Feline Friends

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Well, maybe there aren't any bears at the Exotic Feline Rescue Center at 2221 E. Ashboro Rd. in Center Point, Ind., but there are plenty of lions, tigers and other exotic felines. \nPlenty of felines also means plenty of cleaning, which means the center has plenty of volunteers. One of these is IU quarterback Graeme McFarland, who is used to working on the football field but now is cleaning up exotic cat cages. \nMcFarland, a sophomore and back-up quarterback for the IU football team, began working for the EFRC a few weeks ago. He said he had heard about the EFRC previously, but it wasn't until one of his friends began volunteering that he joined in as well. Last week, McFarland said he went everyday to help build new cages for the eight new leopards that just arrived from Riverside, Calif.\n"(Graeme) is the reason the new leopards have a home," fellow volunteer and IU research associate James Ford said. "His impact was profound."\nMcFarland said they first built the individual wood boxes for the cats and then small fenced-in areas and ceilings. He said because the cats were coming in so soon, they needed to get the absolute essentials finished as soon as possible. The cats were successfully transported to the center Saturday. McFarland said eventually they will build the larger areas for the cats to run around in, but for now the small cages will do. In addition to helping with the new homes, McFarland also mows grass, feeds the animals and cleans cages.\nJoe Taft, owner and operator of Exotic Feline Rescue Center, turned buying an ocelot for a pet into a lifelong commitment to big cats. Taft started up the EFRC 12 years ago in order to rescue abused and abandoned exotic cats. \n"We take in big cats that are in trouble and provide them with a stable home," he said. \nThe center currently cares for 161 big cats, making it the largest collection of big cats in the United States Of the 161 cats, only two came from the wild. The others were born into captivity. \nEFRC is a nationally recognized center that provides homes for exotic cats. According to the EFRC Web site, their mission is "to provide permanent homes for exotic felines that have been abused, abandoned or for some reason have nowhere to live out their lives." The center is located in Center Point, Ind., about 45 minutes west of Bloomington.\nThe center employs 10 people and has hundreds of volunteers. Taft said the center has more volunteers from IU than anywhere else. He said some volunteers come in large groups for the day, some come two to three days a year and some come every weekend. The volunteers help feed and clean up after the animals, mow grass, give tours and stamp envelopes. But, he said, most volunteers don't work directly with the animals because they don't allow staff or volunteers to have direct contact with the animals. \nBut not being able to have direct contact with the cats didn't make the experience any less grand for McFarland.\n"I was amazed at how many (cats) there were and how close you can get," said McFarland, a biology major from Birmingham, Ala. "Every cat has its own personality." \nMcFarland said his personal favorite is Gabby #2 because she is so playful and sweet.\nMcFarland said he is looking forward to becoming a vet, but he might change his mind after working at the EFRC. He said he could see himself working somewhere like the rescue center instead. \n"I like the idea of being around animals all the time, not just when they are sick," he said. \nWith football season beginning and classes just around the bend, McFarland said he won't have as much time to help out, but he will still help out whenever he can. He said he plans on going to the center on Mondays, his only day off from football. \n"There's nothing else I'd rather be doing," he said. "It's just fun to be out there"