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Taylor Anderson is a student at Endicott College studying journalism. This story was produced for the Massachusetts News Service of Endicott College in partnership with Winchester News.
Winchester native Ali Lowell is seeking to introduce the world to the “purr-fect” companion.
She should know. She’s been trapping, socializing and adopting out cats in the area for two decades.
Lowell — known to many locals as a cat whisperer — has been a massage therapist, nurse, cat mom, and cat rehabilitator. A recent visit to her remarkable home, which houses 15 cats — eight of which are her own — highlights why her reputation is well-deserved.
A nurse for over 15 years and current massage therapist, Lowell is familiar with hectic schedules and tricky patients. Her volunteer work through the Woburn Feral Cat Coalition and countless hours trapping furry friends in Malden are driven by the goal of getting cats off the street.
The Coalition, led by Lori Riccio, prioritizes helping “stray, feral and abandoned cats left on the streets.”
“Each case is different and often has the need to either humanely trap the cats or to make arrangements to pick up [the] cat from [the] resident or finder,” said Riccio. “We spend many hours weekly responding to calls and as a volunteer based rescue we often have to work to resolve issues after work or on weekends.”
The rescue process also includes spaying, neutering, vaccinating, and occasionally combo testing for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV).
“Trapping is a long process,” Lowell says.
And, it’s not a cheap one.
Ring cameras placed at both ends of traps that Lowell sets have proven to be the most accurate and tech-savvy solution for the challenges volunteers face acquiring the cats.
To offset the cost of food and medical supplies for the cats, Lowell sells handmade blankets to the large community she has curated on Facebook. She also occasionally runs “auctions” for cat care packages, which include hot ticketed items like new cat carriers, toys, and Costco-sized bags of food and litter.
These auctions and blankets work well, as she said the support of her followers is what plays a large role in her field.
“It takes a village,” Lowell said, crediting her supporters for playing a large role in her work.
A recent addition to Lowell’s foster clan is Fuzzy Dice, a friendly, outgoing 8-year-old cat who loves to chat, and enjoys chin scratches while lying belly up.
Fuzzy’s black and white whiskers give him the appearance of having salt-and-pepper wisdom, but his energy levels reflect those of a kitten.
Fuzzy lives with FIV but requires no special accommodations, dispelling a common misconception about cats labeled as “special needs.”
Although Fuzzy shows no aggression towards his current roommates, he is considered “too rambunctious” to live with other cats permanently. Lowell believes that a cat-savvy, experienced owner in an adult-exclusive home would be ideal for Fuzzy.
Similar to most cats, Fuzzy is food-motivated and could be easily convinced of a lot of things, in exchange for a Churu lickable treat.
“We really do wanna find good homes for them,” Lowell says.
Lowell’s dedication is evident in her social media presence, says Riccio.
“Ali is one of our dedicated volunteers,” Riccio says. “She has spent many years helping cats and has the experience which makes her an important resource when we receive calls for help.
“Her expertise has been greatly beneficial to our rescue group,” she adds.
The Woburn Feral Cat Coalition is seeking qualified volunteers to help with fostering, fundraising and responding to calls for help. They also accept donations of food, supplies, and financial support.
As of February, Fuzzy has no potential adopters. Interested parties can contact Lowell via Facebook or through the Woburn Feral Cat Coalition.
