Kitten Therapy in Newtown, and Cats Looking for Holiday Homes

As we still reel from the horror of such young children, babies really, being mercilessly gunned down in a neighborhood school in Newtown, CT last week, a cat rescue organization in that town is offering "kitten therapy" for any children affected by the tragedy.

Kitten Associates was founded and is run by a friend of mine, and both fosters kittens in a home setting and assists the rescue and foster of cats in need by finding remote fosters and transporting them to a waiting foster home.

Knowing the therapy a purring cat can give, not to mention a playful purring kitten, they've opened their doors to Newtown's children and adults to enjoy 30 minutes or so of play with their foster kittens. Children will be given a free plush kitty as a way for Kitten Associates to give back and say thank you to the people of Newtown for letting them be a part of the community.

The sessions are by appointment and only for children over four years old, but children four and under can receive a plush kitty instead of having a visit with the real kitties.

Visit this page to learn more, and consider donating to Kitten Associates to help them both support their community and to continue rescuing and fostering cats and kittens. She has also been posting her experiences this past week on her blog.

Below are a few cats who need homes—their human caretaker has died, or they are being cared for outdoors or are in foster homes. If you can help these or others, or the organizations that are sponsoring them, you'd give a cat and a few humans a great gift for the holidays.

Thelma and Louise are another two lovely kitties whose person had to go to a personal care home, and then they've had to shuffle around through four foster homes through no fault of their own. On top of it, they are a little shy, but they are sweet and loving with time and very well-behaved. Unfortunately their current foster home must give them up as well for a family issue, read below in the message from their sponsor:

BEAUTIFUL 1 ½ year old sisters are in URGENT need of a home!

Their owner had to surrender these two cats to move into assisted living where she couldn’t take them. She has had them since they were kittens, but they are scared and a little timid to strangers but will warm up to a true cat lover.

They have been placed four times since their original surrender, at no fault of them. They are well behaved, never had any issues with scratching or bathroom problems, friendly with their current foster and loving to their 9 year old daughter.

The foster unfortunately has to give them up. Her father is moving in with her and into the cat’s room. We have nowhere for them to go, this is an URGENT plea for help!

They need a patient home with an understanding owner to work with them and let them come to them. They are fully vetted and UTD on all shots. They must go to a calm home with no young kids. They also must go together as the one is very dependent on her sister.

Thelma and Louise are currently fostering with a family in Harrison City, near Greensburg, PA. If you can foster or adopt them, please contact if interested contact Kellie Haldie at kellie@manageitinc.com. Photos were provided by their foster home.

Torties Amelia And Emily Want to Come in from the Cold

Lost cats wander up to a cat-friendly door to find food and veterinary care, and rescuers will do what they can to care for all the homeless cats who come to rely on them for life's necessities and for affection and the company of humans. Many rescuers and generous people who trap and rescue cats for TNR, intending to or needing to return them outdoors, find themselves in a quandary with cats who just don't belong there. Such are Amelia and Emily, two lovely and friendly torties who really want to have a human and a lap to call their own.

Here are two torties that have been spayed and have rabies vaccinations, etc. and are being fed but are living outside. Amelia and Emily are around 2 years old but very sweet. The person feeding them would really like them to go together since they are siblings and would like to get them a permanent home before winter. If you have any interest in adopting these two sweethearts or know someone interested in two adults, please contact me by email barbara.slade@pnc.com or call me on my cell phone at 412-915-8106.

Photos of Amelia and Emily were provided by their rescuer.

Pretty Boy Rescued, Healed and Looking for a Home

This pretty boy has been through quite a bit in his six years and likely used up a few of his nine lives in the process—and not an ordeal of his own choosing!

He was living outside of a nursing home for years with other feral cats when he became ill with an URI. One of the staff members told another about it and she decided to tell Barbara Slade, board member of FosterCat, about this lovely but stray black and white kitty who was so ill. No one among the staff or visitors at the home would take him so Barb, with a house full already but who tirelessly rescues cats and searches for homes for homeless cats—dogs too—and advocates for all animals, decided he would go home with her.

Barb describes his condition when she got him as "pretty matted and near death and with TLC and many antibiotics, he has made a wonderful recovery."

But perhaps he got tired of the "catty" nature of other cats living outdoors with a colony of them, likely he was totally traumatized by his life outdoors. Pretty Boy is fine with people, loving and affectionate and sweet-natured, but he doesn't like to be with other cats, and really doesn't care for dogs, so it seems he needs to be an only cat.

Pretty Boy is a long-haired black and white neutered male, about six years old, tested and vaccinated. All he needs is a loving home.

Barbara says, "If you know of anyone who just wants one cat as a companion, Pretty Boy is the one."

I believe he even comes equipped with his blue crackle ball!

Please contact Barbara Slade by email barbara.slade@pnc.com or call her cell phone at 412-915-8106.

Allie Doesn't Want to Celebrate Her Fourth Year...in a Foster Home

Hi. My name is Allie, and I've been patiently waiting for three years for the perfect human to come along and sweep me off my feet.

I was found in a park in McKeesport in May 2009 with my five babies. A lady took us home until she could get us into Fostercats. We went to live with another lady, who still has me. My babies have found great homes, but I am still looking for that perfect person.

I am not shy, so I am great with people, even kids who will play with me, and even a dog might be okay. I love to play with flippy toys or just run around the house like a crazy cat. When I am ready to settle down, I like to do some snuggling. I will accept little kisses on the head as only a queen can. If you have a couple of sunny windows I can perch in to watch nature, I would love that.

I am frisky, a little feisty, and have some attitude, but I also have lots of love to give—just not to other cats, and that's been the problem with people who'd like to adopt me because they already have other cats. It's also the problem with being in a foster home, because there are other cats here too.

These nice people spayed me and got me all my shots and I passed my feline leukemia test with flying colors. I would prefer to be an only pet, as I need to be the queen of my castle. Do you think I would be the perfect fit for you?

FosterCat would love to find Allie a fur-ever home as she reaches her third year anniversary in a foster home in May 2012. Allie's birthdate is around September 1, 2008. She is spayed, tested for feline leukemia and negative, has all her shots and everything else a kitty could need to come home with you. If you're interested in Allie, you'll also find her on the Adopt Me! page on the FosterCat website and scroll down to find Allie's photo.

Foster Cat, Inc. is all about saving lives. It’s as simple as that. We are an all-volunteer non-profit organization dedicated to the proposition that all cats and kittens deserve safe, loving, permanent homes.

Our foster parents provide temporary care for cats and kittens in their homes until they can be placed for adoption. Their compassion provides the second chance that so many stray, abandoned or homeless kitties need, and the satisfaction of knowing that they have helped save the lives of these helpless animals.

FosterCat provides training and support, medications, food and litter as needed, and absorbs all veterinary expenses associated with the care of our kitties. If you love kitties and would like to be a part of our lifesaving team, consider opening your heart and home to cats or kittens in need. We promise you won’t regret it! If you can’t foster, you can still help save lives as a volunteer or supporting member.

Read about other cats for adoption.

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