Sat 2/15 @ 7PM
Almost five years ago, Blue Arrow Records opened on Waterloo Road.
When owners Pete and Debbie Gulyas moved into the building, they realized that there were lots of feral cats living in the vicinity. As cat lovers, they felt they had to do something. So they started the all-volunteer nonprofit Waterloo Alley Cat Project.
In five years, the organization has had more than 150 cats trapped, neutered and (mostly) released. (Five decided to take up residence in the store, while some of the friendlier ones have been adopted). As a result, new kitten births have virtually disappeared. The volunteers also care for the cats they’ve released, providing food, shelter, and veterinary care.
“We’re not really seeing any new cats,” says Debbie Gulyas. “We’ve talked about expanding our target area, maybe going over another street. We know there are cats all around us. Our big expense is feeding and providing shelter.”
To cover those costs, the Waterloo Alley Cat Project holds its big annual benefit. It’s like the prom for cat lovers. They gather in the Beachland Ballroom to dance to DJs, eat food provided by area restaurant, including a taco bar, bid on silent auction prizes — many donated by local artists, many of them relating to pets — and mostly, to share their love of all things feline.
“Our slide show [which runs on continuous loop throughout the night] is new and improved,” says Gulyas. “We’ve got tons more pictures.”
This year’s fifth annual event will be MC’d by the Ghoul, with music by DJs Party Sweat and Junky Bee. There’ll be raffles and unique cat items for sale including Waterloo Alley Cat’s first-ever calendar with photos of some of the cats they care for.
Among the things they’ll have for sale cat shelters crafted from Styrofoam coolers used to ship medications. They came courtesy of a cat lover at University Hospitals, who thought there could be a better use for them than landfill.
“The walls are three inches thick,” says Gulyas. “We cut cat-sized holes and put straw in them. During that last arctic blast some of our cats were sleeping in those. We’re going to have some fixed up and for sale for $10 at our benefit.”
You should have plenty of money to purchase cat houses and other items, and bid on prizes because the event — and all the food — is free. Once you see the slide show of their kitties, you’ll find it hard to resist the urge to help.
Artwork by Jake Kelly