Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association

History

In 2000, Karen Duncan and Maria Soroski founded the Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association (VOKRA) in Vancouver, British Columbia. They first planned to care for very young, mainly bottle-feeding kittens, who rarely survived if found without a mother cat. They soon found that older kittens would do better in foster care, and then included mother cats, both tame and feral, and eventually a full trap-neuter-return program. Initially the organization helped about 150 cats and kittens each year.

In 2008, the organization expanded into Surrey; more than half of the incoming cats were from the Surrey area in 2013.

By 2014, the organization had grown to over 350 foster homes, helping 1,800 cats annually. In March 2014, the organization opened a new 3,200 square foot (297 sq. m.) operations centre in East Vancouver. The facility contains four pods, each with its own air supply to prevent disease from spreading. The centre can handle up to 50 cats for short stays of usually one to three days, before the cats go to foster care. The centre is also used for recovery of feral cats after their spay/neuter surgery.

Pre-natal, natal, and orphan program

VOKRA specializes in the care of bottle-feeding kittens who are orphaned or whose mother cannot feed them adequately. The organization also provides care for pregnant and nursing cats, both tame and feral. The work can be intense: "in the case of sick or bottle-fed young ones, feeding and care can be needed every two hours, around the clock."

Foster program

Without a shelter, foster homes provide the foundation of VOKRA's work. VOKRA says that one of the advantages of fostering is "to protect the very young from colds, distemper, parasites and other transmissible illnesses."

The organization provides all food, supplies, equipment and pays for the medical needs of the cats and kittens being fostered. The busiest time of year is between April and October, but foster homes are used year-round. The space used for fostering is typically a spare room or bathroom, where the foster kittens/cats can be isolated from the family's own animals for at least for a week to ten days, to prevent the spread of illnesses to the family's own cats. The length of time the foster charges will stay depends on how soon they are ready for adoption, and how long it takes to find the right adopter; it "can vary from as little as a week to several months. We will move them to another foster home if necessary." Foster parents report enjoying the experience of raising kittens, and sometimes deciding to adopt their fosters.

Trap-neuter-return program

VOKRA works to stabilize and reduce the feral cat population by trap-neuter-return, with partner organizations including the Pacific Animal Foundation and Katie's Place Animal Shelter. Soroski said they had "virtually eliminated feral cat colonies in Vancouver and Burnaby", and hope to do the same in Surrey. Volunteers in 2014 estimated there are 20,000 feral cats in Surrey.

Care provided to feral cats includes caring for pregnant feral mothers through birthing and until their kittens are weaned. If a mother cat cannot be tamed, she is returned to her original location where volunteers ensure food and water are available daily, and the cat's health can be monitored. Feral Kittens and tame strays are not returned, but are instead socialized in foster care and adopted out to homes. VOKRA does not ear-tip feral cats, but each cat receives an identification tattoo.

Spay-neuter assistance program

The organization assists low income individuals and families with the cost of spaying and neutering their cats. In 2013, VOKRA sterilized 120 free-roaming cats in the Whalley neighbourhood of Surrey, with a grant from PetSmart Charities. In 2014, the organization received a grant to help low income cat guardians in the Newton neighbourhood of Surrey.

Outreach to other communities

In 2012, VOKRA decided to help five cats from Avsallar, Turkey, after hearing about the plight of street cats. Two of the cats have been adopted: Fistik, a rare male calico cat who had suffered broken legs and a broken pelvis before being rescued by a vet in Antalya, Turkey; and tuxedo cat Ballerina, who also suffered a leg injury before being rescued by a vet in Avsallar. Three were still available for adoption in October 2014: Tabby cat Chanel; Mimi, a tabby cat with a white bib; and Madonna, also a tabby cat with a white bib.

VOKRA sometimes takes in cats from northern communities. In March 2012, Hamish, an orange and white tabby cat with medium-length hair, was rescued by Northern Animal Rescue Alliance after he had been surviving at the local garbage dump in Terrace, British Columbia. He was flown to Vancouver, and adopted by his foster family, who renamed him Wiggum.

In June 2014, VOKRA took in five kittens from Lethbridge, Alberta. Two of the kittens, Olivia and Daisy, have cerebellar hypoplasia (CH), a condition that causes an unsteady gait; VOKRA reported having had some success helping cats with the condition using therapeutic treatments. Pilots N Paws Canada arranged to have the cats transported to Vancouver from Purrfect Endings, a rescue in Lethbridge, Alberta. Turbo and Noah, two kittens who didn't have CH, were adopted quickly. The remaining kittens are being cared for in two foster homes. "Wobbly" kitten Daisy, a black domestic short-haired cat; her athletic brother Sky, who has medium-length black fur with white fluff under his chin; and "wobbly" kitten Olivia, a domestic short-haired tabby cat, were available for adoption in October 2014.

Wildlife rescue assistance

On occasion VOKRA has assisted with wildlife rescues. A notable rescue involved a skunk named Bubbles. In August 2011, Bubbles was noticed in Vancouver's West End with her neck stuck in a plastic dome-shaped lid used for bubble tea. The skunk's situation became more dire as she grew and the lid became tighter. Bubbles eluded captors until November 2011, when VOKRA volunteer Shirley trapped her. The Wildlife Rescue Association of B.C. performed surgery to remove debris which had caused scabbing, and after 45 days of rehabilitation, Bubbles was reported ready for release on Dec. 28, 2011. The wildlife rescue later reported that Bubbles had been "spotted in the company of other neighbourhood skunks and appears to be healthy and staying out of trouble."

Position statements

Notable cat rescues

––Fundraising–– Since 2009 VOKRA's main fundraiser has been the annual Walk for the Kitties. Each year VOKRA nominates spokeskitties who help represent the more than 14,000 cats and kittens the no-kill organization has rescued since its founding in 2000.