Peininsula Feline’s Felicitous Friend
by Robb Fulcher Rufus, a large, orange and white feral cat, showed up in a Palos Verdes back yard 11 years ago. The angels were with him that day – the yard belongs to Donna Ciminera, whose efforts have led to the rescue of many thousands of cats living rough and deadly dangerous lives on the streets. Ciminera, who is the guiding light of the Pet Protectors League, began feeding Rufus. She also wanted to have him neutered, to prevent the creation of more baby strays. It took a patient month to lure him into a cage that is used to trap feral animals, by placing food inside of it. Eventually he was trapped, neutered and returned to the yard. As time passed, Rufus ventured onto the patio more and more, to gaze in at other cats inside the house. Ciminera wanted to move him inside, and this time it took a year and-a-half to trap him again. He stayed first in Ciminera’s office room. Six months passed before she could pick him up. Now he’s 15 years old, “a big, macho cat” and “a real sweetheart.” Ciminera, 82, and her all-volunteer organization placed 138 cats and kittens for adoption last year, and returned 57 feral cats to the outdoors after they were spayed or neutered. “And we’re…
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