LEWISTON — Norm Blais wasn’t sure how many cats were calling the Tommy’s Feral Feline Friends shelter home, but based on the last audit, he guessed about 500. And they would not be taking a Christmas holiday from much needed care.
The cats have found their way to the shelter in all kinds of ways. “I watched one night near the Greater Androscoggin Humane Society as a car parked just out of view of the surveillance cameras, and the door opened, and someone dumped a bag of kittens.
“People recycle animals like everything else,” Blais said. “Everyone wants a kitten until it goes through puberty.”
The shelter hopes this year to recycle Christmas trees for use in the cat colonies. Colonies are the physical shelters for the cats, which hold up to 50 felines, and are made of fir boughs, spruce trees, evergreens and even Christmas trees. The coniferous trees offer not only protection from wind and rain but warmth in winter.
Two to three trees can cover a single shelter, Blais said.
Those who wish to donate their used Christmas trees may contact Blais by texting 207-240-8767 or emailing normblais39@yahoo.com.
aaustin@sunjournal.com
A paw cake made for the Tommy’s Feral Feline Friends’ recent bake sale on Sabattus Street. (Sun Journal photo by Abigail Austin)
Baked goods sold at the recent Tommy’s Feral Feline Friends’ bake sale in Lewiston. (Sun Journal photo by Abigail Austin)
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