A great morning with furry friends at Epsom Village

There's a famous quote from Ernest Hemingway that says: 'One cat just leads to another.' This is how the scene unfolded last week at Epsom Village with the visit of Lonely Miaow, where the charming presence of cats and kittens created an atmosphere of joy and warmth.

The charity brought approximately 12 cats and kittens to the village as part of their fundraising efforts to support the care of stray and abandoned felines. Since its establishment in 1990, Lonely Miaow has rescued approx 21,000 cats, with just under 200 cats in their care right now in different foster homes all over Auckland.

The non-profit organisation has three main missions: educating about the necessity of spaying female kittens, rehoming as many felines as possible, and aiding community members in reducing the population of stray cats. The cats and kittens brought to Epsom Village came from foster families, so they were accustomed to human contact. The majority were friendly and eagerly interacted with our residents, with some seeking cuddles and a warm lap for a nap.

One of the most popular kittens was a ginger cat named Prince, who spent most of the morning playing with various residents, hiding under chairs, and capturing everyone's hearts. One of his favorite pastimes was when he discovered the curtain-like skirt of one of our staff members and thoroughly enjoyed playing with it.

Some of the cats had been recently found, including Jilly, a 6-month old kitty found in one of the managed cat colonies in Auckland. Despite not having had much human contact, she proved to truly enjoy the company of our residents. She spent a good half an hour nestled in the warm merino jumper lap of one of our residents. Lonely Miaow is confident that Jilly is nearing readiness for adoption, given her evident comfort in the presence of humans.

At Real Living, we aim to offer a wide range of activities on our events calendar to suit every resident's preferences. Nonetheless, the visit from these cats and kittens emerged as one of the standout events of the year, capturing widespread popularity. It was not only a great experience for the residents but also contributed to the charity by raising more than $200. 

If you’d like to know more about joining our community contact Lyn on 021 845 524 or email Lyn.Ellis@realliving.co.nz