Here, kitty, kitty: Coquitlam shelter has too many cats
Kelsey Breakey, who is looking to adopt her second cat, finds herself being wooed by Vespa at the Coquitlam Animal Shelter, which has 12 cats living in a trailer.
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Updated: November 19, 2009 3:08 PM
An especially busy summer cat season means the Coquitlam Animal Shelter has an overflow of older felines in need of good homes.
There are more than 50 adult cats at the shelter and while many are in the open adoption area in the main building, the overflow cats are in a separate trailer that isn’t warm enough for the approaching winter weather.
“The trailer is heated but we’d like to be able to close it in the winter because it’s not ideal, especially if the temperatures are as cold as last winter,” said Andrea McDonald, the city’s manager of bylaw and animal control services.
McDonald said there are about 12 to 15 more cats in the shelter now than in a typical fall/winter season, and she hopes to get the total number down to 30. Many are strays that can’t be reunited with their families because they lack any form of identification.
Just 12% of cats are returned to their owners while more than 80% of dogs are returned. “We do microchip clinics here regularly and if they have ID they always go back to their owners,” McDonald said.
Most of the cats looking for homes are between one and five years old but there are also some special-needs cats in need of adopting. Those are older or might have medication needs for diabetes or thyroid issues.
And while few can resist the cute and fluffy factor of kittens, McDonald said bringing home an adult cat can be rewarding. “You know their temperament and they’re not as likely to destroy your property,” she said with a laugh. “They have a calmer, more laid-back personality.”
Adopting from the shelter also means that vaccinations, sterilizations and identification are all included in the adoption fee.
Not sure if you’re ready to commit? Special needs cats can be fostered temporarily so that they can live in a caring family environment while waiting to be adopted. Vet costs for fostered cats are taken care of by the shelter.
• To see photos and write-ups about the cats and other pets at the Coquitlam Animal Shelter, visit www.coquitlam.ca.
spayne@tricitynews.com
You can have your pet’s pic taken with Santa at SPCA: see page A43
