By Daniel Cholet
Published on
See my news
Shadow monitors the comings and goings from his office. This tabby kitten is the mascot of theParisis free cat school.
Placed on an armchair, she does not miss a crumb of the interview with the president of the association! The “chief secretary”, adopted when she was a kitten, in 2013, returned in 2017. She could not stand the newborn arriving at her home.
Shadow is one of approximately 260 felines that live in Drop point. Five-star enclosures where they live together in harmony. Grassy places, clean and bright, filled with plants, especially trees, with a multitude of places to rest.
Foggers during hot weather
“This summer, with the hot weather, we cooled them with misters. We protected the enclosures from the light with tents and canisses. They held up well! “, highlighted Evelyne Casimir-Millanpresident since 2006 of this association installed in a pavilion of Montigny-lès-Cormeilles (Val-d’Oise).
Passionate and devoted to the cause of cats, the volunteer leader knows the name, history, character and state of health of each of her residents.
Created by Liliane Krauskopffthe association, declared in the sub-prefecture of Argenteuil on March 18, 1992, is a member of the national confederation for the defense of animals (the largest French animal protection network).
She collects (thanks to the trapping done by volunteers) stray cats or litters. Infirmary, quarantine zones: the association operates in a very professional way, without ever losing the human side and the love of animals.
Seven employees
A real company of seven employees. The washing machines are running at full speed: ten 10 kg machines every day!
Dewormed, treated, sterilized, chipped or tattooed, the felines are either kept on site or placed in foster families (about a hundred families), which frees up places and socializes the animal with a view to adoption.
Some go back to where they live. They are “free” cats who live under the protection of volunteers (about a hundred), who feed and watch them. The most fragile, those with sometimes serious pathologies (14 hours of care are needed every day), live peacefully at Point de Chute. Like every summer since 2020, the kittens are more and more numerous.
“It’s catastrophic!” admits Évelyne Casimir-Millan. There are more and more births. We have many who come from Argenteuil and arrive here in a lamentable state. There are 250 sterilizations per year on average. Some municipalities are more sensitive than others to the issue of stray cats. We can do awareness campaigns. »
The multiplication of litters is the consequence of the first confinement. “We will pay for it for years to come”, underlines Évelyne Casimir-Millan. Veterinarians practiced almost no more sterilizations.
The association, which takes in 1,500 cats a year, sterilizes 800 of them. Last year, 700 animals were adopted, including 400 adults. Adopters come from all over Ile-de-France and even from the provinces. “Despite the 100 host families, we are full! “, concludes the president. Adopters are welcome!
Core Volunteers
The association lives thanks to a few hundred volunteers. Those who are in the field feeding and supervising the cats and those who come to the association: daily cleaning, in the morning, of the cat enclosures. Without forgetting the hugs to those who want it!
Major works carried out
Even if the association collects cats from all over the department, only the towns of Montigny-lès-Cormeilles, Saint-Prix and Garges-lès-Gonesse subsidize the structure, which lives on donations. Fortunately, the free cat school was able to benefit from state aid. 144,000 euros as part of the recovery plan, 25,000 euros in aid for sterilization, and 44,000 euros as part of a France recovery plan 2.
State donations
Thus, the association has been able to grow in recent months. Build a room for the adopters, so they can familiarize themselves with the cat or kitten, which can run. Realize a real kitchen, where every day meals are prepared with the necessary care. Redo the roof and the frame. It was not luxury according to the president, who finally plans to create a new place of reception and finalize the Vmc.
“This money has really changed our lives! “.
.
Was this article helpful to you? Note that you can follow La Gazette du Val d’Oise in the My News section. In one click, after registration, you will find all the news of your favorite cities and brands.