The Island is emptying out after Labor Day, but not the cat adoption room at the animal shelter. It is alive with kitten energy. Leaping, chasing, climbing, the teenagers have a merry time. Cali, a handsome tortoiseshell girl, is five months old as is her tricolor sister Josephine. Matteo, the scamp of the group, is three months old and came to us with his sister, Sofia. All of them have been spayed or neutered, vaccinated and chipped. They are ready to move on with their young lives.

For those who have room in their house and heart for an older cat companion, Cody, the very shy calico, and Clinger, a big gray guy, are also up for adoption. There are no dogs in residence at the moment which should be interpreted as a sign that the shelter is successful in its mission, which is to find homes for animals and companionship for humans. A win-win combination for all.

Update on the tiny kittens story, first reported here last week. The kittens need to be hand fed in the unexplained absence of their mother. Once again Mary and her daughter Emily, our gold star volunteers, have taken on that task. The last kittens they hand raised are already in happy adoptive homes. Now, instead of just two babies, there are seven! As anyone who has nurtured a newborn knows, sleep becomes a scarce commodity. Unending gratitude goes to these two selfless caretakers from all of us at the animal shelter.

Workers needed! On Friday and Saturday, Sept. 5 and 6, the people from Habitat for Humanity will be working on the shelter building. A variety of tasks need to be accomplished. No experience is necessary. Dress down and join us to paint, shingle and do whatever is necessary to finish off this job.

Emma and Chase Toomey are the most recent lemonade stand operators to donate their profits to the shelter. We thank them as well as all those generous children who made jewelry, baked cookies, gave performances and used their time and talents to help the animals this summer. Come back again next year.

Shelter hours are Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The shelter is closed Sunday and Monday. The telephone number is 508-627-8662.

Contributions are always gratefully accepted; the shelter is funded solely by donations. Please make checks out to The Animal Shelter of Martha’s Vineyard; the mailing address is P.O. Box 1829, Edgartown, MA 02539.