December 29, 2005

New Almaden feral cat family rescued

By Jeanne Carbone Lewis
Staff Writer

They say cats have nine lives, but for one family of felines, life is a whole lot better due to the quick action of some Almaden residents.

New Almaden Quicksilver park interpreter Mary Berger and SHAS volunteers Dan Dawson and Janice Frazier in back of Casa Grande where the feral cats were discovered. Cinnabar and Catherine [pictured] are two of the rescues who are in need of adoption. Photo by Jeanne Carbone Lewis.

It all began when New Almaden Quicksilver Museum park interpreters Terri Sanislo-Williams, John Slenter and Mary Berger began seeing a long-haired tortoise cat hiding among bushes and foraging through dumpsters.

“It’s a real Cinderella story,” said park interpreter Sanislo-Williams. “I tried to trap her with salmon, but she was too smart for me. She would take the food out by herself somehow and not be caught. She was lean, but not thin, so I thought maybe she was someone’s cat.”

As Mother Nature took her course, four kittens soon appeared, hiding with the mother cat behind the Casa Grande building in the foliage. One day, the museum’s personnel were discussing the matter and New Almaden Quicksilver County Park Association President Kitty Monahan came up with an idea for the felines foraging for their existence.

“I know someone who can trap them,” said Monahan. “I’ll call Janice Frazier.”

Monahan sprang into action and gave Frazier a call. Janice was busy, but husband Dan Dawson headed for the museum with traps.

“What was amazing is that the mom and all four kittens were all caught within 24 hours,” said Dawson. “It usually takes a lot longer than that.”

The husband and wife team are experienced feral cat trappers and fervent animal caretakers. Both volunteer with Safe Haven Animal Sanctuary [SHAS], donating many hundreds of hours trapping animals and participating in adoption fairs at PetSmart stores in Campbell and Sunnyvale looking for homes for abandoned animals. The couple also foster cats at their residence in Almaden. In 2005 they rescued 144 cats and drove over 10,000 miles.
And they are a wealth of information about their passion.

“It was relatively easy to catch the kittens, because they were about 8 weeks old,” said Frazier. “Any older and they become much more wild and it becomes a real time-consuming process. And they can’t be as easily socialized to become house pets. The mom is young as well. This was probably her first heat.”

After catching the cats, Dawson took them home to foster. Park interpreter Mary Berger donated fund for food, spaying and neutering, tests and shots in memory of her beloved cat she recently lost. As SHAS is a nonprofit it’s always in need of funds and donations.

Two of the kittens, Isabel and Miner, have already been adopted by someone who works at IBM Almaden Research. Siblings Catherine and Cinnabar are still awaiting their own home as well as the mother cat.

The kittens Cinnabar and Catherine as well as their mother are being offered for adoption through SHAS. Photo by Jeanne Carbone Lewis

“I’d like Catherine and Cinnabar to be adopted together if possible,” said Frazier. “They are very close and they could keep each other company. The best place for the mom is a ranch since she is semi-feral but the more she is around people the more socialized she will become. She’d be a good mouser for someone. We’re always looking for ranch homes for the feral cats.”

This year Frazier and Dawson trapped 47 cats and kittens near Los Gatos Creek Trail. The dedicated couple also rescued a couple of kittens at Helyer Park and have done over 40 rescues near the empty lot at Blossom Hill Road and Cahalan Avenue where a few of the local residents pitch in helping to trap the animals.

“It’s so sad that people leave cats at parks and open spaces, but it’s wonderful that the Almaden community came together to rescue these so quickly,” said Frazier. “People abandon these animals and think they can make it out there on their own. They can’t, it’s not a good life. They have to compete with the wildlife for scarce food and often become wounded or sick. Some are just lost pets. We check for microchips and other ID. Finding none, we try to find the owners with posters, ads in papers and on craigslist. Sometimes it works out.”

SHAS’ mission
Safe Haven Animal Sanctuary was founded on the belief that no animal should have to go hungry, homeless or live in fear or pain. The sanctuary believes all animals deserve to be treated with dignity, kindness and respect and provided with care that increases their opportunity for a safe life.

Safe Haven Animal Sanctuary is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3), no-kill organization staffed entirely by volunteers who are deeply dedicated to the care and well being of animals in need.

For more information on SHAS trap/spay/neuter program or to donate or volunteer call (408) 420-7233 or go online at www.safehavenanimalsanctuary.org.