Tag Archives: Cats

Local rescue focuses on helping ‘community’ cats

2-row, Citizen Journalism, Pets/Animals, ,
From the left, Lynnette Wieck and Maureen Herendeen, the founder of Feral Cat Solutions (Courtesy, Janet Vormittag)

By Janet Vormittag
WKTV Contributing Writer

Most retirees enjoy traveling, grandkids and sunny days in southern states during the winter months. Not Maureen Herendeen. When the Grand Rapids woman retired from nursing in 2020, she decided to advocate for community cats in Kent County.

“I like the challenge of it,” she said.

Herendeen has a passion for cats, especially outside cats. She believes in trap-neuter-return (TNR) and in July 2022 she turned her passion into Feral Cat Solutions, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization.

The importance of getting feral cats fixed

 “Community cats” is a term used to describe outdoor, unowned free-roaming cats who may or may not have a caretaker. Caretakers, who provide food and shelter, are not the legal owners of the cats.

Often Herendeen finds people willing to feed community cats and even provide them shelter, but they don’t get the cats fixed.

“Spay/neuter costs money,” she said.

In TNR, the cats are live-trapped, spayed or neutered, ear tipped and returned to where they were caught. A tipped ear is the universal sign of a spayed/neutered cat. One centimeter is removed from the tip of the left ear while the cat is anesthetized for spay/neuter surgery. Ear tips are readily visible from a distance, making it easy for caretakers, trappers and animal control personnel to immediately identify a cat as spayed or neutered.

Herendeen’s goal is to get community cats spayed/neutered to prevent unwanted litters from being born. The mortality rate of kittens born outside can be as high as 75 percent. Survival often depends on the mother’s access to food and shelter. Feral kittens can starve to death or fall victim to diseases. If they are born when it’s cold, hypothermia can take their lives. Raccoons and other predators also kill kittens.

Herendeen’s also wants to get friendly cats off the streets.

The elaborate dance

Over the years, Herendeen has volunteered for numerous cat rescues including Carol’s Ferals. When Carol’s closed, she continued TNR on her own. She approached staff at the Kent County Animal Shelter and asked if they could help with the spay/neuter surgeries of cats she trapped.

“I couldn’t ask for more cooperation from them,” she said. The shelter has a staff veterinarian and a grant to help cover surgery costs. They’re able to give Feral Cat Solutions 16 surgical appointments each week.

People with outside cats who need to be fixed contact Herendeen. She loans traps and expects people to do their own trapping. She will help trap for seniors and disabled people.

Trapping is scheduled for five days each week. When the cats are caught, they’re taken to Herendeen’s home in northeast Grand Rapid and she transports them for surgery. She has ten cages in her garage where cats stay before and after surgery.

“It’s an elaborate dance of a schedule,” she said.

Utilizing community resources

When there is a need, Herendeen also uses local veterinarians who offer discounted spay/neuter services.

If there are kittens who can be socialized and adopted, Herendeen finds them a foster home. The same goes for adult cats who appear to be friendly.

In 2022, Herendeen had 534 cats and kittens spayed/neutered. Of those, 329 were placed in local adoption programs including those at Second Chance Cats, Crash’s Landing, Kent County Animal Shelter and the Humane Society of West Michigan.

A co-hort in rescuing

Herendeen gets a lot of help from fellow cat advocate Lynnette Wieck who has also volunteered for numerous rescues over the years.

The women’s personalities complement one another. Herendeen is an action person. “I move at warped speed,” she said. “I do all the interacting with trappers, planning, collecting the cats, caring for the cats and transporting.”

Wieck is laid-back, detail oriented and spends a ton of time doing behind-the-scenes work. She also feeds feral cat colonies several days a week.

The rescue community

Herendeen has a network of rescues and fosters who help as needed. “I love all the people I meet in animal welfare. There are so many awesome generous people. It’s so satisfying.”

When she can’t find fosters for adult cats, Herendeen puts the cat in her Socialization Boot Camp, which means she lets the cats loose in her house and gives them time to become friendly. “It can take a long time, but it’s so rewarding. I feel like I won the lottery when they let me pet them.”

Besides being a lot of work, helping the cats is a big expense. There are intake fees for cats accepted into adoption programs, veterinarian expenses, and the cost of supplies including live traps. Occasionally, Herendeen will do a fundraiser on Facebook, but when donations don’t cover the expenses she opens her own wallet.

Feral Cat Solutions has a waitlist of people needing help.

A choice to help

“It’s astonishing how many starving cats there are—in parking lots, abandoned buildings, yards,” Herendeen said, adding she’s more than willing to help but no longer has the heart to hear depressing stories involving cats.“

“It hurts my soul,” she said. Some of things she has witnessed haunt her.

“Hearing a tragic story doesn’t compel me anymore,” she said.

Wieck agreed. “It’s not fun. It’s a need. It’s our choice to help animals.”

As much as Herendeen, Wieck and other rescues have done, the calls for help doesn’t slow down.

“It’s discouraging not to see an end in sight,” Herendeen said.

If you need help with outside cats contact Feral Cats Solutions through their Facebook page or you can text your first name, address and a brief description to 951-852-7063 to get scheduled or to ask questions. Feral Cat Solutions is a TNR organization. They do not rescue and do not have an adoption program.

Janet Vormittag started Cats and Dogs, a Magazine Devoted to Companion Animals in 2006 as a monthly publication. It’s geared towards West Michigan readers and features pet-related advertisers, animals available for adoption, and articles about animal rescues and pets. In 2018, Cats and Dogs transitioned to a quarterly publication. The print edition is free and can be found at local libraries and businesses.

Meet Ray, an advocate for special needs pets

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Pets/Animals, , ,

By Janet Vormittag
WKTV Contributor

Fig and Friends founder Julie Beukema with Ray (courtesy, Janet Vormittag)

Julie Beukema monitors Michigan Urgent Cats on Facebook, where cats in desperate circumstances are posted with the hope someone can assist. Last November, she spotted a listing regarding a tiny kitten with infected eyes and knew she had to help. A volunteer drove the six-week-old kitten from the Detroit area to Grand Rapids.

Beukema is the founder of Fig and Friends Pet Rescue, a Grand Rapids-based nonprofit that relies on foster homes, volunteers and donations. The rescue takes in owner surrendered pets as well as cats and dogs from crowded shelters. The nonprofit works closely with the Calhoun County Animal Center and shelters in Southeast Michigan.

When the black and white kitten was delivered to Beukema, he was immediately rushed to a veterinarian. The diagnosis wasn’t good—both eyes were ruptured and tissue was becoming necrotic. Surgery to remove the eyes was recommended.

Other than his eyes, the one-pound kitten was healthy and purred up a storm.

“We felt we had to give him a chance,” Beukema said.

The total vet bill for Ray including surgery followup, neuter, vaccines, and microchip was close to $2,000. A Facebook fundraiser was created.

Ray, the Entertainer

Beukema named the longhaired kitten Ray Charles after the blind singer. Being blind didn’t hinder the entertainer and it hasn’t hampered his namesake.

“He’s the most social and curious kitten I’ve ever seen,” Beukema said.

At first glance, Ray’s missing eyes are not noticeable as the fur on his face is black. (Courtesy, Janet Vormittag)

At first glance, Ray’s missing eyes aren’t noticeable. The fur on most of his face is black and his longhair gives him a shaggy look as if his eyes are merely hidden.

Ray is now seven-months-old and is the official greeter at the Happy Cat Café, 447 S. Division Ave. Beukema recently partnered with the café, where cats from Figs and Friends are featured in the café’s adoption room.

Happy Cat Café has collaborated with numerous rescues since they opened and have adopted out close to 700 cats.

The Socialite

Ray is not available for adoption. He had been adopted, but allergies forced his return. Beukema then decided to adopt him herself. Because the blind kitten was so social, she thought to try him at the café. It turned out to be a good fit.

Ray is thriving at the café. He interacts with people, plays with toys and was the first cat to figure out how to run on an exercise wheel — picture a carpeted, four-foot tall hamster wheel.

Ray navigates through sound, scents and his whiskers. He chases and bats around toys like any sighted cat and leaves guests in the cat room amazed at his abilities.

 “He’s doing phenomenal. He’s an advocate for special needs cats,” Beukema said. She added if she ever notices Ray isn’t enjoying himself at the café, she’ll bring him home.

Janet Vormittag started Cats and Dogs, a Magazine Devoted to Companion Animals in 2006 as a monthly publication. It’s geared towards West Michigan readers and features pet-related advertisers, animals available for adoption, and articles about animal rescues and pets. In 2018, Cats and Dogs transitioned to a quarterly publication. The print edition is free and can be found at local libraries and businesses.

BISSELL Pet Foundation fights shelter overcrowding

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Non-Profits, Pets/Animals, Recreation, , , , ,
Cora, a one-eyed, 9.5-year-old dog was all to find her fur-ever home in the Empty the Shelters: Big Dog and Cat Crisis campaign. (Supplied)

By Brittany Schlacter
BISSELL Pet Foundation

More than 1,800 dogs and cats found forever homes over the course of six days through the emergency “Empty the Shelters: Big Dog & Cat Crisis” event with BISSELL Pet Foundation. The event was hosted in 97 shelters in 29 states. BISSELL Pet Foundation aided shelters experiencing overcrowding by sponsoring reduced fees for harder to place pets, including adult cats and large and senior dogs.

Approximately 808 adult cats and 997 large or senior dogs were adopted during the event hosted Aug. 16-22, 2021, including 33 cat and 49 dog “foster failures,” (when a foster family plans to adopt the pet) and a total of 1,887 animal lives were touched because of the effort.

Since Jan. 2021, BISSELL Pet Foundation has helped find homes for 12,427 pets and provided $927,100 in direct funding to the shelter partners through “Empty the Shelters.”

 

“With shelters struggling with overcrowding across the country, the adoptions through this emergency ‘Empty the Shelter’ have opened up space to help another 1,805 pets in need,” said Cathy Bissell, founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation. “We thank our partner shelters for the incredible work they did to help these pets find families, and of course a heartfelt thank you to all of the people who chose adoption and gave these pets a second chance at life.”

While thousands of lives were saved, here are just a few notable adoption stories from throughout the country:

  • Cora, a one-eyed, 9.5-year-old dog in Cummings, GA, found a fantastic home to live out her golden years after four months in the care of Animal Ark Rescue.
  • A diagnosis of kidney disease didn’t stop Sassy, the 14-year-old calico from Carsonville, MI, from securing her forever home during Sanilac County Humane Society’s event.
  • Houston Humane Society adopted out one of their longest residents during this emergency Empty the Shelters. Shelby, a six-year-old dog, found her family after 150 days at the shelter.

The next “Empty the Shelters” event is scheduled for October. For more information on adopting or donating to “Empty the Shelters,” visit www.bissellpetfoundation.org/empty-the-shelters.

Paws for peacefulness

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Health, , , , , , ,

There’s an infinite amount of calm and comfort to be had in the company of dogs, cats and birds. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Robert Preidt, HealthDay

 

Cats, dogs, birds and other pets can help people manage their mental disorders, a study says.

 

Researchers from the United Kingdom asked more than 50 adults with long-term mental conditions about the role pets play in their social networks.

 

Sixty percent placed pets in the central and most important circle—above family, friends and hobbies. Another 20 percent placed pets in the second circle.

 

Many said the constant presence and close proximity of their pets provide an immediate source of calm. For some, a pet helps distract them from symptoms and upsetting experiences such as hearing voices or suicidal thoughts.

 

“You just want to sink into a pit … the cats force me to sort of still be involved with the world,” one patient said.

 

Another patient said: “I’m not thinking of the voices, I’m just thinking of the birds singing.”

 

The findings were published in the journal BMC Psychiatry.

 

“The people we spoke to through the course of this study felt their pet played a range of positive roles, such as helping them to manage stigma associated with their mental health by providing acceptance without judgment,” said study lead author Helen Brooks, from the University of Manchester.

 

“Pets were also considered particularly useful during times of crisis,” Brooks said in a journal news release.

 

“Pets provided a unique form of validation through unconditional support, which [the patients] were often not receiving from other family or social relationships,” she said.

 

Despite this, pets weren’t considered in the individual care plans for any of the people in the study, Brooks said.

 

The results suggest pets should be considered a main source of support in the management of long-term mental health problems, Brooks and her colleagues concluded.

 

Through open discussion of what works best for individual patients, the mental health community might better involve people in their own mental health care, she said.

 

Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.

Cat of the week: Zillah

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Non-Profits, Pets/Animals, , , , , , ,

Meet gorgeous, gray Zillah!

By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing

Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet — or few — from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Crash’s Landing. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).

In early Jan. 2017, one of our volunteers came across a stunning but profoundly, shy gray girl at a feral feeding station in downtown Grand Rapids. Born in early 2013, this poor soul ended up a shadow dweller, hiding out in the darkness until night fell, then scrambling out for a quick bite before scurrying off to safety.

 

After observing the volunteer diligently at work day after day, supplying all the cats with canned food, the stray finally gained enough courage to crash on through the dishes one day, knocking everything over in order to get to the yummy wet food — and amazingly allowed herself to be petted while she gobbled down with gusto and delight. It took a bit longer until Zillah — whose name means ’shadow’ — could be convinced to come to our clinic. Once she arrived, she was spayed, treated for intestinal parasites, tested (negative–YAY!) and vaccinated. Zillah spent a month at the volunteer’s home getting acclimated to indoor living, then came down to Crash’s to spend a month with us before heading off to another foster home that offered a bit more peace and quiet.

 

Zillah’s foster mom, Sara wrote up a synopsis of her emerging personality, as the longer she is with Sara, the bolder she becomes and the brighter she shines. Here are the sweet things Sara had to say about her timid little lady:

 

“Zillah spent most of her time in the corner of her open cage in Intake while at Crash’s, not wanting a thing to do with anyone — cat or human. In her foster room (with companion Moriarity) she has gone from hiding all of the time to sitting in a cat bed looking out the window. She loves being petted all over, even her sleek belly and, of course, is absolutely wild about wet food, tolerating tummy rubs while chowing down to her heart’s content.

 

Here, Zillah sports a pensive look

“Her favorite toy is a bird on a stick and she will jump extremely high to catch that little bugger! It has been an absolute delight teaching her all about treats, as so many strays are unfamiliar with them and don’t understand quite how to take them from a person’s fingers; she licks away at the hard kibble until she finally takes it in through the side of her mouth and looks up beseechingly for more! She does NOT like being picked up at all and is not, at least at the writing of this bio in April, a lap cat. She will sit close and allow you to stroke her sleek coat, which is one of our favorite pastimes.”

 

We are all so very proud of how far Zillah has come in such a short time! We are looking forward to watching her blossom as spring turns into summer and she finds comfort and security where she is planted.

More about Zillah

Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.

Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!

Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.

This all-feline band is the cat’s meow! See them purrform Oct. 16 & 17 in GR

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Pets/Animals, Upcoming Events, , , ,

aacircus
The Amazing Acro-Cats are coming to Grand Rapids (photo courtesy of the Acro-Cats website)

 

By Victoria Mullen

WKTV

 

Coming to Grand Rapids October 16 and 17 are the Amazing Acro-Cats, a Chicago-based troupe of real rescued house cats. These fabulous felines perform a plethora of feats with their fancy footwork: they jump through hoops, ride on skateboards, ring bells, rolling barrels, walk the high wire, climb on ropes and more. Anyone who has tried herding cats will appreciate the time, love and patience that goes into training these kitty athletes.

 

But wait! There’s more. The only all-cat band in the entire world — Tuna and the Rock Cats — purrforms as the finale. You don’t want to miss this.

 

One of the four “cat shows” in the U.S., the Amazing Acro-Cats and their human staff are devoted to promoting cat-training awareness and supporting feline adoption and rescue across the country. Their mission and goal are to show cat lovers how to improve their relationship with their furrever friends through positive reinforcements that yield long-lasting and beneficial behaviors.

 

See their performance on Animal Planet:

 

 

The troupe of former orphans and strays travel from city to city in a custom cat bus and form partnerships that encourage fostering and finding homes for cats and kittens.

 

Tickets are $22-$32. Get your tickets here.

 

When: 1 pm & 5 pm Sunday, Oct. 16; 7 pm Monday, Oct. 17

 

acro-catsWhere: Peter Wege Auditorium, 1130 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids, Mich. 49506

 

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes

 

 Photos courtesy of The Acro-Cats website.

Circle Theatre hosts the Jellicle Ball as “CATS” opens its season

3-bottom, Entertainment, , , ,

Those famous "CATS" are getting ready for the Jellicle Ball set to come to Circle Theatre this month.
Those famous “CATS” are getting ready for the Jellicle Ball set to come to Circle Theatre this month.

Circle Theatre will open its Main Stage season with a production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “CATS” starting on Thursday, May 5 at 7:30 p.m.at the Aquinas College’s Performing Arts Center, 1607 Robinson Rd. SE.

Under the direction of Todd Avery, the 2016 Audience Choice Musical will take audience members on a visually breathtaking journey filled with heartfelt song, dance and impressive acrobatics paired with stunning makeup and elaborate costuming. “CATS” tells the story of the annual gathering of Jellicle cats at which one time, one special cat is selected to ascend to the Heaviside layer.  A true musical theatre phenomenon, “CATS” is one of the longest-running musicals in both West End and Broadway history.

“This season is particularly exciting because we are truly offering something for everyone and we’re also the first community theater in Grand Rapids to put on a production of ‘CATS’,” says Lynne Brown-Tepper, Managing Director of Circle Theatre. “The talent of both the performers and the production staff this season is one of the best I’ve seen in all of my 16 years at Circle.”

Audience members looking to delve even further into the “CATS” experience can “Meet the Cats” at a special meet-and-greet session with members of the cast following performances on May 7, 15 and 20. “Meet the Cats” tickets are $5 and include a mix and mingle for “paw-tographs” and a special photo op with select felines on the stage. Tickets are limited and can be purchase at the box office or online.

“Circle Theatre feels like home to so many people and we want to extend that to our audiences through our performances,” said Director Todd Avery. “You’ll see powerful acrobatics, plenty of awe-inspiring makeup and costuming choices and some incredibly talented vocalists fully embodying their feline character.  Audiences won’t want to miss any of it.”

2016 celebrates Circle’s 64th year of producing plays and musicals for West Michigan audiences. Other Main Stage productions this season include comedic farce “Perfect Wedding,” musical comedy “First Date” heartfelt comedic play “Over the River and Through the Woods,” jukebox spoof comedy musical “Rock of Ages.” Circle Theatre attendees can also look forward to the Magic Circle family production of classic tale “Charlotte’s Web.” Circle’s unique and diverse Summer Concert Series performances include “Any Way You Want It: Arena Rock Anthems,” “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough: The Music of Michael Jackson,” “Made in the Mitten: Michigan Music Greats” and “Classic to Cosmopolitan: Nashville Past & Present.” All performances will be held at Aquinas College Performing Arts Center.

“CATS” shows are May 6 and 7, 11-14, 18-21 at 7:30 p.m. and May 15 at 5 p.m. For more information or to purchase tickets, call the box office at 616-456-6656 or visit Circle’s website www.circletheatre.org.

No-kill Cat Shelter Celebrates 10 years of Saving Lives!

Local Business, Local Faces, Non-Profits, Pets/Animals, , ,

Beazy
Photo Courtesy of Rebekah Dietsche

michele_smith-aversa10 years ago this month, Gina Marvin founded Focus On Ferals (FOF). 1 year ago this month, FOF moved into their new, and larger, Byron Center facility.

Two wonderful events to celebrate!

Starting out in 2005, Marvin provided Trap-Neuter-Return services (TNR consists of the humane trapping, sterilization, and return of feral cats to their familiar habitat) and cared for a handful of stray and sick cats in her garage. Since then, Marvin now has a crew of dedicated volunteers that help her oTessa Tito Atlasrganize and run the current multi-location program.

The TNR is done out of Lowell, the current adoption center is in Byron Center, there are foster families throughout West Michigan, and PetSmart in Grandville is currently featuring FOF cats!

Marvin routinely pulls cats from some of the “high-kill” shelters around West Michigan and places them into the program. These cats are listed as Shelter Pull Kitties on their adoption listing. When a Shelter Pull Kitty is adopted, Marvin is able to rescue another cat from one of those facilities. Cats in FOF’s program stay in residence for as long as it takes to get adopted –some just a few months, others for several years.

kittensRunning the program takes dedication, time, medicine, patience and of course, money. Come out on Sunday, August 23 and meet Marvin, her volunteers, see the facilities and meet all the kittens and cats that are waiting for their “forever families” to bring them to their “forever homes!”

Come, Celebrate 10 Years of Focus On Ferals No-Kill Cat Rescue and Adoption Center.

Sunday August 23, 2015 from 11:00am – 5:00pm

Focus on Ferals – 
7962 Clyde Park SW 
Byron Center MI 49315 (76th/Clyde Park, south of Spartan Warehouse Facility)

Raffle Baskets, Tour our Facility, Volunteer Opportunities, Refreshments and $50 Adoption Fee on any cat/kitten! ***Please bring a gift for our shelter kitties***

*You may remember the article Trash Bag Tabby. FOF is the shelter that took him in. He was adopted less than one month later.

YolandaFor more information:
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/FocusOnFerals
website: http://www.focusonferals.org
Donations: http://www.focusonferals.org/donate/monthly-donations-focus-ferals-no-kill-shelter/