Page 14 - Middletown Magazine Issue 3 Autumn 2023

CAT TALES

Middletown’s

No-Kill Cat Shelter

by Gregory Simpson

Cat Tales, Inc. began in 1999 when Deb Bagley, founder and presi-
dent of Middletown’s no-kill cat shelter, discovered abandoned kittens
that she rescued and brought to a local veterinarian. Although two of
the kittens sadly died, that event served as the impetus for Cat Tales’
formation. Since then, Bagley has led the organization and inspired
volunteers (that currently number around 150), to make Middletown
and its surrounding area a better place for cats. Her vision is to leave
the legacy of an organization that cares for abused neglected, and
abandoned cats and kittens - long into the future.

In a given year, Cat Tales serves about 200 phone calls, and make repairs at the shel- car show, walk-a-thon, donor matching
cats at a time, in its two-building sanctu- ter. Vitally there are also two shifts daily campaign, and the annual gala, “Cats in
ary, off-site foster homes, and support of 365 days a year to provide direct care for the Castle” that was originally held at St.
multiple feral cat colonies. The majority of the cats and maintain a clean shelter. Vol- Clement’s Castle in Portland and will be
the cats at the shelter will live their lives unteers who are 13-15 years old need a held this year on Septem-ber 16, 2023,
there due to medical or other needs while parent or guardian to volunteer with them. at Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville. The goal

the rest are available for adoption. Those younger than 13 can help by con- of this largest event of the year is to raise
duct-ing fundraisers at their schools and much needed funds by hosting a party for
visit the cats when they drop off their do- hundreds that includes a buffet, raffles, si-
nations. lent auction, games, and a DJ. In 2022,
over 300 local businesses donated items
For those who would like to donate fre- or services to be raffled.
quently used items, Cat Tales is always
in need of the fol-lowing: paper towels, The story of Gwen the cat, formerly of St.
bleach, dish detergent, high-efficiency Clement’s Castle, is typical of the help Cat
laundry detergent, wet wipes, and Nitrile Tales pro-vides daily. Lady Gwenovere,
glove (medium and large size). Food Gwen for short, was able to outwit the cas-
needs include Purina Pro Plan Kitten (and tle’s staff by carrying her five-week old kit-
Cat) Chow, Fancy Feast with gravy, and tens up and over the castle roof, down a
Friskies canned food. Other useful items trellis, and safely into the
include: cat beds, small fleece blankets, courtyard - as confirmed by security cam-
humane traps, top loading cat carriers, si- eras. Cat Tales was called for help and
Cat Tales promotes Trap-Neuter-Return sal scratching posts, catnip, and outdoor through its as-sistance, Gwen found a
which is a humane and effective way to insulated cat houses. forever home where she is able to be the
control the population of feral cats. Feral queen of the castle once again. To this
cats are trapped using humane traps such day, she remains the inspiration for Cat
as Havahart or Toma-hawk Live Traps. Tales’ yearly gala, “Cats in the Castle.”
They are then brought to veterinarians
to be neutered or spayed. They are al-so Please consider this a call to all cat lovers!
vaccinated against rabies and ear tipped to To contact Cat Tales or to secure tickets
identify them from a distance as cats that to the “Cats in the Castle” gala, one may
have been neutered and vaccinated. Feral call (860) 344-9043. To adopt or if inter-
cats are then released back to their out- ested in volunteering or fos-tering, applica-
door homes, shelter is provided, and food tions can be found on the website: www.
is delivered daily by volunteers. The pop- CatTalesCT.org. Also, sponsorship of a
ulation stabilizes because no more kittens handicapped or feral cat is $10/month and
are born. Stray cats found that are social- $15/month to sponsor an elderly or FIV cat.
ized are generally adopted into homes. Remem-ber, as the French writer, Colette,
wrote, “Time spent with a cat is never wast-
Cat Tales is an all volunteer organization Fund raising is an ongoing necessity as ed.”
and looks for good volunteers to help the expense for food and veterinary care
with the following: foster a cat or kitten, alone is pro-jected to be close to $100,000 Gregory Simpson is a Cat Tales, Inc. board
feed feral colonies, financially support a for 2023. With other expenses such as member and an award-winning member of
cat, assist in transporting cats to the vet, litter and utilities, the total cost to run the the Cat Writers’ Association.
assist with adoption appointments, help shelter in 2022 was $162,000. Major fund
fund raise, correspond with donors, return raising events include a spaghetti sup-per,

14 Middletown Magazine - Autumn Issue 2023