City Kitties

Hello? Is anyone still here?

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:41:35 GMT

City Kitties is currently facing a financial emergency: AT THIS POINT, CITY KITTIES IS UNABLE TO ACCEPT ANY FURTHER RESCUES UNTIL WE RAISE FUNDS FOR THEIR CARE.

In the past month, in addition to our usual rescue costs, City Kitties has taken on several cats who have ended up needing extensive vet care totaling thousands of dollars. The necessary dental surgery to remove 10 teeth to alleviate Hutch's constant tooth pain was nearly $1000. Twig, the kitten found by a local community member, has been in horrible condition with extremely painful infections in his bones, and has needed constant (expensive) vet care for weeks and is still not completely well. Bamboo, the starving young cat with the worst case of ringworm we have ever seen, currently has an ominous lump on his shoulder that is potentially cancerous and he needs very expensive treatment. It is not an understatement to say that these cats could have died horrible and painful deaths on the street without our intervention and care.

City Kitties relies solely on donations from our community. The weather is getting colder, and there are many more suffering cats who deserve loving homes and need our help. We hope that you will consider skipping your morning latte, and donate that $5 to City Kitties, or more if you can spare it. Your donation will help save the life of a real live stray cat here in your community. If you are looking for holiday gifts, donations can be made in someone's name (and you can print out our custom gift cards to give them). Very shortly we will have gorgeous 2010 calendars on sale at Studio 34 and on our website. Alternatively, please come to our Drink Beer, Save Cats fundraiser next Friday (the 13th) at Doobie's bar. ($5 suggested cover, 8-Mid, at 2201 Lombard St - List of raffle prizes at CityKitties.org)

We at City Kitties work to make our community a better place and stop the needless suffering of animals of who already suffered enough at the hands of humans- we hope that you will take this message to heart, reach into your wallet, and donate. All donations are tax-deductible, and can be made online at www.CityKitties.org/donate.html

Our sincere thanks,

The City Kitties Team

Buy handmade jewelry, support City Kitties!

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:15:37 GMT

Jericas Jewelry is donating 30% of her proceeds to City Kitties during the month of July! Check out her Etsy store. Many beautiful items are just $10, and it's all handmade. Support a local business and your favorite kitty rescue!

City Kitties Art Auction THIS FRIDAY!

Tue, 26 May 2009 20:57:53 GMT

Buy great art from local (and not so local) artists
Win fabulous raffle prizes
Listen to great music
Eat and drink with everybody who's anybody
Support a great Philadelphia charity

When: Friday, May 29, 6:30 - 10:00pm
Where: Studio 34 at 4522 Baltimore Avenue
How Much: $5 at the door (which goes towards any winning bid)

Bidding starts as low as $5! For more information, including information about the artists and performers, check out our website: www.citykitties.org/art

See you there!

2nd Annual Art Show & Auction: Artists Wanted!

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 01:42:15 GMT

Last year, we tried a slightly crazy experiment.

If we asked talented artists to donate art, and then threw a big party to sell the art, would we be able to raise enough money to start up our monthly City Kitties vet clinic?

The answer was a resounding YES!! We sold over 100 pieces of art, raised a lot of money, partied with 350 people, and left with one orange and white kitten who wandered in to join the fun.

So we want to do it again and that's where you come in. Would you be willing to do it all again? Because without your art, we've got nothing.

This year, we plan to arrange the show slightly differently. We will hang the art in the weeks leading up to the show, beginning on the 9th of May. The art auction will be on 29 May. If you can send us a digital image of your art, we will also include it on our website.

If you are interested in donating -- or know anyone else who might donate -- please contact us (info at citykitties dot org) and we'll send you more logistical information.

Oh please say yes!

Cooking with Catladies: A Feast for the Ages

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:08:47 GMT

Last Sunday, chef Livia and hostess Alex combined forces to throw a fantastic Cooking with Catladies dinner party! We can't thank them enough for their hard work and amazing food, which raised money for City Kitties just in time for "kitten season." Thanks to the fabulous guests, as well, who donated generously to enjoy this fine feast!

The chef surrounded by kitties

Jill, Despina, Barbara, and Shalini enjoying themselves

(half of) Kyle and Trillian

Hostess & board President Alex (left) with Adoption Coordinator Michelle, and Susan (adopter of Clarence, aka the Evil Kitten of Doom)

J.J. demonstrates that Cooking with Catladies is not just for catladies, but catgentlemen as well!

Cooking with Catladies!

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 14:21:39 GMT

Another delicious Cooking with Catladies event is fast approaching! For a donation of $30 or more, you can enjoy a multi-course meal and great company. Check out photos from last year's mouthwatering events here and here. Reserve your place at the table by emailing info at citykitties dot org. Hope to see you there!

Single Cat Foster Home NeededASAP

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 12:41:18 GMT

We have two cats in dire need of foster home placement. The first is Holly Golightly, a beautiful light orange and white adult with the best personality you can imagine. Holly was rescued in West Philly by a passerby and has been boarding at the vet for weeks. She chirps when people walk by her cage, purrs constantly, and rolls over to let you rub her belly. The problem is that Holly tested positive for feline leukemia. Though that would usually mean euthanasia, we couldn't bring ourselves to do it. Holly is an adult (3-5), so if she was infected as an adult, she stands a chance at living a normal life. Holly may never be adopted because of her leukemia, and it is possible that she could get sick, so we need to find a very special foster parent who currently has no other cats (or a leukemia positive cat). We will provide ALL veterinary care and can even pay for start-up supplies (bowls, litterbox, food, etc), if that's what it takes to find her a home. Please help us find a home for Holly--her time is running out. If we can't find a foster home for her by next week, we will have to euthanize her. No one who has met Holly can stand the thought of it. Please email/cross post this everywhere you can.

The second kitty is Walter, a friendly brown tabby with white tuxedo markings who ran up to me this morning, terrified by the strong winds whipping down our street. He screamed to be let inside our porch and I obliged. But we have literally NO room for Walter in our house--we need your help! Walter will be tested, vaccinated, and neutered prior to placement in a foster home. We don't know how he will get along with other cats, but he has been meowing at our cats through the window, so my guess is that he would be fine. He would need to be kept in his own room for 2 weeks as a normal precaution.

Second Annual City Kitties Art Auction!

Sat, 07 Feb 2009 15:39:38 GMT

So we're doing it again: we're going to do another art auction to raise money for City Kitties. Last year, we heard great music, saw and bought/sold some great art, raised lots of money, and bolstered the party animal reputation of catladies everywhere. This year: more, bigger, better -- and slightly more organized If you missed our last event, you can see it immortalized here.

That's where you come in We're really hoping you might want to get involved in putting this event together. Below, we have a list of things you might do, but we are also open to suggestions if you have any ideas.

First, the logistics:

We will hang the art at Studio 34 starting on 9 May (this is the soft opening)
The art will hang between 9 May and 29 May
The art auction/party will be on Friday, 29 May from 7:00 to 10:00
Rather than ask people to return to pick up the art they buy, we will ask them to take the art home that night. They will be able to pay by cash, check, or paypal.
At the opening, there will be performances, food, and drink.
It will be fun.

We need people to help us with the following things. If you're interested, please get in touch with either of us and we'll get you organized and in contact with each other.

solicit art
solicit food and drink donations
publicize event (online, through flyering, in media, etc.)
help set up soft opening on 9 May and art auction on 29 May
help clean up after event
help organize performances

Thank you in advance,
Lou and Alex

Buy yarn! Save cats!

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 19:41:06 GMT

colorwhirl is generously offering a one-day Black Friday sale of her vast quantity of yarn, in exchange for donations to charities including City Kitties! If knitting is in your future, please check out her sale listings and donate. We could definitely use the help for cats such as:

Esther, the cutest cat EVER, who appeared outside of kemidra 's apartment last week. Esther needs to be spayed!

and...

Argyle and Mocha--Argyle needs to be spayed, and both girls need their booster vaccines.

and...

Gus, who was born with a genetic defect and will need surgery soon to repair his eyelids.

All of these kitties would just love for you to knit a scarf for Aunt Bertha, or a pair of mittens for little Sally. Thanks to colorwhirl for thinking of City Kitties!

City Kitties Gift Cards Are Here!

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:27:07 GMT

Looking for the perfect gift for an animal lover? Make a donation in honor of someone you care about, and receive a City Kitties card you can print out to acknowledge your gift. Our cards are perfect for any occasion--birthdays, holidays, milestones, loss of a beloved pet, or to say thank you. Cards feature one of five City Kitties foster cats or kittens, each with a photograph and story. Donations are tax-deductible and will help City Kitties continue our mission to help homeless cats and kittens.

Greetings to choose from:

Happy Birthday	Merry Christmas
Happy Holidays	Happy Hanukkah
Happy New Year	Thank You
Congratulations	With Sympathy
Blank (no greeting)

To get your card, donate in any amount via Paypal using the button below. Once your donation is complete, click the "Return to City Kitties.org" button and you will be directed to a webpage to choose and print your PDF card. If donating in honor of more than one person, simply make one lump donation and print more than one card. Happy giving!

Emergency--we need your help

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:00:56 GMT

After losing our beloved Seven earlier this week, one of our longest fosters, Maude, is in critical condition at Penn Vet ER. We don't know what's wrong yet, but she has to stay overnight. Something is wrong with her lungs or possibly her heart. She's on oxygen and her night in the ICU is going to be extremely expensive. But we're not giving up on Maude yet. Please, if you can help, donate and help us give Maude the best veterinary care possible. Email this to your friends and family and ask them to contribute to Maude, or make it a gift in a friend or family member's name, and we will send them an acknowledgment on your behalf.

And please send some good thoughts to Maude and her dedicated foster mom, Angie, during this difficult time.

Volunteers Needed

Sat, 01 Nov 2008 17:22:38 GMT

City Kitties is looking for volunteers for the following positions:

Wanted: Volunteer Photographer! City Kitties is looking for an experienced Volunteer Photographer to make our foster cats and kittens look their best for potential adopters. This volunteer opportunity would require between 1-8 hours per month, depending on the number of new foster cats and kittens. The photographer would contact the foster parents, set up a time to meet at the foster home, and take high-quality digital photos of our adoptables that capture their personalities. Our foster homes are located throughout West Philly, Center City, Fairmount, and South Philly. What's in it for you? You'll be helping us increase City Kitties' adoption rate, meaning more formerly homeless cats and kittens will find happy new homes. Plus, if you're still honing your photography skills, you can add to your portfolio while playing an integral role in a community-based nonprofit organization. We will of course give you full credit for all work published on the web and elsewhere. If interested, please email info at citykitties dot org, tell us about yourself, and include a few samples of your work.

Wanted: Web Marketing Guru! Do you love cats and the interwebs? City Kitties is looking for a volunteer to help us improve our adoption rate by increasing our online presence. This is a great opportunity for a volunteer who can't foster cats or donate, or who has odd hours, but still wants to pitch in. We're looking for someone who is web-savvy with excellent writing/editing skills. Our Web Marketing Guru will find creative ways to advertise our foster cats and kittens, as well as post adoption profiles and events to craigslist, phillyblog, livejournal, and other relevant sites. This person will also be responsible for updating our facebook and myspace pages with images, events, and other fun stuff. We estimate that this commitment would require approximately 1-4 hours per week. If interested, please email info at citykitties dot org and tell us about yourself.

A new arrival, plus an update on Seven

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 19:51:44 GMT

Jesse arrived at the Cat Doctor with her owner, who just wasn't able to care for her anymore. Rather than see a healthy cat put to sleep, the vet asked City Kitties to take over her care and find a new home. Poor Jesse has a painful oral abscess that caused swelling so severe that it's draining from her eyes. She needs some serious dental work to repair other problems. Dr. Eigner of the Cat Doctor has graciously offered to do the dental work for free, but Jesse still needs a foster home! Please, can you help? This lovely gray and white girl is about 9 years old and is front-declawed. She would make a wonderful temporary (or permanent) companion for someone. Until we find her a home, Jesse has to sit in a cage all day, and City Kitties has to pay $15/day boarding fees, so we really hope someone steps forward soon. If you can't foster her, please consider making a donation in any amount to help us cover the boarding fees and any other vet care she may need.

And for those who might be wondering about our favorite foster kitty Seven, here's an update. First, the bad news: Seven is FIV+, has an enlarged heart, is still recovering from his massive oral abscess, and is in kidney failure. He was on death's door for a week or two after his "adventure" outside, and we didn't know if he'd make it. He still probably doesn't have much time left, considering that the treatment for his kidneys (daily sub-cutaneous fluids) may eventually stop his heart. If we treat the kidneys aggressively, his heart will fail; if we don't treat the kidneys aggressively, his kidneys will fail. Now the good news: Seven's abscess is finally healing, he's eating like a champ, gaining a bit of weight, and is back to his friendly, talkative ways. He's hanging out in a private room at City Kitties "headquarters," demanding food, attention, and constantly lapping from his giant bowl of water. He's a happy guy and is quite comfortable.

Yet another cat in need of serious help

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 22:10:18 GMT

A friend of ours found this cat outside her West Philly home. The cat has serious flea dermatitis (and maybe ringworm?) This is not an easy case, but we can't help without foster space and donations. If someone could provide foster space (an only-cat home), we can find a way to get the care this kitty needs. We will of course treat the fleas and will get the cat to a vet ASAP for other tests and care prior to entering a foster home. Please help. This cat appears to be in serious pain...

These kittens need HELP

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:06:21 GMT

One of our foster parents (genderwarrior) just rescued four kittens from northwest Philly, two of whom are likely going to be partially or completely blind. Warning: one of the pictures below is fairly graphic.

This one is the least socialized of the bunch. It has entropion, a condition in which the eyelids grow inward and scratch the eyes. This little kitty will need surgery to repair the problem.

This kitten has already lost her eye, so we will remove what remains. She needs socialization, too.

This white/tabby is the friendliest of the bunch and is ready for foster care or adoption.

This little tuxedo is pretty scared of humans right now. Can you help?

Do you have:

1) a spare room, patience, and time to give?
2) an extra $5 in your bank account?
3) a friend, coworker, or family member with one or more of the above?

Do you need some good karma?

Then please help! City Kitties has been inundated with requests for assistance in the past few weeks, and we are working beyond capacity. We're very fortunate to have such generous donors and volunteers, but right now we are out of foster space to house these little ones. All these kittens have known so far is fear, abandonment, hunger, and pain. Please, can you provide a foster home for just one kitten? They do need work and socialization, but we can't help them if we don't have the space.

New Arrival: Percy!

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 17:24:30 GMT

This one-eyed moo-cow kitty came from a tough block in northwest Philly. An independent rescuer and the good folks at Project MEOW got him vetted, neutered, and took care of his infected eye, which had to be removed. Now he's living the good life in his new home with two doting foster parents. Percy's missing eye and slightly comical black spots give him character! Viewed from behind, it looks like he's wearing pants and perhaps has parted his "hair" to each side of his head. Percy's personality is just as appealing. Though he's not a cuddler, he will follow you everywhere and enjoys sitting next to you on the couch for some attention. He's young (1-2 years), so Percy also has plenty of energy and enjoys playtime. If you know someone who would like to give this sweet guy a forever home, please tell them to submit an application.

Seven's many lives

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 15:29:55 GMT

Thanks to some concerned neighbors who saw our "lost cat" posters, Seven returned from his grand adventure out of a tiny gap in a second-story window relatively unscathed. We're so happy he's back! But due to some recent developments, Seven won't be up for adoption any longer. Besides being FIV+ and surviving being hit by a car during his days on the street, Seven has quite a few health problems. We knew he has a heart murmur, but a cardiac ultrasound earlier this week showed that his left atrium is twice its normal size. Some lab work revealed kidney problems, too. Seven also developed an oral abcess this week. This has caused him quite a bit of pain, so to help him eat he's getting pain medication and an appetite stimulant. Ultimately, he will need the rest of his teeth removed. He's on antibiotics to clear up the abcess and daily fluids to help his kidneys, but we can't put him under anesthesia for dental extractions yet due to his heart problem. When Seven finishes his round of antibiotics, he'll go on a heart medication for a week. Our vet will check him out again to be sure it's safe, and then we'll extract those teeth. Assuming all goes well, Seven will remain at CK "headquarters" (our house) to live out his days in kitty hospice care. We don't know how long Seven will live--it could be weeks, months, or (we hope) even years. But we'll be sure he receives the love and care he needs for the rest of his life.

Seven has a lot of people cheering him on--his foster mom, the Cat Doctor staff, and of course us! But keeping him happy and comfortable is going to be quite expensive. Please, if you can, forward Seven's story to your family and friends and ask them to sponsor Seven. He needs all the help he can get.

Another new arrival: Li'l Hug!

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:58:18 GMT

We have no room at the proverbial inn, but don't tell that to this rail-thin tomcat. I saw him out of the corner of my eye on my way home from work, hanging outside the corner store. I tried to ignore him, but he let out a hungry "Mrooowwr?" and rubbed against my legs. As I ran home to grab a carrier, I turned and saw a store employee smacking this starved kitty with a broom. Since he was found at precisely the same spot as Tastykake, we thought it only fair to give him a junk food name. Li'l Hug is as sweet as the name implies. Despite the burst bite-wound abcesses on his head and neck, he tested negative for FIV and leukemia. He'll be neutered and vaccinated soon, and then hopefully off to a new foster home. We still need foster homes! Tell your friends...

Yet another beautiful kitty in need of a foster home

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 20:02:34 GMT

We found foster homes for Oolong, Earl Gray, and one cat from the northwest Philly colony. But today we found yet another kitty in need of a home. Sherpa was curled up in a tiny ball, shivering and miserable, against an apartment building wall in West Philly. Someone ditched this gorgeous cat--she knew the sound of a cat food can opening so well that she ran right into our carrier. Sherpa is friendly, loving, and beautiful to boot. She has cute ear tufts and a fluffy tail. Please help us find her a foster home. Sherpa deserves better than a lonely room with dogs and cats sniffing at the door, wondering how they can get inside to harass her!

Emergency! Foster or adoptive home needed

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:15:36 GMT

Two cats who were adopted from us last year are being returned under emergency circumstances. We need a foster placement for them ASAP! Raksha and Rikki (formerly Oolong and Earl Gray, two of Crumpet's kittens) are a cute and active pair of young female cats born in September 2007. One is a gray tuxedo, and the other is solid gray. Since these girls have been together their whole lives, we would prefer that someone foster them both if possible. Both girls are spayed, FIV/FeLV negative, vaccinated, and flea-free. Here's what they looked like as babies last September:

Oolong (now Raksha)

Earl Gray (now Rikki)

We are also trying to help a disabled homeowner in Northwest Philly. Project MEOW has been assisting with TNR of some cats in and around her home. However, she has a number of friendly cats who are in danger of being taken by animal control. These are street kitties--they need real homes! PACCA will be back in less than two weeks, at which time all of the remaining cats will be trapped and likely euthanized. You can help! Project MEOW and City Kitties will be sure these cats are fully vetted and flea-free prior to entering a foster home.

Fostering literally saves lives. Please help, or please pass the word to anyone who might be interested!

Indigo update

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:50:47 GMT

Thanks for all those good thoughts. As of this morning, Indigo is still stable, eating, and is now making solid poop! Hooray! He's still not out of the woods, and things could still go either way. But the fact that he's alert and eating is a wonderful sign. His vet bills will likely come to $700-800, so anything you can chip in to help us cover the cost would be much appreciated. Thanks to those who have already donated.

Indigo is not happy about having a catheter in, and he's coated in food and screaming at us most of the time, but we're so grateful he's still with us. It's no small feat for a kitten to survive panleukopenia. Keep those fingers crossed.

Send good thoughts to Indigo

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:01:07 GMT

One of our newest arrivals, little Indigo, is gravely ill. This tiny kitten was abandoned in a carboard box in the woods with his sister, Argyle, at the tender age of three weeks. For the last week, genderwarrior has been taking wonderful care of these two, who were malnourished and underdeveloped without a momcat's care. Indigo had always been a little slower than his sister, but yesterday, he seemed lethargic and was having diarrhea. We met genderwarrior at VHUP, and Indigo stayed overnight in the ICU. The vet confirmed our fears--Indigo has panleukopenia, which is deadly in young kittens. Dr. Harbinge at VHUP and Dr. Milner at the Cat Doctor have been providing excellent care for the little guy. He's getting IV fluids and antibiotics to help him fight, and he's stable and eating. But his chances of survival are still not great due to his age and lack of a fully developed immune system. So please keep Indigo in your thoughts today. Send him some good vibes. And if you can, please help us with his veterinary bills by making a tax-deductible donation.

Please forward far and wide

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:34:19 GMT

City Kitties desperately needs foster homes! We're getting 5 to 10 requests daily to place stray cats and kittens, including some with special needs/illnesses. We are turning everybody away because we simply have no place to foster these animals. Since we're not a shelter, our foster homes are the only places our animals can stay until they're adopted. Right now we have a grand total of 8 foster homes, and all of them are full. We are most in need of only cat foster homes, but homes with other cats/dogs can be considered too. We ask for a six month minimum commitment, but all veterinary care is paid for 100%, and if necessary we will also subsidize food, litter, and other supplies. We provide support, information, and guidance as needed.

Please consider opening your home to a stray cat or kitten--it literally saves a life! If you know anyone who would be interested, please forward this along and have them contact us at: info (at) citykitties (dot) org, or fill out a foster application on our website. Thank you!

You know you wanna save these little lives...

Our toughest cases need YOU!

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:31:46 GMT

We desperately need foster or adoptive homes for these kitties!! Forward this to your friends, family, coworkers, or anybody in Philly who may be interested. These cats are all spayed/neutered and fully vetted. They just need the right place to live.

Shorty has been in foster care for more than a year. This beautiful kitty was abandoned by her owners at a local vet office with a severe uterine infection. She was so weak she could barely move, but she pulled through. Her foster mom reports that Shorty is stressed out living with another cat--to the point that she must stay in a separate room all day. Please help Shorty! She would love a quiet, only-cat household (as a foster or permanent resident!).

Seven had a very rough start to his life. He had to fight for food and shelter on the streets of Northwest Philly, but somehow Seven managed to survive. This guy has a charming, friendly personality and his battle scars give him a rugged look. Seven just happens to be FIV+, so until we remove the rest of his teeth, he needs to live by himself or with another FIV+ cat. Right now Seven is living in an office at the Cat Doctor during the day and in a cage at night. He deserves more attention and a dedicated person to make him feel loved.

Wendy needs a special home. We have tried to integrate Wendy into two foster homes with other cats without any luck. She needs to be an only cat, and right now she is absolutely miserable. Wendy enjoys rubbing up against your legs and face and will meow for your attention. She also loves playing with wand toys, or anything she can chase! But Wendy was severely abused as a kitten, and she doesn't enjoy being petted. She's afraid you'll hurt her, too. We don't really expect Wendy to get adopted--she may be our first ever permanent foster cat. But that doesn't mean she doesn't deserve happiness and a good quality of life. If you can provide a long-term foster home for Wendy in an only-cat household, she would love it. We will pay for her food, litter, and all of her veterinary care--whatever it takes to get her into a home where she feels safe and less stressed.

Meet Frankie!

Sat, 09 Aug 2008 15:07:25 GMT

Frankie showed up on the block with her roughneck boyfriend. She was so hungry that she left him behind and walked right into our humane trap! Frankie was terrified to be inside at first and spent the night under the couch in her room, refusing food, water, or attention. But as you can see from the photos below, she warmed up quickly.

She was standoffish at first...

And scared of her own reflection in the mirror.

But pretty soon she realized things weren't so bad...

She even got a little comfortable.

Awwwww, yeah.

More lovin', please!

Frankie has her big day today--she'll be spayed, vaccinated, and tested for FIV/FeLV. Please wish her luck! After that, she'll need a foster home to call her own. Since she was hanging out with her tomcat boyfriend, she needs to be in an only-cat household for three months, until we can re-test her for FIV/FeLV to be sure she's negative. Can you foster Frankie? She's a little shy in new situations, but very friendly and talkative. She's lonely in her room and would really love a place to call her own while she waits for her forever home.