All Kitties Great & Small

07/27/2025

You never abandon a cat. No matter what. No matter if you move, struggle, feel broken, or lost. You just don’t.
Because a cat would never abandon you. They ask for little. A quiet space. A bit of food. Your presence. They don’t demand, they don’t judge — they simply stay.

When you’re sad, they curl up near you. When the world is loud, they bring silence. When you feel invisible, they look at you like you’re the only one that matters.

So no matter how hard life gets… don’t leave your cat behind.

To them, you are home.

07/17/2025

😸💕

11/18/2024

📢 How to encourage an outdoor cat to use a shelter...

In most cases, cats will figure out how to use shelters on their own. Here are a few things you can do to attract them if it doesn't seem like your cats are using the shelter:

▪️ Be patient. Some cats need a lot of time to get comfortable with a new shelter.
▪️ Loosely fill the shelter ½ to ¾ full of straw, NOT HAY. Replace the straw every year.
▪️ Remove any door flaps on the shelter. While doorway flaps help keep cold air out and warm air in, they should not be added until after your cats are used to going in and out of the shelter.
▪️ Do not place food in or near the shelter. Cats instinctively avoid sleeping near food as it attracts other cats and wildlife (predators).
▪️ Location is important. Place the shelter where your cats are already hanging out. More feral/less social cats typically want to shelter farther away from humans. The more secluded the shelter, the more likely cats are to use it.
▪️ Place the shelter near natural cover, as opposed to out in the open where your cats may not feel safe. Cats prefer to move along walls, hedges, or other natural barriers and boundaries. Place the shelter under or up against a building, fence, tree, porch, bush, or some type of overhang.
▪️ Place the shelter with the entrance facing away from the wind, rain, and snow.
▪️ Make sure the shelter is on a flat surface. A wobbly shelter could discourage cats from entering.
▪️ It’s possible that your cats have another shelter where they feel safe. They may already have a shed, crawlspace, or some other shelter they prefer.
▪️ When all else fails, try a new location, but only after giving your cats plenty of time to explore and get used to the current location.

(We thank FeralVilla.com for this great advice!)

💛 THANK YOU to the caregivers who have taken the time to build a feral cat shelter. Protection from the elements is critical, especially during the cold months, and your thoughtfulness will no doubt save many lives this winter. 🐾❄️









(source of photo unknown)

10/07/2024

Winter Weather Accommodations

Winter is coming, we’re already seeing temperatures drop into the 40’s at night here in Western Washington. Now is the time to think about providing some comfy shelters for your colony cats.

If you haven’t made shelters for your free roaming friends, consider doing so. Even a makeshift one can be a huge lifesaver – a huge pile of straw under giant tree branches, covered with a brown tarp and more branches, dirt, camouflage of any natural kind, with a couple of discreet openings on either side can make a much appreciated warm spot for cats in a touchy area. But there are a million and one ideas out there, look around and then modify them to fit your needs! It doesn’t have to be fancy, just a place out of the cold. If you haven’t already looked on neighborhood cats, do – they have several designs of shelters that can be made at a reasonable cost. http://www.neighborhoodcats.org/how-to-tnr/colony-care/feral-cat-winter-shelter

And remember, never use blankets or towels for bedding – straw, NOT hay, is the best option.

Thanks to all who help the cats make it through the winters.

(Content & images from Community Cat Coalition)

08/02/2024

📚 Our BACK TO BASICS SERIES: feral vs. stray
What's the difference between a feral cat and a stray cat? 🤔

👉 A FERAL cat is an outdoor cat that is not socialized with people. These cats are fearful and want nothing to do with humans. They are not suited to be indoor pets and are considered unadoptable. There are varying degrees of feral, so "once a feral, always a feral" is not the rule. Some ferals can be socialized over time; it depends on the cat and the person working with the animal.

👉 A STRAY cat is a cat that lives outdoors and has been socialized to some degree with humans. This cat may have once had an indoor home but now finds itself outside, perhaps abandoned or lost. Or, it could be a cat born outside with a feeder whom it trusts. Strays are more open to relationships with humans whereas ferals are not. When one describes a cat as a stray, it is implied that the cat is friendly to some degree.

💡 "Community cat" is an all-encompassing term to include all unowned outdoor cats, regardless of whether they are stray or feral.

Knowing whether a cat is feral or stray is important as the answer will determine your course of action. All cats should be spayed or neutered. A feral cat should go through the TNR process whereas a stray cat might go into foster care after vetting in search of an indoor forever home. Generally, strays are candidates for adoption; ferals are generally not.

👉How can you tell if a cat is feral or stray?
➡ A feral cat won't come close. A stray will come close and might let you pet it.
➡A feral will assume a crouched, tense body position and not make eye contact. A stray will act more like a house cat: standing, tail up, making eye contact.
➡A feral will not make a sound. A stray might purr or meow.
➡Ferals are more active at night. Strays are active during the day.
➡Ferals tend to be well-groomed; strays might be disheveled.
➡When trapped, ferals move to the back of the trap. Strays come to the front.
➡A scared feral will lash out; a scared stray may simply hiss.
➡A feral won't recognize or play with a toy. A stray probably will.

Original content provided by Stray Cat Project.

07/08/2024

📚 Our BACK TO BASICS SERIES: What is TNR? 🤔

TNR is an acronym for trap/neuter/return and is the most humane method of community cat population control. TNR is a process whereby unowned, free-roaming cats are humanely trapped, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, ear-tipped and returned to the outdoor habitat where they were found. 🐾

TNR is a team effort. A trapper will humanely trap any number of cats. The cats are then transported to a TNR clinic where a veterinary team prepares the cat for surgery. (Most "regular" veterinary offices will not treat feral cats.) The cats are spayed or neutered by a licensed veterinarian at a clinic and are vaccinated for rabies and distemper. The vet will also use a cauterized knife to remove the tip of the cat's left ear, giving the cat an ear-tip. (An ear-tip is the universal sign that a cat has been through the TNR process.) Afterward, the cats are retained until they recover. Males are usually released as soon as anesthesia has worn off completely. Females are typically held 2 - 5 days, depending on their stress level and the condition of their incision. No removable stitches or cones are used during the TNR process as most of these cats cannot be handled. There are no scheduled follow-up visits.

After the cats return to their outside homes, a caretaker will typically provide food, water, shelter, care and love. Outdoor cats in a managed colony have a typical lifespan of 10 years. Outdoor cats without a caretaker have a lifespan of 2 years. Your indoor pet cat might live 15-20 years. Human interaction is critical to their well-being!🤗

In addition to preventing unwanted litters, TNR also improves the health of community cats by providing essential vaccines to protect against disease. Also, the risk of certain cancers are mostly eliminated thanks to sterilization. Community cats also become better neighbors once sterilized as undesirable behaviors associated with reproduction -- such as fighting, yowling and marking -- are eliminated. TNR is a win-win proposition!🤝

Original content provided by Stray Cat Project. ✅

06/08/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/QWZKSQaexQQhEAAN/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Adopters get mad when we won’t adopt out a single kitten and this is why. Please don’t bash rescues who follow the practice of adopting out pairs or a kitten to a home with another cat we have our reasons!

02/11/2024

🛑 DO NOT GIFT AN ANIMAL THIS Valentine's Day!

We can't say it enough: DON'T GIVE PETS AS GIFTS unless the recipient knows in advance and is ready, willing and able to take care of that animal for it's entire natural life. We're talking about a 15-20 year commitment in the case of a cat. Animals are not novelties; they're living beings that depend on us for food, shelter, healthcare, interaction and love. They need to be taken to the vet regularly and in case of emergency. If the recipient can't provide all that, choose another gift this time around.

Instead of surprising someone with a pet, consider alternatives like providing pet-related gifts, or if the recipient truly wants a pet, you can support them in the process of adopting from a shelter or rescue organization when they are ready for the commitment.

12/08/2023

Forever one of our favorite paintings: "Caretaker Christmas" by Charles Keenan ❤🐈 We dedicate it to all the feeders and colony caretakers who are out there in all kinds of weather, regardless of the season. ❤️

This painting has consistently also been a favorite of our followers, as we can all relate to it so well! Last year, we looked for more information about the artist to find that he's local to us, living in Philadelphia, caring for community cats and volunteering at our city's high-intake shelter. On his website, Charles writes: "I have been concerned and involved with helping the stray cats in my driveway since my Dad helped me as a boy. More than 5 years ago I became involved with our city's Community Cat program and TNR, which is the Trapping, Neutering & Returning of feral cats to their location under a Caretaker. I have volunteered one day/week at our city's Animal Shelter for years to help the program control the cat population in our city. There are many cities in the USA (and around the globe) that also support TNR and I hope that you learn more about it if you are not already familiar." Clearly, Charles is one of us! 😻

This painting is now available as a print, as a poster and as notecards. Visit Mr. Keenan's website at https://loom.ly/3jvEkWM to find this and his other works.

11/22/2023

11/22/2023

Purrlease remember this, straw is the best insulator for outdoors and you can even get mini bales of straw from places like Walmart this time of year too 😻👍

08/08/2022

Mealtime can be a challenge when it comes to making sure everyone gets their fair share. Benji is ok with sharing though and able to keep the peace.