11/1/2024
| HOPE MURRAY TREMBLAY
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Connecticut Cat Connection has helped find forever homes for 10,000 stray cats and kittens for almost four decades.
The rescue efforts started with one person taking in one stray at a time. Soon, volunteers began helping and working with other rescue organizations and became an official shelter in 2003 called Cat Haven.
The shelter continued to grow and is now the Connecticut Cat Connection located at 40 Stevens Mill Rd. in Windsor.
Founder and Director Marianne Vieweg is passionate about helping her feline clients find loving homes. Expanding into the current shelter has enabled her to find homes for 70 cats last month alone.
The present shelter is housed in three rooms and has an infirmary, laundry, exam and storage rooms.
Volunteer Jean Sapula said she and Vieweg hope to keep expanding to help as many cats and kittens as possible.
“Our shelter is constantly filled and we dream of expansion in the future to help more animals,” said Sapula. “In addition to the animals in the shelter, we have approximately 60 more cats and kittens in foster homes.” The shelter holds between 40 to 50 animals at a time, all cared for by volunteers.
“Our volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization and keep it running,” said Sapula. “We have folks of all ages, bringing their skills to our organization. Our cleaning and care crew consists of over 100 volunteers, but we always can use more, as many perform double duties, such as working in the shelter and transporting cats to veterinary visits, medical care, or adoption counselors, to name a few positions.”
Vieweg welcomes all volunteers, but especially needs people with medical backgrounds for cat care, as well as volunteers for fundraisers, office staff, handymen/women, even landscapers for the grounds. Anyone wishing to help should apply online at CTCatConnection.org.
Many people associate “kitten season” with spring, however, Sapula said seasons don’t seem to matter anymore.
“Now we are finding kitten season extended for most of the year, and larger populations of strays, due to people not spaying or neutering their outdoor cats. Our cats come from a variety of situations: surrenders from people in dire situations, loss of jobs, housing, illness that want their animals taken care of and contact us, but our waiting list can be long,” Sapula said. “We receive calls from realtors or landlords, finding animals left behind or dumped outside and we have helped in hoarding situations as well.”
When a cat or kitten is brought to the shelter, staff try to get a detailed intake on their background, such as medical history and behaviors, so the best home can be found. Sometimes, that information is not available, but staff do their best to observe behaviors and exam the felines. Once accepted for adoption, potential owners can view animals online and apply to adopt.
“Our adoption counselors will vet the applications and get back to the interested parties within a week,” Sapula said. “With approval, a person may make an appointment, or stop in during our open hours, which include nights and weekends to visit with our adoptable pets. Our adoption fee covers the price of the neuter/spay, vaccines and microchipping.”
The CT Cat Connection does not receive any state or federal funding and relies fully on donations from the public.
“As it’s been said, it takes a village, and a village of animal lovers, our volunteers, past adopters and others just to keep us in business,” said Sapula. “With increases in veterinary bills, unexpected medical expenses and energy costs, we really could use a great deal of help, especially if we want to expand our present organization to accommodate the number of requests we receive for surrender animals.”
Unfortunately, CT Cat Connections’ staff has seen its share of animal abuse.
“We have seen some horrible cruelty done to some of these cats, they have been stabbed, shot, with imbedded pellets in their bodies and still these cats show an uncanny ability to continue to love and have sweet dispositions,” Sapula said. “We are sad when we have cats who are incredibly shy and scared, as they take much longer to get adopted, but it brightens our day when an adopter takes a chance on one of these pets or is willing to take on an older cat – even one with medical conditions – and gives that cat a very special forever home. Seeing our hard-to-place cats flourish in their new homes is what makes our day. Since Marianne began rehoming these beautiful animals, she is responsible for getting at least 10,000 cats/kittens adopted, which is amazing.”
ANYONE INTERESTED IN ADOPTING OR VOLUNTEERING CAN APPLY AT CTCATCONNECTION.ORG.
VISITORS ARE WELCOME AT THE CONNECTICUT CAT CONNECTION,
40 STEVENS MILL RD. IN WINDSOR, ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
FROM 12-3 P.M. AND TUESDAY-THURSDAY FROM 5-6:30 P.M.
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