WEST MILFORD — While the day after Thanksgiving has come to be known as Black Friday, a day of big sales and long lines, at the West Milford Animal Shelter the day after Thanksgiving is known as “Black CAT Friday,” the day - and weekend - the shelter features its black and mostly-black cats in need of homes. Black cats are often the last to be adopted, so this day is important for them. Here to tell our Messenger readers about it is one of the shelter's long-time residents, Chatters.
WMASS Volunteer: Hi, Chatters! How long have you been living here at the West Milford Animal Shelter?
Chatters: In human years or cat years?
WV: Um…human years?
Chatters: I don’t know. I cannot count. I am a cat.
WV: Oh…of course! Well, let’s talk about Black Cat Friday. The first thing I noticed is that you are not all-black or mostly-black, just kind of almost half...how did you become the official BCF spokescat?
Chatters: Because I am tired of being here and I demand to be included so I can get a home!
WV: Gotcha. Well, someone told me there are 23 black cats…and you…can you tell us about some of them?
Chatters: Sure. Oxy is one. She is in the cattery with me, which I feel should be called “The Chattery.” She came in with her three kittens this summer, but the kittens were all adopted and she was not. I feel bad that she is still here. Mostly because she keeps taking my favorite spot on the cat tree.
WV: Okay, any others you can tell us about?
Chatters: There are lots of others and they all have stories and all deserve homes. Like Chelsea. She has been here the longest of all. I think like 87 years! But she is very nice and I think she is pretty. And Dahlia has been here as long as I have but she hates it here and is very sad. The Breakfast Club Kittens are a lot of fun and really liven up the Chattery. Blackie, Rover and Lola are big black cats, even bigger than me. Yonkers has long hair and loves to be brushed. There are a lot of kittens. I love the kittens. Betty and Veronica are sisters. Sparky is a sad little one who doesn’t seem to like it here and is scared. Small, Salt, Aruba and Bobbie are still young but growing up fast here. Kyle and Kurtis are tuxedo brothers who have been here longer than me and like to make fun of each other. Billie is fun and she looks exactly like Kyle. Alice loves belly rubs and she is paired with her sister Betty (who is grey.) Wanda is a black cat who loves her best friend Cadet so they also need a home together. Boots is a new guy and everyone loves him already. And then there’s me, Chatters, of course I am the best of all!
WV: Thanks, Chatters. Anything else you want to tell us?
Chatters: Yes. Please come and see us on Black Cat Friday, and take a cat home, any cat, before the holidays. Especially if it’s me.
This special event starts Friday, Nov. 23, and ends Sunday, Nov. 25. Every black or black and white cat or kitten that is adopted comes with a special black cat t-shirt. For information call 973-728-2859 or visit www.westmilfordanimalshelter.org or follow Chatters and the other cats on facebook/TheRealCatsAtWMASS. Learn about all the cats waiting for new homes and families.
The shelter is located on Lycosky Drive (behind the recycling center). If you can’t adopt but would like to help, donations can be made on the shelter’s Web site with PayPal. There is also a list of items that the shelter is in need of.