Feral Cat Month – Fall Fundraiser and Giveaway Event to Help Riverfront Community Cats

FeralMonthOctober is Feral Cat Awareness Month, but I prefer to think of it in terms of Community Cat Awareness Month, because when it comes to cats that live outside, there is often a fine line between whether or not the cat is truly feral (meaning the cat has been born un-socialized) or if it is a stray cat that is either lost or has either been abandoned by its owner, which can cause it to act feral.

Regardless of the circumstances, the bottom line is that these cats are homeless, forced to find ways to fend for themselves to survive. Christine Michaels, founder of Riverfront Cats of Miami, has taken their plight to heart and has been caring for numerous cat colonies over the past several years in her community by providing them with food, shelter, veterinary care, spay and neuter, and even fostering and finding homes for those cats (and kittens) that can acclimate to a domestic setting.

She is currently caring for over 40 cats – 20 in her Riverfront area and 20 more that have recently been found in Miami that are in need of veterinary care and spay/neuter. I would like to say this would be the end of it, but there will be more cats and kittens in the days, months, and years to come that will need help and she will not turn a blind eye to their needs. These cats are her passion and she is their voice.

christine and cats

Christine with two Riverfront Cats (Leroy and Lion King) that began to build enough trust with her that she was able to briefly pet them. Leroy became so tame that he was subsequently adopted. Lion King unfortunately became ill some time after this picture was taken and sadly passed on.

Christine works diligently through both her nonprofits – Riverfront Cats and Pawsitively Humane to educate people on the importance of spay/neuter to keep the cat population at bay, but it is a slow and difficult process. All of her efforts to keep the cats fed, safe, and healthy costs money – much of which comes out of her own pocket. But the good news is, you can help.

riverfront cats

Feeding community cats is a true commitment that requires time, effort, money, and dedication. Photo credit: Christine Michaels

For Feral Cat Awareness Month, Riverfront Cats is holding a fundraiser so that Christine can continue to care for these cats that have no one else to look after them. I know many of us want to help outdoor cats but we’re not quite sure how we can. By donating to Riverfront Cats, you would be helping and that is one of the greatest gifts you can give to support Feral Cat Awareness Month.

To thank everyone who is able to donate, Riverfront Cats is automatically putting your name into a kitty for a special prize package valued at over $200.00! For book lovers, I will be donating one copy each of my 5 star rated books: The Chronicles of Zee & Zoey – A Journey of the Extraordinarily Ordinary and Purr Prints of the Heart – A Cat’s Tale of Life, Death, and Beyond. I will also be donating a copy of Max Cryer’s newest book, The Cat’s Out of the Bag – Truth and Lies About Cats that is a fun book filled with every cat fact imaginable.

book

There will also be a set of designer Martha Stewart cat bowls and a cat treat cookie jar along with a Pet Safe Drinkwell Hy-drate H20 Filtration System and a super durable litter scoop. And most fun, a bubble making toy to entertain your cats. I know my cats love bubbles and anytime I’m feeling blue, it gives me an instant lift to blow bubbles for them, so I guess it’s actually entertaining for all of us!

Fall-Feral-Cat-2015-Fundraiser-prize

The last item is something that will keep your cat happy and healthy – a FURminator deShedding tool. With regular brushing, it helps to reduce the amount of shedding your cat does, which in turn helps to reduce the possibility of hairballs. I love it for that, but I also love it because it really encourages quality bonding time with my gang. They really enjoy being brushed and I love being able to make them happy.

Furminator

Good luck to everyone and thank you in advance for your kindness and consideration. Cats have a hard enough time as it is with all the negative stereotypes and myths that circulate about them. Being able to help take care of them is a wonderful thing to do. The fundraiser/giveaway will end on Friday, October 16 (National Feral Cat Day), 11 p.m. PST, with the prize winner being announced on Wednesday, October 21st.

*For those that would like to access the donation link through a mobile device, please click here for details.

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  1. Connie Marie says:

    It’s a great cause, I wish I was able to help, your wonderful giveaway should attract lots of donations. The outdoor homeless cats do REALLY NEED HELP💗

  2. How wonderful that Christine does so much for her community cats! It always warms my heart to hear about these wonderful people. <3

  3. da tabbies o trout towne says:

    Deb & Christine;

    I hope this fundraiser, raises the much needed funds,
    so these cats can be looked after in all ways; food,
    shelter, veterinary etc.

    ~~~~~ high paws & headbonx to you both for helping
    them and best fishes to everyone in the contest ♥

    the prize package is awesome !!

  4. Deziz World says:

    Gweat posty. We purray fur all da ferals and so wish da cycle kuld end and all kitties kuld have homes.

    Luv ya’

    Dezi and Lexi

  5. We hope lots of $$ is raised to help the kitties. And paws up to Miss Christine and you for everything you do for the kitties.

  6. absolutely fabulous! Shared!!! xoxo

  7. meowmeowmans says:

    We are so thankful for the amazing work that Christine does to help those community cats. We have our paws crossed that your fundraiser is a huge success!

  8. We are very thankful to learn about others who care for outdoor colonies. I like to stay away from the term feral as well, because we are never quite sure how a kitty came to be on the streets. We rescued one a few weeks ago who had been put outside by his family because he ate meat off the table, or so the 7 year old neighborhood boy told us. Charlie is now vetted, neutered and has a family interested in adopting him into their loving home. We’ve had other kitties who seemingly wouldn’t transition to inside life take to sleeping on the bed and following his or her foster human around within days of being removed from the streets. All the best to Christine and Riverfront Cats! Keep up the good work and may many kitties thrive and find their furever homes through your efforts!

  9. Deb, how wonderful for you to share Christine’s story. I’m in awe of the love and devotion given to so many needy cats. Off to share. Oh, if I ever win the lottery…….