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| Sarah Donner with a kitty. This would have been a fun photoshoot. |
Sarah Donner is a self-described indie folk-pop star, web celebrity (especially after this clip of her singing to a sleepy kitten went viral) and, unlike many pop stars, spends much of her time hand rearing and saving cats.
Tell us a bit about yourself. How did you become an
indie folk-pop star?
Honestly, I just wrote it down in my bio. People
often want a label to define what you sound like before they have heard, and I
feel like I am an amalgamation. Too bad cat lady isn't a musical genre!
Not many rock stars foster kittens between tours.
How many kittens have you fostered and why do you keep coming back to it?
OY I stopped counting after 200 a few years ago. It
was more like the kittens kept coming back to ME for many years. The feral
population behind my apartment was out of control, only until this past year.
My TNR efforts put a stop to population growth, and this was the first year I
saw zero kittens coming to my stoop for food. I love being part of the
transformation from a scared, angry, dirty kitten to a playful, friendly,
fluffykins. I started fostering for a local rescue once I ran out of neighbourhood
kittens. There is a never ending supply of kittens who need nurturing before
they can be adopted, and I take great joy in being part of that.
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| Kittens have a way of multiplying... |
People often thing the worst part is having to say
goodbye when they are adopted, but that is absolutely not the case for me. The
biggest heartache comes from the illnesses that sweep in and quickly cause
kittens to take a turn for the worst. They are so delicate, and when one
becomes ill I am in a constant state of stress, doing all that I can to bring
them back. I've been doing this for many years, and last year I lost more
kittens in my arms than all my previous years combined. It was a nightmare of
heartache and tragedy.
Can you tell us a little about the non-humans in
your life?
I have five in my permanent collection. Dunkin, 10,
fondly known as Douchecat, is a giant white and black male who enjoys lying on
the bed and squishing between my husband and me at night. Shosha is 9, a
grey/white gumdrop shaped tabby who likes peanut butter and hates all kittens.
Rory, 8, is a beautiful brown tabby princess. She is very vocal, hates being
held, and completely useless unless you have an infestation of cicadas. Puma
Bean Jackson, 5, is my big black ninja boy. He followed me around in a parking
lot at a rest stop in CT years ago, and I never let him go. Finally, Ni is my 1
year old baby. She's been climbing up my legs since she was a few ounces so
that I would hold her. She clucks a bit like a chicken when she wants to play
with the laser pointer. Believe it or not, they all get on fairly well!
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| ...and hogging the limelight. |
Your first album was called Reluctant Cat Lady, yet
you’ve embraced your inner cat lady. What changed?
That came out the first year I started caring for
the locals. It was really out of control how many cats began to come when they
heard the sound of kibble hitting the bowl. I knew a few stereotypical crazy
cat people. I knew how they looked. I knew how they smelled. I did not want to
go down that route. I think things changed when I was really successful at
fostering and finding homes for the little ones. It seemed like people really
responded when I began to share what I was doing, so I just went with it. Those
critters have served me well, in spite of themselves.
Do you ever cop any flak for this and how do you
respond?
Nope, never. Sometimes people apologize for being
dog people, but I don't begrudge anyone who cares for an animal. Cats just
happened to be the ones in need outside my door. I'd be the crazy iguana lady
if they were pulling out bagels from my trashcan!
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| Sarah D is multitalented. |
I saw firsthand how it can put a dent in the growth
of a feral population. It is the most humane way to put the brakes on cats gone
wild.
[NB SAT acknowledges that TNR is controversial, with advantages as well as disadvantages. It is a topic we will explore in a later post.]
How else do you advocate for animals?
I encourage potential pet owners to adopt from
rescues. I don't eat meat or pork. Someday soon I will give up chicken and
fish, but I need to learn how to cook better first!
How have cats changed you as a person?
I have always had animals in my life, so I'm not
sure they changed me. I do think they've formed me into a kinder, more
empathetic human being. I am extremely sensitive towards animals. I can't watch
a movie or TV show where an animal is being mistreated. My heart is on my
sleeve so I easily sense pain and sadness, but the flip side is that I also
easily sense joy and happiness.
Any advice for veterinary students or future vets?
To me that seems like a difficult road, and I
imagine you need a strong support network to get through it. I've been
fortunate to have some great vets work help me out in hard times. I think it's
important to be an advocate for the animal, but also be able to equip the owner
with all the knowledge and tools so they don't feel helpless when a cat is very
ill. It's been a great comfort to lean on the little things I can do when a
life is ending.
Its not every day that a world famous star donates their time to SAT. Thanks Sarah for sharing with us!
