of the National Cat Protection Society FALL 2017 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.
KITTY MEWSINGS Giving you insight into a world of cats... Just watching my cats can make me happy. -Paula Cole EVENTS Keeping you informed of community events... Newport Beach Events Every Thursday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. COA for Animals A food bank for cats, dogs, birds, and rabbits welcoming volunteers Christian Outreach in Action, 515 E. 3rd St., Long Beach (949) 470-3045 www.coalongbeach.org/what-we-do/coa-for-animals May 20, 2018 National Cat Protection Society Open House and Fundraiser An open house and silent auction that supports our cats and kittens at Newport Beach Marriott Bayview RSVP (949) 650-1232 Spring Valley Events December 2, 2017, 12 to 4 p.m. Unleash the Holiday Cheer Festival A holiday festival featuring Santa, family activities at Santa s Workshop, food trucks, and laser tag (benefiting the military families and dogs of Helen Woodward Animal Center) at Ingram Plaza at Liberty Station, 2640 Historic Decatur Rd., San Diego (210) 643-4583 www.tracispaws.org/unleash-the-holiday-cheer June 10, 2018, 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, and Treasurer: Gerri Calore Vice President, Legal Counsel, and Secretary: Richard Tanzer Editorial Advisor: Nanci Burris Editor-in-Chief: Alexis Ravey Art Director: Steve Kinkaid www.natcat.org 2 3
NEWPORT BEACH SUCCESS STORY, PEARL When Carson Animal Shelter found Pearl, they also found a microchip which seemed to be a stroke of luck until they contacted her owners, who dropped the bomb they didn t want her anymore. But luckily, Jeni, our receptionist, was able to find another home for her, with her mom until she had to move into retirement living. So we took Pearl into NatCat, and once again, she was adopted! But despite our high hopes and wishful thinking, the new owner brought her back saying she was just too quirky. Then came the fateful day of our Clear the Shelters event, when a sweet lady thought her empty home needed a little quirkiness to fill it. It is now full of love, as the two keep each other company and live happily together. FELINE FIELD (Continued from page 8) Vitamins As catalysts for enzyme reactions, vitamins support cats metabolism. They need a tiny amount of them in their diet, but they don t need any extra through a supplement without a diagnosis of a deficiency in fact, oversupplementation could be poisonous. Minerals Like vitamins, an acceptable amount of minerals should already be in your cat s diet. The important thing to remember about nutrients, particularly vitamins and minerals, is that your cat needs the correct amount but no more, writes Cornell Feline Health Center. Minerals can structurally support bones and teeth, help maintain fluid balance, and aid metabolic reactions. Based on information from: Cat Nutrition Tips. (2017). American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Slideshow: Foods Your Cat Should Never Eat. (2017). WebMD. Feeding Your Cat. (2014). Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. 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 CLEAR THE SHELTERS EVENT For the first time, we participated in the national Clear the Shelters event, and for hopefully forever, 17 of our kitties will be in loving homes! The special adoption day took place on August 19th, and we d like to thank our supporters and adopters for making it such a success. Thank you also to the sponsors VIP Petcare, which provides highvalue wellness and preventative veterinary care through community clinics and wellness centers at local pet stores, and NBC4 News and Telemundo 52. SUCCESS STORY, LILY After wandering into a good Samaritan and her daughter s driveway one day, Lily continued on her journey when she was brought into NatCat. She was so sweet and pretty, her rescuers said, but she was also malnourished, almost a pound underweight at only 8 weeks old, and positive for feline leukemia (FeLV). Because we re a cage-free shelter, we couldn t risk exposing our other kitties to Lily, so we called a rescue that intakes special needs kitties. Most rescues won t take in FeLV+ cats, let alone FeLV+ kittens, since their chances for survival are slim, but SNAP Cats is different so unique, in fact, that they even called Pilots and Paws to fly her to their Santa Rosa shelter! Before we knew it, Lily was taking off and moving in to a place she can run around and play with her friends Cleo and Isabelle in. We couldn t be happier for her, and can t thank Darryl with SNAP Cats and Michelle and Jackie with Pilots and Paws enough, for helping her fight for life and even helping her take flight to get there. CAT CLUE Raw eggs are a no for cats, because they could cause food poisoning or interfere with biotin absorption; and taurine is a must, because it promotes normal development. For more on essential nutrients, check out page 8. 4 5
SPRING VALLEY FEATURED FRIENDS, OREO AND BROWNIE Oreo and Brownie are as sweet as they sound! The 2-year-old domestic longhair male and female came in together, and they d like to leave the same way. If you re a patient person with a loving home, they d love to meet you. CAT CABLE (Continued from page 10) 4. Gently cleanse the wound using the gauze or cloth. 5. Flush the wound using a syringe to remove debris and dislodge bacteria. 6. Consider taking your cat to your vet. Lacerations or Puncture Wounds If you see a long or deep laceration: 1. Follow steps 1 through 3 in Minor Cuts or Scrapes. 2. Only clean around the edges, without flushing the wound. 3. Take your cat to your vet. Oreo Brownie Based on information from: Wound Treatment for Cats (Overview). (2017). petmd. Why Hydrogen Peroxide Is NOT for Cleaning Pet Wounds. (2015). Preventative Vet. 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. VOLUNTEER SPOT- LIGHT, NAZEE DAVIS Tuesdays at NatCat have a special vitality. That energetic liveliness is Nazee. You ll find her all over the shelter grounds, cheerfully folding endless loads of laundry, grooming senior cats, watering our thirsty plants, and cleaning, cleaning, cleaning so thoroughly you d think royalty was due to visit. Nazee joined us only a few months ago, but her friendly, outgoing personality guarantees her fit here, which incidentally, she calls her happy place. While she also volunteers at the San Diego Zoo, she asserts she has a special heart for NatCat and our 50-year-old mission. A longtime California resident, Nazee is a retired banking official who divides her time between volunteering and gardening with her husband in their personal plot at a community garden in South Bay. When asked what her motivation is to volunteer with such an upbeat attitude, she replied emphatically, to give back from the heart. She continued, matter-of-factly, It s a choice; a grateful attitude is a choice. Thank you, Nazee, for your infectious enthusiasm. We re so glad you ve joined us, and would like to warmly welcome you as one of our newest volunteers! 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! 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! CAT TIP When cleansing a wound on your cat, don t use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, as either will damage the tissue. For more on wound care, check out page 10. 6 7
FELINE FIELD Helping you get to know more about your cat... Essential Nutrients Ensuring that your cat gets the proper nutrients is assuring him that he ll always feel his best. Many high-quality commercial pet foods contain them, but it may do a body good to make sure. These are the six essential nutrient classes you want your kitty to be getting: Water The most vital nutrient, water can protect your cat from serious illness or death. Wet foods contain water, but cats need fresh, clean water at all times. Proteins As carnivores, cats thrive on proteins. Proteins are the basic building blocks for cells, tissues, organs, enzymes, hormones, and antibodies, and are essential for growth, maintenance, reproduction, and repair, explains the ASPCA. In their diet, cats need essential amino acids the building blocks of proteins, which include arginine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, taurine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine. Note that taurine is critical for normal vision, digestion, heart muscle function, pregnancy and fetal development, and a healthy immune system. Fats Fats provide cats with twice the energy of proteins or carbohydrates, and enable them to absorb and utilize fat-soluble vitamins. They also play a very important role in cell structure and function, insulate the body, and protect internal organs. In their diet, cats need essential fatty acids, which include linoleic acid and arachidonic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid that supports the skin and coat, kidney function, and reproduction. Both omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids help heal inflammation. Carbohydrates Carbohydrates deliver energy to the body s tissues, maintain intestinal health, and support reproduction. While you don t need to feed your cat a certain amount of carbohydrates, you do need to give him a certain amount of glucose to support critical organs like the brain. Continued on page 4 SUPPORT Help NatCat pay for printing and mailing our quarterly newsletter with just $10 a year. Please mail checks (payable to NCPS), give online at natcat.org, or mail this credit card form: Name: Full address: Amount: $ Card type: American Express Discover MasterCard Visa Number: Signature (required): MEWS NOT TREES 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, to view our latest Feline Defenders online vs. receiving it in print by mail. RETIREMENT RESERVATIONS Expiration: Plan for your kitty companion s future today. Just call our Newport Beach or Spring Valley shelter to reserve space in our retirement program for a modest fee. Your reservation will lock in the current rate while promising lifetime care for your furry friend. 8 9
CAT CABLE Supplying the latest information in cat care... Wound Care The only thing that should be infectious from your cat is love and laughter not a wound. So if you notice bleeding; cut, scraped, or torn skin; limping; missing fur; or swelling caused by a wound, try these tips to remedy it: Bleeding If you see blood: 1. Cover the wound with sterile gauze or a clean cloth, and apply direct pressure to it for five to 10 minutes. 2. Use a clipper to remove the fur from around the wound, if possible, to prevent the fur from matting with blood and debris, and from getting stuck in the wound, which can prevent it from healing and cause infection. And here s a pro tip for skin wounds that aren t too deep: Put a bit of sterile, water-soluble lube in the wound before clipping the fur to prevent the clipped fur from sticking in the wound, suggests Jason Nicholas, DVM of Preventative Vet. 3. Tape the dressing in place to avoid removing the clot. 4. Consider taking your cat to your veterinarian. Minor Cuts or Scrapes If you see either: 1. Create an antiseptic solution (not a scrub) by diluting a store-bought product with povidone-iodine (PVP-I) or chlorhexidine diacetate (ChD) as the active ingredient, not alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. 2. Dilute the PVP-I to the color of weak tea, or the ChD to a pale blue. 3. Put the solution on sterile gauze or a clean cloth. Continued on page 6 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 cat shelter and humane education programs provide responsible cat care, teach animal population control, and enhance animal welfare for our communities. Your bequest can support these efforts by helping us promote the adoption of cats and kittens, and the humane treatment of all animals for years to come. 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 NAME STREET CITY STATE ZIP E-MAIL 10 11
NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID LONG BEACH, CA PERMIT NO. 491 National Cat Protection Society PO BOX 6218 Long Beach, CA 90806 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED