Home free to worthy cat

[sheenerface]

I'm looking for a buddy. Une feline. Whilst taking in one of the 19 kittens fills me with joyful anticipation of frolicks and cute small animal larks, I think I'm looking for an older cat. I don't have access to a garden and my inclination is to think an older cat already used to being inside would be happier in this situation, rather than a kitten with boundless energy. Legless, tailless, no matter, I just want to give a forever home to one that's been kicked out/tossed arounsd. It's not a massive apartment but I think it's got ample space so wander around in, stairs to climb and nooks to explore. My hours are mostly 9-5 although I finish at 3.30 two days a week. I used to live in Yang Ju and would be able to get to the KARMA shelter there easily enough, but from what I've read they're not keen on foreigners adopting? So if anyone knows of a kitty needing a new home then be sure to let me know. I'm also interested in doing some animal rescue volunteering...anyone know where to start? Thanks guys.

[annie]

Hey, glad to hear someone else wants to help.
First of all, I would like to know where you live now. Depending on your location, there are different things you can try as volunteering or different people you can contact.
Regarding the adoption, since there are no adult cats for adoption right now, I would suggest you go to Kaps (in Daegu). There are a lot!! However, not all of them are used to being inside. There are some pictures and info on this site's homepage or on the 'adoptable' section.
Cheers,
Annie

[timvas]

As well as the 19 kittens (of which we now only have 8 left to adopt - note I say "only 8" as if that's a small number....) we also have two of the mother cats who are looking for homes.
They are both abandoned domestic cats, but very friendly.
If you would like to meet either of them or would like us to send you photos please call either myself (010 8940 5233) or Joon (the lady who rescued the 19 kittens + three mamas on 019 412 3141)
Note I will be away for a few days from Monday afternoon onward, but please call Joon during this time.

Cheers
Tim

[annie]

Oh sorry!! I forgot about those two cats (I guess my mind focused on the 19!! kittens..)
Thanks,

annie

[sheenerface]

Thanks everyone, all the advice is very much welcomed. I fired off an email to KAPS a few days ago to ask a few simple questions...does anyone know how easy it is to talk to someone in English there, about the welfare/history of the cats, or should I drag along a Korean buddy?Tim- do you have any links to pictures of the mother cats you have? I can't take one in for another couple of weeks yet, so I understand if they go, but at the same time if no one else takes one I'd be happy to. As far as the volunteering goes, I live in Gangnam, around Yangjae Station, so again if anyone knows anything around here that would be great. Thanks for all the help...and keep me in mind if anything comes up!

[Karen]

Hi there,

I hope it works out that one of the mama's of the 19 is still available for you, since they are probably the closest to you.

Sunnan Keum, the director of KAPS, speaks English and knows the history of all of the cats. When I visited a couple weeks ago I met a cat who couldn't use her back legs at all who had been living at the shelter for over 10 years. Sunnan knows all the cats by name and would gladly give you their bios. Unfortunately, they're busy and understaffed and it sometimes takes a while to hear back from her. I think they have over 100 cats there.

Here are some photos of our last visit: http://www.lonelylifetime.com/gallery/v/kapsapril/
And here's a real cutie at KAPS: http://www.lonelylifetime.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/cat2_kaps.jpg

Some other places you might check out if both mamas in Seoul are adopted already and if Daegu is too far to get to:

-Siheung City has a no-kill shelter with adoptable cats.

-Kangnam 25 Hour Clinic holds stray animals for a month before euthanizing and may have a cat now.
Here is some info about them: http://www.lonelylifetime.com/news/korea/kangnam-25-hour-clinic/

-ChungWha Vet in Itaewon also has adoptable rescued animals.
A little info is at the end of this thread: http://www.lonelylifetime.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=10

I don't have first hand info on these places, I've only heard about them through other people. I'll try to get more contact info on those places soon :)

[timvas]

Hihi

Sorry for late reply - have been overseas.

Will post some photos of the mama cats in next few days. We are doing well homing the kittens but the mothers are not as easy to find homes for.

Cheers
Tim

[sheenerface]

Hey Tim, that would be great, thank you. How old are they? I'd also be interested in helping out with the trap and neuter programme if you're still looking for helpers. Just let me know,

Thanks,

sine.

[timvas]

I'm not 100% sure how old they are - I think they are only quite young but I will ask Joon (the lady who rescued them). I'm still waiting for photos from her, will post in next day or so.

Thanks for offer re the trap & neuter program, any help is appreciated. I have a live trap on order from o/s should be here in next few weeks (so I don't have to keep borrowing Joon's one). Myself and a very nice lady named Euni have been doing it on weekends mostly. She has been concentrating on some cats who live at a Buddhist temple near her home. We have caught quite a few (most are very tame) and desexed those that we were able to, however 5 were already pregnant so we thought we would put them back and then pick them up once the kittens were born to see if we could find them all homes.

Unfortunately Euni arrived back in Seoul on the weekend after being overseas to find the monks had taken 4 of the pregnant cats (plus a couple of others) and dumped them out in the country somewhere. We offered them money to take us to the spot to see if we could find any of them but they claimed they couldn't remember exactly. They knew Euni was organising to take care of the kittens but did it anyway. So much for Buddhists respecting life.....

This aside, we still have lots of cats to desex. My vet in Hannam-dong does it for free, he is very nice (he even took in 2 of the 19 kittens for adoption). I have many cats who live around my area that I would like to catch & desex once the trap gets here, most look like street cats but any that are obviously lost domestic cats I will take in and try to find homes for.

Give me a call on my mobile any time if you would like to chat about this program.

Cheers
Tim

[timvas]

Hi

Sorry to take so long with this, but mama cat + 1 kitten are now at my place with Gus the dog and Mr Rabbit (not that they have socialised).

Attached are photos. Mama is a tiny cat, my vet weighed her in at 2.5kg and he thinks she is probably 2-3 years old. She is really sweet though, she wasn't at all fussed about being examined by the vet and jumped out of her carry cage at my place to examine her new surroundings. She loves a chin-rub and has been happily sitting on top of a mattress that sits against the wall of my spare bedroom. She has obviously been a domestic cat that has just gotten lost, she is also clearly litter-trained. Her tail is slightly unusual, she is missing perhaps 1/4 of it as you may be able to see from the photo, I'm not sure what happened to her. She seems very well adjusted regardless.

The kitten is maybe 6 weeks old according to my vet, both are in very good health and have received their flea & worm treatments.

Mama is not desexed (as she is still nursing the kitten) but this can be done at no cost any time in the future (my vet doesn't charge for this given she was rescued).

Let me know if you are interested in meeting mama (and perhaps her kitten as well, although don't feel obliged to take the kitten as well if you are interested in mama - I will be able to find the kitten a home no problems, it is the mature cats that are more difficult to find homes for). I am in Hannam-dong, near Itaewon station.

Cheers
Tim

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