Looking forward...our focus for 2009

In 2009, Alley Cats and Angels must focus on:

• Finding homes for the adoptable cats already in the program
• Building up our base of foster homes (all adoptable cats are in foster homes; therefore, the number of cats we can rescue is directly tied to the number of foster homes we have)
• Once the 501c3 comes in, getting into local pet stores such as PetSmart and PetCo so that we may hold adoption events
• Enlisting volunteers to help staff adoption events, sew catnip toys and cat beds to sell, help socialize cats and kittens, trapping experts to help provide TNR assistance as needed
• Continuing to reach out to all the local farms in the area regarding our barn cat program
• Fundraising for the cats: this includes holding fundraisers like yard sales, candy sales, etc., in addition to obtaining donations from individuals and local businesses. FYI, we will be having another yard sale in the spring, so if you have anything you’d like to donate, please email (info@alleycatsandangels.org) or call (919-303-3500) and we’ll be glad to pick it up and hold it for the sale.

We are a 100% volunteer organization with nominal administrative fees (the only administrative fees we have are the website, post office box, voicemail service, and very few office supplies) so approximately 98+% of all donations go directly to the cats and is spent on routine medical care. Routine medical care runs approximately $130 per cat and includes deworming, spay/neuter, rabies vaccination, FeLV/FIV testing, FVRCP+FeLV vaccinations (initial vaccine and boosters), flea preventative and treatment, and microchipping. Additional costs include food and litter and non-routine medical care if needed. Our adoption fees help offset, but do not cover, the cost of routine medical care.

In 2009, we anticipate the following "big-ticket" budget items:

• We need almost $1,000 to start our microchip program; this includes purchasing two microchip scanners and at least two boxes of microchips. We have done a lot of research and found the most economical, but effective, microchipping option.
• We estimate we will need at least $3,500 to cover basic routine medical for cats in the adoption program in 2009 and $750 to help cover basic routine medical for cats in the barn cat program (this does not include unplanned non-routine medical care which has historically run approximately $800 to $1,000 per year.
• In order to successfully continue our barn cat program, we need approximately $500 to buy additional large cages to be used during the relocation confinement period -- currently we do not have enough cages to both quarantine incoming cats and to relocate more than a few cats at one time. When we relocate barn cats, those cages are on loan to the barn home for approximately one month to be used during the confinement/acclimation period.
• Food and litter: although we were very blessed to have a lot of cat food and litter donated in 2008, these items will be large expenditures for 2009.