CREST HAVEN — There is a veritable who’s who or perhaps a what’s what of cats at the county Animal Shelter: fat cats, tiny kittens, tigers, calicos and purebreds lounging in cages, waiting to be adopted.
Shelter Manager Judith Davies-Dunhour told the Herald there are about 130 cats available for adoption at the shelter. One of the cats, such as “Boots,” keeps a paw outside his cage for a little human touch and a reminder he would like to be on his way to a new home.
“Boots” came to the shelter with three other cats and a Rottweiler after their owner was evicted from their home. One of the cats up for adoption is a purebred Maine Coon named “Huey.”
The cat population has always been high at the shelter due to the rate of surrenders, abandonment and the number of cats that have not been neutered or spayed.
Davies-Dunhour and Assistant Shelter Manager Leslie Riedel light up like neon signs when there are holding a cat. They are obviously cat lovers and know the personalities of each feline living at the shelter.
Some cats have lived in the shelter since July, November and December of 2009.
Davies-Dunhour said the shelter is able to house cats for a long period of time with the assistance of non-profit organizations that move cats out for adoption at other locations.
“Cats at animal shelters are the true challenge because people view them differently than they do dogs, it’s almost like they are disposable,” she said. “If you don’t see your cat for three or four days, you don’t get as upset as if your dog was gone.”
People think cats are more independent and they don’t need as much human intervention as dogs and as a result, they often are not spayed or neutered, said Davies-Dunhour.
For someone who begins feeding a cat in their neighborhood, they also need to make sure it has been spayed or neutered because it can produce as many as six kittens in two or three months, she said. Those kittens can produce their own kittens within five months.
The shelter generally has five to six cats on hand for each dog in its population. Last week, the shelter had 25 dogs. The shelter has 48 dog kennels and has never euthanized a dog due to a need for space, she said.
The shelter sees the greatest growth in its cat population in the spring with the arrival of kittens. About 30 kittens are currently in foster care in the homes of volunteers, said Riedel.
The shelter’s dog population has a large number of Pit Bulls and Pit Bull mixes. Davies-Dunhour said some of the Pit Bulls were picked up as strays and were not claimed by their owners. She said it is often hard to approve Pit Bulls for adoption because they can’t be with other animals and children.
Reiedel said all dogs are temperament tested before made available for adoption.
A few other breeds were on hand last week such as a Schnauzer-Terrier mix that arrived bald and had grown a new coat, a Dalmatian and a Silky Terrier. One dog has been in residence since 2008.
Davies-Dunhour said she is grateful for the help of non-profit organizations that assist the shelter such as the Animal Alliance of Cape May County, which operates a spay-neuter clinic next door to the shelter.
Spay and neuter is available at low or no cost for those receiving SSI, rental assistance or food stamps through the Alliance. Lower Township and other municipalities also offer similar programs.
The Alliance and shelter operate a program called Barn Buddies, which makes feral cats available for adoption for farms, stables and warehouses. The “buddies” will take care of any rodent problems.
If someone adopts two animals, the Alliance will pay the adoption fee for the second animal.
Every other weekend, Animal Outreach of Cape May takes kittens from the shelter to Petsmart in Rio Grande for adoption. The Animal Alliance takes cats to Petsmart on the alternating weekends, said Davies-Dunhour.
Petsmart is responsible for 30 percent of cat adoptions and donates $15 for every animal adopted from the shelter.
She said she is thankful for the help of local veterinarians who house kittens available for adoption at their offices.
A Low Cost Wellness Clinic, operated by Shore Veterinarians, at 73 Hope Corson Rd. in Seaville, offers rabies and distemper shots, nail trims, ear cleaning, and flea and tick prevention at low rate. The services are available for those with a family income under $40,000 and those on government/state assistance programs.
The Ocean City Humane Society also offers spay/neuter and wellness clinics.
Want to help the county shelter? Volunteer opportunities are available for dog walking and “cat cuddling.” Two volunteer orientation classes each month.
The shelter has a wish list of needed items the public may donate from collars, cat toys, dog and cat chow, towels and wash cloths, baby food (for kittens) paper towels, mops, and brooms.
The shelter is open Monday through Friday from noon to 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For information: call (609) 465-8923. The shelter is located off Moore Road in the county government complex.
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