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Cats Exclusive Offers Hope for Abandoned Felines Left at Its Doorstep

Executive Director Lynn Fernandez with Robbie, a 4-month-old kitten whose back was intentionally burned with acid, and Eclipse, a year-old cat with a neurological disorder is getting physical therapy from Sammie Masdal. {Martin Lenkowsky}

Cats Exclusive, Inc., is truly a saving grace for felines of all ages, shapes, and sizes.

Case in point: When Executive Director Lynn Fernandez arrived at 7 a.m. on Thursday, she found three adult cats left by the front door in their carriers.

“I don’t know what time they were dumped,” Fernandez said. “They were terrified.” She added that all the heavy traffic noise on Atlantic Boulevard must have been extremely frightening to them.

Cats Exclusive, Inc., a non-profit cat clinic and adoption center, was founded 45 years ago, and it’s been at its current location, 6350 W. Atlantic Blvd., in Margate for 29 years.

According to Fernandez, people also make the grave mistake of trying to dump their domestic cats into a feral colony, which might prove fatal to the newcomers who won’t be accepted into established colonies.

“They will not let domestic cats in,” she said.

Those unfortunate felines are often injured and starving. Enter Fernandez and their clinic.

“We will keep them and get them healthy,” she said, “and get them a home. That’s what I usually try to do.”

They currently have only one full-time veterinarian at their facility and are seeking another one. “Even if it’s part-time,” she said, adding that during COVID, 50 percent of all veterinarians retired. “It’s definitely a challenge trying to get the right vet in here.”

People often talk about man’s inhumanity to man. Man’s inhumanity to animals can be just as cruel. Fernandez recalls how a 19-year-old male cat was recently dropped off at their facility because his owners no longer wanted him, as they now wanted a kitten instead. “Karma will find them,” said Fernandez.

Despite its age, the cat was in relatively good shape except for arthritis in its legs. A few shots got rid of the arthritis, said Fernandez.

These days happen to be particularly busy ones at Exclusive Cats. “It’s kitten season. I have five in a cage,” she said. “I’ve got kittens everywhere.”

The goal of their clinic is to get most of the cats that come in the door back to good health and adopted by a new loving family. She describes the veterinary care at Cats Exclusive as shelter medicine as opposed to corporate veterinary medicine. According to Fernandez, they are funded by grants and donations. They work directly with Broward County as part of the county’s TNR (trap, neuter, release) program.

There are many threats facing people’s beloved pets, and a new, growing danger has emerged in our area. Fernandez warns all pet owners to be wary of coyotes. “There’s a huge coyote issue down here,” she said. “Keep your cat indoors at night. Coyotes will go through a screen to get to a pet.”

Fernandez, a California native, has been at Cats Exclusive for four years, but had been coming there as a client since 2008. “I used to raise money for them for quite a few years.”

Cats Exclusive offers general medical care for cats, at a significantly lower cost than other veterinary hospitals. They charge $25 for a regular kitten exam. Their first goal is to check its weight and determine its age. Cats Exclusive has both an adoption center and a clinic.

Veterinary clinic hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Closed Wednesdays and Sundays.) Adoption hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Closed Wednesdays and Sundays.)

Fernandez said they are always looking for donations. For more information call 954-975-8349.

Author Profile

Martin Lenkowsky

Martin Lenkowsky moved to Coral Springs from NYC in 1982. He has a bachelor’s degree from Brooklyn College. He has been both writer and editor for a number of South Florida publications since 1983. He considers features writing his specialty.