CAN FERAL CATS SOLVE OUR RAT PROBLEM? Tree House`s

VOLUME 43 ISSUE 2 • FALL/WINTER 2014
CAN FERAL CATS SOLVE
OUR RAT PROBLEM?
Tree House’s Unique Project:
Saving Feral Cats and
Helping Our Communities
ALSO INSIDE:
• Visiting Our Sanctuary Room: Complete with Our Outdoor “Catio”
• Holiday Shopping: Gifts that Have Added Meaning
• Two Cats, Abandoned on Our Steps, are Home for the Holidays
2
LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
LOCATIONS & HOURS
3
MAILBAG
Kitten Rescue Happy Ending
4
STILL WAITING
Visiting Our Sanctuary Room
6
CAN FERAL CATS SOLVE OUR RAT PROBLEM?
Our Cats at Work Project
1212 W. Carmen Ave., Chicago, IL 60640
Phone: 773-784-5488
Bucktown Branch
1629 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago, IL 60622
Phone: 773-227-5535
Adoption Hours
10
THE KITTY CONDO CLUB
Cats at Work Success Stories
12
HAPPY ENDINGS
Two Abandoned Cats Find Homes
14
EASY WAYS TO HELP
You shop Amazon, they give, Pet Food Pantry, fundraise to
honor a special life event, and more
15
HOLIDAY SHOPPING
Tribute Lights, Tree House holiday cards, 2015 calendar,
cat toys, and more
16
TRIBUTES
Our supporters honor and remember special people and
pets to benefit our cats
20
Headquarters
Monday - Friday 12:00 noon - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday 12:00 noon - 6:00 p.m.
6
Can Feral Cats Solve our Rat Problem? Tree House’s new
Cats at Work Project is saving feral cats while helping our
communities. Learn how this unique program is changing the
way people think about community cats.
TREE HOUSE CATALOG
Contributors: Kristine Ankney, Ann Fleming, David de Funiak, Liz Houtz,
Sydney Maier, Susanna McBride, Jenny Schlueter, Olga Steele, Jackie Such,
Kady Walker. Editors: Kristine Ankney, Jenny Schlueter. Graphic Designer: Jowita
Kostek. Print/Production: Hagg Press.
We welcome your letters and comments. Please send correspondence to: Tree
House Humane Society, Inc., 1212 W. Carmen Ave. Chicago, IL 60640 or email us
at: [email protected]
Advertisements in this issue are provided to our event sponsors.
COVER PHOTO: Duke and Allie,
part of the “Rat Pack”, are making
a difference in their neighborhood.
Read about this incredible duo
who are one of our Cats at Work
Success Stories.
LETTER
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dear Friends,
I wanted to share a very personal foster story with you. This past summer, my neighbor asked for help with some cats who were living outside of
his father’s house a few blocks away. The mother cat had recently given birth to four kittens, and mom and kittens were living at the base of a
large bush in his back yard. The cats were unsocialized, so my neighbor and I began the task of trapping the entire family. I brought them to our
Bucktown Branch for exams, where we also spayed the mother cat. After explaining the benefits of TNR to my neighbor and his father, I helped
them install an outdoor shelter for her and provided instructions on feeding and care. We then returned the mother cat to the yard. To this day
my neighbor’s father talks with pride about his beautiful cat and the fact that he hasn’t seen a mouse or rat in his alley since she moved in.
My family and I became foster parents to the four kittens and began the slow, but ultimately rewarding, process of socialization. My kids
participated, and my daughter was especially brave in the face of hissing and swatting kittens as she picked them up and put them in her
lap. In time, through a combination of treats, play, and petting, the kittens began to trust us. Eventually, they came to enjoy our affection,
purring and eagerly approaching us when we entered the room. The transformation happened so gradually that it was hard to imagine they
were the same kittens who, only a month or so before, were feral and wanted nothing more than to escape what they saw as an indoor prison.
Socializing the kittens isn’t the hardest part, though. My family has fostered many litters of kittens in the past few years and letting them go
when they’re ready for adoption never gets any easier. My daughter cries each time we admit them to Tree House.
These sorts of stories are playing out all across our city and country, and it’s for this reason that our Community Cats Program is growing so
rapidly. Communities everywhere are responding to the issue of stray cats, and more people are doing their part to care for the animals in
need in their areas. In turn, individuals are realizing the benefits of programs like our Cats at Work Project, where helping cats survive can
also mean making our neighborhoods cleaner and better places to live.
I hope you enjoy the articles in this edition of the Tree House News and hope the stories inspire you to continue to do your part to make a
difference for the cats in your community.
At Tree House, improving our community through animal welfare is what we have always strived to achieve. Our New Building Project will help us
attain that ultimate goal. I’m proud to announce that with the gifts and pledges received to date, we are more than 50% funded for the project.
As we move closer to our groundbreaking, we are increasingly aware of the potential impact of this important project which will culminate in
the creation of the largest and most progressive, state-of-the-art Cat Adoption Center, Education Center, and Veterinary Clinic in the country.
As the number of homeless animals in America’s shelters continues to grow, so do the risks of the spread of infectious diseases, development
of problem behaviors due to stress, and other complications that at best, greatly inhibit an animal’s adoptability and at worst, threaten their
quality of life. With our new facility, Tree House will become a national leader in feline shelter medicine, education, and adoption, and we hope
to ultimately help put an end to the needless euthanasia of cats in our communities.
The focus of the Adoption Center and Clinic will be to continue to develop best practices in feline shelter housing, behavior, and medicine. At
the heart of this focus will be an emphasis on stress reduction to decrease length of stay, preventive medicine to anticipate and avert illness
before it occurs, and cleaning protocols to reduce the spread of infection. Additionally, Tree House’s ability to treat other common feline diseases
(dental disease, diabetes, allergies, heart disease, etc.) will be enhanced. By addressing these conditions in more efficient and cost-effective
ways, Tree House can move cats with treatable conditions through the adoption process more quickly and make space to treat cats most often
classified as “untreatable”—cats truly in need who may otherwise be unable to get the veterinary care they require.
We hope you will take part in this important project in whatever way you can. For those of you who haven’t yet made your gift or
pledge for our New Building Project, please consider doing so in the near future. To learn more you may also visit our website at:
TreeHouseAnimals.org/NewBuilding.
Thank you to everyone who has supported Tree House and our many programs and services. We couldn’t carry on our mission without your
commitment to our cause.
Sincerely,
David de Funiak
Executive Director
MAILBAG
KITTEN RESCUE HAPPY ENDING
You may remember Miss Moneypenny, whom we featured in our
kitten rescue campaign. We are so happy to share her happy ending.
“Miss Moneypenny is doing very well. We named her Daisy, like
my favorite flower, because she is just as beautiful as a pretty
flower. Since bringing her home, she has been a fearless, little
princess. From the start, she behaved very bravely even when our
other two cats were a little overwhelmed by her presence. She
would gracefully stand her ground by producing a few protective
hisses. I was amazed by her little brave heart. It didn’t take long
for everyone to become fast friends, and now all three of them
get along perfectly; they play, groom each other, and even eat
from the same plate (even though we give them each their own).
They are just adorable together. We are very happy to have her
as a member of our family, and we already love her a lot!”
• Mariia Nesterenko
ONE CLASSY LADY
“Kodi (Tree House name) is doing wonderfully! She’s really the perfect kitty. I named her Sophie, because I
felt it was a suitably respectable name for a classy lady like her. After only a day or two she began to warm
up to me, and she is now very cuddly. Every day when I get home, she hops up on the couch to make sure
she gets her head scratches. Sophie has a couple of favorite toys, and she loves to play. One funny thing
she likes to do is to jump into the bottom drawer of my dresser and scratch at the bottom. It’s coated and,
therefore, doesn’t make any marks so my theory is, if she likes the sound it makes or just can’t quite figure
out why it doesn’t scratch, I’ll leave it empty for her. It is entertaining for both of us! She’s a total sweetheart,
and it’s been great to have her around!”
• Patrick Betzold Conway
A FLYING CAT?
“Every day Byers & Langley (Tree House names) seem to improve and become a little more comfortable in
our home and with each other. One morning, I noticed they were almost snuggling. That is some amazing
progress for these cats! I changed Langly’s name to Elsie (inspired by calling her L.C., short for little cat).
She is perhaps the most effeminate cat I’ve ever met; simply such a sweetie. Elsie has the most melodic
meows I’ve ever heard as if she’s singing. The other sister (formerly Byers) I’ve named Amelia after Amelia
Earhart. Even though she is the larger of the two, she seems to be able to fly. I turned around the other day
and she was on top of the refrigerator looking at me from behind the cookbooks. She is quite the little leaper
and amazes me with her agility! Amelia and Elsie are both wonderful and affectionate. They are angels!”
• Barbara Bouboutsis
FERRIS & BUELLER • EVERY DAY IS A DAY OFF FOR THESE TWO
“I am happy to say that Ferris and Bueller (Tree House names) are doing great. They have settled into their
new home so well, in fact, that I am now the low man on the totem pole in my own house! Bueller is the same
guy he was at Tree House, very outgoing, loves to follow me around (especially to the kitchen for treats), and
always puts a smile on my face. And I’m happy to report that Ferris is starting to come out of his shell. At
times, I’ll give Ferris a little one-on-one playtime. I really think that is starting to help him gain some much
needed confidence in the shadow of his rockstar brother. I have all the confidence that Ferris will one day be
the supporting actor in the movie that is now our lives. I love the two of them so much it’s very hard to put it
into words. I spoil the heck out of them because they deserve it. Ferris and Bueller have made my amazing
life even more amazing - to a level that I thought impossible. I will protect them, spoil them, and love them
until the end of time. They have a forever home now, and I have two amazing forever friends.”
• Doug Ferguson
STILL WAITING
VISITING OUR SANCTUARY ROOM
A UNIQUE SETTING FOR CATS WHO STRUGGLE WITH SHELTER LIFE
Tree House was one of the first shelters in the country to implement
colony housing in a shelter environment. Group housing can be very
stressful for a cat - being in a room with many other cats, dealing
with the daily foot traffic of a busy adoption center, and being in an
unfamiliar environment - can all make life challenging. Colony housing
is advantageous for the cats and can help reduce their stress, yet
poorly planned colony housing can actually put cats at greater risk
for anxiety, behavioral problems, and disease.
At Tree House, we have extensive experience in maintaining a
positive environment for our resident cats. The cats in our colony
rooms live in a free-roaming, cageless setting which provides them
with the comforts of a home including plenty of room to interact
with other cats, vertical space to further explore their surroundings,
and visitors to stimulate their sense of play. Additionally, we take
great care to monitor our residents for behavioral issues, lack of
appetite, or signs of illness. However, from time to time, there are
cats who simply struggle to adjust to life with so many roommates.
When we acquired our Bucktown Branch location, we had an opportunity
to create a “Sanctuary Room” with an attached “catio” (known as “Big
Daddy’s Enchanted Terrace”, named for the beloved cat of a long-time
donor). This quiet space, with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves repurposed as
deep cat beds, has become a wonderful location for cats who struggle
with the stress of group housing.
We have several resident cats who have been waiting far too long for
a forever home who have been moved to our Sanctuary Room. Due to
their fear and stress, many of these residents acted aggressively, or
were shy or unfriendly while residing in other areas of our shelter. Their
behavior has caused them to be overlooked by potential adopters. After
their relocation, we’ve seen these resilient cats come out of their shells
and let their true personalities shine. We know that underneath the fear
are loving cats just in need of a stable home where they can feel relaxed.
4
HER KITTENS FOUND A HOME, NOW IT’S KUSH’S TURN
Kush has lived at Tree House since 2001 after she was found in a box
on our porch along with her four, nursing kittens. Unfortunately, this was
her third litter and, after neighbors had poisoned several other cats in the
area, her admitters became concerned and left her at Tree House. Kush’s
kittens quickly found homes, but Kush was feral and very wary of humans.
In 2001, our Community Cats Program which helps manage the care of
feral cats was not yet established. Therefore, we began the long and slow
process of socializing Kush. She lived in just about every colony room
at Tree House until several years ago when we finally moved her to our
Sanctuary Room. Kush has benefited greatly from the quiet surroundings,
especially the outdoor space.
With dedication and patience, Kush has become much more welcoming
of other cats as well as attention from humans. Kush has a favorite
perch where she spends many of her days relaxing. She knows she is
safe, and when she falls into a deep sleep, you can hear her cute, quiet
snore. Kush is now fifteen years old and one of the oldest residents at
Tree House. We hope that a caring person who respects her journey
will finally give this gentle, senior cat the home she truly deserves.
​
A VEIL OF PROTECTION – UNDERSTANDING ACADIA
Kush has bonded with another long-term resident in our Sanctuary
Room named Acadia. Acadia is a shy yet beautiful girl with the most
incredibly watchful green eyes. She was rescued by a feral cat caregiver
in 2007. This woman had been feeding Acadia for two years and saw
signs that she was friendly and thought she would do well in a home.
However, shelter life has been a challenging adjustment for Acadia. We
know her fear is simply a veil of protection. Acadia has a steady group
of visitors who have come to understand her and how to best interact
with her. These individuals are not afraid and know that when you hear
her initial hiss, if you offer her a stroke along her cheek with her favorite
back scratcher, she’ll soon be blinking her eyes with pleasure. These
moments of comfort give us hope that Acadia will find a patient human
who will give her a forever home.
BUCKTOWN BESTIES - PEACHES AND HALLIE
Peaches and Hallie are two beautiful torties who are fixtures in our
Bucktown Branch Sanctuary Room. While many people think cats are
solitary creatures, observing this pair may be enough to change their
minds. Peaches and Hallie were residents of the Bucktown Branch when
we acquired it from a now defunct rescue group. Both cats were from
feral colonies and are shy in similar ways; while they are curious and
like to observe human activity, they will bolt if approached too quickly.
Playtime has proven to be a better alternative than petting for the
socialization of these girls. Playing with a fearful cat can be a great
way to draw them out from a hiding place to flex their muscles. A
favorite toy we use in our Socialization Program is called “Da Bird”
(which can be ordered from our Cat-alog), and these two go wild
for it. Playtime allows Peaches and Hallie to practice their hunting
skills and boosts their confidence. We hope this incredible pair
might find a forever home together.
A TRIUMPH – LUCINDA’S REMARKABLE TRANSITION
Perhaps one of the greatest triumphs of our Sanctuary Room has
been the recent transfer of Lucinda from our Headquarters. Lucinda
came to Tree House in 2005 when the feral cat colony she was living
in was being threatened and needed to be dismantled. Lucinda has
struggled greatly with life indoors, and she remained quiet and shy
for many years despite our best efforts to help her adjust.
Despite slow and steady progress in one of our quieter colony
rooms, Lucinda was still having a difficult time. This summer,
space finally opened up in our Sanctuary Room, and we decided
to move her. It has been so rewarding to watch this gentle cat
blossom as never before. She has embraced her playful side, and
we often see her guard come down as she romps around the room,
ferociously tossing a toy mouse in the air. She accepts pets from
head to tail from most of her regular visitors (when only a few
short months ago, she would retreat if anyone approached) and
even head butts the hand of strangers on occasion. We are very
hopeful that she’ll soon catch the eye of a caring human and finally
be “home for the holidays”.
The increased calm, quiet, and overall stability of our Sanctuary
Room has worked wonders for many of our longest-term residents,
offering them a much-needed respite from what can sometimes
be a stressful shelter experience. It is also a way to better enable
their true personalities to emerge and give them a better chance
of catching the eye of potential adopters. Our goal is to find every
cat a forever home, and we hope each of these amazing animals
will find theirs very soon.
5
CAN FERAL CATS SOLVE
OUR RAT PROBLEM?
OUR CATS AT WORK PROJECT – SAVING FERAL CATS AND HELPING OUR COMMUNITIES
In 2005, Tree House founded the Community Cats Program as a
way to help more cats. Guided by the experience of our Director of
Development, Jenny Schlueter, this new program was instrumental in
organizing TNR (Trap Neuter Return) advocates and finding effective
solutions to the issue of cat overpopulation in Chicagoland (current
estimates place the number of stray cats at approximately 300,000).
Tree House began providing hands-on support, counseling, and direct
services for anyone interested in helping manage the feral cats in
their neighborhood. In November 2007, the Cook County “Managed
Care of Feral Cats Ordinance” was enacted. This ordinance was a
significant step. It permits feral cat colonies and allows feral cat
colony caretakers to maintain and care for feral cats. With the
ordinance in place, Tree House’s program quickly grew, and today,
Tree House sponsors more than 500 cat colonies and more than
3,000 cats in Cook County. The majority of our colonies are located
in the northern half of the city of Chicago with a few located on the
south side and nearby suburbs.
that neighborhoods that did not have stray cats often dealt with
considerable rodent abatement issues. Not surprisingly, the areas
that had the most significant rodent issues were some of the
most densely populated areas in the city which commonly had an
abundance of restaurants, bars, and cafés – it was “rodent nirvana”.
As the program expanded, we began to encounter more and more
situations in which, for one reason or another, the cats could not
be returned to their territory. In cases where there were just a few
cats that needed relocation, we were typically able to find a barn
or stable fairly easily to place the cats. However, when we found
ourselves involved in our first large hoarding case a few years
ago, we were faced with forty feral cats who needed immediate
relocation. It was then that we realized we needed to find additional
options beyond barns and stables.
Common methods used to control the rat population, such as poison
and traps, are ineffective, short-term solutions. Rat poison is also
dangerous to children, pets, and the environment. Enter the cats. By
nature, cats are predators – hunting is one of the things they love
to do. The Tree House Cats at Work Project is a “green,” humane
program that removes feral cats from life-threatening situations
and relocates them to new territories where their presence alone
helps control the rodent population. The cats provide a reliable,
ongoing solution, making it a win-win-win for humans, cats, and
the environment!
Additionally, through our hands-on work in neighborhoods with a
prevalence of stray cats, we often heard people express concern
about losing their feral cats. Many mentioned that their block
was rodent free thanks to the cats. Coincidentally, we noticed
6
An idea began to formulate. If we could find people in the
neighborhoods which were overrun by rodents who would take on
the care of the feral cats, we would not only be able to help many
more cats find placement, it would also be an advantageous way
to help our community with much-needed rodent control. With that,
the Tree House Cats at Work Project was born. We began slowly
with a few pilot projects in 2011. However, by 2012 the word was
out, and Cats at Work took off. The project has continued to grow
beyond our expectations ever since!
HUMANE, EFFECTIVE, LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS
Volunteer caretakers humanely manage the cats for the entirety
of their lives with ongoing support from Tree House, as mandated
by Cook County’s “2007 Managed Care of Feral Cats Ordinance”.
At Tree House, we take great care when transitioning cats to their
new “home”. All cats are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, treated for
parasites, virus tested, and microchipped before being relocated.
The cats’ presence alone repels rodents, causing them to leave the
cats’ new territory. While cats will also hunt and catch rodents on
occasion, if the cats are regularly fed, they usually will not eat a rat.
PUTTING 300 CATS TO WORK - A PROVEN SUCCESS
To date, more than three hundred Tree House “working cats” have
been successfully placed in private city and suburban backyards
as well as dozens of barns, a few industrial sites and restaurant
patios, some urban farms and community gardens, a church yard,
and even a city park! We’ve been thrilled with the response we’ve
received from our clients who report an almost immediate end to
their rodent problem after welcoming their new cats. In addition
to the rodent control benefits, what is most heartwarming are
the stories of the wonderful relationships people form with these
amazing and resilient animals. The Cats at Work Project is the only
hope that many displaced, feral community cats have at finding a
safe, secure location where they can live out the rest of their lives!
Without Cats at Work, many feral community cats might otherwise
be euthanized, die, or suffer from illness, injury or malnourishment.
for the cats for the duration of their lives. The requirement for
adopting community cats is similar to our requirements for adopting
a fully-socialized indoor cat. We keep the names and addresses
of our colony caretakers confidential. However, we do report the
status of managed colonies to Cook County on an annual basis.
First, a member of our Community Cats Team will conduct a site
visit. There are several factors that we assess including the best
place for the cats to acclimate into their new “home”, where to
place well-insulated shelters that will work best for the cats, and
the best location for a covered feeding station and litter box. If the
new caretaker is handy, we can even provide shelter building plans.
When we relocate cats to a new location, they are placed in
confinement for three to four weeks to help them acclimate. The
acclimation process can take place in a backyard, shed, garage,
basement, or other suitable area that is quiet and protected. Many
people choose to retrofit a space under their porch to make a
private “cats’ den” which we feel is one of the best places for a
feral cat shelter. Regardless of where the cats are acclimated, in
most instances the cats will need to start off in a large dog crate
to ensure they do not run away.
FEEDING STATION
HOW IT WORKS
Cats are social animals and naturally live in colonies. While
there is a minimum of two cats per site, for the average Chicago
backyard, we suggest relocating a group of three to four cats
together. As required in Cook County, colony caretakers must
sign an application and agree to follow the Tree House Cat Colony
Management guidelines. Individuals make a commitment to care
Our Community Cats team supports each caretaker during the
acclimation phase and beyond. After approximately three weeks,
we check in with new caregivers to determine if the cats are
ready to explore their new environment or if they need another
week of confinement.
7
HOW MUCH DO COMMUNITY CATS COST?
MOVE-IN DAY
When the new location is ready, a Community Cats Program team
member brings the cats to the site and gets them settled into their
acclimation area. Community Cats Program Manager, Liz Houtz,
coordinates many of Tree House’s relocations. Liz has found
that new caretakers are always welcoming of their new cats. She
commented, “Like proud new parents, individuals are excited to see
the cats’ colors, discover their genders, and name them.” However,
as can be expected, along with the anticipation of the new arrival,
many individuals are nervous about the acclimation process. Some
of the most common questions we receive from prospective new
caretakers include, “How do we make sure they don’t escape from
the acclimation cage?” (the cats tend to hide in their shelters), “What
happens if they escape?” (we show individuals how to set a trap,
and the cats almost always return soon), “Are they dangerous to
children and/or will they bite or scratch?” (although they may hiss
at first, it’s important to remember that they are usually just afraid;
they are not aggressive towards humans and instead will often hide).
Typically, it does not take long for the cats to get used to the sights,
sounds, and smells of their new environment. An important part of
the acclimation process is for caretakers to talk to the cats daily
and feed them extra-tasty meals. This helps the cats feel welcome
and eager to stay after their release.
We recommend “meal-feeding” (meaning having a set feeding
time for the cats versus having food available at all times) a diet
that consists of at least 50% canned food every day. We do not
recommend a dry-food-only diet for cats in general and especially
not for outdoor/community cats. A large portion of a cat’s water
Following are several fees associated with establishing a community
cat colony including “adoption” fees and supplies for acclimation,
setting up a feeding station, and appropriate housing. These reflect
basic costs. However, costs may vary based on location as well as
the type of housing individuals choose for their cats. *
CATS
FEES
2 cats
$75
3 cats
$60
4+ cats
$45
INSULATED SHELTERS
Small (20 gal.)
$20
Large (30 gal.)
$30
FEEDING STATIONS & COVERED LITTER BOXES
Small (20 gal.)
$10
Large (30 gal.)
$15
HEATED WATER BOWLS (OPTIONAL)
Large 12” diameter
$25
CRATES
4’ x 2.5’ x 3’ wire crate
$100
Available for lending
* These costs are subsidized by Tree House. The actual costs for
their new homes is much higher.
intake is from the food they consume versus drinking water. Therefore, wet food is more
nutritious and contains more moisture which is especially important for their long-term health.
SETTLING IN
When the cats are finally ready to venture out of their acclimation area, it is not uncommon
for them to disappear for several days as they explore their new surroundings. We have
found that as long as the caregiver continues to feed them on a regular schedule, the cats
will typically begin to appear around mealtimes. Regular feeding and shelter are key factors
that help encourage cats to stay in their new home territories.
With our process and instructions, we’ve seen success, and many of the relocated cats
stay close to their new “home”. In instances where we’ve had reports of colony cats who
have disappeared, we often find that they resurface in another colony. Ultimately, our goal
is for all the cats to stay in their new territory, but our main objective is to give all cats a
good quality of life.
GET STARTED!
If you are interested in learning more about relocating feral cats to your property, or
you are from a shelter or rescue group and want to start your own feral cat relocation
program, please contact our Community Cats Hotline at: 773-784-5488 ext. 234 or
[email protected].
CAT HOUSE
An Intriguing New Book
BY TREE HOUSE CAT COLONY CARETAKER, ANNE BEALL, PH.D.
Community Cats: A Journey into the World of Feral Cats, by
Anne Beall, Ph.D., shares the story of what initially began as a
creative solution to a rat problem and became a journey which
led Beall to reach out to others in the feral-cat world.
Intrigued by the life of community cats, Anne set out to explore
their world; how they live, relate to one another, and how they
relate to their caretakers. She contacted other colony caretakers
and leaders in the TNR movement to learn more. She also
conducted survey research to uncover the attitudes individuals
in America have toward stray cats, TNR programs, and spay/
neuter. She shares her findings in her intriguing, new book.
Many Tree House Community Cats Program team members are
featured in her book, and Anne’s research will be invaluable to Tree
House as we continue to formulate our programs and services.
To learn more about her book, visit: communitycatsbook.com.
Anne has generously donated nearly 100 copies of her book to
help us spread the word about community cats and our programs.
To purchase your copy of Community Cats: A Journey into the
World of Feral Cats, visit: TreeHouseAnimals.org/Catalog
Anne E. Beall, Ph.D. received her M.S., M.Phil., and Ph.D. degrees
from Yale University. She is President of Beall Research, Inc.,
a strategic market research firm. She lives in Chicago with her
husband, Doug, her indoor cat, Sarina, and her outdoor colony
cats: Allie, Eloise, and Duke. Beall Research is a strategic
marketing research firm with expertise in designing research that
is strategic in nature, methodologically sound, and of sufficient
depth to provide valuable new insights.
SUCCESS STORIES
SUNNY
THE KITTY CONDO CLUB
Elaine Lowenthal and her neighbors live in a multi-unit condo
building with a charming, shared yard on Chicago’s north side. A
few years ago, despite all their efforts to keep the yard clean and
tidy, it was overrun with rats. The rodents had made it impossible
for the residents to enjoy their outdoor space. Enter Lilly, Nelly,
and Sunny.
Lilly and two kittens, Nelly and Sunny, came from two different
Community Cats’ projects. Tree House had been assisting elderly
caregivers, and, unfortunately due to various circumstances, the
cats in both projects could not be returned to their territories.
We decided to bring the cats together and place them at Elaine’s
building. We set them up in a side-by-side acclimation in the hopes
that they would get along. Thankfully, the threesome acclimated
incredibly well and became wonderful friends.
Elaine and her neighbors built the three cats a lovely, insulated cat
shelter that fits under their back porch stairs. The residents agreed
that a portion of their monthly assessments would go towards the
care of the cats. Recently, when a Chicago TV station camera crew
came to do a segment on the cats, Lilly greeted them with her
latest “offering” from one of her “hunting expeditions”. Another
fringe benefit of this placement is that it has brought the residents
closer as a community. Elaine remarked that, “Now the neighbors
often enjoy a summer evening together in the yard. Everyone grabs
a chair and brings a beverage, and we just watch the cats play,
lounge, and enjoy themselves.” It’s been wonderful for all involved.
KING AND PRINCE – WORKING THE FIRST SHIFT
King and Prince were in a difficult situation when their elderly
caretaker passed away several winters ago and left behind more
than forty feral cats. Over the years, he had let many feral cats
inside his home, but, tragically, his financial situation was dire.
He had reached a point at which he had spent so much money on
cat food, he could no longer afford to heat his home.
LILLY
Two of the cats, King and Prince, were lucky to find a new home
at Skolnik Industries in Chicago. With the support of President and
CEO, Howard Z. Skolnik, we placed the cats inside the manufacturing
facility. The cats now “work” the first shift, starting their rodent
patrol at 7:00 a.m. Then, every day at 3:00 p.m., they retire to
their large cat condo for a tasty meal and some down time.
Mr. Skolnik commented, “We chose not to use chemicals to combat
the rodent problem at our facility. Instead, we embraced the concept
of giving the job to two rescue cats who were homeless. The result
is that we are rodent free, and we have the benefit of having two
‘anti-tension’ felines on staff.” He added, “We are grateful to
Tree House for overseeing this entire program from inception to
identifying the feline participants, approving the design of the home,
managing the initial training, and continuing to care about King
and Prince to this day.” This is a great example of the changing
attitudes of cats as nuisances to valued animals.
NELLY
THE RAT PACK
Duke, Eloise, and Allie are young, beautiful cats who were forced
to move when their caretakers lost their home due to foreclosure.
Sadly, the new homeowners did not want the cats on their property,
and Tree House stepped in to help find a new place for them. These
lucky cats landed in a spacious backyard with new lodging built
just for them and caretakers who truly adore them.
Chicago resident, Anne E. Beall, who welcomed the cats, shared
her experience of becoming a colony caretaker, “We struggled
with rats for many years at our home. We tried everything, but
nothing worked. One night, a rat ran over my husband’s foot, and
we decided that we’d had enough, so we became caretakers to
a feral cat colony and within a few weeks, the rats disappeared.”
Beall went on to say, “Our cat colony, we call them the Rat Pack,
immediately started clearing out the rats. They went right to the
places where the rats lived and suddenly the holes were no longer
active. Our neighborhood is watching this drama unfold before their
eyes and when I’m outside feeding them, our neighbors walk by,
ask how the cats are, and tell us that our cats are doing a great
job.” Read more of her story in Anne’s new book, Community Cats:
A Journey into the World of Feral Cats, featured on page 9.
Each of these success stories is not only a wonderful account of
how we are helping feral cats live happy and healthy lives but
of the positive impact these incredible animals can have on our
communities when given the chance.
11
HAPPY ENDINGS
TWO CATS ABANDONED AT OUR DOORSTEP - WAITING FOR YEARS – ARE FINALLY HOME!
IN A BOX AT OUR FRONT DOOR
We found Timbuktu in a box on the front stoop of our Bucktown
Branch in 2011. Confused and scared, he was left with information
that he was being abandoned by his guardians for having litter box
issues. During his clinic examination, we determined that poor little
Timbuktu was dealing with a medical condition called cystitis. This
condition makes elimination painful and can lead to litter box issues.
Additionally, Timbuktu had been declawed, a procedure that can
also contribute to litter box issues. Sadly, Timbuktu’s guardians had
abandoned him for reasons that were beyond his control.
Timbuktu began treatment and was transitioned to an all-wet-food
diet, which helps promote healthy bladder function, and his health
began to improve. Unfortunately, however, Timbuktu had his ups
and downs coping with life at Tree House. When he first arrived he
was timid and very defensive. Being used to a home environment,
Timbuktu thrived on human interaction yet found it difficult to remain
calm and comfortable in a room full of felines. Additionally, it can
be increasingly stressful for a cat who has been declawed and no
longer has their natural defenses. Timbuktu’s stress sometimes
presented itself as an apprehension to petting and a tendency to
nip at visitors. His behavior made it difficult for potential adopters
to get to know the wonderful cat underneath the fear. It was always
clear to us that beneath Timbuktu’s handsome yet tough exterior was
a sensitive and incredibly loving cat who simply needed patience
and understanding.
Timbuktu met his adopter, Erica Caldwell, when she first started
volunteering at Tree House in the summer of 2013. Despite struggling
with other cats, Timbuktu was always one to charm visitors and
volunteers. Once he was comfortable with a new human, he wanted
12
nothing more than to curl up on a lap and offer his signature “happy
paws” greeting. It only took a few visits for Erica to realize what a cool
cat Timbuktu is, and she began making time with him a standard part
of her weekly volunteer shift. Within a few months, she realized she
simply had to take him home and adopted him in May of this year.
We are so happy that Timbuktu finally met his match with a person
who took the time to understand his personality and needs and
made the commitment to build a special bond with him. Recently
Erica shared, “Timbuktu has adjusted with flying colors! He is a
very normal housecat and is very affectionate with anyone who
will give him attention, and even those who are not as interested
in giving him attention. He loves sitting in every new person’s lap
and knows his feeding routine. He patiently waits at his dish when
it’s time to eat. He is also a beggar and will stop at nothing to get
into anything that is left within reach of his little paws. Timbuktu
is a great cat, and I love him very much. We look forward to many
years of companionship.”
Timbuktu is one of the many examples we witness of a cat whose
behavior is a symptom of an undiagnosed and untreated medical
problem. What can seem to be “bad behavior” is often a sign of an
underlying issue. Once treated, many situations can be improved
or resolved. It simply takes patience and a little investigation to
understand what cats are trying to communicate in the only language
they have, and it’s our responsibility to listen.
TRAGICALLY ABANDONED AT OUR DOOR IN A CARRIER WITH
TWO DECEASED KITTENS
In May 2010, Sally and twenty-five other cats were crammed into
just seven carriers and abandoned at Tree House Headquarters. Sally
had been stuffed in a carrier with two young kittens. Tragically, by
the time we found them, the kittens had passed away and were lying
lifeless in the carrier beside Sally. We found a note with her that
read, “I am a female about six to seven years old. This is my son. I
lived with a senior who died, and I was alone in the house until my
neighbor rescued me. I am not feral, just scared. You can pet me,
but I am nervous. I love all cats!” This horrifying and heartbreaking
event could have broken Sally’s spirit. Instead, she persevered
with grace and dignity, two words by which she seemed to persist
throughout her stay here at Tree House.
We determined that Sally was closer to ten years old at the time of
her admission. Sally tested positive for FIV, and we placed her in one
of our FIV colony rooms located on the third floor of our Headquarters.
As Sally settled in, she spent most of her time soaking up the sun in
a special basket she had claimed as her own that she was happy to
share with a number of the big, male ex-tomcats in the room. Since
she was often tucked away in the corner, it was hard for potential
adopters to fully see what a special and amazing cat Sally is; she is
highly adept at catching toys, easily makes friends with her fellow
felines, and has the most heartwarming purr. While she developed
a devoted following of staff and volunteers, Sally patiently waited
for three long years to find a forever home.
We featured Sally numerous times on The Scratching Post (Tree
House’s blog), in videos on our website, as a sponsor cat, and as a
“poster child” for several adoption promotions. Unfortunately, Sally
remained overlooked. Ultimately, it was a Facebook page created by
one of our devoted volunteers that helped Sally catch the eye of a
potential adopter. Having adopted an amazing, senior, special-needs
Tree House cat named Ponderosa, Debbie Parquette was already
familiar with Tree House when she came across Sally’s feature
page. Sadly, Debbie had lost Ponderosa after one short year from
complications due to his heart condition. Debbie was heartbroken
as she grieved his loss. She has a second senior cat at home who
was also struggling with the loss of his close friend, and Debbie
knew that he needed a sweet, gentle companion.
When Debbie came across Sally’s Facebook page, she knew she had
to meet her in person. In three short minutes, Sally won her heart,
blinking slowly and leaning in for pets.
In October of this year, Debbie adopted Sally and shared, “I couldn’t
be more happy or more proud of her. She’s come out of her shell
so much in just the few weeks she’s been here. Tree House let me
bring her basket home with me. She used it the first two nights
but now prefers my bed or couch to sleep. The first time she saw
herself in the mirror I couldn’t stop laughing; she had no idea who
the other pretty kitty was. She is just a sweet girl. She follows me
into the kitchen and does her little squeak meow to let me know
she’s ready for moist food.”
Sally has been through so much tragedy and loss in her life, and
we are thrilled that she finally has a happy and stable place to call
home where she is loved and cared for.
13
EASY WAYS to HELP
AMAZON SMILE
Give while you do your holiday shopping! You Shop. Amazon Gives to Tree House! Amazon
donates 0.5% of the price of eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Tree House. It’s easy,
just visit: smile.amazon.com, select Tree House Humane Society as your charity, and
get started today!
HELP WITH SHELTER SUPPLIES ON OUR AMAZON WISHLIST
We are always in need of items for our shelter and to use for events.
An easy way to help is by shopping our wish list on Amazon.com:
• Order from Amazon and ship direct to Tree House
• Wishlist name: Tree House Humane Society
• For a Tree House receipt, please email [email protected]
You can also drop off donations at: Tree House Humane Society,
1212 W. Carmen Ave. Chicago, IL 60640 or 1629 N. Ashland Ave. Chicago, IL 60622
PET FOOD PANTRY NEEDS YOUR HELP
One reason guardians relinquish their animals is due to financial struggles and an inability to afford food. The Pantry also provides food to our
cat colony caretakers for free-roaming cats, some of whom feed ten or more cats on a daily basis. We need your help – we need kibble/dry
and canned food. Here’s how you can help:
• Visit our Amazon Wishlist (name: Tree House Humane Society) and have cat/dog food sent directly to us
• Drop off food at either our Bucktown or Uptown locations
• Have a food drive in your neighborhood, at your block party, children’s school, local pet store, etc.
FUNDRAISE TO HONOR A SPECIAL LIFE EVENT OR IN REMEMBRANCE
Support Tree House as a special way to honor a meaningful life event or to memorialize a special someone or beloved pet in your life. You can
set up a personalized fundraising page with your story, photos, and personalized URL. Fundraise for life events and activities such as:
•
•
•
•
•
Weddings
Birthdays
Run/Bike/Walk
Anniversaries
Milestones
To get started, visit our fundraising page at: Crowdrise.com/TeamTreeHouse or contact
[email protected]
H&R BLOCK - $20 TO TREE HOUSE
As you get ready for tax season, we have a great way for you to give a little to Tree House.
Here’s how:
1
2
3
4
-
Visit our website at: TreeHouseAnimals.org/WaystoHelp
Print off the form with Tree House’s referral number
Visit any H&R Block location throughout the U.S. to have your taxes prepared
Tree House recieves $20
COMMUNITY SHARES
Tree House is proud to be a member of Community Shares of Illinois. Community Shares is a
program that enables you to give to Tree House through your workplace. Even if you work outside of
the Chicagoland area, your workplace could participate. To find out if your employer participates in
Community Shares of Illinois, check with your Human Resources department or whomever handles the
payroll at your organization. If your workplace does not participate, we’d enjoy being invited to share
more about the benefits Community Shares of Illinois offers to employers and employees. Contact
[email protected] for more information or to find out how your employer can get involved.
Thanks so much for your help! For more ideas on how you can help, please visit:
TreeHouseAnimals.org/WaysToHelp
H&R Block NoNpRofit RefeRRal pRogRam
Raise money foR
TREE HOUSE HUMANE SOCIETY
*
by having H&R Block prepare your taxes.
1
Take the referral form to a participating H&R Block office and give it to
your tax professional. To find the nearest H&R Block office, go to hrblock.com.
2
If you’re a new client, your organization will receive $20.
3
Feel good knowing you helped your organization raise money and
you received exceptional tax preparation service.
Non-Profit ID — for office use
40010001080173
ENTER NP ID INTO THE TPS CLIENT
TRANSACTION SCREEN.
hrblockreferrals.com
10467
14
*Only approved 501(c)(3) organizations are eligible to receive $20 for each new client referred to a participating U.S. H&R Block office when that person pays for the preparation of an original personal income
tax return between January 1 and the IRS income tax filing deadline (usually April 15) of the current year. An eligible tax form includes: 1040, 1040-A and 1040-EZ (paid only). A new client is a person who did
not have his/her taxes prepared by H&R Block the prior year. Referral form must be presented prior to completion of the initial tax interview. Amended returns do not qualify and H&R Block employees are not
eligible. Allow approximately 8 weeks after May 1 for delivery of check. Offer may not be combined with any other referral program, coupon or discount offer. OBTP# B13696 ©2013 H&R Block Services, Inc.
HOLIDAY SHOP
PURCHASE A TRIBUTE LIGHT TO HONOR OR REMEMBER SOMEONE SPECIAL
All proceeds go to the cats! Shine a light in honor or memory of someone special or a beloved pet this holiday.
Thousands of Tribute Lights are illuminated throughout our Uptown Headquarters during our Lights of Love
Celebration on December 13th and remain lit long after the holidays. Give a gift that has special meaning this
holiday. Just $10!
• White lights are lit in memory of a loved one
• Colored lights are lit to honor a person or pet who still makes our days bright
Make your donation to receive Tribute Light online at: TreeHouseAnimals.org/LightsofLove,
by calling 773-784-5488 ext. 230, or email [email protected]
TREE HOUSE HOLIDAY GREETING CARDS
Support Tree House while you send out your holiday greetings this year. Each card features a
beautiful photograph of one of our rescued cats with their story on the back. Varieties include:
Holiday greetings (Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Hanukkah) and special Lights of Love designs
by artist and Tree House friend Shelly Atkinson. Order your Tree House Holiday cards from our
Cat-alog at the end of this Newsletter.
Holiday cards featuring Tree House cats!
HIT THE JACKPOT!
TREE HOUSE HOLIDAY RAFFLE
It’s a win-win! Enter (or give the gift of an entry to someone special) for your chance to win a $1,000 cash prize,
Chicago vacation, and more! Take a chance and save a life! Make your donation to enter on our website at:
TreeHouseAnimals.org/Raffle, by calling 773-784-5488 ext. 230, or email [email protected]
2015 TREE HOUSE CALENDAR
This beautiful calendar features photographs from the winners of our calendar contest. The
creation of this calendar is generously donated by c/change – 100% of the proceeds go to the
cats! Order your Tree House 2015 calendar from our Cat-alog at the end of this Newsletter.
TAKE A CHANCE.
SAVE A LIFE.
HOLIDAY
RAFFLE
2014
2015
FEEDING FELINES’ HOLIDAY FOOD DRIVE - SUPPORTING OUR PET FOOD PANTRY
A single can of food can feed a cat for one day! Drive ends Dec. 31, 2014. We’ve teamed up with You Give Goods for a Feeding Felines’ Holiday
Food Drive to support our Pet Food Pantry. Our pantry is a vital service that provides thousands of pounds of food a year to low-income families.
We also support our colony caretakers who can feed upwards of ten cats a day. It’s just one more way we are supporting our community and
keeping pets and people together. Give to our drive today by visiting: yougivegoods.com/treehousefeedingfelines
15
TRIBUTES
REMEMBERING LEE DAVIDSON December 10, 1927 – June 26, 2014
In the early summer of this year, my beloved wife of forty-seven
years left this life. Over the time of our years together, we came
to share a great many interests; above all a deep love of animals,
particularly cats. Lee was always a vital, both interested and
interesting, person right up to the evening in August of 2008 when
she suffered a hemorrhagic stroke. For a number of years, she did
fashion modeling, and when that finally lost its appeal, she found
pleasure in retail and ended her career as a personal shopper at
Saks Fifth Avenue, Chicago. She possessed many and varied interests
and in her later years, busied herself with knitting and needlepoint
but most of all with volunteer work finding forever homes for stray
and abandoned cats. Forever active, she was a voracious reader
and remained engaged in community and charitable activities right
up until her final illness. Though she is deeply missed, I have some
comfort in knowing that she has finally found the peace so very
much deserved.
• Herbert Davidson
REMEMBERING GINSU
It is with great sadness that I write to tell you that our cat Ginsu (Tree
House name also Ginsu) passed away on July 17, 2013. We adopted
him from Tree House on December 31, 1993, when he was about
six months old. We randomly chose July 14th as his birthday, so I
am happy to say that he was able to enjoy the 20th birthday party
we held in his honor just a few days before he finally succumbed
to several conditions common to geriatric cats, which we could no
longer humanely manage. He was a wonderful cat that we loved
very much – he will be greatly missed.
• Marge Lushniak
16
REMEMBERING MARY POLLACK March 20, 1915 – March 22, 2014
Tree House has been a very important part of my mom’s life as well
as mine for the past quarter century, since I adopted my first cat in
Chicago, Tiger, who was our companion for 22 years. My beloved
mom, Mary Pollack, served as a Navy Nurse during WWII and worked
as a nurse in a variety of settings during her career. She struggled
with numerous age-related illnesses during the last 12 years of her
life and passed away on March 22, 2014, two days after her 99th
birthday. Mother’s Day was very difficult, so I made a donation in her
memory to Tree House, since she would want to be remembered not
only as a WWII Veteran but as someone who left a lasting legacy to
the well-being of animals, especially cats and kittens who were an
integral part of our lives. Every one of our feline companions provided
love and support to my mom (and me) when her health was declining,
and Bandera maintained a 24/7 vigil during the final weekend. We
will always be grateful to Tree House for providing us with such a
great kitten, Tiger, and for providing meaningful volunteer work during
the 14 months I was out of work. I will always miss my parents and
am grateful to Tree House for easing the pain of loss by providing
feline companionship and service.
• Ann Pollack
Chloe and Spice
HONORING CHLOE FISHER’S BAT MITZVAH
(For which she generously raised funds to support the cats of Tree
House in lieu of presents.)
TRIBUTES
IN MEMORY OF...
Chance
Richard McCrea
Hendrix
Louise Goodkin
Lee Davidson, my beloved wife
Herbert Davidson
Akaneko
Judy Nishimura
Chloe
Kathleen Davis & Michele Sandacz
Hilarie Bentcover
Betsy Puglisi
Leslie Kolb
Annette Konstantelos
Alan Matthes
Janet Shelly
Cleo
Sandy Pinckert
Hilary
Sandy Pinckert
Lila E. Ré
Joseph Hillenbrand
All My Cats
Richard Oginski
Corrie Lazar
Vera Macekelbergh
Holly
Jean, Hank, & Lori Crawford
Anne Schafer
Mary Rodriguez & Sam Watson
Crazy Baby, Zeke, Peabo, Sassy,
Katie, Prairie, & many others
Heidi Griffeth
Jackson
Noelle Christie
Linda Mark
Neil & Kathy Ryan
Wanda Milne
Bob & Toni Lawrence
Judith & Mark Davis
Jamie Horn
Maxwell Simon Krol & Family
Little Guy Stevens
Kit & Steve Waight
Jan Canterbury Kaspar
Sarah Kaspar
Lorna Donley
Therese & Dan Odlevak
Jane Ferguson
Hugh & Jane Ferguson Foundation
Marilyn Minutillo
Your MSDSonline Family
Jasmine & Suzy
Marjorie Seltmann
Marmot & Audrey
Roberta Senatore
Jefferson David Lindsay
Greenfield Stevens
Lee & Elizabeth Stevens
Mars Longden
Janet Thau & Howard Reisman
Achim Zeller
Stacia & Larry Morand
Fran & Morrie Schwartz
Anne Gilbert
Erica Sekuler & Brian Lebovitz
Balalaika
Terri Treiman
Baxter
Marianne Mueller
Beaumaris
Elizabeth Collins
Blacky & Little Girl
Robert Meyers
BooBoo
John Gordon & William Salvato
Boudica
James Bachmann
Buddie
Henry & Sidonia Shadle
Budget Ward
Alex Ward
Bud Sosnow
The Vernon-Aldeens
Denver, beloved cat
Gwen & William Monaghan
Dusty, Jessica, Sybil, & Petra
Carol Douglas
Dusty, Tiffany, Rose, & Molly Ann
Hazel Lindenbaum
Edward Shea
Alyce & Tom Hoban
Jean Hopkins
Emmett & Friend
Mary & William Thorpe
Esther James
Kenneth James
Flossie George
James R. Mustard
Frank Hiratsuka
Amy & Charles Cranford
Buffy
Marie Costello
Frasier White
Anneliese, Ferid, Zack,
Sammy, & Leila Znaidia
Buster
Regan Brewer & Ryan Johnson
Fuzzy Mart
Margaret Donovan
Butch Cassidy
Laura Reed & Daniel Walker
Grace Bobko
Margaret Donovan
Carol Damron
Ona & Mark Kroll
Hannah May “Putters”
Stephanie & Steve Bambina
Cassie Klemchuk
Pat Murray & cats
Heidie
The Siegel Family
Jim Alsip
Maureen Alsip
Joan M. Sadowski
Joe & Theresa Dobek
Joshua
Lauren Del Carlo
Martina Connors
Megan Haan
Mary & Bags
Brian Thomson
Karen Youngblood
Tarafa, Claudia, & Zane Homsi
Barbara Jack
Mary Lee V. Freeman
Charles Freeman
Kay Adams
Patti Genry
Max
Brian Hannigan
Kevin Tabor
Margaret O’Brien
Max, formerly Shia
Mary Mohr
Kileo
Noreen Ram
Merinda
Patricia Kelly-Fowler
Larry Broom
L. Ann Beckerdite
Mia
Carol Horkavy
17
TRIBUTES
Michael Fumich
Paul & Alice Fumich
Kathleen Farago
Mildred “Milly” Martin
The Martin Family
Millie Sneed
Anneliese, Ferid, Zack,
Sammy, & Leila Znaidia
Miranda
Laurie Fader
Miss Teddy
Debbie Nawrot
Ralphie
Your Friends at Loyola
(Jhonna, Linda, Chris, Kate,
Leigh, Molly, Dale, Natalie,
Alison, & Erin)
Tabby
Patricia Sawyer
IN HONOR OF...
Teddy
Rick Van Etten
Adam Rothman
Michael Wasserman
Rocky Grelyak
Laura, Tuna, Boomer, & Daisy
Walda
Terry Kriebel
Kathleen & Edward Vandam
Anthony & Jennifer Bowker
Jeffrey & Demetra Brand
Laura Freechack
Allie Richards
Mary Grzesik
Rob Kreuter
Rollo
Ellen Watson
Ronald Klement
Marilyn Klement
Mixie
Elaine Gentry
Roxy Posluszny
Anneliese, Ferid, Zack,
Sammy, & Leila Znaidia
Momo Rivero
Lydia Enriquez
Rufus & Snowflake
Babette Glazier
Myrna
Marcine Todd
Rupert, Samantha, & Kesh
Amy Cranford
Naida Brewer
Marcia Pollard
Rusty
William & Tammy Komparda
Thomas V. Ayers, my grandson
Dorothy O’Leary
Timothy J. Rundle
Douglas & Kathleen Rundle
Tinker Belle (August 26, 1997 –
April 28, 2014)
Phyllis Prewitt
Travis Branson
Halley, Michael, Ellie, & Margo
Ann Goliak
Andrea LaRowe
Ann Johnson
Debra Parry
Ava Fay Thompson’s Birthday
Gabriella & Natalia Bermudez
Mai Nagasawa
Ali Lewis
Barbara Shapiro’s Birthday
Jack & Doris Ohlhaber
Ben-and-Anna
Darlene & Adrian Hall
Otis Skira
Erin McGovern
Ryane
Karen & Bradley Clodfelter
Your Father & Grandfather (to
Laura Coulter & Family)
Jamie Reifman
Patrick aka Big Red
Kristin Moo
Samantha & Anastasia
Anne Beall
Zeus
Individual Gifting Team
Pete
Tammy Ayer
Sammi Sosa-Linton
C., Lloyd, & Kaitlin Gillard
Betty
Leslie Starr & Bruce Schmick
Phil Spriegel
Erika Skoe
Sandi, Sukey, & Ying
Debra Melbye
Boris & Bayla
Neil Chisholm
“Purl”, your wonderful kitty
Dan Weisberg & David
Klingenberger
Scooter, Flesh, & Pooka
Tracey & Steven Hallman
Brandy Pruitt
Eileen Dellibovi
Shadow
Gloria Balice
Buddy Extract Watts
Lauren, Zac, Ernie, & Pippin
Simpkins
Kent Buell
Butch, Timmy, & Lucky
Tammy & William Komparda
Smudge & Punkin
Carol Vanek
Carl & Joan Uth’s Anniversary
John & Colleen Uth
Pushkin
Thomas Feltner
Quincy & Kody
Kathy & James Waddell
Quincy Samerdyke-Pines
Alex & Monika Shibicky
Ralphie
Dolores Stojak
Spirit & Graybe
Geraldine Colvin
Summer
Jaclyn Smith
18
Theresa Prochazka
Penelope Prochazka
Allison Johnston & Ben Foster
Rich & Monica Uddin
Betsy & Wayne Landerholm’s
50th Wedding Anniversary
Your neighbors, Kelly Burns,
Tiffany Portman, & Donna Suriano
Chloe Fisher’s Bat Mitzvah
Arthur & Jacquelyn Adler
Carmela Bar-Nissim
Todd Bodenstein & Phyllis, Leah,
Ellie, & Victor Pearlman
Tihomir & I Ruth Canji
Susan & John Casey
Marie Ciavarella
Melinda Einfalt
Daniel Fisher
Michael Fisher
Stuart Fisher
Yana & Mashi Fisher
Lisa Garbaty
Neil & Leila Handelman
Kim Hiley
Angela Peano
Claudia Peano
Grandma Pat Peano
Tina Peano
Beth Prystowsky
Donna Puccini
Leonard Rau
Iris & Jerry Rudnick
Arvin & Susan Weindruch
Kimberly Zajczenko
Cliff Weber’s Birthday
Richard Bendix
Cupcake
Kathryn Olmstead
Geoff Sjostrom
Judy & Jim Sindt
Melissa Myles Edwards
Michael Wasserman
Seamus O’Rourke’s 8th Birthday
Felix Ricketts
Hankee & Guerrero
Donna Renee Smith
Misha & Tasha
From their loving parents
Serafina
Anita Opawski
Helen Fisher
Elaine Manning
Mitzi & Sammy
Babette Glazier
Shadow’s Birthday
Joan Goliak
Jeremy & Kirsten Coleman
Kathy Connolly
Natalie & Drew –
Congratulations!
Rachel, Natalie, Brett, Mike,
Kevin, & Tim
Special Agent “Hidey” Whiskers
Melissa Karalis & Ryan Nolan
Joanne Kopeck’s Birthday
Diane Spenner
John Power & Raymond Tatum
Dan Weisberg & David
Klingenberg
Josue R. Juarbe Lopez
Michael Wasserman
Judy Allen
Ann & Scott Hoffman
Julie Roberts’s Birthday
Sue, Paul, & the Whole Gang
Kevin & Victoria Fennel
Michael Wasserman
Dana Lewis
Michael Wasserman
Leanne Dumais’s 30th Birthday
The Kuciunas Klan
Vivian Dorado
Vyto & Elsa Svelnys
David Waight’s Birthday
Kimberly Teraberry
Steve & Kit Waight
Lee Stevens –
Happy Birthday Poppy!
Kathy Stevens
Desi
Angela Esposito
Lizzie
Richard McCrea
Diane Smith & Karen Chapin
Brian, Lori, & Clarke
Maggie’s 7th Birthday
Linda & Kenton Knorr
Earl & Kathy Flurkey
Anonymous
Duran Mungerson
Cynthia Mungerson
Emily Bernstein
David Chernoff
Faith
Sandy Pinckert
Gary Watkins
Eric, Sabrina, & Dana
Maggie Hannan
Mike & Janeann Niemiec
Mari Huertas’s Birthday
German & Catalina Huertas
Marina Yonan’s Birthday
Rebecca, Derek, Andrea, & Julie
Max
M. Hershel & Christine Emison
Paul R. Rogers
Robert & Ursula Kewer
Sung Cho
Doreen Wolf
Susan & John Held
Natalie Smith
Polo, Kathy, Tobacco, Smoke,
& Jauna
Barbara B. Feig
Susan Mazer’s 70th Birthday
Nilda & Mari
Priscilla Sutker’s Birthday
Henry & Sharon Lorsch
Tanja Deshida & Charlie Hall
Seth Captain
Rachel, Toby, Nimbus, & Emmie
Amy Cranford
Teddy (Camione)
Teri Shardy
Rebecca Ochoa’s Birthday
Chava, Karyn, Dev, Chavie,
& Mateo
Tiffany
Fred Vaughn
Renor
Carol Douglas
Rhoda Schlesinger’s Birthday
Stan Barrish
Susan & Robert Wislow
Richard Zaccone
Kristin Hildreth
Rocky, Ivy, & Sterling
Joyce Cervenka
Rudi Trout
Glenn Trout
Ruie
Janice Parris
Sage
Tracey & Steven Hallman
Sally
Shirley Little
Tiggy
Robert Meyers
Verna & Steve Bernstein’s
Wedding
Ellen & Burt Ziskind
Zina Berman’s Birthday
Eileen Costello
Tributes included here are from
approximately the middle of May
through the middle of October. We
request a gift of $25 or more to
include your tribute line listing in
our Tree House News, and we can
also send a tribute card to anyone
you designate. To add a special
message, we request a gift of $50
or more. And to include a photo with
your tribute, we request a gift of
$100 or more. You can make your
tribute gift today using the enclosed
envelope. Thank you!
Sam & Lucky
Mitchell Silverman
19
CATALOG
2015
2015 Tree House Calendar
$20.00 each, $15.00 for 2 or more
Community Cats: A Journey into the World
of Feral Cats by Anne E. Beall, Ph.D.
$15.95 – Item #2500
Catnip Items
Elsa’s Catnip Stogies (shown)..........................................$3.00 – Item #1100
Catnip Shaker Booties......................................................$3.00 – Item #1101
Catnip Fish.......................................................................$4.00 – Item #1102
Kerry Mice (shown).........................................................$5.00 – Item #1103
Kitty Kickers.....................................................................$8.00 – Item #1104
Leona’s Pillows (shown)..................................................$4.00 – Item #1105
Catnip Mats....................................................................$15.00 – Item #1106
Catnip Strawberries..........................................................$4.00 – Item #1107
Catnip Tacos....................................................................$4.00 – Item #1108
Catnip Wedges.................................................................$3.00 – Item $1109
HOLIDAY ITEMS!
Tree House Holiday Cards ...................................$10.00 per pack, set of 12
Scratchers
Ultimate Scratching Post............................................... $75.00 – Item #2101
Ultimate Post Perch....................................................... $20.00 – Item #2102
Floor Scratcher.............................................................. $30.00 – Item #2103
“Happy Holidays” Cards – Choose A........................................Item #605v1
“Merry Christmas” Cards – Choose A or B...............................Item #605v2
“Happy Hanukkah” Cards – Choose A or B...............................Item #605v3
Ornaments
Pewter Cat with Crystal........................................$10.00 – Item #552
Pewter Cat with Bow..............................................$8.00 – Item #553
Wooden Cats (Various Colors)...................... $3.00 each – Item #554
Plush Cats with Jingle Bells (set of two)....................$2.00 – Item #555
Plush Angel Cat with Snowflake
(Various Colors)..........................................................$1.00 – Item #556
Batting Toys, Wand Toys, and More
Bright Felt Mice................................................................ $2.00 – Item #1201
Joe Jingles....................................................................... $3.00 – Item #1202
Sparkle Balls (shown)
Small............................................................ 4 for $1.00 – Item #1203
Medium........................................................ 3 for $1.00 – Item #1204
Large............................................................ $1.00 each – Item #1205
Spiral Balls............................................................... $1.00 each – Item #1206
Rainbow Sparkler (shown)............................................... $3.00 – Item #1301
Da Bird............................................................................. $7.00 – Item #1302
Da Bird Feather Refill....................................................... $4.00 – Item #1303
Cat Charmer..................................................................... $6.00 – Item #1304
Dragonfly Toy................................................................. $15.00 – Item #1305
Original Cat Dancer.......................................................... $4.00 – Item #1306
Peek & Play Toy Box (shown)........................................ $20.00 – Item #1401
Cat Care and Comfort
Ceramic Treat Bowl
(choose black or white)............................................... $20.00 – Item #2501
Steel bowls (set of 2).................................................... $4.00 – Item #2502
Ceramic bowls (set of 2)............................................... $6.00 – Item #2503
Wire Grooming Combs (large).................................... $15.00 – Item #2403
Collars (choose: black, blue, green, pink,
or purple) (shown)........................................................ $6.00 – Item #2215
Kitty Garden (shown).................................................... $5.00 – Item #2211
Peat and Seed Grass Pack..............................................$5.00 – Item #2212
Kitty Afghan....................................................................$7.00 – Item #2202
Feliway
Electric Diffuser.................................................$30.00 – Item #2207
Electric Diffuser Refill........................................$20.00 – Item #2208
Nail Trimmers.................................................................$8.00 – Item #2210
Sticky Paws
XL 9” x 12” 5-sheet Pack..................................$12.00 – Item #2302
Furniture Strips.................................................$10.00 – Item #2303
Bamboo Dual-Sided Brush............................................$10.00 – Item #2401
Zoom Groom................................................................$10.00 – Item #2402
Litter Scooper (choose Blue or Green)............................$7.00 – Item #2204
Books & Stationery
Cat vs. Cat by Pam Johnson-Bennett............................$15.00 – Item #3502
Pet Care in the New Century by Amy D. Shojai ................ $16.00 – Item #3505
The Soul of All Living Creatures by Vint Virga, D.V.M...........$20.00 – Item #3506
Think Like a Cat by Pam Johnson-Bennett....................$18.00 – Item #3507
Your Cat: Simple New Secrets to a Longer, Stronger Life
by Elizabeth M. Hodgkins, D.V.M., Esq.......................... $15.00 – Item #3508
Tree House Greeting Cards (pack of 5)........................... $5.00 – Item #607
Tree House Logo Note Cards (pack of 12)................... $10.00 – Item #608
Apparel & Tree House Gear
I “Heart” Tree House Cats Wristband.............................. $2.00 – Item #6104
TH Logo Hooded Sweatshirts in Indigo Blue...................... $35.00 – Item #641
.
Unisex. Sizes S, M, L, XL
Stray Pride Tees and Tanks
Unisex Tees. Sizes S, M, L, XL.......................... $20.00 – Item #635T
Women’s Tanks. Sizes S, M, L, XL....................$25.00 – Item #635K
**Tree House Logo Tees by American Apparel ..........................$20.00 each
Men’s Sizes: S, M, L, XL
Cranberry................................................................... Item #626
Navy........................................................................... Item #628
Women’s Sizes: S, M, L, XL
Lavender.................................................................... Item #631
Olive........................................................................... Item #632
Teal............................................................................. Item #633
**We are no longer ordering American Apparel t-shirts and have limited
sizing. We will have new logo t-shirts in stock by December 1st. Please
check our website for new styles.
For full descriptions and to see more items, please visit our website: TreeHouseAnimals.org/Catalog
HOW TO ORDER
EASY SHIPPING/HANDLING/INSURANCE CHART:
CHARGE BY PHONE FOR FASTER SERVICE
$10.00 or less .............................................................$3.00
$10.01-$30.00.............................................................$4.95
$30.00-$40.00.............................................................$6.95
$40.01-$50.00 ............................................................$7.95
$50.01-$60.00 ............................................................$8.95
$60.01-$75.00.............................................................$9.95
$75.01-$100.00.........................................................$11.95
$100.01-$150.00.......................................................$13.95
Over $150.00 ............................................................$15.95
1. Fill out order form completely, including street delivery address ($1.50 extra charge for non-street address).
Specify items to be sent to other persons. Gift card included upon request; gift wrapping not available.
2. Calculate shipping fee with easy chart to the right.
3. Send order form with full payment, including shipping (use chart). No billing or COD. Do not send cash. Allow 2-3
weeks for delivery after we receive payment and order.
Call 773-784-5488 ext. 230, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST, Monday through Friday, to place merchandise orders
by phone. Or you may fax your order to 773-784-2332 any time. You may also order on our secure website:
TreeHouseAnimals.org/Catalog
SHIPPING INFORMATION
We ship UPS in the continental US. Extra $1.50 fee for orders to Canada, Hawaii, APO & FPO, P.O. Boxes and Parcel
Post (where UPS does not deliver). These shipments take an additional two weeks. Shipping charges to foreign
countries quoted upon request. Use a street address (your business address, if necessary) for fastest service.
#1 Ship to Person Ordering
Call for delivery to Canada
Order Form
Name
Item #
Item Description (please print)
Price
Size
Qty.
StreetApt.
#1 #2
Daytime Telephone
(required for credit card purchases)
#1 #2
#1 #2
#2 Ship to Different Address
#1 #2
Name
#1 #2
StreetApt.
#1 #2
CityStateZip
Sign card from
20% discount for Tree House members only (place membership #
under method of payment)
Date to Ship
(optional—for gift order)
Subtotal
Method of Payment
£ Check or Money Order enclosed (Sorry, no CODs or cash)
£ Charge to:  Visa  MasterCard  American Express  Discover
Exp. Date
Signature (required)
Members get 20% off all Tree House merchandise.
Membership #, if applicable:
*3 digit number on back of card
Ship To
#1 #2
CityStateZip
Card Number Subtotal
/
/
*CVV#
Shipping fee from chart (for each address)
Total
Charitable donation
Final Total
NON-PROFIT
ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
ELGIN, IL
PERMIT #126
TREE HOUSE’S NEW
BUILDING PROJECT
Thanks to a generous gift of land, construction
will soon begin on Tree House’s state-of-the-art
Adoption Center and Veterinary Clinic in Chicago’s
Rogers Park neighborhood. The new building will
feature modern, luxurious cat housing suites
and adoption areas with outdoor sunrooms to
continue Tree House’s commitment to providing
our residents an enriching, cageless, home-like
environment. The facility will also feature an
Education Center, a resident Veterinary Clinic,
and Public Veterinary Clinic. Once completed,
Tree House’s new facility will be the largest, most
progressive Adoption and Humane Education
Center for cats in the country.
To learn more about how you can be a part
of this incredible project, visit our website:
TreeHouseAnimals.org/NewBuilding