Document text
Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend October 22, 2005 Anna Mantheakis, 18, of Medford poses with the Pawsing for Art cat called �Magellan�s Catographer� on display at Terra Firm in Jacksonville. The figurine is one of 18 that will be auctioned Sunday to raise funds for CATS, the Committed Alliance to Strays Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Big cats will go for CATS Pawsing for Art auction will help the rescue organization By BUFFY POLLOCK for the Mail Tribune MEDFORD — After more than 15 years of finding homes for adoptable stray cats, staff and volunteers of the Committed Alliance to Strays (CATS) will try their hand at auctioning off some oversized felines at a special event on Sunday. At 39 inches tall, the cats are a bit larger than most, said CATS director Jan Whetstone; however, they don’t weigh as much as they look, and won’t require a litter box or feeding. Part of CATS’ first "Pawsing for Art," the 18 felines to hit the auction block at Sunday’s event are made of Fiberglas. In addition to finding families for the 18 critters, CATS Director Jan Whetstone hopes to bring in some much-needed funding for the Medford rescue organization. Created this spring, the cats have been on display for some two months in Rogue Valley businesses — an exhibit similar to the well-known "Cows on Parade" in Chicago and the display of bears in Grants Pass. Whetstone and board President Susan Binette stumbled onto the idea at the same time, though separately. Advertisement "She was in Chicago reading an article about this company, Cowpainters, who made the cows that they painted in Chicago," Whetstone said. "She called to tell me about them, but before she could, I said, ‘I have something really cool I want to tell you.’ " After getting the 18 statues from the Chicago-based figurine provider, CATS staff and volunteers set out to recruit local artists, business sponsors and, what they’re most skilled at, temporary homes for all the felines. "We’re used to finding homes for cats, but this was more of a challenge," said Whetstone with a laugh. Whetstones said the project has made for some memorable moments, including unloading a semitrailer full of "cats" in 90-degree heat this spring and strapping them by seatbelt into cars for delivery to their temporary homes. The cats are designed in a range of themes, from a cat-turned-catapult dubbed "Double Barrel ‘Cat’apult" and "Roxy the Red Hat Cat" to a worldly, map-covered "Magellan’s Catographer" at Jacksonville’s Terra Firma. Molly Reed Gifts and Interiors owner Eric Maxwell said there were times the cat he "fostered" for more than a month, a regal-looking Egyptian dubbed "Queen of the Nile," received more attention than the shop’s merchandise. The cat and its air of self-importance, were even the focus of a dozen or so impromptu photo shoots. "It’s been really fun to have it in here. We had a lot of people come in to take a look and get pictures," said Maxwell. "We probably had 100 people come by just to see the cat. "I felt very left out. ... I guess that’s OK. My wife loves our dog so much I know what its like to be up against an animal." Board President Susan Binette said the exhibit is already in high demand for a repeat next year. Binette said the fund-raiser would not have been possible without business sponsors, local artists and community support. Lithia Motors clear-coated the 18 cats and Charter Communications provided commercial assistance, Binette said. Since it receives no public funding, only donations, the CATS shelter on Ross Lane can use all the help it can get. "We really hope to do this every year — for it to become sort of our signature event," Binette said. "We think this was a really good thing for both raising money for CATS and for raising awareness about what we do ... and everyone seemed to really enjoy having these giant cats all over the place." Pawsing auction Sunday’s auction of 18 cat figurines to benefit CATS will be from 2 to 4 p.m. at Medford Air Service, 4002 Cirrus Drive, off Biddle Road. Refreshments and hors d’oeuvres will be catered by the Jacksonville Inn. Tickets are $10 at the door. To view the cats online, visit www.kittensandcats.org and click on the Pawsing for Art link on the left. Buffy Pollock is a free-lance writer living in Medford. E-mail her at [email protected]. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Student Loans Online Pharmacy tcg student loan consolidation Online Casino Reviews Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Discount Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Casino Gambling Sites Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Salvia Divinorum Advertisement s