THE CAT PEOPLE INC

Over 100 financially strapped cat owners visit the cat sanctuary
throughout the month to pick up bags of both donated and purchased
litter and food. Many of the cat owners are disabled or seniors. Cat
owners complete a Financial Assistance application; more are added to
the list as food and litter are available. When requested, supplemental
kitten supplies are also given. All clients are offered spay/neuter
vouchers if their own animals are unaltered. If dog food donations are
available, those are also offered. Our goals are to prevent beloved pets
from being abandoned or surrendered due to the owners’ inability to
provide food and prevent unwanted litters.

Upon request, The Cat People provides food, litter and veterinary
assistance for those seniors needing additional help in caring for their
cats. Spay/neuter assistance is available at any time, along with help in
transporting cats to and from the veterinarian. In emergency situations,
veterinary bills are paid by the organization. Volunteers have also
helped set up easy cat cleaning systems in the home. Home delivery is
also utilized when the senior is unable to drive. On occasion,
volunteers have taken owners’ cats to visit their owners in care
facilities. We know that for some seniors their animals are the only
source of companionship. On an emergency basis we have brought in
some seniors’ cats to our sanctuary when no other options are
available.

Through fundraising The Cat People sponsors two to three yearly
Mobile Spay Clinics, free to colony care givers. In order to prevent
unwanted litters, 300+ feral or community cats have been altered
through this three-year old program utilizing Simi Valley Non -Profit
Spay and neuter clinics. Additionally, caregivers may request vouchers
to help defray the cost of responsibly managing colonies. A free trap
rental and trap training (TNR) is offered to anyone by request and
training sessions have been held in community settings for those
interested in managing colonies.

Low-income cat owners may request a discount spay/neuter voucher to
prevent unwanted litters. While we encourage indoor-only cat
ownership, unwanted litters are rampant. Cat owners are also advised
to make appointments at our free mobile clinics when possible.
Voucher requests may be made in person, by phone or online, and are taken to
all community outreach events. Those not needing financial assistance
are encouraged to save the vouchers for others, but no one is turned
down. The cat owner takes the discount voucher to any participating
veterinarian as partial payment toward surgery. Since its inception,
over 5,000 vouchers have been issued and redeemed.

Kern County has both a cat abandonment and overpopulation problem.
In our efforts to provide assistance and help curb this alarming trend,
we hosted our first spay/neuter clinic in 2019, in partnership with Simi
Valley Non- Profit Spay & Neuter Clinic. The Cat People covers the
entire cost of the clinics through monies raised from donations and a
one-time small grant. Cat owners and feral cat colony feeders can bring
in two unaltered cats at no charge. Thus far, we have hosted 17 clinics,
altering 1,100 cats at a cost of $43,000. As money is available, we hope
to continue making this an integral part of our outreach efforts.

In 2016, our long-awaited dream of a cat sanctuary was actualized, with
the goals of housing cats by bequest, emergency rescues, as space
allows, and rescued park cats as a way to adoption. Currently, 100
cats/kittens reside in house-like settings, cared for by one part-time
paid staff member and 36 volunteers, ranging in ages 18-82.
Soft music, essential diffused oils, climbing posts, bridges, and outdoor
catios provide a happy, stress-free environment for those awaiting
adoption and others who have medical or behavior issues.

Our goal is to place our rescues into responsible, indoor-only homes. As
such, potential adopters fill out a Pre -Adoption Questionnaire designed
to better match cats with the right home environment. All cats are
altered, veterinary screened and FeLV/ FIV tested. The Cat People will
always take back the cat in the event the owner can no longer care for
it. With the glut of cats in Kern County, we also partner with out of area
agencies, all with the same high adoption standards as The Cat People.

As space permits, cat owners may make pre-arrangements to entrust
the care of their cats with the Cat People. The sanctuary has a senior
room and catio for senior cats and throughout the facility, younger cats
have several areas and catios to live within a multi-cat environment.
The cost of current and future veterinary care is built into surrender
fees.
Cat owners are always encouraged to network with trusted family
members and friends before making arrangements to house their pets,
but more frequently, there are few alternatives. An elderly cat will not
survive a caged shelter experience.