Rescue Work of Theresa Foley's Venice Cat Coalition

Meet Willow, my newly adopted rescue kitten. When the time came to adopt a new kitten, I met with Theresa Foley, the director of the Venice Cat Coalition, to discuss my concern about how another cat in the family would be received by Diana, my 4-year old orange tabby.

Diana had been rescued by the Venice Cat Coalition as a little kitten with a broken tail, left to fend for herself outdoors. She is still a little timid and fearful, so I wanted to be sure whichever new little kitten joined our family, it would not intimidate her further.

Theresa suggested I do a long-term foster to give us all time to see if the kitten I selected was a good fit in our home. I picked Willow, a female tabby with beautiful spotted markings.

Within a week it was clear to me that things were going well between the two cats. Willow has a brave heart and playful spirit. She enrolls Diana in games from time to time, yet respects her space and finds her own. After a few months I am certain she is a perfect addition to our family. I believe Diana agrees. - Raphaella Vaisseau

Venice Cat Coalition Continues Good Work

Three poses by one of the five little kittens who were at death's door a few weeks back. They were rescued by the Venice Cat Coalition and are being nurtured back to feeling pretty darn good under Theresa's care. Soon they will be all well and can go to foster homes where they will grow and play until they are ready for adoption. Click here to make a donation to support this important work.
-Raphaella Vaisseau

Cat Faerie Beds (and a lot of other purr-fect things) by catfaeries.com

Diana tells me she sure would like one of the soft and yummy cat faerie beds (in sage please) from catfaeries.com. You'll have to click on this link to see the pictures.

While you're browsing their site, be sure to see their cat toys, sign up for their mailing list, and read everything. Then check out (& like) their facebook page.

It's nice to know so many people are out there speaking for the cats. I appreciate every one of you (them). Oh, and by the way, here's a link to the VCC's Sarasota Kitten Club facebook page.

Diana - of Venice Cat Coalition T-Shirt fame

Here's a current photo of Diana, Raphaella's beautiful orange tabby cat, who was the model for the Venice Cat Coalition logo and T-shirts. She was first a VCC rescue, and two years later, she's growing up fine and healthy here in Venice.

Three KWCS Kittens currently being fostered by Raphaella in Venice, FL

My three little foster kittens: Abbey Road, Zeke, and Tony. There were actually eight in this litter, and they are all on their way to finding their families through various foster families. I'm blessed to have these three here with me. Mama cat went with three of them up to Cat Depot where I know Marilyn and her crew will take good care of them. Cat Depot is hosting Pawpurr's Ball, their annual fundraiser on Saturday, November 13th at G. WIIZ - The Science Museum, 1001 Blvd of the Arts, Sarasota from 6:30 - 11pm. To see all the kittens the Key West Cat Society / Venice Cat Coalition currently has up for adoption, go to petfinder.com.

The Paw Project - Support California Bill AB 2743 to prohibit California Landlords from Requiring Tenants Declaw their Cats or Devocalize Dogs

Do you know animal lovers in California? Ask them to ...
** PLEASE SUPPORT AB 2743 **
THIS IMPORTANT BILL WILL PROHIBIT CALIFORNIA LANDLORDS FROM REQUIRING TENANTS DECLAW THEIR CATS
OR DEVOCALIZE (DEBARK) THEIR DOGS
This bill has passed in the California Assembly and Senate.
Click here to learn how and where to send letters »
Please write to the Governor and urge him to sign AB 2743 into law.
Read more at The Paw Project website. Declawing is now illegal in EIGHT California cities. Click here for Animal Welfare Resources, including a list of vets in the US and Canada who REFUSE to declaw. "Like" The Paw Project on Facebook. Follow them on twitter. Be informed. Do not declaw! Help change the world for our beloved pets and all of the animals. One person can make a difference.

My love for the kittens

Hello. My name is Terry and I am a foster for the Venice Cat Coalition. I am proud to be associated with them because they do not give up on any cat; every cat that comes to them, stays with them until they are adopted. I have been fostering for about two months now and I LOVE it! I have always been an animal lover and have always had pets growing up. Fostering is different than owning a pet, but I still get to play with and love the animal. I believe that an animal will make a much better pet after its been in a foster home, rather than stuck in a cage at a shelter. The kittens with us get a lot of interaction and socialization while in a foster home. When a kitten I am going to foster first comes to me and I bring it to my home, it is usually scared and does not have much trust in me or my family. By the time they are adopted, they trust people and other animals and are much happier cats. When the kitten first comes to my home, I give it some space and time to adjust to the sounds and things going on in the house. I will lay on the floor besides it and just talk softly to him or her. Slowly, the kitten will approach me and I softly pet it. In that instant, I can see the kitten has let its guard down. I can sense that the kitten wants love and attention. So I hold the kitten close to me and just sit there petting and loving on it. I look into the kittens eyes and see that I earned some trust from it. That is a great feeling for me. The kitten is now relaxed and now it's time to play! I love seeing a kittens eyes light up when it sees something wiggling to play with. My daughter is 5 years old and is also an animal lover. She spends a lot of time with the kittens too and is very good with them. She helps them to be comfortable with children. She knows that we are just taking care of the kittens until someone adopts them, and the experience of her being a part of this is a good life lesson for her. We do this for the kittens, not for ourselves, and we will not get anything in return other than happy memories and good feelings. Some days I will be in a down mood or upset about something, then I go to the kittens and sit on the floor with them. Whether I am petting them or playing with them, I feel better and am happy. The kittens are healers to my mood. They are gifts from God and I am very thankful that they are in my life. I am happy to have the kittens safe with me, but I am also sad for them for not having a home of their own. Everyday I talk to people and tell them about the kittens in hopes that someone will want to adopt one. When someone does want to adopt a kitten I am so excited! They come to pick the kitten up and, I'll be honest, a part of me is sad to see them go. During the time they are with me, a bond between us is created. But, the sadness I feel for me is not as strong as the happiness I feel for the kitten. When the kitten first comes to me, it is homeless. I devote everything I can to find it a home. Then, when that finally happens and I see the kitten in its pet carrier ready to finally go to its very own home, the circle is complete. Success! My job as a foster is not to give the kittens my home and stay with me forever (even though I would love to keep them all). My job is to open my home to them and make sure the kitten is a happy and healthy kitty. It is also my job to do everything I can to help the kitten have a home and an owner to stay with forever. That is my goal...my mission...my passion. When the goal is reached and the kitten goes home, I feel an indescribable feeling through out my entire being. Then I start again with another kitten. One kitten at a time and each one brings so much joy into my life while they are with me. I feel so much love for the kittens...