Why we are Such Cool CATs
Innovations abound at CAT. In 2011 and for the first months of 2012, we implemented some awesome changes and tweaked some of our programs to make them so much better.
Highlights of why we are such cool cats include (in no particular order):
- Monthly, we spay/neuter up to 90 cats/kittens belonging to low-income cat owners, many for just $10.
- Some of our adult cats get to go into foster homes with the goal of rehabilitating from a medical or behavioral issue. These kitties all have a plan to follow to bring them back to optimal adaptability within 60 days.
- CAT accepts cats from other shelters who are infected with ringworm (a fungus that keeps them in quarantine for at least four weeks for treatment), treats them, and then places them out for adoption.
- Weekly rounds by our Shelter and Hospital Management Team enables them to visit with every cat and provide every cat with a viable plan so their time at CAT is enjoyable and they remain medically stable.
- We offer surgical and medical services for shelter cats in Yamhill County.
- CAT’s volunteer program was selected by the University of North Carolina to participate in their Volunteer Program Assessment with the goal of discovering ways to improve and build our volunteer program.
- CAT provides daily enrichment because cats don’t sleep all day long! Cats are allowed to roam either in a room or the get acquainted area. Our Socialize Me program encourage loving interaction with cats on a regular basis.
- Spay & Save clients can received some preventative care at an extremely low cost for their kitties up to three weeks after their spay/neuter surgery.
- To highlight some of our great cats for adoption, we have a fun video playing in the lobby to introduce visitors to some very special cats.
- Development of cat/kitten socialization programs for foster cats and long-term shelter cats with board certified veterinary behaviorist to stem any behavior issues before they start or to re-train cats with some problem behaviors to make them more adoptable.
- Adopters who might want to return their cat to our shelter can now speak with our Intake Coordinator where she will provide them with tips and tricks on to solve any issues and help owners keep their cats. Some are referred to our Medical Director to get answers to medical or behavior questions with the goal of keeping the cat with their family.
- Thanks to a grant from Maddie’s Fund, CAT’s in-shelter hospital will be upgrading it’s equipment.
- CAT is part of the Life Saving Committee (as part of the Animal Shelter Alliance of Portland). No health adoptable cat is euthanized by any ASAP shelter. The committee partners support each other in keeping this standard and in the formation of other programs and services to support a community wide effort to end euthanasia of healthy or treatable animals (as defined by the Aslimar Accords).
- Providing free cat food for struggling cat owners once a month through our Cat Food Bank. The growth of this program only shows the dire need for it in our community.
- Did you see a CAT cat in your local paper? Our “Pets of the Week” outreach keeps growing. You will see CAT cat in Spot Magazine, Greenlight Classifieds in the Community Newspapers, Tualatin Life, Oregonlive.com, The Oregonian Pet Page, Boomers, Facebook, and Twitter.
- Every cat and kitten (over 12 weeks old) available for adoption at CAT receives a one-year rabies vaccination (as of September 2011).
- Managing our supporters gifts is more streamlined now that CAT is using Donor Perfect donor relations software.
- Check out who is looking for a home from the palm of your hand when you download CAT’s Android Application.
- Delightful videos of cats for adoption are posted and shared on CAT’s YouTube Channel.
- CAT is implementing many aspects of the 2010 Association of Shelter Veterinarians’ Standards of Care in Animal Shelters and are working more improvements into our 2012 goals.
- FIV cats who come to us for adoption go home with a One Year Preventative Care certificate that includes blood work and dental care by CAT’s medical staff.
- Cat care and behavior information and tips are available 24/7 on CAT’s website. We want to help cat owners better understand their cat’s behavior and instincts.
- You can be a Thrifty Cat while supporting CAT. Check out our Thrift Store in Raleigh Hills (opened October 2011).
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