Morgan Brayton has had 35 babies in two years, and shes not anywhere close to stopping.
Brayton is a foster mom for VOKRA, the Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association.
Shes also a very successful comedian, and is combining her two passions as the host of an Oscar party fundraiser for VOKRA this Sunday at The Morrissey.
Come watch the 86th Academy Awards and sip cocktails dressed up in Hollywood North attire there may not be kittens, but there will be pictures of kittens, plus animal-loving Vancouverites like Brayton, who need your support.
Last year alone, VOKRA took in and found new homes for almost 2,000 kittens and mother cats. And through that process, the cats are welcomed into a network of more than 100 foster parents who care for, socialize and housebreak them, and make sure they get the necessary veterinary care.
Brayton was introduced to the not-for-profit organization when she adopted a kitten four and a half years ago. It wasnt long after that she and her family started volunteering and then fostering, as well.
Its all just so grassroots and so out of the love of all of these volunteers, she says of working with VOKRA. Its completely volunteer-run. Everybody is so unbelievably overworked, but the passion there is huge. I was just drawn to all these amazing people who do all this great work helping animals.
VOKRA was formed in 2000 to provide care for very young kittens that wouldnt survive without a mother cat. They soon added older kittens, under the age at which they could safely be vaccinated, and then mother cats, both tame and feral, to the list.
In addition to scouring sites like Craigslist for kittens (which are usually being offered up without any diligence), a crucial part of VOKRAs work is its trap/neuter/return program. Teams of volunteers humanely trap feral cats and kittens. Pregnant feral mothers are cared for through birthing and until their kittens are weaned, at which time they spay the mother and socialize the kittens so that they can be adopted often in pairs.
Brayton says it takes upwards of $450,000 to run the organization annually, with $10,000 per month going to food alone.
You can see the impact.
The cat population in Vancouver is much more under control now, thanks largely to the work of VOKRA, explains Brayton. But in Surrey, for example, its completely out of control. Thats hopefully the next success story, in the coming years.
In the meantime, however, its coming up to that most bittersweet time of year.
In the summer we have over 700 cats and kittens in care. We all brace for kitten season and sort of rub our hands together, says Brayton with a greedy laugh. One of our fosters just had their 300th kitten. I keep in touch with all of the people who adopt our fosters. I threaten them if they dont send me pictures and updates. Its one of the most rewarding parts of it.
Its easy to look on the fluffy side of life when youre knee-deep in kittens, however. Brayton cautions that kitten season is actually a symptom of a larger philosophical issue: You rarely see dogs, for example, running around without an owner within shouting distance these days. The culture of dog ownership, especially in urban centres, has shifted dramatically, and the quality of life for dogs has improved as such. But its still considered completely normal to see a cat walking around the neighbourhood by itself, susceptible to predators, cars, diseases and alley catting.
Which leads to this final thought, for the next time you see a kitten that strikes your fancy: after the initial vet check up, first shots, worm/flea treatments, spay/neuter and tattoo (all covered by your $180 adoption fee), its actually cheaper to adopt a cat through VOKRA than to find one for free.
The 3rd Annual Oscars at The Morrissey: A Gala Benefit for VOKRA is March 2 at 1227 Granville. Red carpet at 4pm; awards ceremony at 5. Admission is $25 (100 per cent of the ticket price goes to VOKRA) and includes a cocktail and appetizers. For details of other Oscar parties, see here.
