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February 2023
This Valentine’s Day, as we celebrate everlasting love, we also want to embrace the permanence of pet ownership. Our campaign, Meow and Furr-ever, is about the love that comes with being a pet owner.
To celebrate, we have made 10 unique Valentine’s Day cards featuring some of our shelter cats. These are free to download, but donations are encouraged. They are great for your significant other or your BFF! The suggested donation is five dollars per card. They come in packs of 5, 8, and 10.
Cards »
Donation »
This month, we will also publish a series of blog posts focusing on education and preparedness as a pet owner. We will cover financial topics from bringing home a new cat to how much your cat costs per month.
Our cats bring us joy every single day, and that’s why we want to focus on the “forever” part of adoption. One of the reasons we picked this theme is because we get messages daily about taking in owner-surrendered cats. We cannot take in every cat as we have no place to put them. Once again, this is simultaneously a plea for fosters as well. You could be a part of helping cats transition to their new reality.
Email us a foster application at ocsp.adoptions@gmail.com with “Foster Application” in the subject line.
Owner-surrenders are tough on everyone. It is very emotional when someone realizes they cannot care for a pet they have had for many years. No one intends to give up ownership of their beloved pet, so we want to discuss what you can do to prevent that from happening as best as possible. So stay tuned and follow along on our blog.
Cats of the Month
For the sweet month of love, we're featuring two cats.
Are you a sucker for cat bellies? Welcome Ivory.
I am a playful girl with a lot of energy and zoomies. I like soft blankets and toy mice, and I like to play with other kitten friends—if you have one. I also like feathers! Food time is my favorite time, especially if you have treats to share. (You’ll share with cute Lil Ivory, right?). After a long day, I’m up for a good nap. I like to sleep upside down and all stretch out like Superwoman. I love a good petting, and I would like a furever hooman that wants to spend time doting on and spoiling me.
Are you hungry for more cats? Then check out Tacobella.
I was found begging for scraps at a taco truck, but no one was willing to feed me. Can you believe that? I’m too darn cute to starve! Luckily a cat lover picked me up and brought me to rescue. It is so meowvalous to have food in my tummy and be safe in a home! No more begging for scraps for me. I am still shy at first, but I would love to get to know you and be your cuddly kitty, maybe even a lap warmer! I’d gladly be your Galentine.
If you are interested in adopting Spencer, please fill out an adoption application and email it to ocsp.adoptions@gmail.com with the name of the cat in the subject line.
 Paws in the Air!
Reminder: Call for Volunteers at all Levels!
Board Members: Several board members are retiring from the rescue soon, and we need to have people lined up to replace them. Board Members need to be familiar with Excel, Word, Google Sheets, Google Drive, and PDFs. Your responsibilities include coordinating vet visits, checking in on fosters, communicating with other board members via text and email, and filling out paperwork for our charity. Familiarity with 501c3 is a bonus. We have several slots to fill. Some transportation may be required, so a proximity to Orange County is preferred. But a lot of the work can be done remote.
Without enough board members, we can’t take care of the business side of the rescue. There is a lot of behind the scenes work that goes into keeping a rescue going. All our current board members have jobs, so they can’t take on more responsibility when the others retire. This position would be great for someone with a flexible work schedule, someone who works part time, or someone who is retired and looking for a way to give back with their time. In addition to a volunteer application, include what experience you have working in a leadership position on a team. Email your volunteer application to ocsp.adoptions@gmail.com with "Board Member Application" in the subject line.
Fosters: We always need fosters. The reality is we can’t keep up with the demand to take in cats, and neither can other rescues. Unfortunately, life changes mean some people need to surrender their cats. Can you provide a temporary home for cats in need while we look for their forever home? We are a small rescue, and every foster is precious. We provide the supplies. We ask that fosters take the cat to a few adoption events each month if possible, so people can view the cat. We also ask that fosters take photos/videos of the cat, so we can post them on our social media pages. When you submit the foster application, let us know if you have experience with bottle feeding, giving medication, etc. Email foster application to ocsp.adoptions@gmail.com with “Foster” in the subject line.
Kennel Cleaners: This is a great way to help if you’ve owned cats before. Kennel cleaners/cat socializers are trained, and shifts are short (2-3 hours). However, you are with the cats mostly on your own. You are in Petco, so you are never fully alone, but we need people experienced with cat behavior for these positions. It would be great for a pair of people! Grab your best friend and both of you fill out an application for the same day. You two can chat while you clean/play with cats. Shifts are for the same day every week and always start in the morning between 8:00am-10:00am. You need to commit to a minimum of six months, you need reliable transportation to Petco, and you need to be able to text and send/receive photos with your phone. We have four locations: Westminster, Huntington Beach, Tustin, and Mission Viejo. Please indicate which location you would like to volunteer at. Email the volunteer application to ocsp.volunteers@gmail.com with “Kennel Cleaner” in the subject line.
Adoption Events: This is honestly the easiest way you can volunteer. We have adoption events every Saturday at our Huntington Beach and Tustin locations and two Sundays a month at our Westminster location. We need people to help set up the tables, chat with potential volunteers, and clean up the tables. If you have minimal cat experience and want to volunteer, consider signing up to help man a booth in Petco a few times a month. You will not be there alone. Seasoned volunteers are there to guide you and you can learn more about our rescue. This is also good for a pair of people. The shift is around four hours total, including set-up/take down time. Email the volunteer application to ocsp.volunteers@gmail.com with “Adoption Event Volunteer” in the subject line.
Social Media: Do you have social media experience? We’d love to expand our social media team. Familiarity with Canva is a plus, but we can train you. It’s very user friendly. Most of the work can be done remotely. Occasionally, we need someone to go to an event and take pictures for social. You will make 2 posts per week with guidance on topics. See our Facebook page for examples. We use Discord (this is free and easy to use), text, and email to communicate. We are looking for multiple people for this roll. When you submit your application, let us know what experience you have with social media. Email the volunteer application to ocsp.volunteers@gmail.com with “social media content” in the subject line.
Under 18: While you need to be 18+ to volunteer with us, there are ways you can help if you are younger. Talk to your school, your club, your youth group, etc. and see if can coordinate a food/goods drive! We will put together a list of our most needed items. You run the food/goods drive, and we will coordinate with you and your guardians about collecting the donations. We always need cat food, cat toys, paper towels, gloves, etc. First, make sure you can coordinate a drive. Next, have your guardian email us ocsp.volunteers@gmail.com with a tentative plan with “Donation Drive” in the subject line.
Other: Photography, digital art, video editing, sewing, or any other skill you can offer? Submit an application and let us know how you can help!
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. This is so simple, but it helps us a lot. The more followers, Likes, and Shares we generate, the more the algorithm pushes our content to new people. Plus, when you share a post, your network sees cats in need. You reach a new audience that we couldn’t without you.
Volunteer Application
Foster Application
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Tip of the Month
February is actually very focused on pets! For one, it is National Cat Health Month.
How long has it been since your cat has been to the vet? Vet visits aren’t just for illness. Keeping up with wellness checks ensures your cat is up to date on any shots, ensures she is at a healthy weight, and the vet can check her teeth and gums, etc.
Did you recently adopt a cat? While credible rescues adopt out healthy cats and provide you with all their medical histories, it is still a good idea to set up a checkup shortly after adoption. It’s important to have a vet who is familiar with your cat when she’s healthy, so if kitty does get sick, the vet already has her information on file. It saves you a lot of time and stress. Sometimes, life gets crazy, and those checkups get pushed back. Use National Cat Health Month to get everyone back on track.
P.S. February is Adopt a Rescued Rabbit month. Remember last year when we talked about people getting rabbits just for their Easter celebration? Well, as we said, a lot of those rabbits were surrendered or dumped—that’s what we suspect happened to BonBon, our December bunny friend. Rabbits live an average of 8-12 years! And they make cuddly, happy pets. I have one who gets along with my cats. If you’re curious about adopting a rabbit in the Orange County area, our friends at WAGS in Westminster have rabbits looking for permanent homes. Or you can check PetFinder for rabbit rescues near you. As always, before you bring home a new pet, make sure you understand their needs and ensure they fit into your lifestyle.
Ta Ta for now, y’all!
Late last year 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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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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