Volunteering at the Animal shelter in Amsterdam

Ah, cats. I have two. Yet I wish I could have all of them enveloped in a furry cocoon of love. Just pile them on me and crush my body with cats. Then I will die a happy woman. Cats might seem tough and uninterested on the outside, but inside they’re just squishy balls of devotion. I love how they can gracefully recover from the derpiest fall. I love how they can stare at you with all the hate in the world (especially when going to the vets), yet 5 mins after getting home, they will tolerate being in the same rooms as you. Oh how I love ALL CATS IN THE WORLD.

This is nothing new

You might remember my blogpost last year about volunteering at the Animal Animal Anti Cruelty League in Cape Town. Being able to meet all those gorgeous furries and having a hand in helping them get adopted, made me realise that I can use my photography powers for a greater cause. There are so many gorgeous,  ‘unwanted’ pets just looking for a warm and loving home. So when I got back to Amsterdam, I made a point of contacting the local Animal Shelter right away. Turns out, they’re always looking for volunteers and this obviously made me squeal with the joy of a thousand rainbows. But they also constantly need people to help out with daily tasks like petting the animals and cleaning cages. In short, they were over the moon and wanted me to start as soon as possible.

I’ve been there since March and it has become my happy place. I LOVE hanging out with the cats, talking to them and telling them how good they’re looking in their photos. I hug them, pet them, play with them and tell them inspirational things like: “You are worthy of love, feline friend. When the right person comes along, you will know. Just be your charming self and don’t poop on floor.”

Adopt, don’t shop

However, with the good, comes the sad. Also needing love and special attention, are the kitties who don’t adjust well to new environments, have been traumatised in some way (like coming from homes where they had to share with 30 other cats!) or just not accustomed to humans at all. Even with all the love and care the shelter provides, it will never be a place where they will truly be at home. Sometimes these special souls get overlooked and tend to stay longer than they should. The great thing about going to the shelter every few weeks though, is that I can see these kitties come out of their shell and bloom. Not all are a lost cause, and it sometimes just takes a bit of patience and care to see the their true potential.

So, that being said, I would love to share with you some of my absolute favourite shots of the cats of Amsterdam’s Animal Shelter. So far anyways. I will also note which cats are still up for adoption. So you can head on over to the website and make an appointment right away!

PS: If this breaks your heart, please don’t be sad. These kitties are very well looked after, but the Shelter does require resources such as food, blankets, toys and special medical care. Make a difference and DONATE WHATEVER YOU CAN to help these furries find a loving furever home.

Animal Shelter Amsterdam | Amsterdam photographer | Animal Shelter photography | Cats