Foreclosure Cats Art Debuts at the Pyramid Hill Art Fair

The Foreclosure Cats Art Project made its debut this weekend at the Pyramid Hill Art Fair.

Seven pieces of art were on display, along with four of the cats available for adoption. Delta was a big hit on Saturday and was really working the crowd. She loved all the attention. The donation jar was right beside her cage, and every now and then she stuck her paw out of the cage, tipped the jar towards her and looked in it - just checking to see how she was doing.

Whatever she was doing worked - we were able to collect over $320 in donations! The weather was beautiful and lots of people came out to see the booth. Monty was a little shy on Sunday, but he let everyone pet him, and seemed to enjoy the nice breeze. The two kittens drew the biggest crowd, and were especially popular with all the kids.

Just as the show was ending, the kittens went home with their new mom, who fell in love with them the minute she saw them. A great ending to a very good weekend for the Foreclosure Cats project.

Check out images #1, #4, and #20 in the Dayton Daily News's "You've Been Spotted" page: Foreclosure Cats have been spotted!

East End Neighborhood Prepares for Celebration

"Foreclosure Cat" house saved, cats rescued,
national art project helps raise funds,
and community garden thrives

Cincinnati, Ohio, August 28, 2007 -- It's just one of those humble little streets that veer down toward the river from the street they used to call Eastern Avenue, now Riverside Drive. But the people who live on Strader Street have much to celebrate. This small East End neighborhood boasts several newly renovated houses, and a community garden nearly a block long. It is also the site of the recent successful rescue of more than 60 "foreclosure" cats and kittens who were found abandoned, sick and starving at 251 Strader after their owner was evicted.

This Thursday, August 30, Strader Street neighbors, gardeners, rescuers and veterinarians will gather to celebrate the saving of the "Foreclosure Cat House," the installation of a new water line for the adjacent East End Veteran's Memorial Garden, the rescue of all the cats, a fund-raising project by nationally known artists creating multi-media portraits of the cats, and the launch of a new adoption website at www.ForeclosureCats.org.

Saving the Foreclosure Cat house

The house was so nearly destroyed by neglect and by the overwhelming number of sick animals, it was featured in a Business Week story about "foreclosure's filthy aftermath." Neighbors speculated that demolition was the only option.

"I had quotes from three wrecking companies," said Michael Bolan, who purchased the house from Fannie Mae after a bank foreclosure, and is hosting the celebration. "While the condition of the house was sound, the smell was horrific, and I thought it would be impossible to eliminate it." But Bolan, who is fond of houses that are close to urban centers, with open vistas such as the river affords, found a Cincinnati-based company, OdorXit, whose products are designed for such challenges. Now, Bolan says, the house has been saved and, with planned renovations, can be inhabited.

A neighborhood blight is prevented

The rescue operation began when the cats were discovered by a rescuer in early May, apparently weeks after the evicted man walked away from his home without telling anyone about the cats and kittens trapped inside, many sick or injured, without food, water or medical attention. The bank was scheduled to clear out the house, which would have scattered the cats and kittens, resulting in a blight of sick and injured animals, suffering and populating for years, in the neighborhood. Instead, several small rescue groups joined together to organize a community rescue effort. A website, www.ForeclosureCats.org, was created to solicit donations, volunteers, and to accept foster and adopter applications.

National art project will help raise funds and awareness

More than 40 "foreclosure" cats and kittens are still looking for homes, and well-known artists around the country have stepped up to help. From Disney animators to greeting card artists and children's book illustrators, they are creating portraits of all of the foreclosure cats, and donating the work to raise funds and help find foster homes and adopters. The portraits and artists are featured on the newly revamped www.ForeclosureCats.org, along with photos of the cats, each of their stories, adoption and foster applications and a donations link.

Since the cats are with foster families and therefore not available in one location for public visits, it is hoped that the new website will enable more people to meet the cats and kittens who are still looking for homes. "Some of the cats are running out of time with their current foster families," said Gail Silver, of Silver Bells Rescue, "so we desperately need more foster families as well as adopters."

The East End Veteran's Memorial Garden

Organized and sponsored by the Civic Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati, the East End Veteran's Memorial Garden is the pride of the Strader Street neighborhood. Joe Corcoran, who lives on the block, and his wife Beth, do most of the work to maintain the garden, including the recent installation of a city water line and freeze-proof faucet that makes care and upkeep significantly easier and more efficient. The water tap was installed two months ago, just in time to allow the vegetation to thrive during the long summer drought and heat.

The garden is dedicated to the memory of Steve Corcoran, Joe's brother and a Vietnam vet, and to all other East End veterans. According to Corcoran, Strader Street is a neighborhood where people walk a lot, and know each other and what is happening on the street. "Most folks I've talked with are pretty relieved that all those cats were saved -- and surprised and pleased that now the house is saved, too. With all that, and the garden thriving and beautiful, we have a lot to celebrate."

Foreclosure Cats are ready for adoption

"Foreclosure cats" ready for adoption
Rescued, vetted; many now ready for forever homes

Cincinnati, Ohio, July 17, 2007 - More than 50 "foreclosure cats," who gained public notice after being abandoned in the East End by an evicted man, have been rescued, given medical care and many are now ready for adoption into permanent homes.

The foreclosure cats will be introduced for adoption as part of the "9Lives Morris' Million Cat Rescue Tour" on Thursday and Friday, July 19 and 20, 4 to 6 p.m. at the Biggs at 5218 Beechmont Avenue, and the Meijer at 4825B Marburg Avenue, respectively.

Several of the foreclosure cats and kittens will be available to meet potential adoptive families, and others will be represented in a "Foreclosure Cat Book" of photos and stories. A professional photographer volunteered to photograph the cats, and more than a dozen volunteer artists are creating original drawings and paintings of the cats, for eventual auction to help cover the medical and other expenses involved in their rescue. Some of this work will be shown at the adoption events on Thursday and Friday, as well.

The cats were discovered by a rescuer in early May, apparently weeks after the evicted man walked away from his home without telling anyone about the cats and kittens trapped inside without food, water or medical attention. Several small rescue groups joined together to organize a community rescue effort. A website, http://www.foreclosurecats.org/, was created to solicit volunteers, accept foster and adopter applications as well as donations.

In cooperation with the Cincinnati SPCA, several veterinary hospitals who offered discounted services; Fannie Mae, the lender that owned the house; neighbors who live on the block where the cats were found; fosters and other volunteers who heard the story and showed up to help, nearly 60 cats were rescued or accounted for, including six cats and kittens who did not survive.

Many of the animals were sick and required extensive veterinary and dental care in addition to the routine spaying or neutering, vaccinating and microchipping that was performed as the cats were well enough. "While most of the cats are now fully recovered, jumping, playing and happy like any cats or kittens,” said Gail Silver, the rescuer who discovered the cats in early May, "we’re looking for adopters who are not deterred by imperfection."

For example, some of the cats have damaged eyes from respiratory and viral infections which went untreated for too long. Four sisters, Run-around Sue, Rambeaux, Tortellini, and Tabitha, were too young to be weaned when discovered, and have among them only three normal eyes as a result of having these infections so early in their development.

"But now, all they know is that they feel good, and are jumping around and happy," said Janet Corbett, who manages veterinary and foster relations for the project and has secured both traditional and holistic treatments to help the four kittens recover.

One cat, Fuzzy, gets along fine with only three legs. Mieke and Lily, two tortoiseshell sister-kittens who had developed severe abdominal infections, are completely recovered and hoping to find a home together.

Some of the cats were so severely traumatized and frightened, they were initially thought to be feral, or wild, and therefore not adoptable. Stradervarius and JoJo, both pumpkin-colored cats with green eyes, were so stressed when rescued that all who came in contact with them thought they probably could never live with families. But through close monitoring and the patience and creativity of their foster families, these and other cats who acted feral at first have proven to be tame, sitting in laps and purring.

"Sometimes adult cats who never felt safe or well a day in their lives, and suddenly do, act like the joyous little kittens they never had a chance to be," said Corbett. "Thanks to the care of their foster families and their veterinarians this is what we are seeing. Now the Foreclosure Cats are ready for their forever families."

For photos and more information about the foreclosure cats, please visit www.ForeclosureCats.org. For more information about Morris' Million Cat Rescue Campaign, please visit www.9lives.com.

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Attached: Fact sheet, paintings and photos


Fact Sheet

Foreclosure Cat Project Partners
Pet Alliance, Inc.
Silver Bells rescue
Wildwood Pet Network

Foreclosure Cat Project Rescues
Neighborhood Cat Helpers
Purrfect Friends
Save Our Strays
Save the Animals Foundation
Scoop
Small Potatoes Rescue

Foreclosure Cat Project Veterinarians
All Creatures
Animal Hospital on Mt. Lookout Square
Appletree Pet Clinic
Blue Ash Evendale Animal Hospital
HomeVet (certified homeopathic veterinarian)
Kyle Veterinary Hospital
Liberty Veterinary Hospital
Loveland Animal Hospital
Pleasant Ridge Animal Hospital
Towne Square Animal Hospital
United Coalition for Animals

Foreclosure Cat Project Funding
O’Bryonville Animal Rescue
SPCA Cincinnati
United Animal Nation
The majority of funding for this project has come from individual donors
across the nation

What is needed now:

• Adopters to give Foreclosure Cats and kittens wonderful forever homes. Some of the cats will have chronic health issues or permanent injuries, including damaged eyes or blindness.
• Foster homes experienced with cats, including frightened or semi-feral cats, are needed for cats who might not have found homes when their time is up with their first foster families.
• Volunteers to transport cats or supplies.
• Donations for vet bills accrued to date plus continuing care, including ophthalmology and dental care for the cats who are still recovering from neglect.

Community education needed:

• This situation and the suffering these animals have endured could have been avoided easily if the guardian of the cats had asked for help from rescue groups in the Cincinnati area. Most shelters and many veterinary hospitals have contacts for area rescues, and Internet searches yield rescues for specific animals and breeds, for example.
• Spay and neuter could have prevented the rapid multiplication of what most likely started with two or three unaltered cats. Low-cost spay-neuter options are available, as well as financial assistance.
• Veterinary care for upper respiratory illness (common cold) that was probably minor at the start, could have been treated easily and inexpensively but has escalated to pneumonia, blindness, and other serious conditions for some cats.
• Dental care must be routine for cats just as for people, and serious health issues can result if ignored.

A Plea for the Foreclosure Cats

Dear Friends of Animals:

You're probably visiting this site because you've got a soft spot in your heart for animals. You've probably been like this your entire life.

You're not alone...

Cats Discovered Completely By Chance
What would YOU do if while enjoying the beautiful weather with a relaxing bike ride, you came upon a house that you learned had over 60 cats that had been abandoned in a foreclosed house (about half trapped inside without food or water and the remaining left to fend for themselves outside)?

"How Can I Save Them All? There Are Soooo Many!"
Gail Silver with Silver Bells Rescue, chose to get involved rather than look the other way. She asked the Cincinnati SPCA to allow her time to get help from the No Kill Rescues in Cincinnati before the SPCA was forced to remove and kill the cats.



Local Rescues Provide Limited Help
Lynne Heldman with Save Our Strays (SOS) heard Gail's plea for help and came to immediately assist by placing the easiest cats to catch, as well as, trapping the cats that had the most urgent medical issues. Janet Corbett with Wildwood Pet Network is interviewing potential fosters and adopters for the Foreclosure Cats, as well as, solving the numerous challenges that arise in such a huge undertaking. Anita Barron with Pet Alliance worked to find fosters, resources and funding for this very large and expensive initiative but...

All area rescues and shelters are totally overwhelmed with kittens and cats due to kitten season. Most rescues and shelters just do NOT have any room left to take these discarded cats and kittens.

The Foreclosure Cats' Lives Have Been Spared
We have passed a critical milestone of removing all the indoor cats and with the exception of still trapping for a few feral cats outside, we believe we have secured the remaining cats. The SPCA has donated $1,000.00 to the effort to save about 60 “foreclosure”cats and kittens in the East End.

“A project of this size would have complicated care at the SPCA,” said Harold Dates, President and CEO of the Cincinnati SPCA, “and saving these animals is only possible because the rescues stepped in to help.” The SPCA, which is required to accept any and all animals presented by the public, says that large influxes of animals like these would have been a strain on its facilities.

“It is a relief for our entire staff to have this kind of help, and to see so many animals saved,” said Dates. “We wanted to reward the efforts of these grassroots rescue groups with this donation, hoping the effort might be a model for future cooperation when animal crises such as this arise,” said Dates.

Can You Foster One Of The Remaining Cats?
Could you or someone you know provide a foster home for one or more of these cats?
Many of these cats are VERY scared (there are healthy cats, as well as, cats that need medication to complete their recovery).... it may take some patience and understanding to allow the cat to settle down and permit an adequate assessment of the right type of forever home that would be best for kitty.

If you, or someone you know, can offer a foster home for one or more of these helpless cats...

Complete the Foster Home Application or click on the link below to download the Foster Home Application and fax it in.

Click Here to Download the Foster Home Application
Requires Adobe Reader. Click this link to download the Adobe Reader for FREE.

54 and Counting as of June 7, 2007

We have removed 54 cats to date (regretably 6 of which are now deceased). We still have a handful of cats that are either at local vets and a couple in a garage who DESPERATELY need a Foster Family willing to provide a short term home for them until we can locate their Forever Home.

Update for 4 Very Small and Precious Lives

After only a few weeks of loving care from their current foster home, check out the Updated Photos!

"Kittens are doing really well - acting like normal, playful little kitties.
FEMALE Orange kitty, Rambeaux doesn't know she can't see very well; she's a climber!
Run Around Sue doesn't have a clue that the vet found that she's got a pretty severe heart murmur.
The 2 smallest ones, Tabitha and Tortellini are the sweetest, most affectionate and interactive ones.

They've all gotten used to my cat-friendly dogs, and now they're meeting my adult cats, who are starting to come in to see them."

--- Evelyn (the kittens' foster mom) May 24, 2007

Additional Updates for every cat are forthcoming, please bookmark and return to www.ForeclosureCats.org often to view their stories.

A Miracle Tonight, May 17, 2007

Tonight one of the "boys" (we thought) that just arrived at the vet delivered 2 kittens (1 stillborn and 1 appears ok). Mama is just a child herself and very malnourished so she has no milk. We will need to find someone to bottle feed this baby who is a survivor, having beat the odds already in surviving the delivery. If you know of any Mama kitties in the Cincinnati, OH area that have just delivered her babies......let Anita know @ acbarron@petalliance.org if there may be a possibility to have that Mama adopt one more baby.