-- NEWSFLASH ! KITTENS ABANDONED !
It was straight out of a 1930 ’ s movie … An overnight guest leaving my Airbnb circled past the front door to the bookshop . Within minutes , she texted me . “ I think someone has left animals at your front door .”
Unlikely , but possible . My shop was once a church , the Avis Church of Christ . I bought it 24 years ago , when the congregation built a larger church . Now , I am used to “ orphans ” and by that , I mean books left on the doorstep when I open the shop for the day . But in late April , I had a very different kind of box at the shop door . A taped shut box with air holes , and high pitched screaming coming from inside .
Abandoned kittens at the “ church ” doorstep . Three of them . Very tiny , with one screaming at the top of its lungs . It was a frosty morning , so I brought the box with the cats inside the shop and began making phone calls . I ’ ve lived with cats most of my life , so I already know that no one has room to take these little ones in . Late April is the beginning of “ kitten season .” The shelters and rescues are full to overflowing . I am prepared to foster but need a rescue to help me find these sweet ones a forever home . And I need a quick vet visit to make certain that these new guys are not carrying a disease that could harm Hector and Jasper , my beloved cat boys .
Two rescues called me back , Hope ’ s Rescue , which helped with the wobbly cats currently being fostered by Bre Reynolds and Tami Brannan , and Precise for Paws Inc . Hope ’ s understood my need for a quick vet but couldn ’ t make that happen as quickly as I needed . Luckily for all of us , Precise for Paws could , and by afternoon , our two boys and a girl were seen by Dr . Ashley Munro and tested for feline leukemia . They were pronounced healthy , free of disease , and able to be fostered in an area with other cats . From the vet ’ s office to a large dog crate , with plenty of towels as blankets , water , and kitten milk supplement . The cats just barely weaned , and had some difficulty with wet cat food , but could lap up milk supplement . For the first few days , it was rounds of washing food off kittens , changing the litter box , and cleaning blankets . Three days later , they were walking better , eating much better , and screaming much less . They were big enough to transfer to a larger , two level cat enclosure .
By mid-May , screaming , tiny kittens have doubled in size . They run up and down the ramp from one level to another , play wrestle with each other , and mew much more than scream . And purr ? Oh , so very loudly . By June , they will be old enough for rabies , distemper , and feline leukemia vaccines , and ready for their forever homes . Being adorable kittens , they are more likely to find the perfect home , as opposed to older cats .
But this could easily have been a tragedy , with frozen , starved babies . There are still too many kittens born . A mother cat can have 3 litters a year , with an average of 4-6 kittens each time . Spaying and neutering your pet mean a healthier life for your friend and avoids adding to the yearly overflow of kittens . Rescues make the difference . Donate , volunteer , foster . For more information on the Liberty Book Shop fosters , or to adopt a cat , please visit Precise for Paws website or Facebook page for an application . If these three have found a home , there are so many more like them at this rescue and others , as well .
Remember , a cat is a 15-20 year commitment from you . But as Hector and Jasper will tell you , the love is immeasurable .
- by Linda Roller , Bookseller , Writer , & Owner of Liberty Book Shop in beautiful downtown Avis , PA .
LIBERTY BOOK SHOP Linda Roller
Hours : Thursday & Friday 10-6 , Saturday 10-3 , or by appt .
“ Where yesterday ’ s books are today ’ s treasures .”
LibertyBookShop @ comcast . net www . thelibertybookshop . com
570-753-5201
Pawsitively Pets -- June 5