CRAN News

National Cat Lover’s Month
November 26, 2021

National Cat Lover’s Month is an opportunity to honor the beauty, smarts and sass of our feline friends. Evidence suggests that cats were domesticated more than 9,500 years ago, and according to the American Veterinary Medical Foundation, 25 percent of households are home to a cat. Cats are one of the most popular pets for many reasons – not only are they quiet, independent and usually require less maintenance than other pets, but they are also great companions. Cats can sense when you need comfort and are proven to reduce anxiety and stress levels. People form deep, intimate bonds with these sleek creatures who provide a lifetime of love and affection.

Tragically, cat overpopulation remains an issue, and more than three million cats enter U.S. animal shelters each year. Cats also have higher euthanasia rates than dogs, and approximately 850,000 cats are euthanized each year because they can’t find their forever homes.

This National Cat Lover’s Month, we ask you to consider adopting a cat. You can be a hero and save a life, providing a sweet cat with their forever home. See our available cats

If you already have a cat, use this month to give yourself the gift of time with your cat companion. In the hustle and bustle of daily life, it can be hard to carve out time to spend with those you love, so take some extra precious moments with your special furry friend. Try just sitting with your cat, playing with your cat or brushing your cat.

If you are not able to take on the responsibility of a new pet, or a cat is just not right for you, that’s okay! Consider volunteering to help cats. We have all kinds of volunteer opportunities some hands-on including fostering, socializing and cat care and others behind the scene including marketing, data entry, and facilitating adoptions. Volunteer Application

Can’t adopt or volunteer, consider donating to our Winter Campaign to help cats. Donate here



Winter Campaign 2021
November 26, 2021

Winter Campaign Letter



Adopt a Senior Cat Month
November 11, 2021

It’s Adopt a Senior Cat Month! Each November, we like to celebrate the joy we receive from all our precious senior and elderly kitties at the Cat Rescue & Adoption Network. Our older cats mean so much to us and our cat community, that we wanted to share just a few of the great reasons senior cats make our lives even more special. If you are looking to add a new member to your family, adopting a senior cat may be purrfect for you!

10 Reasons Senior Cats Rule (from PetFinder.org)

  1. When senior cats are adopted, they seem to understand that they’ve been rescued, and are all the more thankful for it.
  2. A senior cat’s personality has already developed, so you’ll know if he or she is a good fit for your family.
  3. You can teach an old cat new tricks (I do every day with my own cats!): Senior cats have the attention span and impulse control
    that makes them easier to train than their youthful counterparts.
  4. A senior cat may very well already know basic household etiquette (like not attacking your feet at night) anyway!
  5. In particular, senior cats are often already litter trained and are less likely to “forget” where the box is.
  6. A senior cat won’t grow any larger, so you’ll know exactly how much cat you’re getting.
  7. Senior cats are often content to just relax in your company, unlike younger cats, who may get into mischief because they’re bored.
  8. Speaking of relaxing, senior cats make great napping buddies.
  9. Senior cats often know that scratching posts (not furniture) are for scratching and toys (not hands or feet) are for biting.
  10. Senior cats are some of the hardest to find homes for — so when you adopt a senior cat, you’re truly saving a life.
    CRAN has these amazing seniors looking for their forever homes. For more information go to CatRescues.org/Cats



October 2021 CRAN Cat Stats
November 11, 2021



October 2021 Adoptions
November 06, 2021



Rainbow Bridge – Harley
October 14, 2021

Harley’s person died of cancer. Cats do bond to their families and when they lose them, they do grieve. Harley hid for several months. We made sure he ate and drank and used the litterbox and let him know we were there for him and waited. One day he wandered out, came to us for a pet and then started purring. It was like he had decided it was time to live again. Harley was put up for adoption. A wonderful couple from Canby drove down to meet Harley and fell in love. Harley started the second chapter of his life with Chrissy and JR in December 2015. The following excerpts from updates from his adoptive mom tell this chapter of his life beautifully.

12/11/2015 Hi! Hearty didnʻt say a peep in the car – an uneventful if not long ride home. Heʻs doing great. He has a hidey hole under the bed but appears to have spent the night on top of the bed. He ate all his food last night, drank, and used the litter box. He came out from under the bed to collect pettings this morning. JR built him a shelf under the window so he can watch the birds. Heʻs already been eating his breakfast. More later!

1/30/2016 I was quite beside myself to see Hearty’s baby picture! Thank you so much for sending it, and for the additional medical record. I will put that in his file. He is doing so well. I have attached five photographs. As you can see, he has appropriated our paperwork, tv remote, magazines, and our hearts. He sleeps at our feet every night, in his bed when we’re not home, and hangs out with us when we get home. Last night he came tearing out of the hallway, skidded onto his scratch pad and made a dashing loop around the family room before making a break for the back bedroom. Hilarious! We’ve had him just shy of two months, and he has made such great progress.

4/15/2016 Ice cream?? Heʻs got a sweet tooth. But otherwise he doesnʻt seem to care for much people food, which is good. Weʻll get him weighed in June, but Iʻll bet itʻs down from Dec. He even runs around some when he gets the devil in him.

12/11/2016 Yesterday was Harley/Hearty’s one-year adoption anniversary! I thought I would send you a note to let you know he is doing great. He adjusted gradually and consistently over the course of the year. It seemed like he took a giant leap forward at about 9 months. He is fully settled in now. I took him to the vet several weeks ago and his kidney function is about what it was a year ago, so it’s stable. We have him on a kidney diet that he loves. He still needs to reduce a little, but the vet said she was surprised at his age because he looks/acts a lot younger. Remember how we bought him his own bed? That didn’t last long. He sleeps with us and has almost from the beginning. JR rolls his eyes and gives Harley whatever he wants. He’s such a good boy. We are very proud of him and love him very much. Thank you for saving Harley and for giving us a light in our lives. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season.

9/14/18 I have been meaning to send you an update on Harley. I’ve attached a few pictures. As you can see, he is not obese anymore! He actually lost more weight than ideal so we took him in and discovered his thyroid was failing. We did the radioactive isotope treatment and he spruced right back up – he’s doing great now. Remember that hairless patch on his stomach? It’s completely covered in white fur now. No more obsessive grooming. He’s the only cat I know who loves his tummy rubbed. I will always be grateful to you for stepping in and offering Harley a second chance at life.

9/20/21 I think of you often and know I should have updated you but it’s a hard thing to tell you. We lost Harley in May 2020 after a 7-month decline. He kept rallying but in the end, fluid kept collecting in his lungs. They thought it was his heart but then maybe cancer. We never received a conclusive diagnosis. He was 18 years, two months, and went peacefully with the kindest vet, me, and JR holding him. It was heartbreaking. He was such a good boy and we loved him so much. I’ve included a few pictures taken during the last year of his life. I will never forget you and the gift you gave us with Harley.

RIP Sweet Harley.

 



Feline Obesity
October 13, 2021

Taken from the Cornell Feline Health Center
Feline obesity—generally viewed as body weight that is 20 percent or more above normal weight—is the most frequently observed nutritional disorder among domestic cats. Its clinical signs are clearly apparent and, when observed, should be taken seriously and addressed without delay.
In itself, obesity will certainly inhibit a cat’s normal penchant for physical activity and surely compromise its quality of life. Significant overweight can also exacerbate several serious disorders. Among the conditions potentially aggravated by obesity are osteoarthritis, hip dysplasia, and diabetes mellitus. Cardiovascular health can also be impaired by obesity, since excessive weight places an extra burden on a cat’s heart and vascular system.
To assess the weight status of a cat, some veterinarians may use a nine-point scoring system, with score of 4.5 to 5 points indicating that an animal is at its ideal weight. A score of 9 would mean that a cat is grossly obese, while an emaciated, severely underweight cat would have a score of 1. Any cat that has a score above 6.5 or 7 would be classified as overweight, and a score of 8 or above would mean that the animal is severely overweight or obese.
An owner can also assess a cat’s physique by using a “Body Condition Score” chart.
According to Dr. McDaniel, a major factor responsible for feline obesity is the practice of “free feeding,” in which a bowl of dry food is available for consumption by a cat throughout the day. Accordingly, she says: “Use canned food, which typically has a higher protein and lower carbohydrate content than kibbles. Since canned food is 90 percent water, this will also increase the cat’s fluid intake.” In addition, she points out, the use of canned food encourages “feeding meals” rather than allowing the animal to consume excessive amounts of dry food that is made constantly available. “We should be feeding meals to our cats—not allowing them to eat whenever they want to,” she advises. “There should be a distinct meal time, and the owner should be in control of it.”
Any feline weight-reduction program should be carried out under the direction of a veterinarian, Dr. McDaniel advises. “A cat that is put on a sudden starvation diet,” she warns, “is at risk of developing a serious health problem, such as hepatic lipidosis. What you want to aim for is a gradual weight loss, perhaps one or two percent loss of body weight per week. I always recommend that an owner of a chubby cat purchase a baby scale in order to monitor a cat’s weight at home. Gradual is the way to go!”



3rd Quarter Newsletter
October 13, 2021

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Happy Tail – Martha
October 09, 2021

Martha was found in a sludge lagoon in 2019. She was extremely underweight when found. Attempts to find her owners were unsuccessful, so she was made available for adoption. She found a wonderful home with Elliot and Jen.

“Hello, We are Elliot and Jen! Martha (formerly Sister Sludge) has been the absolute perfect first cat. She warmed up to us and her new home very quickly- we adopted her in September and she was sleeping in our bed by October. Martha loves the laser pointer, chirping at birds through the window, and playing with wool socks. She is happy to meow to let you know when you’re sleeping past breakfast time, or when you’re up too late at night. She shows off how sweet she is by curling up on the lap of someone she’s just met, though we have to be sitting for at least an hour before she’ll share the same affection with us.

Martha has been a wonderful addition to our small family. We recently adopted Barry, a spunky, young fluffy boy, so she could have a companion of her own, and someone to groom the spot below her chin she can never seem to reach. While she was initially hesitant to having a baby brother, they are now perfect siblings. Lots of playing followed by cuddles and naps.”



September 2021 Cat Stats
October 09, 2021