By Courtney Bachar/Active Senior’s Digest
Some kittens have a nice, new comfy place to sleep while they wait for their forever home, thanks to some generous seniors.
The Oshawa Senior Citizens Centres partnered with the city’s Animal Services recently to provide blankets for the kittens. There are approximately 120 cats and kittens at Animal Services at any given time, all of which are strays that have been found on the streets.
In an effort to help these furry friends adapt to their new environment, provide enrichment, comfort, and reduce stress, the Animal Shelter reached out to the OSCC with a request for blanks and some helpful seniors were more than happy to lend a hand.
“We were looking to build a presence in the community and reach out to new supporters, and the OSCC seemed like a natural fit,” says Kathy Pittman-Feltham, supervisor of the animal shelter.
Jean Warner, a volunteer at the OSCC and convener of the open craft group, was approached by the city in the fall about making some blankets for the kittens.
The open craft group is made up of about 30 women who meet on Wednesday mornings. The group collects materials such as yarn and different fabrics to make things such as scarves, hats, mitts and more.
“We’ve made a bunch of blankets so far and we’ve got a few more still to come,” says Warner, who has been a member of the OSCC for more than 10 years, and a volunteer for about eight years.
The animal shelter at the City of Oshawa is currently in a low season for cats and kittens, but can see upwards of 150 cats during the high season, according to Kathy Pittman-Feltham, supervisor of the animal shelter.
Pittman-Feltham says the animal shelter has received about 150 blankets for the kittens so far.
“The kennels can be hard and cold and the blankets help to create a softer, calmer environment for the kittens,” says Pittman-Feltham, adding that when the kittens are adopted into families, they get to take their blankets home with them, which helps make the transition a little easier.
Although adoption was up 56 per cent last year, the animal shelter is constantly working to find homes for the kittens and cats, all of which are strays that have been brought in by animal services or good samaritans. Pittman-Feltham says they are continuing to reach out into the community to build off-site adoption centres
The animal shelter continues to look for blankets and other donations.
For more information, visit www.oshawa.ca or www.oscc.ca.
