Nor'easter Impacts Cat Rescue - Adoptions Down, Surrenders Up

Now that our power is up, the days are balmy, it's time to take stock of the storm damage. No, I don't mean the trees, though there's plenty of those to deal with!  Rather, it's the impact the storm had on some of the voiceless victims - the cats we rescue.

Metrowest Animal Awareness Society serves the homeless cat population of the Marlborough and Hudson area. We care for these kitties, rescued from the streets or through surrender, in one of 11-15 homes. When the storm hit, all our homes were left wtihout power. So, in addition to making sure our families were warm, clean (well, reasonably clean) and fed, we all cared for our foster cats. This was not always easy, since some homes did not have running water, and some homes had no source of heat.  Some of the most fragile of kittens needed to be kept warm by fires, or gas fireplaces, or bundled up in polar fleece in a lap. All foster families had the option of moving their fosters to a warm, temporary foster home. None accepted. The foster kitties provided entertainment and focus for restless kids, and relief from the boredom for everyone. We all made it through, whether we lost power for a day or 5 days!

So now, the clean up comes. Autumn is high time for cat and kitten adoptions.  Folks are settled in to routines at school and work, and are ready to add a companion to their home. We have many cats and kittens of all colors, sizes, temperaments, ready to go. The week before the storm, our small rescue had 15 adoptions! But the storm changed everything.  In the past 10 days, we've adopted out 5 cats and kittens. Applications have slowed to a trickle.

Surrenders and newly identified stray calls are way up. Folks who let their cats out before the storm have lost their companion, and call us in the hopes we have seen their pet. We are taking in strays when we have space. We reunite the lost with the found, but it's rare for them to connect, even with posters and Facebook. We're turning cats away, who are remaining on the streets until a space can be found.

I end this blog with an appeal: if you are considering adopting a pet, now is the time. All rescues have the same situation, and the more pets that are adopted. The more animals can come in off the streets. Share your favorite rescue on Facebook, post a favorite adoptable pet in your office, gym, classroom. If you are looking for a cat, come visit our web site, www.metrowestaware.org, or come to a Meow Mixer and meet some of the fabulous felines! The calendar is on our site.

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