Cat Wranglers need your support
This attractive feline is Smokey, she has had two litters of kittens and was recently rescued by the Silver Valley Cat Wranglers. Smokey also just happens to be the Dave Smith Motors Cat of the Month.
Courtesy photo
KELLOGG — Kitten season began earlier than expected this year and the Silver Valley Cat Wranglers need community support.
The 501c3 organization has been dedicated to their cause of improving the lives of cats throughout the Silver Valley by putting an emphasis on education and outreach for local residents.
“Our goal is to reduce the number of stray and unwanted cats in our community,” said Wrangler leader Rene Gilbert. “Through December 2020, we were making spay and neuter appointments while taking in kittens that were born in October. This year, kitten season began earlier and we are nearing capacity to provide for the pregnant cats and kittens in our care.”
Just to put it in perspective, in February the Cat Wranglers removed 10 cats from a single Pinehurst home (none of which were fixed) — three of which were pregnant and have since delivered three litters of five kittens.
Later that month, they were called to assist with two cats that had given birth to 15 kittens and removed them from a Kellogg home.
All of these cats required items like food, warm shelter, and most importantly, some love.
Which is where locals can get involved with the Silver Valley Cat Wranglers.
“Some of those cats have already found homes and all will be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, dewormed, vet checked, socialized and microchipped by us when they are ready,” Gilbert said. “We need help from anyone who wants to give it, whether it’s monetary, supplies like food or blankets and towels, or people willing to be foster homes as we place the cats.”
SVCW partners with Kootenai Humane Society for low cost spay/neuters and other supplies. They also receive support from the local veterinary clinics, all who give expert medical support on a regular basis.
There are several reasons that cats may end up ownerless or homeless, all of them potentially CATastrophic for our feline friends.
A death in the family may result in having to deal with a cat that loves his person, but no one else can approach it, a landlord can find that his tenant moved out and left their cats behind, a family struggling with their own bills might not be able to afford to get their cat fixed or take it to the veterinary clinic for the medical attention it needs.
SVCW is there to help.
As a nonprofit organization, SVCW relies on donations to accomplish the work that they do.
“COVID has been hard on our community and we are so grateful for the continued support we receive from the community,” Gilbert said. “Last year, a successful event at the Dirty Dog Saloon raised over $2,000. Mike Kennaugh and crew allowed the saloon to go to the cats for a day. Because of COVID, fundraising is more challenging this year. Thankfully, Dave Smith Motors sponsors a Cat of the Month. Wonderful community members donating for a particular need on a regular basis, volunteering to foster animals or provide transportation help keep this organization running. It takes a village.”
For more information or if you need to have a cat wrangled, you can contact the following board members or call the Cat Wranglers number at 208-446-7131; Juli Zook, 208-659-1764; Rene Gilbert, 208-512-2173; Joanne Mendive, 208-512-1001 or Sandie Stovern at 208-512-5735.