Baker's Dozen Donut Cats Reuniting at Cat Depot

SARASOTA, FL – Thirteen cats who barely escaped with their lives nearly 17 months ago will celebrate the sweet life with each other this week.

The Baker’s Dozen Donut Cats will reunite on Friday, June 3 from 10 a.m. to noon at Cat Depot, 2542 17th St. in Sarasota.

“June 3 is National Donut Day, so how could we pass up this sweet opportunity to get the Donut Kitties together once more?” said Cat Depot communications specialist Maria Sadowski.

The cats gained fame from an infamous hoarding case in Charlotte County that made headlines across the Tampa Bay area. In January 2015, 58 cats living in squalid conditions were removed from a Kerriville Circle home in Port Charlotte.

The cats, suffering from upper respiratory infections; skin and eye infections; rotten teeth; flea and parasite infestations; and malnutrition, were sent to Cat Depot for medical attention. Several did not survive the ordeal, but the rest were nursed back to health.

When the remaining cats were healthy enough to be adopted, several area rescues helped by taking some of the cats to be adopted. Cat Depot kept 13 of them and named them the Baker’s Dozen and doughnut-related names: Custard, Fritter, Maple, Dutchie, Jelly, Sugar, Frosting, Boston, Glaze, Sprinkle, Churro, Crème and Dunkin.

Despite many of the cats losing eyes, teeth and suffering from other disabilities, all 13 cats were adopted by 11 different families, according to Sadowski.

The Donut Kitty Reunion was developed by Nancy Colby of North Port, who adopted Glaze, now known as Bow-Tie. Along with “writing” his own blog, Bow-Tie is also Cat Depot’s newest “spokespurrson,” especially for its Friends Like Me program.

“Bow-Tie has become the ambassador for special needs cats,” Sadowski said. “Bow-Tie works hard to bring awareness to special needs cats and the reunion is just another way to do that.”

Aside from all 13 of the Donut Cats and their adoptive families, the public can meet the rescuers, volunteers and friends of the cats at the event. Cat Depot will be serving coffee and doughnuts to all attendees while they last. Each of the Donut Cats’ families will receive toys, a Donut Kitty DVD chronicling their lives and a surprise gift from Bow-Tie.

The Donut Kitty DVD will be available to the public after the event for a small donation to Cat Depot’s Friends Like Me Fund.

Sadowski said the event is meant to be about fun and awareness, not for fundraising. However, if people would like to honor the Donut Cats, there are several ways they can contribute.

“The Donut Kitties represent special needs cats,” she said. “Financial donations can be made to the Friends Like Me Fund of Cat Depot, which helps to provide special care to special needs cats. Donations of food to the Cat Depot Food Bank is always appreciated as the food bank helps people in the community who cannot afford food.”

For more information, call Cat Depot at (941) 336-2404 or visit www.catdepot.org.

Images courtesy of Nancy Colby

Sign up for the Sarasota Patch newsletter and alerts!

Be sure to follow us on Facebook, too!