CAT’s mission is to work with our community to save the lives of homeless, sick and injured cats and kittens by offering shelter, adoption, foster, hospice, and veterinary services to end needless feline euthanasia in our community.
We need donations for our live auction, including vacation homes, trips to local and national destinations (i.e. wine country), “staycation” packages right here in the Northwest, those sought after “unique experiences,” and anything to do with food and wine. Your live auction donation will help make Whisker Wonderland a tremendous success.
Check out the exciting live auction packages that appeared in the 2009 Whisker Wonderland event.
Keep up to date with what is going on at the Cat Adoption Team
View CAT’s public service announcement videos.
Thanks to two young CAT volunteers, Girl Scouts Hannah Mortensen and Bailey Powe, a handsome lynx point named Demitri had a very happy ending to his search for a new home.
Last year, Bailey and Hannah started volunteering at CAT’s Sherwood shelter. They enjoyed socializing with the cats and identifying their unique personalities and behaviors to help match the cats with adopters.
The girls noticed that cats in one free-roam room were not attracting the attention of potential adopters. Concerned and curious, Hannah and Bailey learned these cats were separated from the other cats because they tested positive for FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus), which causes feline AIDS. CAT veterinary staff explained that FIV is a retrovirus and it is closely related to HIV, the virus that causes AIDS in humans. The girls were relieved to hear that FIV was a manageable disease. In fact, FIV+ cats often live long and healthy lives with good quality nutrition and proactive preventative health practices such as teeth cleaning and prompt treatment of infection.
These young philanthropists realized that FIV+ cats were just as lovable and worthy of good homes as any other cat, if only potential adopters knew FIV was neither a death sentence nor a danger to humans. So Hannah and Bailey created a full-color brochure featuring five FIV+ cats, including photos, biographies, personality traits, and facts about FIV. They distributed the brochure in their neighborhoods, schools, and businesses in McMinnville and Forest Grove. They also posted one on the FIV+ positive free-roam room at CAT.
Demitri was one of the FIV+ cats featured. He was adopted in late March by Carla Perkins, who had been considering adopting a cat for several months. Carla and her son visited the shelter during spring break. She viewed the FIV room and saw Demitri, who she described as “lethargic and overweight.” In their brochure, Bailey and Hannah explain that Demitri should be named Garfield. He loves to eat and he has the belly to prove it. Demitri likes to be petted and brushed. When he is being loved he gives kitty kisses, it’s adorable.”
Carla and her son visited other cats in the shelter. However after the adoption counselors raved about Demitri, they returned to the FIV room and spent more time getting to know the loving, cuddling side of his personality.
Demitri may have been exposed to FIV in a cat fight while homeless. Since FIV lives in bodily fluids, it can be transmitted from the saliva of an infected cat into the blood of another cat through bite wounds and scratches. When Demitri was brought to the shelter, staff performed a blood test to detect the presence of FIV antibodies. Due to early detection in its shelter cats, CAT can provide each with good nutrition, extra-diligent health care, and separate them from the other cats to prevent the spread of the disease.
“CAT made a commitment to help cats with FIV. There is a reduced adoption fee, and the medical wellness certificate provides certain veterinary care for an adopted FIV cat for up to one year post-adoption,” explains Kristi Brooks, CAT’s Operations Manager. At some shelters, FIV+ cats face euthanasia due to the disease. CAT chooses to separate FIV+ cats from other shelter cats while they await adoption. This practice has the backing of the American Association of Feline Practitioners.
Carla is determined to provide the healthy life Demitri deserves, the one Hannah and Bailey envisioned for him. He still likes to eat but has lost a few pounds since moving in with Carla and her dog, Jelly Bean. Since FIV infects only cats, Jelly Bean was safe; not that he was ever worried. Jelly Bean loves to playfully goad Demitri who loves his naps. Demitri feels right at home, napping and resting on the back of the sofa, in “his” meditation chair, and on the window ledge whenever the dog will give him some peace.
All the FIV+ cats featured by Hannah and Bailey were successfully adopted as a result of their efforts.
Written by Nancy Contolini, CAT volunteer
Feline immunodeficiency virus attacks and weakens the immune system, making cats more susceptible to infections and diseases. There is no cure for FIV. Fortunately, few cats in this country carry the disease.
A personal story from CAT supporter Jolynn Winter.
A vaccine is available, yet not widely used. And there is one glitch: the vaccine interferes with testing for FIV, which checks antibodies for the virus. Once a cat is vaccinated, the cat has antibodies and testing can produce a false-positive result. Therefore, any cat who receives the vaccine will test positive for the disease even if that cat is not infected. This creates a problem when unidentified cats who have been vaccinated against FIV get lost. It also creates confusion for cat owners who aren’t told about the test’s false-positive tendency. I was one of those uninformed cat owners.
Thirteen years ago, I adopted a stray kitten and named him Deejay. As Deejay grew older, he always looked sickly; his coat was greasy, he was skinny, and his energy level was low. I took Deejay from one vet to the next. They poked and prodded my cat with hopes of finding a cause for his disheveled appearance. Several veterinarians thought he had FIV while others thought he suffered from feline leukemia, a virus that’s responsible for certain types of cancer in cats. Numerous tests always came back negative. One vet finally concluded it was simply Deejay’s genetic makeup. He likened it to a teenager who has greasy skin and a slender build. This same vet told me about a vaccine against FIV and advised that Deejay get inoculated as he was an indoor/outdoor cat. I obliged, and Deejay received the shot.
Several years later, Deejay injured his hip. When I found blood in his urine, I took him to an emergency vet who had no knowledge of his medical history. The veterinarian took one look at my cat and predicted he had FIV or feline leukemia. When I explained that Deejay had been tested for both and vaccinated against FIV, the vet convinced me that the tests should be run again. He soon came back with good and bad news. He told me Deejay did not appear to have feline leukemia, but tested positive for FIV. I was told that Deejay would surely die given his bloody urine. As a result, I was advised to euthanize him. The news was devastating to me. I loved my cat, yet I did not want Deejay to experience a painful death. As a result, I put Deejay down and buried him in my backyard.
A few weeks later, I decided it was time to look for a new kitty. The first place I searched was the Cat Adoption Team. As I was looking over the huge selection of homeless cats, I explained to the volunteer what happened to Deejay. I told her that he was vaccinated against FIV but developed the disease nonetheless. That’s when she then explained that once a cat receives the FIV vaccine, that cat will always test positive. I was told the FIV vaccine creates problems for shelters because it’s difficult to determine whether those cats actually suffer from the disease or have been inoculated against it. She explained that microchipping will not only help reunite a family with their lost cat, it will help prevent their lost (FIV vaccinated) cat from being accidently euthanized at a shelter.
While FIV is not curable, it is treatable. Many cats who are diagnosed with the disease can live long and happy lives. For more information on FIV and the risks involved with the vaccine, consult your veterinarian.
If you have your cat vaccinated against FIV, please also get a microchip and put identification on your cat. Even if he is an indoor only cat, there is always that slight chance he might get out. Identification and a microchip will help ensure he finds his way home.
On January 30, at approximately 11 am, Executive Director Aaron Asmus drew the winner of CAT’s annual Big Screen TV Raffle.
CAT sold 550 tickets for 42 inch HDTV between December 26 and January 30.
Congratulations go to Janet Floren of Newberg.
Some of the Cat Adoption Team’s felines watched the NFL playoffs with great interest. These catty fans were cat calling across the shelter as teams fell by the wayside after the regular season.
Today (January 30), however, 4 felines at CAT decided it was time to take things into their own paws and determine once and for all which team would reign supreme on February 7. Cats can be impatient, you see, they wanted to know now who would win the Super Bowl!
Cosmo, Jorge, Splash, and Lucky Jones used their superior predictive powers to choose the winner and as an outward expression of their opinion, they picked their favorite team by eating from a team color bowl. (Blue for Colts / Black for Saints)
While the Jorge sniffed the Blue bowl before deciding on the Black/Saints bowl, Lucky, Splash, and Cosmo all headed right for the Black/Saints bowl. The results were tabulated and the winner is very clear:
The Cat Adoption Team’s feline football fanatics predict that the New Orleans Saints will win the 44th annual Super Bowl held on Sunday, February 7, 2010.
No one knows what events caused this sweet-tempered cat to seek shelter under the hood of a Portland car one day in April 2009. After the rescuer realized his engine had caused serious burns on her back, he brought her to the Northwest Veterinary Specialist. The hospital staff contacted CAT’s Hospital Manager Ed Pashkin. CAT is well known as a facility that routinely treats strays with serious medical conditions.
CAT’s veterinary director Dr. Wendi Rekers, Ed, and the hospital staff’s first welcoming gesture was to name their new patient Burnadette, a sure sign that she was going to be not only OK but very well taken care of and guided back to a healthy secure life. The skin on her back was thoroughly examined for characteristic thermal burn signs of blisters, redness, and pain and this led to a diagnosis of a second degree burn covering an area measuring six centimeters by eight centimeters.
The degree of a burn describes how deep the actual wound is. First degree burns are superficial, affecting only the top layer of the skin (the epidermis). Second degree burns affect a deeper layer of the skin (the dermis), which is the location of most nerve endings and sweat glands.
Luckily for Burnadette, her deepest skin layer, the fat layer, which includes actual nerves and blood vessels, was not affected. Since all burns are serious and considered emergencies, everyone involved with Burnadette’s case was aware that without immediate care she was susceptible to infection, dehydration and shock.
During the course of Burnadette’s diagnosis and treatment, CAT Hospital staff were surprised by her good natured acceptance of being handled during medical procedures. She was given the “Meet Your Match” designation “sidekick” because of her obvious enjoyment of human company.
Three days after diagnosis, surgery was performed to remove the burned skin layers and to close the healthy skin layers over the damaged area.
Since the skin is the body’s first line of defense, all precautions for sterility had to be taken to prevent infection including a 14-day course of antibiotics. Second degree burns like Burnadette’s heal well because new skin can grow from the dermis.
Ed considers Burnadette one of his favorite patients. He was amazed that she was not emotionally scarred by her experience. She was always ready to have her cheeks rubbed and her head available for petting. Her even tempered, sweet personality made treating her a pleasure.
Burnadette, the sleek yellow-eyed black cat, was adopted in August 2009 by Liz Pysar of Portland, who read Burnadette’s story at CAT’s web site. Liz wanted to adopt a second cat as a companion for her male cat, Mr. Furley. After one day at home, Burnadette was relaxed and comfortable. Liz finds CAT’s designation of “sidekick” fits her perfectly. She follows her around the house and is curious about everything around her. She’s Liz’s steady companion and good company for Mr. Furley. Burnadette enjoys sitting in the window where her curiosity about the outdoors leads Liz to believe that she might have been an outdoor cat. Although a small scar is the only visible remnant of her physical trauma.
written by Nancy Contolini, CAT volunteer
Your dating dilemma is solved! No more worries about where to go or what to do! We’ve put together the ultimate “12 Dates” package to take the time and trouble out of deciding on a fun date. Whether you’re married, dating, or just want to impress that cute him or her, here are 12 dates for two guaranteed to please:
1) Kayaking lessons
2) Tickets to Portland Baroque Orchestra
3) A walking tour of Portland
4) OMSI tickets, including admission, the Blueback Submarine, and an Omnimax show
5) Blazers tickets to the Portland vs. Mavericks game March 25
6) $50 to Tony’s Starlight Lounge
7) Picnic Basket from Elephant’s Deli
8) Ice skating at the Lloyd Center ice rink
9) Wine, chocolate and a movie rental - get creative with this one!
10) $100 to several Portland restaurants, including the Chart House and Portland City Grill
11) $50 to Curious Comedy Theater
12) Cinammon Bear Cruise on the Portland Spirit
Special Thanks to Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe, Curious Comedy Theater, Lloyd Center Ice Rink, OregonLive.com, Portland Walking Tours, The Portland Spirit, Tony’s Starlight Lounge
Staycations are still the rage, and we’ve put together a great one just for two. Spread this one out or use it all at once for a weekend of pampering.
Treat yourself to two (2) one-night stays in a deluxe guestroom at the pet-friendly Hotel Vintage Plaza in downtown Portland. Your stay includes champagne, rose petals scattered over your sheets at turndown, a $14 certificate to Pazzo Ristorante and valet parking. We’ve added another bottle of champagne in case you’re celebrating an extra-special event!
Spend a wonderful night at the theatre with two tickets to any production in the Artists Repertory Theatre’s 2009/10 season. Take your $50 gift certificate to eat at the Corbett Fish House or Hawthorne Fish House before or after the show.
We’ve also added a treat for your feet: $100 to the Barefoot Sage on Hawthorne Boulevard! The salon is open late on Fridays and Saturdays for your foot-pampering pleasure.
Hotel reservations are subject to availability; certificates must be used before November 6, 2010. Theatre tickets are subject to availability; reservations are required but not guaranteed. Gift certificate must be redeemed at ticket office the night of the performance and expires May 30, 2010.
Special Thanks to Artists Repertory Theatre, Shari Phipps, The Barefoot Sage, and Hotel Vintage Plaza
The ultimate wine encounter for two in pristine Sonoma Valley, California, wine country! Your package includes a three-night stay, wine encounters, luxury car rental, and airfare for two on American Airlines. You’ll stay in a junior suite at the 4-star Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, where you can indulge in natural mineral hot springs, pools, and spa treatments.
At the Chateau St. Jean in Sonoma, you’ll enjoy a private VIP tasting and tour and explore the ground’s magnificent gardens. In a private tasting room, you will be led through a professional tasting of the valley’s very best wines presented in fine Riedel glassware. Learn the rich history of winemaking tradition at Chateau St. Jean while you savor fine food and wine.
You’ll also visit the Benziger Family Winery for a tour and tasting. You’ll learn about the winery’s biodynamic growing procedures and enjoy a private tasting of several award- winning wines after the tour.
A $250 gift certificate will put you in a luxury vehicle from the Hertz Prestige Collection. Your choices include the Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator, Jaguar XJ-8, Land Rover Discovery, Jaguar S-TYPE, Infiniti Q45, Jaguar X-TYPE, Cadillac STS, Lincoln LS, Volvo S80 Sedan or Volvo V70 XC Wagon. The vehicles include GPS.
Please note: Car insurance, taxes, fees, and gas are the responsibility of the winning bidder and can be paid with the gift certificate provided, but all charges in excess of the gift certificate are the responsibility of the winning bidder, as are any airport departure fees or taxes. A minimum of 21 days advance booking is required, as is a Saturday night stay. Miles cannot be utilized to upgrade these coach class certificates to a higher level of service. Ground transportation is not included. Travel is valid 12 months from event date and all reservations are subject to availability. Certificates cannot be replaced if lost, stolen or destroyed. Blackout dates for 2010 have yet to be determined, but generally include Jan 1-5; Nov 20-25, 28-30; and Dec 19-23, 26-30.
Swim, snorkel, sail, kayak, hike…or just do nothing under the beautiful Caribbean sun during your 7-night stay at Maho Bay, the U.S. Virgin Island’s renowned eco-resort. Up to four people may stay at one of Maho Bay’s two eco-resort properties: Maho Bay Camps or Estate Concordia Preserve in St. John.
Your vacation can take place between May 1, 2010, and December 15, 2010.
The roomy tent-cottages of Maho Bay Camps are nearly hidden by lush foliage providing privacy. Translucent fabric on wood frames, screened windows, and open-air terraces take advantage of the cooling island tradewinds. Each has a separate sleeping area with comfortable twin beds and an extra mattress behind the sleeping-couch in the living area. Linens, blankets, towels, cooking, and eating utensils are all provided, including propane stove and ice cooler. Every tent-cottage has its own private deck, electric outlets, lights, and fans. Barbecue areas and fresh water are available along the wooden walkways – and you’ll need a flashlight to maneuver the many connecting steps at night!
On the eco-side, you can take art classes in recycled crafts and experience evening hand-blown glass demonstrations. Conveniently located bathhouses (shared bathrooms) are equipped with modern, low-flush toilets, and pull-chain showers connected to a recycling system, which irrigates the surrounding vegetation.
Estate Concordia Preserve is the newest of the Maho Bay resorts, with amenities that combine simplicity with the most up-to-date, sustainable and site sensitive technologies that are redefining ecotourism. Located on the dramatic southeastern side of St. John, the Preserve’s eco-tents are similar to the tent cottages of Maho Bay Camps. They provide more creature comforts and conveniences with private toilets, showers, solar energy, and more elaborate kitchen facilities in each unit.
Five or six adults can sleep on twin beds and a queen-size daybed. The dining area and large screened windows allow nature lovers to be as close to St. John’s flora and fauna as possible without actually sleeping outside. This side of St. John has some of the most beautiful scuba diving and snorkeling in the Caribbean.
Please note: Concordia may be closed in September and October. Reservations are based on availability during the specified time period only. Airfare not included.
Get set to wine and dine the night away in high style! Carlton Cellars, a premium artisan Willamette Valley winery, invite you to enjoy their award-winning Pinots at an exclusive winemakers’ dinner at Navarre, voted Portland’s Best Restaurant of the Year in 2009 by The Oregonian. Chef John Taboada will personally prepare your five-course meal, perfectly paired with handcrafted Pinots poured just for you by vintners Dave Grooters and Robin Russell.
Be among the forty fortunate foodies (and CAT lovers) who will raise their bid numbers to partake of this unique dining experience on Saturday, February 20, 2010, for $125 per person.
Navarre stands out as much for Chef Taboada’s close partnership with Portland’s ultra-local 47th Avenue Farm as for the integrity of its culinary vision. “In a city that prides itself on local and sustainable,” notes The Oregonian, “no one embraces the philosophy more completely.” Look forward to an exceptional dining experience drawing from the traditions of France, Italy, and Spain.
Carlton Cellars will pour its phenomenal estate wine, Cape Lookout Oregon Pinot Noir, and its celebrated Roads End Oregon Pinot Noir, sought after since 2001 by critics and connoisseurs alike. These long, lush, perfectly balanced Pinots have garnered acclaim from Wine Spectator magazine, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, and the Portland Indie Wine Festival, among others. This year, the inaugural Oregon Wine Awards gave Roads End 2007 a Gold Award for Consensus Best in Class, and Cape Lookout 2007 a Vintners’ Honor Outstanding Wine Award.
Special Thanks to Navarre and Carlton Cellars
Here are some of the great things you will find on our Silent Auction tables prior to dinner:
Handpainted Pastel Pet Portrait
Shaklee Get Clean (TM) Kit
Whimsical Cats textured painting
35” Strand of AA+ Grade Pearls
Champagne Basket
Magnum of 2004 Argyle Reserve Pinot Noir
Interior Design Consultation & California Closets
Creature Comforts for Your Cat
Synthetic Sapphire & Cultured Pearl Ring
Portland Center Stage & night at The Mark Spencer
Widmer Brothers Party Pack
ScoopFree Slide Quick-Clean Manual Litter Box
Longaberger USA Handmade Maple Basket & Pottery Pitcher
Magnum of 2006 Coral Creek Vineyards Pinot Noir
Coby Digital TV/DVD player
Wine Six Pack
14” Maritana Waterford Crystal Vase
ScoopFree Ultra Self-Cleaning Litter Box
Pet Portrait
Tea Basket
20-Inch Folding Cruiser Bike
Magnum of WillaKenzie 2006 Pinot Noir
Guided Paddle Trip for Four
Multi-strand Necklace & Matching Earrings
Artists Repertory Theatre Package
Silver Star Cat Castle
Handcrafted Cotton Quilt
Deluxe Pamper Package for Dogs & Cats
Back by popular demand! Win a coveted slot for your cat in CAT’s 2011 “Pin Up Cats” Calendar.
Think vintage World War II type sepia or hand colored black and white portraits. Your glamour cat’s photo will be taken by professionals who are donating their time and talents in their own studios.
Get ready to bid fast on this one and reserve a month for your fabulous feline.
You know your cat will thank you in headbutts and purrs!
It’s time to experience Oregon’s wine country from a different perspective!
Jump into a deluxe hot air balloon, grab your binoculars and camera, and get ready to see the sights.
This a one-of-a-kind adventure for two happens any Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday during flight season, April 1 to October 15.
You’ll be flying with other happy passengers in one of Vista’s seven state-of-the-art balloons.
Your flight departs at dawn from Sportsman Airpark in Newberg, and includes a post-flight catered brunch. Reservations are required. Valid through 2011.
Special Thanks to Vista Balloon Adventures, Inc.
Grab 11 of your friends and head to Dundee wine country!
This guided tour for 12 people includes pickup at one location in Portland and travel to four wineries in the Dundee area. If there’s a particular winery you want to visit, you may request a stop there ahead of time. After you spend the day tasting and touring, you’ll be returned to your pickup point.
Tasting fees at the wineries and lunch are not included. Certificate is good until Sept. 31, 2010.
Special Thanks to Speed’s Towing & Pacific Cascade Towncar
Here’s your chance to make a difference for a special cat at CAT.
We’ll showcase a special needs cat, an FIV+ cat, and a long time resident cat.
Your sponsorship will enable CAT to provide top-quality care for each featured cat, plus engage in some extra promotion to help find these cats – and others like them – a loving, lifelong home.
Looking for a perfect getaway that is only one hour from Portland, yet feels like it is miles away in Tuscany instead of on the Columbia River?
Spend four days and three nights just five miles from downtown Hood River in the foothills of the sleepy town of Mosier. Imagine sipping a lemonade or glass of wine on a huge deck overlooking the vineyards and orchards at sunset or star gazing at the spectacular night sky!
Enjoy your Hood River vacation in this newly completed custom, energy-efficient home (naturally cool in the summer and warm in the winter) that sleeps six comfortably.
The heated floors, solid wood doors, stone countertops in the gourmet kitchen, wood fireplace, marble showers and venetian plaster and hand-painted armoires will make you feel like you’re in an Italian villa with all of the modern conveniences. This Columbia Gorge vacation home is situated on 11 acres with views of our own Sangiovese vineyard as well as surrounding vineyards, flower farm, and cherry orchards. There is a seasonal creek that flows through the property and brings a variety of wildlife – elk, deer, bunnies, mink, lynx, to name a few! Pets allowed.
Special Thanks to Britta & Shawn Bavaresco
Beachcombing at its best!
You’ll enjoy four days and three nights (Friday/Saturday/Sunday) at the Inn at Otter Crest on the Central Oregon Coast.
This cozy one-bedroom, two-bath condo with a queen sleeper in the living room accommodates four comfortably and has a partial ocean view.
Besides beachcombing and exploring the tide pools, you can walk through the woods to the Devil’s Punchbowl, visit the famed Beverly Beach, and savor the chowder at Mo’s. You’re just minutes from Newport to the south and Lincoln City and Depot Bay to the north, so more to do is close at hand.
Available year-round; dates to be arranged with donor. No pets or smoking, please.
Special Thanks to Barbara & Heiner Pirk
Experience a full day of adventure deep sea fishing off the beautiful Oregon Coast.
You and 3 guests will board the 30-foot fishing vessel Double Trouble, whose home port for the summer is the quaint harbor of Depoe Bay. Double Trouble is a 2005 Seaswirl Striper, fully equipped with the latest navigation, communication and safety gear.
This package includes two one-night stays at the beautiful Salishan Spa & Golf Resort in nearby Gleneden Beach.
Special Thanks to Dave & Maureen Parkin of Parkin Electric
With so many opinions about black cats, it must not be easy to be one. So many bad luck myths to debunk and some outrageous good luck theories to live up to.
Just Google folklore surrounding black cats and you are bombarded with entries containing both good and evil mythology around the color of a cat’s coat. While there may not be a difference between a black cat and a tabby, behavior wise, there does seem to be some mystical differences.
When you look at all the black cats in animal shelters, you’d surmise they were the most unlucky of creatures. Overlooked in favor of their orange neighbor, last of the litter chosen, passed over for the more visible white cat—they make up the largest segment of CAT’s shelter population. In 2008, CAT found homes for 3,250 cats and kittens of all colors and ages. Of those, 839 were black or mostly black cats – approximately 26 percent of all the cats adopted last year.
CAT staffers and volunteers are befuddled why black cats are overlooked when they are the friendliest of all the cats in the shelter. CAT’s black felines are routinely described as laid back, friendly, and more social.
According to ScienCentral.com, the seemingly common black fur is actually a quite recessive gene. That means a black cat must carry two copies of the black fur gene to, indeed, be black. Talk about luck! So all of you who have and love black cats, consider yourself fortunate to be in the presence of such a genetic marvel, the black cat!
Eleven years ago, a self-confirmed “dog person” found a soft spot in his heart for an elderly cat and went on to found the Cat Adoption Team (CAT). Since then, Evan Kalik has helped save over 20,800 cats and kittens in the Portland area. On October 8, CAT honored Kalik by dedicating the Sherwood building, which houses the CAT shelter, in his name.
Kalik wanted to start small when he opened the doors of the Cat Adoption Team in a corner of the industrial building he built for his sons’ business back in May 1998. Ten cats quickly grew to 60. Today, CAT houses about 250 cats onsite and hundreds more in foster care and 11 outreach locations in the Portland area.
Kalik’s impact on both people and cats is widespread throughout the state, and many past and present CAT staff and volunteers can recall stories that epitomize his commitment. “Evan is my source of inspiration. Through example, he taught me a deeper compassion for people experiencing tough times,” says CAT"s intake coordinator, Cindy Morrison, who works with the public every day to offer advice and solutions to cat owners who call CAT looking for help.
“Evan’s passion for rescuing and saving lives has no bounds,” says Judy Brown, a long-time CAT volunteer. “It didn’t matter where he had to drive to or how much the medical care would cost him. If a cat was in need, Evan was there.”
Mary Stiles, a former CAT volunteer, says, “Evan always had time to help no matter how late or how tired he was.” Mary recalls working along side Evan when a young woman brought an injured kitten to CAT. The kitten had fallen from a second floor balcony, had a broken neck, and tested positive for FIV (the feline version of HIV). This was before CAT had its in-shelter veterinary hospital, so Evan had to find a local veterinarian willing to look after this little broken kitten. But he did. “She recovered and CAT found her a wonderful home. They even love her funny walk!” Mary recalls.
Using Kalik’s guiding philosophy of doing whatever it takes to save a life, CAT is a shelter with a long list of accomplishments:
“From the moment I met Evan [in December 1998], I knew he was the guardian angle for cats. Those cats who made it to CAT were the lucky ones, they were safe,” remembers Andrea Patrick, who worked at CAT as a veterinarian assistant until 2008. “I admire and respect Evan for his determined vision of what is best for the cats.”
And volunteer Bob Anderson, who still comes to CAT several morning a week to clean and feed the cats, remembers, with a laugh, back in early 1999 when, “I walked in the main kennel area one Saturday morning and there was Evan giving medications to some of the kittens. I remember Evan saying to me, and he was really exasperated, ‘Bob, I am only trying to help these kitties, why are they giving me such a hard time?’” Anyone who has tried to give a kitten a pill will understand Evan’s frustration.
Until 2004, when CAT officially became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the organization was funded through the Kalik Foundation. In early 2007, Kalik deeded the SW Galbreath Drive building to CAT, saving the shelter the more than $1 million purchase price. CAT is responsible for monthly mortgage payments.
CAT hosted a Hawaiian Luau themed celebration for its volunteers on Sunday, August 30, to thank them all for the hard work and loving devotion they each give to the cats and kittens. (View photos here)
CAT presented these top volunteer recognition awards:
(voted on by the volunteers)
Angie Britton is the Coordinator of CAT’s adoption outreach center at the Tanasbourne PetSmart, where she monitors the health of the cats on site, coordinates the volunteers working there, counsels potential adopters, and positively represents CAT to the public.
Kathy Strom trains new CAT volunteers, teaches volunteers a Cat 101 class, and mentors new adoption counselors. You’ll see her at practically every CAT event and at the shelter every Sunday with a huge smile as she helps clients find the right cat for them.
Barbara Padden has been with CAT since 2001 and done practically every volunteer job imaginable to help the kitties. She designed CAT’s system for filing adoption paperwork and currently works with a group of volunteers to keep it all organized.
Marcia Guerin is known as one of the hardest working volunteers at CAT. She fosters kittens, provides care to the cats at CAT’s adoption center at the Wilsonville PetSmart, represents CAT at many local events, picks up donated food for the Cat Food Bank, and is generally the first volunteer to respond when there is a unique volunteer opportunity
(selected by CAT Staff)
Ray Zak. If it’s Wednesday, you’ll find Ray at CAT quietly and expertly taking care of any and all maintenance issues. One CAT staffer recently remarked that if it weren’t for Ray, the shelter would probably be falling down. Well, that may not be exactly true, but Ray does take care of all those little nuisance maintenance issues. He repairs broken locks, replaces light switches, hangs shelves and banners, installs doors, and so much more.
Dalma Franulovic not only makes great suggestions, she’s right there carrying them out. When she’s not helping folks find their perfect kitty at the Tualatin PetSmart, she might be deep cleaning a cat room at the shelter to get all the walls and corners perfectly clean. She also conducts the Meet Your Match feline assessments, which is the first step at CAT for a kitty to find a new home. And she opens her home to adult cats needing time away from the shelter to heal from illness or injury.
(for the most volunteer hours)
Barbara Pirk is another CAT volunteer who is at the shelter so much, you’d think she were paid staff. Barbara is the right-hand woman of CAT’s very successful foster program, performing many of the administrative duties essential for keeping the program running so well. Barbara also shares her creative talents by hand making signs, awards, cards, and other things CAT uses to promote programs in the community.
Linda Thomas took home her first litter of foster kittens in 2006 and has not slowed down since. She opens her heart and home to dozens of kittens and cats throughout the year, providing them a safe place to grow or heal until they can be adopted. She also mentors other CAT foster volunteers, giving them support and encouragement. There is no “empty” nest at Linda’s house!
CAT is pleased to announce its 20,000th adoption.
Little Allure, a 10-week old adorable female kitten, was No. 20,000!
She found her way into the heart of Carol Snider, of Lake Oswego, and her family on Monday, June 22, at 2:30 pm.
CAT’s 10,000th adoption took place in April 2006; eight years after CAT opened its doors. The fact that CAT’s 20,000th adoption is just a little over three years since that first achievement, is a testament to the community support of this no-kill, feline-only suburban shelter.
“The Cat Adoption Team has seen phenomenal adoption growth over the past 11 years. In 1998, when CAT was founded, 219 cats were adopted. Just last year, CAT found homes for 3,250 cats and kittens. This is a 1,179 percent increase in just 11 years,” remarks Aaron Asmus, Executive Director of the Cat Adoption Team.
CAT’s staff celebrated the adoption with confetti and joy. The Qadan-Snider family received an overflowing gift basket and a free adoption in honor of this milestone adoption.
Little Allure, who may be renamed to Jasmine, left in a luxurious pink cat-carrier satchel. Already the object of great affection of her new family.
Thank you to our 2009 Whisker Wonderland Sponsors:
Meet Kleinfelter, a very rare cat indeed. You see, Kleinfelter is a male tortoiseshell – a coloration almost exclusively female. About 1 in every 3,000 tortoiseshells or calico cats is born male.
Kleinfelter, just 7 months old, is affectionate, loves to be scratched behind his ears, purrs readily, and has one black and one tan black leg - making his coloring even more unique. He was adopted on Wednesday, April 8.
Read more about Kleinfelter and male torties (pdf).
CAT sends out a monthly electronic newsletter that keeps you up to date with CAT news. Subscribe today.
Visit this page often to find new Cat Fun to brighten your day.
This proves cats adopted from CAT are entertaining while they work for a living - Blaze demonstrating how to clean a mirror
Piano playing cat - Nora
Living in harmony - kitty and deer
Working out - cats on the treadmill
Dinner time with Simon’s cat
Sleeping in with Simon’s cat
An engineer’s guide to cats
Cat Adoption Team alum, Clara, plays fetch
The art of cat stalking
These links are provided for your enjoyment. The contents of external websites are beyond CAT’s control. CAT accepts listings to these web pages complementary to its mission statement and reserves the right to refuse or remove any listings that are not in line with CAT’s mission.
Be a Pussycat - plan to come to CAT’s 7th annual Whisker Wonderland silent/live auction on
Friday, November 5, at the Crystal Ballroom in Portland.
This year, you can dig your claws into a virtual Whisker Wonderland
auction prior to the event, just to entice you!
We are pouncing on some great auction items this year for the festive live auction.
The Ballroom’s eclectic décor will provide a festive backdrop as you
enjoy signature cocktails, munch hors d’oeuvres, and bid on silent and live auction items.
Sponsor
Sponsor CAT’s 2010 Whisker Wonderland Slient/LIve Auction (download PDF packet). Packages are affordable and will put you before a target audience of animal lovers and folks who care about this community.
Donate Items
Be an part of the auction with your donation or corporate sponsorships. Corporate options include Champagne Sponsor, Golden Ticket Sponsor, and Business Card Ad Sponsor. Download the in-kind donation form (pdf).
Online Auction
New This Year: CAT’s first-ever online auction! Be among the first to sponsor this exciting new feature of our annual gala.
The online auction will open at 8 am. Monday, October 18, and run through 9 pm, Sunday, October 31, about two weeks prior to the “in person” event. Your online auction sponsorship will expose your company to thousands of cat lovers locally and nationally. Online sponsorship details can be found on page 3 of the sponsor packet.
Ticket Information
Tickets are $90 per person or $1,000 for a table of eight.
Table sponsors will receive bottles of wine and custom table signage.
Back this year: the Pussycat Package! For $150 per person, you will get one signature drink, one drink voucher for a beverage of your choice, a CAT totebag, and travel mug, plus cat toys and goodies for your feline friends.
The first 50 Pussycat purchasers also receive a $100 gift card toward portraits of their family and pets with Kathi Lamm, Oregon’s leading animal photographer!
Tickets go on sale in August.
For more information, please (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) Kim Christiansen, CAT’s development manager, or call (503) 925-8903, ext. 257.
Check out photos from the festivities in 2009.
Cat Adoption Team felines decide to determine what team will win the 43rd annual Super Bowl. Sir Thomas, Tanner, Fudgecicle, and Shamika used their superior predictive powers to choose the winner and as an outward expression of their opinion, they picked their favorite team by eating from a team color bowl.
Hunger won out in the end. Sir Thomas ran to the gold Steeler’s bowl and wolfed down his pick; Tanner was thoughtful as he decided to nibble from the gold Steeler’s bowl as well; and Shamika after a moment of contemplation also choose to dine from the gold Steeler’s bowl.
Fudgecicle was still upset that the Raven’s did not make the game and turned her back on the whole affair.
The results were tabulated and the winner is very clear:
The Cat Adoption Team’s feline football fanatics predict that the Pittsburgh Steelers will win the 43rd annual Super Bowl held on Sunday, February 1, 2009, in Tampa Bay.
Let’s get started! The 5k steps off around 6:50 pm on Friday, August 14, from Sherwood High School.
Read the RunOregon blog and the Cat’s Meow blog to learn more about local running and kitty news.
Even with April showers this month, we have a goal for you to reach so you can build your endurance when we launch the daily training plan in May.
Make it a goal by the end of April to run 1.5 miles continuously.
To reach this goal alternate running and walking 3 times a week.
Run for 5 minutes then walk for 5 minutes. Repeat two times if you can.
Gradually increase the amount of time you run each week by 2.5 minutes and decrease the walk time by a minute.
By the end of the month you should be able to run a continuous 1.5 miles.
It is March, and that means that we have longer days and warmer temps. Yes, it’s still raining, but that doesn’t mean we can’t keep our training on track!
Walkers: Last month we built up to 25 minutes of walking with 15 minutes of fast walking. This month, we are taking another small step towards being healthy and strong by adding some core exercises to our routine.
Walk for 25 minutes twice a week, and build up to 30 minutes three times a week if possible over the month. When you are done with your walking workout, take about ten minutes to stretch and strengthen your core (see below).
Runners: Last month we built up to running for one or two minutes at a time. That is awesome! That would likely get you half way around the track or even further!
This month, continue to SLOWLY build up until you can run for five minutes at a time. This is not about speed, this is about teaching your body to keep moving. Often times, going slower will help you achieve this goal. Don’t worry about how fast you are going ... instead focus on finding a pace that you can run and feel good with!
You might accomplish this by adding twenty seconds to your running spurts every time you go for a workout. By the end of two weeks, if you run twice per week, you will have added a minute and 20 seconds on to your run time!
Here’s an example routine:
Week 1: Walk to warm up for five minutes. Run for 2 1/2 minutes. Walk until your heart rate and breathing return to normal and run for another 2 1/2 minutes. Do this until you have completed four running pieces, then walk to cool down. And don’t forget to stretch!
Week 2: Remember your 5 minute warm up! Then try to run for 3 minutes. Rest in between each running spurt. Do four cycles and then cool down.
Week 3: Same thing, but build up to running for 4 minutes and some change. It is important to listen to your body. It may take you longer to get to running 5 minutes; but 5 minutes will get you close to a half mile at most paces ... so remember to take it easy!
Again, don’t worry about the resting time in between running. If this is easy for you, you can add more extra time on each week, but don’t increase it by more than 30 percent. This will help you stay injury free!
Core strength is another way to work on your running:
Core strengthening is very important for walkers and runners. As you walk or run, you are asking your body to stay aligned and using your stomach and back muscles to keep you steady. If those muscles are not strong, you end up using your hip and butt muscles, which can lead to soreness.
Start out by laying on the floor and stretching. Then, bring both feet up so they are flat on the floor and your knees are up in the air. Place your hands behind your neck and do some slow crunches. Breathe out as you curl up and blow the air out as you roll back to the ground. For a bigger challenge, put a salad plate on your stomach and try to keep it flat while you crunch up. Start out with four sets of five and work your way up to four sets of ten. In between sets, stretch out and let your breathing and heart rate return to normal.
There are many exercises you can learn by working with a personal trainer or pilates instructor. A place to check out is Carlee Gehrke of Massage in Motion, who offers 30-minute private pilates sessions for only $15! You can reach her at (503) 200-0557.
Some other ways to prepare for your race:
1. Pick out a reward that you will enjoy at the end of the month if you complete 80 percent of your planned workouts.
2. Take a bunch of bananas or a bag of apples to your office and snack on those instead of leftover chocolates from Valentine’s Day.
First, make sure that you are in good enough health to start exercising. If you are new to exercising, talk to your doctor. If you are feeling under the weather, wait until you feel healthy again to exercise.
Walkers: Walk for 20 minutes at one time. At least 10 minutes of the 20, walk “with a purpose” to get your heart moving! Do this twice a week for two weeks. Then increase the time walking to 25 minutes with at least 15 minutes of faster walking. Again walking twice a week for two weeks. A 20 minute walk at an average pace will get you at least one mile!
Runners: Try a walk/run program to start off with. Start out by walking to warm up. Then jog—slowly—for just 30 seconds to one minute. Then, walk again for four minutes. Continue at this pace until you complete four walk/run cycles. Hit the pavement two or three times per week, depending on how you feel. Then, the next two weeks, try to run for one minute to two minutes at a time and walk for three or four minutes. It’s important that you don’t start running/jogging until you feel your breathing returning to normal.
It might be difficult for the first two weeks, so start as slow as you need to. By the end of the month, you should have no trouble keeping up a fast walking pace for a full mile or jogging for about a half mile without taking a walk break!
Here are some other things you can change to help yourself succeed during your 5k training:
1. Spend extra snuggle time with your favorite kitty. Spending time with pets helps reduce stress levels and will remind you why you’re training for the CATnip Friday 5k!
2. Replace a regular beverage, such as a soda or extra cup of coffee, with a glass of water each day.
3. Read the RunOregon blog and the Cat’s Meow blog to learn more about local running and kitty news.
Get ready for Portland’s ONLY benefit 5K run/walk that raises money specifically for homeless kitties.
Benefits CAT
Friday, August 14, 2009
Starting at 5 pm for check in and warm up
5k fun run/walk
Timed street mile for serious runners
In Sherwood, OR
Registration: $20
CATnip t’s: $10 or get one for free by gathering $100 in pledges (see below)
Gather pledges and win a CATnip Friday 5k official t-shirt
Be a sponsor (pdf)
Reserve a vendor booth (pdf)
event overview information page (pdf)
Get your CATnip Friday 5k “unofficial” t-shirt now! All proceeds benefit CAT.
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Live Auction Donors Artists Repertory Theatre The Barefoot Sage Britta & Shawn Bavaresco Roger & Sheila Dannen DoveLewis 24-Hour Emergency & ICU Animal Hospital Ken & Cheri Hick Hotel Monaco Portland Jake’s Famous Crawfish Restaurant Craig & Alejandra Kalik Susan Klages, Black Cat Landscaping & Flying Cat Coffee Company Dr. Kris Otteman, DVM, & Dr. Jeff Brant, DVM Pacific Cascade Wine Tours Barbara & Heiner Pirk Tress Prefontaine Rebecca Youngstrom & Ron Atwood Connie Snow, Erika Johnston & Kelly Lang Speed’s Supertow Taste of Wine Vista Balloon Adventures Gunnar Wagner |
Silent Auction Donors Al’s Garden Center American Laser Centers Argyle Winery Atlantis Casino Resort Spa Aussie Pet Mobile Back to Nature Facials & Massage Sarah Bain Gallery The Barefoot Sage Britta & Shawn Bavaresco Blush Beauty Bar Bridgetown Furniture Bull Mountain Family Dental California Closets Campbell Pet Company Chamber Music Northwest Charles Fine Art Portraits Charlton Productions Chinook Winds Casino Resort,an Enterprise of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon Clackamas Heritage Partners ClubSport Oregon Columbia Gorge Discovery Center Cookies by Design Ryan DesJardins Photography Edward Wadsworth for Hair Eleni’s Philoxenia Susan Fairchild & Dean Surface Family Fun Center & Bullwinkle’s Restaurant
Furever Pets Merrie Gagnet Garden Fever! Gold Door The Grotto Debbie Gsell-Miller Guide Dogs for the Blind Patricia Hansen Constance Harvey Maggy Henry Ken & Cheri Hick High Desert Museum Hills Pet Nutrition Honest Chocolates Tracie Hotchner The Human Beans Coffee House Iron Horse Restaurant Erika Johnston K103 FM Kats ’n Us La Quinta Inn & Suites Ronni Lacroute Lakewood Theatre Company Kathi Lamm, Lamm Photography Kelly Lang Linnea Osterberg, Photographer Lloyd Center Ice Rink Longbottom Coffee & Tea Massage For All Seasons Dr. Louise Mesher, DVM |
Mission Mill Museum Berdell Moffett-Chaney Natura Pet Products New Seasons Market Francesca Novak, Windemere Real Estate Oaks Park Roller Skating Rink Old Spaghetti Factory OMSI Oregon Culinary Institute Oregon Electric Railway Historical Society Oregon Shakespeare Festival Oregon Zoo David & Wade Parkin, Parkin Electric, Inc. Pastini Pastaria Portland Beavers & Timbers Portland Center Stage Portland Spirit PearlParadise.com Noëlle Penn Pet Loft PetMoms Professional Petsitting Pharmatica Integrative Pharmacy Pink Martini Pittock Mansion Society Podnah’s Pit BBQ Portland Baroque Orchestra Portland Lumberjax Lacrosse Portland Winter Hawks Tress Prefontaine & John Morrison Red Brick Inn of Panguitch B&B Sahagun Chocolates Patricia Schaller Schroeder’s Den Daycare for Dogs Scoop Free Seasons & Regions Seafood Grill Seattle Mariners Seven of Hearts Wine Shabava Sharon McCartney Sherwood Regional Family YMCA Shilo Inns Suites Hotels Dr. Patti Smith, DVM/Hart Road Animal Hospital Peggy Smith Sparkle Beauty Bar Don Spear Norma Stewart Wendy Stewart Pam Swegles Renee Swiglo The Sports Page Nancy Taylor Tress Prefontaine & John Morrison Urban Wineworks Ruth Weinstein The Wellstone Group, LLC Wildhorse Resort & Casino Yoga in the Pearl Zell Bros. Jewelers |
Orange tabby, brown tabby, silver tabby, grey, white, black, black and white, calico, tortoiseshell…there are so many to choose from!
Any adopter who spends even a few minutes at the Cat Adoption Team looking for a new feline companion ponders, “How in the world do I choose one?”
On any given day, there are hundreds of cats, of all different ages, sizes, colors, and personalities, in the shelter to choose from. How do you find the “one” who is right for you?
We are dedicated to making the best possible match between felines and adopters. CAT is proud to announce the implementation of “Meet Your Match™ Feline-ality™” for all cats nine months and older. CAT is the only animal shelter in the greater Portland-metro area using this program.
This new, research-based program developed by the American Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has a proven success rate in shelters across the country where they experienced increased adoptions, decreased returns, and shortened length of stay for cats in the shelter. Everything CAT is striving for.
Sounds perfect; how does it work?
The program is built around the Feline-ality™ Assessment that reliably predicts how an individual cat is likely to behave in his/her new home. CAT administers eight specific assessments that tell us a lot about each cat. A cat’s feline-ality is determined by her:
Adopters then complete a short Meet Your Match™ Cat Adopter Survey identifying preferences, expectations, and lifestyle — 19 questions about your lifestyle and how you envision your cat fitting in to your family. These questions correlate with specific Feline-alities, resulting in a harmonious match with a well-suited feline companion.
Your results will tell what your “color” is—green, orange, or purple.
From there it is broken down a bit more to get the quirky categories:
When you’re ready to adopt your next cat, come down to CAT and Meet Your Match!
Check out The Oregonian’s story about CAT’s Meet Your Match program.
On Friday, November 7, CAT hosted its annual silent/live auction fundraiser - Whisker Wonderland - at the Melody Ballroom. This year auction goers were whisked away to an Arabian Night featuring glowing lanterns, flowing fabric décor and a Middle Eastern buffet. (All photos are by Kathi Lamm. Have Kathi take your family’s holiday photo. She specializes in pet photography.)
Whisker Wonderland 2008 Raises More Than $91,000 for CAT!
CAT’s 5th annual Whisker Wonderland dinner and auction brought in more than $91,000 for the shelter’s programs. A heartfelt thank you to our 250 guests, who bid generously on both silent and live auction items. The staff and volunteers at CAT send their deepest thanks to the many generous sponsors and donors who were key to the event’s success. Please join us in thanking them by patronizing their businesses when you can.
Click here to view the 2008 Whisker Wonderland Sponsor page.
Click here to view the 2008 Whisker Wonderland Donors.
GOOD NEWS! Cats are living longer. Advances in nutrition, health care, and owner nurturing are moving the life expectancy from 3 to 8 years in 1930 to a long 15 to 17 years now. And it is not surprising to hear of cats living into their 20s.
The pet food industry now formulates food for senior cats (generally 7 years or older). Some may not agree that our 10 year old cats are seniors as we watch them rambunctiously play; however, we all see a decrease in activity and increase in a cat’s favorite pastime of sleeping as they age.
Cat age more rapidly than humans. A kitten reaching the end of his/her first year would, if a human, be asking for a driver’s permit (equivalent age of 15 human years) and when your feline friend reaches the mature age of six, he/she will be experiencing the big “4-0” (equivalent age of 40 human years). If pet food manufacturers ran retirement plans, every human over 44 years would be eligible since most pet foods classify a seven-year-old cat as a senior (7 feline years is equivalent to 44 human years). Click here for complete chart.
November is “National Adopt a Senior Pet Month,” a great time to consider adopting a senior pet, the health concerns for an aging feline, and the extraordinary compassion cat owners are providing to comfort their older cats.
Bob C. adopted Annabelle when she was 10. She is now 15 and, as Bob points out, “still thinks she’s a kitten.” Annabelle is taking an inhaled steroid for Asthma. She’s had cancer tumors removed and is dealing with tooth loss and dental disease that set in before she was adopted. “She’s a loving cat and delights in lap time.”
Commander Grey became a part of the family when Anita Y. rescued him as a stray. At 16, he now has developed hyperthyroidism. Anita gives him medication twice a day. “He is still very loving and energetic,” she reports; adding, “Just a few weeks ago, I found out he is in the early stages of kidney disease. I know this will eventually end his life but with all the love and companionship he’s given my family, he is worth the extra effort to medicate.”
When describing Peanut, her 14-year-old cat, Karen S. claims “he has always been a gentle, sweet cat. As he ages, he has become more affectionate and ‘clingy’.” Recently, Peanut was diagnosed with thyroid problems that are being controlled with medication. “He also has minor arthritis in his front legs so we have ‘cat steps’ to help him get up and down easily.”
Kate is 20 and has become “so much more companionable these last few years.” Shari P. reminds us all that the commitment we made to our cats when they were younger just grows stronger as they get older. “Love and acceptance” are the key. Kate takes medication for blood pressure and thyroid. She is also experiencing kidney problems and drinks more water. Her advanced age makes treatment more difficult so a less invasive path is being taken. “She is amazingly happy and we love her to pieces,” states Shari.
Dharma is just about 15 yrs old. “She’s been with us through thick and thin. She watched over me most 2½ yrs ago, as I was recovering from my second hip replacement. She refused to leave my side during that time and guarded over me on the rented hospital bedside table the whole time,” remembers Charlotte N. She’s had her own medical problems. She was diagnosed with “Mega-Colon” about 8 years ago and bravely faced visits to the vet, and takes the necessary oral medications needed to maintain her health. “What I love about a senior cat is that we’ve shared so much of a lifetime together. We have a history. We know and trust one another,” comments Charlotte. Dharma is somewhat arthritic now, and can’t jump high anymore. “She doesn’t know it yet, but she’s getting a heating pad for her birthday. Shhh. Don’t tell her.”
Rest and Relaxation Awaits You on the Mendocino Coast
For an idyllic retreat on Northern California’s Mendocino Coast, Stevenswood Spa Resort rates accolades. Contemporary, secluded, and only two hours from Napa, this tranquil inn offers a gracious respite from the daily whirl.
Enjoy a four-night stay for two, including daily breakfast, daily resort fee, a $75 spa gift certificate, and complimentary limousine transportation within 10 miles of this AAA 4-diamond rated resort. This package includes round-trip coach class service for two on American Airlines!
Nestled in a forest by the sea, the intimate lodge echoes the natural beauty of its rural setting. Here guests are pampered with comfort, privacy, and peace, and indulged in gracious service and superlative cuisine.
Each room contains a wood-burning fireplace, private baths, cordless phones/speaker phones and a fully stocked honor bar. A private botanical garden, Jacuzzi spas, and landscaped grounds enhance the breathtaking setting, with a backdrop of Redwood groves and ocean meadows.
“Adopt” a Star for that Special Someone
Maybe you’ve adopted a cat from CAT. Now you can “adopt” a star! The International Star Registry has a multitude of gift packages for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays – you name it.
Imagine looking up at the sky and saying “Honey, there’s your star!”
It’s possible with this package, which includes a beautiful 12” x 16” parchment certificate with the name of your designated recipient, dedication date, and telescopic coordinates of the star.
You’ll also receive an informative booklet with charts of the constellations plus a larger, more detailed chart with the star you name encircled in red.
International Star Registry has been naming stars since 1979 for celebrities, dignitaries, and individuals worldwide. Because these star names are copyrighted with their telescopic coordinates in the book, “Your Place in the Cosmos,” future generations may identify the star name in the directory and, using a telescope, locate the actual star in the sky.
It’s the perfect way to say “I Love You!”
Discover One of the Best Kept Secrets in Florida!
Enjoy a sunrise overlooking Tampa Bay and a picture-perfect sunset over the Gulf of Mexico – all from the deck of this cozy Florida townhome during your weeklong stay.
Located on the Dolphin Dance North side of Anna Maria Island in Holmes Beach, Florida, your abode is an impressive 2-bedroom, 1½-half bath unit with panoramic views of the Gulf of Mexico.
You can plan your visit during the months of May, October, or November 2009, with the exception of Thanksgiving week.
This spacious townhome unit will sleep six with a queen size bed, two twin beds and a sofa bed. Savor the sunsets from the large palladium windows overlooking the beach. Extras include washer, dryer, VCR, DVD, and microwave.
On Anna Maria Island, there are no lines except the ones you draw in the sand…meaning miles of pristine beaches, award-winning restaurants, and of course shopping.
Get the private island feel while discovering one of Florida’s ideal places to relax and get away from it all!
Special Thanks to Craig and Alejandra Kalik
See Portland’s Own Emergency Vet/ICU Hospital in Action
Our pets always have a place to go - day or night - when they need top-quality medical care, thanks to our friends at DoveLewis 24-Hour Emergency & ICU Animal Hospital.
Do you ever wonder what exactly goes on at DoveLewis?
Two lucky adults will get a unique opportunity to find out during an overnight experience at DoveLewis’ state-of-the-art facility in Northwest Portland. Our lucky guests will observe staff and learn more about emergency and ICU care for animals.
This is a chance for you or a friend/family member to go behind the scenes at Portland’s only non-profit emergency vet hospital, one of the best of its kind in the country.
Includes a DoveLewis embroidered scrub top for you to keep and wear during your overnight observation.
Special Thanks to DoveLewis 24-Hour Emergency & ICU Animal Hospital
Blazers Fans, This One’s For You!
Greg Ogden is finally playing…and you’ll have a bird’s eye view of him and the rest of the Portland Trail Blazers from your own private Rose Garden suite for 22!
Make it a night to remember while you entertain friends, family, or business associates in VIP style with stadium seating and tables overlooking all the action on the court, plus a private restroom.
We’ve thrown in a $250 gift certificate to help you stock your suite with catered refreshments. Soft drinks are provided.
Four VIP parking passes included!
Game date to be determined.
Special Thanks to Connie Snow, Erika Johnston, and Kelly Lang
Up, up, and away! Grab your binoculars and get ready to drift over breathtaking vineyards and mountains on this great hot air balloon adventure.
Before you launch, you’ll have your choice of refreshing cold beverages and enjoy a traditional toast in honor of your flight.
Once you’re aloft, make it a hands-on experience by helping the crew or just sit back with your video camera. However you experience it, a hot air balloon flight over Yamhill County’s beautiful wine country is a one-of-a-kind experience!
Your post-flight celebration includes sparkling wine or cider, the “Balloonist’s Prayer,” and a brunch in casual elegance.
This hot air balloon adventure for 2 people begins in Sherwood.
Flight season is April 1-November 1. Launch time is at dawn weekdays. Reservations are required. Valid through November 2009.
Special Thanks to Roger Anderson of Vista Balloons
Sneak Away to the Inn at Otter Crest
Beach-combing at its best!
You’ll enjoy four days and three nights (Friday/Saturday/Sunday) at the Inn at Otter Crest on the Central Oregon Coast.
This cozy 1-bedroom, 2-bath condo with a queen sleeper in the living room accommodates four comfortably and has a partial ocean view.
Besides beach-combing and exploring the tide pools, you can walk through the woods to the Devil’s Punchbowl, visit the famed Beverly Beach, and savor the chowder at Mo’s.
You’re just minutes from Newport to the south and Lincoln City and Depot Bay to the north, so more to do is close at hand.
Available year-round; dates to be arranged with donor. Sorry, no pets.
Special Thanks to Barbara & Heiner Pirk
Six-Hour Mini Bus Wine Tour
Experience Oregon’s wine country in luxury during this six-hour wine bus tour courtesy of Pacific Cascade Towncar and Speed’s Towing.
Up to 10 people will visit four of Oregon’s finest wineries in the comfort of a luxury towncar outfitted with all the amenities!
Every tour is designed with your satisfaction in mind. There are literally 80 wineries within a 50-mile radius of Portland, and Pacific Cascade offers a variety of tasting experiences to please every palate. If you have favorite wineries, tasting preferences or desire barrel tasting, with a little lead time they can make it happen for you and your group!
Special Thanks to Pacific Cascade Towncar and Speed’s Towing
Take a Trip Back in Time to German Inn & Castle
Take yourself back to Midieval Times with this 4-night stay in a double room at the beautiful Kauzenburg Hotel in the heart of Germany’s Rhine Valley. Your trip includes daily breakfasts at the hotel and dinner for two at the Knight’s Table in a 13th century German castle adjacent to the hotel. You’ll experience how the knights partook of their evening meals deep in the belly of the castle – complete with traditional entertainment.
If you’re planning a trip to Europe, this romantic spot is the perfect place to start, especially if you purchase Lufthansa’s nonstop flight to Frankfurt.
This is a fabulous location from which to explore the Rhine and its castles, vineyards and other attractions. The hotel and castle are about 30 miles from Ramstein, which is the largest American military base in Europe, and serves as the U.S. Air Force headquarters in Europe.
To give you an idea of what to expect at the Knight’s Table, read on:
Special Thanks to Gunnar Wagner
A garden should be a place of solace and relaxation.
Let professional landscaper Susan Klages, of Black Cat Landscaping, create a garden space unique to you and your home.
Choose between an eco-friendly garden with native Northwest flora or a traditional Japanese-styled garden.
Or maybe an edible garden with herbs and spices is more your style.
Susan will customize the garden to your heart’s desire after extensive consultation with you and an analysis of your space.
Special thanks to Susan Klages
Enjoy some good clean feline fun:
Little Italy in Hood River
Just one hour from Portland, yet you will feel like you are a world away in Tuscany instead of on the Columbia River!
Spend four days and three nights just five miles from downtown Hood River in the foothills of the sleepy town of Mosier. Imagine sipping a lemonade or glass of wine on a huge deck overlooking the vineyards and orchards at sunset or star gazing at the spectacular night sky.
Enjoy your Hood River vacation in this newly completed, custom, energy-efficient home (naturally cool in the summer and warm in the winter) that sleeps six comfortably.
The heated floors, solid wood doors, stone countertops in the gourmet kitchen, wood fireplace, marble showers and venetian plaster, and hand-painted armoires will make you feel like you’re in an Italian villa with all of the modern conveniences.
This Columbia Gorge vacation home is situated on 11 acres with views of our own Sangiovese vineyard as well as surrounding vineyards, flower farm, and cherry orchards.
There is a seasonal creek that flows through the property and brings a variety of wildlife – elk, deer, bunnies, mink, lynx, to name a few!
Expiration Date: November 2010
Special Thanks to Britta and Shawn Bavaresco
CAT has several sponsorship levels that are sure to fit your company’s budget.
Show your support of CAT by joining us as a sponsor. Your support of CAT’s largest fundraiser enables the Cat Adoption Team to provide medical care for all the cats and kittens in the shelter whether through routine vaccinations or treatment for diabetes; to provide subsidized spay/neuter surgeries and/or cat food for cat owners in financial need; to feed up to 300 cats and kittens at the shelter daily; to reduce the adoption fee for senior, special needs, or FIV positive cats; and to provide a safety net for this community’s felines.
You can read more about the sponsor levels by downloading this PDF.
Then send in your completed sponsorship agreement (pdf) and join in the fun at Whisker Wonderland on Friday, November 7, 2008.
Check out our 2008 Sponsors and Supporters.
The Cat Adoption Team depends on the generosity of our supporters to make the Whisker Wonderland benefit auction a huge success.
No auction item donation is too small or too large.
With over 250 community members attending this year’s Whisker Wonderland, we want to have something for everyone: from travel, entertainment, and wine packages to practical things such as home improvement, health and beauty, all types of services, and cat-related items.
•Do you have a vacation home or timeshare? Trips to places near and far are always popular.
•Do you know someone famous? Maybe you can arrange lunch with them.
•Do you have a line on tickets to a concert or show?
•Can you arrange a stay in a downtown hotel or get a gift certificate from a great restaurant?
•How about a unique item (artwork, a collector’s edition) you’re willing to part with? It may just be someone else’s new treasure.
•We want to go green this year! Do you have anything to contribute to an eco-friendly package?
Print and use this Auction Donation form.
If you have an item you’d like to donate, please contact Kim Christiansen, CAT’s Development Manager, at (503) 925-8903, ext 257, or (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Feeding Cats to Keep them with the Family
The cat food bank is designed to help financially needy cat owners keep their furry friends. On the first Sunday of each month, CAT opens the food bank from 12-2 pm at their shelter, located at 14175 SW Galbreath Dr. in Sherwood. Download our Cat Food Bank brochure.
Volunteers distribute a month’s supply of free cat and kitten food for up to four cats per family on a first come first served basis. Cat litter may also be available. Recipients are simply asked to fill out a form, be receiving some financial assistance, and provide their own transportation to the shelter. Cats should also be spayed or neutered, but folks will not be turned away if their pets are currently intact. They will be given low-cost resources and required to show they have fixed their cats.
About the Cat Food Bank
Quick Facts
Next Distribution Day
Statistics
Donation Drop Off Locations
The Cat Adoption Team is experiencing a growing need for cat food and kitty litter donations as their monthly cat food bank experiences a huge annual increase in requests.
CAT’s PR & Cat Food Bank Manager, Kathy Covey, says the non-profit organization gave out 375 pounds of food when they opened the food bank in June 2008. Covey says, “In November 2008, when we were all told the country was in a recession, we saw a huge spike – 996 pounds given out. Then it just continued to grow from there.”
As CAT celebrated the one year anniversary of the opening of the food bank on June 7, 2009, the organization handed out over 1,840 pounds of food and ran out of the 716 pounds of litter they hand on hand.
In October 2009 alone, the Cat Adoption Team helped 108 families feed 333 cats (about 3 cats per family). CAT volunteer, Connie Snow says, “It is a great feeling for people to know they have a resource to help them in times of need so that they don’t have to give up their beloved pet.” Snow says she fears many of the cats would end up on the street or in shelters if it weren’t for the food bank.
The total amount of dry cat food given out since opening in June 2008 is a staggering 29,225.35 pounds. CAT started the New Year (2010) by providing over 2,100 pounds of food to feed 318 pet cats. This monthly distribution amount is not unheard of as 2,122.5 pounds was given out in December 2009 leaving just 6 pounds on the shelves!.
Super Bowl Sunday, February 7, 2010, was a record breaking distribution day in the food banks 21 month existance: 2,565.5 pounds. That was topped by March 2010’s distribution of 2,781 pounds!
Michelle of Wilsonville says of the food bank: “I very much appreciate the help that CAT gave me this month. I lost my job in December and was struggling to keep up with my financial responsibilities. I have four cats who I love like they were my children and your gift of food and litter made it so my cats would not have to go without this month.” Michelle used the food bank just one month and now has found a new job.
Tammy of SW Portland exclaims: “The cat food bank is a life saver. Thank you so much for all your continued help with caring for my cats.” Tammy is disabled and receiving government assistance. She’s been using the food bank for 8 months to supplement her benefits.
In September 2009, The Cat Adoption Team expanded the program to provide cat food to Loaves & Fishes in Beaverton. CAT is working with Washington County Meals on Wheels on a home delivery of cat food through Loaves & Fishes. Covey says this will help home-bound recipients keep their cats. Read more about this pilot program. So far, 757.5 pounds of dry cat food has gone to help feed these cats.
CAT’s food bank is one of the premier animal food banks in the nation. Their model has drawn requests from other shelters that want to know how the food bank operates. Covey says CAT is more than happy to help other shelters get organized so they can help pet owners in their community.
CAT is always in need of food and litter donations; in fact, donations of food are not keeping up with the current demand. Unexpired, unopened bags of cat food, canned food and scoopable litter can be dropped off at the shelter or one of their many drop-off locations. Cash is also accepted. This allows CAT to purchase food when donations don’t meet the need.
(Written by CAT supporter Jolynn Winter)
•Cat and kitten food only
•Distributed to cat owners in need of financial assistance
•Approximately one month’s supply of cat food given for up to four cats
•Open the first Sunday of the month from 12 – 2 pm
•Clients are helped for 5 consecutive months (with 2 month off before coming again), since the food bank is designed as a temporary stop-gap
•No transportation provided to CAT’s Sherwood shelter
•CAT’s Sherwood shelter address 14175 SW Galbreath Dr., Sherwood, OR
•Donations of unopened, unexpired dry cat/kitten food and canned cat food are welcome
•Donations of clumping cat litter also accepted
•Available to any cat owner in financial need regardless of what county they reside
•At this time CAT’s Cat Food Bank is designed to help cat owners, not feral cat caregivers or rescue organizations.
CAT does ask that all cats receiving food from the Cat Food Bank be spayed/neutered. If your cat is not fixed, CAT can provide information on subsidized surgeries when you come to the food bank your first time.
There is always something happening to benefit the cats of this community.
The Cat Adoption Team is working hard in your community to save the lives of unwanted, abandoned, or homeless cats.
CAT in the News: links to stories about CAT appearing in the news media.
CAT’s News: in-depth stories about what CAT is doing
Press/Media Releases: read the releases we send directly to the media.
Event Calendar: check out CAT’s community events and promotions.
Check out CAT’s videos on YouTube.
CAT and Washington County Animal Services Team Up to Provide Supplies to Pet Owners of Flood Ravaged Vernonia - December 2007
Responding to a request from the American Red Cross, in early December 2007, Washington County Animal Services in Hillsboro and the Cat Adoption Team in Sherwood rallied to provide dog and cat food as well as crates and other supplies for the pet owners of Vernonia.
Flood waters of the Nehalem River are retreating and residents of this small community are just beginning to mop up and assess the damage. Vernonia was cut off from the rest of the state earlier in the week as torrential rains and winds not only caused flooding but landslides blocking access to this Columbia County town.
CAT provided over three pallets of dog and cat food as well as medium-sized crates and thousands of pet food bowls for the Red Cross to distribute to pet owners affected by this disaster. Washington County Animal Services gathered all the supplies and transported them to the staging area for the Oregon Trail Chapter of the Red Cross.
Fourteen feline refugees from Lebanon’s capital city arrived in Portland on Monday, January 21, 2008, as part of an international adoption collaboration spearheaded by the Pixie Project. Five of the cats came to the Cat Adoption Team and the remaining nine to the Pixie Project in NE Portland. All five CAT Beirut cats found loving homes.
The Pixie Project, a rescue adoption center in N.E. Portland, worked with Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals to bring some of their homeless animals to Portland in an effort to ease the burden on BETA’s limited resources. The Pixie Project enlisted the aid and expertise of the Cat Adoption Team in this international adoption collaboration.
War and political instability in the region make finding permanent homes for these animals in Beirut extremely challenging. Daily circumstances change and funding evaporates, yet the need to help the animal victims continues. Many of the strays on the streets were loved pets left behind when families evacuated.
The majority of cats sheltered by Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (BETA) were dumped at the shelter doors, rescued from the highway, or so badly injured they were overlooked by others.
Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals was first organized in 2004 through grassroots rescue efforts. BETA became a registered charitable organization in 2005 with a mission to rescue and rehome strays and abused animals while combating abusive pet shops and the illegal trade in wildlife.
BETA is the only animal rescue organization for Lebanon and cares for over 340 cats and dogs in their shelters. They have 7 paid staff and about 20 volunteers. BETA pets have found homes through international adoption collaborations in Germany, Holland, Canada, and the United States.
Funded solely by private donations, BETA is able to find permanent homes for about 4 dogs and 3 cats each month. All of their animals are spayed or neutered prior to adoption and given basic vaccinations.
Abandoned on the streets, rescued from neglect at a pet shop, found in a garbage pail, injured and discarded, Ella, Cookie, Dido, Karel, Bono, Nancy, and the others now have a real chance at finding loving, caring homes here in Portland. And right now is a good time for them to be here. Shelters are not as full with cats and kittens.
Their flight from Beirut was uneventful. BETA representatives accompanying the cats report that the crew on Lufthansa are extremely helpful during these flights of mercy. At the layover in Frankfurt, specially trained staff walk the dogs and check on the cats so they do not need to be claimed and go through customs as they are transferred to other flights. Once at CAT, they settled in nicely during their short quarantine period - quickly becoming the favorites of staff.
Those who came to the Cat Adoption Team (all adopted):
•Dido, a 5 year-old spayed calico female, takes time to get used to her surroundings before showing her affectionate side;
•Cookie, a 3 year-old spayed female with a beautiful black and white coat, will meet you right at the kennel door seeking a pet;
•Nancy, a 5 year-old spayed female Siamese mix with a slight limp from an old injury, loves to be petted while she enjoys the comfort of her cat bed;
•Karel, an active 2 year-old spayed female with a lovely orange and white coat, and her brother
•JouJou, want nothing more than affection, toys, and to find a home together.
Fast Facts:
•Traveled over 6,794 miles from Beirut
•Arrived in Portland on Monday, January 21, 2008
•Available for adoption on Friday, January 25, 2008
•All tested for FIV and FeLV, spayed/neutered, fully vaccinated, examined by veterinarians, microchipped
•Know French, Lebanese, and English
•Lived in a communal space in Beirut so are used to living with other cats
•All five at CAT are adopted into good homes
Read the news stories: Deborah Wood’s Pet Blog (PDF), Oregonian Story (PDF), Salem News Story (PDF)
Animal Welfare Organizations of Portland Unite with Goal to End Euthanasia of Shelter Animals
Animal Shelter Alliance of Portland (ASAP)
Emphasizing the importance of spay/neutering as a solution to the growing pet overpopulation problem in the Portland Metro area, leaders from Portland’s largest animal welfare organizations and the veterinary community chose “Spay Day USA” February 26, 2008, to announce the formation of the “Animal Shelter Alliance of Portland”. The group’s mission is to end the euthanasia of healthy, social, and treatable cats and dogs in Portland-area shelters.
The Animal Shelter Alliance of Portland’s (ASAP) ten founding organizations include: Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs; Cat Adoption Team; Clackamas County Dog Services; Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon; Humane Society for Southwest Washington; Multnomah County Animal Services; Oregon Humane Society; Portland Veterinary Medical Association; Southwest Washington Veterinary Medical Association; Washington County Animal Services/Bonnie L. Hays Small Animal Shelter.
“This is an unprecedented gathering of animal welfare organizations and the veterinary community in the greater Portland area,” comments Joyce Briggs, Animal Shelter Alliance of Portland’s spokesperson. “These founding organizations care for 90 percent of the unwanted animals in the greater Portland metro area which amounts to close to 43,000 cats and dogs annually. They look into the eyes of the problem everyday. Now as they come together, they are empowered to find solutions.” All ASAP founding organizations are committed to working together to save lives.
The first solution ASAP is working on is reducing the number of cats entering and ultimately being euthanized in shelters. Last year (2007), 26,478 cats and kittens were taken in by Portland metro area shelters. However, 13,074 of them lost their lives due to lack of homes, space, and resources.
ASAP launched a targeted pilot subsidized spay/neuter project for low-income residents, CatNIP (cat neuter incentive program), in order to reduce these numbers. This program was funded with $60,000 in grants that will subsidize 800 surgeries with a co-pay of $10. Today over 500 subsidized spay/neuter surgeries have been performed in two targeted zip codes, and ASAP estimates that beginning in 2009, shelters should see a drop in cats from those SE Portland neighborhoods. ASAP sees, however, a need to create a broader program to assist cat owners in financial need as well as homeless pets and feral cats throughout the greater Portland area.
While all the Portland area shelters are striving to maximize and share resources to find homes for as many cats and dogs as possible, “we can’t adopt our way out of this problem,” remarks Britta Bavaresco, Executive Director of the Cat Adoption Team in Sherwood; a sentiment echoed by all the organizations of ASAP. “The only way to make any impact on the numbers of unwanted cats coming into shelters is to reduce the numbers out there in the community. For that we need to offer targeted, subsidized spay and neuter surgeries for cat owners of fertile cats, who understand the importance of spaying and neutering, yet are in need of financial assistance,” continues Bavaresco. Click here for spay/neuter resources in the Portland area.
One of ASAP’s future community projects will focus on pet identification to increase the numbers of lost pets returned to their owner. Nationally around 16 percent of lost dogs and only 2 percent of lost cats are found and returned to their original owners.
ASAP will also collaborate on ways to improve the adoptability of power breed dogs such as pit bulls. These are usually the first dogs euthanized in shelters, yet as a breed can be loving companions.
Finally, ASAP will adopt a community-wide standard of collecting and reporting animal shelter data, thereby streamlining reporting, transparency, and consistency among the shelters.
The Animal Shelter Alliance of Portland’s acronym is no accident. “With so many lives at stake, today, the sense of urgency is quite real, and the founding organizations of the Animal Shelter Alliance of Portland are committed to acting ASAP,” comments Briggs. “We hope the community will join us because we cannot do it alone.”
Thank you for a great first ten years!
Hundreds of CAT supporters and friends joined in the 10th Anniversary celebration on Saturday, May 10, 2008—enjoying the excitement of finding their new feline friend, entering the hourly door prizes, taking a spin on the Adoption Discount wheel, receiving their free 10th Anniversary t-shirt, touring the CAT shelter, and sharing photos of their CAT feline alums.
Volunteers served up a hot dog BBQ and anniversary cake to all who came.
The highlight of the day was when, on behalf of the entire organization, CAT Executive Director Aaron Asmus honored CAT Founder Evan Kalik for his dedication to the homeless cats and kittens of this community.
Evan received a special scrapbook full of a decade of memories from when he opened the doors to CAT with 35 kennels and a handful of volunteers.
At 2:30 pm, the excitement mounted as K103 Afternoon Host Michael Baily beckened everyone to gather around the Nissan Versa to see who was the lucky Wheels for Whiskers raffle winner.
Congratulations go out to Vicki Bahrs of Happy Valley who will be driving away in that stylish, fuel efficient Versa, and to Wendy Singer, who won the professional feline photo shoot by Lamm Photography.
Highlights:
•22 adoptions!
•567 Wheels for Whiskers raffle tickets sold
•240 PAW prints
•300 visitors
•35 volunteers helping
•Starbucks coffee, hot chocolate, and breakfast treats
•Jamba Juice smoothies
•K103 FM fun and games
•Face Painting and CAT tattoos
Thank you, Royal Canin, for sponsoring this event.
Sign up for the most rewarding volunteer opportunity offered - become a foster volunteer.
Give kittens a loving start to a long life.
After attending the CAT foster volunteer orientation and training, you are teamed up with an experienced mentor to answer questions and provide you with one-on-one guidance. CAT foster volunteers provide a clean, nurturing environment for the cats/kittens in their care. Foster volunteers can also assist with placement of their fosterlings into new homes.
What does it take to be a foster parent? (link)
Get started fostering (link)
Fostering kittens (link)
Support for foster volunteers (link)
View CAT’s public service announcement videos.
Open and read the press releases CAT sends to the media (all in PDF form):
CAT hands out record breaking amount of cat food - 2,565.5 pounds - on Super Bowl Sunday
Date: 02-10-10
Purrs to Willamette Week for an outstanding 2009 Give!Guide - CAT ranked No. 2 in over all donations out of 79 local nonprofits.
Date: 01-05-10
Rare Male Tortoiseshell Cat at CAT
Date: 4-7-09
Easter CAT adoption weekend, why cats and rabbits are similar, and toxic lilies
Date: 4-6-09
Portland named a top Cat-Friendly City
Date: 3-30-09
CAT cats pick Superbowl Winner
Date: 1-24-09
A 12-year-old’s Dream to Feed Shelter Pets Comes True for the Cat Adoption Team in Sherwood
Date: 10-14-08
CAT Honors Top Volunteers
Date: 9-8-08
CAT Receives Over $44,600 in Foundation Grants
Date: 7-8-08
Take Your Dog to Work Day at CAT
Date: 6-17-08
Cat Adoption Team Opens Cat Food Bank to Help Cat Owners in Need - starting June 1
Date: 5-23-08
Hot Weather Tips for Felines - avoid a cat on a hot tin roof!
Date: 5-14-08
Foster volunteers needed
Date: 5-12-08
Sherwood and Washington County Proclaim May 10 as Cat Adoption Team Day
Date: 5-6-08
CAT Receives $5,000 Grant to Continue Subsidized Spay/Neuter
Date: 3-3-08
Portland Shelters Unite to End Euthanasia of Shelter Animals
Date: 2-26-08
Oregon Pet Lovers Urged to Help CAT Win Makeover
Date: 2-12-08
CAT Receives $1,000 Grant for efforts on finding homes for hard-to-place felines
Date: 1-28-08
Cats from Beirut Looking for Homes in Portland
Date: 1-25-08
February Feline Fix-a-Thon: CAT is offering subsidized spay/neuter surgeries to qualified families or individuals.
Date: 1-10-08
Did you see CAT in the news?
Here are some of the local and national press stories about the Cat Adoption Team. Check out CAT’s news on YouTube.
Banking on Generosity to Feed Hungry Animals - CAT’s Cat Food Bank featured
Animal Sheltering - by Humane Society of the US
March 2010
Pets, owners cheer cat food deliver - CAT’s Cat Food Bank partnership with Beaverton Meals on Wheels
Beaverton Valley Times
January 2010
Lucky Luigi - a shelter’s black cat adoption program helps a forgotten feline find a home
Cat Fancy
October 2009
Washington County nonprofits find new ways to stretch volunteers and dollars (talks about Cat Food Bank)
Oregonian
July 2009
Cat Food Bank Celebrates First Anniversary / CAT receives $25,000 from Schroth Foundation
Sherwood Gazette
June 2009
Cats from Madras try their luck at CAT
Oregonlive.com
April 2009
Second Chances - CAT’s FIV adoption program
Cat Fancy
March 2009
Cat Adoption Team featured on nationally syndicated lifestyle program
Better (video)
January 2009
Left Behind - animal abandonment
Wilsonville Spokesman
January 2009
CAT appears on KGW Sunrise with Drew Carney
KGW
January 2009
CAT’s Cat Food Bank
Purina Pet Insights (national animal shelter publication)
December 2008
Meet Your Match in your next cat
Oregonian
December 2008
Holiday Gifts Abound in CAT’s Boutique
Portland Tribune
November 2008
Oregon Pet Owners Seek Help Due to Economic Woes (features Cat Food Bank)
Oregonian
October 2008
Cat Fancy Magazine - Euthanasia Rates at Shelters. CAT mentioned on page 28.
June 2008
CAT opens Cat Food Bank to help cat owners in need
KOIN
May 2008
A Glut of Cats in a Dog-Crazy Town
Oregonian
May 2008
Feline Foster Families Needed
KGW
May 2008
It Takes a Village to Raise a CAT - CAT’s Tenth Anniversary
Sherwood Gazette
April 2008
No Fooling Around April Feline Fix-a-Thon: Susidized spay/neuter program continues this April
Statesman Journal
March 2008
Love Cats? Get Online. The Gazette tells why cat lovers should support CAT in an online contest to win a MILLION DOLLAR shelter make over.
Sherwood Gazette
January 2008
CAT receives $1,000 grant for outstanding efforts in finding homes for hard to place cats
Hillsboro Argus
January 2008
A different kind of humanitarian effort.
Oregonlive.com
January 2008
Beirut Cats Looking for Homes in Portland.
Oregonlive.com
January 2008
14 Cats from Beirut, Lebanon, Now Looking for Homes in Portland.
Salem-News.com
January 2008
Shelter is the cat’s meow but needs a new makeover. Help CAT win a million dollar shelter makeover
Oregonian
January 2008
A special pet’s waiting for you to give precious gift of a home
Oregonian
December 2007
Cats Need Homes for the Holidays
Sherwood Gazette
December 2007
CAT Has 400 Cats Needing Homes
Oregonian
December 2007
Girl donates tooth fairy money to CAT
KOIN
May 2007
In sickness, as in health - adopting a cat with medical issues requires a good deal of thought, education, and heart, plus a real bond
Oregonian
February 2007
CAT set to find home for 10,000th cat
Sherwood Gazette
April 2006
A watchful eye helps ease pain
Oregonian
November 2005
Homeless Katrina cats up for adoption in Portland
KGW
October 2005
Cats lost during Hurricane Katrina come to Oregon
KATU
October 2005
A few lives lighter, Golf Coast cats reach Oregon
Oregonian
October 2005
Senior pets and older humans can be a good match, and two local animal shelters help bring them together.
Lifestyles Northwest
October 2005
Everything but college
Best Friends Animal Society website
June 2005
Kalik saves feline friends at CAT
Jewish Review
February 2005
The Cat Adoption Team publishes a biannual newsletter distributed to CAT’s friends and supporters.
Below are past issues:
Download and print CAT’s organizational brochure (pdf), which highlights CAT’s mission and core programs.
Downloand and print CAT’s Cat Food Bank informational brochure (pdf).
Sign up for CAT’s monthly e-Tails, our electronic newsletter that keeps you up to date on all of CAT’s events, promotions, and kitties!
View CAT’s public service announcement videos.
CAT’s Organizational 990 Forms
14175 SW Galbreath Drive.Sherwood, OR 97140.(503) 925-8903.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
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