116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Meet the 12 Cats of Christmas in Cedar Rapids, looking for holiday homes
CEDAR RAPIDS — I don't know about you, but sometimes I just need something sweet in the midst of my news feed. I hope this feature highlighting adoptable cats at Cedar Rapids Animal Care and Control fits the bill.
Photographer Liz Martin and I visited the shelter on a recent afternoon, armed with ribbons, tinsel and boxes, hoping to charm some cats into posing for us.
The phrase 'herding cats' was applicable here. Most of these felines were more interested in being pets than sitting still for the camera. Cats often have a reputation for aloofness, but these were all eager for attention, which highlighted to me more than ever the importance of finding good homes for them where they can get the love they need.
These kitties represent hundreds of adoptable cats at shelters throughout the Corridor. The city-run shelter has room to hold 125 to 150 cats and is pretty much at capacity. The shelter recently found a home for one of their longest-staying recent residents, a cat named Gianna, who was there for 11 months.
The Friends Helping Friends Foundation helps support the shelter, providing funds above the money the city allocates.
The foundation also coordinates volunteers who foster kittens, plus has a 'cat help' program to follow up after an adoption. Volunteers will try to resolve any issues such as behavior problems or litter box use, part of an effort to keep adopted cats in their new homes.
Board president Kris Brown said one of her favorite parts of being part of the foundation is, 'Helping the animals, whether it is a medical issue to help an animal, or helping to make their stay at the shelter better, such as enhancing the surgical suite at the shelter with lighting and dental equipment, to having an outside fenced-in enclosure play area for the dogs or kitty condos for the cats. It all boils down to helping animals however we can.'
I have to give a hat tip for the 12 Cats of Christmas idea to the Courier newspaper in Waterloo, which does an annual 12 Cats of Christmas photo spread. There are also at least two books of the same name and at least one song parodying the 12 Days of Christmas carol.
Need more pet photos in your life? Friends Helping Friends is selling a 2020 Paw Prints Calendar for $10, available at the shelter. The Cedar Valley Humane Society also is selling a holiday cat calendar for $10.
Produced by Iowa BIG students, sales benefit the shelter's Cat Companions program and can be ordered online at cvhumane.org, with pickup at the shelter, 7411 Mount Vernon Rd. SE, Cedar Rapids.
Comments: (319) 398-8339; alison.gowans@thegazette.com
Photos: Check out a photo gallery of the cats, or scroll down for more
Adoption deals for the holidays
• Animal Care and Control is currently running an adoption special to help more animals find homes. Adopters can draw an ornament marked with a special price from free to $75, which includes spay or neuter, initial vaccinations, deworming, flea/tick treatment and microchipping.
• The normal adoption fee is $100 to $125 for cats and $125 to $200 for dogs. The shelter, at 900 76th Ave. Dr. SW, Cedar Rapids, is open noon to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday. All adopters must fill out an application and be approved before they can take home an animal.
The 12 Cats of Christmas:
Marble
Enzio
Emily
Elmo
Ice Queen
Queen
Cynthia
Lune
Daizee
Mackerel
Razamataz
Teddy
Elmo is an orange male tabby domestic shorthair available for adoption at Cedar Rapids Animal Care and Control in Cedar Rapids, photographed on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)
Marble thinks he might have seen some reindeer flying by. As a longtime resident of the shelter, he has a reduced $25 adoption fee. He's a calico adult domestic shorthair available for adoption at Cedar Rapids Animal Care & Control.
Enzio likes to explore, but hoped there would be a slightly bigger tree to climb. He's a young gray tiger domestic shorthair. Enzio and the other 11 cats here are available for adoption at Cedar Rapids Animal Care & Control. (Liz Martin photos/The Gazette)
Emily is a little shy but eagerly waiting for her forever home. As a longtime resident of the shelter, she has a reduced $25 adoption fee. She's a young gray and white domestic shorthair available for adoption at the Cedar Rapids Animal Care & Control.
Elmo has a very loud purr and lots to say, but he wants to emphasize he only agreed to dress as Santa because he was promised there would be milk and cookies. As a longtime resident of the shelter, he has a reduced $25 adoption fee. He's an orange male tabby domestic shorthair available for adoption.
Ice Queen is hoping you're not ready to let her go. She's an active young domestic shorthair with a freckle on her nose, available for adoption at Cedar Rapids Animal Care & Control in Cedar Rapids.
Queen is just waiting for her Christmas crown. As a longtime resident of the shelter, she has a reduced $25 adoption fee. She's a large adult tabby domestic shorthair available for adoption.
Cynthia is all about staying warm and snug this holiday season. As a longtime resident of the shelter, she has a reduced $25 adoption fee. She's a small adult domestic shorthair available for adoption.
Lune is hoping if he hides, he can spot Santa dropping off the presents. As a longtime resident of the shelter, he has a reduced $25 adoption fee. He's a small male adult domestic shorthair available for adoption.
Daizee has already been a mom, despite her petite size. All she wants for Christmas is cuddles. She's a small calico adult domestic shorthair available for adoption at Cedar Rapids Animal Care & Control in Cedar Rapids.
Mackerel would like to just take a nap in this tinsel, please. He's a small black male adult domestic medium hair available for adoption at Cedar Rapids Animal Care & Control in Cedar Rapids.
Razamataz recognizes potential toys when he sees them. As a longtime resident of the shelter, he has a reduced $25 adoption fee. He's a buff male adult domestic shorthair available for adoption.
Teddy knows he is fabulous. As a longtime resident of the shelter, he has a reduced $25 adoption fee. He's a young male adult domestic shorthair tabby available for adoption at Cedar Rapids Animal Care & Control.
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