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Board of Directors Updates

We are thrilled to announce that one of our own volunteers, Sue Krause, has accepted the position of Lead Foster Home Coordinator! Sue is an animal advocate, cat guardian, and seasoned marketing leader who has now turned her passion for feline rescue into a full-time mission.

A lifelong animal lover and cat guardian, Sue grew up with every kind of pet from cats, dogs, and gerbils to ferrets, rats, and fish. She was a horse-riding instructor in her late teens.

Sue has been involved in cat rescue since early 2016 when she began volunteering and fostering with Cat Tales in Warminster, where she also ran the website, content, and social media, as well as being instrumental in overhauling the adoption application process.

Sue joined Stray Cat Blues as a volunteer and foster in January 2024.

[Read More about Sue]

Follow Sue’s fostering Instagram account: @kastle_krause_fosters

Please join us in congratulating Sue in her new role!

In addition  — 

Dear Stray Cat Blues Family,

We are thrilled to share an incredible milestone with all of you! Thanks to the dedication, hard work, and compassion of every single volunteer, we have reached over 1,000 AME adoptions through PetSmart Charities—earning us Gold Status!

Every role in this rescue is essential—whether you’re cleaning cages, socializing cats, coordinating adoptions, transporting, fostering, or supporting in countless other ways. Your efforts, sacrifices, and unwavering commitment to saving lives have made this possible. 

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for everything you do. This achievement belongs to all of us, and we couldn’t have done it without you! 

Please read the email from our PetSmart Charities Regional Manager so you can appreciate the magnitude of your accomplishments.

Monthly Adoptions numbers

Recent Adoptions 01 Jan to 12 Mar 2025

• 188 kittens (72%)
• 44 adolescents (17%)
• 20 adults (8%)
• 9 seniors (3%)

Some Words of Appreciation

One of our volunteers received this email recently which is a nice example of how we help the community and the people who care about their cats: 

Want to let you know that the help you provided almost 18 years ago has made me and my family believers in the catch and release of feral cats. In August of 2007 you provided guidance and traps which netted a total of 10 cats, 3 which were brought in and the balance released. You also provided a cat house donated by the local tech school which served well. Through the years we added 2 more feral males to the group which remarkably they all lived together. I want one step further with housing and made available an entrance to our mudroom which is heated in the winter. The cat house and mud room were used to the fullest. Those cats became part of the family. We looked for them and counted every day. As time passed there were only 2 cats that went missing never to return. 

Today there is one cat still with us and resides in our home. He and his mother were the last cats trapped of the original 10. You picked the 2 cats up from the vet and I went to your house to pick them up. The kitten was a grey and white Tux like the mother. You told me if I did not take the kitten in or have a home for it you were keeping it! You said the cat does not have the instinct to survive the outdoors. I agreed to keep the kitten.You also kept the mother because she was having some difficulty with the anesthesia and you would call me when she was okay to be picked up and released. Well when the mother was better you came to my home to deliver and check if I had indeed brought the kitten in. We named the kitten Meeko for his timid and meek personality. And yes, he would have never survived being outdoors.

Meeko is doing well and will celebrate 18 years come April. As for the longevity of the others with the exception of 1 that went missing and the 2 johnny come lately males, 9 of the original 10 made it to 15 years. 

Although our association was short, you should know that you are a frequent topic of conversation and remembrance. 

Thank you for all you did and I am certain what you continue to do.

Blessings always,

John

PetSmart North Wales Volunteers

written by Jennifer Pone

Pawsitive News - Exciting Update | New Socializing Program Launched!  Sharing Joy Through Volunteering with Connor and Our Cats

We’re excited to share an update on the ongoing socialization sessions for our cats, led by Connor Brittain, a kind-hearted, animal loving young man with autism. This successful launch of our new cat socializing program at the adoption center not only benefits the cats but also provides a meaningful volunteer opportunity for Connor and we’re thrilled to see the progress made over the past few weeks. This initiative is already making a positive impact on both our feline friends and our wonderful volunteers. 

The First Session  — I had the pleasure of meeting with Connor and his dedicated teachers, Ali and Julia, at the adoption center during their first session.

Read the full story and initiative here!

Welcome New Fosters!

Please welcome our new foster Stephen Chiou from Chalfont.

Dudley’s Rescue

from Allissa Delhagan

I picked up Dudley from a front porch in Norristown. He had a bloody wound on his lower back, and he was brought into the vet the next day. When they shaved him and cleaned his wound it was much worse than originally expected. After a week and a half of pain meds and antibiotics, he looks much, much better. He has since been neutered and is now with Melissa Murphy on rabies quarantine hold, due to his bite wounds of unknown origin. He is the sweetest boy!

New Policies!

Royersford Vet Lobby Cage -

We now have a lobby cage available to show a few kitties, one business week at a time (Monday-Saturday.) We are live with this now. So, if you are interested in moving any of your fosters into those cages, please review the policy and let us know who you'd like to move into the cage and when. Details can be found in this new policy on the Foster Drive here.

Here is the link to form you must fill out for your kitties to be shown (this link is also in the policy document).

FIV+ Kitties at PetSmart -

As some of you may have heard already, PetSmart has changed its corporate policy around allowing FIV+ kitties to be shown in both the aisle playpens and also in the overnight cages. We have just finalized our Stray Cat Blues policy for this, and we will be able to start allowing FIV+ kitties to be shown in both Adoption Centers from March 15th forward. You can see our new policy here.

Rescue Software Team

The new Meds app will go live by April 1, 2025 at the latest. You will access the same link (https://meds.straycatblues.org) but the software will be new and refreshed. 

Please contact developers@straycatblues.org is you have any questions. 

There will also be a file with instructions, including step by step pictures that will walk you through the system. You will find them on the main drive, Main > Portal > Meds App Link and Instructions.

Please bear with us, all new software has its glitches, but the good news is our developers are very dedicated volunteers of this organization and they are very quick to respond!  

Let’s give a huge shout out to ….

Volunteer Team

Please welcome our new team member, Karen Arnold.

If you are considering volunteering in another part of the rescue or would like to learn about other areas of need, please email volunteers@straycatblues.org and we can discuss options.  

SUPERMEWDEL FOSTER PHOTO SHOOT

We want to thank Shelly Burk Photography for generously donating her time to do two photo sessions for our foster kitties, at PetSmart Collegeville on March 8 and at Whiskers Way Station on March 15.  

To see more of Shelly's work visit Main Street Vet and links below. 

Instagram | Facebook | shellyburkphotography.net

OPPURRRTUNITIES

to Learn -

Please let Sue Krause know if you are interested in any of the following:

• Learning how to give distemper vaccines
• Learning how to process your own adoptions

to Help Stray Cat Blues -

• Please consider being a mentor for temp foster. The Animals First entries are now being handled by a team of people, so there is less for the mentor to do. In 2024 there were 84 active regular fosters and 42 temporary fosters. This program greatly expands the number of cats we can help.
• Please consider taking in adolescent and adult cats now (there are many) before kittens are abundant.  
• It would help to have fosters bring their Available cats to PetSmarts and other events - we have over 60 cats Available right now, but hardly any being brought to our Adoption Events. 
• We will need as many Available kitties as possible to be brought to the upcoming National Adoption Week events at both PetSmart locations on Sat. 3/22 and Sun. 3/23 from 11-4 both days. 
• Would like as many kittens as possible to attend the Stray Cat Blues Kitten Shower at Engage Art Studio in Schwenksville on April 13th from 12-3pm

WHISKERS WAY STATION

HOME AT LAST!

In June of 2022, Marco and his brother Polo were turned into the Perkiomen SPCA. Months later, Perk reached out to SCB and we were told that both boys were timestamped for euthanasia. Tara stepped up for them and brought the boys into foster care. It soon became clear that these guys needed some serious socialization. We welcomed Marco and Polo into Whiskers Way Station in July 2023, and that’s when our journey with them began.

For the first couple of months, they were petrified. Whenever we were around, they would be huddled together in their cage – frozen stiff. No kidding! Their little bodies would be rock hard to the touch. It was definitely going to be a challenge, but it was clear that these two were very sweet natured. We never heard a hiss or growl; never a swat, but this was going to take a lot of time and patience to win them over.

There were so many little victories along the way that we all celebrated.

Finally, when Marco & Polo graduated to main room roaming status, we were hopeful that some cat savvy person with a very quiet home would materialize to give them both their happy ending together. What are the chances when they have to compete with so many adorable kittens? Slim to none it seemed. For months, no applications, no meet and greets. Until - on Valentine’s Day 2025 that unicorn of an adopter finally appeared! She was looking for a bonded pair that had been waiting a long time. It was a purr-fect match!

The lesson? Never give up!

Grant Team

Stray Cat Blues is excited to be the recipient of Kimberton Whole Foods’ “Rounding Up at the Register” program for the month of May! Selected through a grant process, Stray Cat Blues will be featured in the Collegeville store in May, receiving the monetary donations from shoppers who choose to “round up” on their bill, as well as will have the opportunity to promote Stray Cat Blues in-store!

We are excited to announce a partnership with Petco Love Foundation, and were awarded a $7,500 grant in March for our life saving rescue efforts! 

Stray Cat Blues was awarded a Senior Pet Adoption Assistance Grant from Petfinder on behalf of Harry, Marie Beltz’s senior cat with thyroid disease. This $1,000 grant will incentivize his adoption by providing a year-supply of thyroid medication and biannual bloodwork and wellness visit. Since this newsletter was drafted, Harry was happily adopted! 

Volunteer of the Month

This month, we are thrilled to recognize Jeni McGuigan, as Volunteer of the Month!

At Stray Cat Blues, we are incredibly fortunate to have an amazing team of volunteers who make our mission possible. This month, we want to recognize someone truly extraordinary—Jeni.

Read more about Jeni

Events

Please join us, we love to see familiar faces!

See All Our Upcoming Events

It takes a Village to raise money and awareness! There is power in numbers, and we need all of our volunteers to come out and support the events we do in the community! 

Please consider signing up for an event at least one time per year!

For those who enjoy both driving and helping cats in need, Stray Cat Blues is seeking volunteers for its Transportation Team!



Please volunteer and help save lives!

If interested in helping us, 

please fill out a volunteer application.

 North Penn YMCA Network Partner