Podcast Profile: For Kitty’s Sake

Podcast Profile: For Kitty’s Sake

About the Podcast

We were recently featured on a podcast for a Rowan University student’s digital journalism project with Animal Altruism.

You can listen to the podcast on Spotify.

Animal Altruism aims to inform the public about organizations throughout the region that contribute to the well-being of animals. We show the impact these organizations have on the community, the animals and people that benefit from them, and the most beneficial ways to support each group.

To find out more about Animal Altruism with Abigail Twiford, you can visit her website.

podcast feature

Podcast Guests

Melyssa and Joyce are two of our volunteers. Melyssa is the President of our board and Volunteer Coordinator. She regularly works Friday nights with Joyce who has been with our organization since 2019. She works during the day at a vet’s office and can’t get enough of our adoptable cats.

If you’re interested in volunteering with For Kitty’s Sake and being hands-on in our adoption center, we encourage you to fill out a volunteer application now.

Volunteers can help us with fundraising opportunities, like tabling events, participating in our bake sales, or help plan bigger fundraising events or work hands-on with the cats in our adoption center – or both! We rely on a strong team of volunteers to give a better/improved quality of life to animals in need in Gloucester County and surrounding areas.

 

Helping Your Shy Cat Adjust to Their New Home

Helping Your Shy Cat Adjust to Their New Home

shy cat kitten hiding under blanket

When you bring home a new cat or kitten, you might find that they’re not adjusting as quickly as you want. Instead of ruling them out as a shy cat, you’ll need to remember that they were brought into a new environment, with new people, smells, noises, and more.

When cats or kittens are at our adoption center in the Mantua PetSmart, they get to know their surroundings, feeding schedule, the volunteers that come in and play with them, and the low background music of Bon Jovi’s “It’s My Life”.

To then take them out of that environment and put them directly into a house with people they’ve only spent a few minutes with, can be scary.

 

Give her time to adjust. Your cat may have been happy & relaxed in the shelter or their foster home, but since then, they may have been examined by a vet, put in a cat carrier, taken a car trip, and now are in a total alien universe filled with strange sights, sounds, and smells. Every cat is different, just like every home is different.

As long as your cat is eating, drinking, using the litterbox (even if it’s under the bed!), and not showing any signs of illness, it is generally safe to leave them in their hiding spot. Many cats will venture out at night when you are sleeping and the world is quiet. If she’s hiding in a closet, You can dust baby powder at the closet door to look for paw prints in the morning, to see if she’s ventured out.

Limit new things. There should be a safe place for her to take her time to get adjusted to how your house sounds & smells. Wait to introduce your shy cat to friends, family, and other household pets until she’s out from under the bed.

Get her used to you. If she’s under the bed, or hiding behind the bathroom sink, sit in her starter room with her and read a book, or work on your laptop.

Associate you with good things. If she likes wet food or cat treats, push some into her hiding place a few times a day, and just sit nearby as she eats it.

Playing soothing classical music in the kitty’s starter room can help your shy cat come out of her shell. The music may help lessen other noises outside the room that she’s finding frightening.

3 Days to Decompress

  • Feeling overwhelmed
  • May feel scared or unsure of what’s going on
  • Not yet comfortable to be “himself”
  • May not want to eat or drink
  • Shuts down and/or hides under furniture
  • Tests the boundaries

3 Weeks to Learn Your Routine

  • Starts settling in
  • Feels more comfortable
  • Realizes this could be their forever home
  • Figures out their environment
  • Gets into a routine
  • Lets their guard down; beginning to show their true personality
  • Behavior issues may appear

3 Months to Start to Feel at Home

  • Finally feels completely comfortable in their home
  • Begins to build trust and true bond
  • Gains a complete sense of security with their new family
  • Sets into a routine

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

 

What to do if you’ve lost your pet

What to do if you’ve lost your pet

lost your pet cat walking away

At For Kitty’s Sake, we call cats that try to escape out of our adoption center “Door Darters”. We’ll post signs and inform potential adopters that their cat has a higher chance of getting out and take necessary precautions so that doesn’t happen.

However, if you’ve lost your pet, it may not be because they wanted to go out and explore. They may have been spooked by a construction worker while you were getting your bathroom remodeled. Regardless of how you’ve lost your pet, you’ll want to get them home safely as soon as you can.

If your pet does become lost, don’t delay. Take the following steps to help bring your companion home to safety.

  • Act fast! The sooner you begin your search, the better the odds of finding him.
  • Search your neighborhood or the area where your pet was lost and let people know she’s missing.
  • Leave their litterbox outside so their own scent can attract them back to you.
  • Call your pet’s name and check any places she could have become trapped, such as in basements or garages, or under vehicles. A lost pet often will hide during the day, so be sure to go out again at night with a flashlight.
  • Sometimes a can of food can lure a hungry and scared pet to you.
  • Find your microchip paperwork and make sure it’s up-to-date. At For Kitty’s Sake, we will take care of the initial registration for you and provide you with all the information so you’re prepared if you’re in a situation where you’ve lost your pet.
  • Check with your local shelters every day. Don’t just call — also visit the shelters to search for your pet.
  • Call all animal control agencies in your town and surrounding areas. Animal control officers work through the police department and pick up stray animals. Call them or check their shelters at least every two days.
  • Visit the websites of national locator services:
  • Join local Facebook Groups for lost and found pets.
  • Post on the Nextdoor app
  • Use your pet’s photo to make “lost pet” signs. If you create a PawBoos account, they will automatically make one for you. Put them up in your neighborhood and in post offices, libraries, pet supply stores, veterinary offices, and grocery stores. Inform your veterinarian and groomer that your pet is lost in case they receive a call.
  • Watch the found ads. Respond to any that might be close to your pet’s description. A week of wandering the streets can make white pets look drab gray, and the ad’s description might not exactly fit.

Helpful Phone Numbers if You’ve Lost Your Pet

For Kitty’s Sake

(856) 318-6870

HomeAgain Microchip

1-888-466-3242

Gloucester County Animal Shelter/ Animal Control

(856) 881-2828

Camden County Animal Shelter/ Animal Control

(856) 401-1300

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

 

Why Letting Your Cat Outside Is Dangerous

Why Letting Your Cat Outside Is Dangerous

cat outside

Your cat wants to go outside, and while you want them to be happy, there are many dangers outside of your front door.

 

Most people who love their cats are just not aware of the long list of dangers that await their precious pets. Your cat does not need to be outside for fresh air and exercise. Experts believe that feline fitness is attained by the stretching cats do several times a day. You can provide toys, a scratching post, or better yet—a climbing tree for your cat which will encourage exercise. The average life of an outside cat is 3 years, while the average life an inside cat is 18 years.

If you let your cat outside, or if they dart for the door, they could:

  • Get hit by a car.
  • Be exposed to fatal diseases, such as feline leukemia, feline AIDS, or rabies.
  • Get stolen and sold to a lab for testing, or be used to train fighting dogs.
  • Get chased and attacked by dogs or other animals, only to be wounded and die much later by starvation or infection/exposure.
  • Get poisoned, either accidentally by pesticides or poisonous plants or intentionally by cat haters.
  • Get accidentally shot, being mistaken for a squirrel or rabbit.
  • Get caught in a trap.
  • Get parasites such as fleas, ticks, or worms.
  • Cause problems with your neighbors when he uses their lawn for a litter pan or hunts small animals or birds.
  • Get “taken for a ride” and dumped miles away from home.

Identification Tags

If your cat does get out, you should be prepared beforehand. Break-away collars are recommended for cats so they cannot get caught on something. Make sure the collar is not too loose or too tight, and adjust the size as your cat grows. Always have an ID tag on the collar.

Litter Box

If your cat does get out, place their litter box outside. The smells of their own urine will draw them back home.

Exercise and Play

Cats and kittens love scratching posts, paper bags, catnip toys, and balls. Having toys that chirp or move can help satisfy their need to hunt so you don’t have to let your cat outside.

Transportation

Always carry your cat in a carrier or have it wear a leash & collar. If a cat gets frightened, it could jump out of your arms. Make sure the carrier is fully latched shut so your cat can’t escape.

Fleas

If your cat does get out, immediately treat them for fleas and ticks. Use products recommended by your veterinarian labeled for cats only.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

 

Proper Cat & Kitten Care

Proper Cat & Kitten Care

cat and kitten care

Cat and Kitten Care

When you’re thinking about adding a new member to your family, you’ll want to make sure you know how to properly care for a cat or kitten. 

If you haven’t owned a cat before, it can sometimes be daunting trying to think of their needs. From safety to grooming, we’ll outline all the ways you can care for your new cat or kitten properly and things to keep in mind throughout the life of your cat.

Diet & Feeding

Kittens (up to 1 year) should be fed 3-4 times throughout the day, and adult cats (1+ years) should be fed 1/4 to 1/3 cup
1-2 times daily. Fresh, clean water should be available at all times. Milk is not recommended—it could cause diarrhea.

Identification Tags

Break-away collars are recommended for cats so they cannot get caught on something. Make sure the collar is not too loose or too tight, and adjust the size as your cat grows. Always have an ID tag on the collar.

Grooming

Brush your cat frequently. Hairball remedies may be given periodically and can be purchased at PetSmart.

Ears

Check often for dirt and/or ear mites. Clean the ears with  ear cleaning solution recommended by your vet.

Nails

Trim nails regularly (every 2 weeks) and have a scratching post available at all times so the cat will not damage your furniture.

Litter Box

The litter box should be in a quiet, private place. The box should be cleaned regularly, and always available. You should have at least 1 litter box per cat.

Exercise and Play

Cats and kittens love scratching posts, paper bags, catnip toys, and balls. Make sure toys are safe—no bells for them to swallow or yarn to tangle their intestines.

Environment

Cats should not be allowed to be loose outside. They may be subjected to being hit by a car, stolen, poisoned, disease, and death.

Transportation

Always carry your cat in a carrier or have it wear a leash & collar. If a cat gets frightened, it could jump out of your arms.

Fleas

Use products recommended by your veterinarian labeled for cats only.

Veterinary Care

Your cat should see the vet once a year for a physical and recommended vaccinations.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

 

Two Cats Are Better Than One

Two Cats Are Better Than One

two cats are better than one

Having Two Cats

Cats in bonded pairs are often happier, healthier and more well-behaved than a single cat that rules the roost. Here’s why you might want to consider getting two instead of one.

Bonded pairs are common in nearly all animals, and cats are no exception. In fact, you’ll often find that there are more bonded pairs of cats in homes, animal shelters and rescues than any other kind of pet.

If you’re thinking of adopting a cat or kitten, your perfect match could come with a forever friend. Before you say no to having multiple cats in your household, consider some benefits to adopting the two together.

Cats that have a playmate tend to be more socially well-adjusted and avoid behavior problems like shyness, biting, hissing, being frightened and hiding in the company of people they don’t know.

Cats need stimulation during the day like humans. Studies have shown that some animals left alone most of the day in the house, have brains that weigh up to 25% less than those that live in the street.

Cats are much less likely to gain weight due to the lack of movement, and to suffer related illnesses.

They are less likely to ruin furniture out of boredom.

The workload to care for two cats remains relatively the same.

If you must work long hours or travel for a couple of days, two or more cats keep each other company and are more tranquil during your absence.

It’s more likely that people bring back an adopted cat due to behavior problems when only one has been adopted, rather than two.

Your cat will remain more playful and youthful into his or her later years with a companion.

You don’t need more space for a second cat.

For Kitty’s Sake waives the adoption fee for the second cat.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.