Sadeeky's Cat Village

Upon FOHA’s purchase of the shelter property, our commitment to feline friends quickly grew.  Whereas FOHA previously focused our rescue efforts on dogs and housed only a small number of cats, either at the shelter facility or in foster homes, the expansion to help more cats in need was a primary goal.

Phase one of our construction effort focused on building a new shelter for our cats.   A unique facility where our feline friends live communally, not in cages, was built.  There our cats can await their forever homes in comfort, enjoying indoor living in a large room which they share as well as access to a screened-in back porch where they can enjoy watching the bugs, birds, and wildlife from the safety of the cattery.   

Altough only three years old, the communal cattery underwent some renovations in 2005 to include a dedicated workspace area for our staff and volunteers, an isolation room where new residents or ill residents can be separated from the rest of the population, and the "kittery."  What is a kittery, you ask?  Well, it's a fun-filled and feline-filled room for our kittens awaiting adoption.  While the youngest FOHA felines begin their stay with us in foster homes, once they are old enough to be adopted, the kittens can move to the new kittery facility to be seen by their adoring public.

Upon arrival at the cattery, visitors are immediately drawn to the large bay window through which they can see our kittens cavorting or relaxing but always looking adorable.  Brightly color paint adorns the walls and mobiles above provide the kittens attention-grabbing delights – that’s when they’re not grabbing each other for a little wrestling or your shoelace upon entering their domain.  Watching these petite wonders and their carefree ways, it’s hard to remember that all of these kittens are homeless, that without FOHA’s intervention and care, none of these kittens would be alive to find their forever homes.

Behind the main cattery, a unique gray build sits, open on the bottom with stairs into an enclosure above.  This is FOHA’s feral cat tower, which provides shelter and respite to feral cats who live on the property. 

What is a feral cat, you ask?  Ferals, for the most part, shun human contact.  These are the cats who can be found on the streets, foraging for food in dumpsters, living in the shadows.  Groups who concentrate on assisting the feral cat population focus on TNR efforts — Trap, Neuter, Return.  Once returned, caretakers feed and care for colonies of these “shadow cats.” 

But not all feral cats can be returned.  Because of construction, lack of caregivers, or individuals who wish to do them harm, these cats need an alternative place to band together.  All spayed/neutered and vaccinated, over a dozen feral cats call the acreage at FOHA their home, and the tower is theirs.  In the wintertime, they can find respite from the cold, and year-round they are fed at the tower.  As these cats come daily to eat, the staff and volunteers monitor their health and trap any in need of medical care. 

To the left of the feral tower is the latest addition to the cat suites — our FIV+ cattery.  FIV, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, is analogous to HIV in humans.  It is passed only from cat to cat, through blood transfusions, from moms to kittens, and through serious, penetrating bit wounds, mainly by stray, intact tom cats.  While all of the cats in this special cattery have FIV, they are healthy, outgoing, and happy cats.  Feral and adoptable FIV+ friends find a home — permanent or temporary — and companionship here.  But note that the FIV cattery is not a sanctuary.  FIV+ cats are very adoptable and can live long, healthy lives.  Living indoors is the key, as indoor living helps avoid the situations that could make a cat sick. 

These cats are not ill, dying, or sickly.  They’re some of the most gregarious and friendly cats you could ever wish to meet.  Enter the FIV cattery and plant yourself on the couch inside and you’re likely to have 3, 4, 5 or more cats positioning to jump up on your lap for pets and snuggles.  Most FIV cats live long, health, and relatively normal lives with no symptoms at all, and a neutered cat, in a home, is extremely unlikely to infect other cats if properly introduced. 

So whether you have an FIV+ cat in your home now and want a companion, have a "regular" cat and wish to adopt a special friend, or simply have an opening in your home and your heart, the FIV+ cattery is a must-see and our FIV+ friends are a must-snuggle.  While there, enjoy their company and ask our volunteers more about FIV.  We have to say that these cats don't suffer from an illness but a bad case of misinformation.  But at least while they're at FOHA, they'll not suffer from lack of food, shelter, or love.

	FOHA's cattery offers a stress-free living environment for our cats, and an ideal setting for adopters to meet and interact with them.
	The FIV cattery is located next to our main cattery.  It allows our FIV+ cats to enjoy the comfort of a heated/air-conditioned enclosure, as well as a screened porch to explore the outdoors.
	The FIV cattery provides a safe haven for our FIV+ felines to relax and be spoiled until they find loving forever homes.
	Nestled between the main cattery and the FIV cattery is the feral cat house.  It provides food, water, and shelter for the several feral cats that call FOHA their home.
	The feral cats are all spayed or neuterd and up to date on their shots.  They are unsocialized with humans, and would have a very difficult time adjusting to life as pets.
	Our resident felines have cat doors to access both the heated/air-conditioned indoor cattery, as well as the spacious outdoor screened-in porch.  They enjoy lounging in the sun and observing wildlife from the safety of their temporary home.