welcome to kitten action


Sponsor one of Kitten Action’s special and different cats for just R50 per month with our TLC campaign. Some of our rescues could not be homed for various reasons and have become permanent, much-loved residents at Kitten Action’s Sanctuary. Many of these permanent residents are differently abled cats …. we don’t refer to them as ‘disabled’ because they do not consider themselves to be disabled – they are just different in very special ways. Seeing how our differently abled cats cope with their ‘differences’ sends an important message to everyone who visits the Kitten Action sanctuary …. just because a cat is partially or completely blind, has only three (or even two) legs, or any other disability, does not mean he or she cannot live a full and happy life, and make a wonderful companion. We would like to introduce you to some of our very special cats and invite you to sponsor one of them for just R50 per month (or more if you like!). This monthly sponsorship will assist Kitten Action to continue with our rescue work, knowing that regular funds are guaranteed every month. You will receive regular updates and pictures of ‘your’ cat and, of course, you are most welcome to visit your special cat at the Sanctuary. Contact kittenaction@telkomsa.net for more info. Some of these stories might sound far-fetched but at Kitten Action, we don’t need to embellish any of the rescue stories. The truth says enough.
I WOULD LIKE TO SPONSOR THIS L UCKY C AT …. Miracle Read all about Miracle who is living proof of Kitten Action’s motto … “Every one deserves a chance”. Miracle took her chance at life with enthusiasm and is now a healthy, happy xxx year old. *Yes, I would like to sponsor Miracle.*

Harpo Harpo was one of a litter of kittens born in a flat on Durban’s beach front. He was the only deformed kitten in the litter, and the owners wanted to throw him off the balcony. One of Kitten Action’s volunteers rescued him, and brought him to the sanctuary. He has no knee caps on his back legs, extra toes on his front feet and only half a tail which is twisted. Harpo is now 5 yaears old and has grown into a proud and stately cat who is utterly undeterred by his handicaps. As is clearly shown in the video clip even a fence cannot hold him back! The only problem Harpo has is, without functioning back legs, scratching his neck and face is impossible but even here, a solution has been found! His best friend, Finn, is always on hand when he needs a good scratch and she grooms his neck and face thoroughly whenever needed! *Yes, I would like to sponsor Harpo*

Miyoke Miyoke’s mother had been hit by a car and her kittens were born prematurely. Miyoke’s hind legs had been mis-placed in the womb and they were deformed. As he grew older and began to walk, it became clear that one of his twisted hind legs was functioning but the other leg kept tripping him up. When he was 16 weeks old, a joint decision was made with a vet to amputate the worst of his back legs, leaving the other leg free. A few weeks of physiotherapy helped the remaining back leg get stronger and today, he is just as active as any of his 4-legged friends . In addition to wowing visitors to the Sanctuary, Miyoke has made quite a few public appearances. One of his first was at Glenmore Primary School – children and teachers alike were captivated. Miyoke is now 3 years old. *Yes, I would like to sponsor Miyoke*

Andriel Andriel was about one year old when he was rescued from a feral colony where we presume he had been dumped. One of our volunteers, Linda Herbert, who feeds over 200 cats in and around Durban every day, noticed the new arrival was dragging one hind leg. She set a trap for him and he was so starving, he just dragged himself into it. The vet’s diagnosis was that his hind leg had been hacked with a panga – the previous strike marks of the weapon were clearly visible. The injured hind leg was amputated but this wasn’t Andriel’s only woe. He was skeletal and was covered with ringworm and mange. Today, it is hard to recognize Andriel as the same woeful, hairless, hideously injured little skeleton who arrived at the sanctuary one year ago. He still avoids people like the plague (and who can blame him?) but will allow Taryn to approach if she minds her manners (and has food in her hands!) Andriel, who is 2 years old, and Miyoke have teamed up together and are the best of friends – it is so cute to see the two 3-legged characters playing and cuddling with each other. *Yes, I would like to sponsor Andriel*

Mojo Mojo was rescued from Greyville Racecourse. He was already blind in one eye and his other eye had ruptured and had to be removed. When you see Mojo walking around the garden at the Sanctuary, you will never guess that he is blind. As long as nothing is moved from its allocated place, he can find his way around with the greatest ease and confidence. Cute Mojo is now 5 years old. *Yes, I would like to sponsor Mojo*

Trinity Trinity was rescued in Montclair – he was a feral kitten with a severe eye infection. Initially, he was not keen on having anything to do with the humans at Kitten Action but he bonded with Neo, a rescued African Wild Cat and became Neo’s best friend. Sadly, Neo was only with us for a few short months before he succumbed to an infection that could not be treated but Trinity has stayed on, becoming completely tame in the process. Trinity is 4 years old. *Yes, I would like to sponsor Trinity*

Mina Mina’s mom was a rescued factory cat and her kittens were born at the Sanctuary. All the kittens had congenital eye defects but Mina’s siblings had sufficient sight for them to be placed in loving homes. Mina is completely blind -- she is now 3 years old and has the most loving nature. *Yes, I would like to sponsor Mina*

MaryJane (aka MJ) We aren’t sure where MJ was found but she was taken by her rescuers to Durban Veterinary Hospital who contacted Kitten Action. Due to a congenital disorder, MJ was born with undeveloped eyes and was therefore blind from birth. When she was just 10 weeks old – and she was very small for her age – she managed to escape from the Sanctuary and climbed up onto the wire roof! A dramatic rescue effort was launched as soon as she was spotted, clinging to the wire roof, too terrified to move forwards or backwards. After this traumatic experience, Mina refused to venture further than the top of the steps of the Sanctuary. She would walk confidently to the edge of the step and then stop short, refusing to go any further. It took 2 years for MJ to recover from her fear of the ‘great outdoors’ but now she is out in the garden every day. MJ is 4 years old. *Yes, I would like to sponsor MJ*

Ged Ged was rescued from a petrol station in the KZN Midlands – his rescuers saved him from a crowd of people who were throwing rocks at him! He has radial hyperplasia which means the bones in one of his front legs are twisted, and he walks on the back of his ‘wrist’. Understandably, Ged, who is 6 years old now, is still not keen on people and who can blame him? *Yes, I would like to sponsor Jed*

Charlie Charlie was 4 months old when he was rescued from a feral colony in Pietermaritzburg. His family’s ‘home’ had been turned into a building site and Charlie was desperately ill when he came to Kitten Action. He had pneumonia and had to be put on a drip 3 times a day and be syringe fed. He is 6 years old now and a picture of health. *Yes, I would like to sponsor Charlie.*

Sookie Sookie was rescued from a feral colony in Clairwood. Although she was born with undeveloped eyes, she had managed to survive kittenhood but when she was 4 months old, she was chased (we are not sure exactly what happened) into a barbed wire fence that ripped her nose apart. The colony caretaker, Linda Herbert who feeds over 200 feral cats in various parts of Durban every day, rescued her and brought her to Kitten Action. Sookie is about 4 years old now, and her nose has healed perfectly although you can still see the scar. *Yes, I would like to sponsor Sookie*

Angel Angel was Kitten Action’s first rescued feral mom cat. She had had her kittens on the grass island in the middle of the road – clearly a poor decision made by a pregnant ‘teenager’ cat! She was rescued with her kittens and brought to Kitten Action. The kittens all became perfectly tame, and loving homes were found for them. Angel is now 6 years old and is one of the few cats at the Sanctuary who has never become tame. Clearly her first interactions with humans were worse than any of us can imagine. *Yes, I would like to sponsor Angel*

Ayla Ayla’s story is in its way, one of the most shocking of all the cats at the Kitten Action Sanctuary. She is an pure-bred Abyssinian show cat who was owned by a vet. When she stopped winning at shows, this vet decided she was past her sell-by date and was going to put her to sleep! She was only 2 years at the time and luckily for Ayla, Kitten Action stepped in and rescued her. Ayla is now 10 years old but has never forgotten her show days – if anyone arrives at the Sanctuary with a camera, Ayla is always the first to start posing for a photograph! *Yes, I would like to sponsor Ayla*

Tallulah Surprisingly, Tallulah’s story is not that unique which makes it even more shocking. A man was out jogging in the early morning. It was rubbish collection day and as he passed a pile of garbage bags, he saw one of the bags rustling and heard plaintive cries. Luckily for Tallulah, he stopped to investigate and found Tallulah and her kittens who were just 3 days old. He brought the little family to Kitten Action … the kittens were all homed but Tallulah stayed on. About 2 years after she was spayed, she experienced a phantom pregnancy and the black mark that white cats usually have on their foreheads (this fades as they grow up) re-appeared! Once the phantom pregnancy was over, the black mark disappeared again. Tallulah is now 8 years old. *Yes, I would like to sponsor Tallulah*

Saffron Saffron belonged to one of Kitten Action’s most long-standing supporters who has emigrated to the U.S.A. and had to find homes for some of his cats – he took many of them with him but Saffron is a rescued feral and is still so feral, she probably would not have survived the trip. *Yes, I would like to sponsor Saffron*

Scaramanga Manggers – as his friends call him – was rescued by a well-meaning person when he was 4 weeks old. Unfortunately, his rescuer misguidedly gave him human antibiotics to treat his upper respiratory infection and when he came to Kitten Action on Christmas Eve, he was having seizures every few hours as a result of these antibiotics. In fact, initially he was having an average of 12 seizures a day. He was put on anti-epilepic drugs but these made him so drowsy, he couldn’t even eat. Taryn switched to homeopathic treatment and slowly but surely, his seizures grew less frequent, until they stopped altogether. Manggers suffers from cerebella ataxia which means his limbs cannot co-ordinate his brain’s instructions and sometimes his legs seem to go in different directions! In spite of this handicap, he is a happy little guy and one of the favourites with Sanctuary visitors. *Yes, I would like to sponsor Scaramanga*

Molly We will never forget the day Molly arrived at the Kitten Action Sanctuary! We had received a call from a resident in Umlazi who was very concerned about the way that local children were treating a mother cat and her kittens – she said the children were using the kittens as footballs! When the ‘mother cat and kittens’ arrived at the Sanctuary in a washing basket with the lid secured with telephone wire, and we untangled the lid, imagine our surprise when out tumbled 3 mother cats and 22 kittens!!! The kitten at the bottom of the heap was almost flattened by the weight of the others and yet, with love and care and homeopathic remedies, all the kittens survived and were placed in loving homes. Molly was not keen on humans (not surprisingly) and stayed on at the Sanctuary to remind us of that momentous day, and the record that we hope will never be beaten. *Yes, I would like to sponsor Molly*

Banshee Durban residents will remember The Ark – a sad place on Durban’s beachfront where homeless people could find shelter, food and a place to rest. When the beachfront was upgraded, The Ark was demolished and the people – and the homeless cats that they had taken in – were homeless again. The people were shipped off to various destinations and Kitten Action took in the cats. All The Ark cats have found homes with the exception of Banshee – who has only recently come to accept the attention of humans. *Yes, I would like to sponsor Banshee*

Blossom Blossom was rescued at Durban’s Botanic Gardens. She has never become tame enough to be homed so she is now a permanent resident at the Sanctuary where she has come to enjoy a bit of attention from visitors, especially if they bring treats! *Yes, I would like to sponsor Blossom*

Uma Uma is living proof of the inhumanity of humans. She was rescued in Ballito where she had been found by a local estate agent with her kittens, then 5 weeks old. This inhuman human had hung the kittens up by their tails, and was encouraging children to throw stones at them. Although Uma was feral and deathly afraid of humans, she refused to leave her kittens and was fortunate to be rescued by a passer-by who witnessed the cruelty in progress. All Uma’s kittens survived and were placed in loving homes. Uma however has remained feral – can you blame her? *Yes, I would like to sponsor Uma*

Wendy The first thing we would like to tell you about Wendy, is that NO, SHE IS NOT PREGNANT!! She is just short for her weight! (NB All cats at Kitten Action’s Sanctuary have been spayed or neutered). Wendy was rescued from a feral colony living across the road from a brothel in Durban’s Point Road called (we’re not kidding!) The Cat Lady!! Wendy had taken refuge in the downpipe of a gutter and she was being shot at with a pellet gun (those unhuman humans again.) Wendy’s rescuer had to call the police to act as an escort while the rescue took place. Wendy has long ago forgiven the human race and loves to get attention from Sanctuary visitors. *Yes, I would like to sponsor Wendy.*

Chinchilla Chinchilla is not actually a Chinchilla, the breed, but is a very pretty silver tabby with one squonky eye. Her original owner gave her up because she had redecorated her house and Chinchilla didn’t match the new lounge suite. (I kid you not!!) Chinchilla then moved in with an elderly lady in an old age home and when this lady died, Chinchilla came to live at Kitten Action. *Yes, I would like to sponsor Chinchilla.*