FELINE DEFENDERS of the National Cat Protection Society 50 TH -ANNIVERSARY EDITION WINTER/SPRING 2018 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... Cats know how to obtain food without labor, shelter without confinement, and love without penalties. -W. L. George EVENTS Keeping you informed of community events... Newport Beach Events April 27 to 29, 2018, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Fri. and Sun.)/7 p.m. (Sat.) America s Family Pet Expo A pet expo featuring entertainment, exhibitors, and contests at the OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Dr., Costa Mesa (800) 999-7295 http://www.petexpooc.org 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 May 5, 2018, 12 to 4 p.m. Walk for Animals A two-mile pet walk featuring a pancake breakfast, live music, vendors, and children s activities (benefiting San Diego Humane Society) at NTC Park at Liberty Station, 2455 Cushing Rd., San Diego (619) 243-3469 http://support.sdhumane.org/site/tr?fr_id=1232&pg=entry June 10, 2018 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 Editorial Advisor: Nanci Burris Editor-in-Chief: Alexis Ravey Art Director: Steve Kinkaid www.natcat.org FELINE DEFENDERS 2 3 FELINE DEFENDERS
NEWPORT BEACH CAT CABLE (Continued from page 10) FEATURED FRIEND, QUATRO Quatro came to NatCat with her littermates, and they all had feline herpes, a virus that lives dormant until it flares up, usually from stress. Due to this condition, Quatro had to spend the first few months of her life in isolation at our shelter. She healed during this time, but one of her eyes is still a little foggy. Her personality is bright, though! She is the sweetest, most resilient cat we ve ever met. She is looking for a normal life in a forever home where she gets held like a baby, gets her belly rubbed, and can play with feather wands. She is also always up for playtime with other cats and children. The virus isn t contagious, and it doesn t require any medication. consider taking your cat to the vet. While waiting for your appointment, you can try applying vitamin E, but not creams and salves, as they can further irritate the condition. 4. If any nose-related changes are accompanied by symptoms like loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, or other signs of illness, take your cat to the vet immediately. Based on information from: Karen Becker, DVM. Two Things About Your Pet s Nose You Should Know. (2012). Healthy Pets. Interpreting Cat Nose Color Changes. (2018). VetInfo. Cait Rohan Kelly. Why Does Your Cat s Nose Change Color? (2017). Catster. 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! STAFF SPOTLIGHT, JOE STEWART The newest addition to our team offers handyman work for our shelter, and great care for our kitties! His duties include kennel attendant work in the mornings, and maintenance and repairs throughout the afternoon. Improvements Joe has made for us so far are repairing some of our kennels, and restoring the catio enclosures for both our adoptable and retirement cats. His current mission is to restore the floor of our orientation room. Within just two months of working here, Joe says he is happy to reflect all we do for our cats by doing his part to improve their environment. Each morning, he greets the cats and staff with a smile and polite conversation. He likes that the cats all have their own personality, but he may appreciate Ginger an extremely vocal calico senior and newly trained housecat the most. She is not afraid to demand attention and affection. She is like a sassy elder lady. I love it! he laughs. At home, Joe is the dad to a cat with extreme tortitude, Bella the spicy princess of the house. His advice for those wanting to do more for less fortunate cats? Get involved with them in any way possible. Volunteer at your local shelters and make any donation, even if it s just a moment of your time socializing with them, he urges. It helps more than imaginable. YOU do more than imaginable for NatCat, Joe! Thank you for the hard work yet soft heart you bring our way every day. CAT CLUE Whisker fatigue can cause cats to paw their food onto the floor, fight with other cats, or even fear mealtimes. For more on the condition, check out page 8. FELINE DEFENDERS 4 5 FELINE DEFENDERS
SPRING VALLEY FEATURED FRIENDS, FOXY AND BEAR Foxy and Bear are 4-month-old female and male siblings from a litter of three born to a feral mother. At first, they were very skittish, but over time, one of our coworkers was able to hand raise them into brave sweethearts. They re now both looking for a home to sweeten, with owners who will patiently wait for them to warm up to their new environment. DONATIONS FOR OUR 2018 FUNDRAISER We re golden! We can hardly believe we ve been defending felines for 50 years. We re already getting ready for our big celebration at San Diego Marriott Mission Valley (located at 8757 Rio San Diego Drive in San Diego) on Sunday, June 10, 2018, by collecting donations for our themed gift baskets and gift certificates. Please consider donating to make this year s event as memorable as the half century we ve proudly dedicated to the protection and welfare of cats. FELINE FIELD (Continued from page 8) 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. VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT, AMANDA LEWIS-AMATO Amanda Lewis-Amato started volunteering at NatCat on July 8, 2017. To date, she has clocked a remarkable 70 hours with us! She is very committed to our kitties, and for that, we are truly beholden to her. We first met Amanda when she came in to drop off some donations after moving into the area. She was so impressed with our shelter that she decided to volunteer here when her work schedule changed to allow it. She says she continues to come back because she appreciates how well our staff cares for the cats and for the facility. Amanda comes in every single Saturday afternoon, and spends time with every single one of our kitties. She particularly enjoys hanging out in Krull s Place, which houses our older adoptable cats. Her favorite kitties, if she had to choose, are Speedy, Pockets, Nellie, and Wallaby. Her favorite activities are letting Speedy curl up in her lap and exercising the cats with string toys. She and her husband, Rob, donated a wonderful cat tree to us for Christmas. Rob is also creating a professional video for us, for our 50th- Anniversary Open House and Fundraiser! Outside of her volunteer work, she likes to hike Mission Trails. She has three cats of her own at home their names are Tickles, Sprinkles, and Ernie. Amanda has been a joy to work her positive, upbeat personality and big heart make it a true pleasure to see her every week. Thanks for all of your help, Amanda! 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 Cats carrying the gene for red color, such orange- or creamcolored tabby and calico cats, sometimes develop freckles on their nose, and they re usually harmless. For more on nose changes specifically, in their color check out page 10. FELINE DEFENDERS 6 7 FELINE DEFENDERS
FELINE FIELD Helping you get to know more about your cat... Whisker Fatigue Your cat s whiskers are actually tactile receptors, helping her navigate the world around her. Compared to fur, whiskers are more deeply embedded in the body and securely connected to the muscular and nervous systems. They thus send information about the surroundings they touch to the sensory nerves, enabling your kitty to respond appropriately. This physiology explains why, just like our nerves and muscle, whiskers can undergo fatigue. And this fatigue can stress your kitty out. What Causes It? Your cat s whiskers are at risk of fatigue by simply touching the sides of her food and water bowls while she is eating and drinking. How Can You Tell It Is Happening? You can watch your cat for signs that she is stressing out over eating up. Some signs to watch for include pacing in front of the bowls, being reluctant to eat but appearing to be hungry, pawing at food and knocking it to the floor before eating, or acting aggressive toward other animals around food, Neil Marrinan, DVM tells petmd. Though not any disease or condition, whisker fatigue can deter your cat from eating and drinking, possibly causing malnourishment or dehydration. That s why it is important to keep your eye out for it and prevent it if possible. Prevention To prevent whisker fatigue, it may be as easy as replacing your cat s bowls with wider options, so her whiskers don t touch the sides. If possible, provide water that flows right out of the source. Trimming the whiskers is NOT a viable alternative. Trimming whiskers mutes their expression, dims their perceptions, and in general, discombobulates cats and annoys them, says Marrinan. I do not recommend trimming cat whiskers. Based on information from: Whisker Fatigue in Cats: What it is and How to Help. (2018). petmd. Cespedes, Yahaira. Why Do Cats Have Whiskers? (2018). petmd. Kingson, Jennifer A. Feline Food Issues? Whisker Fatigue May Be to Blame. (2017). The New York Times. FELINE DEFENDERS 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: Expiration: CVC: 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 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. Continued on page 6 FELINE DEFENDERS 8 9 FELINE DEFENDERS
CAT CABLE Supplying the latest information in cat care... Nose Color Genetics determine the color of your cat s nose. It may be pink, black, or brown, and the hue may change depending on factors like emotion, season, and age. For example, your cat s nose may change color if his heart rate or blood pressure has elevated due to normal excitement or stress. Temperature can also cause changes. The nose contains many small blood vessels that grow and shrink in response to heat and cold, which can brighten or dim its color. Some noses fade during the colder months and return to their normal color during the summer months. This is a condition known as snow nose or winter nose, explains Karen Becker, DVM of Healthy Pets. Orange and calico cats noses sometimes develop black spots as the kitty gets older. These spots are called lentigo simplex, and they re totally normal. Also, contact dermatitis from continuous contact with water and food bowls can cause the nose to lose pigment. So how do you know if a change in your cat s nose color is normal, or if it is a sign of something more serious? Try these tips: 1. Observe what a healthy nose in color, shape, and texture for your cat looks like. By knowing what s normal, you ll be able to notice changes that may indicate something s wrong down the line. 2. Regularly look for any unusual nasal symptoms, like discharge, swelling, or breathing issues, as they could indicate a foreign object in the nasal cavity, an infection, or even more serious nasal conditions. If you notice any of these symptoms, consider taking your cat to the veterinarian. 3. Note any texture changes, like cracking or fissures, scabbing, or open sores. These signs are other reasons you should Continued on page 4 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 FELINE DEFENDERS 10 11 FELINE DEFENDERS
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