September 4, 2024 • 19 mins
Aired September 1, 2024: In this podcast, Lisa Foxx talks to Sandra Harrison, the Executive Director of Kitten Rescue. They discussed how the organization helps save cats and kittens and how going to their annual fundraiser can help.
Kitten Rescue was founded in the spring of '97 and has grown to be one of the largest and most respected animal welfare groups in Los Angeles. They are a non-profit, volunteer-run organization devoted to finding loving new homes for unwanted, homeless cats and kittens. Their volunteers help place over 1,000 cats and kittens into homes every year and are ALWAYS in need of more volunteers, foster parent volunteers and of course donations. Their annual Fur Ball at the Skirball Gala is Saturday 9/8. The event is hosted by TV/Radio personality Mark Thompson...please grab a ticket and join! https://kittenrescue.org/
Kitten Rescue was founded in the spring of '97 and has grown to be one of the largest and most respected animal welfare groups in Los Angeles. They are a non-profit, volunteer-run organization devoted to finding loving new homes for unwanted, homeless cats and kittens. Their volunteers help place over 1,000 cats and kittens into homes every year and are ALWAYS in need of more volunteers, foster parent volunteers and of course donations. Their annual Fur Ball at the Skirball Gala is Saturday 9/8. The event is hosted by TV/Radio personality Mark Thompson...please grab a ticket and join! https://kittenrescue.org/
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Please fox here. Hi, this is our public affairs show.
It's the iHeart So Cow Show, a much cuter, fancier name.
And yes, I say that because I thought of it myself.
So hope you're enjoying a nice long Labor Day holiday
weekend one.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Week from today. We'd love to see you if you're
an animal lover like yours.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
Truly, I know there's lots of animal lovers who listen
to the show. Animal lovers, dogs, cats, iguanas, turtles, birds,
what you got. Our friends at Kitten Rescue are having
their annual fur Ball It's the best name ever for
a charity men. By the way, they're fur Ball at
the Skirball Offs of Pulvida next Saturday.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
They're a big annual gala fundraiser. It's a biggie.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
And there are so many cats, stray cats, feral cats,
regular cats, cats that need you to help pay to
get them fixed, to take them in and to love
them and make them one of your besties, part of
your family. And countless kittens from so many litters. Of course,
it's kitten season. It's a busy time, lots of litters
(00:57):
of kittens being born, literally a non stop and so
many local organizations are so busy trying to take care
of all these little critters.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
And do the right thing, including kit and Rescue.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
They're non profit, volunteer based organization devoted to finding loving
homes for unwanted homeless cats and kittens. They rescue them
from the streets of LA and from being euthanized in
local city shelters. Since their start back in the late nineties,
they've gone into one of the largest, most well respected
animal welfare groups in Los Angeles and they need or
(01:29):
helped to help with the fostering, volunteering, and of course
raising funds. Kittenscue dot org is their website for all
the info and non to tell us more is their
executive director, Sandra Harrison.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
Hi. Sandra, Hi, Lisa, thanks so much for having me.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Happy car days.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Always fun.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Thank you, even though it's Sunday. I know, Okay, so
lots to dive into.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
But let's start with the fact that it's kitten season
and talk about what that means.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
I just know it means you're really, really, really, really
even more busy than usual trying to help these animals.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Oh, kitten season is a long season here in Los
Angeles because of our mild climate, but they really start
to flood into the shelters and start to see them
on the streets in like spring, and then it just
keeps going through summer until through fall. Right now, we're
like in the midst of it. It's like the worst
(02:23):
time right now because it's the summer. People are going
on vacation. All these kittens need to be fostered, and
they need homes, and everybody's on vacation. So we're kind
of being inundated trying to solve this problem here getting
the kittens while also trying to sterilize cats on the streets.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
Yeah, because essentially, right, that's what you're I mean, like
what happens though this time you're like your phone is
ringing like crazy, or you're just handling an influx of
if people reaching out to you for help, Like we.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Just found a litter of cats.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
I always see the posts on the next door, on
next door, and I'll see them on Facebook and Instagram.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
People just finding litters of kittens pretty.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
Much everywhere, in a back alley, in a bush, under
the high under the deck. Right, like you said, the
hot weather and the cat's kind of what they all
go and heat and they all just kind of go
crazy and just start making babies because a lot of
them out there are not fixed.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Yeah they're not.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
And if they're not.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
Fixed, it's a lot more bodies to feed, a lot
more mouths to feed.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
That's right, So important to spand neuter these community cats
and for these serialize their own cats as well.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
On the average, I mean, how big are some of
these litters?
Speaker 1 (03:23):
I mean it's always multiple, So what is it like,
are we talking four to six or what's the regular
litter for a cat?
Speaker 3 (03:30):
Yeah, four to six is about that's about average. But
we've seen some litters of eight this year. And then
we've seen just sometimes these little singletons that come into
the shelter that I don't know if mom has dropped
them or abandoned them because they're not you know, up
to pars and uh it went down the streets. We
see anything, you know, usually in a home, though, if
a cat's having a litter of kittens, it's like five
(03:51):
or six kittens.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Got it? Okay? So are people calling the kitten rescue?
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Ory're poping online at kittenrescue dot org asking you for help.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Oh yeah, emails every day, phone calls asking for help
getting tagged on everything.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
Actually sure, and at the same.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
Time exactly, and at the same time we are partner.
We partner with l Animal Services, so we're on like
a message board with all six shelters, and when they
have kittens that need out because they're not sustainable in
the shelter, they're reaching out to us as well so
that we can because those kittens, if they're not rescued
by end of day, they're euthanized. So we have to
jump to that.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Too, because when you rescue kittens, I mean, they have
to be bottle fed.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
If the mother isn't in the situation.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
Right right exactly, they need to be bottle fed. If
they're like under four or five weeks old, they're still
dependent on mom. The shelter they don't have they can't
bottle feed them every two three four hours because they're
caring for so many animals they're right, Yeah, it's better
for if they go and to volunteer foster homes. It's
better for the animals and it's better for the shelter
(04:54):
system too.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
So listen, if you are listening to this program right
now and you find a cat you know of a cat,
or or a cab, it hat, a litter in the
back alley or anywhere in your neighborhood, or you see
a post on social these people are.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Like, oh my gosh, these cats are going to be
put down, or I found these cats. I don't know
what to do.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
We can reach out to the very very busy kitt
and Rescue and Sandra and her team at kit and Rescue,
because at least you're going to be able to guide
us or help us. You know, we want to do
as animal lovers, we want to do the right thing.
And if we're not able to take them in our
own home, if we're not able to do it on
our own, or maybe I've got five dogs, maybe I'm
not a suitable home to take in kittens. But you
(05:29):
kitt and Rescue, you can help with that.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Yeah, it's really I mean, the best thing is if
you do find cat and kittens or kittens, if you
can foster them, because that is the most valuable thing
we have is space and we're out of it. So
there are more kittens in the world than we have space,
or even all the other rescue groups have space to take.
(05:51):
So sure, we really encourage people to and and we'll
give you the support, but to join our community foster
program or we will give all the supports to keep
the animals healthy, to get them well, and to get
them adoption ready and to get them adopted. So that's
ideal is if you find them, if you can actually
take them into your own home and we can assist
that way. Like I said, every group is always running
(06:14):
a full capacity during this time of year.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
You've got your headquarters getting rescue headquarters in Atwater Village.
That's a beautiful home with a lot of kitty cats
that are pretty much set up there. And then do
you still have the room where you have like a
nursery room where you would just bottle feed kittens NonStop
who were incoming before you could help foster them out.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
That we did have. Our nursery was at twenty four
hour nursery before COVID, and when COVID happened, we're like, oh, well,
we don't know what if everybody gets sick and nobody
can feed the kittens. So we went back to being
foster based for our neonate kittens for kittens that are
under like four or five weeks old. So our nursery
now in takes like four to eight week old kittens
(06:52):
that can actually eat on their own, but they still
need that extra time before they can get adopted, and
hopefully from there they'll actually be transferred to home so
we can take more at risk kittens there. So that's
what happens up in the front house, which used to
be the nursery, and then you've been at the back.
The back is like a free roaming facility we have.
(07:14):
We have adult cats and teenage cats, and a lot
of some of them are special needs old cats or
have medical problems which may spend their entire lives with us,
and some of them are adoptable cats running around and
it's a great way to get to know cats. You
sit down and see who comes to you, and it's
(07:34):
I don't know, it's kind of a fun place to
hang out in the back.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
I think it is because you know, we thought that
we had a lot of cat towers at our house,
but there's a lot of cat towers kit and Rescue.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
And they're all lounded on their own cat tower. It's
a very special place.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
That's right. And then we have a dedicated place for
FeLV positive, which is feline leukemia cats which is something
that it's a virus, that is they're either born with
or they caught it, but it can shorten their lives unfortunately.
So those cats live in a special area of our
sanctuary and I think one of the we may be
the only place in Los Angeles that has a designated
(08:09):
area for leukemia positive cats.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
Leukemia positive so are either borm of it or they
can actually catch it. How do we test our cats
to I mean, are there are there obvious signs they
might have it?
Speaker 3 (08:19):
Or well, the best thing to do is test them
when you when you rescue a cat, test your cat
for FLV n f IV just to know what you're
dealing with. Most cats are negative, so that that's good.
But if you do have an FeLV positive cat, you're
going to not want to adopt the feld negative cat.
You'll want to adopt another FLV which is fina leukemia
(08:39):
positive cat.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
And how common is it?
Speaker 3 (08:41):
It's a very small percentage. Okay, that's good to go, right, Probably.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
I'd rather have a small percentage than super common. Yeah,
because you know we will.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
We want them healthy and happy and having snacks and
treats and little chews, right right, We want yep.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
I now we want that for our the cats too.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
And then so essentially, so like I said, you have
your headquarters in an outwater village and people, if they
make an appointment, they can come by and kind of
essentially check out who you got that are adoptable.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
Sure, yeah, absolutely, we love for people to come by
and adopt out cats so we can save more.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Yes, we can save more.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
So again with the headquarters of outwater village and then
your network, your massive network of people out there fostering
and helping, your volunteer teams. So many people who just
love animals. They want to do the right thing, and
like you said, are taking animals in and they're kind
of like foster foster home ready. I mean, how do
you know if your house is foster cat ready?
Speaker 3 (09:36):
You know, I always tell people, especially with kittens, it
doesn't take much space. Like a bathroom is fine if
you have a spare room. An office is a great
place for mom and babies. I mean, it doesn't take
a lot of space, you know, And it's not long term,
it's not their whole life, you know, it's short term.
You know, it just takes a room to save animals.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Lives and just yeah, to keep them safe, keep them
out of harm's way. Then they've got litter box, and
they've got food and water, brush, food and water. And
then once they get acclimated, or if you feel like
there's a friendly little connection going on, maybe let them
roam the house and make sure right there's no When
we rescued our little Georgia kitty. You know all about
our Georgia kitty who we rescued from our backyard. By
the way, our backyard, this little flea bitten stray showed
(10:15):
up in our backyard and he's so he's so cute,
and we were so scared to grab him and take him,
but we did, and of course it was the best
decision we've ever made in our entire lives because we're
so in love with him and he's the most handsome boy.
We think he should be a cat model. Can you
help with that too. We think Georgie should be a
cat model.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
I don't know any cat model agent, and he does.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
Have his on Instagram by the way, if ybody's curious,
I've been posted in a while because in've had time.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
But he's at Georgie Kitty La. If you're curious about
how handsome is. But more importantly, we're lucky that we
got our Georgie, but it was obviously because of a
stray had a litter of kittens. Have no idea where
the mom or the other kittens went because we never
found anything anywhere and posted never found anything.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
And your message is all about keeping the numbers down.
The message of the importance of spay and neutering?
Speaker 2 (11:07):
Is it expensive? How do we do it? Where do
we go?
Speaker 3 (11:10):
There are so many six nation which is in like
behind the Bourban Air reports, Sun Valley, Seami Valley Span
Neuter Clinic. It's like fifty bucks to get your cat spade.
It may have gone up to sixty and the same
with six nations, it's under one hundred dollars. There's amazing
small animal practice in Guardina there. I mean, I could
(11:31):
provide a list. But over Heaven on Earth has a
clinic in the West Valley and the West Valley Animal Shelter.
It's like seventy dollars to get a cat six.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Wow, yeah, okay, so affordable.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
Oh Camp in La though has three locations, one in
La one in tan Pedro, and one in Mission Hills
that does low cost spain neuter two.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
So there are tons of low cost options to get
animals spade and neutered all over southern California.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
So costs should not be the issue. It's super affordable.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
But like if you have a stray in your backyard
that is not tame or friendly with people, that we
can also lend humane traps and the cat walks in
to get food. You can take that cat into fixed
nation and get the cat sterilized for free. And if
you know this cat's feral, this cat doesn't want to
go into your house. This cat just wants to be
free and be fed. So you just put the cat
(12:21):
back where he came from because that's his home. But
now he's sterilized, he's had his shots. No more babies
are going to be born if we control this outdoor population.
So that is something we do help with with our
community Cat program. We help people get appointments, get into
fixed nation, lend trap. That is something we can help
with reducing the pet over population problem by sterilizing feral
(12:45):
community cats.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
Wow, that's so helpful, Bright because again there's just thousands
and thousands and thousands and thousands of them out there
and we're going to do the best we can to
help as many as we can.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
And they're so cute. How can you not try?
Speaker 3 (12:57):
Right, Yeah, they don't like you, they're cute.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
They are so cute.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
You can tell if a cat, or I can tell
of a cat when I trap it is actually a
real feral or if it's been like on the street
and just become fearful and was actually tame at one time.
And if there's kittens, we try to tame them like
up to eight weeks that if they're under six weeks,
you know, by eight weeks they're learning that behavior, that
feral behavior, and it's hard to turn that switch, but.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
But it can be done. There is hope.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
It can you know, half nurture, half nature, just like people. Right,
Some are born with that switch can come back to people.
Some are just they want to be free.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
Santra does a kitt and Rescue.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
Are y'all able to help if people find a cat
that's injured or sick? I saw that on your website
at a kitrescue dot org.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
We have our Hope Fund which helps with cats that
are sicker, injured that are brought into our program, that
are that are going to be placed for adoption and
through our community Cat program, if there's a feral that
is sicker injured, we can help with that as well.
I don't know, we don't have the funds to pay
for like major surgeries for little cats, got it, But
like with wounds and be honest, we will do everything
(14:11):
we can to help. Because we have some partner vets
that will help us, give us, you know, a discount.
We can always try to raise the funds for. I
would never want to. I would never want to let
down a Ferrell cat either you know, they not their
fault they don't like people.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Or that they were let down, or that they're you know,
part of a litter that grew up on the streets
because they.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
Were never taken in by somebody and loved on.
Speaker 3 (14:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
So you have this Amazon wish list on the website
at Kittrescue dot org. I love this Amazon wish list,
but you also so is it all brand new stuff
you're you're hoping to get in terms of donations from
the Amazon wishless that's all new?
Speaker 2 (14:46):
Do you also take gently used items? Oh?
Speaker 3 (14:49):
Sure, Yeah, anybody can drop off gently's items at our
sanctuary in that water village And if there's nothing we
can use there, we offer it to our foster homes.
Oh sure, we can always use something. And we even
have a volunteer who works with homeless people, so if
there's blankets or things like that, she will take those
for them.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
You will find a home for my extra good drop off.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
Got it?
Speaker 2 (15:12):
Got it?
Speaker 1 (15:13):
And then on your Amazon wish list you've got things
that you always need like can wet food, so wet
food for cats and kittens, friskies, fancy feasts, all the brands,
always needed cat treats, cat litter toys, tons of fun
toys of course, beds, grooming and supply so cat beds,
grooming brushes, flea combs, cat carriers, standless steel of food
(15:35):
and water dishes, non breakable small plates, blankets and towels
like you mentioned, and the full Kitten Rescue Amazon wish lists.
If you would like to help in any way, shape
or form, it is available right there on their website
at Rescue Kitten Rescue dot org. And with everything you donate,
whether it's monetary or on the Amazon wish list, goes
directly to so many kittens and cats and need and
(15:59):
foster moms and dads and all the fine people who
volunteer and work and foster in connection with Kit and Rescue.
So yeah, and then of course fundraising for your overall
mission of saving the world and helping.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
All the kidney cats in the land. You've got your
two big fundraisers of the year. You've got the La Marathon.
Touch on that because we won't need to gear up
for that until that's every March.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
But when does that? How soon do you guys get
kind of get ready for that day? Because you'all mostly do.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
The half marathons, you can raise money for charity, right
just thirteen.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
Well, yeah, we're really should be recruiting for the marathon
now that like, you know, my head's all in furball
right now, furball. Starting like right after the furball in September,
we're going to start recruiting for the Elle Marathon because
you have to start recruiting so people can train.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
For it, right right, sure, And which you did before
I did. I did it for Kit and Rescue and
it was crazy.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
It's a lot on your body, but boy, it feels
good to raise some money for a charity that you
that you know and that you love. And of course
the kitt and Rescue Elle Marathon team. They wear wacky
cat ears and cat tails and they get all into
the look of it and the love.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
For the animals. It's all about the love for the
animals and for the organization. So, and who are the two.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
Main people that kind of run the team. They're super fun.
Who are the two main people that run the Kit
and Rescue?
Speaker 3 (17:15):
Oh, Jessica and Evelyn. Yeah, they're not doing this year.
I need to find some new team leader.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
Let me know, they did it for a lot of years.
They were very spunky. Yeah, they are great leaders. So yes,
well to find new people to lead Team Get and
Rescue for the LA Marathon. So that's next year. And
then next Saturday, or shall I say Caturday September eighth,
it's the annual Furball at the Skirball Cultural Center right
there on Spolita.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
Yes, it's our biggest fundraiser of the year and so
yearly gala. It will be hosted by Mark Thompson again,
who everybody loves.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
Hey, we love back, Yeah, I hate with us.
Speaker 3 (17:52):
That's such a great animal lover too. And we will
be honoring Officer Navarette from the Smart team from LA
Animal Services. He goes out and rescues cats and dogs
and any animals from situations all over Los Angeles and
he's just a real unsung hero of Los Angeles. So
we are going to hon our Officer never At, which
(18:13):
will be exciting, wonderful, and then our program will be
you know, it's just filled with what our accomplishments have
been through the year.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
It's a wonderful gathering of cat enthusiasts and yeah, great
drinks and food and a program and the silent auction
items are just gorgeous. All the incredible artwork that you
get and all the trips, all the goodies. I mean
a lot of money is raised us from the Southern
auction alone.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
It's great stuff.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
Yeah, no, it's free, fun, awesome fun.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
You will really enjoy this event. So I'm calling all
my fellow cat lovers. Next Caturday, it's the fur Ball
at the Scure Ball, hosted by TV Radios Mark Thompson.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
He's a sweetheart and a cat guy.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
Gonna be a great time, Graber catiers and bring your
debit card and help us raise his money to help
so many in need can and rest. Thank dot org
for all the tickets and details. Kitten Rescue dot org
for more. Sandra Harrison, you're the best. Thanks for taking
care of the cats, and we'll see you next Saturday,
next Saturday, all right, all right.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
Yay, all right, thank you so much, Lisa, nice talking
with you.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
Thank you, Sandra,
Please fox here. Hi, this is our public affairs show.
It's the iHeart So Cow Show, a much cuter, fancier name.
And yes, I say that because I thought of it myself.
So hope you're enjoying a nice long Labor Day holiday
weekend one.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Week from today. We'd love to see you if you're
an animal lover like yours.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
Truly, I know there's lots of animal lovers who listen
to the show. Animal lovers, dogs, cats, iguanas, turtles, birds,
what you got. Our friends at Kitten Rescue are having
their annual fur Ball It's the best name ever for
a charity men. By the way, they're fur Ball at
the Skirball Offs of Pulvida next Saturday.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
They're a big annual gala fundraiser. It's a biggie.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
And there are so many cats, stray cats, feral cats,
regular cats, cats that need you to help pay to
get them fixed, to take them in and to love
them and make them one of your besties, part of
your family. And countless kittens from so many litters. Of course,
it's kitten season. It's a busy time, lots of litters
(00:57):
of kittens being born, literally a non stop and so
many local organizations are so busy trying to take care
of all these little critters.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
And do the right thing, including kit and Rescue.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
They're non profit, volunteer based organization devoted to finding loving
homes for unwanted homeless cats and kittens. They rescue them
from the streets of LA and from being euthanized in
local city shelters. Since their start back in the late nineties,
they've gone into one of the largest, most well respected
animal welfare groups in Los Angeles and they need or
(01:29):
helped to help with the fostering, volunteering, and of course
raising funds. Kittenscue dot org is their website for all
the info and non to tell us more is their
executive director, Sandra Harrison.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
Hi. Sandra, Hi, Lisa, thanks so much for having me.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Happy car days.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Always fun.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Thank you, even though it's Sunday. I know, Okay, so
lots to dive into.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
But let's start with the fact that it's kitten season
and talk about what that means.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
I just know it means you're really, really, really, really
even more busy than usual trying to help these animals.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Oh, kitten season is a long season here in Los
Angeles because of our mild climate, but they really start
to flood into the shelters and start to see them
on the streets in like spring, and then it just
keeps going through summer until through fall. Right now, we're
like in the midst of it. It's like the worst
(02:23):
time right now because it's the summer. People are going
on vacation. All these kittens need to be fostered, and
they need homes, and everybody's on vacation. So we're kind
of being inundated trying to solve this problem here getting
the kittens while also trying to sterilize cats on the streets.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
Yeah, because essentially, right, that's what you're I mean, like
what happens though this time you're like your phone is
ringing like crazy, or you're just handling an influx of
if people reaching out to you for help, Like we.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Just found a litter of cats.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
I always see the posts on the next door, on
next door, and I'll see them on Facebook and Instagram.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
People just finding litters of kittens pretty.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
Much everywhere, in a back alley, in a bush, under
the high under the deck. Right, like you said, the
hot weather and the cat's kind of what they all
go and heat and they all just kind of go
crazy and just start making babies because a lot of
them out there are not fixed.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Yeah they're not.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
And if they're not.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
Fixed, it's a lot more bodies to feed, a lot
more mouths to feed.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
That's right, So important to spand neuter these community cats
and for these serialize their own cats as well.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
On the average, I mean, how big are some of
these litters?
Speaker 1 (03:23):
I mean it's always multiple, So what is it like,
are we talking four to six or what's the regular
litter for a cat?
Speaker 3 (03:30):
Yeah, four to six is about that's about average. But
we've seen some litters of eight this year. And then
we've seen just sometimes these little singletons that come into
the shelter that I don't know if mom has dropped
them or abandoned them because they're not you know, up
to pars and uh it went down the streets. We
see anything, you know, usually in a home, though, if
a cat's having a litter of kittens, it's like five
(03:51):
or six kittens.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Got it? Okay? So are people calling the kitten rescue?
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Ory're poping online at kittenrescue dot org asking you for help.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Oh yeah, emails every day, phone calls asking for help
getting tagged on everything.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
Actually sure, and at the same.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
Time exactly, and at the same time we are partner.
We partner with l Animal Services, so we're on like
a message board with all six shelters, and when they
have kittens that need out because they're not sustainable in
the shelter, they're reaching out to us as well so
that we can because those kittens, if they're not rescued
by end of day, they're euthanized. So we have to
jump to that.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Too, because when you rescue kittens, I mean, they have
to be bottle fed.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
If the mother isn't in the situation.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
Right right exactly, they need to be bottle fed. If
they're like under four or five weeks old, they're still
dependent on mom. The shelter they don't have they can't
bottle feed them every two three four hours because they're
caring for so many animals they're right, Yeah, it's better
for if they go and to volunteer foster homes. It's
better for the animals and it's better for the shelter
(04:54):
system too.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
So listen, if you are listening to this program right
now and you find a cat you know of a cat,
or or a cab, it hat, a litter in the
back alley or anywhere in your neighborhood, or you see
a post on social these people are.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Like, oh my gosh, these cats are going to be
put down, or I found these cats. I don't know
what to do.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
We can reach out to the very very busy kitt
and Rescue and Sandra and her team at kit and Rescue,
because at least you're going to be able to guide
us or help us. You know, we want to do
as animal lovers, we want to do the right thing.
And if we're not able to take them in our
own home, if we're not able to do it on
our own, or maybe I've got five dogs, maybe I'm
not a suitable home to take in kittens. But you
(05:29):
kitt and Rescue, you can help with that.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Yeah, it's really I mean, the best thing is if
you do find cat and kittens or kittens, if you
can foster them, because that is the most valuable thing
we have is space and we're out of it. So
there are more kittens in the world than we have space,
or even all the other rescue groups have space to take.
(05:51):
So sure, we really encourage people to and and we'll
give you the support, but to join our community foster
program or we will give all the supports to keep
the animals healthy, to get them well, and to get
them adoption ready and to get them adopted. So that's
ideal is if you find them, if you can actually
take them into your own home and we can assist
that way. Like I said, every group is always running
(06:14):
a full capacity during this time of year.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
You've got your headquarters getting rescue headquarters in Atwater Village.
That's a beautiful home with a lot of kitty cats
that are pretty much set up there. And then do
you still have the room where you have like a
nursery room where you would just bottle feed kittens NonStop
who were incoming before you could help foster them out.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
That we did have. Our nursery was at twenty four
hour nursery before COVID, and when COVID happened, we're like, oh, well,
we don't know what if everybody gets sick and nobody
can feed the kittens. So we went back to being
foster based for our neonate kittens for kittens that are
under like four or five weeks old. So our nursery
now in takes like four to eight week old kittens
(06:52):
that can actually eat on their own, but they still
need that extra time before they can get adopted, and
hopefully from there they'll actually be transferred to home so
we can take more at risk kittens there. So that's
what happens up in the front house, which used to
be the nursery, and then you've been at the back.
The back is like a free roaming facility we have.
(07:14):
We have adult cats and teenage cats, and a lot
of some of them are special needs old cats or
have medical problems which may spend their entire lives with us,
and some of them are adoptable cats running around and
it's a great way to get to know cats. You
sit down and see who comes to you, and it's
(07:34):
I don't know, it's kind of a fun place to
hang out in the back.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
I think it is because you know, we thought that
we had a lot of cat towers at our house,
but there's a lot of cat towers kit and Rescue.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
And they're all lounded on their own cat tower. It's
a very special place.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
That's right. And then we have a dedicated place for
FeLV positive, which is feline leukemia cats which is something
that it's a virus, that is they're either born with
or they caught it, but it can shorten their lives unfortunately.
So those cats live in a special area of our
sanctuary and I think one of the we may be
the only place in Los Angeles that has a designated
(08:09):
area for leukemia positive cats.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
Leukemia positive so are either borm of it or they
can actually catch it. How do we test our cats
to I mean, are there are there obvious signs they
might have it?
Speaker 3 (08:19):
Or well, the best thing to do is test them
when you when you rescue a cat, test your cat
for FLV n f IV just to know what you're
dealing with. Most cats are negative, so that that's good.
But if you do have an FeLV positive cat, you're
going to not want to adopt the feld negative cat.
You'll want to adopt another FLV which is fina leukemia
(08:39):
positive cat.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
And how common is it?
Speaker 3 (08:41):
It's a very small percentage. Okay, that's good to go, right, Probably.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
I'd rather have a small percentage than super common. Yeah,
because you know we will.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
We want them healthy and happy and having snacks and
treats and little chews, right right, We want yep.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
I now we want that for our the cats too.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
And then so essentially, so like I said, you have
your headquarters in an outwater village and people, if they
make an appointment, they can come by and kind of
essentially check out who you got that are adoptable.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
Sure, yeah, absolutely, we love for people to come by
and adopt out cats so we can save more.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Yes, we can save more.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
So again with the headquarters of outwater village and then
your network, your massive network of people out there fostering
and helping, your volunteer teams. So many people who just
love animals. They want to do the right thing, and
like you said, are taking animals in and they're kind
of like foster foster home ready. I mean, how do
you know if your house is foster cat ready?
Speaker 3 (09:36):
You know, I always tell people, especially with kittens, it
doesn't take much space. Like a bathroom is fine if
you have a spare room. An office is a great
place for mom and babies. I mean, it doesn't take
a lot of space, you know, And it's not long term,
it's not their whole life, you know, it's short term.
You know, it just takes a room to save animals.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Lives and just yeah, to keep them safe, keep them
out of harm's way. Then they've got litter box, and
they've got food and water, brush, food and water. And
then once they get acclimated, or if you feel like
there's a friendly little connection going on, maybe let them
roam the house and make sure right there's no When
we rescued our little Georgia kitty. You know all about
our Georgia kitty who we rescued from our backyard. By
the way, our backyard, this little flea bitten stray showed
(10:15):
up in our backyard and he's so he's so cute,
and we were so scared to grab him and take him,
but we did, and of course it was the best
decision we've ever made in our entire lives because we're
so in love with him and he's the most handsome boy.
We think he should be a cat model. Can you
help with that too. We think Georgie should be a
cat model.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
I don't know any cat model agent, and he does.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
Have his on Instagram by the way, if ybody's curious,
I've been posted in a while because in've had time.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
But he's at Georgie Kitty La. If you're curious about
how handsome is. But more importantly, we're lucky that we
got our Georgie, but it was obviously because of a
stray had a litter of kittens. Have no idea where
the mom or the other kittens went because we never
found anything anywhere and posted never found anything.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
And your message is all about keeping the numbers down.
The message of the importance of spay and neutering?
Speaker 2 (11:07):
Is it expensive? How do we do it? Where do
we go?
Speaker 3 (11:10):
There are so many six nation which is in like
behind the Bourban Air reports, Sun Valley, Seami Valley Span
Neuter Clinic. It's like fifty bucks to get your cat spade.
It may have gone up to sixty and the same
with six nations, it's under one hundred dollars. There's amazing
small animal practice in Guardina there. I mean, I could
(11:31):
provide a list. But over Heaven on Earth has a
clinic in the West Valley and the West Valley Animal Shelter.
It's like seventy dollars to get a cat six.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Wow, yeah, okay, so affordable.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
Oh Camp in La though has three locations, one in
La one in tan Pedro, and one in Mission Hills
that does low cost spain neuter two.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
So there are tons of low cost options to get
animals spade and neutered all over southern California.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
So costs should not be the issue. It's super affordable.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
But like if you have a stray in your backyard
that is not tame or friendly with people, that we
can also lend humane traps and the cat walks in
to get food. You can take that cat into fixed
nation and get the cat sterilized for free. And if
you know this cat's feral, this cat doesn't want to
go into your house. This cat just wants to be
free and be fed. So you just put the cat
(12:21):
back where he came from because that's his home. But
now he's sterilized, he's had his shots. No more babies
are going to be born if we control this outdoor population.
So that is something we do help with with our
community Cat program. We help people get appointments, get into
fixed nation, lend trap. That is something we can help
with reducing the pet over population problem by sterilizing feral
(12:45):
community cats.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
Wow, that's so helpful, Bright because again there's just thousands
and thousands and thousands and thousands of them out there
and we're going to do the best we can to
help as many as we can.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
And they're so cute. How can you not try?
Speaker 3 (12:57):
Right, Yeah, they don't like you, they're cute.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
They are so cute.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
You can tell if a cat, or I can tell
of a cat when I trap it is actually a
real feral or if it's been like on the street
and just become fearful and was actually tame at one time.
And if there's kittens, we try to tame them like
up to eight weeks that if they're under six weeks,
you know, by eight weeks they're learning that behavior, that
feral behavior, and it's hard to turn that switch, but.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
But it can be done. There is hope.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
It can you know, half nurture, half nature, just like people. Right,
Some are born with that switch can come back to people.
Some are just they want to be free.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
Santra does a kitt and Rescue.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
Are y'all able to help if people find a cat
that's injured or sick? I saw that on your website
at a kitrescue dot org.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
We have our Hope Fund which helps with cats that
are sicker, injured that are brought into our program, that
are that are going to be placed for adoption and
through our community Cat program, if there's a feral that
is sicker injured, we can help with that as well.
I don't know, we don't have the funds to pay
for like major surgeries for little cats, got it, But
like with wounds and be honest, we will do everything
(14:11):
we can to help. Because we have some partner vets
that will help us, give us, you know, a discount.
We can always try to raise the funds for. I
would never want to. I would never want to let
down a Ferrell cat either you know, they not their
fault they don't like people.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Or that they were let down, or that they're you know,
part of a litter that grew up on the streets
because they.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
Were never taken in by somebody and loved on.
Speaker 3 (14:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
So you have this Amazon wish list on the website
at Kittrescue dot org. I love this Amazon wish list,
but you also so is it all brand new stuff
you're you're hoping to get in terms of donations from
the Amazon wishless that's all new?
Speaker 2 (14:46):
Do you also take gently used items? Oh?
Speaker 3 (14:49):
Sure, Yeah, anybody can drop off gently's items at our
sanctuary in that water village And if there's nothing we
can use there, we offer it to our foster homes.
Oh sure, we can always use something. And we even
have a volunteer who works with homeless people, so if
there's blankets or things like that, she will take those
for them.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
You will find a home for my extra good drop off.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
Got it?
Speaker 2 (15:12):
Got it?
Speaker 1 (15:13):
And then on your Amazon wish list you've got things
that you always need like can wet food, so wet
food for cats and kittens, friskies, fancy feasts, all the brands,
always needed cat treats, cat litter toys, tons of fun
toys of course, beds, grooming and supply so cat beds,
grooming brushes, flea combs, cat carriers, standless steel of food
(15:35):
and water dishes, non breakable small plates, blankets and towels
like you mentioned, and the full Kitten Rescue Amazon wish lists.
If you would like to help in any way, shape
or form, it is available right there on their website
at Rescue Kitten Rescue dot org. And with everything you donate,
whether it's monetary or on the Amazon wish list, goes
directly to so many kittens and cats and need and
(15:59):
foster moms and dads and all the fine people who
volunteer and work and foster in connection with Kit and Rescue.
So yeah, and then of course fundraising for your overall
mission of saving the world and helping.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
All the kidney cats in the land. You've got your
two big fundraisers of the year. You've got the La Marathon.
Touch on that because we won't need to gear up
for that until that's every March.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
But when does that? How soon do you guys get
kind of get ready for that day? Because you'all mostly do.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
The half marathons, you can raise money for charity, right
just thirteen.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
Well, yeah, we're really should be recruiting for the marathon
now that like, you know, my head's all in furball
right now, furball. Starting like right after the furball in September,
we're going to start recruiting for the Elle Marathon because
you have to start recruiting so people can train.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
For it, right right, sure, And which you did before
I did. I did it for Kit and Rescue and
it was crazy.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
It's a lot on your body, but boy, it feels
good to raise some money for a charity that you
that you know and that you love. And of course
the kitt and Rescue Elle Marathon team. They wear wacky
cat ears and cat tails and they get all into
the look of it and the love.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
For the animals. It's all about the love for the
animals and for the organization. So, and who are the two.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
Main people that kind of run the team. They're super fun.
Who are the two main people that run the Kit
and Rescue?
Speaker 3 (17:15):
Oh, Jessica and Evelyn. Yeah, they're not doing this year.
I need to find some new team leader.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
Let me know, they did it for a lot of years.
They were very spunky. Yeah, they are great leaders. So yes,
well to find new people to lead Team Get and
Rescue for the LA Marathon. So that's next year. And
then next Saturday, or shall I say Caturday September eighth,
it's the annual Furball at the Skirball Cultural Center right
there on Spolita.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
Yes, it's our biggest fundraiser of the year and so
yearly gala. It will be hosted by Mark Thompson again,
who everybody loves.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
Hey, we love back, Yeah, I hate with us.
Speaker 3 (17:52):
That's such a great animal lover too. And we will
be honoring Officer Navarette from the Smart team from LA
Animal Services. He goes out and rescues cats and dogs
and any animals from situations all over Los Angeles and
he's just a real unsung hero of Los Angeles. So
we are going to hon our Officer never At, which
(18:13):
will be exciting, wonderful, and then our program will be
you know, it's just filled with what our accomplishments have
been through the year.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
It's a wonderful gathering of cat enthusiasts and yeah, great
drinks and food and a program and the silent auction
items are just gorgeous. All the incredible artwork that you
get and all the trips, all the goodies. I mean
a lot of money is raised us from the Southern
auction alone.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
It's great stuff.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
Yeah, no, it's free, fun, awesome fun.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
You will really enjoy this event. So I'm calling all
my fellow cat lovers. Next Caturday, it's the fur Ball
at the Scure Ball, hosted by TV Radios Mark Thompson.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
He's a sweetheart and a cat guy.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
Gonna be a great time, Graber catiers and bring your
debit card and help us raise his money to help
so many in need can and rest. Thank dot org
for all the tickets and details. Kitten Rescue dot org
for more. Sandra Harrison, you're the best. Thanks for taking
care of the cats, and we'll see you next Saturday,
next Saturday, all right, all right.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
Yay, all right, thank you so much, Lisa, nice talking
with you.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
Thank you, Sandra,
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