Stray Kitten Home for the Holidays

Lisa Scotppetuolo, pet technician at Purr’n Pooch Pet Resorts in Tinton Falls, NJ, discussed the idea with her boyfriend of adopting a cat for months. She was just waiting for the “right” time. But one little miracle kitten had plans of her own for winning over Lisa and going home for the holidays.
The playful, cocoa brown and gray kitten was only a few months old when Purr’n Pooch Foundation for Animals’ Committee Member Ellen Garfunkle found her limping and unable to get around as easily as the other cats in a neighborhood colony. Ellen knew life would be short for any kitty trying to survive in the wild this winter in good health, never mind this little one with special needs.
Ellen scooped up the kitten and brought her to Purr’n Pooch’s Dick Palazzo for guidance. Dick had found a helping hand in Dr. Rachel Gordon of South Branch Veterinary Services who started to help treat the kitten’s medical condition.
Following treatment, Dick fostered the cat and soon everyone at Purr’n Pooch had fallen in love with her. After spending only a few days caring for and playing with the kitten, Lisa knew she was a great fit for her home and this December she became a permanent member of Scotppetuolo family.
Lisa recently discovered that Twinkie loves tricks (and treats). Just in time for holiday entertaining, too!
She trained Twinkie with many of the same techniques used in Purr’n Pooch’s dog training classes. Nothing stops her now as she works with her mom on tricks like sit, twirl, lie down, high five and give kisses. See Twinkie do her tricks in this YouTube video. We can’t wait to see her continued progress and who knows maybe Twinkie will be YouTube’s next celebrity cat!
Twinkie has defied the odds and will spend the holiday home, warm and loved, with her new family snug as a bug in a Christmas stocking.
Unlike Twinkie, many feral and stray cats won’t survive the winter without medical care, food and shelter. Special individuals like Ellen Garfunkle and Purr’n Pooch Foundation for Animals’ grantees like All Fur Rescue and Cat Assistance Network care for cat colonies and run trap-neuter-return programs that are key to combatting cat over-population.
The Purr’n Pooch Foundation for Animals awards annual grants to non-profit, no-kill animal and marine mammal rescue and welfare organizations to be used for day-to-day operations, emergency relief, spay/neuter efforts, veterinary care, equipment, construction, vehicle purchases, educational programs and special projects. Learn more about our grant recipients. >
The Foundation raises funds for our grantees through special events organized for all ages, people and pets. Events include our canine run/walk, dog-friendly gala, summer party and collection drives. One of our highly-anticipated events is the Foundation Grantee Breakfast, where unsung heroes from the charities we fund join us for a morning of friendship and celebration as we present them with their grants.
Please consider making a donation to the Purr’n Pooch Foundation for Animals and make a difference in the lives of feral and stray cats today by supporting the work of our grantees.
For resources on outdoor cats check out these links:
Humane Society: Learn about the outdoor cats—community (feral and stray) and owned cats—you see outside in your community
Alley Cat Allies: Colony Care Guide 
Volunteer for All Fur Love Rescue