Japan Cat Network

Cool paws, warm hearts

Japan Cat Network — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 05:00:17 +0000

Another hot one, but the kitties are managing to keep their cool…check out some cool pictures from the JCN Kansai shelter! Of course some of the newest little rescues are young enough to still be blanket happy. Hina and Hikaru were rescued at only about 2 weeks of age from abandonment at a convenience store. Jade, Angelo, and their 4 other siblings were found on their own outside a volunteer’s house at only about a month old. Guinness, Gino, and Tabitha were found abandoned near the shelter. Though most abandonment ends in tragedy, these lucky little ones are survivors thanks to kind rescue efforts and foster care. It’s not too late for you to be a part, too, by supporting their care or inviting one (or two!) into your hearts and home. It’s cool to be kind!

Happy and we know it!

Japan Cat Network — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 04:57:21 +0000

Summer is in full swing, and it’s a great time to welcome a new pet into your home. Having a little extra free time to spend with your new kitty means that you’ll be able to make the transition as smooth as possible, and with so many kittens to choose from, you’re sure to find your purrr-fect match! Take a look at some of our recent rescues…

Magic, Pastel, and Mikan were scooped up in the nick of time. These poor little ones had been covered in the glue from mouse traps and then abandoned in a park. This glue is really awful stuff, making it impossible for the kittens to clean themselves, and attracting layers of additional dirt and debris. It also severely hinders movement. When found, these three were being attacked by crows and would have had no chance of escape. Fortunately, they were found and rescued! After lots of baths using vegetable oil and dish soap, all are doing well now and are eager to find their forever homes.

Dayan (pictured above), Dixie, Brenna, Braeden, Bethany, and Benjamin were all taken to an animal control center for destruction. The kittens contracted Parvo virus at the center, and 4 of the siblings from the two groups didn’t survive. Thanks to dedicated volunteers, 6 of these little lives were able to be saved! All of these kittens are healthy now and very friendly.

Due to increased costs regarding vaccines, we need to raise our adoption fee to ¥14,000, which will include spay/neuter, de-worming treatment, and age applicable vaccination. For younger kittens, there will be a refundable ¥10,000 spay/neuter deposit, along with the ¥4,000 vaccination fee. Of course this amount doesn’t begin to cover the entire cost for rescue and care, but every bit helps. New fees will go into place for adoptions resulting from questionnaires received after August 15.

JCN volunteers have worked night and day this season to prevent births, save lives, and to improve the lives of stray and abandoned cats throughout Japan. Be a part of this amazing work by giving a loving home to one (or two!) of our rescued kitties, and share in the joy of making the world a kinder, happier place.

Halloween in June

Japan Cat Network — Mon, 31 May 2010 16:20:31 +0000

We’d like to introduce some of our many lucky black kitties–You’ll be glad when one of these cuties crosses your path! Candy is a bit shy at first but oh so loving once she gets to know you, and she has a beautiful soft coat. Amber is a growing one month old and is already a confirmed lap kitty. Aimee may be small but she is all heart. Lizzie is a fluffy ball of friendly, and there are four more black little ones growing into names and pages of their own. Black cats sometimes end up staying longer at the shelter than the others, so we want to start encouraging adopters to take a second look, right away. Their color may be dark, but these sweeties are sure to light up your life and home!

We’re still here…

Japan Cat Network — Tue, 18 May 2010 18:48:46 +0000

We’ve been away for a while, coping with a recent tragedy at the JCN Kansai shelter. Sadly, the shelter experienced an outbreak of Parvovirus. Though this is a difficult time for us, we are determined not to let it stop us from our commitment to providing shelter assistance to those helping cats through Trap Neuter and Return efforts. We believe that sheltering is an essential part of successful and humane TNR, as well as a vital part of animal welfare. Having rescued, rehabilitated, re-homed, and/or released nearly 150 cats at the Kansai shelter over the last 2 years, in support of hundreds of others spayed or neutered, we believe that commitment is well founded. Please take the time to read a letter from our director, and to help us out now, as we move forward together!

Though we are not currently able to accept new cats or kittens at the shelter, we are still working to place rescues from TNR projects, and those coming in from animal control, into foster homes. 15 kittens urgently needed placements this past week and are now doing well in foster care. Please contact us if you are able to provide foster care, or are interested in adoption. Take a look at some of these newly saved little lives here, here, and here…

We Love our pets…Spaying it is saying it!

Japan Cat Network — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:04:06 +0000

February is a month for showing our love… Join animal lovers all over the world, in celebrating Spay Day International! JCN is working in cooperation with the Shiga ken regional animal control center, to spread the word about how important it is to spay and neuter the animals that we care for. We’ll be handing out fliers again, this time in front of Heiwado stores around Shiga, as well as at some JR train stations, February 21 - 27. Check our Spay Day Events page for a detailed schedule, which we will be posting soon, and contact us, if you would like to organize a flier pass-out day near your location. We’d also like to see our adopters and friends enter photos of pets in the Humane Society Spay Day International Photo Contest. It’s free to enter, it only takes a few minutes, and it could help us to raise much needed funds for spay neuter projects in low income communities. Be sure to choose Japan Cat Network, as your charity, from the pull-down menu.

Let’s work together to prevent the unnecessary suffering of unwanted pets, by spaying and neutering before spring arrives! Contact us now for help in starting a Trap Neuter Return project in your community.

The Year of the Tiger

Japan Cat Network — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:36:21 +0000

This is the year to celebrate all things cat. Get your New Year off to a Happy start by welcoming a furry new member to your family! We have some adorable little tiger kitties, eager to find homes and hearts. For example little Nemo, a beautiful 4 1/2 month old ginger, rescued from a TNR project area near the lakeside. He’s a friendly kitten who loves people, and is a joyful bundle of fun! Take a look at some of the other kitties waiting for new homes…

Another way to have a Happier New Year…Make a point to do something to help the wild cats that you see living on the streets in your area. Animal control reports the highest destruction numbers for the year in the months of March, April, and May. Most of those destroyed are unwanted kittens, but as more people start Trap Neuter Return projects in their communities, we can bring those numbers down. If you love animals and empathize with the poor cats living and reproducing in your area, now is the time to remedy the situation, before spring births start! TNR can turn an unmanageable community cat problem into a reasonable situation for all involved. Much like cleaning up a park, or planting beds of flowers, TNR improves the appearance and the quality of life in communities, not to mention the emotional well being of animal lovers who live there. Concerns about the cost and the work involved are often the main deterrents to getting a project started, but leaving things as they are means a regular parade of sick, homeless, and dying cats. Sad of course for the cats but also sad for anyone who cares. This kind of sight causes a constant assault on the happiness of the people living nearby, and in the end, the benefits of creating a better situation far outweigh the costs. With a little effort and investment, you can turn things around now, and prevent the suffering of hundreds of kittens and cats down the line. And, you’ll feel better, as you make your world a nicer place. Contact us for help planning your project now, as we approach February and Spay Day International!

Something everyone can use…

Japan Cat Network — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:21:51 +0000

It’s time to think about presents and maybe making the world a little bit better place. We’ll send your friend or loved one a small present and a big thank you, if you donate $20 or more in their name. We’ll also do this for birthdays, and other special occasions! Just send us the to and from names, as well at the sending address, and let us know how you sent the donation. It’s the gift that saves a life AND looks great on everyone!

Come on, Be a Lifesaver!

Japan Cat Network — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:50:07 +0000

A young fisherman called us last week, about some cats living near his favorite fishing area on Lake Biwa. He was very concerned for the safety and health of kittens that had been born there and about the growing number of cats. We went out to the area to check out the situation, and found the area to be reasonably hospitable, if the cats are spayed/neutered and if warmer shelter can be constructed. We felt the immediate need to rescue the 5 youngest kittens, even though we are already bursting at the seams here. Take a look at this sweet group of kitties, and let us know how you might be able to help. We are looking for foster and adoptive homes, as well as those willing to sponsor a spay or neuter operation. Come on…is this a face that you can really say “No” to?!

Chilly much?

Japan Cat Network — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:56:18 +0000

Warm your heart and home with a furry bundle of joy! Take a look at our October photo page to see some of our most recent rescues from local TNR projects, as well as the nursery page, to see those still waiting patiently for their forever homes. If you aren’t currently able to adopt or foster, do the next best thing and sponsor the care of a furry friend. With your help, we can bring another in out of the cold, and give them a warm future.

Workday for Welfare

Japan Cat Network — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:00:45 +0000

We want to let those animal lovers of a more rugged type, know that ARK is putting together a November work day/camping trip, to help clear the land at their new building site in Sasayama. This is a great opportunity to be part of animal welfare history in the making–a state of the art animal welfare facility in Japan! The location is in the beautiful Hyogo ken countryside, and is a great place to get your fill of fresh air and autumn leaves. Pick up is scheduled from the nearest train station, but if you’ll be coming out by car, dogs are welcome to come along (cats will want to wait until they install the sofas!). Check out the information page, in English or in Japanese, and contact ARK to reserve a place on the team.

And speaking of work….
…One of our adopters and volunteers is looking for an English teaching position in Tokyo, along with cat friendly accommodation for her kitties, her son, and herself. She has a two year college degree, and has been teaching in her current location for 2 years. She is ready and willing to work towards a TEFL certificate. If you have any information or advice on how she can get started in the Tokyo area, please contact us, and we’ll forward it along!