Gracie (left) and Earth (right) are both available for adoption. Get details about them below.

Virtually Pets

If you’ve been reading The Scratching Post or looking at cat-welfare pages, articles or broadcasts during the past few months, you already know that shelters, rescues and fosters are reeling from dealing with the consequences of a particularly harsh kitten season. It’s frustrating for anyone who cares about animals to get a handle on adopting out kittens and getting community cats spayed and neutered so that they won’t produce more.

Kitten season balances pets in adoption columns—this one in particular—heavily catward. There’s no point in telling a determined humane advocate that they can’t save every animal life or prevent every birth that can’t be guaranteed a forever home. They already know that, and do it anyway, impossible as it seems year to year. Doing nothing would accomplish the same. Since January 2010, Stray Cat Alliance, whose name describes its mission, relentlessly fought an environmental injunction against TNR (trap/neuter [and spay]/return) in Los Angeles. The injunction backpedaled progress made in the LA area for years until tireless work and campaigning by Stray Cat Alliance and other friends of ferals and strays yielded an environmental impact report that showed that no harm was done to imperiled wildlife by trapping and sterilizing the cats and thus producing few of them (duh). It also created the Citywide Cat Program, which allowed LA to support TNR as the most viable means to addressing community cat issues. Stray Cat Alliance CEO and president Christi Metropole described the program during a Zoom presentation earlier this week.

“The Citywide Cat Program is one of most progressive, lifesaving, city-sanctioned programs in the country,” Metropole said. “We have been honored to work alongside the city of Los Angeles in helping shape and support it. This program will enable community members to be part of the solution for community cat management as well as help stem the tide of kittens born and often sent to an already overcrowded shelter system. The answers for companion animal issues rely on the community working alongside shelters to ensure viable, lifesaving outcomes.”

As for the kittens already born, pet charities have been lending a big paw. The most recent local event was PetSmart Charities’ sponsored adoption event benefiting Helen Sanders CatPAWS. The PetSmart nonprofit gave the kitty-rescue a boost and a batch of goodies to help send the cats home. During the weekend July 23-25, humans adopted a goodly number of the cuddly CatPAWS kittens and adults—11 in all. Some families took home two—the best way to adopt cats because they can keep each other company when you return to work and amuse each other and ignore you altogether when you’re home until it’s dinnertime.

The bad news: Not everyone got to go home. The good news: There are felines aplenty for you to adopt. They’ve all been vaccinated, microchipped, checked out medically, and spayed or neutered so they’ll make no further contributions to kitten season. Look at their photos and read their bios here, and fill out the application on the same link when you’ve made your choice(s).

Here are a few favorites.

Black, shiny cat with huge orange-green eyes and tiny white star on neck sits on a pink towel and stares into camera.
Sweet and petite Mary Berry, named for the stylish English food writer and TV chef, had quite a few buns in her own oven a couple of months ago. They’re independent now—all of them named after pastries, of course—and have all gone home. Mary’s thankfully out of the baby-making business and looking to be spoiled and loved. Mary’s docile and endearing, but she can be a little shy, partly because she’s a tad overwhelmed by the activity at the PetSmart Adoption Center. Enclosed within the walls of a safe home, she’ll be grateful.

 

black cat with fluffy tail lounges on side on a beige bedspread
Onyx is a rare gem! This sweet boy came to CatPAWS after enduring some serious hardship. He has come out strong and very loving. Onyx gets along great with other kitties. He’s a bit of a night owl, always meows his opinions, and dreams of a forever home, hopefully with an enclosed catio! If you’re looking to add a stunning precious kitty to your family setting, Onyx will be the perfect fit.

 

small orange cat with white mask, chest and legs cocks his head at camera.
Earth is a well-rounded (well, he is Earth) and grounded snuggler who also loves his playtime! With his beguiling, funny ways, he’ll be more like the sun, with everyone in his new home revolving around him!

 

Orange kitten with blue collar and white mask and chest curls up on red bedspread and stares at camera.
Pluto is the sweetest little kitty you’ll ever meet. This small boy won’t stay pint-size forever—he’ll get his growth spurt soon. He’s ready to be the giant in your home and the center of your universe!

 

small, shiny black cat with huge eyes and ears sits on beige cat tree, one paw down
Sometimes, people have to make hard choices they don’t want to make, and that can include finding new homes for their pets. There are situations of true hardship where people need help. Like other worthy shelters, rescues and organizations, CatPAWS tries to keep people and pets together and work through issues. When that’s not possible, they agree to take back cats who have been adopted from them. As carefully as good rescues screen, not everything is 100%. As one of the volunteers wrote, “We try to be understanding, we try to stay positive.” Still, they find it difficult to wrap their heads around what was done to Gracie, adopted from CatPAWS as a kitten three years ago, as anything other than “a craven, despicable betrayal.” She was picked up by Long Beach Animal Care Services after having been left near a public park with no food, water or even a note. Anything could have happened to her, but fortunately, nothing did. Thanks to her microchip, she was returned to CatPAWS and is now in foster care. She’s anxious and understandably confused after having her world shattered by someone she trusted and no doubt loved, but she still loves petting and seems to want to trust humans again. CatPAWS is looking for a special person, either a foster, an adopter, or a foster-to-adopt who can heal Gracie’s spirit and find in her again the happy, loving kitten she once was. If that’s you, email adoptions@helensanderscatpaws.com and tell CatPAWS why you’re the person for their precious Gracie.

 

Just fur fun and fur-ther education

Sound Healing, presented by Illuminate Life: 4:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m. Friday, July 30, Feline Good Social Club, 301 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach, $30, buy tickets here

Unless your cat’s a water freak, you probably haven’t taken a bath with them. Sound baths—well, different story. Join Illuminate Life and a kindle of kitties for a relaxing 45-minute Sound Bath, and afterward, you’ll have a bonus sound bath of purring and light meows with the Feline Good Social Club cats! What a way to cultivate your inner contentedness! Feline Good Social Club asks everyone to arrive up to 10 minutes early. Bring mats, blankets and pillows, and dress for comfort.

Community Pet-Wellness Event: 10 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Saturday, July 31, Los Angeles County Development Authority, 851 Via Carmelitos, Long Beach, free.

When a bunch of animal rescues and advocates get together and collaborate, it’s bound to be a bone-us for pets and their people! If the COVID-19 pandemic has affected your ability to afford food and wellness care for your pets, if you’ve had difficulty getting an appointment at your regular vet, if you don’t know where to turn for help, this canine and kitty conglom is here for you! The City of Long Beach Animal Care Services (LBACS) and other local rescues and animal-welfare organizations are pooling resources and talent to help the community. Pet-pantry resources will be available, and a limited number of appointments for free vaccines, flea meds and microchips—sign up here. Priority will be given to residents of Long Beach and cities serviced by LBACS. If spaces are available, appointments will be given to visitors outside the service area. Furry, flea free and completely free to you!

Jackson Galaxy’s Cat Camp Summer Sessions: 10–11:30 a.m.; Saturday, Aug. 7 Aug. 14 and Aug. 21; Zoom channel; $20 for litter-box session and Kitten Poopinar, $10 for grief session.

Summer’s here, and Jackson Galaxy, a great slate of pet people (including the meme-worthy Kitten Lady Hannah Shaw), and Petco Love, which is providing the marshmallows and chew sticks for the s’meowrs, have teamed up as camp counselors for three sessions of cat camp. Get the scoop on the poop, quite literally, in the Aug. 7 session about living happily or otherwise with a litter box and another on Aug. 21 about divining the significance of the caboodle that comes out of a kitten’s caboose. For anyone who’s suffered the loss of a cherished furry housemate whether during the pandemic or before, the Aug. 14 session on compounded grief, a term for how the universal COVID-19 losses amplify personal loss, will guide you and the rest of the participants through dealing with your losses. Read further descriptions and purchase tickets at this link.

Help wanted, help given

woman in face mask stands next to a pillar in front of a light-blue building next to a large pile of blue boxes.
Long Beach Animal Care Services manager Staycee Dains receives a shipment of DIY kitten-care kits to hand to residents who agree to care for found newborn kittens. DIY kitten-care kits contain powdered formula for newborn kittens, bottles, syringes, probiotic powder, nipples, a warming disk or a hot water bottle to regulate the kitten’s body temperature, a fleece blanket, and information on newborn-kitten care and how to obtain free spay/neuter vouchers. The items are packaged in a plastic sterilized container that are the perfect size for the caregivers to bathe the little guys.

 

Volunteer walkers needed for senior citizens’ dogs

Ida’s Walkers is a program of The Heart of Ida, a 501c3 nonprofit organization serving the older-adult population in and around Long Beach. Ida’s Walkers offers dog-walking services to low-to-moderate-income seniors who are hospitalized, have limited mobility, or are at risk of falling. If you want to help senior citizens keep their beloved pets as long as they are able to live at home, call 562-370-3548.

Fix Long Beach low-cost pet-services clinics: selected days and times, 1749 Magnolia Ave., Long Beach, services available by appointment at www.fixlongbeachpets.com.

Fix Long Beach is taking appointments for low-cost spay/neuter, dental, vaccines and other vet needs for cats and dogs. Vaccination clinics take place on the second and fourth Thursday of each month. Visit their webpage or Facebook page for details.

DIY Kitten Care Kits available free at Long Beach Animal Care Services

Kitten season is here and shelters and rescues are scrambling to save their lives, get them fixed, get them adopted. It isn’t unusual to find nests of young, seemingly abandoned kittens during kitten season. It is a natural reaction to want to help, to save them. If you are interested in obtaining a Kitten Care Kit made possible by Helen Sanders CatPAWS, please email animalcare@longbeach.gov.

Spay/neuter vouchers available at shelter

Long Beach Animal Care Services has spay/neuter vouchers available. They’ll take a healthy nip out of the cost of a procedure. Residents of any of the five cities served by the shelter can telephone the general number at 562-570–7387 to request a voucher.

 Spay/neuter appointments available at SNP/LA

The Spay/Neuter Project of Los Angeles (SNP/LA) is back in business for free and low-cost spay/neuter services, and they’re extending the hours of their vaccination clinics. The San Pedro clinic will give shots between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. every third Thursday at 957 N. Gaffey St. Call 310-574–5555 to see if you qualify for services.

If you can see the bottom of the kibble bag

Pet Food Express-district manager Jim Zayac stands with his dog, Lou, between shelves of good-smelling food. Lou, however, seems more enchanted with his human. Photo courtesy of Pet Food Express

Pet Food Express Fill the Food Bank Campaign: To Sunday, Aug. 1., PetSmart, any Pet Food Express store or online on the Campaign page

Express, a privately owned California chain of pet-supply stores specializing in quality products and community service, is collecting monetary donations to ease financial burdens suffered by many California families struggling because of financial losses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign aims to donate 100,000 pounds of FirstMate dog food to pet-food banks to help hundreds of families worried about being able to provide for their beloved furry roommates.

“Food banks are essential,” said Megan Kniepkamp, Pet Food Express’ community outreach manager. “They reduce the risk of a returned pet to an already overtaxed rescue and shelter system by offsetting the cost of necessary pet care. We want struggling pet owners to know that there is free help available to keep their pets fed, cared for and with them at their home.”

Details of the Pet Food Express Fill the Food Bank Campaign are accessible here; find the store closest to you here.

Pets of the Homeless’s home page gives a self-description as the only organization focusing only on providing food and care for pets belonging to homeless people. Businesses and other organizations across the country receive in-kind donations of food and other needs that the dogs and cats’ human families can pick up at outreach locations. The following businesses will accept your donations:

Trendi Pawz, 3726 E. Seventh St., Long Beach

Belmont Heights Animal Hospital, 255 Redondo Ave., Long Beach

Paw Shoppe Pet Center, Inc., 6416 E. Spring St., Long Beach

Food and supplies are available Mondays from 9 a.m. to noon and Saturdays from noon to 3 p.m. at Beacon for Him Ministries, 1535 Gundry Ave. Long Beach; and Thursdays from 9 to 11 a.m. at Christian Outreach in Action, 515 E. Third St., Long Beach, Donations will be gratefully accepted at these locations as well.

Adopt, adopt, adopt

Spur-cial offers

Friends of Long Beach Animals sponsors Jellicle Cat adoption fees through July

Looking for the perfect cat or kitten? Friends of Long Beach Animals will sponsor adoption fees for Jellicle Cats Rescue Foundation (as you know, they’re small) during the month of July. Check out the available cuteness here.

 Little Lion Foundation offers special adoption rates for cats over 6 months old.

Everyone seems to want kittens, but older cats already are who they are, and they also richly deserve forever homes. The Little Lion Foundation will send home a snuggly adolescent or adult for half the usually charged adoption fee. See all of the eligible kitties here, fill out an application (or two) here, and fall in love with your new best friend!

 Long Beach Animal Care Services Pick of the Litter month, through July 31

Don’t miss your chance to adopt a kitten, or an adult cat, or a sweet, sweet senior! Many cats and kittens are available for adoption, and they are going to new homes fast! Email Long Beach Animal Care Services at PetAdopt@longbeach.gov to make an appointment to bring home your new, pointy-eared best friend. Adoption fees are waived; all other procedures are still in place.

White cat with tabby-patch ears and back stares upward, sitting in bowling-pin position in a glassed-in kennel with store products in background

Adoptees on display

Pet Food Express Cat Adoption Center: 10 a.m.–8 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays, and 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Sundays., Pet Food Express, 4220 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach, adoption fees apply.

This adoption center is a much-needed satellite operation of Long Beach Animal Care Services. Julie and her team pull adoptable cats—”adoptable,” to these guys, means any cat in a shelter kennel! The team socializes the kitties until they’re adopted, which takes less time than you could imagine!

 Helen Sanders CatPAWS adoption center: viewable daily during store hours, PetSmart, 12341 Seal Beach Blvd., Seal Beach, adoption fees apply.

Window-shopping’s a neat pastime and likely has become more common during the pandemic. Helen Sanders CatPAWS has applied window-shopping to cat adoption; you can peer at several of the fine felines through the windows of the PetSmart adoption center in Seal Beach, and now, you can finally visit with them, scratch their little ears, and rub them under their chinny-chin-chins on Saturdays from noon to 3 p.m. Volunteers will answer questions and provide you with adoption information! Be sure to wear a mask. You can find adoption applications and all the kitties here.

Links to loveables

two dogs and a cat on one border, two cats and two dogs on other. Caption says, "May we couch-surf at your place?"
May we couch-surf at your place?

 

Nota bon-e—fosters are needed everywhere!

If you’ve always wanted a pet but aren’t sure if you’re ready for a lifetime (the animal’s) commitment, or if you’re past the pet-roommate days for any reason, fostering might be a great way to go, especially with one or more of the kittens popping up during kitten season. Every one of the organizations listed below is in desperate need of fosters who’ll social them and help save their little lives. Who knows—maybe one of those lives will change your mind about the not-ready-for-roommate thing!

These nonprofits also regularly feature cat, dog and rabbit adoptions. As of now, adoptions are mainly by appointment. Fosters are needed for kittens as well. Click on the links for each rescue in case of updates or changes. These organizations operate through donations and grants, and anything you can give would be welcome. Please suggest any Long Beach-area rescues to add to the list.