On a semi regular basis, when conditions allow, we foster, re-home and adopt companion animals in need. Over the years we have been a temporary or permanent home for dozens of cats and seven horses. See current adoptables here.
Please see the donations page to donate to the TNR (trap, neuter, release) fund. Note “TNR” on your donation. Each animal served costs a minimum of $35 – $50, depending on the clinic, for a low cost sterilization and basic vaccines. This does not include food, litter, transport, testing for FELV, or the cost of special care. Our average cost for the Kimono/Kendall colony was $74/cat.
Kimono/Kendall TNR
With the generous support of many of you, we are currently in the process of trapping, neutering & returning dozens of free roaming area cats. Veterinary care, as with human medical care, is difficult for many to afford. Low cost spay and neuter clinics have long wait times. Combine this with a farm culture that does not see domesticated cats as needing human assistance, and the result is large amounts of feline suffering as these animals face an inhospitable world, largely on their own. Our nearest neighbors have done a lovely job of feeding and sheltering a large number of area outdoor cats, but they do not have the means of providing sterilization. With unfettered reproduction, the numbers of suffering animals will only increase. With numbers at this level, we feel we must step in now to try to ease the situation. Most of these cats are not socialized to humans and the kindest thing we can do is sterilize them and release them, providing auxiliary shelters and food where we can. Some of them are friendly however – Please scroll down for adoptable kitties.
As of December 22nd, 2020 we have been able to trap, sterilize and provide basic vet care to 23 cats. Five youngsters were taken in by Tabby Town of Westby for adoption placement. One elderly kitty has found a home inside at Kevala (Cloud), another has been adopted (Oslo). One additional highly adoptable adult (Buddy) is receiving veterinary care and will be adoptable soon. The remaining fifteen have been returned for continued outdoor care.
Huge thanks to Dr. Jan Doelle and Linda Viska of Winona, MN for their tireless devotion to spaying and neutering as many cats in need as they possibly can; to Spay Me Clinic of Madison for offering excellent low cost services; to Dr. Jodie Anderson, Kim & Laurie of Northside Veterinary Clinic in Tomah Wisconsin for providing necessary medical attention and making FELV/FIV testing available; to Dr. Jennifer Malin for offering unending tele-health and long distance veterinary consultation & to Cat Care Clinic of Madison for specialty medical care. Thank you to Inese Epstein and Nancy Herrens-Knudson for driving van loads of kitties to & from their procedures, to Sparta TNR, Tabby Town of Westby, & Chasing Daylight of Tomah for their excellent coaching and advice, and to Tabby Town for shepherding the smallest kittens to their forever homes. And last but not least, thank you to all of you who donated necessary dollars to fund the care of this colony! They, and we, are forever grateful. We’ll continue in the spring to assess nearby colonies and to offer the help we can.
Adoptable Companions
Please see our adoption application, if you would like to offer one of these deserving kitties a permanent home! All adoptable kitties have been sterilized, vaccinated, wormed, treated with flea & mite protection, and tested for FELV/FIV. Our basic adoption fee is $50 for adults & $100 for kittens, which is waived if you have already donated to the TNR fund. Kittens too young to be sterilized will not have full custody released until proof of sterilization is returned to Kevala Retreat. At that time $75 of the adoption fee will be returned, and full custody will be released. Proof of sterilization must be returned before the kitten is 24 weeks old.
MINKY HAS BEEN ADOPTED! Minky arrived at her foster mom’s house in July in need of food and care. She is probably less than a year old. She has been spayed, had all vaccines, and is FELV negative. Minky is extremely friendly, curious, attentive and affectionate. She loves cuddles and purrs loudly to show it. She would like nothing more than her own home and a special human to bond with. Her foster mom would love to keep her but the resident cat in the house will not allow a newcomer. Minky resides in the shop at night and readily uses the litter box. She seeks out human company at any opportunity and especially enjoys accompanying humans for walks and working in the yard. She is a good hunter and wears a bright collar to prevent her catching birds. She would do best in an indoor or indoor/outdoor home.
Atticus, Yuki & Persephone have found homes. They are posted as a service to their foster mom. Due to unforeseen circumstances their owner no longer has a permanent residence and is unable to provide even basic essentials/care for these 3 sweet kitties. They have very temporary fostering while looking for their new furever home. Atticus “Atti” is a 2.5yr old female Black, Orange, and White Dilute Tortie with Yellow eyes. She is shorter in stature and has a mild lazy left eye. The vet believes she was likely the runt, and is not effected by either. Atti is a bit shy at first and gets a little nervous around fast moving people or animals. She is a 100% snuggle bug and loves kneading and napping on soft plushy blankets or keeping your lap warm and toasty. She is cute and she knows it, often laying in goofy positions to make sure you notice how cute she is. Atti is up to date on vaccines, spayed, and claws are intact. Yuki is a 2yr old female Grey, Orange, and White Tabby with Green eyes. She is very outgoing and makes fast friends. She enjoys nose bumping and kisses from her new friends. Yuki is curious and likes to be involved in whatever is going on around her. She loves keeping watch from high perches and playing with toys, especially cat springs. She prefers the company of a person or other cat to being alone. Yuki is up to date on vaccines, will be spayed 9/2/22, claws are intact. Persephone is a 2yr old female Brown, Crème, and White Siamese Mix with Blue eyes. She is very laid back and is happy with company or some alone time, as long as she gets the occasional cheek scratches. Persephone is a professional cuddler especially when snuggling up under a blanket with you. She is a perfect fit for any lifestyle. Persephone is up to date on vaccines, will be spayed 9/2/22, claws are intact.
Buddy has been adopted by Kevala Retreat. He requires ongoing medical care and will be difficult to place in an outside adoptive home. After months of nursing him back to health, he has won a permanent home here.
Buddy is a charming, charismatic character, thought to be around two years old. He was trapped during the Kimono Ave TNR and needed immediate medical care for a life-threatening respiratory infection. He has taken a long time to recover and has needed specialty care at the Cat Care Clinic of Madison. During his care he has displayed a love of humans and a clear preference to continue living with them.
Buddy is a character unlike any other. His gentle, good-hearted & soulful nature will melt your heart. He can be a quiet, restful guy, but also has a strong play drive & is very active for at least a short time or two every day. He is curious & enjoys playing with common household items. He as an interest in picking up personal belongings (including cell phones & eye glasses). These qualities also make him a ton of fun & an excellent playmate. He also loves a good snuggle or to be carried on one’s shoulder like a child. He will reach up his arms to indicate it’s time to be picked up. Buddy adores other cats & is respectful but persistent in making friends.
COPPER HAS BEEN ADOPTED! Copper is a long-haired, orange, Maine Coon/Tabby mix and he has that fantastic Maine Coon personality. He is a social, friendly, cuddly cat with a long, soft, thick and beautiful coat. After living 8 years with his first caretaker, he was re-homed with family for the past two years, and is now looking for a place to call his forever home. Copper’s need for a new home each time has been due to changing circumstances of his humans, and their inability to continue having a cat companion in new living circumstances. He is a wonderful, loving and well behaved kitty. He has lived his whole life as an indoor/outdoor cat, and enjoys exploring the outdoors, especially in the company of a human whom he enjoys accompanying on walks. He also loves to spend time inside grooming, napping, and being close with humans. He allows kids to tote him around with great patience. While fostering a kitten recently, Copper was the perfect foster Dad, providing a kind and caring socialization to the kitten. Copper is around 10 y.o., and has had a recent veterinary check up, but does not have extensive medical records. He is neutered and vaccinated according to his original owners. He is being posted by Kevala Retreat as a service to he and his human. All inquiries will be forwarded to his current human carer who will answer directly.
HYDI HAS BEEN ADOPTED! Hydi is an absolutely adorable, tiny little guy, born around the first of November. He wandered out of the woods at about four weeks of age and presented himself at the front door of his carer’s cabin. He has been fostered in place while receiving special care for his young age, and is now old enough to be adopted. Hydi loves his foster brother cat. He would like to live in an indoor home where he has another cat for companionship, or where the humans are home a lot to help keep him properly cuddled and entertained.
Hydi is not a Kevala Retreat cat, but is being posted as a service to Hydi and his carer. His neuter, vaccines and FELV/FIV testing are not complete but are pending. You can still apply to adopt him using the Kevala Retreat adoption application. Fees and logistics of his care will be worked out with his carer.
OSLO HAS BEEN ADOPTED! Oslo is an adorable, active, curious character who appreciates companionship. He provides hours of entertainment with his clownish ways. He loves to be by the side of a human, and actively seeks out company. He can be talkative, but has the softest, sweetest voice. He plays gently and purrs loudly. He gets along very well with other cats and is persistent but gentle in his attempts to make friends with them. He should do well with children and dogs if they are gentle and respectful. Oslo has the initial wariness with each new human that many cats born in an outdoor colony show. His basically confident personality allow him to gain trust quickly however. Once he knows you, he is highly social and affectionate. Since he prefers lots of socialization he would do best in a house with another cat, or where the humans are home at least a moderate amount of time. Oslo is eight months old (born April 2020).
In Memoriam – Judas, 16 year old beloved companion of Mark Amoroso of Portland OR, passed away this year. In memory of Judas, his loved ones donated funds to the TNR fund. Judas’ memorial funds will help with Buddy’s veterinary bills. Before being claimed as family by Mark, Judas had been surrendered to a shelter with the reason given: “Too affectionate.” We’re glad Judas found the loving companion and caregiver he deserved. Thank You to Judas’ family for your generosity to other kitties in need.
