Monday's Care-Team Volunteers - KittyKind
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KittyKind.org
instagram: @KittyKindCats
email: inquiries@kittykind.org
Newsletter, January 2021
Happy 2021 to everyone from the volunteers at KittyKind. Starting in this issue, we’ll spotlight some of the many
volunteers at KittyKind. Did you know that in addition to the care-team volunteers, those who feed and clean
the cats, there are many other kinds of volunteers at KittyKind? There are adoption representatives, health-
care volunteers, cat socializers, database volunteers. a social media coordinator, photographers, a web designer,
foster-care coordinators, volunteers who field phone calls, and the list goes on. You’ll meet all of them. In this
issue, we focus on the Monday volunteers.You’ll also get a glimpse, from other inside sources, of what KittyKind’s
like on a Monday.
Monday’s Care-Team Volunteers
Three-hundred and sixty-five days a year, volunteers go to KittyKind
in the Petco Store to feed and clean the cats. Morning and evening,
they feed, clean, observe, record, and clean, again. They’re the eyes
and ears of cat care.
From Laura W., Monday a.m. Care Team:
“Kitty Kind was one of my first calls after retiring from my full-time
job in 2011. As someone who doesn’t have cats at home anymore,
I really treasure the time I spend in the Petco shelter. The resiliency
and sweetness the cats exhibit is especially inspiring during these dif-
ficult times. It’s a joy to be a part of helping these wonderful animals
move forward to new and better lives.” (Laura found out about Kit-
tyKind from a co-worker who is also still volunteering, and Laura’s
daughter also adopted a cat from KittyKind.)
From Maggie O., Monday a.m. Care Team:
You’ll probably find Maggie at KittyKind on days other than Mon-
days because she’s a frequent fill-in. Maggie has been volunteering
at KittyKind for four years. She found out about KittyKind while
taking an aerobics class. The husband of a long-time volunteer was
in the class, talking about cats, and he asked Maggie if she liked cats.
She said “no,” but she was intrigued enough from the conversation
to visit KitttyKind. She met Jean Fox, the director of KittyKind, and
Maggie filled out her application that day. Now retired, she says that
her primary motivation for volunteering at KittyKind is because it’s
“fun.” She gets to laugh at the antics of the cats, and she’s helping
rescued cats “start their new life.” That’s a good feeling.
From Kseniia K., Monday p.m. Care Team:
“My name is Kseniia and I’m originally from a small city in the middle
of Russia. Most of my background is in Art History, but currently
I’m working in the field of interior design. I live in Manhattan with
my husband Jim and American Shorthair cat Lobster-Butkus who,
Kseniia with a little cat, and a big cat
Continued on next page
Kseniia and pal (left),
and her cat
Lobster-Butkus
(below)
ironically, was born and raised in Russia. During one
short stint where I worked at a zoo in my home city, I
was helping to take care of little orphaned wild animals
that were born in the zoo. One of my favorite creatures
that I personally helped raise was a Bengal tiger named
Sakhi. Ever since then, I have always wanted to help and
take care of critters big and small, and I’m so happy and
proud to be a part of the Kitty Kind team. You all are
amazing people. Thank you very much for all that you
do to rescue, foster and ultimately find loving homes for
our numerous cats.” (Kseniia has been volunteering with
KittyKind since 2018.)
From Lisa P., Monday p.m. Care
Team:
“I started volunteering with KittyKind a few months af-
ter I adopted Wyatt and Ziggy in 2018. Patricia K. re-
cruited me to join become a volunteer. I started on the
cat care team and then moved over to the adoptions
team assisting Patricia and Ina on Wednesday evenings.
Since the pandemic, I’ve gone back over to the cleaning/
feeding and hope to go back to adoptions post vaccine.
Here I am with my 3rd kitty, Candy. I’m working full time
and hope to retire soon and spend more time volun-
teering and traveling.”
Lisa P. with a KittyKind pal.
Health Maintenance Volunteers From Valerie B., Monday shift:
Health-Maintenance volunteers monitor any changes “This is the family. Clockwise...me, Bitey, Little Girl, Big
the cats may experience after their arrival at KittyKind. Boy, Chris, and Hi5. Been volunteering 15 years, since
For example, the volunteers look for signs of stress, my special-needs kitty Sammy died. Since he taught
loss of appetite, scratching, etc. If there is an issue, they me how to give so many meds, I figured, why not help
then follow-through with veterinarian directions for some other kitties? I have a job where I usually make
the cats’ continued care. Many of the volunteers are my own schedule, so it’s easy to volunteer at KK. The
pre-vet students from local colleges, vet-techs, and/or best part about it is meeting new cats and discovering
volunteers who love. cats. They usually volunteer be- their unique personalities. (Valerie also rescued Hi5,
fore or after the other volunteers. last summer, during the pandemic. As he was recov-
ering from ringworm in her bathroom, he pawed con-
stantly to join the rest of the family.The name Hi5 suits
his friendly personality.)
From Sam F., Monday:
After working in a number of fields completely unre-
lated to animal care, I made the decision to change
direction and start a course towards a career in veter-
inary medicine. I am currently taking post-Bacc classes
through Hunter CUNY, and I’m hoping to complete
the required natural science credits and apply to vet
school within the next couple of years. We never had
cats growing up, so volunteering with KittyKind and
training to join the meds team has been a great way
to get comfortable caring for these sweet animals
while doing some good! Aside from volunteering with
KittyKind and taking classes, I am able to spend time
volunteering at the New York Aquarium, working on
some creative projects with friends, and sleeping. (Now
Val, Chris, and Bitey, Little Girl, Big Boy, and Hi5. that’s a word a cat can understand.)
Mondays, an Insider’s Look at KittyKind:
On any given day at KittyKind, you’ll find a pair of kit-
tens, a senior citizen, a teenager, a young(ish) female,
and a (youngish) male. We’ve listened in to some of
their conversations, and now we’ll share bits of it with
you.
Senior Cat:Thank goodness it’s Monday. I can sleep.The
weekend’s too crowded.
Kitten 1: I’m so bored.
Kitten 2: We can climb the bars again. Look! I jumped
all the way to the shelf. Rhonda and Rollie as Kitten 1 and Kitten 2
Continued on next page
Teenager: Kid’s stuff.
Kitten 1: Why? What’re you doing?
Teenager: Practicing. Here, look. When people come
over, you rub against their hand. Arch your back. Keep
your tail high. Just when they’re really into you, turn your
head and lick your shoulder, totally uninterested. Drives
them crazy.
Kitten 1: Boring.
Female Cat: Hi roomie upstairs. You okay? You’ve been
so quiet.
Pugsley as the male cat upstairs
Male Cat: I’m so scared.
Female Cat: I know.You just got here. It’ll get better.
Male Cat: But what happens when they open this door?
Female:Well, you get food, new litter, a new blanket.They
pet you. They brush you, too, if you let them.
Male Cat: Oh.
Kitten 2: And lots of toys.
Senior Cat: Look. The volunteers are coming. Right on
Lala as the female cat time. I like routine.
Teenager: Remember. Eat nothing. Hold out for what
you really like.
Kitten 1: I’m so … ohhh, dinner!
(Tuesdays --to be continued.)
Whiskey Sour as the teen
Albert as the senior (Surprise! He’s not a
senior! This is acting, friends!)
Help Adopt the Cats:
Cats Re-Visited
Please continue to share our updates on some of the
special-needs cats at KittyKind.They’d love to meet your
family and friends for a match-up.
TURTLE, male, age 8, transferred from
Brooklyn Animal Care and Control
KITTYKIND: Next month is Valentine’s Day. Do you have a
significant other?
TURTLE: My matchmaker’s working it.
KITTYKIND: Do you believe in love at first sight?
TURTLE: Oh, the stories I could tell.
KITTYKIND: And what about now?
TURTLE: I’m a monogamous guy who likes
an exclusive relationship.
KITTYKIND: Any wisdom to share? TURTLE IS GIANT. At eight years old, this dude is 15
pounds of pure love and snacks. He loves to sleep on
TURTLE: Roses are red. Violets are blue. your lap. He’s like a tiny, weighted blanket! So perfect
This Valentine’s Day I’ll share all with you. for winter, and also spring, summer and fall. He’s a gen-
tle giant who loves to get petted. He’s shy around new
people, but once he knows you, he loves you.
Turtle likes a quiet home, so he can sleep on your
lap. He also occasionally gets the zoomies. He’s FIV
and FeLV negative, neutered, and up to date on shots.
Turtle is currently in foster care.
Email adopt@kittykind.org to find your lap cushion.
KIWI, male, age 3 jump, and play! Despite his bursts of energetic playful-
A Loaf of Marble Rye ness, he will quickly revert to a calm state. When he
isn’t folding himself into a loaf, he likes to knead the
KITTYKIND: What’s it like in your current foster home? closest thing he can with his little white mittens (couch,
pillow, human, you name it!).
KIWI: I’m their personal trainer. He loves his pets and to be brushed and will roll
around for you to let you know how happy he is. He
KITTYKIND: It’s Valentine’s Day soon. Any significant other? loves to watch bird videos and will slow blink at you to
let you know he appreciates you. He loves to play and
KIWI: “I like people so much I prefer not to can be a bit feisty during it, but he really is an awesome
share.” * love bug of a cat.
Kiwi is FIV positive and FeLV negative. Feline Immuno-
KITTYKIND: Last group activity? deficiency Virus (FIV) is a lentivirus, like HIV, that affects
cats around the world. FIV is only contagious among
KIWI: Snackers’ Anonymous. I dropped out. cats and difficult to transmit. It is also slow-acting, so
cats generally do not show any symptoms until years
KITTYKIND: Any Valentine wishes? after being infected. The amount of time it takes for
the virus to make a cat become immune compromised
KIWI: Roses are red, violets are blue, this can vary, but once symptomatic, FIV positive cats are
Valentine’s Day let me play with you. more vulnerable to contracting other diseases. How-
*www.heartspeack.org ever, with the proper care, FIV positive cats can live
healthy, happy lives.
Kiwi was found as a neighborhood stray with infected
ears and a hurt paw which caused him to slightly limp.
He showed up in our backyard and hung out on our
patio furniture regularly for about three days straight
prior to us determining he needed a helping hand and
taking him in.
Kiwi will be quick to win you over with his big green
eyes and sweet and quirky personality. He loves to run,
The volunteers, with humor and care, pamper the
rescued cats like the pets they are.Tune in for more
meet and greets’. Cats will mingle, too.
Contributors: Visuals:
Jean Fox Michael Ma
Valerie Vlasaty Marie Mundaca
Josie Wang
Beverly Wilson
MYE, female, age 6
Professional Mom
I’d love to tell you my story, but that will take a book
(which I’m working on right now! Look for my memoir,
Oh Mye Mye, coming in 2021!). The brief version is I
was sadly forced to have litters of adorable kittens that
were then sold. I’m now spayed and really enjoying my
retirement! I know I’m very young to be retired--that’s
the good part of my story. But I know the best parts
are yet to come.
I’m looking for a new home that will let me hang out
and do my writing. I can be a little shy at first, but I
know we’re going to love each other after a little while.
I love to play, and I also love to nap and think. I’d love to
be the only cat in your home, and I alsoget along with
other cats.
I’m FIV and FeLV negative, spayed, and up-to-date on
shots. Email me at adopt@kittykind.org and let’s hang out!
KITTYKIND It’s almost Valentine’s Day. Do you have a sig-
nificant other?
MYE: You are cat. That is enough.
MYE: I prefer to be the only apple of your
eye, but we can discuss. KITTYKIND What is your favorite day?
KITTYKIND How would you describe yourself? MYE: Valentine’s Day. Let’s make a love
connection.
MYE: Elegant, selective, and sensitive – like
all feline artists KITTYKIND What’s your Valentine’s Day wish?
KITTYKIND You’ve had some rough patches in your life. MYE: Roses are red, violets are blue, this
Any advice to others? Valentine’s Day, how ‘bout me and you?
Let’est
meow!
me
We’re Temporarily Closing
Until 2/12
Inquire Online at adopt@kittykind.org
To Meet Us in Foster Care
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