Fall/Winter 2020 Volume 19, Issue 3 NONPROFIT ORG. SPCA US POSTAGE PAID Fernandina Bch., FL www.catsangels.com MAILING ADDRESS: PERMIT NO. 48 P.O. Box 16072 Fernandina Beach, Florida 32035 CURRENT RESIDENT OR 709 South 8th St. (Between Gum & Hickory), Fernandina Beach, FL • 904-321-2267 • Email: [email protected] GRANTS RECEIVED GOALS SURPASSED This year has been a challenge in so many ways, including “Our commitment to the Humane Society grant was to spay/neuter fundraising for us and many other non-profits who depend so 100 cats in 3 months, we achieved this goal in 7 weeks” says Sherry much on this source of income. Cats Angels had to cancel two Merritt, Cats Angels Executive Director. of our community fundraising events due to the COVID pan- demic. Our main source of continuous revenue – The Thrift Our first grant of $2,500 was awarded through the Humane Store at Cats Angels – was closed for over a month. These Society of The United States in June. Our commitment for this challenges may have slowed us down, but they did not stop us grant was to spay/neuter 100 cats within 3 months. Our Spay/ from pursuing our mission. Your support during the shutdown Neuter Program achieved this goal within seven weeks. We helped us remodel our store to easily adjust to the new social ranked 2nd in the state of Florida to achieve our goal so quickly! distancing guidelines. We made changes to our protocols and We have already helped spay/neuter over 500 cats this year!!! slowly moved forward to re-opening our Thrift Store, Spay/Neu- ter, TNVR and Adoption Programs. To serve our community Cats Angels was awarded a second grant through the sale even further, we are have added quarterly low-cost pet vaccina- of Florida Animal Friend license plates. The purpose of this tion clinics to our programs this year. $15,000 grant is to help spay/neuter feral cats and help low-in- come residents in Nassau County spay/neuter their cats. This grant started in September 2020 and will fund the spay/neu- ter for 375 cats in Nassau County. So, how can you help and make a difference? Start by purchasing a vehicle license plate through Florida Animal Friend. The state of Florida uses the fund from these sales to give grants to non-profit organizations that help spay/neuter pets in our state, and you get to sport a cool Animal Friend license plate on the back of your car. A second way to help is to make a donation to us. Our goal is to help spay/neuter 1,000 cats a year. It costs us $40.00 to spay/ A successful TNVR (Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return to Caregiver) re- neuter one cat. Any amount of money or donated items are sulted in trapping over 16 cats in a colony that went out of control. much appreciated. It included helping with medical attention to a cat with a serious tail injury. Knowing since COVID, many people have lost their jobs and are struggling to make ends meet, having to pay for spay/neuter services for a stray cat you are feeding might be on the bottom of the list when you are trying to pay bills. Cats Angels has re- cently been awarded $17,500 in grants to help fund our much needed low-cost Spay/Neuter Program. COMMUNITY OUTREACH - CATS ANGELS FOOD BANK PROGRAM Cats Angels has a well established Food Bank Program to feed Just a reminder about Amazon feral cat colonies, but we also can provide temporary assistance to Smile’s giveback program. This past quarter we received $195.78 those who need some extra help. You need to apply for the Food and $2,863.74 to date. Click on Bank and applications are available at Cats Angels. Distribution is Amazon Smile at our website and made to our participants at 4 PM on the first and last Mondays of select Cats Angels as your charity! each month. Cats Angels also sets up a Food Bank for both cats It’s an easy way to donate and it re- and dogs behind the CVS in Callahan. We announce on Facebook ally adds up! the dates and times of that distribution. COMMUNITY OUTREACH Feline PET VACCINATION CLINIC To commemorate International Homeless Animals Day during the Hello Grapevine to all our loyal readers. COVID-19 pandemic, Cats Angels sponsored a Pet Vaccination Clinic on Saturday, August 15. Heal Mobile Vet Clinic’s Dr. Aguiar, I and some of the other older with help from Vet Tech cats were having a chat the Nancy Douglas, set up the other day about the perils of clinic inside our facility. To aging. Like the human servants we felines have problems associat- ensure social distancing ed with aging. We all agreed that we handle old age better than the guidelines were followed, weak humans, but it can be challenging. Here are just a few points Cats Angels volunteers from our friends at Cornell University to remember when caring for checked in customers and a senior feline. walked pets into the store for their vaccinations. Vac- Compared to younger cats, the immune system of older cats is cinations were provided less able to fend off foreign invaders. Chronic diseases often as- for 33 animals in a 3-hour sociated with aging can impair immune function even further. Old- time period. These pets er cats groom themselves less effectively than do younger cats, may not have been vacci- sometimes resulting in hair matting, skin odor, and inflammation. nated without the option of having a nearby low-cost Feline kidneys undergo a number of age-related changes that may clinic. “Our focus is on ultimately lead to impaired function. Chronic Kidney Disease is a pet owners who may not common disease in older cats, and its symptoms are extremely be able to afford a full-ser- varied. They can include urinating greater amounts, weight loss, an vice veterinarian exam” unkept appearance, and even personality changes. Degenerative said Sherry Merritt, Cats joint disease, or arthritis, is common in older cats. Although most Angels Executive Director. “The clinic was set up for vaccinations arthritic cats do not become overtly lame, they may have difficulty only so owners can help prevent their pets from getting sick.” The gaining access to litter boxes and food and water dishes, particu- vaccinations started at $10.00. larly if they have to jump or climb stairs to get to them. The claws of aging felines are often overgrown, thick, and brittle and must be As a service to our community, Cats Angels will be sponsoring their kept well maintained. 3rd vaccination clinic On Saturday, November 7, 2020. We hope by spreading the word, additional residents who are not in a position to The main thing to remember is to always work with your veteri- take their animal to a vet office will be able to take advantage of the narian. The two of you are the team that keeps your feline friends low-cost vaccinations. Because of your generous contributions, healthy and happy. Well, have to get back to my sunny spot before Cats Angels had the opportunity to cover the $10.00 Rabies Vac- one of those annoying kittens gets it. cinations to the first 10 customers. Cats Angels is now accepting Everyone take care, Meeeeeooooooowwwwwww donations in person, by mail or via Pay Pal for our November clinic. With your assistance, Cats Angels once again will be able to offer free ($10.00 value) Rabies vaccinations to the first 10 customers. Res- idents may pay with cash or credit card. All animals must be on a Ki Ki leash or in carriers. Once customers check in and pay, we ask them to remain in or at their car until they are contacted via cell phone. If your pet has health conditions or have had reactions to vaccina- www.catsangels.com tions or medications in the past, please make an appointment with a full-service veterinarian. Cat Tips: Do you have a few hours you can spare? Do you like working in retail or with the cats? Can you help with fundraising? Cats Angels is welcoming volunteers. How Do I Know Stop by Cats Angels to talk with us, we want to hear from you! My Cat Loves Me? Or submit a volunteer application online at www.catsangels.com (Other Than at Dinner Time) and we will contact you. Feline affection is a subtle thing. While jokes about how cats uti- lize humans as their caregivers, cats do care and get attached Nana Teresa’s to their owners. They just don’t turn themselves inside out fawn- Bake Shop ing over them and licking their faces like some dogs do. So how Paws Up and Thank You can you read your kitty’s more subtle signs of affection? Nana Teresa’s Bake Shop on N. 3rd Street in Fernandina Purring - indicating contentment Beach recently surprised us Cheek rubbing or head bunting - transfers pheromones to you with this beautifully decorat- Slow blink - it’s a trust thing - try slow blinking to your cat too ed and delicious cat cake. Grooming - who doesn’t like the feel of that raspy tongue We appreciate the thanks and Love bites - gentle and brief mixed with rubs and licks support from our community Shared through Cat Watch/Cornell University Feline Health Center and our volunteers really en- joyed such a tasty treat!! 2021 Purr fect Cats of Cats Angels Photo Contest Winners Announced And our “Cover Cat” for the 2019 Purrfect Cats of Cats Angels Calendar is Aloha! His photo was submitted by our contest top photographer Rasa Slavinskaite.