Cat Lovers Unite for CATnip 5k & Mouse Miler

Walkers enjoying the course. Sarah Ayres and Julie Packard (leading other walker) put paws to pavement for CAT.

Tualatin, July 28th. There were 359 runners and walkers at a popular fundraiser for the Cat Adoption Team. The race raised more than $24,000. The Cat Adoption Team is the largest feline adoption guarantee nonprofit shelter in the Pacific Northwest. It has found homes for more than 28,400 cats since opening in 1998. The CATnip 5k & Mouse Miler is the organization’s largest public fundraising event.

The CATnip 5k steps off with runners and walkers taking part in this USATF twilight event.

The CATnip team of volunteers from Tualatin Petco included Aisha Beck, Noralyn Danielle, Kelly Reese and Karen Duncan.

Here’s a video of some race action:

The event is one of a few twilight run/walks offered; it’s also USATF certified for serious runners. The 5k was completed in 16 minutes this year and the Mouse Miler sprint was pounded out in 5:06 minutes. The CATnip is known for having great participant swag bags, including more than $45 in coupons and gift certificates. Organizers also encourage dogs to participate for the benefit of the homeless kitties.

CAT staffers help out – Pamela and Liz offer participants one of our awesome swag bags.

The CATnip is put on by CAT staff and a small volunteer committee including: Kathy Covey the race director, Jeff Huber the course director and Heather Christensen the donations coordinator.

Closing ceremonies included raffle prizes and awards for fastest finishers – all done in front of the big cat (in orange – Kathy Covey, Race Director; in blue – Aaron Asmus, CAT Executive Director)

The 5k course heads north paralleling the Tualatin river, over the river, enters Durham City Park, does a loop in the Durham neighborhood, returns to Durham City Park, and finally returns to Tualatin Community Park.

From The Cat Adoption Team (CAT):

We are is the Pacific Northwest’s largest nonprofit, limited admission/adoption guarantee cat shelter (we are able to take in cats as we find homes for the cats in the shelter). CAT has its own full-service veterinary Hospital on-site.

A leader in the shelter community with its extensive shelter medicine, adoption, and foster care programs, CAT cares for 400 to 600 cats and kittens on a daily basis with the help of a dedicated team of staff and volunteers at CAT’s shelter in Sherwood, foster homes, and various off-site adoption locations throughout the Portland metro area.

As a nonprofit organization, CAT receives no government funding and relies on the generous support of the public and volunteers.

Elisa Klein

I’ve been a professional journalist and writer since 1987, (and long-time reporter for KOIN-TV.) As a nationally published reporter, with a Master’s Degree in Journalism, I love to report positive news and information. Journalism has also connected me with another non-profit where I served as a leader; the Northwest’s biggest writer’s organization: The Willamette Writers.