Fishing for Felines fundraiser

On October 19, Cat Haven premieres its new Fishing for Felines fundraiser from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Lake House. The gala also celebrates the recent installation of Wendy Decker, one of the organization’s founders, as its executive director.

This year’s event features a Cat-ch of the Day gourmet dinner and Shake Your Tail entertainment. The Geaux Fishin’ silent auction includes jewelry, spa packages and even a biplane ride over the Mississippi River.

In addition, Classic Jewelers has customized the classic carnival Duck Pond game into an adult amusement. For a $20 donation, a patron can pick up one of the floating plastic kitties in a pond for a chance to win a $2,500 pearl-and-diamond ring.

Of course, no matter who walks away with the bling, the big winners are Capital City kitties. Since the non-profit’s founding in 1999, event chairman Jeff Stafford says, “We have been an intermediary to prevent cats from going to the animal shelter.” For example, the rescue helps Baton Rougeans whose cats have unexpected litters; who are moving and can’t take their cat with them; who have had a death in the family and need to find a new home for the relative’s cat.

Baton Rouge’s oldest feline rescue has rehabilitated and rehomed approximately 6,000 cats and assisted in the spay or neuter of an additional 5,000 cats in the community.

“This event is very important as our biggest fundraiser of the year,” explains Stafford. Approximately 80% of the proceeds dedicated to the maintenance and expansion of Cat Haven’s three-year-old adoption center at 11130 N. Harrell’s Ferry Road. The remainder of funds goes into the general operating budget.

“Unlike other rescues that have offsite adoptions only, our crown jewel is our building,” Stafford says. “Its décor is pleasing to the cats and adopters. It’s brightly painted, and [there are things] for the cats to do like climb onto elevated walkways and windows. So, it’s very interactive. When they visit, people can see the majority of cats we have and spend time with them in a natural environment before they adopt.”

Cat Haven’s adoption center is routinely open Tuesday through Friday from noon to 6 p.m. Off-site adoption events are held every weekend from 10am to 4pm at PetSmart in Siegen Marketplace, PetSmart on Airline Highway and Petco on Siegen Lane.

Fishing for Felines tickets are $100 per person or $1,000 per table and available by calling 928-4193 or visiting cathaven.org.

Click here for Creature Feature, which includes some of Cat Haven’s adorable adoptable felines.

Click here for this week’s City Lynx.