Cats meet Claus at Barb’s Precious Rescue event

There were no reindeer. But there were plenty of cats, as Barb’s Precious Rescue and Adoption Center in Palatine rang in the holiday season with an opportunity for people to celebrate with their pets and take pictures with Santa Claus.

The event, Whiskers & Wishes with Santa, also supported the no-kill, cage-free shelter for cats — and soon dogs — at 313 N. Quentin Road, with guests bringing $10 donations and cat food items.

The event took place Dec. 15 in the facility’s new David Helt Veterinary Care Center, which services the rescue’s cats.

The center’s founder, Barb Weber, said several people who have adopted through Barb’s Precious Rescue returned to take pictures with Santa Claus, portrayed by Palatine resident Don Kronberg.

Kronberg, whose wife Yvonne is the facility’s adoption coordinator, said his family has fostered several cats at their house. They became involved several years ago.

“We found a little baby kitten in our bushes,” said Kronberg, a concert producer through his company, NiteLite Promotions. “My wife reached out to Barb.”

Yvonne received valuable information on how to bottle feed the kitten, which became the family cat.

The Dec. 15 event provided an opportunity to showcase the veterinary care center, which includes two surgery rooms and X-ray and ultrasound areas — the center will be a site for ultrasound training for veterinarians.

The center opened up a week ago and has been busy, with eight procedures.

Soon it will be performing spay and neutering of cats.

“We have 21 cats waiting for spay/neuter,” Weber said.

Dental procedures are slated to begin in February.

“A lot of times when cats are found outside, especially if they've been abandoned, they have severe gingivitis, they've lost a lot of teeth, or they've got damaged teeth,” she said.

During one surgery, a BB pellet was found in one of the cats, Sammy.

“Sammy’s had a rough course, but she’s doing well now,” Weber said.