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Socrates looks for a new home.
Photo courtesy of Montgomery County Humane Society
The parking lot was full and the front-desk area packed last Saturday at the Montgomery County Humane Society’s shelter in Rockville. Part of this activity was the usual weekend rush, but many people walked through the shelter’s doors to attend the Cat Adoption Open House and hopefully find a new feline companion. A side room held tables covered with baked goods and books for sale, while just down the hall, three cat rooms were filled with cats of every description, all in need of good homes.
In Cat Room 1, the largest room, potential adopters peered into the cages while volunteers reminded them not to pet the cats (to avoid spreading any illness from cat to cat). The volunteers, wearing white plastic aprons over their clothes, spoke with interested visitors about any particular cat’s history and temperament. Some of the cats peered back at the visitors or offered a curious paw in greeting, while others slept peacefully despite all the activity.
Socrates, a large black Domestic Mediumhair who was brought to the shelter over a month ago with his sister, now sits alone since that sister has been adopted. A volunteer named Victoria pointed out a pair of cats, Antony and Herb, neutered males about two years old, who were lucky enough to be adopted together. They now wait to go to their new home, as does Hickory, a male tabby who is going to make a great lap cat for someone. Victoria, a regular volunteer for the past six years, said they try to get cats that are brought in as a pair to be adopted as a pair; unfortunately this is not always possible. “With two cats as gorgeous as this, you worry,” she said, pointing to Antony and Herb, both curled up and sleeping.
The second cat room houses cats who have been at the shelter a little longer. A video featuring meowing kittens played overhead while a tabby named Mint poked a persistent paw out to grab visitors’ attention. One visitor asked about kittens, to which Kathi Alexander, MCHS’s website and database manager, jokingly replied, “Why would you want a kitten? All that destruction …” The open house included a “Golden Oldies” promotion, an ongoing program that offers special discounts to those who adopt a cat aged 7 years or older. County seniors who adopt an older cat are eligible for additional discounts.
The final room, called the “sneeze room,” houses cats who are being treated for illnesses, mostly respiratory infections. These are mostly younger cats who aren’t able to fight off illness as well as a more mature cat could, Alexander said. Two black-and-white youngsters played on the floor, apparently unaware that they were sick. Kathy Dillon, the operations coordinator and medical programs manager, added that these cats are treated with antibiotics and are seen regularly by volunteer vets who visit the shelter twice a week. Cats in the sneeze room are available for adoption and are sent home with a supply of medication, if needed.
An announcement from an overhead loudspeaker alerted volunteers and staff to prepare certain cats for up-close-and-personal visits with potential adopters who had filled out visit slips so they could get to know some cats a little better. Another cat needed to be microchipped before going to his new home. Microchipping was free during the open house; it normally costs $25. Montgomery County requires microchipping for any cat leaving the shelter, whether they’re going to a forever home or a foster home, Dillon said. The microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and is injected under the skin. The use of microchips helps reunite lost pets with their owners. For $30, MCHS also offers microchipping for cats who already have happy homes.
MCHS efforts to send cats to “purrfect” homes did not end with this open house. Dillon said they continue to recruit foster caregivers (MCHS currently has between 200 and 250 cats and kittens in foster care) and sponsors to help out with special promotions. And there are still plenty of cats and kittens waiting to go to new homes, with more arriving every day.
If you’re looking for a cat, you can visit the shelter weekdays (except Wednesdays) from noon to 7:00 p.m. or from noon to 5:00 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. The animal shelter is located at 14645 Rothgeb Drive in Rockville.
For more info: Montgomery County Humane Society
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