Felines need adoptive families

Some are abandoned, some are relinquished, some are born wild, some are dumped, some are waiting on death row, and some are found rolling down the street on skateboards, but no matter how a cat gets to the Happy Strays Cat Rescue in La Cañada, they all have one thing in common: they need a home.

This nonprofit organization holds adoptions weekly at the Petco on Foothill at Gould Avenue from 11 am to 3:30 p.m. This past Saturday there was everything from the adorable 2-week-old kittens found riding on the edge of a boy’s skateboard to a talkative 3-year-old bluepoint Siamese Malibu.

There was also Fred, a 3-month old gray kitten who wouldn’t stop meowing or performing gymnastics all over his cage.

All of the cats are spayed or neutered and vaccinated before they are adopted.

“Once they’re spayed [or neutered], they’re ready to go [be adopted],” said Jan Magnuson, founder of Happy Strays Cat Rescue.

Although prices for adoption vary, generally domestic breeds are $80, exotic breeds are $100, and cats over 5 years old are $40.

This time of year is their busy season, or as they call it “kitten season,” because so many litters are being born. They currently have about 100 kittens and 20 cats in need of homes. “Many people find these abandoned cats and don’t know what to do with them and bring them in [to Happy Strays],” Magnuson said.

She encourages all current cat owners to spay or neuter their cats and think of cats as a lifetime commitment.

Although there are far more kittens than adult cats, the latter are in just as dire a situation, for they are often overlooked in favor of kittens even though they are generally easier to care for and already have set personalities.

In addition to homes, Happy Strays is also in great need of donations, Magnuson said.

Baby blankets, kitten bottles, KMR formula, beds, baby wipes, towels and cat food are just a few things they’d happily accept.

“We need supplies for our little guys. And those of us caring for foster cats, carry the costs ourselves,” said Linda Van Zutphen, a volunteer with Happy Strays.

A monetary donation is also much appreciated, with $10 being enough to pay for vaccinations, $15 enough for flea treatment, $25 enough a month’s worth of food, $40 enough to spay or neuter a cat, and $50 enough to pay for a veterinary visit.

For more information, e-mail the organization at info@happystrays.org, go to its website at www.happystrays.org, or call (818) 541-9241.