Happy New Year

Dear Friends, 

Wishing you and your family peace, love, and happiness in 2013. Thank you for supporting Alley Cats and Angels in providing a second chance for the forgotten felines.  Happy New Year!

And hopefully everyone is having much more fun than I am on this New Year's Eve.  I am doing my usual scrubbing of the two foster rooms at my house - it gets done every 5 days without fail (of course it gets spot cleaned and swept, etc. every day but every 5 days, the litter boxes get bleached, food/water dishes get disinfected, etc.).  It happened to fall on New Year's Eve and it needs to be done.  Besides, I'm getting lots of kitty kisses, who needs champagne and a fancy night out?  

Donations always accepted

Do you need to squeeze in one more tax deductible donation before midnight?

We're here to help with that. Click this button to go directly to our paypal donation page:

Alley Cats and Angels is an all-volunteer, non-profit, 501(c)(3), foster home-based cat rescue organization located in the Triangle, NC area. Alley Cats and Angels is dedicated to improving the lives of the stray, abandoned, and feral cats while reducing the overall number of homeless cats in the Triangle, NC area; we focus on the unwanted and forgotten felines.
Alley Cats and Angels is not your typical cat rescue – we have a broad range of programs that allows us to find the right solution for cats in various situations. In addition to our adoption program, we have a barn/garden cat program, a feral cat education and assistance/TNR program, and a low cost spay/neuter assistance program (“Alter an Alley Cat”).

Adoption Updates

Congratulations to Aurora, Dingo and Lanz on finding their forever homes this past weekend!

Last Adoption Events of the Year

We'll be out this weekend with the following kitties, and maybe even more!

ADOPTION EVENTS – Petsmart Knightdale

Saturday December 29


Sunday December 30

1:00 PM to 4:00 PM both days

Petsmart Knightdale

220 Hinton Oaks Boulevard

Knightdale, NC

Johnny when he's not shy

Johnny is a super sweet Tuxedo kitty with a unique widow's peak. He's a little reserved until he gets to know you and then he's all snuggly, chatty, and playful

Calendar still available!

As 2012 comes to a close and you prepare for the new year, don't forget about our 2013 fundraiser calendar.
It's got great photos of this year's most adorable cats and kittens, along with their stories and more information about what we do for them as a rescue.

The calendar is one of the many items available in our new online store. All purchases from our store go directly to support our rescue efforts.

Just imagine having this great picture of Hucklebuck on your wall for all of February!

New Support Partner!

Wow, we've got a great opportunity to earn additional support for the kitties from a great partner.
We've been accepted into the Rescue Referral program for Chewy.com
Chewy.com sells pet food and supplies at reasonable prices and orders made through our referral link earn support funds for our rescue efforts.
They have a variety of products for both cats and dogs, including flea/tick products and special veterinary diet foods.
So next time you are shopping for pet supplies, please give them a try to help support us too.

Adoption update

Congratulations to Julie, Kaylee, Ivy, Malcom, Maui, Diva, and Butters on their forever homes!

Especially to Diva, who has been with us for quite a long time.  She was adopted as a kitten and then returned and didn't do well at adoption events. Her foster mom said Diva loves her and she loves Diva so she decided to adopt her.

Loads of adoption opportunities this weekend!

Four events this weekend. Both days 1-4 at PetSmart Knightdale and PetSmart Morrisville. Look to the right for maps and buttons to add them to your google calendar!

Dingo has but one Christmas wish

You can meet Dingo at Petsmart Knightdale this week. She moved into the adoption center tonight and will be there through the weekend.  She'll be happy to greet you at the adoption events this weekend.

Alley Cats and Angels in the news

Alley Cats and Angels takes a multi-faceted approach to cat rescue and welfare. It starts with our feral cat education, assistance and TNR program where we assist with the TNR of feral cats and take in kittens and friendly cats from feral 

colonies and after socializing and vetting, they are put up for adoption through our adoption program. There is also our barn/garden cat program which relocates high risk feral cats to safe barns for a second chance at life (of course there is always a long wait list of cat for the barn cat program). And finally our Alter an Alley Cat spay/neuter assistance program provides low-cost spay/neuter for pet cats, stray cats, and feral cats whose owners/caregivers cannot afford the cost of spay/neuter.

Read more about our work in an article in the News and Observer: http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/12/14/2545361/group-is-an-angel-to-the-stray.html.

A very big thank you to all of our volunteers, donors, and supporters who make our work possible. 

December 15th Adoption Event

Just one this weekend, and only one day. This will also probably be our last event at PetSmart Capital Blvd for the foreseeable future (by our choice) so come on out this afternoon!

Amethyst

Unfortunately Amethyst's adoptive home didn't work out. Even though she and the dog got along very well, the dog wouldn't settle down, following her every time she moved, was wearing himself out (the dog is a senior German Shepard and only had 3 legs), and wasn't eating. The good news is how quickly Ame became buddies with the dog. 

If you know anyone looking for a kitten with an amazing personality who does very well with cats, please tell them about Amethyst. She's pretty awesome.

Penny Loafer's Christmas Wish

You can meet Penny Loafer at our adoption event this Saturday, December 16, 2012 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the Petsmart Capital Boulevard store (corner of Capital Boulevard and Millbrook Road in Raleigh).

Adoption Update

Late in posting (once again)...  Two kittens were adopted last weekend: Oahu and Amethyst.

I might be MIA on the blog some.  Marti will post adoption event info, but my job (pesky paying job) is crazy right now with many deadlines and many of our customers (healthcare and government) spending before their budgets run out so I'm busy, busy, busy writing proposals.  And of course doing things like working on the 2013 operating budget and other "fun" stuff like that.  

UPDATE- Oops, NOT on Sunday. I got the schedule wrong. 

Alley Cats and Angels Adoption Event
Saturday and Sunday
December 8th -- 9th
1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Petsmart Capital Boulevard
2800 Millbrook Road (corner of Capital Blvd. & Millbrook Rd.)
Raleigh, NC

A personal note on my feral kitty

I lost my Katie Lou on Sunday.  Katie Lou is one of the cats I freed from an animal control trap when I lived in Apex (which is a crime by the way - not living in Apex, but freeing a cat from an animal control trap). Katie Lou was very feral but came to live with me and when it was time to move from the townhouse, Princess Marie had to come catch her and put her in a carrier for the move. Slowly - v

ery slowly, as it took almost 6 years, Katie Lou eventually approached me and let me slightly touch her head for a couple of seconds once in a while. But I couldn't move fast or try to approach her because she would get scared and run. We had to retrap or corner Katie Lou in the house each year when it was time for her vaxes, but recently, I was finally able to put flea meds on her without issue (a big feat for a semi-feral cat).

Wee hours of Saturday night/Sunday morning, I was sitting on my bed and the bedroom light and the hall lights were on and Katie Lou was sitting about 10 feet away. I could only see a big red spot where there shouldn't have been one and it didn't look good. Tried for several hours to catch her without totally freaking her out but to no avail. Sunday morning Marie came over and we caught Katie Lou and she was seen by Dr. Heather, a mobile vet we know who was kind enough to see her on a Sunday.

Katie Lou had a mammary tumor that became necrotic and was put to sleep on Sunday. I am so sad because I wonder how long she's been hurting. And I feel like I failed her because because I couldn't get close to her to see that something was wrong - except for the few seconds here and there when she would come near me. My only consolation is that Katie Lou had seven good years with me that she would not have had if she had been taken by animal control. And she loved the cats at my house and would snuggle up with them and they would wash each other's heads. And she loved Temptation kitty treats so I always made sure I put extra treats under the bed when it was treat time (that's where she would hide).

Katie Lou, I love you.

And thank you Marie for dropping everything and helping me and Katie. I really appreciate it.

Ansel and Dali's letter to Santa

Ansel and Dali have been busy writing to Santa asking for a forever home as their only Christmas wish.  

Oodles of Orange! Tons of Tuxies!

Alley Cats and Angels Adoption Event
Petsmart Knightdale
220 Hinton Oaks Blvd.
Knightdale, NC

Saturday December 1st -- Sunday December 2 ^nd

1:00PM to 4:00 PM
Adoption fees start at $100 per cat/kitten or $160 for pair, or $50 for each adult member of our Lonely Hearts Club) and include

• Wellness check
• Spay or neuter surgery (Alley Cats and Angels has a 100% pre-adoption spay/neuter policy)
• FeLV/FIV/Heartworm combo test
• FVRCP+FeLV initial vaccination and booster
• Rabies vaccination
• Treated for intestinal parasites, fleas, and ear mites
• Microchipping (Alley Cats and Angels uses veterinarian recommended Home Again microchips and shelter paid enrollment in the Home Again recovery database)

Adopter must bring or purchase a carrier in which to take home adopted cat. All cats must be transported in a pet carrier.
Come meet:

Amethyst http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/24673834

Chess http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/24529828

Dinky http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/24545520

Dingo http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/23385979

Doodle http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/24545724

Dot http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/24547330

Johnny http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/24004176

King Tut http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/23808951

Lanai http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/24764751

Lazra http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/24547674

Maui http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/24764327

Mercury http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/23926182

Nefertiti http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/24434530

Oahu http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/24764734

PacMan http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/24547592

Parcheesi http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/24529818

Tekken http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/24547634

Alley Cats and Angels is an all-volunteer, non-profit, 501(c)(3), foster home-based cat rescue organization located in the Triangle, NC area. Alley Cats and Angels is dedicated to improving the lives of the stray, abandoned, and feral cats while reducing the overall number of homeless cats in the Triangle, NC area; we focus on the unwanted and forgotten felines.
Alley Cats and Angels is not your typical cat rescue -- we have a broad range of programs that allows us to find the right solution for cats in various situations. In addition to our adoption program, we have a barn/garden cat program, a feral cat education and assistance/TNR program, and a low cost spay/neuter assistance program ("Alter an Alley Cat").

PetSmart Knightdale this weekend!

Come on out to PetSmart Knightdale this weekend for our next adoption event. We missed you all over the Thanksgiving weekend, but both the volunteers and the kitties need a break once in a while!

Saturday and Sunday

December 1 and 2

1:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Petsmart Knightdale

220 Hinton Oaks Boulevard

Knightdale, NC

View Larger Map

Adoption Update

Six adoptions this weekend. The following cats/kittens were adopted: Inara, Audrey Hepburn, Homefry, Zoe, Poppy(!!!), and Kara. 

Congratulations to the cats and their new families. There are some extra happy kitties since they are home for the holidays. 

Videos from today's adoption event

Got a few short, cute videos at the Capital Blvd Adoption event today

 Kaylee, Kyle and Butters, Lanz, Amethyst, Tetris and Tu

 

Weekly Adoption Update

Five cats/kittens adopted this weekend. Sierra Mist, a cat with food allergies (no gluten, no dairy, single protein) was adopted by a couple who also had food allergies (sounds like a perfect match!). Zsa Zsa Gabor was also adopted, as well as Marsha Brady, Nala (by a previous adopter), and Pumbaa.  Congratulations to the cats and their new families.

And what a wonderful compliment to one of our foster homes, the Westcotts, that the family who adopted Nala had previously adopted one of the Wescott's fosters, specifically wanted to meet more kitties fostered by the Wescotts because their first adopted baby (formerly Dare) is so wonderful.  It was a bittersweet day for Kathryn Wescott today though as two of her fosters (Nala and Pumbaa) were adopted.  She loves all her fosters, but Pumbaa held an extra special place in her heart.  

Below is Zsa Zsa and her new mom.  I have more pictures, but for some reason they are rotated and they don't seem to stay fixed when I fix them (*sigh)*.  

Mistletoe Market Uodate

Mistletoe Market was a great success for the kitties. We made a little over $800.00 for the cats.

  

A big thank you to Maria Brown, Leah Day, Sandra Michutka, Rachel Toomire, Shalisha Alexander, and Brandy Illing for making or helping make the items sold today.

Another big thank you to everyone that worked the event: Jill (sales person extraordinaire), Maria, Joan, Brandy, and Coco (and Kris for her help with packing/loading).

Mistletoe Market

We've made it into the gift giving holiday season, and what better way to give a gift than to shop where your proceeds go to a charity?

Alley Cats and Angels has a booth at the

Wakefield High School's Mistletoe Market Arts and Crafts Fair

 View Larger Map

 We will have handmade cat toys with organic catnip - it drives the kitties wild! Be sure to ask about the new types that crinkle!! 

Dobby's testing out the kickers. In case you were wondering, Dobby IS available for adoption. 

Here are some pictures of the very latest and greatest catnip toys. Look at all those fun shapes! Can't you just imagine your kitty flipping and pouncing on these wonton toys all afternoon?

 

Catnip Wontons - with jingly bells!

 

 Flippy little catnip mice with rope tails

 

These classic squares are always a favorite, and one of our best bargains.

 

 

Here is the Havana Kicker - kitties just love to dig their teeth in one end and bunny kick the other end with their feet in the air. Entertainment for the whole family.

Squeeee! The new Fortune Cookie style toy is super cute.

 

Looking for economy or smaller toys for the little kittens? These 5 packs of catnip knots are pure organic catnip filling, no stuffing. Most cats like to just carry these around or roll on them for a catnippy good time.

 These fun Jellyfish toys have exciting ribbons for your cat to twirl and chase.

  

 Check out the exciting new Crinkle Kickers! They rustle enticingly when kitty pokes at them.

 

And just in time for icy cold weather, these fleece Purr Pad sleeping mats will keep kitty and your upholstery happy!

Here's another example of some of the cute things you could get at the Mistletoe Market. These cute hats were donated for our fundraiser booth.

Here's a cute cloche style in  autumn colors

 This bright cotton hat is child sized and would make a great holiday gift.

 

If you need a little more panache, this lacy crocheted beret might be just your style.

Come on out from 9am to 4pm, at Wakefield High School to stock up on holiday gifts for family AND pets, or a little something for yourself.

 

Adoptions, Adoptions, Adoptions!!

A great adoption weekend for the kitties with 12 adoptions total (although approximately half- were foster to adopts). The following were adopted: 

• Greta Garbo

• Lydia

• Judy (!)

• The Springsteen 3 together (Barefoot Girl, Ragamuffin Gunner, and Little Dynamite)

• Casserole and Liam together

• Agnes (adopted by the family who adopted her sister Edith last weekend)

• Margo

• Rock Hudson

• Kiwi(!)

Congratulations to the kitties and their new families. Below are a few of the pictures from this weekend.