The Goathouse Refuge is a 501(c)3 non-profit no-kill animal sanctuary dedicated to providing care and finding homes for hundreds of homeless cats. We are located in Pittsboro, NC, and are open daily from 12 - 3:30.

Monday, January 31, 2011

January Adoptions

Sterling
Samantha
Sol
Peter and Stewart
Spazzacamino
Matthew
Sonny
Annabella

Cleo (to foster home)
Katy (to foster home)

Congratulations to the kitties who went home in January, and thank you SO much to everyone who opened their heart and home to a Goathouse cat.

Spazzacamino went into a foster home a couple of months ago to recover from a broken leg, and his foster mom decided to make it permanent. We hope the same thing will happen with Cleo and Katy. Stay tuned!

The photo below shows the lovely Annabella shortly before she left with her new family. Annabella had been at the refuge since 2007, and we're all so happy that she's finally in a home of her very own. See photos of Annabella with her new family in our "happy tails" photoset on Flickr.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Cat of the Week: Velia



Sweet and petite Velia is adorable, a loving little girl with striking tuxedo markings. She's the kind of cat who looks like she's smiling when you pay attention to her - she gets a happy glow in her eyes. And what a purr she has! It's a true pleasure to hold this cat and feel that purr. She will make a wonderful best friend for some lucky person. Come meet Velia soon!

View more photos of Velia.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Vote for the Goathouse Refuge!



Vote for the Goathouse Refuge at the Animal Rescue Site and we could win grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 each to help our cats.

The Animal Rescue Site is hosting a special challenge for eligible Petfinder.com member shelter and rescue groups. The grand prize is a $5,000 grant, and they will be awarding many other grants to rescue groups with the most votes — a total of $300,000 in grants for animal welfare organizations.

Help us win! All you have to do is click to help rescued animals, and then vote in The Animal Rescue Site $300,000 Shelter+ Challenge of 2011 - with Petfinder.com. Both of these actions are absolutely free! You can vote once a day, every day during each voting period. Every time you vote, or ask a friend to vote, you are making a huge difference for us.

Thank you for your support of the Goathouse cats!


Monday, January 24, 2011

Cat of the Week: Salem



What a charming fellow this is! Salem is simply an all-around great cat....personable, friendly, and a bit of a flirt. An easy-going guy who loves making new friends, Salem is ready and willing to come home with you and provide unconditional kitty love. And did we mention handsome? Look at him...he's a beautiful cat in all ways. Come meet him soon! Approx. DOB May 2009

View more photos of Salem.


Sunday, January 23, 2011

Winter Dance Party: January 24



You’re Invited!

A Winter Dance Party hosted by Lucy Moore to benefit the Coalition to Unchain Dogs and The Goathouse Refuge.

DJ Michael spinning dance tunes!
Door Prizes!
Heavy Hors d’oeuvres and Cash Bar!

Monday, January 24, 2011
6:30 – 10:30pm
The Broad Street Café
1116 Broad Street, Durham, NC 27705
919-416-9707

$12/person prepaid or $15/person at the door (admission fee includes door prize ticket).

Questions? Contact Lucy at 919-451-3773 or bestpetsitternc@yahoo.com

Saturday, January 22, 2011

2010: In Memory of....


Rest in peace to these furry friends we lost last year.

Rambunctious and lovable kitten, Cloud~




The one and only Henry Houdini




To know Lucy was to love Lucy~




This sweet and meowy fellow died along with five other cats, shortly after they were rescued from Gaston Animal Control~




Beautiful Pamela~



Handsome Paul~




Sweet young Christopher 1~




Everyone's favorite feral friend, Scotty~



Sweetie, the most loving cat in the world~



Fluffy and beautiful Christopher 2~

Monday, January 17, 2011

Cat of the Week: Katy



UPDATE: Katy went into a foster home in January 2011. We hope it will turn into a permanent home for the sweet girl.


This sweet kitty has an adorable face, bright green eyes, and gorgeous grey/blue fur; she's about two years old. Katy is a friendly girl who loves people and being petted; she would love nothing more than to go to a peaceful home where she can get lots of love and attention. Katy has been at the Refuge for over a year now; she's making the best of it but is not that crazy about being around so many other cats. We will be so happy when Katy finds her very own home and family. Please come meet her soon.

View more photos of Katy.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

New Beginnings Story Contest

If you adopted a cat from the Goathouse Refuge, please consider writing your "happy tails" story and submitting it to the New Beginnings Story Contest. You could help the Goathouse win a grant!

*Beginning January 10th, you can enter your "New Beginnings" rescue story and give your favorite eligible rescue organization the chance to win a grant to help animals. To be eligible, the story you submit must include the exact shelter name as registered with Petfinder.com, as well as the state or province and hometown of your shelter or rescue organization. Please include Goathouse Refuge Inc., Pittsboro, NC in your story.

*On February 28th and 29th, judges at The Animal Rescue Site will pick five story finalists, each representing a different organization.

*Then, between March 2nd and 20th, everyone will have the chance to vote for their favorite stories - once every day! The top vote-getter will receive a $3,000 grant to help animals - and four runners-up will each receive a $1,000 grant.

Even if you don't have a story to submit, you can still vote every day in the annual Shelter+ Challenge, giving us a chance to win one of 60 $1,000 grants sponsored by Petfinder and The Animal Rescue Site.


Thursday, January 13, 2011

Cat-Proofing Your Home




Cats are curious by nature, and they love to climb and jump on top of high places. While your new cat is getting used to her surroundings, she will be doing a lot of investigating and exploring. You need to make sure your home is safe and secure, and basically go through your home as if you were bringing home a toddler.

Follow these guidelines to make your home safe for your kitty:

1. Check all windows and screens to make sure they are very strong. Cats can push weak or torn screens out from the frame or tear them. Cats can escape even from second or third story (or higher!) windows and may injure themselves in the process. It is best to install new steel screens, or place metal grilles such as the ones available for screen doors over windows you wish to keep open. If in doubt, place pieces of wood in the window runner to stop it from opening more than an inch or so. Cats are stronger than you think!

2. If you have a balcony, make sure the cat cannot access it unless it is fully enclosed. Cats often try to leap onto railings after a bird and may fall. Balconies are not safe places for cats.

3. Remove plants that may be poisonous. Cats love to chew plants, and some cats may use potted plants as a litter box, so try to hang all plants out of reach or move them outside. If you are not sure if your plants are poisonous to cats, ask your vet. Common plants that are poisonous include philodendrons, ferns, all lilies, and poinsettias.

4. Lock up all cleaning supplies, drain openers, and other poisonous substances. Place them in a sealable plastic container with a latched lid. Make sure antifreeze is not accessible and do not allow your cat in your garage where leaked fluids can poison her. Animals are attracted to the sweet taste of antifreeze and other toxic substances.

5. Check for pest poisons and remove them. Rat poison, ant and roach poison, and rodent traps are all dangerous to cats. If you rent your home or recently moved in, do a thorough check for existing poisons because sometimes they are left behind by previous tenants. Check the back of all cupboards, drawers, closets, etc. Cats can become sick or die from eating the poison or from eating mice or insects that have ingested the poison.

6. Put away breakable items, especially on bookshelves and countertops where cats may investigate.

7. Remove dangling cords such as the strings from blinds and phone cords, or wrap them up and securely tie them out of reach. Cats can’t resist playing with these items and can become entangled and hang or choke. Tie up cords from blinds near the top of the window, and secure loose power cords and cables with ties out of reach or behind furniture. Some kittens and cats may also chew electrical cords and could be electrocuted – make sure your cords are tucked away or encase them in plastic cord-keeper tubes.

8. Pick up any small, swallowable items and strings. Rubber bands, paper clips, string, thumb tacks, broken balloons, tree tinsel and other small articles are tempting play objects for cats, but pose a choking hazard. String can cut the intestines if swallowed.

Important: if your cat ever swallows string, NEVER pull the string out from either end – you can cause internal damage. Call your vet immediately, and if the string is very long, cut the string near the cat.

9. Set aside a "safe room" for your new arrival. Put her food dish, water, and litter box, toys, scratching post and bed in it. Give this room a thorough going over. Once kitty is comfortable in her new surroundings, it will be time to let her explore the rest of your happily cat-proofed home.




Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Cat of the Week: Licorice



Licorice sends Happy New Year wishes to all friends of the Goathouse Refuge cats! He's so happy to be the first Cat of the Week for 2011 because he hopes that someone will see his handsome self and come take him to a home of his very own.

Don't let his tough guy looks fool you, this is one purring cuddly cat. Licorice loves to be petted and held, and he's ready to be a loyal and loving lapcat for some lucky human. Please come meet this wonderful fellow soon!


See more photos of the very lovable Licorice.