PARSONS – Oct. 29 has been designated as National Cat Day and reminds folks not only to offer a little extra love and attention to their fur babies, but also is designated to bring attention to the many cats and kittens in local shelters, like the Tucker County Animal Shelter, who are in need of adoption.
National Cat Day, founded in 2005 by Colleen Paige, encourages the public to recognize the number of cats that need to be rescued each year and also encourages cat lovers to celebrate the cats in their lives for the unconditional love and companionship they bestow upon their owners.
Cathy Parsons, director of the Tucker County Animal Shelter, said she hopes folks will take time to visit the cats and kittens housed at the shelter, and open their hearts and their homes to these animals.
“We are open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. seven days a week,” Parsons said. “We would like to see folks stop by and adopt a cat or kitten anytime, but especially today in honor of National Cat Day.”
Parsons said the cats at the Tucker County Animal Shelter are housed in groups – not all lodged in cages.
“Mother cats with kittens are in individual cages, but for the most part, our cats are housed in rooms with one another,” Parsons said. “When folks come to adopt cats, they usually want to know how the cat gets along with other cats. They are able to see that the cats get along well with others. We have already introduced the cats to other cats.”
Parsons said the cats in the shelter came there through many different paths – some are picked up as strays, some come as kittens that did not find homes, some are surrendered by their owners because they no longer want or can afford the animals and some are in the shelter because their owners have passed away.
Adoption of a cat at the Tucker County Animal Shelter is $50 if it has been fully vetted – meaning it has been combo tested for feline leukemia, neutered or spayed, treated for worms and fleas and vaccinated for rabies and distemper.
“The adoption fee is far less than the total of the vet fees to perform all of these,” Parsons said.
Parsons said the shelter is hoping for a large response of folks to come out and adopt the cats currently in the shelter.
“Our county is small and we are a small shelter, but we welcome folks to come out and take a look at our shelter and our animals,” Parsons said. “We hope you can give some of these cats a “fur”ever home.”
Not everyone is able to have a loving cat or kitten in their home.
“Folks who are unable to adopt a cat are welcome to come and visit the animals or sponsor a cat,” Parsons said. “If there is a cat someone sees that they would like to sponsor, we will take the money they donate to go on the vet bill to have the animal spayed, neutered and vaccinated.”
The Tucker County Animal Shelter is located at 586 Brooklyn Heights in Parsons. Additional information is available by calling 304-478-6232.
