The question we get asked most often is:  "What should I feed my cat?"  The answer is always canned cat food.  

People are often surprised by this, thinking that dry foods would be a better option because of their convenience and the fact that they don't go bad or dry out.  Unfortunately, while dry foods are very handy for people, they are very bad for cats.  There are several reasons for this.

Cats are obligate carnivores.  This means that cats must eat meat.  They cannot properly digest plant matter, and dry cat food, or kibble, is primarily plant matter.  Flour is what makes those tasty little biscuits hold together.  That flour might be made of grain, such as corn, wheat, oats or rice; or it might  be made from potatoes, peas, lentils, or other starchy food.  Whatever the source, those carbohydrates are NOT good for your cat.  Pet food companies will try to tell you otherwise.  They are lying to you.

Cats are meant to get their water from their food.  Cats evolved as desert animals.  This means that they have very low thirst drive, and must get the majority of their water from their foods. Cats fed a dry food diet are often chronically dehydrated, and develop urinary crystals or stones much more frequently than cats fed a canned food diet.  Stones and crystals can be life threatening for male cats, and are horribly painful for any cat.

Not all canned foods are created equal.  To be honest, ANY canned food is better for your cat than even the best dry food.  That said, some canned foods are better than others, and cost is not the determining factor.

Cats need both muscle and organ meats to keep them in optimal condition.  Canned foods that contain both sources will be healthier than foods that contain only muscle meats.  Flavours such as "turkey and giblets" are a better option than foods with only a single protein source, because they contain both muscle and organ meats.  Poultry flavours also tend to be better tolerated than other flavours.

Fish is not a natural food for cats.  Cats love fish, and we want to give our pets what they love, but fish is not a natural food for cats, and may cause vomiting.  High levels of mercury and phosphorus can also cause long term problems if fish flavours are fed too often.  Fish flavours are fine as an occasional meal, but should not be fed too often.  If your cat vomits after a meal of fish flavoured food, you should probably consider eliminating it from the diet.

We have put together a list of canned foods in our Amazon Store.  If you order something from that list, the cats may earn a small commission.

For more information on how the foods you feed your cats affect their health, please visit catinfo.org

We are hiring!  Our amazing Fanny will be leaving us to return to France, in the new year, which means that we must hire a new manager for our Adoption Centre.  This is a full time position, with very specific qualifications.  Please read the full job description for details of what is involved.

Salary dependent on education and experience

Start date:  to be determined

To apply, please forward resume, references and salary expectations to:

Craig Street Cats
16-1421 St. James St.
Wpg, MB
R3H 0Y9

Please, no calls or emails.  Applications without references will not be considered.  All applications are appreciated, but only those considered for an interview will receive a reply.

Successful applicant must provide a clear criminal record check.

In a year like this one, it can be difficult to find things to be thankful for.  Let's be honest, this has been a truly terrible year for just about everyone.  Sickness, contagion, job loss, economic shut down, violence, hatred, and many other nasty things have been going on, throughout the year.

And yet, just this weekend . . .

• A beautiful, young couple brought in a car load of cat litter.  
• A 10 year old collected money, instead of birthday gifts, and donated it to the cats.  
• A junior volunteer held a Thanksgiving pumpkin sale, and donated the proceeds to the cats.  
• A foster family held a garage sale, and donated the proceeds to the cats.
• Generous bakers donated thousands of tarts to raise money for the cats.
• Supporters bought thousands of tarts, and gave extra, all to help the cats.

That's just this weekend, and it's not over yet.  Throughout this long, difficult year you have given us many things to be thankful for, but the one thing we are most thankful for is YOU!

• You make it possible to continue our work with the cats.
• You keep our doors open.
• You provide food, litter, supplies.
• You pay the vet bills.
• You are amazing.

Thank you!

Happy Thanksgiving!

​I sincerely hope that this finds all of you safe and well.

Some of you may already know that I have spent the past month under quarantine, with 'probable' COVID-19 -- that is, I have many symptoms, but the test came back negative.  Symptoms are ongoing, but gradually improving.  Once I am symptom free for 24 hours, quarantine will end.  Running CSC from my bed and living room has been a challenge.  Our amazing staff and volunteers have taken up the slack at the adoption centre, to keep it running as smoothly as possible, and I am incredibly grateful for their dedication to cats.

Of course, there are many things that they can't do.  Keeping track of our financial status and communicating with our supporters fall into that category.  Sadly, I have been too ill to keep up with those responsibilities, and this is taking its toll on CSC.  As my health improves, I have been going over our situation, and things are not looking good, right now.

This week's Throne Speech, and the following address from Prime Minister Trudeau, along with the mask directive and gathering limits set by the province, have brought several things into clearer focus.  While we had originally hoped (way back in March) that the world would be well on its way toward a healthier, more normal day to day existence by now, the opposite is true.  It is now clear that any hope of returning to pre-pandemic operations this year is gone.  With this in mind, the following precautions are extended until the end of this year:

• Access to the adoption centre for adoption and fostering is by appointment only.  No more than 2 people per appointment, in order to maintain appropriate distancing.  Please call the adoption centre at 204 421-1919 to make an appointment.  More information can be found under the Adopt and Foster tabs at the top of this page.
• Our gift shop is open from 11 to 5 Wednesday through Sunday.  No appointment is necessary, but visitors may be asked to wait outside until appropriate distancing is possible.
• Donations of money, food, litter, and supplies may be dropped off between 11 and 5 daily.  No appointment is necessary, but you may be asked to wait outside until appropriate distancing is possible.
• No one will be allowed through the door if they are not wearing a mask that fully covers their nose, mouth, and chin.  There will be no exceptions.  Those who arrive without a mask may purchase either a disposable or reusable mask, and put it on before entry.
• Immediately on entry, all visitors must use the hand sanitizer provided at the front desk.  There will be no exceptions.
• All trap/neuter/return programs, colony manager training, community trapper program and training, neonatal kitten program and training, volunteer orientation, and school volunteer participation are cancelled until January, at the earliest.
• Intake is restricted to kittens from colonies already managed by trained CSC colony managers, and sick or injured adult cats from those colonies.  Emergency cases may be considered, if there is space available in an existing, appropriate foster home.
• Group gatherings and events are cancelled through to the end of the year.  This means that our Feral Cat Day events, December craft show, Christmas open house, and other gatherings are cancelled.  Cindy has committed to running the Christmas bake sale on a pre-order basis.

These measures are intended to help keep our staff, volunteers, and visitors safe and well.  Your understanding and cooperation are greatly appreciated.

Cancelling events, limiting access, and restricting the number of guests allowed on site at any one time have all affected the financial health of CSC.  Since March, cancelled or restricted events have meant a loss of over $100,000 desperately needed to care for the cats.  Cancellation of fall and winter events will have a similar effect.  For the first time in our history, we are asking foster families to provide food and litter for the cats they are fostering.  Originally this was to limit the number of visits to the adoption centre.  Now, it is helping us survive.

In March we asked for your help surviving what we thought would be 5 or 6 months of shut down and restrictions.  It seems we were wrong about how long the world would be turned upside down, and we have to ask again. The cats need your support now, more than ever.  Please don't let them down.

Please click here for a complete list of ways to send financial support.

Thank you.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Kittenpalooza Hits St. Vital Center August 14th to 23rd

Winnipeg, MB, August 13, 2019: Dozens and dozens of kittens will be strutting their stuff at St. Vital Center's community booth, looking for new forever homes during Kittenpalooza, Craig Street Cats annual kitten adoption event.

"We're opening a miniature adoption centre in the mall," says CSC Executive Director, Lynne Scott.  "Each day will see different cats and kittens joining us, hoping to be adopted."  According to Scott, adoption counsellors will be on hand during all mall hours, ready to help visitors take home their new best friends.  "We're working hard to find homes for all the cats in our care, in order that we can respond to more of the desperate pleas for help coming our way.  Each week our staff take calls asking for help for over 1,000 cats."  

New to Kittenpalooza this year is a "Kitten Therapy" area, or cuddle zone, where shoppers may relax and cuddle a kitten for a few minutes.  Special guest, Dr. Keri Hudson Reykdal, star of Animal Planet's Dr. Keri: Prairie Vet, will join CSC on Sunday, August 18th, from 11 to 2.

About Craig Street Cats:  Craig Street Cats is a non-profit organization working to humanely reduce Winnipeg's free roaming cat population, rescue kittens and educate the public about community cats.  CSC is the largest cat specific animal welfare organization in winnipeg, caring for over 750 cats in its managed colonies, foster homes and adoption centre.
​
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Craig Street Cats' largest project in 2018 was the River Bank Cats.  A large colony, estimated to hold over 100 cats and kittens.  Our work with this colony was featured on an episode of Dr. Keri: Prairie Vet, but a half hour television program can't really give you an idea of what goes into the management of a colony this size.

Since CSC took over management of the colony, many important things have happened.  First and foremost, volunteer community trappers have committed to feeding the cats every day, regardless of weather, hardship, or confrontation.  Bitter cold, torrential downpour, blazing heat, driving snow, icy trail, slippery mud, illness, injury, threats from irate people -- none of these obstacles have stopped these heroes from making sure the cats are fed.

These same community trappers have given up a considerable chunk of their personal time to trap the cats, bring them in for surgery and vaccinations, and then return the cats to the river bank.  In total, 63 cats and kittens have been pulled from the colony.  32 adult cats spayed or neutered, and vaccinated; 31 kittens placed in our adoption program.

So far this year, only 2 kittens have been sighted.  With any luck, they will be trapped and placed for adoption soon, and their mother spayed, vaccinated and returned to the colony.
Let's stop and think about that for a moment. 

If CSC had not stepped in to manage this colony, those 32 adult cats and 31 kittens would have continued to reproduce.  Statistically, only 8 of the kittens would have survived long enough to mate, but that would make a total of 40 breeding adults, producing at least 2 litters of kittens this year.  If half of the cats were female, that would be at least 200 kittens born to the colony this year.  150 of them would have died before 3 months of age.  50 breeding adults might have been added to the colony.  Next year, over 400 kittens would have been born to the colony, with 100 of them joining the breeding population.  With no vaccinations, all of the cats would have been subject to viral infections like distemper and rabies.  The numbers would have continued to climb, until the natural food supply was exhausted.  Then starvation would have set in.  The cats, being territorial, would have remained at the colony site, and continued to breed.  It would not have been pretty.

It's that  magical time of year.  Adoptions are ramping up for spring, and kitten season has not yet hit with its full, devastating force.  Staff and volunteers are able to get the adoption centre sparkling in time for opening, every day.  The number of cats at our adoption centre is going down.  Cages are being folded up and moved to storage.  Deep cleaning and organizing are getting done.  The adoption centre hasn't looked this good in years.

And yet . . .

Anticipation of the full brunt of what is coming has us all working feverishly to prepare.  Kitten season has started.  Soon we will be trying to find space for hundreds of tiny critters that have nowhere else to go.  Adding to this sense of impending doom is the flood forecast.  With flood waters expected to force many from their homes, we anticipate many calls begging for help with stranded cats.  Our staff and volunteers are doing their very best to make sure that we can help as many as possible, but we need your help, too.  You are the key to saving hundreds of lives this spring.

How can you help?

• Donate money:  saving lives costs a lot of money.  Veterinary care, rent, utilities, trained staff, food, supplies -- these all cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.
• Hold your own fundraising event for the cats:  garage sale, bake sale, pot luck, casual day, barbeque . . .
• Come to / participate in an event:  Plant sale, May 11; Whisker Walk, June 9 (whiskerwalk.ca for more details)
• Donate supplies:  cat food, clumping cat litter, paper towels, disposable gloves, wood stove pellets, garbage bags, postage stamps, office supplies.  Every item donated means dollars that can be reallocated to saving more lives.
• Foster:  foster homes save lives.  Keeping kittens out of the shelter environment until they have been well vaccinated helps keep them healthy by preventing exposure to deadly viruses.  The flood forecast makes having foster homes ready and waiting all the more important.
• Adopt:  every adoption helps save another life.
• Volunteer:  get involved at the adoption centre, help with fundraising, answer phones, drive for pick ups, help at information booths -- there are many ways to help!

*****************

Most needed RIGHT NOW:

• KMR kitten formula
• High quality kitten kibble (please check labels -- no food colouring!)
• Canned cat food:  Friskies paté, turkey & giblets, chicken, chefs' dinner, and poultry platter are best tolerated by the most cats
• Wood stove pellets (used as litter in cages)
• snuggle safe heating pucks (Amazon.ca)
• Money (vet bills, medical supplies, etc.)

You are the deciding factor in everything that happens at Craig Street Cats.  Your support saves lives.

Craig Street Cats is seeking the services of a mature, responsible person to act as cat care specialist, and be part of our innovative programs for Winnipeg's community cats. This is a permanent, full time position. The successful candidate will work closely with our staff, volunteers and veterinarian to provide exemplary care for cats and kittens in our programs.

Qualifications:

• Veterinary Office Assistant certificate, or equivalent
  
• Experience in a high volume shelter or veterinary clinic setting (or comparable field experience)
  
• Understanding of and commitment to the No Kill Equation
  
• Ability to maintain accurate records and work with shelter management software
  
• Ability to work efficiently in a high stress environment
  
• Ability to work with volunteers
  
• Understanding of the non-profit model and fundraising.

Duties will include primary care of cats and kittens, working with volunteers and foster families, transporting cats to and from veterinary appointments, liaising with our veterinary clinic, maintaining daily records and reporting to the Cat Care Supervisor. A reliable vehicle is necessary. Hours of work will include days, evenings and weekends. A clear criminal record check is a condition of employment.
Craig Street Cats is Winnipeg's largest cat specific animal welfare organization, working to humanely reduce the number of cats living on our streets.  Our innovative programs include comprehensive colony management, a neo-natal kitten nursery, and an adoption centre dedicated to cats and kittens coming through our programs.

Please forward resume, references and salary expectations to:
Craig Street Cats
16-1421  St. James St.
Winnipeg, MB
R3H 0Y9

Please, no phone calls or emails.
​
We appreciate all applications, but only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact:
Lynne Scott
Craig Street Cats
lscott@craigstcats.ca

Candidates Asked to State Position on Community Cat Program

Winnipeg, MB, October 22, 2018: Candidates in Winnipeg's civic election are being asked to state their position on a Pledge of Compassion and Action for Winnipeg's community cats. Craig Street Cats has started an email campaign encouraging voters to email their candidates regarding the issue.

According to CSC Executive Director, Lynne Scott, voters are being asked to email their candidates, and report back on any replies they receive. The following sample email has been posted for general use:
I am writing over my concern about the community cat problem in Winnipeg, and would like to know your position on the subject. Please indicate your support for a comprehensive, compassionate, course of action to help manage Winnipeg's cat population by responding to the following pledge:

There are over 100,000 community cats living on Winnipeg's streets, and the population continues to grow.

If elected to Winnipeg City Council, I, _____________________, pledge to help the cats. I will support a comprehensive feline population control program to humanely control the feline population and prevent suffering.

Such a program would include, but is not limited to:

-- adoption of trap, neuter, return as the preferred method of population control for Winnipeg's community cats
-- implementation of an affordable and accessible spay/neuter program.

Thank you for taking the time to reply. Your response will help me decide how to cast my vote.

Scott says the campaign was prompted by Animal Services' treatment of citizens who are trying to manage the cat population in their neighbourhood, using trap, neuter, return. "It truly is time for this city to move into the 21st century with its animal control bylaw, and stop harassing those who are doing the city's job for them."

About Craig Street Cats: Craig Street Cats is a non-profit organization working to humanely reduce Winnipeg's free roaming cat population, rescue kittens and educate the public about community cats. CSC is the largest cat specific animal welfare organization in Winnipeg, caring for over 750 cats in its managed colonies, foster homes and adoption centre.
​
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I just finished watching a news piece about how hard it is for Manitoba dog rescues to keep up with the number of dogs in this province.  I do not want to cast shade on dog rescues.  They work hard and do good work, but while I was watching that news piece, I was struck by the notion that neither the reporter, nor the rescue people have any idea what overwhelming numbers really are.

People involved in cat rescue and community cat programs can tell you, in great detail, exactly what constitutes "overwhelming numbers".  Here are ours:
​

• 100,000+  Number of cats living on Winnipeg streets
• 300,000+  Number of kittens born on Winnipeg streets this year
• 225,000+  Number of kittens dying on Winnipeg streets this year
• ~8,000    Number of kittens 'rescued' this year
• 18,000+   Number of cats and kittens that will die over the winter
• 50,000+   Number of kittens that survive winter to join the breeding population next year
• 12,000+   Number of cats we've had to turn away so far this year.  12,000 cats that are still on the streets and reproducing.  That number will likely hit 20,000 before the end of the year.

More overwhelming numbers:

• $25,000+ owed to vet for services rendered (thank you, Dr. Keri, for your incredible patience)
• $20,000  needed to cover cost of recent distemper outbreak
• $20,000  outstanding bills that must be paid
• $60,000  ANNUAL COST OF CARING FOR CATS THAT ARE DUMPED ON US, WITHOUT OUR PERMISSION (tossed in the door, left in the parking lot, thrown into dumpster, etc.)
• $30,000   monthly cost to continue in operation
• $21,000   average monthly income, from all sources

These are truly overwhelming numbers.  If you'd like to help conquer them, please make a donation.  Here's what your dollars can buy:

• $10:  vaccinate 1 cat against distemper (feline parvovirus) and upper respiratory infections
• $25:  feed one cat for one month
• $30:  intake cost for one cat or kitten (initial vaccination, deworming, flea / earmite treatment)
• $85:  spay or neuter one cat
• $100:  feed and house one cat for one month
• $100:  feed a litter of 5 bottle babies for 1 week
• $100:  provide a complete kitten series of FVRCP vaccinations for 1 kitten
• $200:  feed and house a mother cat and her kittens for one month
• $500:  feed a litter of 5 bottle babies for 1 month
• $1,000:  pay our Hydro bill for 1 month

craigstreetcats.ca/donate.html
Thank you.