Finding a furry friend at the library
Hilary and Bob Brich of American Canyon were among the cat lovers who stopped by American Canyon Library’s first cat adoption on Saturday to look for a new furry friend – or two.
In no time, the couple found two kittens, a brother and a sister with great personalities.
“We fell in love,” said Hillary Brich, as she filled out the adoption forms while one of the kittens played with her husband’s shoe laces inside a pen set up as a meet-and-greet space.
In all, 16 kittens were adopted during Saturday’s three-hour event, according to the Napa County Shelter, which organized the event in collaboration with Napa County Library staff. The Napa County Animal Shelter and Adoption Center personnel transported 27 kittens to Saturday’s event.
The shelter waived the adoption fee, typically $130. Kittens were spayed, neutered, microchipped and vaccinated.
“It’s a good bargain,” said Kellie Demma, community programs director. The kittens must be at least eight weeks old and weigh at least 2 pounds in order to be adopted. Families could adopt up to two kittens.
The shelter has had two adoption events at Napa’s downtown library over the past two years. Saturday’s event was set up for those who could not make it to the Napa events.
People from Napa seeking feline friends came to the event as well as American Canyon residents. Sally Long, of Napa, wanted to adopt a companion for her cat. Her other cat disappeared recently. “She was a doll,” she said.
Tamra Fox, of Napa, adopted 7-month old Renesmee, the oldest cat available at Saturday’s event. Fox lost her 19-year-old cat, Hampton, two months ago.
“It’s feels good,” Fox said after completing her new cat’s adoption paperwork. Her son told her about the event, she said.
Renesmee will have a sibling, Stella, the border terrier mix Fox adopted a few years ago.
“I’m really excited,” Fox said, as she left the library, Renesmee in her carrier.
Bronwen Johnson came with daughter, Josie, 17, and William, 21.
“We’re getting this little, beautiful, sweet little girl there,” Johnson said, pointing to an orange kitten found in Browns Valley in Napa.
She came with the idea to adopt for a little orange kitten. “And there she is,” Johnson said. “I feel it was a little blessing.”
They may have gone home with a second kitten. As Johnson spoke her daughter was playing with another kitten.
Jan Kim, a volunteer at the event, was thrilled to see 9-week-old Poppy, and her sibling, Parker, adopted on Saturday. She had fostered the pair for about a month, she said. The kittens were rescued in Browns Valley.
Hilary Brich, a yoga teacher, and her husband, did not have names yet for their new kittens. They planned to pick up them up this week in Napa once the female kitten is spayed. In the meantime, they’ll prepare everything to welcome them at home.
The shelter may have another cat adoption event at the American Canyon library, but this might not be until 2026, Demma said.
Kitten season is typically March to October, Demma said. That’s why adoptions events typically take place during summer. In the meantime, the shelter maintains a room mostly full of adoptable kittens.
Dog adoption events continue to take place at the shelter in Napa as well. For more information, visit www.countyofnapa.org/1023/Animal-Shelter.
