Local Animal Rescues Join Up to Help Cats

By MADDY VITALE Two local animal welfare nonprofit organizations, S.O.S. (Sea Isle Cats) and Cape Atlantic Cats out of Ocean City are working together to save, foster, adopt out, spay and neuter more than 35 cats that came out of a home in Atlantic County. Kathy Goodwin, a volunteer for Sea Isle Cats, said in an interview Wednesday, that there are more than 20 kittens who have been fostered or in the hospital for care from the home. The owner surrendered the animals last month and since then the volunteers have worked to help and care for the cats. Teaming up with Ocean City’s nonprofit Cape Atlantic Cats in Ocean City, was the way to go, Goodwin stressed. “We have formed a relationship with Cape Atlantic Cats.  They do wonderful work," Goodwin said. "Because of our relationship with them, we help foster, adopt and help take care of an animal population that really needs taking care of.” And S.O.S. has rescued more than 400 cats or trapped them to be released with vaccinations to lessen the spread of diseases. These kittens will eventually be able to be adopted. Goodwin said it is a three-part mission. The volunteers assess the cat population, treat sick cats and spay and neuter them and find foster homes for them to stay before they are adopted out. Goodwin said Judy Canton is in charge of the whole mission and she is at Cape Atlantic Cats. Like Goodwin, who works at Sea Isle’s Crooked Tail shop, she runs Mew to You in Ocean City. Most of the felines remaining in the home are adult males. Goodwin hopes that they will get a chance to be adopted out as the kittens do. “Everyone wants kittens,” she said, noting that the adult cats also make great companions. For the feral cats, they are being treated and released. Vets in the area are providing the medical care. But it costs money, and sometimes the amount is exorbitant. “Many of the cats are being treated for eye infections and respiratory problems,” Goodwin said. ”We are working as fast as we can to treat each cat so to stop the spread of illnesses and fatten them up.” However, she said on social media, “It’s a big task and we could use your help by donations of kitten food and litter.” Goodwin said that the organizations are looking to the public for their generosity and to donate what they can. Any little amount helps, she said. She pointed out that all of this would not be possible without the collaboration between the two groups of animal lovers or the generous donations that are so needed for surgeries and other medical care. For more information on how to donate or volunteer, visit the “Crooked Tail Rescue Project” at 4208 Landis Ave Sea Isle City NJ 08243 or call Kathy Goodwin at 609-675-0421. A mother cat holds some of her kittens.