Hello, kitties: Camano shelter hosts a ‘baby shower’

CAMANO ISLAND — Two playful gray kittens batted at each other Wednesday morning. An older white cat curled up on a bench and a black cat stretched out in sunlight streaming through a window.

Kitten season is about to begin. In the coming months, the Camano Animal Shelter Association expects to get up to 100 cats, most of them abandoned litters of kittens.

Volunteers and staff are hoping to adopt out most, if not all, of the cats. In the meantime, though, they need to care for the kittens, many of which come in without their mothers.

The sixth annual Little Whiskers Open House is essentially a baby shower for kittens, shelter worker Anna Dean said. People can come by the shelter at 198 Can Ku Road and bring gifts of kitten formula, feeding bottles, dry and wet food or non-clumping cat litter. There will be a kitten food drive and a raffle. People can learn how to care for kittens or become a foster parent to those too young to be adopted. The shelter also is offering half-price adoptions on all animals.

Little Whiskers starts Saturday at 11 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m.

“Everybody can kind of come in, see what we’re about, talk to staff, talk to volunteers and help us get excited for kitten season,” shelter worker Justine Doggett said.

The season runs from spring through late fall. That’s the time of year when many cats give birth, and the shelter becomes packed with homeless litters.

The nonprofit shelter houses mostly cats and dogs, but has taken in birds, turtles, lizards, bunnies and a ball python staff are hoping to find a home for soon. It is a no-kill shelter, meaning healthy animals won’t be euthanized if they aren’t adopted within a certain length of time.

All cats and dogs are vaccinated, spayed or neutered, microchipped, dewormed and tested for diseases before adoption, Dean said.

The shelter has one manager and four staff. The rest of the crew — about 50 people — are volunteers. Dozens of foster families and activity coordinators also pitch in.

The shelter always is looking for more volunteers and families to foster newborn animals.

Volunteer foster homes take care of kittens too young to be adopted and need someone to feed them every couple of hours.

There are 43 animals in the shelter this week. They’ve had more than 100 in the past, and expect to see the number go up throughout the spring.

There’s a good chance kitten season will be bigger than normal this year thanks to the unseasonably nice weather, shelter workers say.

“We didn’t have much of a winter this year, so it didn’t freeze their mating season,” Doggett said. “If we can fit the kittens in, we’ll take them.”

CASA also has an Amazon.com page and a full donation wishlist at www.camanoanimalshelter.com.

Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Southbound lanes on Highway 99 reopen after crash

The crash, on Highway 99 at 176th Street SW, blocked traffic for over an hour. Traffic was diverted to 168th Street SW.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett to welcome new CEO

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.