Stray Cat Blues, Inc.

Thanks from the cats
and all of us at Stray Cat Blues!

(If funds are for TNR, please add a note in the Special Instructions during the checkout process.)

About SCBI

Who We Are

Officially, Stray Cat Blues, Inc. is a no-kill, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization providing rescue and placement to stray and feral cats. Personally, SCB is a small group of dedicated volunteers who work tirelessly to find loving, life-long homes for abandoned cats. We are professional in our practices, but we are emotional on the subject of homeless cats, and the ways in which we humans can work to prevent this epidemic of strays.

Stray Cat Blues actively works to recruit permanent homes for the stray cats in our program. All the animals are screened for feline leukemia, inoculated, sterilized and wormed when they first come to us. Healthy, adoptable cats are then housed through our network of foster homes. Our kittens and cats are exposed to the pet-loving public at our 4 different adoption cage locations to facilitate adoptions and to provide visibility for the organization.

In addition to placement of sociable cats and kittens, a major focus of Stray Cat Blues is to place feral and unsociable cats in qualified barn homes. Like our house cats, our barn cats are delivered to their new homes by a Stray Cat Blues volunteer. We provide our barn cats with a cozy "cat condominium" to live in for the first few weeks of life in their new location. The crate allows the cats to acclimate to their new home without the danger of having them run away in search of their old stomping grounds.

We are willing to go to great lengths for our cats - quite literally! We will gladly travel to approved barn homes within an approximate 100 mile radius of the Lansdale and Montgomeryville area to deliver our helpful mousers.

Most of our cats are strays and their offspring that are rescued from area locations. Many of these strays are more than willing to be helped by our volunteers. But for those animals that are more wary of humans, especially the feral cats, we utilize humane traps. Many of our kittens are born to mother cats that we have rescued.

Adopting a Friend

If you are interested in adopting, the first step is to file an application (Click here to complete an application online). Once we have that in hand, we will be better able to respond to your questions about particular cats or kittens.

As stated above, we do not have a public shelter but many of our adoptable cats can be seen at our adoption cage locations. Other cats still in foster homes can be seen through special arrangements with the foster caretakers. We are happy to respond to requests for information via phone or e-mail and will provide as much information as we can about the personalities and backgrounds of cats in which a potential adopter has interest. However, please remember to submit your application first.

Also, please note that our primary adoption efforts are focused in Montgomery and Bucks counties (Pennsylvania); but we will occasionally, and on a case-by-case basis, make placements in Chester, Delaware and Philadelphia counties.

Interested parties are required to complete a brief adoption application. This application serves us twofold. First, it allows us to assess the sincerity of the applicant through the fact that they took the time to complete the inquiry. Second, the application provides us with a veterinary referral and other pertinent background information. We require a $85.00 fee for adoptions. There is no charge for barn cats but a donation is very much appreciated. Donations assist in defraying the considerable costs of neutering, veterinary care and supplies such as food and litter. Donations are tax deductible. We conduct follow-up assessment to ensure that everything is going smoothly with the placement.

Trapping

Stray Cat Blues is dedicated to helping cats in need whenever possible. Although space and financial limitations may prevent us from taking in every stray about which we are contacted, we will gladly offer advice and assistance to anyone seeking to trap a stray in their area for the purpose of helping the cat.

Trapping in an inhumane and irresponsible manner is abhorrent to us and certainly not condoned.

Volunteering

Stray Cat Blues welcomes interested volunteers. We have many areas in which volunteers can help, including caring for cats in our adoption cages, staffing the adoption center at PetsMart, fund raising, phone calls, fostering, rescuing strays, etc.

To volunteer, click here to fill out a Volunteer Application, which asks for information about you and your areas of interest in volunteering.

Please contact us to discuss your specific interests and our needs.

Donations

We are also grateful for all donations, regardless of size. We have no paid staff so all donations go directly towards the cats. Donations are fully tax deductible.
Cash donations can be mailed to us at:

Stray Cat Blues, Inc.,
PO Box 8,
Colmar, PA 18915
Please indicate on your check if funds are for the General Fund or for Trap Neuter Return Projects.

To make a donation by credit card or Paypal, please click this button

If funds are for Trap Neuter Return Projects, please note this in the Special Instructions when completing the online checkout process.

To make donations of food or supplies, please bring items to Petsmart North Wales during adoption hours. Or call or email us. Click here for a list of items that we can particularly use. Thanks!

Petsmart gift cards are also always welcome and can be sent to the address above or dropped off at Petsmart North Wales during adoption hours.

Thank you for any help you are able to provide!

Allison G. gave her time to collect supplies for SCB as part of a Girl Scout Project.
Thanks Allison!

Cats Of The Month

Featured Cat: Cider

This is the kind of story you're never quite ready to hear...

They called me “Spinner” because I walked in circles. People who saw me thought it was funny. About 5 years ago I was shot in the head with a BB gun. This is what probably caused my vision loss. No one cared about me, so I managed the pain and confusion alone. The people in my neighborhood saw me “grazed” by a car, but did nothing to help me. For 5 years I put up with neighborhood kids torturing me and worse yet, litters of my kittens that I couldn't protect because I couldn't see what was coming...

I was living out back behind some houses in Pottstown, and as part of a TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) Project, I was trapped and taken to the Forgotten Cats clinic in Willow Grove. They treated me for a puncture wound to my shoulder and spayed me. When my trappers realized that I was blind, they didn't have the heart to put me back out. They think that I had also been hit by a car, not once, but at least twice. Now I am in a foster home. No one had ever been nice to me before.

I've only ever experienced man's unkindness, so I don't trust easily. I've only been in my new foster home for 2 weeks. I want to believe that I'm safe now, but I'm still afraid and don't believe yet that I'm not going to be hurt or hungry again...

My foster mom talks softly and doesn't move too fast. I like that. She's given me a warm, comfortable cage to live in and she's giving me my space to adjust. She named me Cider and tells me that I'm a pretty girl and that she'll only let me go to people who will love me as much as she does and be kind to me...

If you are interested in Cider and have questions, please email Stray Cat Blues at savingstrays@yahoo.com, and we would be happy to put you into contact with her foster home.

Update: After a few weeks in foster care, Cider in many ways seems like a very ordinary black cat; excepting that her eyes seem to stay dilated all the time and she turns in circles when she is excited about getting fed. She is fine around the other cats in her foster home, but will defend herself when she is startled. She would do best in a quiet home, without small children or dogs (but could be a companion for an older resident cat). She is estimated to be 5-6 years old. At first she stayed in her cage even when the door was left open (it was a safe space). She has since however started venturing out into the foster cat room where she lives with 11 other cats. They are cool about her, and don't bother her. She mostly stays in a little two-cubbyhole cat condo, choosing the upper berth. She knows by sound when her foster mom is getting ready to feed, and she starts crying for her dinner with the rest of the cats. She is too afraid still to let her foster mom touch her. Judi says though - “The other night when I was speaking softly to one of the other cats, I caught her pawing happily at the ground!” Cider does seem happier now that she has more freedom. It is going to take time for Cider to develop trust. She will need lots of patience.

Update 5/30 from Cider's foster mom: Cider is doing better with me, but still carries many fears from her previous life. She purrs now, and sometimes winds herself around my legs while turning in circles. Today was interesting. One of my other cats was being difficult, and got upset with me when I tried to pick her up, complaining loudly. Cider reacted to her distress and came to her defense! She wailed loudly to obviously scare off any threat! I really have a lot of respect for all she endured and I'm very fond of the poor girl. She has shown me her sweet and loving side and the side of her that has made her a survivor, against all odds...

We hope that there are some gentle souls out there who would open their hearts and home to Cider. She has been through a lot in her short life.

For information on living with a blind cat, click here.

Like what you see? Click here to enter an Adoption Application for this cat.

paws Home without dogs preferred. paws Home without children (< 5 yrs old).
paws Pet has special needs paws Shots are up to date.
paws House trained. paws Pet has been altered.

Libby

Libby found us, we didn't find her. She came to our front door and it didn't take us long to see how friendly and sweet she was. She's been living with us since March, 2009 and continues to surprise and delight us. She is a curious cat and has examined every nook and cranny of our house. We often find her in the most unusual places taking a nap, such as closets, laundry baskets, on top of our refrigerator, and in the filing cases of our home office.

For the most part, she gets along with our house pets (three cats and three dogs), but is not too fond of our female cat. She loves our small dogs and will rub up against them, and play with our male cats. She's a very social girl, and will follow us around and greet company at the door. She also enjoys sleeping on laps and being held.

Her favorite things are wet food, treats, catnip, a bed with a view (especially when there are birds to watch), being brushed and receiving rubs. Since she is about 1-2 years old, she still acts like a kitten sometimes and will run around the house, or attempt to swat at you in a playful manner. She's a smart girl and will respond when being lectured, and obeys the water pistol, if needed. We've been working on keeping her off counter tops with the squirt gun, and she's learning quickly. Nowadays we just have to show it to her and she knows.

We prefer Libby to be an indoor cat, and she is a door dasher, so we have to be very careful. We find the best way to get her back in the house is with wet food.

Libby has been exposed to very young children and is not afraid of them, but doesn't like to be chased after, picked up, or petted by them. She would be best with older children, who would be more calm, patient and gentle with her. She has not been exposed to large dogs.

Like what you see? Click here to enter an Adoption Application for this cat.

paws Shots are up to date. paws House trained. paws Pet has been altered.

Stella

Stella is an approximately 6-8 year old kitty. She was part of a TNR project in Graterford. She was living outside the home of an elderly woman with many other cats and not much food or shelter. She was the only cat who was immediately friendly and would purr when petted. She was also thin, had hair loss and discoloration and was sick looking. So, her foster mom kept her for adoption. Most outdoor cat live 5-8 years. Being in this age range, Stella was likely on her way out when she was given this chance. Her transformation has been amazing! She is a completely normal cat. She has gained weight and her coat looks good now. Stella is very friendly, playful and loves attention. She lives with other cats but is an alpha cat. No one eats when Queen Stella eats! Please give this special kitty a loving home for the second half of her life.

Click here to see the Top 10 Reasons to Adopt a Black Cat!

Click here to enter an Adoption Application for this cat.

paws Shots are up to date. paws House trained. paws Pet has been altered.

Tux

Tux is at Petsmart in North Wales NOW! Come and see him!

Tux is a handsome long haired BIG male cat who has been living as a stray in an apartment complex in Harleysville. He was trapped and proved to be very sweet. Since the residents of this apartment complex are not allowed to own pets, many get released outside resulting in a large stray cat population of one time pets.

Tux is also FIV positive. FIV stands for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. It is NOT contagious to people or dogs. FIV can suppress the immune system but most cats live very long and healthy lives with FIV. However, we do normally adopt out FIV cats as only cats or with other FIV cats. For more information on FIV click here. Our volunteers would also be happy to discuss this condition with you.

Please consider giving Tux a home with you!

Click here to enter an Adoption Application for this cat.

paws Shots are up to date. paws Pet has special needs.
paws House trained. paws Pet has been altered.

Kitten Season is here!

If a stray cat has kittens in your yard, you will want to place them with a rescue by the time they are 8-10 weeks old, if not sooner. A kitten can be removed from its Mother safely, at around 3-4 weeks of age. They receive the immunities they need from their Mothers in the first 4 days of life. Kittens that are not socialized to people by the time they are three months old, will most likely have become feral (unsocial, and afraid of people) already, and not be suitable for placement into homes as house cats. Kittens that are 3-4 weeks old, would be approxiamtely 4-6 inches long, and typically weigh only about 8-12 ounces. There could be a slight variance in length, and weight. Click here for information on how to estimate kitten age.

Click here for information on what to do, and for information on contacting Stray Cat Blues. If we cannot accept the kittens we can provide information on other local rescues to contact. See the links below, or click on the following links - How to Care for Neonatal Kittens and Socializing Kittens.

Stray Cat Blues is often called upon to care for very young kittens who have lost their mother. We have a few volunteers who are very experienced in caring for these so-called Bottle Babies. The cost for caring for these tiny kittens can be significant. Needed supplies include: KMR kitten formula, heat disks to replicate the mother's warmth, feeding tubes, syringes. (Click here to read a story of one of our bottle babies.) Please consider making a donation today to help with these costs by clicking the button below. In the Special Instructions on the checkout page, please note that the donation is for Kitten Care. And if you have a place in your heart and home, consider adopting one of these precious little ones!

Click the following button to make a credit card or Paypal donation -

Donations can be made by check payable to Stray Cat Blues, Inc. and mailed to - P. O. Box 8, Colmar, PA 18915. Please indicate on your check that this is a contribution for Kitten Care. You can also drop off a donation to us at Petsmart in North Wales during our weekend adoption hours (10:30-4:30). All donations are tax deductible. Thank you very much for whatever amount you can contribute.

Special Needs Cats

Occasionally it is discovered that a cat or kitten in one of our foster homes has medical issues or disabilities. We will sometimes also take in a cat from an outdoor cat colony knowing that they have a disability, where it would be inhumane to put them back into their outdoor environment.

Stray Cat Blues is committed to caring for these Special Needs cats. Where possible we work to place these cats into loving homes. Some of these cats, however, are with Stray Cat Blues for a long time. The cost of their care is covered by donations from the caring public.

Please take a minute and read the stories of these Special Needs cats...They are each truly SPECIAL, because they have the will to live and to experience life to the fullest they are able. If you are able, consider making a donation towards their care. And if one of their stories speaks to you, consider adopting one of these wonderful cats!

TAMBO: I have to take heart medication. It lets me act like any other cat - playful and lovable! Click here to read more!ADOPTION PENDING!!

GRETA: I have bad knees, but maybe you like to take it easy too! Click here to read more!

CEARA: My eyes get goopy, but if you clean it once a day I am good to go! Click here to read more!

MOCHA: I have allergies to some food. Maybe you do too? Click here to read more!

MOZART: I have recurring pneumonia, but I try to live a normal life. Click here to read more!

STINK BUG: I have a bladder issue, but a will to live. Click here to read more!

CIDER: I was tortured as an outdoor cat, and am blind. Do you have a quiet place and love for me? Click here to read more!

Click the following button to make a credit card or Paypal donation (please indicate in the Special Instructions during checkout that this is for Special Needs Cats)-

Donations can also be made by check, payable to Stray Cat Blues, Inc. and mailed to -
P. O. Box 8
Colmar, PA 18915

Please indicate on your check that this is a contribution for Special Needs Cats. You can also drop off a donation to us at Petsmart in North Wales during our weekend adoption hours (10:30-4:30). All donations are tax deductible. Thank you very much for whatever amount you can contribute!!

Trap, Neuter, and Return Information

For feral cats, Stray Cat Blues advocates the humane solution of Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR).

Comprehensive resources for TNR are provided online by Alley Cat Allies, a national non-profit. (Click here to go to their site.)

Fee for Service TNR only - The SCBI Trap, Neuter, Release (TNR ) budget is temporarily depleted, so we can only accept TNR projects that are fully funded by the person requesting our help. Our volunteer trappers are willing to donate their time and talent but callers must provide the funding for the discounted veterinary services we will obtain for each project. We have applied for grants and will be holding a Silent Auction in the Fall to replenish our TNR funding. When that money is available, we will again be able to offer subsidized TNR services. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Stray Cat Blues would like to thank Limerick Vet for supporting our TNR efforts through its annual Spay/Neuter Day on January 25th! The employees of Limerick Veterinary Hospital generously donated their services to spay/neuter 36 stray cats trapped by SCB. Spay and neuter is an effective way to reduce cat overpopulation. Click here to read the press release.

Genuardi's, Acme and Redner's Warehouse Shoppers

Your everyday purchases can support SCBI's caring for homeless kitties!

Anyone who has a Genuardi's card can sign up. To sign up, go to escrip.com, select "Sign-up", and enter Stray Cat Blues as the name of the charity. Then you are asked to provide your name and address (phone number and email address are on the form but are NOT required); in the next screen enter the card number that is printed on your Genuardi's card. Every time you use your Genuardi's card, Stray Cat Blues receives up to 3% of the sales total. It costs SCBI nothing and it costs you, the Genuardi's card user, nothing. It is Genuardi's who is the contributor.

Acme shoppers can drop off their receipts at PetsMart in North Wales. Please look for the canister located on the table at our adoption center.

Redner's Warehouse shoppers can sign up for the "Save A Tape" card and then drop off their bundled receipts with the added total at our PetsMart location. Please look for the canister located on the table at our adoption center.

Stray Cat Blues and all the kitties thank you for your time and effort in doing this!

Rescue News and Information Links

Rescue Links:

ASPCA Animal Behavior Center - Cat Behavior [www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pets_catbehavior]

Feral Cat Winter Shelter [www.pacthumanesociety.org/core/WinterShelter.htm]

Cats International - Cats International is a non-profit, educational organization dedicated to helping people better understand their feline companions. [www.catsinternational.org/]

The Humane Society of the United States - Pet Care articles [www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/]

ASPCA Animaland - For Kids [www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=kids_home]

pets.com from Petsmart - Articles covering all aspects of cat ownership and care [www.pets.com/petresourcecenter]

ASPCA Animal Poison Control 1-888-426-4435 - There is a charge for this service. [www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pro_apcc]

Winn Feline Health - Cat Health/Disease Topics [winnfelinehealth.org/Health.html]

Best Friends Animal Society - Pet Care Library [www.bestfriends.org/theanimals/petcare/]

Bucks County SPCA - Animal Behavior Hotline [www.bcspca.org/animal-behavior-hotline.html]

Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine - Brochures on Cat Health Issues [www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/index.htm]

Alley Cat Allies - a national non-profit working to promote humane care of feral cats [www.alleycat.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=191]

Trap-Neuter-Return [www.alleycat.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=285]

Caring for a Feral Cat Colony [www.alleycat.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=293]

Socialize Feral Kittens [www.alleycat.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=292]

Care for Neonatal Kittens [www.alleycat.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=291]

Feral Friends Network [www.alleycat.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=355]

Building a Feral Cat Shelter [www.alleycat.org/NetCommunity/Document.Doc?id=36]

Pennsylvania SPCA - Report Animal Abuse [pspca.org/faqs?faq_id=6]

News Links:

Pennsylvania Best Friends Network [network.bestfriends.org/pennsylvania/news/]

Philly.com pets [www.philly.com/philly/living/pets/]

CBS3 Pet Page [cbs3.com/pets]

Yahoo Animal and Pet News [news.yahoo.com/i/2120]

The Humane Society of the United States - Pet News [www.hsus.org/pets/pets_related_news_and_events/]

ASPCA - Lobby for Animal Legislation [www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=lobby_home]

Our Pet List Visit Our Cats Adoption Events Pets Of The Month About Us Found a cat who needs help? Kitten Season Info Volunteer Opportunities Interested In Adopting? Barn Cat Homes Needed! Older / Hard To Place Cats Trap, Neuter, and Return Info Declawing Info/Scratching Low-Cost Spay/Neuter How to Report Animal Abuse Lost a Pet/Found a Pet Petfinder Home Page Petfinder Info Page Petfinder Shelter Listings Search Petfinder Listings Rescue News/Info/Links Genuardi's, Acme, and Redner's Shoppers Thanks from the cats and all of us at Stray Cat Blues! (If funds are for TNR, please add a note in the Special Instructions during the checkout process.) About SCBI Who We Are Officially, Stray Cat Blues, Inc. is a no-kill, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization providing rescue and placement to stray and feral cats. Personally, SCB is a small group of dedicated volunteers who work tirelessly to find loving, life-long homes for abandoned cats. We are professional in our practices, but we are emotional on the subject of homeless cats, and the ways in which we humans can work to prevent this epidemic of strays. Stray Cat Blues actively works to recruit permanent homes for the stray cats in our program. All the animals are screened for feline leukemia, inoculated, sterilized and wormed when they first come to us. Healthy, adoptable cats are then housed through our network of foster homes. Our kittens and cats are exposed to the pet-loving public at our 4 different adoption cage locations to facilitate adoptions and to provide visibility for the organization. In addition to placement of sociable cats and kittens, a major focus of Stray Cat Blues is to place feral and unsociable cats in qualified barn homes. Like our house cats, our barn cats are delivered to their new homes by a Stray Cat Blues volunteer. We provide our barn cats with a cozy "cat condominium" to live in for the first few weeks of life in their new location. The crate allows the cats to acclimate to their new home without the danger of having them run away in search of their old stomping grounds. We are willing to go to great lengths for our cats - quite literally! We will gladly travel to approved barn homes within an approximate 100 mile radius of the Lansdale and Montgomeryville area to deliver our helpful mousers. Most of our cats are strays and their offspring that are rescued from area locations. Many of these strays are more than willing to be helped by our volunteers. But for those animals that are more wary of humans, especially the feral cats, we utilize humane traps. Many of our kittens are born to mother cats that we have rescued. Adopting a Friend If you are interested in adopting, the first step is to file an application (Click here to complete an application online). Once we have that in hand, we will be better able to respond to your questions about particular cats or kittens. As stated above, we do not have a public shelter but many of our adoptable cats can be seen at our adoption cage locations. Other cats still in foster homes can be seen through special arrangements with the foster caretakers. We are happy to respond to requests for information via phone or e-mail and will provide as much information as we can about the personalities and backgrounds of cats in which a potential adopter has interest. However, please remember to submit your application first. Also, please note that our primary adoption efforts are focused in Montgomery and Bucks counties (Pennsylvania); but we will occasionally, and on a case-by-case basis, make placements in Chester, Delaware and Philadelphia counties. Interested parties are required to complete a brief adoption application. This application serves us twofold. First, it allows us to assess the sincerity of the applicant through the fact that they took the time to complete the inquiry. Second, the application provides us with a veterinary referral and other pertinent background information. We require a $85.00 fee for adoptions. There is no charge for barn cats but a donation is very much appreciated. Donations assist in defraying the considerable costs of neutering, veterinary care and supplies such as food and litter. Donations are tax deductible. We conduct follow-up assessment to ensure that everything is going smoothly with the placement. Trapping Stray Cat Blues is dedicated to helping cats in need whenever possible. Although space and financial limitations may prevent us from taking in every stray about which we are contacted, we will gladly offer advice and assistance to anyone seeking to trap a stray in their area for the purpose of helping the cat. Trapping in an inhumane and irresponsible manner is abhorrent to us and certainly not condoned. Volunteering Stray Cat Blues welcomes interested volunteers. We have many areas in which volunteers can help, including caring for cats in our adoption cages, staffing the adoption center at PetsMart, fund raising, phone calls, fostering, rescuing strays, etc. To volunteer, click here to fill out a Volunteer Application, which asks for information about you and your areas of interest in volunteering. Please contact us to discuss your specific interests and our needs. Donations We are also grateful for all donations, regardless of size. We have no paid staff so all donations go directly towards the cats. Donations are fully tax deductible. Cash donations can be mailed to us at: Stray Cat Blues, Inc., PO Box 8, Colmar, PA 18915 Please indicate on your check if funds are for the General Fund or for Trap Neuter Return Projects. To make a donation by credit card or Paypal, please click this button If funds are for Trap Neuter Return Projects, please note this in the Special Instructions when completing the online checkout process. To make donations of food or supplies, please bring items to Petsmart North Wales during adoption hours. Or call or email us. Click here for a list of items that we can particularly use. Thanks! Petsmart gift cards are also always welcome and can be sent to the address above or dropped off at Petsmart North Wales during adoption hours. Thank you for any help you are able to provide! Allison G. gave her time to collect supplies for SCB as part of a Girl Scout Project. Thanks Allison!	Stray Cat Blues, Inc.	Updated 06/05/09 News and Events Visit our four locations to view available cats COME SEE WHAT CAT(S) WANTS TO ADOPT YOU! SAVE THE DATE! Bidding for the Blues Silent Auction, Sept 16th, 2009, 6-9PM; Pinecrest Country Club, Lansdale; Proceeds go towards Trap Neuter Return projects. More info coming soon! Stray Cat Blues, Inc. Newsletter Winter 2008 (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) Animal Lifeline, a support organization for local rescues, has opened a Thrift Store in Warrington. Proceeds benefit animal rescue. For more information, click here. Telford Vet One of our great participating vets, offers kitten socialization classes and pet first aid classes. Contact them at (215)721-6989 for more information. THANK YOU to all Genuardi's, Acme and Redner's Warehouse Shoppers supporting SCBI with your purchases Volunteers needed! Especially Cage Cleaners and Foster homes. Happy Tails: Click here to see our cats who've been adopted! Interested in adopting a cat or kitten? You can always see some of our rescued cats at our Adoption Center at PetsMart in North Wales, Pets Supplies "Plus" in Souderton, Schwenksville Veterinary Medical Arts in Schwenksville, PA and Green Lane Veterinary Hospital, Green Lane PA or view Our Pet List and Submit your Application via this website. Volunteer Opportunities WE NEED YOU! OUR KITTIES NEED YOU! To volunteer click here to fill out a Volunteer Application. The Application asks for information about you and your areas of interest in volunteering. For more information: email us or call us at 215-631-1851 MOST NEEDED CAGE CLEANERS (at PetsMart in North Wales) Do you love cats? Do you have free time during the day, early evenings or weekends? Please fill out a Volunteer Application today. TRAPPERS Join our Trap-Neuter-Return Team. Volunteers needed to help trap cats, transport for spay/neuter. No set schedule. Take on projects as you have time. Must be in good physical shape. Please fill out a Volunteer Application. FOSTER HOMES If you love cats and kittens please consider becoming a Stray Cat Blues foster home for our wonderful strays. We always need all the foster homes we can find. You will receive training and supplies and a helping hand through this heartwarming and important process. You can apply in any of several ways: submit an application online, call us at (215) 631-1851 and say you want to volunteer and/or become a foster home, email us, or stop by PetsMart in North Wales on most weekends to talk to some of our volunteers. Spay and Neuter Please be part of the humane solution to cat overpopulation: SPAY AND NEUTER YOUR PET! Click here for a listing of Low-Cost Spay Neuter Resources in the Greater Philadelphia area. Some of these groups also offer low-cost vaccinations. Click below to fill out an application for: HOUSE CAT Adoption BARN CAT Adoption VOLUNTEER Statistics Total Adoptions by Year: 2006 - 566 cats 2007 - 559 cats 2008 - 706 cats These great results would never have been possible without the support of our great volunteers and the community as a whole. *Thanks!* Help us have a great 2009!
	Finding Homes For Stray Cats, Through Fostering And Adoption Assistance.
	Cats Available for Adoption • Volunteer Application House Cat Adoption Application • Barn Cat Adoption Application Cats Of The Month Featured Cat: Cider This is the kind of story you're never quite ready to hear... They called me “Spinner” because I walked in circles. People who saw me thought it was funny. About 5 years ago I was shot in the head with a BB gun. This is what probably caused my vision loss. No one cared about me, so I managed the pain and confusion alone. The people in my neighborhood saw me “grazed” by a car, but did nothing to help me. For 5 years I put up with neighborhood kids torturing me and worse yet, litters of my kittens that I couldn't protect because I couldn't see what was coming... I was living out back behind some houses in Pottstown, and as part of a TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) Project, I was trapped and taken to the Forgotten Cats clinic in Willow Grove. They treated me for a puncture wound to my shoulder and spayed me. When my trappers realized that I was blind, they didn't have the heart to put me back out. They think that I had also been hit by a car, not once, but at least twice. Now I am in a foster home. No one had ever been nice to me before. I've only ever experienced man's unkindness, so I don't trust easily. I've only been in my new foster home for 2 weeks. I want to believe that I'm safe now, but I'm still afraid and don't believe yet that I'm not going to be hurt or hungry again... My foster mom talks softly and doesn't move too fast. I like that. She's given me a warm, comfortable cage to live in and she's giving me my space to adjust. She named me Cider and tells me that I'm a pretty girl and that she'll only let me go to people who will love me as much as she does and be kind to me... If you are interested in Cider and have questions, please email Stray Cat Blues at savingstrays@yahoo.com, and we would be happy to put you into contact with her foster home. Update: After a few weeks in foster care, Cider in many ways seems like a very ordinary black cat; excepting that her eyes seem to stay dilated all the time and she turns in circles when she is excited about getting fed. She is fine around the other cats in her foster home, but will defend herself when she is startled. She would do best in a quiet home, without small children or dogs (but could be a companion for an older resident cat). She is estimated to be 5-6 years old. At first she stayed in her cage even when the door was left open (it was a safe space). She has since however started venturing out into the foster cat room where she lives with 11 other cats. They are cool about her, and don't bother her. She mostly stays in a little two-cubbyhole cat condo, choosing the upper berth. She knows by sound when her foster mom is getting ready to feed, and she starts crying for her dinner with the rest of the cats. She is too afraid still to let her foster mom touch her. Judi says though - “The other night when I was speaking softly to one of the other cats, I caught her pawing happily at the ground!” Cider does seem happier now that she has more freedom. It is going to take time for Cider to develop trust. She will need lots of patience. Update 5/30 from Cider's foster mom: Cider is doing better with me, but still carries many fears from her previous life. She purrs now, and sometimes winds herself around my legs while turning in circles. Today was interesting. One of my other cats was being difficult, and got upset with me when I tried to pick her up, complaining loudly. Cider reacted to her distress and came to her defense! She wailed loudly to obviously scare off any threat! I really have a lot of respect for all she endured and I'm very fond of the poor girl. She has shown me her sweet and loving side and the side of her that has made her a survivor, against all odds... We hope that there are some gentle souls out there who would open their hearts and home to Cider. She has been through a lot in her short life. For information on living with a blind cat, click here. Like what you see? Click here to enter an Adoption Application for this cat. Home without dogs preferred. Home without children (< 5 yrs old). Pet has special needs Shots are up to date. House trained. Pet has been altered. Libby Libby found us, we didn't find her. She came to our front door and it didn't take us long to see how friendly and sweet she was. She's been living with us since March, 2009 and continues to surprise and delight us. She is a curious cat and has examined every nook and cranny of our house. We often find her in the most unusual places taking a nap, such as closets, laundry baskets, on top of our refrigerator, and in the filing cases of our home office. For the most part, she gets along with our house pets (three cats and three dogs), but is not too fond of our female cat. She loves our small dogs and will rub up against them, and play with our male cats. She's a very social girl, and will follow us around and greet company at the door. She also enjoys sleeping on laps and being held. Her favorite things are wet food, treats, catnip, a bed with a view (especially when there are birds to watch), being brushed and receiving rubs. Since she is about 1-2 years old, she still acts like a kitten sometimes and will run around the house, or attempt to swat at you in a playful manner. She's a smart girl and will respond when being lectured, and obeys the water pistol, if needed. We've been working on keeping her off counter tops with the squirt gun, and she's learning quickly. Nowadays we just have to show it to her and she knows. We prefer Libby to be an indoor cat, and she is a door dasher, so we have to be very careful. We find the best way to get her back in the house is with wet food. Libby has been exposed to very young children and is not afraid of them, but doesn't like to be chased after, picked up, or petted by them. She would be best with older children, who would be more calm, patient and gentle with her. She has not been exposed to large dogs. Like what you see? Click here to enter an Adoption Application for this cat. Shots are up to date. House trained. Pet has been altered. Stella Stella is an approximately 6-8 year old kitty. She was part of a TNR project in Graterford. She was living outside the home of an elderly woman with many other cats and not much food or shelter. She was the only cat who was immediately friendly and would purr when petted. She was also thin, had hair loss and discoloration and was sick looking. So, her foster mom kept her for adoption. Most outdoor cat live 5-8 years. Being in this age range, Stella was likely on her way out when she was given this chance. Her transformation has been amazing! She is a completely normal cat. She has gained weight and her coat looks good now. Stella is very friendly, playful and loves attention. She lives with other cats but is an alpha cat. No one eats when Queen Stella eats! Please give this special kitty a loving home for the second half of her life. Click here to see the Top 10 Reasons to Adopt a Black Cat! Click here to enter an Adoption Application for this cat. Shots are up to date. House trained. Pet has been altered. Tux Tux is at Petsmart in North Wales NOW! Come and see him! Tux is a handsome long haired BIG male cat who has been living as a stray in an apartment complex in Harleysville. He was trapped and proved to be very sweet. Since the residents of this apartment complex are not allowed to own pets, many get released outside resulting in a large stray cat population of one time pets. Tux is also FIV positive. FIV stands for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. It is NOT contagious to people or dogs. FIV can suppress the immune system but most cats live very long and healthy lives with FIV. However, we do normally adopt out FIV cats as only cats or with other FIV cats. For more information on FIV click here. Our volunteers would also be happy to discuss this condition with you. Please consider giving Tux a home with you! Click here to enter an Adoption Application for this cat. Shots are up to date. Pet has special needs. House trained. Pet has been altered. Cats Available For Adoption Can Be Seen At Four Locations: PetsMart - North Wales - Saturday and Sunday 10:30am to 4:30pm Volunteers are also present ~ Mon., Weds. and Fri. 6:30 - 8:30pm 145 Witchwood Dr, North Wales, PA (215) 699-9366 Pets Supplies "Plus" Souderton - Every Saturday 11:00am - 3:00pm 4024 Bethlehem Pike, Telford, PA 18969 (215) 721-3164 Green Lane Veterinary Hospital - One SCBI adoptable cat(s) can be seen during normal business hours - Mon., Weds., Fri., Sat. - 9am to 5pm and Tues. and Thurs. 7:30am to 9pm 3015 Main Street, Green Lane PA (215) 234-0434 Schwenksville Veterinary Medical Arts - Call for hours 298 Meyers Road, Schwenksvillle, PA (610) 287-8960 Stray Cat Blues volunteers will be present to assist you at all locations except Green Lane and Schwenksville. If your are interested in adopting a cat on display at Green Lane, contact us. For more information email us at savingstrays@yahoo.com or call us at 215-631-1851. Kitten Season is here! If a stray cat has kittens in your yard, you will want to place them with a rescue by the time they are 8-10 weeks old, if not sooner. A kitten can be removed from its Mother safely, at around 3-4 weeks of age. They receive the immunities they need from their Mothers in the first 4 days of life. Kittens that are not socialized to people by the time they are three months old, will most likely have become feral (unsocial, and afraid of people) already, and not be suitable for placement into homes as house cats. Kittens that are 3-4 weeks old, would be approxiamtely 4-6 inches long, and typically weigh only about 8-12 ounces. There could be a slight variance in length, and weight. Click here for information on how to estimate kitten age. Click here for information on what to do, and for information on contacting Stray Cat Blues. If we cannot accept the kittens we can provide information on other local rescues to contact. See the links below, or click on the following links - How to Care for Neonatal Kittens and Socializing Kittens. Stray Cat Blues is often called upon to care for very young kittens who have lost their mother. We have a few volunteers who are very experienced in caring for these so-called Bottle Babies. The cost for caring for these tiny kittens can be significant. Needed supplies include: KMR kitten formula, heat disks to replicate the mother's warmth, feeding tubes, syringes. (Click here to read a story of one of our bottle babies.) Please consider making a donation today to help with these costs by clicking the button below. In the Special Instructions on the checkout page, please note that the donation is for Kitten Care. And if you have a place in your heart and home, consider adopting one of these precious little ones! Click the following button to make a credit card or Paypal donation - Donations can be made by check payable to Stray Cat Blues, Inc. and mailed to - P. O. Box 8, Colmar, PA 18915. Please indicate on your check that this is a contribution for Kitten Care. You can also drop off a donation to us at Petsmart in North Wales during our weekend adoption hours (10:30-4:30). All donations are tax deductible. Thank you very much for whatever amount you can contribute. Adoption Events Stray Cat Blues, Inc. will have lots of choices - all colors, ages, temperaments. Be sure to complete an application before the adoption event so you can take home your new babies that weekend. Click here to fill out an application to be pre-approved! Visit adoption centers during hours posted above or check back here for special adoption events. We have lots and lots of these adorable babies/older cats needing loving homes. Don't walk - RUN - to get pick of the litter. Please consider an older or special needs cat! (Of course, we have a great selection of cats available for adoption at all times. You don't need to wait for our adoption events - visit our adoption locations or see Our Pet List online.) Either way, it's always a good idea to get pre-approved, so you'll be ready to take your new kitty home as soon as possible... Older and Harder To Place Kitties They need TLC and a chance... Yeah sure, they're not kittens anymore but they have lots of love along with many more years to share with you. Please give these precious felines a look! Click on the cat's picture, read their bio, and see if you can make a BIG difference in their life. STELLA: My days were numbered as an outdoor stray, but I'm only middle-aged for an indoor kitty! Click here to read more! QUINCY AND REX: We are brothers who were saved by SCB from a hoarder, and we are a bit shy. Click here to read more! These cats just need an experienced cat person to dedicate extra time and extra TLC to help these precious feline flowers bloom into a wonderful family member and big part of someone's heart! Won't you make a BIG difference in their life? Special Needs Cats Occasionally it is discovered that a cat or kitten in one of our foster homes has medical issues or disabilities. We will sometimes also take in a cat from an outdoor cat colony knowing that they have a disability, where it would be inhumane to put them back into their outdoor environment. Stray Cat Blues is committed to caring for these Special Needs cats. Where possible we work to place these cats into loving homes. Some of these cats, however, are with Stray Cat Blues for a long time. The cost of their care is covered by donations from the caring public. Please take a minute and read the stories of these Special Needs cats...They are each truly SPECIAL, because *they have the will to live and to experience life to the fullest they are able. If you are able, consider making a donation towards their care. And if one of their stories speaks to you, consider adopting one of these wonderful cats! TAMBO: I have to take heart medication. It lets me act like any other cat - playful and lovable! Click here to read more!ADOPTION PENDING!! GRETA: I have bad knees, but maybe you like to take it easy too! Click here to read more! CEARA: My eyes get goopy, but if you clean it once a day I am good to go! Click here to read more! MOCHA: I have allergies to some food. Maybe you do too? Click here to read more! MOZART: I have recurring pneumonia, but I try to live a normal life. Click here to read more! STINK BUG: I have a bladder issue, but a will to live. Click here to read more! CIDER: I was tortured as an outdoor cat, and am blind. Do you have a quiet place and love for me? Click here to read more! Click the following button to make a credit card or Paypal donation (please indicate in the Special Instructions during checkout that this is for Special Needs Cats)- Donations can also be made by check, payable to Stray Cat Blues, Inc. and mailed to - P. O. Box 8 Colmar, PA 18915 Please indicate on your check that this is a contribution for Special Needs Cats. You can also drop off a donation to us at Petsmart in North Wales during our weekend adoption hours (10:30-4:30). All donations are tax deductible. Thank you very much for whatever amount you can contribute!! Trap, Neuter, and Return Information For feral cats, Stray Cat Blues advocates the humane solution of Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR).* Comprehensive resources for TNR are provided online by Alley Cat Allies, a national non-profit. (Click here to go to their site.) Fee for Service TNR only - The SCBI Trap, Neuter, Release (TNR ) budget is temporarily depleted, so we can only accept TNR projects that are fully funded by the person requesting our help. Our volunteer trappers are willing to donate their time and talent but callers must provide the funding for the discounted veterinary services we will obtain for each project. We have applied for grants and will be holding a Silent Auction in the Fall to replenish our TNR funding. When that money is available, we will again be able to offer subsidized TNR services. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. Stray Cat Blues would like to thank Limerick Vet for supporting our TNR efforts through its annual Spay/Neuter Day on January 25th! The employees of Limerick Veterinary Hospital generously donated their services to spay/neuter 36 stray cats trapped by SCB. Spay and neuter is an effective way to reduce cat overpopulation. Click here to read the press release. Genuardi's, Acme and Redner's Warehouse Shoppers Your everyday purchases can support SCBI's caring for homeless kitties! Anyone who has a Genuardi's card can sign up. To sign up, go to escrip.com, select "Sign-up", and enter Stray Cat Blues as the name of the charity. Then you are asked to provide your name and address (phone number and email address are on the form but are NOT required); in the next screen enter the card number that is printed on your Genuardi's card. Every time you use your Genuardi's card, Stray Cat Blues receives up to 3% of the sales total. It costs SCBI nothing and it costs you, the Genuardi's card user, nothing. It is Genuardi's who is the contributor. Acme shoppers can drop off their receipts at PetsMart in North Wales. Please look for the canister located on the table at our adoption center. Redner's Warehouse shoppers can sign up for the "Save A Tape" card and then drop off their bundled receipts with the added total at our PetsMart location. Please look for the canister located on the table at our adoption center. Stray Cat Blues and all the kitties thank you for your time and effort in doing this! Rescue News and Information Links Rescue Links: ASPCA Animal Behavior Center - Cat Behavior [www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pets_catbehavior] Feral Cat Winter Shelter [www.pacthumanesociety.org/core/WinterShelter.htm] Cats International - Cats International is a non-profit, educational organization dedicated to helping people better understand their feline companions. [www.catsinternational.org/] The Humane Society of the United States - Pet Care articles [www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/] ASPCA Animaland - For Kids [www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=kids_home] pets.com from Petsmart - Articles covering all aspects of cat ownership and care [www.pets.com/petresourcecenter] ASPCA Animal Poison Control 1-888-426-4435 - There is a charge for this service. [www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pro_apcc] Winn Feline Health - Cat Health/Disease Topics [winnfelinehealth.org/Health.html] Best Friends Animal Society - Pet Care Library [www.bestfriends.org/theanimals/petcare/] Bucks County SPCA - Animal Behavior Hotline [www.bcspca.org/animal-behavior-hotline.html] Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine - Brochures on Cat Health Issues [www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/index.htm] Alley Cat Allies - a national non-profit working to promote humane care of feral cats [www.alleycat.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=191] Trap-Neuter-Return [www.alleycat.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=285] Caring for a Feral Cat Colony [www.alleycat.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=293] Socialize Feral Kittens [www.alleycat.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=292] Care for Neonatal Kittens [www.alleycat.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=291] Feral Friends Network [www.alleycat.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=355] Building a Feral Cat Shelter [www.alleycat.org/NetCommunity/Document.Doc?id=36] Pennsylvania SPCA - Report Animal Abuse [pspca.org/faqs?faq_id=6] News Links: Pennsylvania Best Friends Network [network.bestfriends.org/pennsylvania/news/] Philly.com pets [www.philly.com/philly/living/pets/] CBS3 Pet Page [cbs3.com/pets] Yahoo Animal and Pet News [news.yahoo.com/i/2120] The Humane Society of the United States - Pet News [www.hsus.org/pets/pets_related_news_and_events/] ASPCA - Lobby for Animal Legislation [www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=lobby_home]
	Stray Cat Blues, Inc. PO Box 8, Colmar, PA 18915 * Phone: (215) 631-1851 Email: savingstrays@yahoo.com

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