Local Rescue Seeks Loving Furrever Homes for Cats

by Julie Cordingley

Want to take a cat nap?

Hah!..  made you look! 

We're not really talking about a midafternoon snooze, but rather about the organization Cat NAPS which is the acronym for Not All Perfect Strays…  an entirely cute name for a serious topic.

Coming up with a “cat”chy phrase was not something that Boyertown alum, Class of 1973, Linda B. had in mind when helping her then middle school aged daughter gather leaves for a school project. They decided the perfect destination for that (long ago) fall excursion was the local Girl Scout Camp, Laughing Waters. But as their story goes, not only did the pair go home with the required foliage, but also with a cute kitten who was “accidentally left on purpose” in that beautiful camp. They named the kitten Switara after the trail where she was abandoned; her discovery turned into a life’s purpose for Linda and her family.

Little Switara is one of the many cats that people release into an area in the belief that they will be able to fend for themselves, that they will lead a beautiful, romantic life in the wild. But for most of these cats, that is not the case. They face predators, starvation, severe weather, illness, dehydration… not the pretty picture of an idyllic life. As Linda explains, her new passion was an eye-opening experience which did not always end in a warm and fuzzy (furry) story. But she was willing to try - and it helped to realize that she was not the only one. Besides her family, there are many friends and organizations with the same mindset of helping kittens and cats live their best lives … all 9 of them!!!

Chessie, Shantilly, and Zuzanna (left to right) are among the adorable cats cared for by the Cat NAPS team.

Cat rescue organizations in our area, such as The Cat Collaborative of Philadelphia, Maddie’s Castle in Phoenixville, Kitty Cottage of Norristown, and the Montgomery County SPCA, are aware of and unselfishly help each other because they would love to provide “furever” homes to the many feline friends that come into their circle of influence. It’s admirable and daunting at the same time for a simple reason: there are many, many cats out there that need homes. The task is made even harder when cats are not spayed or neutered, even by responsible cat owners, and so the population expands exponentially.

One of the ways to keep the cat population under control is TNVR (Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, Release). Volunteers will round up feral cats, have reputable and highly supportive veterinarians perform neutering and vaccinating, and then ultimately, the cats are released back into the neighborhood where they were found. It is not an ideal situation, but it has shown that the cat population in the area has not grown too out of control. About 230 cats a year have been TNVR. If any of the feral cats are deemed too sickly to be released or thought that they could not fend for themselves, especially kittens, they go into foster care. When they are medically stable, microchipped and ready, they are then placed up for adoption. Since 2014, when Cat NAPS became a nonprofit, records have shown that each year since, there have been over 100 adoptions per year, including those with special needs!

Like most animal rescue organizations, Cat NAPS is nonprofit and so relies heavily on volunteerism and donations. Gift cards to Walmart and pet stores, laundry detergent, bleach, and canned cat food are especially appreciated. And like any nonprofit these days, the group could use monetary donations made out to Cat NAPS, P.O. Box 453, Gilbertsville, PA 19525. There are also fundraising events offered throughout the year and they can be found on the group's Facebook page – a site worth visiting!

So, go take that cat nap… and while resting, consider a new furry friend who would love to be there with you! To make the choice a bit easier, look for the Boyertown Expression's up and coming monthly Cat NAP offering of fur ball cuteness… complete with a wonderfully researched biography courtesy of Linda and Janine, an invaluable CAT NAP volunteer. And don't forget: donations are needed too.

Want to adopt any of the cuties featured in this article?  Reach out to notallperfectstrays@yahoo.com .  You also can visit one of their upcoming events hosted in cooperation with local businesses: 

• April 27, 2025 - Silent Auction hosted by the Henrietta Hankin Research Library, Chester Springs, PA (2pm-3pm)
  
• May 7, 2025 -- Rita's on N. Charlottee Street in Pottstown, PA
  
• September 13, 2025 -- Pottstown Pet Fair 2025 at Memorial Park in Pottstown, PA (10am-2pm)

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