4 paws up for our FIRST BLOG POST!

Our staff members and foster parents are incredibly passionate and dedicated. I snapped this photo of them encouraging a bottle-fed kitten who was trying to use the litter pan for the first time. Cheers all around for the first time he used the 'potty'!

Well here we are...the first blog post from Cape Ann Animal Aid. As we're located at 4 Paws Lane in Gloucester, MA, this is our '4 Paws Blog' and we're glad you're here. This is our chance to bring you into the family, show you around our 'house' and pour you a cup of tea (hope you don't mind a dog or cat hair -- or two!). We look forward to sharing with you and hope you'll enjoy the content and special material.

Potty training kittens...?

If you've been following our Facebook page, you've likely heard about the over 40 kittens in our care. We asked for your help, in the form of donations of supplies, gift cards, and monetary gifts. You did not disappoint! The donations are still coming in and I can tell you, every last bit is being put to fast use.

During this time, we've heard many questions like: Are they all here in our shelter? When will they be available for adoption? Where did they all come from?

Here's a quick answer for each question...

Are all of the kittens here in our shelter?
All of the bottle-fed kittens are in foster care with volunteers or staff members. That's right, our dedicated staff here at Cape Ann Animal Aid is so invested that many of them pull double-duty. They care for shelter animals all day and take home bottle-fed babies at night! During the day, you might find some young kittens spending time in our office where they get lots of supervision and love.

For all foster families, this work is a labor of love. It may be hard to bottle feed a kitten at 3am but it is incredibly rewarding to know that you are providing essential care and compassion to help that kitten thrive. (See photo at left for a cute kitten potty training moment caught on camera!)

When will the kittens be available for adoption?
Kittens won't be available for adoption until they are at least 8 weeks old and have been spayed/neutered. Many of the kittens in our care will be with us for at least another month. This is another reason why we need so many supplies and donations are used up quickly! Keep an eye on our adoption page to see kittens available for adoption.

Cages lined up for a trip to the vet this morning. These kittens will be getting spayed/neutered -- the last step before being posted for adoption!

Where did the kittens come from?
Most of the bottle-fed kittens and pregnant or nursing mama cats we take in are from the local area and surrounding shelters/rescue groups. Many of the kittens currently in our care were transferred in through the MSPCA in Jamaica Plain, Boston. But, if you visited our shelter on a different week, you might meet older kittens transported in from southern US rescue groups. These kittens are usually rescued from certain euthanasia in high-kill shelters in the south. Bottom line, when we have space in our shelter, we're filling it up as fast as we can with animals in need.

For us, taking in orphaned kittens or caring for pregnant or nursing mama cats, is like second-nature. Whether providing nourishment, loving patience, or even encouragement while 'potty training' -- it's part of our mission to care for animals in need and help them find their forever homes. Your support makes it possible. Thank you!

Thanks for reading our very first blog post! Do you have a question about kitten care that wasn't answered? Let us know in the comments!

Rebecca Baylies
Director of Development and Communications