Angela Townsend, Tabby’s Place: a Cat Sanctuary
If you thought the recent polar vortex was hard on humans, imagine being a cat confined in a cage outdoors.
Such was the fate of three gentle felines in Flemington. When concerned neighbors spotted the caged cats during the coldest days of winter, they contacted animal control officer Nathaniel Barson, who found the cats living in unsanitary conditions, and lacking adequate shelter from the cold in their metal cages.
While the cats’ caretaker was well-meaning, stating that she’d caged them to prevent them from reproducing, the felines were in a perilous position. With their caretaker’s grateful assent and Barson’s assistance, the shivering “catsicles” found refuge at Tabby’s Place, a cage-free, no-kill cat sanctuary in Ringoes.
Immediately upon arrival at Tabby’s Place, the three lovely ladies – Helga, Ursula and Darla – showed their thanks with ample affection. When Darla, a plus-sized calico, was placed on a soft blanket, she responded with incredulous delight, poking it with her paws and rolling in rapture. It would appear that the gentle feline had never experienced such a sweet sensation.
Following a standard three-week quarantine period at Tabby’s Place, during which they were spayed, microchipped, and treated for parasites and infections, the now-healthy felines became available for adoption. Gregarious tabby Helga was adopted almost immediately, and Darla is awaiting her forever home with Tabby’s Place rescue partner Lambertville Animal Welfare. Petite torbie Ursula is at Tabby’s Place awaiting her forever home.
If you are interested in adopting Ursula, learning more about Tabby’s Place, or finding opportunities to help cats through donations or volunteering, please visit www.tabbysplace.org.

