Tag: Adoptable Cat

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Why Do Some Cats Have Their Ears Tipped?

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When you see a cat out in the wild, you might notice a lot of things about them, depending what stands out to you. You might notice their coloring, or their fur, in fact this might be the first thing you notice about them. Other things you might notice about them are their eyes, their body shape, if they look healthy or not, if they look pregnant or skinny, or if they look like they are being taken care of. Something else you might notice is if a cat has the tip of their ear missing. So, why do cats get their ears tipped?

Well, first let us discuss when ear tipping started. Ear tipping began in Europe in the 1970’s as part of program Denmark started through their Society for the Protection of Cats. They were tipping the ears to identify cats that had been neutered. In the US the program Alley Cat Allies popularized ear tipping cats to identify cats that had been neutered or spayed. When this program started, most of the cats at the time were part of a Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) program. These programs would trap the cats, neuter or spay then, then release them back into their communities, hoping to help keep the cat and kitten population down.

Of course, none of this will make sense if you know nothing about ear tipping. When a cat or feral kitten is neutered or spayed, a very small portion of their ear (usually the top tip) is surgically removed. The removal is done while the animals are under anesthesia for their spay or neuter, so no pain is felt. After they wake up, the animal does not feel pain in their ear and they are safe to release back into their communities. Often, vets will want the animal to be kept in seclusion (especially females) for a few days before releasing them into their communities – only so no one has to worry about infection or injury and the cats can heal up.

Ear tipping tells anyone looking that the animal has been spayed or neutered. Sometimes, these animals are not let back into the wild and it is found that the animal might actually make a good house or barn cat. Every now and then you will meet a cat or kitten who is living in a house, and if their ear is tipped, it generally means that they have already been neutered or spayed.

Neutering and spaying is very important, not only for cats, but also other animals like rabbits, dogs, and ferrets. The animal population is huge, not just across north America, but in a lot of countries. Being part of a TNR program is important to keep populations down so that the populations do not become a problem in areas where the animals might be injured or killed. TNR programs, like shelters and rescues, have one goal – help animals.

If you are interested in helping fund TNR programs you can donate to Cattyshack for spays and neuters (not all of the cats we help are cats that can become house cats). Or you can donate to Alley Cat Allies at https://www.alleycat.org/our-work/trap-neuter-return/ to help pay for the spays and neuters of cats. If you cannot donate, you can also learn how to help by conducting a trap-neuter-return yourself.

Anything helps.

Sweet and shy Ivy is available for adoption and wants nothing more than to have a family to call her own. It took her several days to get comfortable but once she decided she liked having all the kitties around that were just her size, she settled in quickly. We are not sure how she is with dogs, so we will go ahead and say she needs a dog-free home. She definitely prefers other cats her size to play with! We will NOT adopt a single kitten into a home with no other cats unless it states in their listing that they are not good with cats and need to be an only cat. We prefer our little kittens are adopted in pairs or at least have another cat in the home to bond with. If interested in Ivy you can make a reservation to visit her at the Cattyshack Lounge in Lowe Mill, or you can fill out the adoption application to adopt her or ask for a meet and greet. You can find her information under the “Our Kitties” tab, or make a reservation under the “Reservations” tab.

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Cat Boxes – Not Simply a Box Anymore

2024

Cat litter boxes are an essential tool for the indoor and sometimes the outdoor cat owner. They provide a place for cats to go about their business, and sometimes cat boxes can be used to toilet train a cat (not discussed in this post). Often, choosing a cat litter box seems like a simple idea – go to the story, buy a plastic box, and voila. However, as homes have developed and technology has developed, cat litter boxes have changed as well. There are so many different kings of litter boxes, and we suggest trying to find one that will suit the needs of not only your cat, but also yourself. Most cat litter boxes can also be used with any kind of litter.

Open Litter Boxes – Open litter boxes are the traditional option for cat litter boxes. Open litter boxes are exactly what they sound like. They have no lid, top, or cover, and help cats feel relaxed. Often cats prefer open litter boxes as they do not like feeling closed in when going to the bathroom. They often prefer these types of litter boxes because as apex predators they like being able to keep a watch on their surroundings. Open cat boxes are very easy to clean and easy to use as there is nothing that needs to be done before scooping them. Open litter boxes also provide really good ventilation since they have no covering to trap smells. If you have a big cat or a high peeing cat, you can get larger ones, but these may not be conducive to your home environment or the placing of the cat box.

Covered Litter Boxes – A covered litter box is great if your cat prefers privacy when using the litter box. Covered litter boxes are enclosed spaces with a lid, often they have a door or opening that the cat can enter and leave from. A covered cat box can help prevent odor form wafting through your house and keep it contained, but it also can prevent a cat from using it. Cats do not like strong smells and if the litter box is not cleaned often enough then they might start refusing to use it. Cats might also not like having to use the bathroom is a small enclosed space, so some cats will not use a covered cat box. They do provide some convenience as they can be built so that they look like a natural part of the furniture. Covered cat boxes can also help prevent the spread of litter. One you know your cat you will have an idea if a covered cat box is the right kind of cat box for them or not.

Self-Cleaning Litter Box – As this post is being written there is some debate about self-cleaning cat boxes. There have been a few recalls due to issues when and how the cat boxes clean themselves, so we will not be discussing these types of cat boxes at the moment. We will let you do the research, make an informed decision, and see where the recalls stand.

Plastic or Stainless Steel Litter Boxes – Stainless steel boxes are relatively new as of this posting and are gaining in popularity. Plastic litter boxes are much cheaper than stainless steel litter boxes, so they are good if you live on a budget, or if you have multiple cats. Plastic litter boxes are often easier to find in small and very large sizes, which is helpful for kittens and houses with either large cats or multiple cats. The biggest benefit to stainless steel catboxes are that they help keep the spread of disease low, are incredibly easy to clean, and last for a really long time without getting scratched or damaged. Either is a good choice, and both plastic or stainless steel work for most cats.

Whatever cat box you choose be prepared to adapt to the needs of your cat or kitten. Sometimes things change, especially as a cat gets older, so you might have to get a litter box that has a ramp, is low, or is simple a short cardboard box with a liner, so be prepared to adjust your life to the needs of your cat.

Look at this silly little guy! His name is Gomez Addams and he is quite a character, if you cannot tell from the picture. He is very playful and runs around the lounge like he is on a long racetrack. He sometimes likes to hide and jump out at the other cats, and people. Gomez love to play and cuddle with his siblings, even his foster dog, Mama. You know what this means – Gomez is great with dogs! Sometimes he fall asleep sitting up, which is such a kitten trait. He would love to be adopted with one of his siblings: Morticia, Wednesday, or Pugsley (who is a girl). Cattyshack prefers our little kittens are adopted in pairs or at least have another cat in the home to bond with, and we do not often adopt out a single kitten on their own. If interested in Gomez, please make a reservation by going to the “Reservations” page and make a reservation. The Cattyshack Lounge is located in Lowe Mill and is open Thursday through Sunday. A reservations is $10 per person, and we also allow birthday parties to be held (check it out, you know you want a birthday party with cats!).

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Why a Cat Lounge and not a Cat Cafe?

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The Cattyshack Lounge is not a cat café, so some might wonder what it is. Well, A cat café is a theme café whose attraction is cats who can be watched and played with. Patrons pay a cover fee, generally hourly, and thus cat cafés can be seen as a form of supervised indoor pet rental. Cat Café’s also often offer snacks or drinks to the patrons. Cattyshack covers the first part of the description – an attraction where cats can be watched and played with. Reservations can be made for an hour, or longer, and the cats and kittens are there to pet, snuggle, watch, or play with. Cattyshack does not provide drinks or snacks.

The cats and kittens at Cattyshack are all adoptable, and this is something that both cat cafés and lounges have in common. Most of the time, a café or lounge is attached to a rescue and will help rescue and adopt out cats. There are also other types of cafés and lounges – examples are – Dog (California and Florida), Hedgehog (Tokyo, Japan), Owl (Tokyo, Japan), Raccoon (various), Rabbit (various), and these are only a few. In Japan, specifically, there are over 100 animal cafés, and they vary in the animal they have in attendance. Most of the animals are rescues, but not all the animals are available for adoption.

Cattyshack has the fortunate chance to be part of the artistic community in Lowe Mill in Huntsville, Alabama. What this means is that people, like you, can come, enjoy the cats, get some great food and tea, and see the variety of art on display. The lounge is a special and important place because it allows the Cattyshack rescue to take in as many animals as it can find fosters for. A lounge is different from a café because it lets the patrons and potential adopters “lounge” with the cats and kittens. There are several places to sit, or lay down, or relax, and while sitting, or laying down (trust us, we clean the floor), or relax, you can also play with, snuggle with, and love on the kittens and cats. Now, you might not always be able choose who plays or loves on you, because cats are fickle at times and some of our cats and kittens are choosy about where they snuggle or what toys they play with.

The best thing about the lounge is that anyone can come in and sit and play with the cats. Plus, if you are thinking about adopting a cat or kitten, there are several that you can meet and the selection is often rotating. Reservations can be made on the main Cattyshack page under “Reservations.” The cats and kittens love when people come to the lounge, and right now (October 2024) we are offering a discount on gift certificates – buy one $10 gift card and receive one free. We also have 2025 calendars for sale, so come on by, buy some gift cards and calendars (they both make great gifts, and the holidays are coming up), and socialize with our cats and kittens!

Mork and Zim are currently available for adoption. Zim is the life of the party, but I also loves cuddling with humans. He is easy going and playful, and his brother Mork is Zim’s best friend. Their energy matches each other perfectly and the time they spent apart while Zim recovered from surgery was difficult, especially for Mork who would look for his brother. Zim has now healed perfectly, and besides having only one eye, Zim is a perfect kitten. Mork is a very playful little guy, and you can often see him chasing toys and stealing wand toys at the Cattyshack Lounge, They are a bonded pair so they do need to be adopted together. And, Zim’s adoption fee has been sponsored by Legend Realty of Huntsville, so they are basically a BOGOGCTL – By One Get One Great Cat To Love. If interested, go to “Our Kitties” and click on the picture for Mork or Zim and fill out the adoption interest

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The Scoop on Litter

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One of the questions we get asked a lot is about litter boxes and cat litter. Honestly, it all depends on the cat. While most cats will do fine with clay litter, there are other options, some flushable, and some that can be used as compost. Here are a few of the different types of litter we use at the lounge, and some that our fosters have taken to use.

Clay Litter – clay litter is the most popular and it is the easiest to find. It may not be the cheapest choice if you are on a budget, but some brands will often offer discounts and coupons. One problem with clay litter is that they often come scented, and that is for you, the human, not the cat. Cat’s often prefer unscented litter as their noses can be a little sensitive to perfumes. Clay litter does often have the benefit of superb clumping, which does make it very easy to scoop. There are some clay litters that do not clump, and there are others that are low dust, but for clay litter, it is often the cost and the ease of availability that draws people to buy it.

Corn Litter or Chicken Scratch (what you sometimes will find at Rural King or Tractor Supply) – corn litter has many varieties and often is very easy to use. Corn litter also is relatively cheap as a fifty pound bag can be bought for anywhere from seven dollars and up. Corn litter clumps somewhat, not as solidly as clay litter, and it does not have a strong perfumed smell. Corn litter does have some dust associated with it. It can last up to a month in a cat box, depending on how many cats you have. One thing to note about corn litter, it can have a smell to is that some people find unpleasant, which can deter some people from using it. A few of the pros of corn litter is that it is biodegradable and compostable, and while it can be dusty, it is less dusty than a lot of clay litters. One of the issues with corn litter is that it can be tracked a little more than other litters.

Pellets – There are two different kind of pellets that can be used. Ceramic pellets are often used specifically with the Breeze system of cat boxes, but can be used with other cat boxes. Another type of pellets are the barn pellets, which start as pellets but break down into a sawdust when used. The benefits of ceramic pellets are that they often have no smell, and when they are used they often have no smell. However, there are times they can be hard to find and they are often more expensive than other kinds of litter. The ceramic pellets are also used with a cat box that uses a pee pad in the bottom of it, which need to be changed often depending on how many cats are using the cat box. Barn pellets can be found at places like Rural King or Tractor Supply, and they are relatively cheap, about five dollars for a fifty pound bag. One of the great things about barn pellets is that they are not easily trackable, so you won’t find a lot of pellets scattered about the house. However, as they break down due to use the sawdust they create can become trackable. A great thing about the barn pellets is that they can be used as compost, and they never seem to smell bad when they are used. Often they simply smell like hay.

Tofu – Tofu cat litter is a little new to the market, and often comes from overseas companies in Japan. Tofu cat litter has several benefits such as being biodegradable, dust free, easy on cat paws, flushable, and it is one hundred percent safe for cats (as some cats do like to taste their litter. Now, it can be a little expensive and I have yet to find it in stores. So, tofu litter needs to be purchased online and there are different versions. Often tofu litter can be mixed with a little bit of clay litter, but it is not always recommended. Tofu litter can have a light smell, but it never seems to smell bad. Tofu litter does track, but it is easy to spot. One great thing about tofu litter is that it breaks down and is super easy to scoop.

Crystals – There are several different types of crystal litter out there for purchase. One type, and the type people are often familiar with, is the type that tells you if your cat or kitten is sick. Of course this cat litter has a lot of great benefits, but there are also some issues with it. The crystals that monitor a cats health as very small and can track throughout the house incredibly easily. These crystal litters also have a lot of dust, some of it is silica dust, and can be problematic for people who have respiratory issues. Of course, there are also larger crystals, which come about the size of a kernel of rice. The crystal litter with larger crystals does track less than the health monitoring crystals, and they are a little easier to scoop. It is always nice to have at least one bag of any kind of crystal litter on hand as you can easily see changes in the color of a cat’s urine, which can be helpful (especially if you have an older cat or a cat that seems to get sick a lot). One of the biggest problems with crystals is that they can be hard to find in a store and they can be expensive.

Other types of litters – Out of all the litters discussed in this post, there area also several more that have not been discussed such as crushed walnut litter, charcoal laced litter, disposable litter boxes, lava sand, and more that I am not even aware of.

We do not personally recommend any one kind of litter as cats and kittens will often either use whatever you five them, or they will tell you how much they hate it by going to the bathroom in other places. Always do your research and take time before adopting a cat or kitten to figure out the litter that might be right for you and your new friend.

Lil is a super sweet and a super soft kitten. She loves to play hard at the lounge, and some of her favorite toys are want toys with strings attached to them. Once she is done playing she likes to either find a warm human to cuddle up with or a nice comfy, soft bed to sleep in. Lil enjoys hanging out with humans, and has the best tabby coloring. She is currently adoptable and can often be seen sleeping in a cubby by the front door of the Cattyshack Lounge at Lowe Mill. Come see Lil, head on over to the reservations page to come meet this adorable little gal. The Lounge is open Thursday through Sunday and reservations are required!

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Adoptions – How do I get a cat?

2024

Cattyshack is a cat rescue. While Cattyshack does have a lounge in Lowe Mill for people to visit, play with, and snuggle with the cats and kittens, the premier focus is rescuing cats and kittens. To rescue, Cattyshack has to look for foster homes as all of our kittens and cats live in a foster home until they are adopted. The fosters sign up for lounge weekends and bring their fosters cats and kittens to the lounge for that weekend. Our lounge is open Thursday through Saturday, closed on Wednesday although there might be someone there doing a deep clean, inventory, or sitting with a cat that does not come to the lounge over the weekend because they do not do well with the other cats and kittens. I, personally, right now I have a foster kitten, Cherry, who does not do well at the lounge. Being at the lounge stresses Cherry out and she gets uber grumpy, but at my house she is the sweetest, playful, and snugly kitten, who loves to chat with me. So, every now and then I will bring Cherry to the lounge so people can look at her through the window. That being said, Cherry is up for adoption, and anyone can apply for her or ask for a meet and greet (which can be arranged at the lounge, or if possible, my home).

            All of the cats and kittens either come from one of the local shelters, or they have been found roaming the streets. Cattyshack mostly deals with the shelters as the cats and kittens in the shelter have no one really to advocate for them, and once the shelters become full or over capacity, they contact Cattyshack and we go and grab the cats out and place them into foster homes. We work mostly with the shelters so that we can, hopefully, keep animals from being euthanized. Every now and then, if there is space, we will take in stray kittens or pregnant moms, but only if there is space (foster homes are hard to come by!).

            All of the cats and kittens are then vetted – they are seen by a vet, given a clean bill of health (or not), taken care of, and fixed, then, when the time is right, they are uploaded to our website and placed up for adoption. Pictures are often uploaded and changed, and if the animal is a kitten they can be changed often so people can see their growth and adorableness.

            Once you find a cat or kitten that you are absolutely in love with, you can fill out the adoption form. To do this you go to “Our Kitties,” click on the picture of the animal you are interested in, then fill out the adoption interest form. Now, there are times when we will not approve an adoption and it could be for a variety of reasons – you might be applying for an animal that needs to be in a home with other animals, the animal might be part of a bonded pair, the animal might not do well with dogs or children, or maybe your landlord says you cannot have a cat, or your current animals are not up-to-date on their shots and wellness visits. Once approved and paid for, we set up a day and time for you to pick up your new best friend! We do not do same day adoptions because we want to make sure the kitten or cat will be a good fit, and as mentioned in a previous blog post, some of our cats and kittens have caviar tastes (even though they began as trash cats!).

            And that is how Cattyshack provides rescues with new lives, new homes, new people to love on them, and peace that they are safe!

Meet Chandler! Yes, Chandler is a girl, but she was named before we found out! She is a rare Torbie (tortoiseshell-tabby) with unique coloring that truly shines its beauty in bright sunlight. Her patched tabby pattern is one the least common of tabby patterns. Chandler is friendly, affectionate, and would love a relaxing quiet home to feel most comfortable. She can be shy and easy to startle at first but once she warms up she will melt your heart. She is food-motivated and loves treats. She deserves all the attention and loves to be in the presence of others. She is an independent girl with so much love to give back.

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EVENT: Introvert’s Night at Cattyshack Lounge in Lowe Mill

2024

What does it mean to be an introvert? Merriam-Webster defines an introvert as a person whose personality is characterized by introversion : a typically reserved or quiet person who tends to be introspective and enjoys spending time alone. Often, introverts gain energy through quite and solitude. Introverts find parties with a lot of talking and having to be present exhausting. Are you an introvert?

If you are an introvert, Cattyshack has a night just for you. Coming up Friday, November 8 from 7-9pm you can come to the Cattyshack Lounge in Lowe Mill, spend some quality time with cats and kittens, and just be your normal introverted self.

Here is the information about how to come to introvert’s night, what it costs, and what is allowed in the lounge:
The night is $20 donation per person and reservations must be made to moonmaidenarts@gmail.com to receive further instructions and reserve your spot. Space is limited so lease RSVP as soon as you can.

The night is for ages 16+ only.

The best thing – election season will finally be over, and we will know that we all will need to rest our minds and begin looking forward. So, honestly, what better way to relax than spending an evening with kitties? Come read a book, knit, listen to head phones, or just sit with your thoughts and a kitten on your lap. There are no obligations to talk to or mingle with other humans.

Guests are also welcome to bring their own drinks, as long as they’re in lidded, spill-proof, kitten-proof containers.

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Welcome to the Cattyshack Huntsville Blog

Hello there, and welcome to the Cattyshack Huntsville, Alabama, blog. Welcome one and all. The blog will have a variety of information for all of you cat lovers out there including: information about upcoming events, stories about our cats and kittens, a question and answer week, fun tidbits about what it takes to be a rescue and foster kittens, and educational information about cat and kitten care, how to care for a cat or kitten that you find, what to do if you find a kitten that has no mother or something has happened, and a plethora of other information.

To start, let’s introduce the Cattyshack Rescue.

Cattyshack, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to the rescue and adoption of shelter cats in Alabama. We provide food and medical supplies to our foster homes, as well as pay for all vet care. All of our cats are in foster homes, they DO NOT LIVE AT THE CAT LOUNGE. Only a handful of our available cats and kittens come into the Cattyshack Lounge each Thursday-Saturday. If there is a specific kitten you want to meet, you can email us to see if they are on the roster, but that does not guarantee they will be there because the health of cats and kittens can change at a moments notice and they may have to stay home. The only way to guarantee a meet and greet with a specific cat is to have an approved application and arrangements are then made directly with the foster home

The Cattyshack Lounge is located at Lowe Mill, 2211 Seminole Drive, Studio 1062, Huntsville, AL 35805, is a resource for fundraising, socializing, and a way to increase cat adoptions. It is designed to allow humans of all ages to play or relax, decompress or amp up, and flat out enjoy cats of all ages. RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED, and the donation you make for your reservation goes right back into our rescue to pay vet bills and buy food, litter and medications. So find a comfy spot and wait for the magic to happen!! Schedule a reservation by visiting our Reservations Page.

Why do we only allow people to come into the lounge with reservations? We only have so many cats and kittens in our lounge each week, so we limit the amount of people per reservation so we don’t overwhelm the kittens and cats, and so that there is enough snuggles and purrs to go around. We have about fifteen or so kittens and cats at our lounge each week, and sometimes this includes semi-feral kittens we are trying to socialize so they can be adopted. The lounge fee is currently $10 per person, but this may change in 2025 due to the rising costs of, well, everything! And, best part, children are welcome if accompanied by an adult AND we have birthday packages.

All of our cats and kittens are adoptable, so when you come to the lounge not only are you socializing our fosters, but you might also be finding a new bestie! Of course, we do not do same day adoptions, but only so we can check and see if your home is the right home for that specific cat or kitten as some of our cats and kittens are very picky (I mean they are fosters with no home, but some have caviar tastes).

We hope you enjoyed this first blog post, and there will be more to come. Stop by, say hello, make a reservation, adopt a new pal, and learn the joy of having an uppity freeloader living in your home!

Meet Jilly Bean! She is one of our adoptable cats. She has had her babies, and now she is tired of babies so you might not see her at the lounge very often. Jilly Bean is looking for her forever home and she is so ready to be there. She never looks happy. But put that aside and this quirky, lovable, sweetness, would make a great companion in any home. She is a 100% lap cat. Great with kids and other cats, but dogs would require a slow acclimation because she has not been around any yet.

 

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