With the love of animals and their right to live spurring them into action, volunteers with The Cat’s Meow Rescue take care of kittens abandoned by their mothers by fostering them in their own homes with hopes that people will adopt the precious little creatures.
“Our family has sheltered more than 1,000 kittens over the past 17 years,” said volunteer Grace Porrini, a resident of Cinnaminson. “I love giving back. All animals need a voice and it’s nice to be their voice. We want to give them a second chance.”
“It is rewarding to find permanent homes for kittens who would otherwise be lost in the process,” said volunteer Anne Williams, who joined the non-profit organization based at Pet Smart on Route 130 in Delran seven years ago.
“One of our members, Jade Kolb, found 12 kittens whose mother had rejected them behind a gas station,” said Williams, who was joined by Porrini, Kristie Vibbert, Shauna Reiter and Director Jory Schorr during the July Adoption Day at Pet Smart on Saturday, July 25.
The dedicated volunteers set up cages containing their adorable fostered kittens in the center of the store and answered questions from individuals and families considering adoption.
Porrini pointed out the seven orange polydactyl, domestic short-hair kittens she brought from her home. Known as “Hemingway cats,” polydactyl cats are born with extra toes, which means they have more than the usual total of 18 digits.
“These all have six toes. There are three males and four females,” said Porrini, whose basement includes a room for the fostered kittens. When there is room at the group’s permanent adoption center in the rear of the Pet Smart, the volunteers will bring in more kittens from their homes.
“We have at least 30 volunteers. Most of them are taking care of kittens in their homes,” she said, adding that they have Adoption Days at Pet Smart several times a year.
The Cat’s Meow Rescue operates without any government funding, and relies on fundraisers, donations and the efforts of the volunteers to continue their mission, which includes pulling animals from high-kill shelters to lower euthanasia rates.
The group provides special care for shy kittens or those needing medical attention before adoptions. Throughout Burlington County, the members promote trap-neuter-release programs for feral cats.
According to the website at catsmeownj.org, “All cats and kittens in The Cat’s Meow Rescue Group have been evaluated by a veterinarian and have received age-appropriate vaccinations and have had blood tests for FIV/FELV.
“When considering adoption, please remember that cats typically live to be 17-20 years old; therefore, the decision to adopt a cat into your life requires commitment for many years. We ask that you think carefully about your lifestyle before adopting a cat to make sure you can be a good cat parent.
“Each adoption fee helps to pay for vaccinations, spay/neuter surgery, blood tests, deworming medication, and flea treatment of each cat adopted. The Cat’s Meow uses all adoption fees and donations to continue our mission of saving cats from the shelter and off the streets. We can only do this with your help.”
The adoption fee is $150 for a kitten under one-year old and $125 for adult cats. Those interested are encouraged to visit the permanent Delran Pet Smart Adoption Center at 4004 Route 130.
During the Adoption Day event on July 25, some of the young kittens received a second chance at a normal life with a loving family, thanks to the dedication and commitment of the volunteers who care about all the animals that live here on Planet Earth.
