UP YOUR ALLEY - AUG-SEPT
Sharon Talbert
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Up Your Alley is the bimonthly e-mailed newsletter of Friends of Campus
Cats, located in Seattle, Washington. Free and Worth It.
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My apologies for the tardiness of this issue. I'm afraid I'm falling into
permanent disarray. At least, we're not into November yet!
Bear in mind, folks, this may be Campus Cats' last song on the e-waves, if
I don't find a computer soon.
JUMBLE SALE
Our annual Jumble Sale was the best ever, thanks to generous donations and
a good turnout of buyers (foul weather notwithstanding). This year's
thank-you potluck for the intrepid volunteers was held in a private
home in Ballard.
Several nice items did not sell, for one reason or another. Among them
are a hand-knotted Oriental-style rug (8x10), a small hardwood table with
good-quality folding chairs, a small unfortunately altered Arts and Crafts
occasional table, a silver wine server, and a turn-of-the-century iron
bed. Those in the Seattle area who are interested are welcome to contact
me. An item that did not make the sale but is now available is a
commemorative coin for the marriage of Charles and Diana. We are taking
offers on that.
CAMPUS CATS HIGH WIRE TEASE TOYS
The toys did not sell very well at the sale because I did not display them
to full advantage. I should make a video of how crazy cats are about
these toys; they are far superior to the stuff you buy in the pet shops.
We keep ours in a cupboard with a squeaky door. Whenever I open that door,
the cats and kittens come running and Tipsy comes flopping. They literally
love the toy more than food!
WEBSITE
The website continues to grow, rather like Topsy, thanks to my loose
management. In spite of me, we will get a passable website in place soon.
For those who don't mind viewing a website under construction (wear your
hardhats), go to: http://weber.u.washington.edu/~calvin/cats/cats.html.
I am certainly open to suggestion on how to improve the website and
already have many ideas in mind that have yet to be implemented.
Forthcoming are more photos and descriptives of cats and kittens seeking
adoption, a volunteers section, a wish list, and "Jumble Sale" section.
SUMMER "VACATION"
Most of my summer was spent in hard labor. I did manage a short stint on
the Oregon Coast, visiting two wonderful women who are living the life I
can only dream about. Thank you, Joan and Beth, for a wonderful, restful
visit.
CAPTURES
August - 2 kittens, Angel and her best friend Chauncy (both now available
for adoption) and 2 cats (who both found a home - yey!).
September - 1 kitten, Schmoo (now seeking a home), and at least 3 assists
(all of whom found homes - yey!)
ADOPTIONS
August - 2 (cats) September - 3 (1 cat, 2 kittens) -- Sebastian finally
found a home! More than a year old, with us since he was 5 weeks. Don't
ask me why it took so long. Sometimes it just does. He's gone to an
indoor home with another cat. We are very happy for him. Two kittens,
Brunhilde and Lucy, went to homes with other cats. Brunhilde also is
sharing a home with a pet rat larger than she is.
ASSISTS
I've gotten lazy about documenting assists, which are when Campus Cats
lends a paw, so to speak, in the rescue of a needy cat or kitten, but does
not actually take the animal in for adoption. We are very happy to lend
advice, traps, even vet assistance, to those who need it for the rescue of
a feral or homeless cat or kitten. Most recently we lent traps for the
feral cat spay/neuter clinic day (more on that event later). Among those
was a woman with a family of five ferals, now all sterilized/tested. A
particularly touching story with a happy ending was Max, a young cat who
had been abandoned at a student housing complex near University Village.
Neighborhood children had "adopted" the young cat and followed me
tearfully to the car when I went to collect him, one step ahead of Animal
Control, where he was boarded at the vets while a home was sought.
Thankfully, a UW groundskeeper stepped into the breech and adopted Max.
FREE SPAY/NEUTER FOR FERALS ONLY
The Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Project is chugging along. Their second clinic
was a success, with some 27 cats sterilized and tested. Among the number
was a poor old tom whose long-broken leg had healed into a stiffened
position so he barely fit into the trap. He tested clear of FIV by some
miracle and has been returned to his haunts in an altered state, where he
will continue to be fed by the neighborhood. The next clinic is scheduled
for November 9, near downtown Seattle. Call 528-8125 for information/
reservation. Contact me if you need trapping advice or trap. It is worth
noting that the last clinic had more than 50 reservations but only 27
showed up. Plan to trap the day before!
The Project has recently been granted 501C status and needs donations of
funds, traps, veterinary supplies, etc.
TIPSY REPORT
Tipsy the Terrible, our brain-damaged wonder, is thriving still. She is
more than 2 years old now and has suffered some dental damage due to her
daily tumbles but is otherwise fine as far as I and the vet can tell.
Tipsy suffers from a personality disorder as well, I'm afraid, and seems
to have a chronic case of crankiness, so it's hard to tell sometimes
whether she is hurting or unwell. She did catch a virus that came
into the household a while back (and is with us still, though on its way
out). She seemed most content with a heating pad and lots of tea and
sympathy and now is fully recovered and her nasty self again. Sent me to
Emergency a while ago with one of her scratches. (I've learned when to
bother to seek a doctor's care and when just to go to the sink and wash
up.) At such times I wonder why I bother, but then Tipsy trills and
reaches out her front legs in her "pick me up" gesture and purrs her
deficient brains out and it all seems worthwhile somehow. I would be
crabby, too, in her place.
CAMPUS CATS WISH LIST
Computer system (includes moniter & printer)
-at least a 486 or MAC IIci, pref with modem (28.8 or better)
-I will buy but can't pay more than $500 total, I'm afraid
This computer is a pressing need, budget notwithstanding; it is imperative
that I take Campus Cats home with me, to further separate business and
pleasure and comply with workplace ethics. Please help me out here! I
would also appreciate references of what server I should subscribe to,
again with a tight budget in mind. If I do not find an affordable computer
system soon, Campus Cats will be forced to disband from the e-waves.
Other less pressing items:
A/D food (for sick animals or weanling kittens)
High-quality dry food (Iams, Black Diamond Pro Blend)
Single-sized futon in clean condition (for Tipsy)
Fitted sheets, double-sized, flannel or percale (for Tipsy)
Cat condos, excellent condition, any size (but not dangerously tall)
Dog crates or cages suitable for cats (for quarantine period)
Items suitable for sale (we take jumble items all year round)
Carpenters to make one or two winter shelters/feeding stations ASAP
And of course, first and foremost -- good homes!
Sharon Talbert
Friends of Campus Cats