The Cambridge Homeless Cat Rescue is determined to help the growing number of homeless felines roaming the streets in Waterloo Region, but it's hard to keep up.
“The number of cats living on the streets has increased. We are literally not keeping up with demand,” said Cambridge Homeless Car Rescue co-founder Sue Parsons.
“There aren’t many rescues working specifically in Cambridge. We are the only one dedicated to just the Cambridge community.”
With thousands of homeless cats in the region, according to the charity, volunteers at the Cambridge rescue now find themselves working in collaboration with other nearby rescues.
“We are helping a rescue in Brantford as well. So, we are spreading out, but at the same time, it seems as if we are hardly making a dent,” Parsons said.
“The demand is so high. We’ve helped over 300 cats. But it’s not making a huge difference and that is very sad.”
Cambridge Homeless Cat Rescue is a non-profit volunteer-based animal welfare program.
The organization began operating in September 2021, offering trapped, neutered and released programs (TNR), trapping and adoption services.
Since then, the organization has saved over 340 cats from the streets and found adopting families for more than 243 cats throughout the region.
“I do believe that the times we are living in is the big driving force right now, compared to five or even seven years ago. Families today are struggling to make ends meet. Groceries are expensive, rent is through the roof, and unfortunately pets are becoming a luxury,” Parsons said.
Cambridge Homeless Cat Rescue receives more and more calls from families who need to surrender pets.
“This is because they either can’t keep up with the vet bills, or they have to focus on putting food on the table for their families,” Parsons said.
“And more people are becoming homeless.”
Parsons recognized a need in Cambridge for TNR programs due to the large number of feral cats living on the streets.
With over seven years experience in cat rescue including trapping, fostering, training of new volunteers, post-adoption counselling, adoption screening, and event planning, Parson's specialty includes caring for neonatal kittens and socializing feral cats.
“I’ve loved cats for a very young age, and I’ve always had a soft spot for them. When my kids were old enough and I had a bit of free time, I started volunteering and helping. Then I saw the great need in Cambridge and decided to learn as much as I could and then put that knowledge towards starting my own rescue,” Parsons said.
“Through it all, I was able to build some connections in the community and that has really helped as well. I didn’t do this alone by any means.”
The average lifespan of a cat living on the streets is three to five years. This includes stray and feral cats.
Stray cats, with some time in a foster home and with medical care, are adoptable. Feral cats will never learn to live indoors but to help control the pet population, they need to be spayed or neutered and returned to their home.
If no owner is found, the cat will become a part of the Cambridge Homeless Cat Rescue Adoption program.
The organization recently obtained its charity status, something Parsons says, will open the doors for new and larger fundraising opportunities.
“We have a lot of ideas for fundraisers, things that we could not do before, so this is great. We are so exited,” Parsons said.
On June 23, an 80s Music Bingo event will be held at EVO Kitchen & Bar in Cambridge. Tickets cost $20 and there will be a raffle and silent auction included. For more information, visit here.
“All funds raised go directly to the cats. It helps pay for all surgeries and supplies for foster homes such as litter and food. And of course, vet fees, that’s our biggest cost,” Parsons said.
A long-term goal for Cambridge Homeless Cat Rescue is to one day have its own facility.
“There’s advantages and disadvantages to foster homes. The advantage is the foster parent gets to know the cats and their personality. They can tell what type of adoptive family would be best suited for that cat. You don’t get that when cats are in cages or in shelters because it is not a natural environment,” Parsons said.
“On the flip side, we sometimes get calls for cats that need places to go, and we have nowhere for them to go because the foster homes are full. So, it would be nice to one day have our own facility where we can do both, where we can take cats in who are in need and keep them until foster homes open."
Anyone looking to adopt a kitten is in luck as Cambridge Homeless Cat Rescue gears up for a busy summer, with a number of newborn baby kittens.
“Our cats are available on our website. Right now, we have a lot of kittens, but they are too young to go up for adoption. In the first two weeks of June alone, we have about 12-15 surgeries booked for kittens that are currently in foster homes. And those kittens will be available for adoption probably in the third or fourth week of June,” Parsons said.
“So, we do anticipate a very busy summer with adoptions. People should check back in the next few weeks.”
For anyone who would like to volunteer with Cambridge Homeless Cat Rescue, Parsons says there are a variety of positions available including event planning, and fostering.
“We would love to hear from you because it really does take a village. We can’t do this without our volunteers,” Parsons said.
For more information about the Cambridge Homeless Cat Rescue, visit here.
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