Kittens of all colors, shapes, sizes, personalities, males and females will be visiting Petco from their foster homes. Foster parents will be on hand to answer any questions and help you find the purrrfect kitty friend!

Volunteers for Animals will be accepting adoption applications on kittens not yet old enough for adoption.

Kittens ready for forever homes will be $60, which includes vaccines, testing, and neutering or spaying.

Petco is located at 4226 Veterans Memorial Drive in Towne Center at Batavia.

This kitty was known as Porky until today, but Porky will soon have a new name, undecided at the time of the picture, says new parent Diana Fox, of Holley.

Fox was one of at least four people to adopt cats today during the Volunteer For Animals 50th Anniversary Fall Fur Event at Petco this afternoon.

The Volunteers for animals will continue the 50th anniversary festivities later this month with its annual Fur Ball. The 12th annual event is at 6 p.m., Oct. 24, at the Days Inn in Batavia. For more information, click here.

Johann (seated on the floor) and Coco got their picture taken with Santa today at PetCo. Members of Volunteers For Animals served as elves for Santa and proceeds from the pictures benefit the organization. Johann and Coco's owner is Barb Nowicki.

One thing General Manager Carol Hershberger is eager for local residents to know is that all of the animals that were in the store are safe.

They were initially taken to the Genesee County Animal Shelter and, contrary to a prior report, never returned to the store, she said. The animals have all been relocated to other Petco stores.

There's a lot of work, but staff is working hard, she said, to get the store reopened Monday.

Meanwhile, investigators have yet to determine the case of the fire, which started in the bedding department of Bed, Bath & Beyond and caused to smoke to fill both stores (not as heavily, in Petco).

UPDATE 3:57 p.m.: Hershberger called back to say after a long way of work today, she doesn't believe the store will be ready to open Monday. She said she's hesitant to predict when the store will open. "As soon as possible," she said.

Currently, there are more than 80 cats and kittens either in the Genesee County Animal Shelter, at Batavia Petco or in foster homes awaiting adoption. Another 40 are on the shelter's waiting list.

From noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 16, the Batavia Petco (located in the Target Plaza on Veteran's Memorial Highway in the Town of Batavia) will be hosting its second major adoption event.

There will be new best friends there -- cats and kittens of all ages, colors and stunning personalities -- available for adoption. Most of them are spayed or neutered. All are tested for FIV/FeLV, are current with shots and just happen to be the best cats available in the entire county, arguably, the nation.

The adoption fee is a mere $30. If the feline you adore is not spayed or neutered, there is a refundable $35 deposit required. Petco will be handing out free giveaways and Volunteers For Animals will be strutting the cats so they can flaunt their furry selves.

Come on over and have a look-see. You never know who you'll meet, maybe the best of companions!

Petco, Volunteers For Animals and the Genesee County Animal Shelter joined forces in October 2008 to help homeless cats find a home. The partnership has been a big success. Since the opening of the Batavia Petco last year, more than 175 cats and kittens from the county shelter have been adopted out of the store.

Petco provides six cages for cats and kittens to "live" in while awaiting adoption. Petco associates assist with their everyday care. Associates also accept applications from potential adopters. Volunteers check on the animals daily and review and complete adoption applications.

Here is some contact information for local animal advocates:

Volunteers For Animals
P.O. Box 1621
Batavia, NY   14021
www.vol4animals.org

Genesee County Animal Shelter
3841 W. Main Street Road
Batavia, NY   14020
(585)343-6410

Shelter adoption hours:

1 to 3 p.m. Sunday through Friday, but closed on Thursdays
7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday

Photo illustration used under terms of Creative Commons from Nic Suzor.