![\"kitten](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/kitten-overpop.jpg\")
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This sign is a fixture at Seal Beach Animal Care Center<\/a>, because of the number of cats dumped at the all-volunteer shelter. During kitten season, it\u2019s a sign of the times.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cCats here, cats there, cats and kittens everywhere.\u201d Wanda G\u00e1g\u2019s Millions of Cats <\/em>isa beloved childhood literary staplethat could be considered a cautionary tale about pet overpopulation. It\u2019s about a man and his wife who were lonely and wanted a cat but couldn\u2019t decide among the millions and billions and trillions of cats, so they took them all home, becoming possibly the first pet hoarders in juvenile literature. But this article isn\u2019t about hoarders\u2014it\u2019s about kitten season, and it\u2019s arrived with a kindle of vengeance, however unbearably cute.<\/p>\n Although it\u2019s illegal to own an unaltered cat in Long Beach, our shelters and rescues are packed. \u201cEvery spring, the Long Beach shelter and other area shelters are inundated with kittens,\u201d said Ted Stevens, manager of Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS). \u201cSimilar to wildlife, a cats reproduction cycle kicks in as spring approaches, and a large number of kittens are born around the same time, placing a huge burden on shelters that have limited capacity. The most important thing that people can do is make sure their cat is spayed or neutered and encourage friends, neighbors and family to do the same with their pets.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0 As shown on this chart, one unspayed female can be responsible for well over two million kittens in the course of eight years. Two million kittens! Times God knows how many cats roaming the streets without the benefit of life-altering (literally) surgery.<\/p>\n Annelle Baum and Deborah Felin (great name for a cat rescuer, no?), cofounders of Helen Sanders CatPAWS rescue<\/a>, live these stats. Since their founding in 2010, they\u2019ve taken in what seems like millions of cats; although they\u2019ve been successful in rehoming them, there are always more, because cats breed like rabbits\u2014after seven to nine weeks after bearing one litter, they can get pregnant again. And the results are often horribly sad\u2014CatPAWS has rescued a litter found in a trash can (one of whom is now ours) and in suitcases (see Virtually Pets). Baum recently took in several kittens from a neighbor. One was starving and died; CatPAWS spayed the others but couldn\u2019t get the neighbor to help get the mother, a stray, fixed.<\/p>\n \u201cDo the math if [the kittens] hadn\u2019t been spayed,\u201d Baum said. \u201cThis all came from one cat and a person who tried to do something right and didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n Stevens stresses that to help with the cost of the spay\/neuter surgery, ACS offers vouchers good for $30. Information about obtaining them can be found at ACS\u2019s website<\/a>\u00a0or by calling (562) 570-PETS (7387). For extreme financial hardship cases, contact Fix Long Beach<\/a>.Please tell anyone you know who has an unaltered cat about these options.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd we want to encourage anyone that is considering getting a pet to choose to adopt rather than shop,\u201d Stevens said. \u201cCome down to the shelter Wednesdays through Fridays,10AM\u20135:30PM, and Saturdays and Sundays from 10AM\u20134PM.\u201d<\/p>\n No matter how much cats fight, there always seems to be plenty of kittens.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n ~ Abraham Lincoln<\/em><\/p>\n These little castaways will look a lot better with just a little love and care\u2014in fact, they already do. Wendy (ID#A498115) is the gray kitten in the rear, Tinkerbell (ID#A498116) is the tabby on the right, and Peter Pan (ID#A498117) is the beautiful black smoke at left. All are on the shelter side of Companion Animal Village at 7700 East Spring St., (562) 570-PETS.<\/p>\n These two Siamese-ish sweethearts are being fostered in a loving home but would like a forever location. Visit or call ACS to find out about adopting them–both!<\/p>\n \u201cThese babies were six weeks old when they were found, along with their mother, zipped up into a suitcase and placed by a trash can,\u201d wrote Marianne Molloy, photographer for Helen Sanders CatPAWS. \u201cA tenant in an apartment complex that the trash unit belonged to found them. After calling many rescues and being turned away, they found CatPAWS, and we took them and Mom in.\u201d Read the first sentence again, and then visit the website<\/a>\u00a0to find out about adoption.<\/p>\n \u00a0 The Seal Beach Animal Care Center is also loaded with cats. Adopting any of these furry friends will make room for more of the results of human irresponsibility. (I\u2019m venting\u2014thanks go to all these rescues and shelters, and responsible, caring folks who adopt these cats). Photos by Sonia Eve.<\/p>\n Not so much to show that the Pet Post is an equal-opportunity adoption mentor, but this just came in, and I want to make sure he’s posted before I dive down to write the next article. Josie is a miniature poodle\/shih tzu mix. He\u2019s housebroken, is very smart, and loves everyone\u2014kids, other dogs, cats (you can take Josie home and pick up a friend for him at one of the rescues mentioned above. He\u2019d just been neutered and vaccinated when this photo was taken, and his rescuer would prefer that he go to a home with someone who\u2019s there a lot, because he doesn\u2019t like to be alone. Contact amauigirl@hotmail.com<\/a> if you\u2019d like to take Josie home.<\/p>\n Every Thursday in July and August, Free Yappy Hour, Long Beach Museum of Art, 2300 E Ocean Blvd<\/em>,\u00a0Long Beach<\/em>, 5\u20138PM<\/strong><\/p>\n LBMA\u2019s Architecture for Dogs<\/em><\/a>\u00a0is celebrating human\u2019s best friend in the best way. Yappy Hour, sponsored by Pussy and Pooch http:\/\/www.pussyandpooch.com<\/a> provides doggie snacks, and leashed pets can play outside on models of the tr\u00e8s modernes <\/em>living spaces for dogs featured in the exhibit. Your dog is welcome to view the exhibit with you as long as you can carry him or her; a free pet valet by Wooftidoo is available for larger dogs to wait for their humans. L<\/p>\n Saturday, July 13, Foster Class, spcaLA, PD Pitchford Companion Animal Village and Education Center, 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach, 10AM\u2013noon<\/strong><\/p>\n Help a pet better his or her chance at adoption! SpcaLA is looking for foster parents for pets of all ages and needs. Potential foster parents must fill out and submit an application prior to attending a foster class. Applications are available here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Saturday, July 13, Fix Long Beach Free Mobile Spay\/Neuter Clinic, Houghton Park, 6301 Myrtle Ave, Long Beach, 10:30AM\u20135PM<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Fix Long Beach needs volunteers to help with its third free spay\/neuter mobile clinic, sponsored this time by Eldad Hagar\u2019s Hope for Paws animal rescue<\/a>. Please sign up here<\/a>\u00a0to volunteer. The procedures for the animals are by appointment only; please do not bring your cat or dog unless you have made an appointment\u2014call (323) 413-SPAY (7729) to schedule one. Even without an appointment, all of the following are available at each mobile clinic:<\/p>\n DOG VACCINES There will be activities for children, music, food trucks, giveaways and much more! Visit our fourth mobile clinic on August 10, at Cesar Chavez Park, 401 Golden Ave. Long Beach, CA.<\/p>\n Sunday, July 14, A Second Chance Pet Adoption and Summer Dog Days Pet Bazaar, Good Neighbor Park, 2800 N. Studebaker Rd., Long Beach, 10AM\u20133PM<\/strong><\/p>\n The Pet Post (not this one) and Alpha Pet Care present another terrific event that has something for all ages, humans, and dogs to enjoy. A fun day is planned, with music, entertainment, youth games, shopping, pet parade\/pageant, eating, giveaways, and more to support a very important cause\u2014pet adoption! Of course!<\/p>\n Thursday, July 18, Friends of Long Beach Annual Meeting, Long Beach Playhouse, 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach, 6\u20138PM<\/strong><\/p>\n The public is invited to Friends of Long Beach Animals\u2019 (FOLBA) http:\/\/www.folba.org<\/a> 24th<\/sup> annual meeting. Find out how you can help support spay\/neuter programs, humane education and our shelter through fund-raising, community activities and educational seminars as well as work toward zero euthanasia of any healthy, adoptable animal. The meet and greet with refreshments and entertainment begins at 6, followed by our business meeting. Become a part of our leadership team, and be a voice for animals!<\/p>\n Wednesday, July 17, Secrets of a Pet Whisperer <\/em>Book Signing, Apostrophe Books, 4712 E. Second St., Long Beach, 5:30\u20137:30<\/strong><\/p>\n Animal communicator and author Terri Steuben will offer tips to pet owners and sign copies of her book,\u00a0Secrets of a Pet Whisperer: Stop Telling Your Animals to Misbehave<\/em>. The signing will be held during the Belmont Shore Stroll and Savor event, and dogs are encouraged to come with their humans! Steuben, a Long Beach resident, developed an easy communication technique to help pet owners, called \u201cTalking Pictures,\u201d that she describes in her how-to book. The communication approach involves saying the right words while picturing the right behavior in your mind. \u201cIf your cat or dog is acting up, you may be the problem. Most owners give their pets mixed messages that actually encourage bad behavior,\u201d Steuben says. Read about Terry Steuben on this Pet Post article<\/a>.<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cCats here, cats there, cats and kittens everywhere.\u201d Wanda G\u00e1g\u2019s Millions of Cats <\/em>isa beloved childhood literary staplethat could be considered a cautionary tale about pet overpopulation. It\u2019s about a man and his wife who were lonely and wanted a cat but couldn\u2019t decide among the millions and billions and trillions of cats, so they took them all home, becoming possibly the first pet hoarders in juvenile literature. But this article isn\u2019t about hoarders\u2014it\u2019s about kitten season, and it\u2019s arrived with a kindle of vengeance, however unbearably cute.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":68995,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","inline_featured_image":false,"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":"","_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_":"","_author_alias":"","cap-aim":"","cap-description":"","cap-display_name":"","cap-first_name":"","cap-jabber":"","cap-last_name":"","cap-linked_account":"","cap-newspack_employer":"","cap-newspack_job_title":"","cap-newspack_phone_number":"","cap-newspack_role":"","cap-user_email":"","cap-user_login":"","cap-website":"","cap-yahooim":"","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_email_html":"","newspack_email_type":"","newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_hide_page_title":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_show_share_buttons":"","newspack_sponsor_byline_prefix":"","newspack_sponsor_disclaimer_override":"","newspack_sponsor_flag_override":"","newspack_sponsor_only_direct":"","newspack_sponsor_url":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_show_updated_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[1663,35],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-3760","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pets","tag-abandonment","tag-pet-post","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3760","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3760"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3760\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/68995"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3760"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3760"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3760"},{"taxonomy":"newspack_spnsrs_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_spnsrs_tax?post=3760"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=3760"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"cat-chart\"](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/cat-chart.jpg\")
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Virtually Pets<\/h1>\n
![\"litter](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/litter-july-3-pets-of-the-week.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"white](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/white-and-siamese.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"suitcasekittens-1cat](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/suitcasekittens-1cat-paws.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"5665](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/5665_popcorn-and-pita_t.jpg\")
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0![\"5681](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/5681_pringle_diddy_dundee_t.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"josie](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/josie-the-dog.jpg\")
<\/p>\nPet Projects<\/h3>\n
![\"last](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/last-volunteer-event.jpg\")
<\/strong><\/p>\n
– Rabies $10
– DHLPP $15
– Bordetella $15
CAT VACCINES
– Rabies $10
– FVRCP $15
OTHER
– Frontline (3 pack) $35
– Deworming $15
– Nail Trim $10
– Microchip $10 (free for S&N patients)<\/p>\n