Carols and Cats. . .Tonight!

Come to the United Methodist Church TONIGHT and get your yule on for a good cause: Join BCC for Carols and Cats!

. . . and don't forget that BCC is commemorating World AIDS Day all December long by waiving adoption fees on all of our FIV-positive kitties. Learn more about FIV and our cats at our website. Hope to see you tonight at Carols and Cats!

Fill the Forester for Ferals this Saturday!

Come on over and help us Fill the Forester for Ferals at Premier Subaru this Saturday, December, 7! The Greater New Haven Cat Project and BCC are partnering for this ASPCA-sponsored event, which aims to raise food and funds for feral cats in our area, as well as draw local and statewide attention to the plight of homeless cats. Learn more about GNHCP and BCC's feral cat support programs and meet Donna Velardi, Certified Animal Massage Therapist and Animal Communicator, who will be giving 5-minute readings during the event. With your help and support, it will be a great day for cats in need!

Tips for a Purrfect Thanksgiving

Alice says "Happy Thanksgiving!"

With just a couple of weeks until Thanksgiving, we've been thinking about the many things for which we're grateful. On behalf of all of BCC's cats -- from our feral colonies to our foster kitties to the residents at our Feline Rescue and Adoption Center -- we'd like to thank friends old and new for donations of time, money, publicity, supplies, and all manner of other support. As for the wonderful people who've made room in their lives for one or more of our shelter cats, we'd bet they're expressing their gratitude every day!

As you get ready to share the day with friends and family, here are 5 tips to make Thanksgiving (or any holiday) equally wonderful for your cat.

1. Be mindful of where cats go once company arrives. Some would rather retreat than meet guests, while others might look for any opportunity to slip outside as guests come in. Make sure that indoor cats are in a safe spot during the festivities. If you have a cat who really hates company, set up a “safe room” where she can chill out (be sure to provide food, water, and litter).
   
   
2. Cats plus candles can spell disaster, so if you have a curious feline around the house, you may have more to worry about than simply keeping Kitty out of the entrees. Consider replacing your tabletop candles with LED candles for danger-free ambiance.
   
   
3. Did you know that onions are highly toxic to cats? For this reason, onion-laced gravies and side dishes should not be part of your furry friend's Thanksgiving meal. That doesn't mean he can't enjoy a bit of turkey -- just make sure it's plain. Sneak him a few cooked, chopped giblets, and he'll be in heaven!
   
   
4. Serve your cat before you serve your guests. This way, she can enjoy her meal in peace and have a post-turkey snooze while the "official" dinner is being served.
   
   
5. Give Kitty some quality time before and during the festivities. 15 minutes of playing and petting an hour or so before the guests arrive will be therapeutic for both of you. If he's in a safe room or not hiding under the bed, give him a little attention later on, too. Of course, you'll probably collapse together after everyone's gone, but those little extra visits beforehand will remind your pet that you're thankful for him, too!
   
   
   Stay tuned for updates on BCC's upcoming events as well as profiles of our Featured Cats :)
   
   

Coffee and . . . Cats!

Here we are, halfway through October and thoroughly enjoying the bright days and crisp nights that make autumn in Connecticut so spectacular. And speaking of the wonders of fall, what's better on those cool, star-filled evenings than a delicious cup of coffee from a master roaster? Several cups -- plus homemade treats to go with them! Add to the mix the shared wisdom of an animal massage therapist and communicator and the fact that the proceeds from this amazing event go to cat rescue, and you'll feel great about attending. . .

Get your tickets now, before they sell out!

Sister Act!

Once in a while, we encounter two cats who, while they might fare perfectly well in separate situations, really do seem happiest together. Athena and Esme are a perfect example of this, which is why we would love for them to go to the same forever home!

These beautiful sisters are about a year old. Athena is more white than black, while Esme is more black than white. You can certainly see a family resemblance, but their personalities are quite different. Esme is the outgoing one, while Athena is quite shy. They're both crazy about laser lights and other toys (if you're carrying one of their favorites, you won't get away without a vigorous play session), and they both love treats. The only thing they love more than treats is each other's company. They'll groom, play, and just chill out with one another; it's wonderful to watch even the simplest interactions between such a sweet and companionable pair.

Esme is fine with being picked up, while Athena isn't just yet. Esme is definitely more touchy-feely than her sibling; we don't know why that is, but they do seem to complement each other perfectly. . . maybe we should have called them Yin and Yang. :)

Athena and Esme are ready to settle into a loving home together. Helping them do just that will be one of the many rewards of sharing your life with this lovely duo. Please pay the girls a visit any Saturday between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., and find out if they might be the right match for you!

Spotlight on . . . Silver!

Today, we'd like to focus on a male cat who needs extra attention to help him shine. . .

Silver

Tall, grey, and handsome, Silver is a young adult tabby with energy to burn. Step one in making friends with Silver is to break out a feather on a stick or any other of his favorite toys. Step two is to give him his space until he feels comfortable with physical contact. He's not a cuddly type of guy right now, but the right kind of nurturing could change that.

Ideally, Silver's forever home would be with people who are on board with winning over a somewhat skittish character. Silver's macho personality and boundless energy mean he's better on his own (no cat roomies) with dynamic adult humans who love to play. One of the really fun things about Silver is how physical he is: two (or more!) half-hour workouts per day do wonders for him, but it's very hard for Silver to get that kind of focus at the shelter. We want so much for him to have that chance, so we're reaching out to anyone who “gets” a cat like Silver. He has so much to give to the right person. Could it be you?

Come on down for a play session with Silver on Saturday between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Adopt-a-thon is Today!

Branford Compassion Club's first annual Adopt-a-thon is finally here!!

Come on down and. . .

• Say hello to our dedicated volunteers and learn more about what we do
• Meet, pet, and play with the 80+ kitties up for adoption
• Find out how you can help BCC reach out to cats in need
• Enter to win a backpack full of school supplies
• Adopt the perfect cat -- or cats -- for you!

This is our first adoption marathon ever, but we hope to make it so successful that it becomes an annual event. That means more visitors, more fun, and, of course, more adoptions than on any typical day at the Feline Rescue and Adoption Center. To that end, BCC's usual $95 per cat adoption fee will be reduced to just $50 per cat during Adopt-a-thon, and if you adopt one kitten, you'll get another kitten free!

If you're ready to welcome the love of a cat or kitten into your life, this is the day to do it! Get a jump on the adoption process by downloading our form, or fill one in when you get here -- and don't hesitate to call us at 203-483-MEOW with any questions you may have.

Hope to see you today!

Say Hello to Zipper!

But first, a reminder: Only two days until Adopt-a-thon (Saturday, 9/21, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.)!! 


Adopt-a-thon is a purrr-fect opportunity to meet adoptable cats like Zipper, the next wonderful kitty in our Featured Cats Series:

As far as we're concerned, black cats are good luck in every way -- especially a sweetheart like Zipper. Silky and shiny, petite and elegant, this young female gets along beautifully with all of her friends in Room 2. Zipper could be adopted on her own, or she could join a household with another friendly cat. Zipper is a little shy, and not yet comfortable with extended holding or cuddling, but she loves playing with her favorite toy, being brushed (even on the tummy!) and having her fur fluffed. She may not let those things happen immediately, but a patient person (or people) committed to making friends over time in view of giving Zipper a forever home, would be rewarded with a playful, curious, and charming companion.

Come visit Zipper and enjoy the Adopt-a-thon festivities this Saturday!

Adopt-a-thon 2013 Is Coming!

Only two more weeks until the kickoff of BCC's Back-to-School Adopt-a-thon! On Saturday, September 21, we'll open our doors from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., during which time we hope to match up many of our more than 80 resident cats and kittens with forever homes.

Adopt-a-thon is a fantastic opportunity to:

• Say hello to our dedicated volunteers and learn more about what we do
• Meet, pet, and play with our kitties
• Find out how you can help BCC reach out to cats in need
• Enter to win a backpack full of school supplies
• Adopt the perfect cat -- or cats -- for you!

This is our first adoption marathon ever, but we hope to make it so successful that it becomes an annual event. That means more visitors, more fun, and, of course, more adoptions than on any typical day at BBC. To that end, BCC's usual $95 per cat adoption fee will be reduced to just $50 per cat during Adopt-a-thon, and if you adopt one kitten, you'll get another kitten free!

If you're ready to welcome the love of a cat or kitten into your life, come on in to BCC's Feline Rescue and Adoption Center (2037 Foxon Rd., North Branford, CT) on September 21. Get a jump on the adoption process by downloading our form, and don't hesitate to call us at 203-483-MEOW with any questions you may have.

Hope to see you there!

September's Cat of the Month: Pinky!

Say hello to Pinky, BCC's Cat of the Month for September!

When I wake up, you can rub my belly.

Have you ever known a cat who loves (let alone likes) belly rubs? If you've spent time around just about any feline, your answer is probably a resounding “no.” Well, 5 year-old Pinky is one big, beautiful exception to that rule. Other loves: laser chasing, cuddling, and just being with her favorite humans.

Pinky was left at BCC's front door early one morning with a note saying her people were moving. Hard to believe that someone would leave behind such a sweet kitty, but Pinky isn't the type to hold a grudge. This big girl is ready to open her heart to a new family -- one that can include kids, but not other cats. Just be prepared to play, play, play. . . this lady needs some exercise.

As Cat of the Month, Pinky has an adoption fee of only $35. So if you're ready to add an armful (OK, make that two arms full -- did we mention she's rather large?) of affection to your home and your life, come and pay Pinky a visit. She can't wait to meet you!

Hi!

Please don't forget to come and see me Saturdays between 11 and 3!

"Fall" into Volunteering!

Wake us up when the new volunteers get here!

How was your summer? We hope it was great! Here at BCC, the dog days brought plenty of cats and kittens in need of loving homes. The season also meant greater availability from our volunteers, which gave us solid proof that more hours open to the public equal more adoptions.

As you may already know, our regular “open-to-the-public” hours are Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Well, for three weeks over the summer -- thanks to a few of our wonderful volunteers -- we were able to open Wednesday evenings and Sunday afternoons as well. This meant that the cats were available to be petted, played with, and generally befriended by prospective adopters, many of whom ended up providing a cat (or cats) with forever homes. As a matter of fact, during BCC's extra summer hours, the adoption rate increased by approximately 6 cats per week -- that's 18 more adoptions than during a typical week of Saturday-only hours! Unadopted cats also benefit, since meeting and playing with new people makes them better candidates next time around.

While autumn brings with it holidays and busier schedules, it also heralds an opportunity for change and growth. Would you be willing to devote a bit of your spare time to help cats in need? Our goal is to be able to open to the public for at least one additional day or evening per week, but we'll need additional team members to do it! Volunteers pitch in with tasks including facility cleanup, feeding and health maintenance, paperwork, and socialization (in the form of playing, petting and anything else the kitties need to become more adoptable). There's something for any compassionate adult who has a little time to commit and a lot of love to give.

Ready to learn more about how you can make a difference? Just drop by Branford Compassion Club (2030 Foxon Rd., North Branford) any Saturday between 11 and 3 to meet our cats and volunteers. You'll get a sense of what we do, how we do it, and whether it's something you'd like to do, too. Visit our Facebook page anytime to download an application and check out the latest photos of our gorgeous cats and kittens.

We hope to see you soon!

In the Spotlight. . .

Over the next week or so, we'll be publishing a series of posts starring some very special cats who have been with us for awhile, but have yet to find their forever homes. All of these ladies and gents are spayed/neutered, house trained, and up to date with routine shots. Could you be the right match for Suzy, Zipper, Sassy, LeeLee, Murphy, or Sluggy? Stay tuned to find out!

Today's featured kitty is. . .

Suzy!

Suzy is a sweet, shy two-year-old tortoiseshell shorthair who knows the value of a good blanket, both for cuddling and for hiding under. She may take refuge there when meeting a new person, but if you give her a chance (and by “a chance,” we mean a significant amount of one-on-one time at the shelter and then in your home), you'll discover a kitty who, while something of a loner, likes to play with lasers, feathers, and crinkly toys. Suzy is a candidate for placement in a low-key home (no kids, please) where she's the only cat or where she's joining another friendly cat. The most important thing for her is an owner who is gentle, soft-spoken, and patient enough to appreciate the baby steps forward that careful nurturing will bring.

Suzy may have some untapped potential for socialization or she may be as social now as she'll ever be. We can't be sure, but we do know that she needs a strong, established comfort zone in order to feel safe enough venture out of her shell. Suzy's FIV-positive status means that she needs to stay indoors. Although her immune system isn't as strong as that of a cat without FIV, she can and does safely co-exist with them. FIV is only transmitted among cats. It does not affect humans, and is only transmitted via deep bites or from mama cat to kitten (which is how Suzy got it). Learn more about FIV here .

Suzy has been waiting and hoping to experience the unconditional love and security of a true forever home, but first she has to make friends with plenty of potential candidates! Get acquainted with Suzy on Saturdays between 11:00 and 3:00.