Regina Cat Rescue deficit poses potential problem for felines

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Due to a drop in donations, the Regina Cat Rescue (RCR) is preparing for an unfortunate possibility — further limiting the number of cats and kittens taken into its care.

In 2017, donations to RCR were down $30,000 compared to 2016. While fundraising efforts in 2017 brought in $14,000 more than the previous year, RCR said it’s not enough to compensate for the decrease in donations.

“If we don’t get an increase in support then we will need to rescue fewer cats so that we can manage to take care of the ones that we have and make sure we can pay our vet bills,” said Alanna Whippler, adoption and intake coordinator with RCR.

Whippler said demand on the organization has been significantly high this year, which she thinks is partly due to an unusually cold winter. Where they normally see an influx starting in May and June, numbers jumped as early as January and have been increasing since.

She says the RCR receives multiple request daily to take in strays.

With an intake cap of 400 cats, she said the organization may need to decrease that number if support doesn’t improve.

Whippler said volunteers are used to being in deficit situations for short periods of time. Usually it’s due to the influx of cats and kittens during summer months, but the deficit came early this year.

“Right now we are concerned that we are in position where we can’t make this up quickly enough to be able to continue to take in cats,” said Whippler.

The organization has attempted to boost revenue by increasing the adoption fee to $140 from $100. Whippler said the increase has not deterred adoptions, but hasn’t been enough to offset donation losses, especially as the cost of caring for cats and kittens has risen.

The average cost per cat rescued last year rose to $409 from $337 in 2016.

A major wave of distemper in April spurred RCR to begin vaccinating their colony cats, an added cost to this year’s budget.

Despite some discounted rates, veterinary costs totalled $164,000 in 2017, the RCR’s greatest expense. With a focus on spaying, neutering and vaccinating, a significant portion of their budget goes to those three things, leaving needier cats waiting for treatment.

A senior cat named Beemer, had been waiting until recently for a surgery to remove a severely damaged eye. The surgery was done pro-bono by a local vet after hearing about his situation.

Beemer’s not the only cat in RCR’s care with special needs. Three other cats currently require substantial dental procedures.

“A lot of people don’t like cats or they don’t value cats as pets and just see them as a nuisance out there in the community,” said Whippler. “If people could see some of the heartbreak that comes into our inbox almost on a daily basis, they might be more inclined to support.”

She said economic downturn and an increase in the cost of living may be a factor in the drop in donations, but stressed it is a community problem that needs community support.

“The stray cat overpopulation issues are created largely by people not sterilizing their animals,” said Whippler. “We do seek community support for this because we can’t do it alone.”

She said even at the best of times, the RCR isn’t able to help every cat or kitten in need.

“This is not the best of times, so we do need that additional support to hold even and do what we would normally do over the course of a year,” said Whippler.

jackerman@postmedia.com