40+ kittens and cats maltreated and in need
By Kyra Hoggan
The Kootenay Animal Assistance Program (KAAP) needs you to help prevent a Christmas cat-astrophe, after happening upon a over-crowding situation that’s seeing more than 40 cats and kittens being neglected, malnourished and mistreated, according to KAAP president Laurel Mathew.
In its role as an animal rescue organization, KAAP of course wants to save these animals, but the sheer number is daunting for a grassroots volunteer organization – which may be good news for you.
“KAAP normally takes in unwanted or abandoned kittens (and cats, puppies/dogs), and places them in foster homes,” Mathew explained. “They are vet checked, vaccinated, spayed/neutered, and tattooed – all for a low adoption fee of $175 (all this would cost more than $400 for a female kitten on your own). We’re letting this new group of kitties go to good homes for a donation of just $20, which doesn’t come close to covering our expenses.”
The reason for the slashed cost, and what’s unusual in this situation, is just how very many animals are in dire need of rescue – KAPP simply has nowhere to house more than 40 cats and kittens, much less an adequate number of foster homes in which to socialize them and make them feel safe around people again.
“We couldn’t say no to helping here, because the cats are the ones that would suffer, not to mention keep reproducing like crazy,” Mathew said. “The kittens/cats range in age from five months to a few years old. They are most certainly not feral, but they are fearful.
“They need the right people to come along and help save their lives, literally. These kitties may hide for awhile, and take longer to trust humans than our ‘regular’ KAAP kitties, but they are well worth the effort.”
She said KAAP is taking in about 10 of these cats a week, getting them vet checked and spayed or neutered, then trying to find them nice, patient, loving homes.
“Because of the urgency to get this done, and because we understand that these kittens will need some TLC and patience, we are only asking for $20 to adopt them,” she said. “Of course that begin to cover our costs, but it’s a little bit to offset the huge expense rescuing these poor animals will incur. Our only goal here is to get the kitties out of a bad situation and into loving homes.”
She said the cats, to this point, are all black, which is another issue – sadly, black cats are the least likely to get adopted (which Mathew said is insane, laughingly sharing stories about the antics of a black kitten she’s currently fostering in her own home).
“If you can help, and have the time, patience, and love to offer one (or two) of these deserving little cats by giving them a forever home, please message us on our FB page (Kootenay Animal Assistance Program – KAAP), or call 250-352-2008. Our dream is to have them all in nice, safe, loving, caring homes very soon.”
Finally, Mathew said KAAP also has plenty of “regular” KAAP kittens ( and cats), that have been hand raised, vet checked and vaccinated, and that are extremely well socialized and perfect for families with young kids who can haul them around and play with them. Please check our website for all of our adoptable pets on www.kaap.ca
“It’s one of those situations where you intend to be a Christmas miracle for one of these loving, beautiful animals by saving their lives, only to discover the true recipient of a miracle was really you. They’re a joy to have around,” she concluded.
