Visitors to the Maltese Islands will soon notice the well fed and healthy feral cats in the parks and streets... Wait a minute, stray cats and good looking? ...Well, in our small nation in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, a total of approximately 1'000 individuals take care of -a conservative estimation of- 100'000 feral and abandoned cats. That's how.Our photo-story book «Islands of Cats» highlights twenty of these men and women from all walks of life, whose vital work keeps the cats in top condition by feeding them in steady colony locations, taking them to the vet, and, most importantly, by having them neutered and spayed to control the furry population. Notably covering all costs out of their own pockets.Therefore, some of the proceeds of every book sold will be donated to the stray cat carers. But first we have to fund the costs for translations to Maltese and German, and for printing the first 1'000 hardcovers to have «Islands of Cats» ready for release in May 2016.Help us to help the stray cat carers. Please take a few minutes to review our project presentation on Kickstarter, where our crowdfunding campaign will end on March 9, 2016. Pledge an amount today while your credit card will only be charged on March 10, and if the funding goal has been reached. Alternatively, your direct contribution via Bank Transfer or PayPal is also welcome.Spread our call for funding by forwarding this email to your friends and colleagues, and like and follow us in the social media. Thank you so much for your time and consideration, and stay tuned for more.Read more about how you can contribute in the full newsletter.
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Newsletter #2: Did you know that on Malta and
Gozo, a total of approximately 1'000 persons take care of -a
conservative estimation- 100'000 feral and abandoned cats?
We made the math. Both islands cover a land mass of 316 km² or 122
square miles with a population of 450'000 in our mini-state in 2015.
That's 1'424 inhabitants, or 3,16 persons feeding 316 stray and
abandoned cats - per square kilometer!
In this urban density of one third of the land mass, and the barren
landscape surrounded entirely by the Mediterranean Sea, stray and
abandoned cats have little chances to survive. Lack of food, water,
shelter and the 300'000+ vehicles in the streets (yes, that's true)
would make their lives dangerous and short, if not supported by the many
volunteers our book will to portray.
«Islands of Cats»
highlights these men and women, whose vital work keeps the cats healthy
and fed in permanent locations, and, most importantly, by neutering and
spaying holds the furry population under control.
» click for full text and how you can contribute
» pledges start as low as CHF 10 / EUR 9
There are many books about cats on the market - but no publication has ever been dedicated to the quiet work of stray cat carers in the Maltese Islands.
Probably more than one thousand persons of all walks of life not only keep the many stray cat colonies well-fed, but also provide veterinary support and by neutering keep the population limited. A unique phenomena to Malta and Gozo, these feral cats are in top condition and no burden for the environment and the community. Au contraire, visitors to the tourist centers of the Islands speak in favour of the furry Maltese.
Written by Alexander Johnson and photos/design by Gabriele Ruttloff-Bauer, an interesting photo-story book is on its way portraying the valuable work of these devoted, volunteer stray cat carers. To keep all rights inhouse, this book will be published by Johnson and Ruttloff directly. All carer chapters and accompanying stories are well on its way, translations in Maltese and other languages to be started soon, and last but not least the printing process of Islands of Cats. This doesn't come for free, and Johnson and Ruttloff have started a crowdfunding campaign - to be rewarded by a signed copy.
» Read Islands of Cats Newsletter of Feb 7
» Visit the Funding Campaign on Kickstarter
Your contribution is important, as part of the book's proceeds will be donated to give much needed aid to the carers, who cover all food, veterinary and neutering expenses out of their own pockets.
Thank you very much for your consideration !!
