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.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Cat of the Week: Tuesday



Tuesday is a little cat with a BIG heart. Last year when elderly cat Sweetie was dying of cancer, Tuesday spent a lot of time lying on the futon with Sweetie, comforting, grooming, and cuddling with him. Such a sweet and loving girl. And kitties don't come much cuter than Tuesday; she's got fabulous tuxedo markings with an adorable white chin. This friendly young girl likes people and loves other cats; she would be a perfect addition to a multi-cat family. Come meet Tuesday soon!

See more photos of Tuesday.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Call for Egg-Themed Art!



Last week, the Goathouse issued a call to artists for "egg" themed art which will be auctioned off at our Mother's Day garden party, Cat Eggs, Timballo, and Opera.

Here is our first submission: a basket of Emu eggs with feathers. Very creative and unique!

To submit your "eggy" creation, please let us know by April 8 and then deliver your artwork to the refuge by May 1.

Thanks for your support of the Goathouse kitties!

Monday, March 28, 2011

Happy Tails: Peter and Stewart



The Goathouse always encourages people to adopt a pair of kittens and this is why!

Peter and Stewart's new mom writes:

The kittens are wonderful!

They curl up together for a little love session on the couch every afternoon although with today's rain, they decided a warm spot near the wood stove would be better (see photo).

They love each other and are always together. We are so happy we got them together!

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Happy Tails: Tookie!



This is amazing! Volunteers who remember Tookie from her days at the Refuge know that she was about as feral as a cat can be. Look at her now!

If Tookie had ended up in a public shelter, she would have been labeled "unadoptable" and euthanized. Instead, she found a home with a patient and loving mom who has helped Tookie learn to enjoy life. Yay!

Her new mom writes:

"Ms. Took loves to be brushed. She is still very shy and it is easy to spook her, but when she sees her brush she meows and starts purring. I think we’ve bonded. :)

Even though Tookie only spent 46 days at the Goathouse, I give the Refuge credit for keeping her safe until I could bring her home. The few people still there who might remember her as the extremely cage-aggressive feral bobcat with a padlock on her cage door will truly appreciate how far she has come in accepting life with humans."


Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Cat of the Week: Ellie




Ellie is such a lovely young girl. She came to the Goathouse in spring of 2009 as part of a group of cats who were scheduled to be euthanized at a South Carolina shelter. She was very frightened when she arrived and has made a lot of progress over the past two years. She's still a little bit shy with new people, but once she learns that you're there to be her friend, she enjoys being petted and doesn't mind being held. Ellie would love to meet a kind-hearted and patient human friend who will take her home and give her the love and attention she needs to completely relax and blossom. Please consider opening your heart and home to this beautiful cat.

View more photos of Ellie.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Please protect your cats from ticks

A message from Siglinda:

Hello to all the wonderful people who have adopted a cat from The Goathouse Refuge.

Below is information about a very serious disease that can be fatal to cats. The most common symptoms of infection are lack of energy and appetite, usually accompanied by a profound fever. Some cats develop a yellow discoloration of the skin and the whites of the eyes. If you see your cat showing any of these symptoms take them to your vet immediately. It’s very important to put Frontline on your cat each month.

We had 2 cats die of this terrible disease last year. Thank you for your time, we hope this will keep the cats healthy through the summer.


VTH Warns of Tick-Transmitted Disease Danger to Cats

Clinicians in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine are advising cat owners and their veterinarians about an increase in a deadly tick-transmitted infectious disease that without proper treatment has a mortality rate close to 100%.

The disease, cytauxzoonosis, is related to malaria and is caused by the parasite, Cytauxzoon felis, found in ticks carried by host bobcats. The most common symptoms of infection are lack of energy and appetite, usually accompanied by a profound fever. Some cats develop a yellow discoloration of the skin and the whites of the eyes.

According to Dr. Adam Birkenheuer, assistant professor of internal medicine, C. felis was first discovered in Missouri in the mid-1970s and for years was only documented in the south central region of the U.S. Prior to the late 1990s the disease had never been reported in North Carolina.

“Between 1998 and 2004 we saw a series of 34 cases from North and South Carolina and Virginia that were diagnosed by the NC State Vector Borne Disease Diagnostic Laboratory here at the CVM and the State Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratories,” says Dr. Birkenheuer. “We reported this surge in cases in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association as we went from having never seen this deadly disease to times where we saw several cases a week in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital.”

The disease seems to occur in “hotspots” with some households having several cats acquiring the infection. The majority of cases seen at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) have come from Pittsboro, Southern Pines, and coastal North Carolina from Morehead City down to the Southport area. Pet owners and veterinarians should be aware that these are not the only affected areas and VTH cases have come from other parts of the Triangle including Wake Forest, Rolesville, and eastern Raleigh.

“There are a couple of reasons we believe we are seeing this increase in Cytauxzoonosis,” says Dr. Birkenheuer. “One is the change in the distribution of the tick species that can transmit the infection to domestic cats. There are two species of ticks that can transmit the infection from bobcats to domestic cats, Dermacentor variabilis and Amblyomma americanum. Amblyomma americanum is a tick species that aggressively feeds on just about any mammal and has a geographic distribution that is rapidly expanding north and east. The other is that some cats survive the infection and can act as a reservoir leading to the infection of more cats.”

Testing for the disease is relatively simple and the veterinarian can usually make the diagnosis by examining a blood smear or performing a cytologic examination of infected tissues like lymph nodes, liver, or spleen. In some cases a DNA test can be used to confirm infection.

Up until recently, most veterinarians have been taught that this disease is 100% fatal and that there is nothing that can be done. Recently in collaboration with the University of Missouri, NC State clinicians performed a clinical trial evaluating a new treatment. With this new treatment patients at the VTH have had survival rates approaching 85%. The results of the trial should be published soon. CVM researchers with the Center for Comparative Medicine and Translational Research and researchers at the University of Missouri have sequenced the parasite genome and hope to use this information to develop a vaccine and additional novel treatments.

“We are very excited about the results of the clinical trial, but this is still a very serious illness that often requires a week or more of hospitalization but after treatment these cats return to live a completely normal life,” says Dr. Birkenheuer. “In fact they seem immune to re-infection after recovery.”

The best protection against Cytauxzoonosis is to keep cats indoors and use a treatment that is approved to kill ticks on cats (some canine products can be toxic to cats). The use of anti-tick products alone may not guarantee the prevention of infection. A veterinarian should be consulted immediately if an owner detects any signs of the disease in the pet.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Heart2Home Magazine debuts!



The premiere issue of Heart2Home has been published. Look for the featured Goathouse kitties on page 3!

Congratulations to Kim and everyone else involved.

You can view the March edition on line or pick up a hard copy at the following locations:

Pittsboro - Chatham Marketplace, General Store Cafe
Carrboro - Weaver St. Market
Chapel Hill - Library on Estes, Whole Foods, Phydeaux
Durham - Whole Foods, Shannon Rd. Library, Snow Building, 331 Main St, above Beyu Cafe (our office is on the 4th floor - suite 407 - last on the left)
Raleigh - Phydeaux, Quail Ridge Bookstore (in the Whole Foods plaza)
Hillsborough - Weaver St. Market, Paws at the Corner, Main Library


Sunday, March 20, 2011

Helping Animals in Japan



Many rescue organizations, including the Japan Cat Network, are working to rescue animals, despite the immense challenges and dangers. The U.S.-based World Vets has sent a team to Japan to help. Learn more about what's going on and how you can help.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Cat of the Week: Hercules



Update: Hercules has been adopted. Yay!

Hercules is a friendly and laid-back fellow who is about two years old. This handsome orange tabby was found alone and outdoors in the bitter cold; he was rescued and brought to the refuge where everyone was quickly charmed by his lovable and easy-going personality. He loves people and being petted; he also enjoys snoozing on the futon with the other cats. Hercules has been at the refuge for over a year now and would love to find his forever home soon!

See more photos of Hercules.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

We're going to be on TV tonight....



The Goathouse Refuge will be featured tonight!

North Carolina Now
Tuesday March 15 at 7:30pm
UNC-TV

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Adopt the Internet Day: March 15

Petfinder Adopt-the-Internet Day

Click on the image above to learn how you can help Petfinder celebrate! In honor of their 15th birthday, Petfinder is asking people everywhere to pledge to spread the word online about adoptable pets on March 15, 2011.

Goathouse Refuge cats can be found on Petfinder here. Happy Birthday to Petfinder, and many thanks to everyone who helps to spread the word about the wonderful Goathouse kitties.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Cat of the Week: Imp



Meet Imp - a tortie without the tortitude! Torties have a reputation for being the "divas" of the cat world (and there's nothing wrong with being a diva!), but Imp isn't like that at all. She's more like a girl scout....cooperative, cheerful, and kind. She gets along with other cats and with kids.

This lovely girl has the most amazing fur, soft as a bunny. It’s a real pleasure to hold Imp and run your fingers through her soft and thick coat. Her colors and markings are just beautiful plus she has the cutest feet - one is black and the other is orange. When you pet her, she responds sweetly and loves the affection. Imp is an experienced house cat who came to the refuge after her owner could no longer care for her. She's been waiting two years now for a second chance at having a loving home. Please come meet Imp soon!

See more photos of Imp.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Coffee with a Cause

Coffee with a Cause

Support the Goathouse kitties by purchasing some fair-trade organic Goathouse label coffee – espresso, decaf, dark, and house blends are available, and all are delicious!

Unique one-of-a-kind kitty face tea cups are also available for purchase. Coffee and tea cups are available in the Goathouse Gallery, and we can also ship by UPS. Please contact us for information about ordering.

The cats thank you for your support!


Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Cat of the Week: Lucinda



Lucinda is a lovely young girl with blue/grey fur, a white spot on her chest, and a cute white stripe down her belly. A gentle and lovable girl, Lucinda isn't the kind of kitty who comes running up to jump in your lap, but when you approach her, she responds sweetly and loves the attention and petting. She's been at the refuge for a year now and would love to meet her special person soon. She's a true sweetheart who will bring beauty and grace to your home. Come meet Lucinda! Approx. DOB May 2009.

See more photos of Lucinda.

Happy Tails: Cheerio

Juice, formerly known as Cheerio, is settling in well with his new family, including a friendly dog! Barry writes,

"Cheerio (call me Juice) is adjusting slowly and well. He has the run of the whole house now and has established himself as alpha over the dog. He's quite chatty but this is decreasing. He's got a strange affection for the kitchen sink and does like to curl up in my desk drawer while I work. Thank you for your help in taking care of such a fine cat.

Barry & Sarah




Tuesday, March 1, 2011

February Adoptions



Congratulation to these kitties and their new families.

Ebony and Luka Moon
Cheerio
Athena


Bailey (went to foster home)
Oliver (went to foster home)

Cleo (her foster home became a forever home!)
Alpin (foster home became a forever home!)
Katy (foster home became a forever home!)

What a great month for black cats! Black cats are often overlooked by people interested in adopting, so we are thrilled that four of our beautiful black cats found their forever homes last month.

We're also happy for young Cheerio. He was adopted when he was a Goathouse kitten and then returned a year later. We hope that "second time's the charm" for this sweet fellow.

Thank you to everyone who opened their hearts and homes to a Goathouse kitty.