WESTPORT CAT COLONY
The coastal hamlet of Westport is a well known destination for clammers, fishermen, kite flyers and… cat colony fanciers?! Well this one at least!
For me, no trip to Westport is complete without a visit to the abandoned cat colony on the northern most tip of town to try and spy one of the few dozen felines dwelling within the vast seawall.
THE GREAT CATWALL
Stretching from Lost Sailor’s Memorial at the east end of Neddie Rose Drive to the Observation Tower in the west, the north seawall is home to “The Jetty Cats”.
The majority of the Jetty Cats seem to reside near the east end, closer to Lost Sailor’s memorial and the public fishing docks. There is ample parking here as well. Oh, and while you’re visitin’ the sea kittens…
The sea wall can also be a productive place to do some fishing when the tide is nice and high. Rock crabs can be abundant as well, but it can be real easy to lose your gear in the rocks…
PROTIP: The Jetty Cats can be pretty secretive, so a sighting isn’t always a guarantee, especially if you’re flailing around and yammering on. Be silent and be gentle and your chances to see one will improve.
CARING FOR THE JETTY CATS
Spaced along portions of the wall are feeding stations built and maintained by volunteer efforts.
Basically they’re little cat cafés on poles, each with a metallic anti-raccoon cone keeping unwanted guests from the kitty vittles.
Sadly, all of the colony inhabitants are abandoned pets, some of them will still even approach trusted people. A volunteer capture and spay/neuter program prevents unchecked breeding at the colony.
If you are interested in learning more or about making donations, contact the Harbor Association of Volunteers for Animals at (360) 942-4716 or write:
H.A.V.A, P.O.Box 243, Raymond, WA 98577
http://www.hava-heart.org
MOTORIN’
From the I-5: At Olympia head west on the US101. Bear left onto state Route 8, which becomes the HWY 12 as you continue towards Aberdeen. Once at Aberdeen, head south on the state route 105 which will take you all the way to Westport, follow it north through town to the Sea Kitten’s Lair.
HAPPY TRAILS!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Harry Biped is a life long northwesterner, outdoor adventure maven, cat lover, gardener, musician and antique store junky. He currently works as a garbageman in Seattle, WA and writes when he gets a few spare minutes.
Love this story! Love the cat cover, jetty,or colony. What ever you call it, it’s a beautiful lovely place.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful story ?????????????????
In a perfect world all cats have a warm lap, plenty of food and a snug bed to sleep on and a friendly hand to pat and offer a gentle caress. Until then it’s good to hear when humans make the effort to restore the balance. Cheers,H
Kudos to the volunteers. A good story well told.
This side of the Atlantic (where a north-westerner would be from Manchester, maybe) Westport isn’t well know at all – but it looks like a good place to visit. I thought at the start this would be about an abandoned [cat colony], a cat colony that had been abandoned, but it was much more positive. Wonders of the English language!
Bless those volunteers for the efforts to sustain the jetty cats!
good to know.
We take care of feral cat colonies. Where can we find plans for the coonless cat feeders.
I had read a post a few weeks ago from another blogger about this colony. They said the city was trying to capture and potentially “get rid” of all of the cats. I signed an online petition to keep it as is, and do the spay, neuter, and return policy. As long as they aren’t causing any problems and the colony population is kept in check, they should be left there. They are probably providing a service at keeping some of the pests (rats) at bay too.
It took me until the end of this story to realize this is the Westport in my neck of the woods! We make the trip to Westport from the Seattle area at least once a year and I didn’t know about this cat colony. I will definitely stop to see these poor neglected kitties on my next trip to the ocean, to give my love to the ones who aren’t too skittish. I only wish they all had wonderful loving homes! Keep up the good work.
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Now that would be my Happy Place!!! The sea (and hearing the calming crash of the waves and a bunch of kitties!)
I am concerned though how close those feeding stations are to the rocks, especially duringis a storm. (and yes I know the wave can crash quite high when there are jetties around. My aunt and Uncle live in NJ.
Will have to see if I have a few dollars to donate
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I was also thinking this was a Westport in England, but turns out it’s in my neck of the woods. I’ve never heard of the cat colony before, but now I know where I want to go for my next long weekend!
I bet the Jetty Cats are the best fisherman around, too! It is sad that some of them were discarded by humans in the past, but so glad to know that there are volunteers that check on them and care for them now. I am sure the kitties appreciate the cat cafes! Is there an adoption program for the kitties?
I don’t know off hand, but perhaps the volunteers at H.A.V.A might!
I am always happy when vets volunteer to spay and neuter animals. I have personally been a stepmama for a cat named, Phoebe who was left as a tiny kitty at my friend’s farm, dropped from a slow moving car. *tears and sad face! 🙁
So glad you have featured this Washington place and hope this gets lots of donations! 🙂 🙁
Oops, just portraying happy faces in the last part. Marc, can you edit the last sad face? Thank you if you can. . . 🙂
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