Food for thought
Honestly, if I scratch my head for much longer, I will have a bald spot over my right ear, like an ancient cat that’s been in the wars. Why am I scratching my head? Money, figures, budgets, the bane of every not for profit’s existence.
Here at Villa Kitty, as in many places across the globe, our minds are spinning at the spiralling cost of everything. Especially food. There are one or two places in which we can tighten belts and shave expenses, but food is not one of them. Villa Kitty’s residents are humble in their needs and grateful for their keep. We ensure the food we buy is nutritious and not full of the fillers often found in cat food. We know firsthand what cheap and shoddy food does to a cat’s digestive and urinary systems. We make informed decisions that result in healthier bodies and less need for remedial veterinary care.
Here's the thing. It costs AUD$1.25 per day to feed a Villa Kitty cat. That’s AUD$456.26 per year for each cat and kitten. Given that we are currently feeding 423 felines, that comes to a whopping AUD$192,997.98 annually. Did you gasp when you read that? And that doesn’t include the costs for the 47 dogs and puppies who do such a sterling job of guarding Villa Kitty and maintaining a consistent level of frenzied activity. Just to be clear, those figures equate to USD$0.86, USD$314.77 and USD$133,110.63 respectively.
It's a lot of money. And remember, this is for the most basic of needs: food. The only way in which this expense could be reduced is for Villa Kitty to have fewer residents and I simply cannot see how this can happen at this point in time. Six months ago, when we had a roll call of 357 cats and kittens, I would not have believed that in August our tally would climb over 400.
Why has it happened? A large part of the reason stems from the return of international tourists to the island of Bali. They are filling the guesthouses and hotels, visiting the markets, exploring the temples and frequenting cafes and bars. Everywhere they go, cats and kittens are visible, often in desperate need of care. Unlike locals who seem able to block out the cries and suffering, many travellers cannot turn a blind eye. Villa Kitty’s name is widely known, and alternative options don’t exist, so our doors and hearts open and room is found for just one, or three, or six more. Our adoptions cannot keep pace with the rate of arrivals and while our sterilisation program operates to its fullest capability, it simply doesn’t penetrate far enough into the community to have a significant impact on numbers.
Sadly too often people are adopting out kittens privately who are not vaccinated or sterilised and the whole sad issue continues. Not until our island wide program is in place will this stop. This, of course, is another story… you’ve heard it before and you know we do this without charge, but for now, our focus is food.
And so, once more, we turn to you. Could you feed a Villa Kitty cat or kitten for one year? Your money fills a bowl with good quality, nutritious and healthy food and clean water. Remember, these are animals who have often had a perilous start in life and consequent ailments resulting from starvation and malnutrition.
We all look forward to a nourishing, tasty meal. These beautiful cats and kittens deserve no less. Please, don’t let our Villa Kitty family go hungry. Feed for a year, feed for a month, feed for six months. It’s up to you. And thank you. Your support means everything.
Please make an urgent donate now!
Thank you,
Elizabeth Henzell
Founder
Villa Kitty Foundation