Helping our Neighbors in Little Havana

Elegance on the sidewalk of Little Havana

While we continue to care for our Riverfront Cats, we have our eyes and ears open for cases nearby where we can make a difference. Right next door to downtown Miami is Little Havana. 

This humble neighborhood is home not only to Cuban and Central American families, but also home to scores of stray roosters, chickens, and cats. Believe it or not they coexist! Why? Well because they are all fed daily by a local volunteer. With a regular food source, the cats have no desire to chase the chickens like prey. If anything, the roosters attack the cats! Truly! Why? Well because the roosters prefer cat food to rice and grains. haha!

Christine works in the area and meets a local woman, named Tamara, who feeds not only the cats and chickens and roosters but also the pigeons and squirrels daily. Tamara is their guardian angel. 

Tamara pets Angel (May 2019), a very sweet but sick stray kitty

Sadly this incredibly sweet kitty passed away in 2020

Free roaming hen and chick on Cuban Memorial Blvd

As informed residents we know the sad reality of what may happen. One day Tamara shared some sad stories of a local resident poisoning the cats. Christine explained the importance of having the cats spayed and neutered to stop reproducing and therefore stop the suffering. 

FACT: Half of all stray kittens suffer and die before age 8 weeks

Tamara, like many local residents, has little to no income for these extra costs. So we sounded the alarm for volunteers to trap the cats and take them to an animal clinic for spaying and neutering, especially the kittens once they were old enough. 

(Left) male cat or Tom cat    (Right) female cat -her name is Leslie

Feeding so many (over 20+) is another big cost.  So, we readily donated bags of food and cans of high-quality cat food and kitten food.  

Kitty smells cat food in blue bag donated by our nonprofit organization

We want to continue to help Tamara with this major feat. She is the only person who feeds the 20+ cats and 50+ roosters/chickens and baby chicks, spanning several blocks. She currently is unemployed.  

It really takes a village, everyone contributing what they can: cat food, time to feed, fundraising, taking cats to vet clinic...

Please consider making a donation to help provide food and spay/neutering for these sweet cats. Any amount is appreciated whether it's $5, $25, $50, $500.

Click on DONATE button on right column. If viewing from a cell phone, please switch to website view.

Or you can send funds via PayPal to info@pawsitivelyhumane.org. 

We are a 501c3 organization for tax purposes. 

ARE THESE CATS ADOPTABLE?

While we do not know the entire history of these cats, most have lived outdoors. Some may not adapt to living indoors right away and some may prefer an indoor/outdoor access. If you think you would like to adopt one of these cats we could try on a trial basis. Our team will offer guidance on what to do and what to expect or not expect.  Anyone interested in adopting or fostering must fill out an application and show driver's license. A home check (we visit your home) will be conducted to ensure you home is "cat safe" much like baby-proofing your home. 

If you would like to foster or adopt a cat, please contact us at riverfrontcats@yahoo.com

A Poetic Plea for Help for Tangerine, the orange cat

 

     Tangerine       

Under the steely frame of an old trailer, in the quietude of a horse barn, where the sun's rays filtered through the cracks, there existed an orange cat (later named Tangerine). His fur, once vibrant, now bore the scars of countless days spent beneath the forsaken trailer. For years, he had navigated the narrow space between rusted wheels and forgotten dreams. 

Then one day the bustling trailer of workers was emptied, with news of permanent closure of the racetrack. Tangerine clung to the edges of existence. He watched as his fellow cats vanished, ensnared in a mass trapping operation. The world outside shifted, and the trailer's fate hung in the balance. Demolition loomed like a specter, threatening to erase the last vestiges of warmth and safety. 

Yet fate, in its enigmatic dance, left Tangerine behind with several other cats. Perhaps it was his quiet demeanor or the way he blended into the shadows. Regardless, he remained—a silent witness to abandonment and loss. 

But Jose, a man with calloused hands and a heart as wide as the open sky tended to the cats, even after the stable's demise. Every night, he slipped through the gates, a beacon of compassion in the moonlight.

But life, ever unpredictable, snatched Jose away. A tragic accident silenced his footsteps. Upon hearing the news, a local dedicated animal volunteer, Sharlene, became the keeper of the flame. She fed the lone cat, hoping to find others left behind. Soon Tangerine and his (possible) siblings learned to crawl under the fence, over an open sewer drain. Each day, they inched closer to their new feeding schedule, their hunger mingling with grief. 

And so, under the green fence, they gathered. Tangerine, the quiet but brave soul, led the way. His paws danced with anticipation as Sharlene approached, a silent promise passing between them. They would survive this together. 

Relentless in its tests, life threw a cruel twist. Last month's cold front left Tangerine sneezy, a delicate tremor in his frame. Sharlene watched, helpless, as he stumbled, unable to maintain balance. She knew she had to act swiftly. 

We come before you, as humble advocates for Tangerine's survival. His rough, sad life has etched lines upon his face, but hope still flickers in those fervent eyes. We don't know the battles he's fought, the frostbitten nights he's endured. Yet, we can change his story. 

This fundraiser is our lifeline. With your help, we can lift Tangerine from the shadows, cradle him in warmth, and heal his fragile body. Perhaps, in a new space—a sun-dappled windowsill or a cozy hearth—he will find solace. No more rusty trailers, no more hunger gnawing at his insides. 

So, let us weave a different ending. Let Tangerine's tale be one of resilience, compassion, and second chances. Donate, share, and spread the word. For every dollar given, we inch closer to a miracle—a life reclaimed, a heart rekindled.

Remember no amount is too small. $20, $15 or even $10 from many contributors can make a difference.  

UPDATE Feb 23, 2024: Tangerine has taken a turn for the worse. He was diagnosed with FIP. A new fundraiser is in effect.

UPDATE Aug 14, 2022: Tangerine is doing better and is a fighter and they are currently trying different medications.  The vet bill has amassed to $3500 but only $2000 was raised.

For tax-deductible donation please click this link and please specify "TANGERINE" in the notes. Riverfront Cats is part of Pawsitively Humane, Inc. a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Or you can donate directly to the GoFundMe fundraiser click here.