WICKER PARK — Are you an animal lover with a spare bedroom in your house?
Consider helping a neighborhood business owner who faces the daunting task of fostering nine different cats in her West Suburbs home — while also working full time in the city.
Jenny Tiner, owner of The Windy Kitty Cat Cafe and Lounge, is fostering nine cats in her home in suburban Burr Ridge while caring for 13 cats in the Wicker Park cafe, 1746 W. North Ave.
The nine cats moved into her home last month after being exposed to ringworm, Tiner said.
“Our biggest need right now is experienced fosters that can possibly take the ringworm symptomatic and ringworm exposed cats and keep them in isolation so I can stay in city and help with Windy Kitty,” Tiner said.
Three pairs of cats are bonded, and would therefore need to be fostered in pairs, Tiner said; six foster homes in total are needed.
The cats at Tiner’s home are living in separate rooms and have either already begun or will soon begin an eight-week ringworm medication.
After the eight weeks end, the cats will return to Windy Kitty.
“This has an end date, which is a really nice thing to hear when people are thinking about fostering,” Tiner said.
Tiner will provide foster parents with ringworm medications and cat food. She advises keeping the foster cat in a room separate from other pets.
Those interested in fostering a cat or a pair of bonded cats can email Tiner at meow@windykittychicago.com.
Despite pleas from neighbors to stay open amid the spread of coronavirus, Tiner said she made the decision to close the cafe.
“It’s been so great to be a source of happiness in the community,” she said. “People are writing us, ‘Can you open for two people at a time?’ We can’t. It means a lot that people want to be there, but we just have to be safe.”
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Even though the cafe is closed for general visits, adoptions can be arranged. Those interested can schedule an adoption appointment.
The Windy Kitty Cat Cafe partners with Friends of Chicago Animal Care and Control, Lovin Life Rescue and Precious Pets Almost Home to facilitate adoptions.
The cafe currently has 13 cats. An additional 40 are on a waitlist.
Each cat costs at least $600 per month to foster at the cafe, while some cost as much as $1,000 per month, Tiner said.
The cafe does not pocket adoption fees. Income is earned from $14 reserved cafe visits ($18 if Kitten Korner is included).
Unable to foster or adopt, but still want to help the Wicker Park kitties?
Donate to the cafe via Venmo (@ChicagoCatChicks) or via PayPal. You can also purchase Windy Kitty swag.
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