Doing anything this weekend? How about a cat show?

The Average Joe Cat Show is this Saturday at the Shoreline Conference Center, sponsored by Purrefct Pals cat rescue. The show is "a cat show for family cats" which means your kitties doesn't need papers or medals, just personality. There will be awards for Biggest Feet, Softest Fur, Scrappiest Looking, Monster Cat, and more. Really, how can you pass this up?

There will also be cat adoptions, behavior experts, a silent auction, and other cat-related events. There's even a photo contest, so send in your great cat pictures!

For more information, visit the Purrfect Pals site. The admission to this feline extravaganza is only $5; $12 per family.

The cats of Whisker City (and how you can help them)

We've written before about Shoreline's only animal rescue, Whisker City, before, but today I got a chance to visit the site myself. I'm a sucker for fuzzy faces, and it was really great to be able to meet the folks who do so much work to rescue so many of these needs kitties.

The stately lady shown above is Grey. She would make a great friend and couch ornament for the sad home that hasn't already met its cat quota.

Grey is one of the dozens of cats that Whisker City has saved; they're a no-kill shelter that provides abandoned and needy cats with homes for as long as they are needed. They're run on hours of hard work, the labor of dedicated volunteers, and an immense love for animals.

This little grey and white sweetie is ChiChi; she'd love to come home with you too. Many of the shelter's cats were given up by owners who had to move or whose family members developed allergies, and many were just found, lost, cold and hungry. Whisker City has a waiting list of cats that need shelter and re-homing; right now they are taking care of around 50 cats, but are always working on ways to help even more.






Bandit, a darling orange and white cat, has a view outside from where he sits. He's hoping to find a home where he can do some birdwatching in his free time between getting his ears scratched and napping.

Some of the cats at Whisker City are harder to place; some are so shy that they hide whenever someone comes near, some have minor health problems; a few have lived at the shelter for years. It would just take one kind-hearted person to decide that they have a little extra time in their lives to help out a kitty in need, and they could have a special home of their own.

In the mean time, all the cats at the shelter are loved and cared for. But Whisker City needs your help! These are tough times for a lot of people; more folks are having to give up their pets than ever before.


Of course, one of the best things you can do is to open your home to one of these sweet kitties, but maybe you're not ready to adopt right now, but still want to help. There are several ways you can! Naturally, the main thing any shelter needs is donations. If you visit the Whisker City website, you'll find ways to donate at the bottom of the front page. They take PayPal, cash, checks, and credit cards.






























But they would also be very thankful for volunteers of all kinds. For example, many of the cats need simple human company, in order to socialize them and make them less fearful (and therefore more adoptable). Markie, the black cat you see here, has been adopted by Brie the cat, behind him in the cage. He loves her like a momma, but he also needs people to come and visit, and give him a little bit of attention. What a great way to spend some time, and help these sweet cats! If you have a little extra time to visit, they'd love to meet you. Contact the shelter via their site to arrange to visit and pet the kitties.

The shelter can also use food donations. To keep the kitties from having stomach issues, they are fed Royal Canin for cats.

And they would love to find someone who can make carpeted scratching posts, to give the cats a place to sit and scratch.

Another way you could help: do you enjoy gardening? Come spring, the shelter will be planting a catnip garden on their grounds, and would love to have volunteers to maintain it.

But the greatest help you can provide will be to assist with, or attend, the Sacred Cat Ball in April. This is Whisker City's big annual fundraising event, and it helps them keep going from year to year. They need donations of all kinds; just about anything you're willing to give will be gratefully accepted! In the past they've auctioned off everything from household goods to pet items, from art to vacation trips. Are you an artist or crafter? Your donated work would be perfect to help the shelter raise money at this year's auction.


















And if you can't donate, you can certainly attend. The auction will be held at the Lynnwood Convention Center this year, and will be their biggest ever! There are always special guests (Ciscoe Morris attends many of the auctions), and incredible items and packages up for grabs. You can buy tickets online now - just click on RSVP at the Sacred Cat Ball website for a reservation form.



Little Butter Socks here will thank you!

And I'd like to send my personal thanks to these two ladies, Melissa and April, for showing me around Whisker City, and for taking the time to care about the kitties...

















And to April Brown, director of the shelter, for her years of tireless work to rescue animals. This is clearly a woman who will go to great lengths to help them - including wielding power tools!


























Link to Whisker City website.
Link to Sacred Cat Ball auction site.
Link to more adoptable cats from Whisker City.

More Shoreline pet adoption events!

On Halloween, this Friday, the Seattle Humane Society will be bringing their "MaxMobile" to the Pets Energy store near Central Market. The MaxMobile is a bright yellow, 33-foot, custom-built mobile adoption and education center, and it will be filled with pets that need new homes!

The pet-filled bus will be there from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., and might have not just dogs and cats for adoption, but also smaller critters like rabbits and guinea pigs.

If you've been thinking about adding a furry family member, stop by Pets Energy and check out the bus. Or, you might want to check out the Humane Society website and see adoptable dogs, cats, and other critters. I just looked and nearly fell in love with Bernie, the laid-back beagle. Get him while he's still available!

And remember, on Thursday the 30th, the Whiskers on Wheels bus will be at Pets Energy, stuffed with kitties that need homes too.

Link to Pets Energy.
Link to Seattle Humane Society.
Link to Whisker City (sponsor of the Whiskers on Wheels bus).

Whisker City adoption events coming up

Whisker City, local cat rescue, will be parking the Whiskers on Wheels adoption bus, full of feline friends needing homes, at Pets Energy in Shoreline from 12 to 5 on Sunday, October 12 and 12 to 6 on Thursday, October 30.

We've written about Whisker City before; they are a non-profit organization that is dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of abandoned, abused and neglected pets. They've saved hundreds of cats from neglect or abandonment, and they could always use your time and donations.

And if you've been feeling the need for some fuzzy companionship on these dreary, dark fall days, maybe a kitty at Whisker City could be your new best friend! Stop by Pets Energy on the 12th or the 20th to meet some candidates.

Link to Whisker City.
Link to Pets Energy pet food store.
Link to our previous posts about Whisker City.

Pet adoption fair on Saturday, September 27th

Looking for that special (furry) someone? Or maybe you just want to catch up on the latest products for your pet friends? Visit Pets Energy, next to Central Market, on Saturday the 27th from 11 am to 4 pm for their first annual adoption fair! Several rescue organizations will be there, as well as representatives from pet food companies with free samples. It should be a fun event!

Link to Pets Energy site.
Link to our previous review of Pets Energy.

Whisker City, Shoreline's own cat rescue

Nestled on a quiet suburban Shoreline street, you will find Whisker City, a little haven for neglected and abused cats. Or perhaps you've seen one of the Whiskers on Wheels (aka WOW) buses around town. Founded by auctioneer April Brown, Whisker City has been finding homes for cats for 17 years. The WOW bus, filled with up to 22 kitties at a time, parks in front of pet stores and other businesses, and invites folks in to see the potential adoptees. A non-profit, all-volunteer organization, Whisker City places hundreds of cats in new homes every year. They take overflow from other shelters, and provide life-long homes for cats that can't be adopted.

You can visit the Whiskers on Wheels bus every Saturday at the Petco on Aurora and 205th, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. - and who knows; maybe you'll find your new best friend there!


Recently, thanks to a grant from Maddie's Fund, a pet rescue foundation, and annual fundraiser The Sacred Cat Ball, Whisker City was able to buy a new WOW bus, and they're now looking to hire a driver for the bus, five days a week. Visit their website for more information about the job. And if you'd like to donate time, money or supplies to help the cats, they'd be more than welcome! Volunteers are needed for these tasks:

• The Sacred Cat Ball Dinner Auction (April 18, 2009 Lynnwood Convention Center)
• Cleaning at the shelter (2-4 hours per week-any day from 9-4)
• Shooting Video of the cats and kittens
• Taking pictures of the cats and kittens
• Maintaining the Whisker City PetFinder site
• Grooming Cats
• Foster care
• Playing with Cats and Kittens
• Sewing Pet Beds (24" X 24" fleece pads)
• Gardening and maintaining property
• Writing short articles for the newsletter about our adopters and cats
• Helping to create alliances with businesses for ongoing financial support

If you'd like to help with any of these things, please contact April – you can email her via this form on the Whisker City website, or by calling 206-542-0947. I think that playing with cats and kittens sounds like a particularly fun way to help!

Link to: Whisker City's website
Link to: the cats currently available for adoption from Whisker City, on Petfinder
Link to: information about the yearly Sacred Cat Ball fundraiser auction (the next one will be April of 2009).

Average Joe Cat Show today in Shoreline. Meow!

Henry

Today the Average Joe Cat Show is happening in Shoreline. It's from 10am to 3pm at Shoreline Center. 5 bucks per person or 12 bucks per family. Get out and see all the Average Joe kitties!

More info here: Average Joe Cat Show

Monthy pet vaccine clinic at Top food

Every first Saturday of the month, Good Neighbor Vet holds a pet vaccine clinic at the Top food and drug located at 1201 N. 175th Street in Shoreline (it's just east of Highway 99).

Services are offered from 2pm - 3:30pm.

They offer a variety of packages that include exams and vaccines for dogs and cats, depending on your pet's lifestyle. They also offer rabies shots and micro-chipping, etc.

For prices and more info click for Good Neighbor Vet or call them at 888-234-1350