me know if I had caught anything. I caught and neutered a huge beat up male. Then I caught him three more times, poor guy just wanted the food. I was so happy when I finally caught the mom cat and immediately got her spayed.
The car lot owner was not happy but grudgingly accepted that the plan was to return the mom and young ’uns to their home at his lot. I told them that I had no choice but unbeknownst to him, I was already trying to find somewhere else for them to go. Good fortune smiled on the cat family and me. Thanks to my So Cal contact, I was able to find a home for the whole family. They are all going together to a home in Simi Valley where they will be in charge of rodent control. I recently placed two adults cats in Simi Valley where they patrol an organic garden for vermin.
So I returned to the used car lot, sought out the owner and explained all I had done for him. The twenty-eight days in a row I came to his lot, my time, my effort, my gas, the care and maintenance of the kittens, and the spay and neuter fees. I told him that The Cat House was able to cover the cost of two of the three neuters and asked for a donation to at least cover the cost of the third neuter and the females spay. He gave me $20. I was very disappointed and a bit angry that this man placed so little value on all that I had done for him and his business. However I can’t make people pay if they don’t want to, and the bottom line is that I had to make certain that no more kittens were born at Universal Auto in Selma. Mission Accomplished!
Natural Rodent Control
My contact in So Cal has been a most fruitful relationship. This woman, Becky, specializes in finding rodent control positions/placement for feral and semi-feral cats. Thus far, our collusion has resulted in finding homes/placement for eleven cats that had nowhere else to go. She needs cats that meet specific criteria, and I provide her with the cats that meet the needs of the adopters. The cats are almost always utilized for natural rodent control. It is good to know that people still realize that cats can provide safe and effective control from harmful vermin.
Feral siblings adopted in Bakersfield
One packinghouse that had me come in and trap and relocate a small colony later complained that they now had a mouse problem on the back patio where employees ate lunch. I laughed and told them I could bring them a fixed cat to take care of that. They replied that the health department wouldn’t allow that. I asked them how the health department would feel about a mouse infestation. Seriously, which is filthier, a cat or a bunch of mice? No question in my book. Which is exactly why places like Disneyland maintain colonies of cats in the park. Disneyland maintains a stable colony of about 200 cats underneath the park that come out at night to make sure the park only has fun mice, like Mickey and Minnie.
Winky
One-eyed Winky has made a lot of progress, but we fear that if we adopt him out, he will lose all the confidence he has built up and regress. So in all likelihood he will remain with us unless a perfect situation presents itself.
Adeline, cast aside when her owner died, is doing well at my house. She had to have a tooth pulled but otherwise appears to be in good health and has a friendly temperament. She is about 7-8 years old, gets along with other cats, and is not afraid of dogs. Contact me if you are interested in adopting Adeline.
Adeline
You may also email me if you have a question or comment but be advised, I don’t take criticism well so positive queries and comments only please: jackiejoy@hotmail[dot]com.
Editor’s Note: Adeline may be on her way to being adopted.
Learn more about the Cat House on their website.
Check out more animal rescue & pet related articles, including more Cat House columns, in our Pet Perspective section and remember that if you buy an ad in KRL you can designate 10% of the ad price to go to the Cat House.
Watched the video on your web site. Oh My what a job you have undertaken! As I support 2 shelters here in Spokane I can’t send much but will put a one time donation in the mail tomorrow. Thanks for the work you do.
Thanks so much Lorraine!
I can’t tell you how glad I am that people like you are here. My husband and I have 2 cats, both rescues. All of our cats have been rescues and I don’t understand how anyone could just abandon a cat or dog for that matter.
Cats and dogs love unconditionally, just like a child. If we could find those who do this, they should be taken to a completely foreign place and left with no money, credit cards or identification. Let them experience that feeling of helplessness and hopelessness.
Thanks for your support Silva! I agree they need to be punished.
Thank you, Jackie, for your hard work on behalf of the many cats who need help. I sent a small donation to the Cat House on the Kings recently. I live in Michigan but I love hearing about the good work that they do – California cats are lucky to have people like you who care so much about them!
Thank you Erika!
God bless you! Thank you for all you do for the cats. So many cats are safe and healthy thanks to you.
Thank you Lori. I really appreciate your support.
OMG! What is wrong with people. For the price that it cost that Low life human to buy 14 plastic tubs – and the effort to get them in the tubs……….I just don’t get it, ever. I will donate $ today. So sorry that Universal Auto doesn’t understand what it means to be supportive of living animals. I applaud you daily for all that you do.
Thanks Lorraine, I too thought that if they put that money and effort into fixing their cats, this would have never happened.
Jackie – Do you have a paypal account where I could send you a donation for all you do. I do already donate monthly to CHOTK but I appreciate your work an column and would like to give thanks to you as well. Thanks
THANKS!!!
Jackie love to hear your stories and I think you should only receive glowing compliments because you are wonderful! Can I send you some gas cards for all the travel you do?
OMGOsh Trisha, that would be awesome! With a couple of long transports coming up that would be amazing! Thanks so much, Jackie
PO Box 1859 Reedley, CA 93654
Thank you ever so much for all that you do in spite of the lack of appreciation of some. I was involved in foster/rescue for many years and I know it’s hard work!
I just sent a donation that will hopefully cover the cost of getting those “tub kitties” vaccinated–not all humans are so heartless ?
Thanks for your generosity Suzanne.
I commend you Jackie for your perseverance, in trapping the cats at Universal Auto. If you did not do that, those cats would still be there. Thank you for helping them.
Thanks Alanna, I admit that a couple of times I wanted to give up, but I’m glad I didn’t. 🙂
Thank you so much Jackie, I appreciate all you do and I donate every month, not a lot but every month. Love to all of you and your hard work these beautiful animals. I have 6 of them..
Thanks Linda. A donation of any size is immensely appreciated!
I posted to Universal Auto my feelings and kept it professional. I hope others will follow. Thank you Jackie for all you do!!!
Lol, that is awesome, thank you!
Will be sending my usual monthly donation shortly, from me and my 9 furries thank you all so much for your wonderful love and compassion for these lovely cats, would love to have one but a bit far to send to Ireland.
Just read about the bunch of cats dumped at your doorstep.That poor mother cats eyes said she needed help. Bless you all for the work you do.Will mail a check to you in the morning to help take care of them. May God watch over you all.
Thank you so much Dorothy! Wow, Ireland, I’m humbled that so many people enjoy my column.
Jackie, every time I read your column, I thank goodness for people like you. I support CHOTK as much as I can; I wish I could do more but I’m not in state. Thank you!!! You give me hope.
Thank you Kate, thank you for caring!
Love your stories, Jackie. We’ll get a check in the mail this week. Wish it could be more, but we’re living on Social Security and supporting 12 of our own rescues (well, 11 live-ins, feeding 1 feral).
Thank you very much. There is no such thing as a small donation. We appreciate you for rescuing!
Jackie,
You are amazing, and I just want to thank you for all that you do.