Cat Tales BLOG

CAT BEACH Cat Tales BLOG

So many “Cat Tales” to tell, so much to talk about on the topic of CATS! 

“As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”

All income earned from sales and commissions and every donation will go to support the care of the cats at Cat Beach Sanctuary.

OCTOBER 2024 

10.24.2024  CAT BEACH MEWS – HALLOWEEN EDITION  https://mailchi.mp/2d7530db19a4/happy-halloween-from-cat-beach-cats 

10.23.24  EXPERIMENTING WITH E-COMMERCE

As we have started to explore the possibilities for Affiliate Marketing from Amazon, Pinterest and other online e- commerce, it seems there is a real Learning Curve – a bit intimidating! Warnings not to break the rules – but first we have to learn what they are. Now up to 17K followers on Instagram, Amazon approved Cat Beach as an Influencer – yay! But what does that mean? And what are the protocols and procedures? 

Here’s a test. As an Influencer, we get to recommend Amazon products. With Christmas coming, our thought is to start by selecting Christmas Cat items. Here’s a shopping bag we liked a lot:

 https://amzn.to/3C47OMM.

So as we understand it so far, if you were to click on the link, it would take you to the site on Amazon where you will see the item and its options. If you purchase it after using the link above, then Cat Beach will get a commission! So cool! It’s not a lot but every single sen (cent) counts to help Cat Beach help cats. 

BEHIND THE SCENES – read the October Mews letter at https://mailchi.mp/9698a9afbfda/october-cat-beach-mews-pawtnerships-and-possibilities

Thinking about Halloween coming up! And how Cats and Halloween have been associated for centuries – too often in not-so-good ways but also in many cultures cats, especially black cats, are good luck.

Cat Beach is seeking out every possible way to try to bring in funds to care for the cats and their sanctuary in Teluk Bahang, Penang island, Malaysia. As the Mewsletter details, that includes setting up online e-commerce to sell items to benefit the cats.

We just got accepted this month to the Amazon Influencer program as well as Amazon Associates. Still learning how it all works but we can begin recommending items we believe would be useful and/or fun for cats and cat lovers. Here’s a few:

https://amzn.to/3BI0lTu 

If you click on the link, it will take you to Halloween Cat Crinkle Toys! And Cat Beach will earn a bit of a commission. Every sen (penny in Malay) will help care for the 300+/- cats under care at Cat Beach.

“As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.” All income earned from sales will go to support the care of the cats at Cat Beach Sanctuary.

Halloween Toys click here to buy Halloween Toys for Cats

PRESIDENT’S REPORT  as of July 2024
Prof. Teviot Fairservis

On July 15th, 2014 – My life was forever changed that day. Little did I suspect that 10 years later, I would still be doing whatever I can to sustain the sanctuary and help cats in trouble. For me and for so many cat lovers, Cat Beach Sanctuary is about JOY – the deep happiness we can all experience from loving cats and being loved by them. Click here to read more on the website:

Ten years ago with help from cat loving friends, 40 homeless rescued cats were transported from my then home in Tanjung Bungah out to the beach in the fishing village of Teluk Bahang. Under the “Zero Strays Policy” at that time, there were real fears that stray dogs and cats would simply be destroyed as there was nowhere for them to go. Could I bring my affection for cats and experiences in the US nonprofit world to help establish a No Kill sanctuary for homeless cats rescued from life-or-death situations?

None of it would have been possible without the example and mentoring of Barbara Janssen, founder of 4PAWS Dog Shelter, and the support of local fisherman Mr Nana Bin Wanchik who was then caring for 60 cats at the beach. And so, Cat Beach Sanctuary was born.

I have seen Cat Beach grow so much over the years: visitors come daily from all over the world to enjoy the beach with cats. Schools and corporations send teams of volunteer helpers, and now a team of 10 (and sometimes more) paid and volunteer people is always hard at work caring for some 300+/- cats and ktttens with more coming and going every day.  Adoptions and donations continue to increase through the power of social media. As we have gotten better at educating and sourcing, rescuers have found other options than neglecting cats in need or dumping cats in markets or at the shelter.
 
Ten years of cat shelter experience has taught me a lot, most importantly, that compassion takes real work, a lot of money, and dedicated time to be effective. I have learned that both locally and globally, animals need to be provided with the best possible and most humane care. I have met many new cats and new people – made many new friends.

Lives can be transformed by cats. I have watched the smiles emerge on the faces of children when a cat cuddles them, and witnessed the changes in cats that arrive miserable from terrible situations to living happy lives at the beach or as companions in loving homes. The rewards are so much greater than I could ever have imagined back at the start.

I have also witnessed so many tragedies. Orphan kiittens abandoned in boxes and bags by trash bins. Cats dumped on overpasses and even in the middle of the Penang bridge. Kittens dying of the epidemic parvo virus, FIP, cat flu and other cat diseases. Injuries and deaths from accidents or abuse, abandonments and financial situations have put hundreds of cats out on the streets. There is so much that can and should be done to make things better for cats’ welfare – I know now that every cat lover can make a difference.

Every social media post, every adoption, rescue, volunteer hour or contribution of food or supplies or perhaps most importantly, donation of funds to sustain the sanctuary makes a real impact on the lives of rescued cats.

My dream is that Cat Beach Sanctuary will continue its growth for many years to come, improving programs and services. I dream that every Cat Beach Cat will receive any medical care it needs including vaccinations and spay/neuter surgeries, nutritious food every single day, and a life of health and happiness. 

Come meet the kitties at Cat Beach and you will see that the rewards of loving cats are great – cats give back so much love. Please join me in supporting the Cat Beach Cats and share the Love!

LET’S STOP PARVO! Slideshow on feline parvovirus and how we all can stop the epidemic killing our beloved cats. https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vSb5d4zoNGLEyWdNzzlfACzetOjWgCj6xbVLfKjpoYjVef-bEZNWZMcp6V4VRE5cHJmZZZQ5nBb6KuU/pub?start=true&loop=true&delayms=5000

CatBeach   Sep 10th 2020 at 12:27PM Maddie’s Fund does amazing work funding research and bringing together animal carers from around the world – especially good materials for dog and cat carer. Great Tips for Cat Care from Cat Town on this link: https://www.maddiesfund.org/assets/documents/Institute/Cat%20Town%20-%20Adoption%20handouts.pdf

Includes Handouts (1-2 pages) Bringing Your New Cat Home, Correcting Your Cat’s Behavior, Scratching and Declawing, etc.

Epidemic Parvo virus in Penang is taking beautiful cats. Cat Beach is trying to work with vets to get new treatment methods in place including anti-FPV plasma injections. Most important is to get pet owners to vaccinate their cats and to help get the stray community cats vaccinated as well. We can change this situation! But it will take work and time.

WHAT’S IT GOING TO TAKE? 

Developing a kitten nursery requires:⁵

• Planning
• Setting up the Nursery
• Creating an Extensive Foster Care Program
• Controlling the Spread of Infectious Disease
• Caring for Kittens from Birth to Eight Weeks 
• Medical Care and Protocol Development
• Training Staff and Volunteers
• Supersizing the Adoption Program

UC Davis Shelter Med guidebook quoted on 6/16/2020

SETTING UP A KITTEN NURSERY  Almost every day but especially during Kitten Seasons, Cat Beach is asked to take in pregnant or nursing momcats and kittens, including many orphans. We hope that a mom who already has kittens will take them on. It was wonderful when the Kitten Lady from the United States visited Cat Beach and filmed in our upstairs nursery.  See her YouTube video about Cat Beach at Kitten Lady at Cat Beach Malaysia

Now we are looking at other spaces including a nice neighbor’s apartment and foster carers homes for additional Kitten Nurseries. What will they need? UC Davis’s Koret Shelter Medicine program offers great advice in their guidebook at Shelter Medicine Kitten Nursery. Also very useful is the Kitten Coalition’s manual at Kitten Coalition Manual. There’s quite a list of supplies needed to properly equip a nursery!

A LITTLE ABOUT CAT VIRUSES  Vaccination is the only known preventative for cat (and human) viruses. Unfortunately, there have been no cat antivirals developed yet. Feline corona, herpes, and calici are the Big 3 — all often lumped together or diagnosed as parvo virus or panleukopenia or feline distemper. No direct cure for parvo is known except to support immune system to fight it — and antibiotics/antibacterials to combat secondary infections from bacteria. Cats too often die from diarrhea or dehydration as first cause which happens because they have a virus and weakened immune system. So supportive care with subcutaneous fluids or IV and diarrhea meds and diet are first line of defense.

The only real cure that I’ve read about is not done in Malaysia. Blood is taken from an adult vaccinated healthy cat, spun into plasma in a centrifuge, and then injected into a sick kitten. This gives the kitten the antibodies it needs to fight viruses. 

QUOTE: In the past, feline panleukopenia (FP) was a leading cause of death in cats. Today, it is an uncommon disease, due in large part to the availability and use of very effective vaccines. The disease is also called feline distemper or feline parvo.

What is feline panleukopenia?
Feline panleukopenia (FP) is a highly contagious viral disease of cats caused by the feline parvovirus. Kittens are most severely affected by the virus. The names feline distemper and feline parvo should not be confused with canine distemper or canine parvo— although their names are similar, they are caused by different viruses. The viruses do not infect people.

The feline parvovirus infects and kills cells that are rapidly growing and dividing, such as those in the bone marrow, intestines, and the developing fetus.

Which cats are susceptible to FP?
Because the FP virus is everywhere in the environment, virtually all kittens and cats are exposed to the virus at some point in their lives.
Quoted on 6/15/2020 from https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/feline-panleukopenia

14 June 2020 – VAX DAY! 8 cats to Windsor Animal Hospital for vaccinations. Bolen, Baby Whee, Kasih and Simpul will go back next month for their booster. Cinta, Zoro, Yang, and Zeba are now good for the next year! Very adoptable adorable cats. Posted and updated their profiles on the Hospitium database — see  https://tinyurl.com/CatBeach

Adopt a Cat Beach Cat Slideshow

June 2020 – WHAT ARE WE WORKING ON NOW? Organizing weekly vaccinations. Posting cats to PetFinder.my (could use volunteer help!). Uploading photos and cataloging cats on Hospitium.co. Registering Operation SnipSnip surgeries. Entering all 2019 Financials into spreadsheets. PAW-RENTS Patreon.com/CatBeach sponsorships. Organizing the 2020-21 Board Committee. Answering inquiries for adoption, foster caring, rescue (average 3 per day), visits. Finding supplies — newspapers and chicken as top priorities. Cleaning up after cats. Cleaning cats. Feeding cats. And the list goes on! There’s always more to do to help cats. Next newsletter coming soon. Here’s a link to the most current: Cat Beach News

6 June 2020 – EYE INFECTIONS 

 “My friend found a stray kitten with bad eyes. What to do?”  Almost every day, Cat Beach hears about cats in trouble. It’s heartbreaking to think that “stray” cats — or a better term, “Free-roaming Community Cats” — suffer curable illnesses.  If you should find a cat with bad eyes or any injury or illness, first thought should be to get it to a vet. BUT –What if you are in Lockdown and all vets are closed or on shortened hours? What if is it is late at night and there are no vets open? What if the nearest vet clinic is miles away and your car has broken down? What if you cannot afford vet bills? What if you only have a little time before needing to go to work or travel? What if you cannot take the cat inside or to a vet but you have a little time to help? There are so many reasons why a cat does not get professional veterinary care. But that does not have to mean that we cat lovers cannot help it!

The following is based on what I wrote to the person who posted this picture – unfortunately, no further information was provided. To rescue a cat, please provide: LOCATION, STORY, CONTACT NAME, CONTACT PHONE NUMBER. If you can, please transport it safely to a vet. Then seek an adopter, foster, boarding care or as a last resort – a local animal shelter.

EYE INFECTION IN CATS? NO VET AVAILABLE? GO TO A PHARMACY (or even a minimart like 7-11 will often have eyedrops). Pharmacists can be surprisingly knowlegeable about animal care and may even help do online research to confirm protocols and dosages. 

If you are the rescuer or in touch with the rescuer, pls urge them to take kitten to vet. But for any cat with eye infections even before vet, can go to any pharmacy to buy eye treatments – very cheap. 

BUY AT PHARMACY:  Chloramphenicol eyedrops. Gentamicin or Terramycin Ocular Ointment. Saline Solution (or contact lens solution). Tissues or other soft wipes recommended by pharmacist.

 Just drop 1 or 2 eyedrops in eyes – ask pharmacy for Chloramphenicol eyedrops (The eyedrops alone may be enough to save the eyes)
 Then wait 10 minutes and apply ointment – gentamicin or terramycin 
 If in clean place and cat cooperative, can start by cleaning eye area with tissue soaked in saline solution or clean warm water. Just lay tissue over eye, hold for 30 seconds or more. DO NOT RUB! Let the water or solution seep into the eye and dissolve any discharge. Then can wipe away gently.

EYE CARE PROTOCOL: 2 to 5 times per day

1) Clean – warm water or saline solution on soft tissue, do not rub
2) Sterilize – drop 1 or 2 eyedrops in eyes – ask pharmacy for Chloramphenicol eyedrops
3) Medicate – Then wait 10 minutes and apply ointment – gentamicin or terramycin

So many blind cats in the world! If only someone had put cheap eye meds on, eyes could have been saved. Am told can do eye care up to 5 times per day have seen full recovery on 2 times per day. Protocol above recommended by vets many times. Sharing description but no substitute for vet diagnosis. Please get kitten to a vet! If you cannot afford to pay the vet bill, share out the banking info with cat’s name so others can help the cat too with donations. Ask the vet clinic for their banking info so people can donate directly to the vet for the cat’s care. Many people want to help cats in whatever way they are able.  Please – if you see a cat with an eye infection, do not walk away. Give it a little help and you could save its eyes.

30 May 2020  – WHAT’S UP AT CAT BEACH CHAT GROUP  It’s only 8 am and already several topics / problems to solve / issues have come up on the Whats Up at Cat Beach WhatsApp chat (let us know if you would like to join to help rescue Penang’s cats in trouble.) Always so much to think about — to research and consider about cats!

INTRODUCING A NEW CAT   A black kitten found in the trash was rescued last night. Today there is a possible adopter / foster carer but she is concerned about whether the kitten will get along with her three other cats. Here’s what I think:

[8:29 am, 30/05/2020] Teviot: I would guess in 90% of cases, cats will get along — especially the neutered males as usually the fight hormones go away with neutering. The key is giving the cats time to get used to each other. For the new kitten or cat, they need to get used to the smells, sights, sounds of the new place and may be very frightened, For the resident cats, getting along may depend on whether they feel they lose some of the Human’s attention. So rewarding them with cuddles and treats for good behavior towards the newbie is recommended. A slow intro is best – keep the kitten in a bathroom or covered cage so the cats all begin to smell each other. Lots of good advice on the ‘net — https://resources.bestfriends.org/article/introducing-new-cat

[8:31 am, 30/05/2020] Teviot: There’s always the 10% chance that they may not like each other. As long as they do not hurt each other, should be okay. There is also Feliway spray which calms cat anxiety. Rivalry (jealousy) for shared beds, “purr-sonal areas,” food, and human attention can be a cause of disharmony. As long as each cat gets its own ‘territory’ (favorite place to hang out), then normally everyone gets along pretty well. 

Another good resource: https://www.petmd.com/cat/training/evr_ct_how-to-introduce-cats

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27 May 2020:

CURRENT PROJECTS So many things we can do to help cats! Trying to make a good list of priority projects and then work out how to execute. Clearly, CB could use more human hands to help! So getting volunteers involved is high priority! Making “pushes” (campaigns) for adoptions, foster care, volunteers, donations, trainings, outreach, sales, education programs, and so much more can help make long-term improvements to the sanctuary and to cats’ welfare in general.

MAY/JUNE 2020 PRIORITIES

Board Committee Volunteers — assemble 2020-21 board members, hold meetings, complete internal and government reports, make plans

Annual Vaccinations – end of May / beginning June — need to get as many done as possible. Fundraising, schedule vet, transport, etc.

CAT-alog — identifying cats with full info. Posting to new HOSPITIUM animal shelter site.

PAW-rents — matching cats from CAT-alog to Sponsors and ensuring sponsored cats get veterinary visits for vax, sterilization, etc.

B&G (Buildings & Groounds) – complete the new Kitten Playhouse, repair broken cement on walkways

– 10 May 2020: LOCKDOWN! Today it was announced that the lockdown in Malaysia will be extended to June 9th – and possibly beyond. For all the inconveniences and suffering of so many, we have to believe that this global crisis will have some benefits — perhaps a Wakeup Call that puts an end to the slaughter of wildlife and the horrible dog and cat meat trades and builds greater respect for Nature. The sea is bluer and cleaner, less trash on the beach these days. Let’s hope too for greater help to the ‘strays’ that struggle in almost every neighborhood. ]

So proud and grateful to the brave feeders who go out every day to be sure the Community Cats & Dogs have food.  In future, Cat Beach hopes to give greater help to the many cat colonies and their carers with education, rescues, vaccinations, sterilizations and emergency aid. Community Cats need help!

– Cats or Rats – which would you rather have in your community?

Request permission to read the Cat Beach White Paper “Cats or Rats” at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EqbDJTC4dbyz27U16DyYrmpJCU6LZY5Dl53QDFSpXwY/edit?usp=sharing

and Powerpoint slideshow – https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1WYShQFuvW3cnUHCr_u-FMWpiJFixXkUH0-Wi7XMELtk/edit?usp=sharing