Rocco and others need foster homes. City Kitties has put a call out for folks who want to provide a foster home (or a permanent home of course) for cats displaced by fire at the Windermere Court Apartments and, more recently, the fire at 45th and Walnut. Because of the notoriety they have gained during the fires, City Kitties is experiencing a surge in the number of adoptable cats. They desperately need places for them to stay, at least temporarily. Even Rocco, who made it out earlier this week, needs a temporary home.

City Kitties has a list of criteria that would make a good foster home as well as applications here.

These two are missing after the fire on Thursday at 45th and Walnut:

“…a relative of mine was living in one of the apartments that was destroyed by the fire at 45th and Walnut. She is alright, but her two cats are lost. She wasn’t in the building when the fire was happening, so she didn’t manage to get the cats out, but she is still hoping that they escaped somehow. They are gray cats Lily and Fog and- Lily is a long-haired female and Fog is a shorthair male. If people could keep their eyes out for them, their owner and I would greatly appreciate it.” 

The owner writes:

Andy is a white, red-nosed male pitbull with brown spots like a cow. He is lean, medium-sized (about 60 lbs), a year old, and has light brown eyes. He was last seen at 50th and Hazel running north down 50th, near Malcom X Park. He is wearing a red collar, responds to his name and is sweet as pie. I am offering $150 reward to anyone who finds him. If you have any information at all my number is (267) 496-5090.

The West Philly-based feline rescue group City Kitties announced this morning that it will stop attempting to rescue cats that may still be inside the Windermere Court building because it is becoming more structurally unstable.

The group wrote on its Facebook page this morning:

Our trapping efforts inside the Windermere are over. The building is deteriorating, & we had to weigh the safety of the humans involved against the possibility of finding more cats. None of the 5 traps had any food eaten out of them or paw prints inside. We feel confident that no cats remain inside. Doors & some windows are open; cats DO have an opportunity to escape.

City Kitties has a page that lists the cats, including photos, that are still missing at the Windermere.

ABC6 has a story about a parishioner at the Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral (3723 Chestnut St.) who has leveraged the savings from clipping coupons to help fund the church’s community outreach efforts.

Here it is:

Rocco (Photo from City Kitties Facebook page)

If you have been following the saga of Rocco, a cat stranded in the Windermere Court Apartments, you will be happy to know that City Kitties is reporting that he has made it out. The orange tabby was rescued this morning.

Meanwhile, City Paper is reporting today that Windermere residents who have been waiting outside the building for access to some of their belongings are worried that the ice, which may have helped keep the floors and ceilings stable, is beginning to melt in the warm weather. The melting may affect the ability of demolition crews to salvage more belongings.

The demolition of the building has been put on hold indefinitely. The Department of Licenses and Inspection has said that the decision to demolish the building rests with the owners, who have not been available for comment.