Cat House on the Kings: an Amazing Feline Sanctuary

By Julia Williams

Nearly everyone has a few grandiose dreams, those “if I won the lottery I would…” type of musings. I don’t even play the lottery, but I still fantasize about how I would spend my fortune if I were to strike it rich someday. (That’s normal, right?). One of the things I envision, and have for many years, is buying some land and starting a cat sanctuary. And if I did, I would model it after what I consider to be one of the best, the Cat House on the Kings.

This safe haven for felines is California’s largest no-cage, no-kill lifetime cat sanctuary and adoption center. The Cat House on the Kings is located along the Kings River in Parlier, California, which is just southeast of Fresno. The sanctuary was founded 18 years ago by Lynea Lattanzio, and today is “home” to more than 700 cats and kittens (as well as a few dogs). Yes, you read that right – 700!!

I became aware of the Cat House on the Kings several years ago after watching a YouTube video about this amazing sanctuary and the extraordinary woman who founded it. I don’t really know Lynea Lattanzio, but after learning about the Cat House on the Kings, I imagine she’s a lot like me – crazy about cats, an animal lover to her core, and someone who gets deep gratification from helping felines in need. On the video Lynea says, “When I was a child all I ever wanted was a kitten, and my Mom wouldn’t let me have one. But she’s sorry now.”

After her divorce in the early 80s, Lynea retired to the peaceful Kings River area to renew her spirit. On a quest to locate Manx kittens for her father, Lynea visited a local animal shelter, and ended up taking 15 abandoned kittens (none of them Manx!) to her property. Lynea sold her Mercedes and her diamond ring to help finance improvements to the property, and by the end of the year, she had rescued and placed 96 homeless cats. Lynea had found her true calling, and she has dedicated her life to helping cats ever since.

The sanctuary’s mission is “to place rescued cats and kittens into loving, permanent homes; to provide a safe, happy and healthy home for unwanted cats and kittens in a unique, no-cage facility; to prevent pet overpopulation through spaying and neutering; and to educate the public about responsible pet ownership.” The Cat House receives no government or public funding, and relies entirely on donations from the public to fulfill its mission.

All of the animals who live at the sanctuary are available for adoption. None are euthanized; they live out their lives until they either find a loving home or die of old age, however long that may be. The Cat House adopts out approximately 500 cats every year. Since its inception 18 years ago, The Cat House on the Kings has saved over 18,000 cats and 5,000 dogs!

From the video and pictures on their website, it’s quite clear that the Cat House on the Kings is a great place to be if you are a kitty without a forever home. The entire 12 acre property is secured by cat-proof fencing and buried chicken wire that prevents the cats and dogs from digging out, and predators from digging in. Cats have the run of the property, where they can climb trees, run and play, and take long naps with the California sunshine warming their fur. The cats are encouraged to make themselves right at home in the sanctuary’s main building too, which is a 4,200 square-foot house. Besides the house, there are numerous other feeding and bedding facilities for cats with special needs, including a Kitten Quarantine, Senior Center, Short-Term Boarding and FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) Ward.

When I perused their website, I saw something in their FAQ section that really made me laugh. Question: Where do all the cats sleep? Answer: Anywhere they want! Apparently this is no exaggeration, as pictures show cats lounging on kitchen counters, in front of a roaring fire, and on numerous cat trees in every room. The Cat House on the Kings is, without a doubt, a kitty paradise. It warms my heart to know such a place exists for those less fortunate felines without homes. I still hope to see my own “cat sanctuary dreams” come true, but if they don’t, there is always the Cat House on the Kings.

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Will File 4 Treat: Take Your Dog to Work on June 25

By Suzanne Alicie

We all know that dogs are great companions; we enjoy taking them on walks and to the friendly pet stores that allow them. We make a place for our dogs in our homes and in our hearts. Yet there is one part of our lives that most people don’t have a chance to share with their four legged friends, and that is work. Since 1999, Take Your Dog to Work Day has been celebrated each year to honor the human canine bond and to help promote pet adoption from shelters, the humane societies, and rescue organizations.

For one special day of the year, employers are welcoming their employees’ canine friends. Thousands of businesses all over the world are being invited to “Go Furry” to support homeless pets. You know how special your dog is to you; help make sure that other dogs get the chance to be special to someone too. Visit the official site for TYDTW Day to download your 2010 action pack which is filled with a ton of information about Take Your Dog to Work Day, including information for your employer, hosting and celebration ideas, and training tips to make sure your dog puts his best foot forward in the workplace. You will also find pet supply savings included with your pack.

Pet Sitters International sponsors Take Your Dog to Work Day with the goal to make every pet a wanted one, with a professional pet sitter to care for it. PSI has developed and grown TYDTW Day each year and looks forward to many more years during which pets will invade the workplace for one day, in order to promote pet adoption. There are animals that need loving homes every single day of the year, but Take Your Dog to Work Day is one day each year when this need is brought to the attention of thousands of people worldwide.

Many employers may be wondering why they would want to have their business overrun by dogs for a whole day. The idea is to support your employees, promote pet adoption and by the way, pets in the workplace boost morale, productivity and sales! For employers who just can’t handle letting their business go to the dogs for one day, you can still participate by having employees bring in photos of their pet and organizing a fundraiser to benefit your local shelter.

Many businesses have an open door pet policy for employees, including CANIDAE All Natural Pet Foods' headquarters in California. The CANIDAE employees are encouraged to bring their dogs to work as often as they like, and lapdogs frequently “sit in” on meetings. Think about the last time you visited a small “Mom and Pop” store and were thrilled to see a fluffy cat sitting on the counter, or a large dog with a wagging tail lying under the counter. These pets are taken to work every day and they are as much a part of the business as the employees. Kudos to these pet lovers, they are special. Now it’s time to spread the word.

As a person who works at home, I can tell you that my dogs are wonderful companions and if I had to work outside the home I would miss them tremendously. While at times it is a hassle to have to unwind my laptop power cord from a paw before I can set it aside to get up, there is nothing like a warm fuzzy dog snoring on my feet to make me feel content and productive. Besides, my dogs give me a great excuse to take a break, get some fresh air and a bit of exercise by taking them for a mid afternoon walk.

Pets add so much love and laughter to our lives, shouldn’t we do all we can to make sure that every cat and dog has a loving home with a responsible pet owner who will pamper and spoil them? Participate in TYDTW Day 2010, and help animals find loving homes.

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Save a Life: June is “Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat” Month

By Julia Williams

As an animal lover, I’ve always hoped I might live to see a day where very few cats and dogs languish in shelters waiting to find their forever home. Although the number of homeless animals is much smaller today than several decades ago, there are still far too many healthy animals in shelters that would make perfectly wonderful family pets. There’s no central data reporting agency for animal shelters at this time, but the Humane Society of the United States estimates that between six and eight million dogs and cats enter U.S. shelters every year, and only a fraction of those end up finding homes.

Those aren’t rosy statistics by any means. However, I prefer not to dwell on the negative but focus on the positive. Low cost spay-and-neuter programs, along with extensive public outreach and education, helps the numbers get smaller each year. And with generous companies like CANIDAE around to sponsor animal charities like the Pongo Fund Pet Food Bank, many more pets get to remain in their home instead of being surrendered to shelters.

I may not live to see that utopian day I dream about, but I can still celebrate the small victories. I can feel happy for those fortunate few shelter dogs and cats who do find loving homes. And lastly, I can encourage those who have room in their house and heart to visit their local animal shelter this month during Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month.

In order to raise awareness of all those healthy, affectionate felines who need homes, the ASPCA sponsors Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat each June. It’s timed to coincide with the start of “kitten season,” when shelters are inundated with beautiful feline babies born in the spring and summer.

Many animal shelters across the nation celebrate Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month by reducing the fee charged to place felines in their new forever homes. All of the shelter cats available for adoption have been spayed or neutered, and thoroughly evaluated by a veterinarian. All they need is to find a family.

Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat month is a purrfect time to fall in “feline love” with one of the millions of homeless cats living in animal shelters nationwide. Whether you prefer a young and frisky kitten or a cat that’s mellowed with age, you’re sure to meet your perfect match. After you fill out some paperwork, you can take your new friend home to discover the many benefits of being owned by a cat: happiness, companionship, amusement, never-ending purrs, and love that fills your heart to the brim.

This June, why not make your way to your local shelter to find the feline of your dreams!

Read more articles by Julia Williams