gray-striped cat with Siamese markings and blue eyes lies on light-brown floor with back legs splayed and looks at camera.
Lubbs was little when originally found by some nice people. Neighbors heard her crying in a nearby barn. She had wandered in and was left behind by her mom. She cried for three days until she was found. She had a severe upper-respiratory infection. The woman who owned the barn was in her late 80s and not able to care for her, so the neighbors nursed her back to health.

The Scratching Post’s next columns will be devoted to kitten season, which suggests a torrential downpour of cuteness. Unless you’re an incorrigible ailurophobe, it’s unarguable that kittens are adorable. The thing is, when warmer weather arrives, unaltered cats have an extended spring break in the Miami sense and give birth to countless litters that can shame the most prolific of rabbits. Here in California, the season begins in late February and extends through October. Many of the ones born in the outdoors die from illness, predators or other threatening conditions, and the ones who survive grow up wild or are snatched up and brought to shelters by well-meaning people who think that the mother has abandoned them. In actuality, Mom is likely hunting down dinner, and shelters and rescues can be overwhelmed and not taking any more in. (Note: Please wait for Mom to come back. If you can, trap the whole and bring the whole kitten caboodle in to be fixed. More about that in future columns.)

Those born indoors—for Pete’s sake, tell the cats’ owners about organizations like Fix Long Beach in Long Beach and SNP/LA in San Pedro, and get them fixed. Even the most infatuated cat person will say that more cats we need like a hole in the sofa.

In mid-March, cat rescuer Roni Naccarato already had seven mother cats with litters and one lone kitten. Naccarato, the founder of Zazzy Cats Kitty Rescue, said that other rescues are seeing sudden intake of felines. Adoption is always the end goal of rescues, and it can be a challenge to get everyone a home.

This year, Zazzy Cats has been adopted itself by North Shore Animal League for its Tour for Life 2021. North Shore Animal League bills itself as “the world’s largest no-kill rescue and adoption organization.” Their nonprofit’s objectives include education to reduce cruelty to animals, raising animal-welfare standards, rescuing animals from disasters and unhealthy situations, eliminating puppy mills and, of course, finding pets forever, loving homes.

“They are great to be in partnership with,” Naccarato said. “They have given us great opportunities to showcase our rescue and to be a part of the bigger picture of saving as many lives as we can. It’s been a wonderful experience, and the support given has been amazing.”

Tour for Life is a national cooperative lifesaving event for pets. This year, it runs from March 22 through March 28, so Zazzy will continue to reap benefits for the rest of the week. They include giveaways provided by Purina, profiling the pets online, and full payment of adoption fees for all cats and kittens. That’s a benefit for adopters as well, although they’ll still be subject to all conditions on the adoption agreement.

Most important, Zazzy Cats’ cats benefit from all the exposure and other goodies. To apply for adoption of any of these four worthy candidates or their other Zazzies, complete this form online, or download it and email it to [email protected] or [email protected].

Virtually Pets

white cat with black points on head, a pink nose, and the left ear tipped sits on tan rug in front of brown wall and looks at camera
Angel, 1 ½ years old, was found by his foster mom living in an alley hanging with other cats near her house. Sadly, some of the people in the area were trying to poison the cats, but they made it out alive and got fixed. Originally, it was thought Angel was feral but he turned out to be the biggest love bug and is the sweetest of the cats. He loves to get your attention. He really wants you to just pet him, and he rolls around looking cute ’til you do! He is great with other cats and with children.

 

cat with white body and maks and dark gray ears, "sideburns," back and tail sits on rug and looks toward right.

Painter is also 1 ½ years old. He got his name because his foster mom thinks his tail looks like it were dipped in paint. He was trapped as a young kitty while living in a restaurant parking lot. One of the diners had noticed him begging for food and asked online for help. His foster mom trapped him and fell in love with him. He has been learning to live in her home with other cats and a couple of D-O-G-S! He’s doing great. However, he’d likely do best in a quiet home as an only pet with an adult who has experience with cats. He’s playful, curious and affectionate—on his terms, of course.

gray-striped cat with Siamese markings and blue eyes lies on light-brown floor with back legs splayed and looks at camera.
Lubbs was little when originally found by some nice people. Neighbors heard her crying in a nearby barn. She had wandered in and was left behind by her mom. She cried for three days until she was found. She had a severe upper-respiratory infection. The woman who owned the barn was in her late 80s and not able to care for her, so the neighbors nursed her back to health.

 

sealpoint Siamese lies on light-brown wooden floor and stares at camera
Unfortunately, Lubbs had not been fixed and, as a result, gave birth to sweet Miracle. The people that were caring for them asked Zazzy Cats for help getting both of them fully vetted and into loving homes. Both mom and daughter are extremely friendly and very affectionate. They would be happy to be in homes of their very own and don’t need to be adopted as a pair.

Just fur fun and fur-ther education

Jackson Galaxy’s Cat Camp: Saturday, April 10, 10 a.m., online event, register here

Following two successful virtual events in 2020, Jackson Galaxy’s Cat Camp, the acclaimed event for animal enthusiasts of all stripes, patches and solid colors is back for a springtime celebration to engage and inspire cat lovers around the world, thanks to a generous investment by Petco Foundation. Reinvented as a virtual event due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cat Camp’s mission is to educate, entertain and empower by providing the right tools to every individual interested in helping kitties. It’s a lot of fun! Camp activities will feature interactive content, both entertaining and educational, that includes harness and clicker training—including how to teach cats to high-five, caring for kittens, fundraising ideas, how to best serve community cats and so much more, followed by an “After Pawty” full of cat-themed activities, games and prizes. Meet “My Cat from Hell’s” Jackson Galaxy along with Christina Ha, co-owner of NYC’s first Cat Café, Meow Parlour and its affiliates; and Hannah Shaw (aka “Kitten Lady”), who will focus on inspiring attendees to “level up” their skills on their journey to helping cats in the home and the community.

Help wanted, help given

Get lucky this month with a lower-cost Fix Long Beach spay or neuter!

It’s St. Paddypaws day all March! The first 300 to email will get pot o’gold in the form of a special discount rate because we love your pets! Book online at Fix Long Beach’s website with the code on the flyer, and mention the flyer in the comments section!

Feline Good Social Club needs willing subjects for its bewhiskered nobility

Feline Good Social Club has opened and is running and knocking things off shelves. The cat curators would love some volunteers for their furry residents. Want to be part of a kowtowing staff to cats because everyone knows that cats expect it? Email [email protected].

Fix Long Beach low-cost pet-services clinic: Wednesday–Saturday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., 1749 Magnolia Ave., Long Beach, services available by appointment at www.fixlongbeachpets.com.

Fix Long Beach has reopened and is taking appointments for low-cost spay/neuter, dental, vaccines and other vet needs for cats and dogs. Visit their webpage or Facebook page for details.

DIY Kitten Care Kits available free at Long Beach Animal Care Services

Kitten season has begun, and soon, shelters and rescues will be scrambling to save their lives, get them fixed, get them adopted. It isn’t unusual to find nests of young, seemingly abandoned kittens during kitten season. It is a natural reaction to want to help, to save them. If you are interested in obtaining a Kitten Care Kit made possible by Helen Sanders CatPAWS, please email [email protected].

Spay/neuter vouchers available at shelter

Long Beach Animal Care Services has spay/neuter vouchers available. They’ll take a healthy nip out of the cost of a procedure. Residents of any of the five cities served by the shelter can telephone the general number at 562-570–7387 to request a voucher.

 Spay/neuter appointments are available at SNP/LA

The Spay/Neuter Project of Los Angeles (SNP/LA) is back in business for free and low-cost spay/neuter services, and they’re extending the hours of their vaccination clinics. The San Pedro clinic, located at 957 N. Gaffey St., will give shots every third Thursday between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. Call 310-574–5555 to see if you qualify for services.

If you can see the bottom of the kibble bag

Pets of the Homeless’s home page gives a self-description as the only organization focusing only on providing food and care for pets belonging to homeless people. Businesses and other organizations across the country receive in-kind donations of food and other needs that the dogs and cats’ human families can pick up at outreach locations. The following Long Beach businesses will accept your donations:

Trendi Pawz, 3726 E. Seventh St., Long Beach.

Belmont Heights Animal Hospital, 255 Redondo Ave., Long Beach.

Paw Shoppe Pet Center, Inc., 6416 E. Spring St., Long Beach.

Food and supplies are available at Beacon for Him Ministries, 1535 Gundry Ave. Long Beach, Mondays from 9 a.m. to noon and Saturdays from noon to 3 p.m.; and at Christian Outreach in Action, 515 E. Third St., Long Beach, Thursday from 9 to 11 a.m. Donations will be gratefully accepted at these locations as well.

Adopt, adopt, adopt

two cats with closed eyes lie on dark bedspread. One cat is white with brown tabby patches; the other is orange tabby with white mask, chest and legs

 

CATastic adoption opportunity!

Adopters who march forth and take home the first 10 cats from The Little Lion Foundation throughout the actual month of March will pay no adoption fee! The generous volunteers at Friends of Long Beach Animals will pick up the tab—all you have to do is pick up the cat! Click Little Lion’s link to see the cats waiting to go home.

March is a great time to adopt a cat or kitten from our friends at The Little Lion Foundation! FOLBA will pay the adoption fees for you for the first 10 cats adopted in March. What are you waiting for?

Pet Food Express Cat Adoption Center: weekdays and Saturday 10 a.m.–8 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Pet Food Express, 4220 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach, adoption fees apply.

This adoption center is a much-needed satellite operation of Long Beach Animal Care Services. Julie and her team pull adoptable cats—”adoptable,” to these guys, means any cat in a shelter kennel! The team socializes the kitties until they’re adopted, which takes less time than you could imagine!

 Helen Sanders CatPAWS adoption center: viewable daily during store hours, PetSmart, 12341 Seal Beach Blvd., Seal Beach, adoption fees apply.

Window-shopping’s a neat pastime and likely has become more common during the pandemic. Helen Sanders CatPAWS has applied window-shopping to cat adoption; you can peer at several of the fine felines through the windows of the PetSmart adoption center in Seal Beach. Sadly, no ear scratching or chin rubs at this time, but volunteers can answer questions and provide you with adoption information! Be sure to wear a mask. You can find adoption applications and all the kitties here.

Links to loveables

The following pet-related businesses regularly feature cat, dog and rabbit adoptions, but as of now, adoptions are mainly by appointment. Click on the links for each rescue in case of updates or changes. These organizations operate through donations and grants, and anything you can give would be welcome. Please suggest any Long Beach-area rescues to add to the list.