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🍁 Welcome to November, Cat Lovers! 🐈⬛
November is National Adopt A Senior Pet Month!
Sadly, senior pets are often the last ones to be adopted from the shelter. Most never find a home and spend the rest of their lives caged inside a shelter kennel. They spend the longest amount of time at shelters, which also puts them at an increased risk of being euthanized.
It's a misconception that older animals are in shelters because of their destructive or bad behavior. Though this is far from the truth, there are many reasons why a pet would end up in a shelter. Many of these senior pets were once someone’s faithful companions. Changing home circumstances, financial restrictions, death or relocation can have adverse effects on a pet’s life. These pets have much to offer, and they are usually adaptable.3
If you are looking for a new, yet older companion, PetFinder will let you search by age. You can find over 60 senior cats available for adoption near Huntington Beach alone. At our cat rescue, we have Frankie, a handsome senior looking for his furrever home.
 
“I am 13 years old, looking for a new forever home. About a year ago my life turned upside down when my mom’s dementia was diagnosed as Alzheimer’s. She is now in Hospice and can’t care for me. My foster mom is taking care of us now. While she would love to keep us, she already cares for several elderly cats who need medical care. Plus, there is an elderly dog here who scares me because I’ve never lived around dogs. I need my new home to be quiet and free of children, dogs of any size, and kittens because I like to take things slow and relax peacefully. But I do love company! I am good with other cats. I am, of course, litter box trained and up to date on my vaccines.”
If you think Frankie is a good match for you:
Please contact OCSP Cat Rescue at ocsp.adoptions@gmail.com, putting Frankie’s name in the subject line. Or call us at 714-815-4300. Email is the best form of communication for us.
Now it’s time to settle into the last bit of fall, which will be difficult with radio stations playing Christmas music and stores already sporting holiday décor. Thanksgiving will be here in a flash.
 Remember, even if the kitty is begging for turkey scraps, many common spices—like garlic and onion—are toxic for her. Furthermore, anything too salty or too fatty could give her an upset stomach as well, so if you want your furry friend to celebrate with you, pick up some turkey cat food instead.
For example, Merrick Purrfect Bistro makes a Minced Thanksgiving Day Dinner wet food, and the nutrition is pretty good. Merrick is a pretty easy brand to find; it is sold at Petco, PetSmart, Pet Supply and Centinela Feed.
While we are on the subject of food, November 14 is World Diabetes Day.
Unfortunately, Cats are at risk of getting diabetes, too. “It is estimated that between 0.2 % and 1 % of cats will be diagnosed with diabetes during their lifetime.”1 Luckily, that isn’t a large number. Still, we always want to be vigilant with our cats because they are notorious for hiding their pain and illnesses.
What Signs You Should Look For
“The four main symptoms of diabetes mellitus are increased thirst, increased urination, weight loss, and increased appetite.”2 Increased thirst and urination could also signify other illnesses—such as UTI or Kidney Infection. Therefore, a trip to the vet is recommended if your cat changes her water consumption. This is also why annual vet check-ups are so important. That way, you can catch illnesses before they progress too far.
What Puts Your Cat at Risk
Some of the risk factors include obesity and physical inactivity. “Obese cats are up to four times more likely to develop diabetes than ideal weight cats, so the most important thing a cat owner can do to decrease their risk of developing diabetes is to maintain a healthy weight and encourage physical activity through daily play.”1
You might not think your cat is overweight, but just a few ounces changes things. “It is important to note that a cat three pounds over its ideal weight is considered obese, and that means the average domestic cat weighing 13 pounds or more is at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes…”2
Preventative Care
Sometimes diabetes results from aging, and there isn’t much to be done to prevent it. However, as cat owners, we can focus on is weight. “Obese cats are up to four times more likely to develop diabetes than ideal weight cats, so the most important thing a cat owner can do to decrease their risk of developing diabetes is to maintain a healthy weight and encourage physical activity through daily play.”1 Feather toys work wonders, and I’ve even had luck with my cats enjoying interactive and electronic toys. For example, I have Petlinks System Pure Commotion Electronic Activity Cat Toy.
One of my cats loves it so much she knocks it on its side. I like it because the batteries last a decent amount of time, and it automatically shuts off after 15 minutes.
I also have Petlinks System Mystery Motion Electronic Activity Cat Toy.
It worked to keep my two cats interested for a while. It even helped them get used to being in the same room when we introduced them because it gave them something to focus on other than each other. What I didn’t like was that it seemed to eat through battery power.
I have also tried several different roaming toys. If you have linoleum/wood floors and were considering one of these toys, I have had the best experience with HexBug. It moves quickly, changes direction, and can usually right itself if tipped on its side.
Downside: It is small and easily goes under furniture, including hard-to-reach spots like under the fridge or oven.
If your cat is very overweight and needs to go on a diet, make sure you slowly cut down the amount of food you give her. One of my older cats was verging on 18 pounds! So we started using a kitchen scale to accurately measure how much wet food she received. We also reintroduced her to a feeding schedule (which had been lost in the chaos of adopting a second cat and the pandemic).
I use Cat Food Database to look at calorie content before trying a new food for my girls. Their site is very helpful because it lists nutrition and potential allergens. Also, dry food is pretty high in calories, so you may want to consider making your cat work for that dry food with a treat ball or other interactive cat feeder. As always, consult your vet for the best advice.
I hope you learned something this month. I’ll be back next month with more cat content! Don’t forget to tell others they can subscribe to our monthly newsletter.
Best furry wishes,
Sources & Further Reading
- https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/feline-diabetes
- https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/diabetes-mellitus-in-cats-overview
- https://nationaltoday.com/national-adopt-a-senior-pet-month
A few months ago we commemorated #RememberMeThursday. So many adoptable pets are euthanized every year because organizations cannot find homes for them and because no-kill organizations lack the resources to save every animal. Help our organization by donating, volunteering at one of our Petco locations, or/and fostering with us.
When you foster a cat, you free up space in our organization, which allows us to help other cats in our community who need assistance. We rely on fosters to provide housing for cats while they are waiting for their forever homes. We are constantly called or messaged on Facebook about cats who need shelter. The truth is, if we don’t have space, we can’t take them. We do reach out to other organizations, but they are also stretched thin.
But only with your help! Save a life by signing up to foster. Please complete the fostering application, email us at ocsp.adoptions@gmail.com with “Fostering” in the subject line, and be sure to tell us a little about yourself so that we can talk to you about the details personally. If only 2% more of pet-owning households fostered just 1 pet a year, we could end this tragedy.* If you are unable to foster, please help us by spreading the word. Ask friends, family, or co-workers if they’ve considered fostering. And you can direct any questions they may have to our email address listed above. We greatly appreciate all of your support, dear readers.
What is it like to foster cats/kittens?
 Ready to be purrfessional kitten wrangler? As a foster, your primary job is to watch over the cats, feed them, and socialize them with play time. This may also include transporting them to the vet for checkups, teaching them good litter box behavior, providing a space for recuperation after surgery/injury, or administering medicine. You would be their primary human contact before they are adopted, so your role is imperative.
We have cats of all ages that are looking for foster care. You can specify particular preferences (kittens/special needs/ willing to medicate/willing to isolate/etc) on your foster application. If you’ve never fostered, our team members are available to get into specifics and answer any questions you may have along the way.
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Hi. I'm Frankie! You probably read about me above, but I'd like to share my story again just in case you didn't see it.
Until a year ago, I lived a quiet happy life with my pet mom and Reggie, a fellow cat (he's also available for adoption!). We lived a comfortable, safe, indoor life where we could curl up in a sunny spot, in a lap or on a chair or bed. But a year ago my life turned upside down when my mom's dementia was diagnosed as Alzheimer's. She is now in Hospice and can't care for me.
My foster mom is taking care of us now. She would love to keep us but she has several elderly cats who need medical care and a cranky elderly dog who scares me. I've never lived around dogs. So I am 13 years old, looking for a new forever home. I need that home to be quiet and free of children, dogs of any size, and kittens. I need to be strictly an indoor cat. I am litter box trained and I promise to greet you all the time with lots of purrs and "head bumps." I could share you and the house with maybe another cat. After all, Reggie and I lived together for about 8 years.
Wouldn't you like to meet me and see if I am the perfect addition to YOUR family? For more information on how to adopt any of our adoptable cats, please contact OCSP Cat Rescue at ocsp.adoptions@gmail.com, putting the cat's name in the subject line. EMAIL is always the fastest way to bring your new family member home!
Check our social media and website for the most up-to-date information on current adoption events at www.ocspcatrescue.org or email us at ocsp.adoptions@gmail.com to ask us where we'll be that weekend.
Adoption fees are $170.00 per adult cat and $195 per kitten up to one year old. We offer reduced fees for adopting two cats together ($315 for two adults, $375 for two kittens). Adoption fees include spay/neuter, microchip, deworming, UTD on vaccines, FELV/FIV testing, and any other vet care that has been administered. There is an additional fee to pay with a credit card.
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Other Ways to Help OCSP Cat Rescue
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Your monetary donations keep our organization going, and for that, the cats and all the volunteers at OCSP are eternally grateful. We are a 100% volunteer-run organization and couldn’t do this without your support.
 Volunteer with us; we need you! Fill out a volunteer application and email it to us at ocsp.volunteers@gmail.com with “Volunteer” in the subject line. We have multiple locations in Orange County that need all paws on deck, so your help is highly appreciated. Yes, you clean litter boxes, but you also get to play with cats. Tag us with your Insta worthy photos @OCSP_catrescue while volunteering. As always, consider giving us a donation to help us care for the cats.
 Can you foster? Please email us at ocsp.adoptions@gmail.com with “Fostering” in the subject line. Complete the fostering application, and be sure to tell us a little about yourself so that we can talk to you about the details personally. We rely heavily on foster homes to save cats.
 Find your next best purr-fect roommate or new best fur-iend through OCSP! Check out our cuties on Pet Finder. See someone you like? Fill out our adoption application and email it to OCSP Cat Rescue at ocsp.adoptions@gmail.com, putting the cat’s name in the subject line.
 Do you order pet supplies from Chewy? OCSP Cat Rescue has a Wish List with Chewy. You can purchase gift cards, food, toys, cat litter, and other things on our list for our cats. Chewy takes care of the rest for you by shipping it directly to us. It’s so easy, and our fur babies appreciate it.
 Donate year-round without thinking about it! Amazon allows you to set a charity for your account. When you order from smile.amazon.com with our charity selected, we automatically get a portion donated to us. Please find us on AmazonSmile: OCSP Cat Rescue, Inc.
Follow us on social media!
Instagram @OCSP_catrescue or follow our Facebook page to keep up with all our happily ever after stories. Our YouTube channel is full of cute videos showing our cats in action. If you have adopted from us, tag us with pictures of your new family member!
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Here at OCSP Cat Rescue, our name means quite literally, Our Cats Save People. We get to see firsthand what a positive impact the right pairing can have on both cat and human(s), and that's why we're committed to finding the best cat for you and your family and the best human match for the cats in our care.
We love hearing from our adopters and receiving updates on the furry friends we've sent to loving homes, which reinforces why all of our tireless volunteers do what we do. From time to time we will be bringing you stories and pictures from our adopters and their OCSP Cat Rescue alumni.
If you'd like to share a story about how adopting from OCSP Cat Rescue has made a positive difference in your life, email your story and any photos to ocsp.sec@gmail.com - it may just be included in a future newsletter!
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