FELINE DEFENDERS of the National Cat Protection Society WINTER 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 Providing humane education to protect welfare... Preventing Cancer Cats can get cancer too. How? Through many factors, such as genes, environment, and lifestyle. For example, squamous cell carcinoma of the ear, eyelid, or nose is a skin cancer caused by repeated exposure to the sun, says the ASPCA. Most commonly, cats contract lymphosarcoma from the feline leukemia virus (FeLV), which spreads in utero, saliva, contact, and though rarely, litterboxes and dishes. Lymphosarcoma is a highly malignant cancer, so make sure your veterinarian tests and vaccinates your cat for FeLV. To prevent many cancers, just spay or neuter! Spaying prevents breast cancer, and neutering prevents testicular cancer. To possibly detect cancer early, check for these symptoms: Lumps and bumps Swelling Ongoing skin sores, infections, or patches Coarse fur Abnormal discharge Bad breath Abnormal behavior, such as lethargy Weight loss Sudden lameness Vomiting and diarrhea Appetite loss Abnormal breathing, urination, or defecation Whether or not you find these symptoms, you should regularly take your cat to the vet for examination, testing, vaccination, and any other necessary services. These visits can assure that he or she doesn t tooquickly use up all nine lives. Based on information from: Eckstein, Sandy. Cancer in Cats: Types, Symptoms, Prevention, and Treatment. (2009). WebMD. Cancer. (2011). American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Feline Leukemia Virus. (2009). Cornell Feline Health Center. EVENTS Keeping you informed of community events... Newport Beach April 20 to 22, 2012, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Fri. and Sun.)/7 p.m. (Sat.) America s Family Pet Expo A large-scale pet and pet product expo at the OC Fair and Event Center, Costa Mesa (800) 999-7295 May 6, 2012, 1 to 4:30 p.m. National Cat Protection Society Open House and Fundraiser at the Newport Beach shelter RSVP (949) 650-1232 Spring Valley March 15, 2012, 6 to 9:30 p.m. Cat and Dog First Aid A course on pet first aid for emergency preparedness and response at the American Red Cross, San Diego (858) 309-1200 May 5, 2012, 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. 2012 Walk for Animals A scenic 3/4-mile walk, activities, contests, and vendors (benefiting the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA) at Crown Point Shores, Mission Bay San Diego (619) 243-3493 June 3, 2012, 1 to 4:30 p.m. National Cat Protection Society Open House and Fundraiser 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. www.natcat.org 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 FELINE DEFENDERS 2 3 FELINE DEFENDERS
NEWPORT BEACH FEATURED FRIEND, MAX Max is a 6-year-old seal point Siamese female. A very sweet girl, she loves attention, and her ears and chin scratched. She also loves to talk she is a Siamese after all! Perhaps most notably, she fetches. Just toss a cat toy, and she ll more often than not bring it back. She just doesn t particularly like to be picked up. Max was relinquished to us this January after her owner s infant developed cat allergies. Sadly declawed, she absolutely must be an indoor cat (though NatCat urges that all cats be indoors only). And she d likely do well as the only cat in your home, especially because she was the only one in her last place. VOLUNTEER VIEWPOINT Want to learn how NatCat volunteers step up? Whether you re one, interested in becoming one, or just support the team of our volunteers, here s the latest from our volunteering viewpoint: 15 new volunteers signed up at our monthly volunteer orientation on January 28th One young volunteer earned her Bronze Tabby Student Award. Learn more about our Student Awards Program at NatCat.org/participate/students.html NatCat needs baskets and items for our upcoming Open House and Fundraiser on May 6th! Our attendees tend to particularly like: - Cat toys - Items for women - Items for men - Items for children - Beach gear - Gift certificates - Gift cards SUPPORTER SPOTLIGHT, JENI ERICKSON To see cats above the front desk in Newport Beach or sit with cats on the walls in Spring Valley is to know and love longtime artist Jeni Erickson s artwork. Since Operations Manager Nanci Burris found Jeni in 2001, she has created the many colorful murals at both of our shelters that set scenes from the tropics to a park. Meanwhile, Jeni also enjoys painting large privateparty canvases, furniture, and 3D views. I ll paint on anything! she says. She even once painted on the side of a car. Over the years, Jeni has also taught art, ceramics, and many other facets of art at Newport Elementary and Christian Montessori Academy. Though proud of multiple works, such as a whitewashed mural at Margaritaville, Jeni is perhaps most proud of the ones she created with a student who has since passed. She was too sick to go to recess, so we used to stay in and do ceramics, she remembers. I asked her to sign and date each piece now that she s gone, I feel like this collection has immortalized her in a way. While painting at our shelters, Jeni particularly loves her kitten fixes and appreciates the staff s dedication to the cats. At home, she also gets her friendly fixes with two cats, a dog, and 10 turtles. CAT CLUE We re so grateful you enliven our environment with your artistic ability, Jeni! If you d like to learn more about Jeni s artwork, contact either shelter. The Ragdoll cat usually prefers the ground over heights. For more on the Ragdoll cat, check out page 8. FELINE DEFENDERS 4 5 FELINE DEFENDERS
SPRING VALLEY IN MEMORIAM, JIM AND MAXI O NEIL We d like to express our deep appreciation for a $2,000 donation we recently received from Dan O Neil for Jim O Neil on behalf of his cat, Maximus or Maxi. Jim found Maxi in the crawl space under one of his two homes, left behind by a neighbor. To properly care for the little guy, big-hearted Jim drove 45 minutes from his other home daily! When Jim passed away, a few of his neighbors cared for Maxi until his brother brought him to San Diego. Very loving and peaceful, he easily adapted to his new environment, says Dan. He fit in great with his new feline family, JenJen and Chleo both San Diego-native cats. Tragically though, Maxi passed away six months after the move, so he is now peacefully resting with Jim in Heaven, remarks Dan. In their memory, the donation will help save, feed, care for, and stop the neglect and abuse of animals like sweet Maxi. SUPPORTER SPOTLIGHT, SIMON HOLLOWELL Whenever astrophysicist Simon Hollowell from Stratford-upon- Avon in south Warwickshire, England, visits his uncle Nick (Thompson) our longtime volunteer handyman, we get to see him too. We all sure enjoy his visits, especially our cats! Simon interacts really well with our kitties and likes to spend most of his time at our shelter in the retirement area. Thanks from all of us and come back soon, Simon! NATCAT SHOPPING You can shop to support NatCat! With GoodShop. com and igive.com, you can buy items from your fur-vorite online stores while earning money for our shelters. These stores widely range from Amazon and Apple to 1-800-PetMeds and Williams Sonoma. You may even get a discount! You can also shop at Ralphs using your Ralphs rewards Card to earn our shelters donations. To learn how to sign up for any of these programs, visit NatCat.org/donate/more-ways.html. CAT CABLE (Continued from page 10) While exploring your options, avoid using items or methods that make your cat fear you rather than avoid the areas. And hopefully, she ll soon know where to go and where to stay away. Based on information from: Keeping Your Cat off Countertops and Tables. (2012). The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Syufy, Franny. Countering Counter-Surfing Cats. (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. NATCAT FEEDBACK 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 TIP Cats don t typically care for cold, prickly, sticky, or slippery surfaces, which can be used to keep them off of your countertops. For more on discouraging household high-jumping, check out page 10. FELINE DEFENDERS 6 7 FELINE DEFENDERS
FELINE FIELD Helping you get to know more about your cat... Breed-born Traits and Behaviors: The Ragdoll Learn your cat s history, care needs, and expected behaviors by breed In this ongoing series, you ve learned about the Siamese, Abyssinian, American Shorthair, Oriental, Persian, and Maine Coon. This issue, we help you get to know more about your mixed or purebred Ragdoll the puppy cat. In 1963, a California breeder presumably mixed a feral white Angora cat and a few other longhaired cats with Siamese-style points to birth the Ragdoll breed. What are points? When the fur on the face, ears, legs, and tail grows darker than the fur everywhere else. The breed s point colors are typically seal, chocolate, blue, and lilac. With big bones, the Ragdoll can weigh up to 35 pounds, which is triple the size of most breeds. This size comes with strength, a wide chest, and a large rear. Yet, the coat stays short, making grooming easy. The cat also flashes beautiful blue eyes. It isn t particularly prone to health issues, but should be regularly checked for heart disease. Behaviorally, the Ragdoll adorably likes to follow its owner around hence the nickname, puppy cat. The name Ragdoll comes from its tendency to go limp when picked up, as it is generally very laidback. Easily adapting to a new environment with kids and other pets, the breed totally qualifies as a great family indoor cat. Based on information from: Cats 101. (2009). Discovery Communications. Ragdoll Cat. (2012). Petfinder.com. Helgren, J. Anne. Encyclopedia of Cat Breeds. (1998). Barron s Educational Series, Inc. 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. Interested in adopting a Ragdoll cat? Like National Cat Protection Society Spring Valley and National Cat Protection Society Newport Beach to see some of our adoptable cats and kittens! NatCat NEEDS YOUR HELP! Each year, NatCat finds loving, responsible homes for hundreds of unwanted cats and kittens. Donations and memberships help us supply food, shelter, and medical care while they await adoption. Please help us continue to provide this vital service. Join NatCat by becoming a member! o $10 YEARLY o $1,000 LIFETIME o $250 SUPPORTING o $ OTHER NAME STREET CITY STATE ZIP E-MAIL Payment Method: o Credit Card: o American Express o Discover o MasterCard o Visa Amount: Number: Expiration: Signature (required): o Check (make checks payable to NCPS) o Online: o www.natcat.org (to PayPal) o PayPal directly (to natcatnewport@gmail.com) Please mail form and check (if any) to: NatCat - PO BOX 6218 - Long Beach, CA 90806 FELINE DEFENDERS 8 9 FELINE DEFENDERS
CAT CABLE Supplying the latest information in cat care... Discouraging Household High-Jumping Does your kitty drive you crazy by jumping onto countertops, shelves, tabletops, and other high household places? Beyond your (in)sanity though, they could get hurt stepping on a hot stove or licking up residual cleaner. However, cats naturally like jumping and climbing to explore, observe, and escape. So how do you deter the urge without stripping the instinct? Try these tips: Offer an alternate outlet. To maintain natural behaviors, set out a cat tree or condo with different platforms, warm beds with extra blankets, or window shelves, such as the Kitty Sill and the LazyPet Deluxe Window Perch. Clean areas, or increase meals. Keep tempting food off of counters, or give several small meals a day rather than one or two larger ones to maintain satiety. Around-the-clock access to food may also work for cats at a normal weight. Use items of consequence. Stick sticky tape or aluminum foil to the edge, as cats don t like the feeling and noise these items create. If you don t want to ultimately clean up the sticky mess they may leave behind, try to balance some lightweight cookie sheets on the edge of the counter, says the ASPCA. When your cat jumps up, she ll land on the sheets. They ll move and possibly topple over, making some unpleasant noise when she leaps back onto the floor. Other noisemakers are available in stores today, such as the Snappy Trainer, SSCAT cat system, and ScatMat. Continued on page 7 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 Hwy, Newport Beach, CA 92663 NAME STREET CITY STATE ZIP E-MAIL FELINE DEFENDERS 10 11 FELINE DEFENDERS
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