Pandemic Creates Issues For Ocean City-Based Cat Rescue

OCEAN CITY, NJ — As the coronavirus pandemic brought upheaval to the world, a cat with a mangled leg wandered through Atlantic City. People found Logan at a feeding station and gave him over to Cape Atlantic Citizens Altering The Strays (C.A.T.S.), Ocean City-based cat rescue.

Logan needed his leg amputated, but he has a new lease on life. He and countless others like him are looking for permanent homes.

C.A.T.S. gets about 200 calls per year with help with the process of TNVR (trap, neuter, vaccinate, return) for community cats people feed. The animals get humanely trapped and taken to clinics and veterinarians for vaccination and spaying or neutering.

The coronavirus is primarily a human issue in terms of public health and economics. But cats and the organizations who help them face their own pandemic-related issues.

"Calls come in daily and definitely more during this pandemic," Director Judy Cantin told Patch. "People are losing their homes or have lost a life partner and have to move in with relatives who won't accept their pets. People have lost their jobs due to the pandemic. People have to move and can't find pet-friendly housing."

Less Money

C.A.T.S. typically rescues about 400 felines per year, according to its website. Sometimes these cats get abandoned, or the organization will help people re-home pets. They also come from public shelters that can't provide the necessary veterinary care.

"Sometimes it's just dental surgery, sometimes a limb amputation, but the cats need help and not euthanasia," Cantin said. "Our vet expenses are huge."

But the nonprofit faces financial issues related to the pandemic. Mew to You — an Ocean City resale shop that supports C.A.T.S. — had to close during New Jersey's initial coronavirus lockdown.

C.A.T.S. also generates funds through downtown Ocean City events, such as block parties. But the events, which generally draw large crowds, got canceled this year because of coronavirus concerns.

The pandemic has also shut down their spay and neuter clinics, Cantin says. The clinics are "our primary low-cost avenue for helping the community cats for months, resulting in an explosion of kittens," she said.

More Cats

C.A.T.S. gets calls from a variety of places. People have discovered kittens abandoned from cars, in the Walmart parking lot and inside a ShopRite cart.

Since the pandemic began, people more frequently abandon their cats, according to Cantin.

"I believe the reason is that public shelters are not easily accessible due to the pandemic," she said, "with appointments needed for surrendering, along with people not having money to pay the surrender fees needed and rescues unable to help as they are overwhelmed."

The nonprofit gives them a safe haven for socialization and proper nutrition while they await adoptive homes. But with less money and more cats to help during the pandemic, that makes things difficult for the all-volunteer organization.

But there are several ways people can help. C.A.T.S. seeks monetary donations, along with food and cleaning supplies. They also always need volunteers with cat care and the resale store, which is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

"Keeping donations coming in while trying to rescue the most urgent cats definitely our biggest challenge," Cantin said.

This story is part of Patch's Headlining Hope series, which profiles local nonprofits and charitable organizations in need of volunteers and resources. If you know about a local organization that should be profiled, contact josh.bakan@patch.com.