Eva to the rescue

Fifty cats. One location. For some it’s heaven. For others, it’s a nightmare. For Eva Cameron, the founder of the Albury Cat Rescue, it’s her reality.

Eva, with Percy and Smudge, in front of the new shed that is being constructed. Photo by Stephanie Beer.

Eva started the rescue in 2008. When retrieving one of her own cats from the pound in Albury NSW, she was shocked at how many cats were on death row.

“I saw how many beautiful cats there were, and it upset me so much,” she says. “I wanted to do something to help.”

Soon after, the Albury Cat Rescue was born, dedicated to rescuing felines from the cruelty of mankind. At the time, it was the only rescue of its nature in the area. Others have since been created, which has caused Eva’s adoption rates to decrease over the years.

Lelani is a ten month old kitten who turned up on Eva’s doorstop around six months ago. It is not clear what happened, but it was obvious that she had been mistreated. Photo by Stephanie Beer.

One of Eva’s favourite aspects about running the rescue is hearing back from people who have adopted one of the cats. They send photos and updates, and Eva loves seeing how happy both the cat and the owners are.

“Being able to save cats that would otherwise die or be homeless is really rewarding,” Eva says.

Running the rescue isn’t always a positive experience, however. Eva has become more aware of how cruel people can be towards animals, and every mistreated or abandoned cat who comes to the rescue breaks her heart.

“There’s so many pet owners that aren’t responsible and don’t desex, and then you’re getting all these kittens that there’s not enough homes for,” Eva says.

Every cat at the Albury Cat Rescue must be desexed before they can be adopted. This is an attempt to break the cycle of unwanted cats.

Eva does not act alone. She has a team of volunteers assisting her with every aspect of the rescue. Together, they have given over 1300 cats and kittens a second chance at life by finding them a loving forever home.

Created by Stephanie Beer.

The volunteers are crucial to the success of the rescue. They visit twice a day, tending to the the cats’ every need. They clean, they feed, and they socialise with the cats, helping prepare them for adoption.

A large portion of the rescue is outdoors, so the volunteers are constantly battling against the force of Mother Nature. Heat, cold, rain, and storms do not stop them from completing their fundamental work.

Part of the outdoor area at the rescue, in the middle of renovations. Photo by Stephanie Beer.

Eva is incredibly appreciative of the volunteers and the work that they do.

“It’s just impossible for one person to do that with a huge number of cats,” she says. “I couldn’t keep doing it without the volunteers.”

Varying in age and personality, the volunteers all have one thing in common – a genuine love for the cats. Some have assisted at the rescue for many years, becoming close friends of Eva’s.

Susan Kenna has volunteered at the rescue since 2011, not long after she moved to the area. She thought it would be a great way to meet new people, and has since made a few close friends. Eva is one.

“I have so much respect and admiration for Eva. She is a great inspiration with her selfless attitude,” Susan says.

“I look forward to my shift each week and I enjoy a cuppa and a chat with other volunteers at the end.”

These extraordinary volunteers do more for the cats then just clean up after them. As well as donating their time, they often donate their money. The Albury Cat Rescue is a not-for-profit organisation, and receive no financial assistance from the Government.

If it wasn’t for the donations of money, food, and other necessary items from the volunteers and other generous supporters, the enormous costs of caring for the cats would fall to Eva, something she simply cannot afford. Fundraisers are also organised, with one currently raising money to renovate the outdoor area of the rescue.

In April this year, volunteers and supporters went above and beyond to help a member of the Albury Cat Rescue family. Little Harmy, only eight months old at the time, was attacked by a dog. As a result, one of his back legs had to be amputated.

Harmy, fourteen months old. Photo by Stephanie Beer.

A GoFundMe page was set up in order to help Eva afford the surgery. Within two days, over $2000 had been raised.

“We were just amazed at people’s kindness,” Eva says. “They were really wanting Harmy to have his surgery and get well.”

If he didn’t have his leg amputated, Harmy would have had to be put to sleep. Six months later, he is doing well with three legs, and will be ready to find his forever home soon.

Currently there are 50 cats and kittens waiting for homes at the rescue, with 70 having been adopted so far this year. But what happens to the cats who do not get adopted?

From the very beginning, Eva decided that the Albury Cat Rescue would be a ‘no-kill’ rescue. Each year there are over 250,000 animals euthanised in Australia, largely due to a shortage of homes. Eva does not want to contribute to that number unless it is absolutely necessary.

“We keep the cats for as long as it takes for them to be adopted, and if they’re not adopted they stay with us,” Eva says. “They’ve got a home here.”

Asher, a purebred Russian Blue, is one of the cats who has not found his forever home. He came to the rescue in 2008 when his elderly owner could no longer care for him. He’s been there ever since.

Asher, held by volunteer Jenny. Photo by Stephanie Beer.

His bond with his old owner was so strong that when he first arrived at the rescue, he became depressed and was hard to settle. He has since turned into an incredibly affectionate cat, and is a favourite amongst volunteers.

However, from the beginning, Asher’s age made it difficult for him to be adopted. He was ten years old when he came into Eva’s care.

Sadly, he is not alone. Older cats are less likely to be adopted than kittens, possibly because they lack the ‘cute factor’ that people desire. There are many other senior cats at the rescue waiting for a home of their own, some who have been there as long as Asher.

Now seventeen years old with many health problems, it is likely Asher will die at the rescue. Although he has not been adopted, he has spent the last eight years surrounded by love and affection, something Eva believes every cat at the rescue deserves.

“You don’t save them just to put them to sleep because you can’t find a home for them,” she says.

Smollie was was found on a busy street in May 2015. Around eighteen months old, she was starving, pregnant, and ill with cat flu. Her kittens had to be aborted to save her life. Photo by Stephanie Beer.

Eva urges as many people as she can to adopt animals from rescues instead of buying them from pet stores.

“I think if you’re buying them from pet stores you’re encouraging irresponsible breeding, and it’s not the right way to go,” she says.

“We’ve got enough animals now without breeding any extras. There just isn’t enough homes for them, and too many end up dying.”

Rescues are full, the streets are crowded, and pet stores and irresponsible breeders are unfortunately still operating. But Eva is remaining optimistic.

“I hope that in some way us desexing every cat that comes in here helps a little bit with the over population,” she says.

If you would like to learn more about the Albury Cat Rescue, please visit their website.