Meow Is Like Aloha...

A Baby Story

2011-07-28T17:49:00.000-07:00

Asleep on Tuesday or Wednesday

Monday (I think)

Today (July 28)

Baby, as we call her, was found on Sunday, July 24, 2011, by a young black man who brought her to PetSmart, hoping to find help for her. He found her in the middle of the road, on a day when the temperature was well into the 90's. She was found to be severely dehydrated, and had a wound (like a hole)on her neck/chin. Sub-q fluids were administered to get her more hydrated, as well as oral fluids. I brought her home, where my fiance (Joseph) and I kept watch over her through the night, as her breathing was very quick and labored, and she also was not drinking on her own and ate only a little food that first night, until we were able to get her to the vet the next morning. The vet prescribed an antibiotic (the first dose given as a shot) to help with the infection in the wound on her neck, cleaned out the wound, and gave her some more sub-q to hydrate her some more. The best guess was that whatever had caused the wound (based on other small scabs found on the body, possibly a dog) had nicked her trachea, as she had air pockets under her skin where air was leaking into her chest cavity and into her subcutaneous layers, leading to a crackling feeling as one petted her, and bubbles of air under her skin. He prescribed an oral antibiotic for use beginning the next day. After the sub-q, shot, and cleaning, Baby was exhausted and could barely stand (courtesy of recent dehydration, an infection, and the stress of having her wound cleaned). I went to PetSmart right after to get some KMR, and Baby wasn't doing so well, she looked tired and was still breathing very hard (around 60 breaths per minute at the vet), and she had me scared there for a bit. After getting what I needed, I took her home and Joseph and I began trying to get her to drink some of the KMR, which she eventually took to lapping off of the end of the syringe we were feeding from. Come that evening, she began drinking milk (warm, of course) from people's hands. She didn't want it in a dish, or from the bottle. So we indulged to get liquid into her. She also began eating wet cat food, slowly but surely. We kept her on nearly 24 hour watch through Tuesday, with only short periods of time of being left alone on Tuesday evening. Tuesday night, we decided she was stable enough, eating enough, to be left alone for us to be able to sleep at a normal time. Wednesday brought Baby eating very close to what the cans of cat food say she should be for her body weight (a whopping 1 lb 7 oz according to the vet), and a much more playful kitty. Baby began acting, slowly but surely, more like a normal kitten. Play hard, eat hard, sleep hard. Her favorite spot to sleep remains on Joseph's lap as he plays computer games, followed by the heating pad we keep running in her room. With Thursday, came much more intense play (longer stretches, more running, jumping, etc.). It was also noticed that the air bubbles, which would have been pushing on her lungs somewhat, making it harder to breathe, had gone away, which basically means that the nick in her trachea must have healed, as the spot on her neck has been doing. Her skin is still crinkley, but I've heard that takes a bit to go away. Her breathing is much closer to normal, and her activity level is much higher. Her gums are much pinker than they were on Sunday/Monday. She loves to climb any and everything, a favorite being jeans to climb up onto higher surfaces. She also likes to sit on shoulders. She has also overcome her fear of that big scary kitten in the mirror which only days ago made her bow up and hiss and turn her tail into a bottle brush. Baby is doing amazingly well, and I would expect her to come away from this just fine. This baby cat found her way to a place where someone would find her (admittedly, not the safest place) and get her help.

A special thanks to Sandy S., Barbara H., and Barbara W. for giving her the boost she needed that day at PetSmart. And a special thanks to Feline Rescue and Rehome for providing for Baby's vet care, and admitting her as a FuRR cat. Hopefully in the not-so-distant future, after Baby is bigger and vetted, she will get an amazing home.

Like many rescues, FuRR can always use donations. If you want to help animals like Baby who need help and need homes, you can donate to FuRR. Visit our website at www.teamfurr.org for more information about us.

RIP Chi-Chi

2011-07-25T17:38:00.000-07:00

Chi-Chi a few months before she died (instagram pic)

Right after I got her and her sister, Elsie, in 2006 (Chi-Chi is on the right)

On my bed

The picture my 6 year old sister, Reese, drew to put in her grave with her...

Oct. 31, 2006-July 5, 2011

I miss her. I miss her terribly. Every thought brings tears. I want to remember. I don't want to forget a thing about her. We called her Chi-Chi, but her full name was Chidori, which is Japanese for 1000 chirping birds. When she was little, her meow sounded like birds, and she was very vocal. That changed little as she got older. We adopted her from a lady whose daughter didn't take care of her cats. Her cat had babies, and the daughter had left them there with no food or water. The mother found them, and brought them home to find forever homes. Chi-Chi and Elsie found it with me.

I want to remember how she looked, how she smelled, how she acted. How she slept by my hip. Her meow. The way she loved to be on my shelves and annoy me by knocking things off. The way she loved to drink water from the bathroom faucet and would run me over to get in there in case I turned it on. How soft she was. Her teardrop at the corner of her left eye echoed now by my own.

She died of pulmonary edema and congenital heart failure. There is no official diagnosis of why, but based on some google searches, Joseph and I suspect acute renal/kidney failure. She was too dehydrated for them to get a blood draw, so all they had to go by was the x-ray.

I took her to the vet Thursday because she'd been acting annoying, and peeing outside of the litter box more often than usual. She had no urine in her bladder, so they kept her overnight to get a urinalysis. Friday morning they gave her a medicine called Lasix to make her go pee, and they determined she had a low-grade urinary tract infection (UTI). They gave me a bag of special food for her to eat, and Clavamox for the infection. We took her home, put her in Reese's room, and she turned her nose up at the food, but she was at least drinking some. As Saturday came, and then Sunday, she was still not eating (even wet food I got her) and not drinking without a lot of pressure to. I was forcing some water down her through, but not enough. Monday, she was not wanting to drink or do much of anything. She just did not look well. I kept thinking, well, I'll call the vet first thing in the morning. We got some water in her, and Mom, Dad, and Reese left to go to the movies. Chi-Chi was sitting by Joseph and I and after a while, she got up and went and laid down under the side table. Then she moved a bit of the way up the cat tree, then later a little further. She obviously did not feel good. I gave her her medicine, and she threw it up, along with much of the water we gave her. She was breathing hard, and did not look well at all, so we took her to the Kitty ER. They did all the good for her, but she was a very sick kitty by then. Low body temperature (at least 91*, their thermometers didn't go lower), low blood pressure, dehydration, high respiration, barely responsive. I was told she likely wouldn't make the night. And she didn't. I got the call at 12:09 they were doing resuscitation and did I want them to continue.

The worst words ever are: "Just let her go."

Most of you don't care about all of this, but I am writing this to remember it all.

She loved yogurt. She loved to drink water straight for the faucet. She loved to lie on my bookshelf, and if there was anything to knock over, knock it over. She liked to lie on my jeans on the shelf. She liked to sit under the light on my side table. She slept by my hip. She was incredibly tolerating, and she had recently had become designated "Reese's kitty". She liked to lie on people's laps, and sleep on the back of the couch and the arm of it. She would follow me into the bathroom and nearly kill me by running under my feet hoping I would turn on the water faucet. She loved canned cat food.

She is sorely missed, and currently, my grief has no bounds. I pray it will get better with time, but it's hard to see a positive right now. I hope her last few days weren't painful, even if they weren't amazing. Up the last, she would purr when petted and was very caring. She was the best kitty I could have asked for.

_Written July 5, 2011

Donovan and Josie

2011-06-06T18:57:00.000-07:00

This is Donovan (top) and Josie. They're both available for adoption. My fiance's mother gave us this cat thing because Joseph's family's cat won't use it. And mine all seem to love it. It's about 2 or 2.5 feet tall, with 2 little caves in it. My cats are all taking turns hanging out in various places on it. The fave spots are the top and the top cave (shown in use here.)

They're both sweethearts. Josie is incredibly soft, and Donovan is big and playful.

Abby

2011-01-18T18:20:00.000-08:00

This is sweet, sweet Abby, on my 6 year old sister's panda Pillow Pet, covered up with my sister's jacket. She is pretty much solid black (a few white hairs here and there), which makes her features difficult to photograph, but she does have features. LOL. She is such a sweetie, a snuggler, playful, and incredibly tolerant. She's a very chill cat, who loves to play. She's about a year and a half old, and I've had her since she was 6 weeks old. As a black cat, and no longer a kitten, she is frequently looked over as people look for the newest addition to their family.

I'll be very sad when she gets adopted, having had her around for over a year now, but I just keep hoping that someone out there is looking for this cat for their family, and just doesn't know it yet. She's a real sweetie, kinda floppy, very loving, and vocal at times (on her own terms). She has the prettiest yellow-green eyes and very shiny fur. She's very loving towards the other cats, particularly the younger ones. Too bad the older cats don't always share her happy go-lucky attitude and aren't always quite as nice back. But that can be cats for you. lol

Chandler

2010-07-28T19:56:00.000-07:00

Remember baby Chandler? Our little fluffball?

Well, this is Chandler now. He's gotten sooooo big!

The email from his Mama:

Just wanted to give you an update on Chandler. He is quite the kitty, charming and devilish. You would hardly recognize him, he's grown so much. He doesn't speak human yet. "No!" and "Get out of there!" barely registers. He has a girl kitty companion named Ginger. They tear around the house like mad kitty when the crazies descend. My older kitties are appalled by all the energy and try to stay out of the way.

He's doing so great. It's so awesome to see my babies doing well.

Mac

2010-07-13T16:54:00.000-07:00

Some of you may remember Mac from May 2009. He was one of 4 in my first ever litter of foster kittens, with his sisters, Nuala, Keely, and Molly. He was also my first adoption, so it was, understandably, a little difficult. However, I am friends with his parents on facebook so I get to see cute pictures pretty regularly. This shot is from February, but it just seems completely Mac to me. Such as Mac thing to do, lol. It's great to see him doing so well.

Bella

2010-07-13T16:45:00.000-07:00

Bella (formerly known as Jasper in some posts) is doing quite well in her new home as you can see. She has a 5 year old mama who is quite enamored with her, and she is obviously doing quite well. It's always awesome to see my babies doing well in their new homes.

New Kittens

2010-05-27T13:31:00.000-07:00

Josie, one of my two sweet, adorable tortoiseshells

Annabelle, her sister

Sweet, sweet baby Harley, my snuggle-bug

Luna, our Siamese mix

Enya, our lovey gray tabby with an orange "flame" on her forehead

Donovan, my lone boy. Our pretty buff boy (my dad calls him "Blondie")

All of my last crew got adopted quickly, and this is my new crew. Josie, Annabelle, Enya, Harley, Luna, and Donovan. All a bunch of sweethearts who like to snuggle. They're around 9 weeks old, if I'm remembering right. 5 girls, and 1 lone boy. There seems to be a real shortage of boys this year, bunches of girls and very few boys. Odd.

Shannon also got adopted a few weekends ago, so my sweet Shan now has a good home with people who love her, and no other kitties.

Update on Ducky and Gibbs

2010-03-31T18:06:00.000-07:00

Squeak (Ducky) and Smudge (Gibbs)

OMG, They've grown up!
From their mama:

Smudge is vying for my attention and trying to help me type this note while purring loudly. Squeak is lying in the window, trying to take in the last of the smells before I close things down. They were watching me mow and work in the yard just before I took that photo. They want to go outside but DO NOT like their leashes. I won't let them out otherwise. They remain adorable.

Oh, and all of my litter of 6 are spoken for, except Sophie. And she has lots of people looking at her.

One dollar...

2010-03-23T18:56:00.000-07:00

Sweet Jade, not long after we got him, when we still gave wet food on a plate where he could plow through it. LOL.

Kitty Kitty Updates

2010-03-23T11:57:00.000-07:00

Jade, my male calico...

Turns out Chandler and Jade are boys. Good to know.

Also, Carys, Jasper (who is now known as Bella, as that is what her new family will call her), and Chandler all have deposits on them and will be going home as soon as they are fixed! Yay!

And now...for updated weights:

Alexa 20 oz up from 16.5
Chandler 22 oz up from 19 oz
Jade 25 oz up from 20 oz
Sophie 20 oz up from 17 oz
Bella (formerly known as Jasper) 25 oz up from 21 oz
Carys 17 oz (and just got shoved at the food bowl :P ) up from 14 oz

So an average weight gain of 3 oz each in 1 week, and upwards of 9 oz in a month at the smallest (Carys, who was originally 8 oz) to 13 oz (Jade was 12 oz when we got her).

Update on Kittens

2010-03-16T17:52:00.000-07:00

Alex(a)

Jasper

Chandler

Carys

Sophie

Jade

Just an FYI, Leto was adopted a few weeks ago.

These little buggers have gotten so big! The smallest, Carys, has gone from 8 oz to 14 oz! When we got them, at around 4 weeks old, they ranged from 8 oz to 12 oz. Here's where they are now:

Carys: 14 oz
Jade: 20 oz (one of our original 12 oz-ers)
Jasper: 21 oz
Sophie: 17 oz
Chandler: 19 oz
Alex: 16.5 oz

They're all up on Petfinder, but the absolute earliest any of them could go into permanent homes will be mid-April. And that's assuming they're big enough to be fixed.

KITTENS!

2010-02-24T19:20:00.000-08:00

Mom, Reese, and kittens...

Carys

I think that's Chandler and Alexa.

Carys and Sophie

Meet Chandler, Jasper, Jade, Sophie, Alexa (Alex), and Carys.

They're about 4 weeks old, so not old enough (or big enough) to be spayed, but a deposit can be put down to reserve them if you're interested. :D

Leto

2010-01-04T11:27:00.000-08:00

Abby and Leto, playing together

Leto is the baby of my current bunch, at around 5 months old. He's Shannon's baby boy, and Jared's brother. He's also a good size, and absolutely gorgeous. And one of the softest cats I have ever messed with (we say it's cause his mom, Shannon, still periodically lets him breastfeed.) He's kinda skittish, but once you catch him, he's okay to be held and petted for a bit. He's just not the lap cat type. He's very playful, loves dangly toys and toy mice. He also likes to play with other kitties, like his mom, Shannon, or Abby.

10 Reasons to Adopt an Adult Cat

2010-01-02T20:17:00.000-08:00

My Shannon-Kitty, a sweet, sweet mama kitty who is looking for her forever home. She's estimated to be about 2 years old.

10 Reasons to Adopt an Adult Cat

So you've decided to add a feline to your household. You've probably given some thought to what it should look like: a fluffy tuxedo, a handsome brown tabby or maybe a sleek black kitty. Male, female, large, small--so many options. But have you considered the differences between cats and kittens? Here are ten reasons why you may want to adopt an adult cat.

Many available adult cats are barely out of kittenhood themselves. They still have plenty of spunk and energy--they're just a bit more mature. That's a good thing.

1. What you see is what you get. Adult cats already know who they are. Kittens are undeniably cute, but you never know what the future holds, how large they may get, what their personality will ultimately be, etc. An adorable little kitten will be an adult in the blink of an eye.

2. Adult cats aren't as "chewsy." Kittens have a tendancy to chew things, lots of things. Whether teething or just exploring bits of the world around them, kittens chew on shoes, the corners of books, ear lobes and fingers, carpet tassels, electrical cords, drapery strings, plants, and much, much more. Most adult cats don't chew inappropriately at all.

3. If you have an older cat in your home and are looking for a friend for him or her, another adult cat may be the best choice. Kittens can be too playful and may upset your cat instead of providing companionship. A kitten may cause your resident cat to be more annoyed than amused.

4. After a long day at the office, you may just want to come home and curl up with your furry friend--but most kittens prefer an action packed evening--lots of touseling, frolicking, and plenty of running and jumping. An adult cat will greet you at the door and be more than happy to curl up and watch your favorite shows on TV. They've already learned about the unconditional love thing.

5. Adult cats may sleep at the foot of your bed, under the bed or in a cozy spot somewhere else in the house, while a kitten will most likely run around all night, doing anything possible to wake you up for more games. Adult cats are generally happy to sleep when you do and don't try to attack your toes through the blankets in the middle of the night.

6. Adult cats won't be climbing up your leg or your curtains, they won't be swinging from your chandeliers, knocking down knick knacks or just running full speed ahead for no good reason.

7. Adult cats are usually a better choice for families with small children. Kittens often play rough and are constantly underfoot. They're sharp--they can't help it, but kittens are all teeth and claws. Generally speaking, adult cats are more mellow, and often more patient with young children. The experience should be a good one for both the cat and the child. Ask to meet the shelter's best "kid cats."

8. Adult cats require less attention and supervision. They're quiet companions. They have well-developed manners, use the litter box and the scratching post without constant reminders.

9. Many adult cats end up in shelters due to no fault of their own. Separated from their loved ones, surrounded by other cats, confined, confused, and sometimes frightened, many are emotionally devastated by their misfortune. Sadly, most people gravitate toward the cute, bouncy, big-eyed kittens. Older cats sit by and watch, as one loving family after another passes them over for a cute kitten. Adopting an adult cat is a way to say to a deserving animal "I believe in you."

Kittens will always be popular, and most have no trouble attracting admirers. But for the abandoned, forgotten, and heartbroken adult cats, you just might be their last chance to have the love and warmth of a home where they can live out their years in comfort. When properly cared for, cats often live well into their late teens, and sometimes into their early twenties. Typically, they will remain active and even playful throughout most of their lives. Some may need a little extra patience while adjusting to a new home, but once they feel safe and secure again, they'll offer years of faithful companionship and unconditional love.

((Kidnapped from Rags to Riches Cat Rescue))

Ducky and Gibbs

2010-01-02T19:58:00.000-08:00

Poor Gibbs had to rush to the kitty ER Wednesday night. It was believed to be a reaction to his rabies shot. Ducky had all of her shots, and naught a problem. But little Gibbs began vomiting, dry heaving, being lethargic, and having some diarrhea. Finally, he started having difficulty breathing, so his new mama, C., rushed him to the ER. They stabilized him, and she took him to his normal vet first thing Thursday morning. The vet verified it was a reaction to the rabies shot, and gave him fluids for dehydration, a steroid shot, and antihistamine, and he spent the day there, getting rehydrated. Last I heard, he was still lethargic, and not eating, but at least, he wasn't throwing up any more, and was breathing normally.

Reactions to vaccines, such as the rabies shot, are RARE, let me emphasize that. And I am in no way saying don't vaccinate your cats. Absolutely not. Dying from rabies is painful, and I wouldn't want any pet to go through that. I'm just mentioning this, so that people will know that it can happen. Fortunately, Gibbs is okay now.

Merry Christmas to the Kitties!

2009-12-26T19:13:00.001-08:00

Abby, Shannon (in the box), and Elsie, my own personal kitty. Shannon is finally not quite so completely terrified of other cats. She's still more of a people cat than a cat-cat, but she does love her son, Leto (who she STILL lets nurse at ~5 months), and she's getting more tolerating of Abby, since she's a buddy of Leto's.

Right after we set it up, Abby climbed to the tippy top of the tree. Her new fave spot.

I got all of my cats, both foster and permanent, a 74" cat tree with a zillion surfaces, and it's so pretty. And my kitties love it! At almost any given moment, there's at least one cat on it. They scratch at it, they play on it, they sleep on it.

Update on Jared

2009-12-26T15:03:00.003-08:00

Jared was adopted back in November. His owner has been awesome enough to stay in contact with me via email, and send pictures now and then. This shot is from shortly after he joined his new house. Jared is also now called Logan (after Wolverine from X-Men, cause he's quite the claw-sy little bugger).

Here's a recent update (from December) on Jared, a.k.a. Logan:
"Jared's used to the routine of things now, and curls up to sleep with me (I sleep with the window up). Being in the country, he sits in my window and watches the birds and squirrels when he gets done playing with us, lol. Good fun!"

So nice to see my kiddos in good homes.

Molly and Jared Adopted!

2009-12-23T15:14:00.001-08:00

Jared and Molly were adopted back in early November, on the same day. Molly had a bit of a rough time settling in, but she's settled in now, and is her owner's (a little girl) shadow these days. She also has a tendency to climb up into the little girl's doll house, making herself comfortable in a room, while the little girl plays. Jared is quite content with his new daddy, snuggling up with him at night.

FuRR biannual yard sale THIS WEEKEND

2009-11-04T15:47:00.000-08:00

Jared and Leto

2009-10-21T19:59:00.001-07:00

The brothers, Leto (top) and Jared, who are both available for adoption, as is their mama, Shannon. (This was taken right after they'd finished nursing on their mama. She doesn't appear to be nursing them any more, but this was only like 2-3 weeks ago, lol))

Adopted!

2009-10-11T12:42:00.001-07:00

Ducky and Gibbs got adopted to the same home today. Which I'm thrilled about because they're both pretty close to each other. The lady had 2 14 year old cats who died this summer from complications of diabetes, that were brothers, so she was interested in adopting Ducky, because she looked like a baby version of her boys, and a litter mate if she any. I explained that they weren't biologically related but she was a part of a "litter". Ducky and Gibbs are very close, Gibbs is very much a big brother to Ducky, so I was thrilled when she decided to take them both, because her boys had been so close. I think it will make the transition easier on them.

It's hard to let my babies go, though I've been told it gets easier. These two were particularly difficult to let go because back in August we had an outbreak of a viral neurological syndrome in our house that affected Gibbs, Ducky, and Abby all to different extents. Gibbs got it first (we still don't know how), and got very sick. He was badly dehydrated when we realized something was wrong, and he was actually septic when we took him to vet the next day after emergency subcutaneous fluid that night. The neurological part was that his hind legs weren't cooperating enough for him to really walk. All 3 kittens had some version of this, with Abby's being the mildest (low grade fever and the hind legs not quite cooperating), Ducky's being the mid-case (fever, mild dehydration, and uncooperative hind legs), and then Gibbs. By a week later, all were much better and acting normal. And now there is no evidence they ever had a problem. But we were very paranoid there for about a week, and you really bond when there's a medical issue, I find.

So yes, I'm sad they're gone. But I know they're at a good home. I can tell. And soon, I hope to get updated pictures of them. I have with all 3 of my adoptions up to now, I've gotten some kind of pictures or updates. Which makes me VERY happy, and much more content to let them go to new homes. It makes it less hard when you know it's a good home they're in.

Update

2009-09-18T19:45:00.001-07:00

Abby and Gibbs

My sister, Reese, and Ducky (see? they're all kid-trained, lol)

Leto, who should be fixed at the October clinic

Leto's brother, Jared

Gibbs, who is now available for adoption

Ducky, who will be fixed at the October clinic (she just in the last week pulled over 2 lbs)

Gibbs and his "littermate" Ducky

Gibbs, Abby, and Shannon got fixed at the clinic Saturday, so they are all available for adoption now. Shannon's available, but I'm hoping to keep her around a while longer so the boys (Jared and Leto) can learn more from her. Not that that should be a problem, seeing as she's about 2 years old, and it usually takes longer for adults to be adopted.

Abby is very laid-back and playful. You can do almost anything to this kitten, and she could care less. Very kid-friendly. She's a black and black-on-black tabby. She loves to snuggle and be loved, and she loves to give kisses (which sometimes become baths) on her own terms. She loves to play.

Gibbs is Abby's brother. He's a real cutie with a precious face, gray and white (with half a moustache and a goatee). Playful and pretty calm, he likes to sleep on people or in a kitty pile with his littermates. He's a very chill cat, just not as much as his sister, and good with kids. Very tolerating. Like any kitten, he loves to play.

Molly is about 6 months old. She's black and white, and still very much a kitten. She loves to play, and she's good with kids, having been lugged around by my 4 year old sister since she was about 6 weeks old. She likes to play, and she loves attention, and she will insist upon it. Once she gets used to other cats, she seems to be very lovey to those smaller than her after a while.

Shannon is about 2 years old, with an unknown history. She's a gray tabby. She'd do best, I believe, in a home with either no small children or a home where she'd be able to stay away from the child(ren). She has, thus far, been a one-person cat, attaching to myself, and tolerating everyone else with varying degrees of affection. She's shy, and skittish with other cats, but that could be because of her boys, Jared and Leto. She loves to be petted, talk, and purr. She's very social once she gets to trust you.

Those are my "adoptables" for now.

Rest in Peace, Rain

2009-09-06T18:49:00.000-07:00

Sorry about the lack of posting. Life has been crazy since school started Aug. 20, and I started work on the 24th.

S. gave me her little bottle baby, Rain, since she was so tiny and just wasn't thriving on the bottle. I had a nursing mama, so we thought maybe she would catch up on Shannon's milk. Well, Shannon took to her fine, but it took us about 8 hours to get Rain to figure out what she was doing. Stubborn kitten.

A week after I got her, she passed away. I walked in to scoop the litter and she was lying on the floor, unmoving and cold. Needless to say, it was a huge shock. I hadn't expected it, and the first time you lose a foster is supposed to be the worst. I'll never get used to it. I hope it doesn't happen often. I'm not sure I could handle it if it did. We wrapped her in a towel, and buried her in our kitty graveyard in the backyard. I've been trying really hard not to think about it too much, because I still tear up, a week later. And I'd really rather not cry.

So rest in peace, sweet baby.

July 2009- August 29, 2009

Gibbs, Abby, and Ducky all managed to get some variety of a neurological virus, and Gibbs was in a pretty bad state when it was discovered something was really wrong (he was very dehydrated, pretty weak). Some fluids and a few days on antibiotics and being forcefed the gravy off of hard food soaked for a while, and Nutri-Cal, and he's fine now. So are the girls. Everyone is over it now, thank God. It was a pretty stressful weekend though (same weekend we lost Rain).

The boys, Jared and Leto, are getting bigger. They're eating hard food now, as Shannon is weaning them. They get hard food and canned food, both. Last I weighed them, they were 1 lb, 12 oz. and 1 lb, 11 oz., respectively.

The Newest Members...

2009-08-18T12:55:00.000-07:00

Molly, who is available for adoption, playing with her favorite toy

Abby, Ducky, and Gibbs, happily conked out together

Shannon, my mama cat

Leto and Jared

Leto. Such a cutie...

Meet Shannon, Jared, and Leto. They're rescued from the same animal control place Gibbs and Abby were rescued from. Same kind of situation. Best guess is the mama is about 2 years old (according to the animal control people), but they guessed the babies to be about 2 weeks, and we're thinking probably closer to 4. They weigh 1 lb, 5 oz. each, which is the same that Ducky weighs now. They were surrendered by someone who found them near their house. The mama, Shannon, is skittish about loud noises, but she's a real sweetheart, loves to be petted and purrs and talks to you some. She's not a lap cat right now, she probably won't be, but she's a sweetie, very loving. And tame. She's a gorgeous gray tabby, and a good mother if her babies are anything to go by, though this will definitely be her last litter. As soon as her kiddos are weaned, the next clinic she'll be fixed and up for going to her new home, wherever that may be. But she's obviously a good mama, her babies are little butterballs. Leto is going to be a gray tabby, I'm pretty sure; Jared may be blue. It's still kind of a toss-up. I think they'll be fixed at the October clinic.

Abby and Gibbs, and possibly Ducky, if she gains more weight, will be fixed at the September clinic, and then they'll be ready to go to a new home. Gibbs and Abby are very laid-back, you can do just about anything to Abby and she could care less. But Ducky wants attention. She's very vocal, loves to be held, and sleep on people. And if she wants attention, you will know it. LOL.

Molly is fixed, has all 3 of her kitten shots (she can't have rabies until she's about 6 months old), and is ready for her new home. She's playful, loves to be petted, has a ready purr, and she sleeps with me, at the foot of the bed usually. She likes attention, but she can be independent, too, though she'd do best with another feline to play with.

If you're interested in any of these guys, email me, or FuRR at SaveaCat @ teamfurr.org (without the spaces).

Pictures of Gibbs, Abby, and Ducky

2009-08-12T09:55:00.000-07:00

Loveable little Gibbs. He likes to snuggle.

Ducky, our loud mouth.

Gibbs

Abby, of the funny dark tabby pattern

Abby

As promised, pictures of my NCIS crew.

Abby and Gibbs are about 7 weeks old now, and Ducky is about 5.5 weeks, or so. I'm hesitant to call her 6 just yet, because she's not quite to where Gibbs and Abby were when we got them a week ago. But it's all kind of a toss-up anyway. Ducky is in that 'I have to explore everything' stage, whereas Gibbs and Abby are generally content to simply lay on someone and be cuddled. I'm guessing probably because they missed that in their early weeks. Ducky was like that at first. They're all real sweethearts.

August 12 is Adopt-a-Less-Adoptable-Pet Day!

2009-08-09T15:31:00.000-07:00

Petfinder.com has declared August 12 Adopt a Less Adoptable Pet Day! Less adoptable pets include older animals (above kitten and puppy age), as well as seniors, animals with special needs, shy animals, animals that are black in color, and breeds that have an accompanying stigma.

FuRR has several cats that fall into these catagories. We have older cats (we have cats from kittens to several years old), black cats, cats who are FIV or FeLK +, or have other special needs, such as being blind or lame.

You should check out Petfinder's page about this day. It provides some interesting insight.

In other news, Ducky now has some littermates. I went to a local animal control shelter that is high intake and low outgoing and rescued them from being euthanized. They're about 6 weeks old, so a little older than Ducky, and we're calling them Abby and Gibbs (yep, our own NCIS crew). They're believed to be siblings, as they were brought in together, but as is often the case with strays, nothing is for sure. But you can't tell me these kittens don't know how close they came to not making it. They are some of the most tolerating kittens I have ever seen. Abby is like a jell-o cat. You can hold her, hang her upside down, she's just very go-with-the-flow. My sister even put a bow in her "hair". Abby has a black head, legs, and tail, and her mid-section is a really dark tabby with dark grey tips. It's the funniest looking thing, but so pretty at the same time. Her brother, Gibbs, looks like a darker (bigger) version of Ducky, with more grey. He's very laid-back and playful, but not quite as social as Ducky and Abby, but he doesn't mind being held and played with. He's just not going to come running for it like the girls. He also has half a "moustache" and a "goatee". It's so funny. He's a very cute kitten, very round. I need to get some pictures of them soon to post on here. Abby, Gibbs, and Ducky should all be fixed at the September clinic, and then they'll be clear to be adopted. Abby and Gibbs should definitely be ready to be fixed then, Ducky is small so it's kind of a toss-up at this point. But Molly is available right now. She's a sweetheart, and she's gotten more "pet-me"-ish since Keely was adopted. They were littermates and buddies, but aside from depending more on humans for affection, she hasn't shown any negative effects of Keely leaving, thankfully.

We had our August clinic yesterday, and we did something or another to 58 cats! We spayed or neutered 55, and gave shots/blood tests/etc. only to 3 others. Whew!

Keely was Adopted!

2009-08-04T12:06:00.000-07:00

Keely was adopted last night! It was also the first adoption I've done alone, without S. or anyone to help me. She has 2 other torties, had 3, but one died of cardiomyopathy, and she loooooves torties. She's also an old hand in rescue so I know Keely is safe with her. Keely's name will be changed, which is fine, and when I know, I'll mention it on here. But she has a good home now, with feline and canine sisters, and a person who really knows what she's doing.

Now I just need a home for Molly and my entire first litter will have found homes.

I want to post a picture of Keely, but Snapfish (my photo storage site that I use) is being cranky. So maybe later.

Meet Ducky

2009-08-03T10:47:00.000-07:00

Is this not just one of the cutest things you've ever seen?

I rescued her on Friday, and I took her to Petsmart with me yesterday to let more experienced eyes gauge her age and health. She's 4-5 weeks old. And just for the nifty birthday, I think I'm putting it on July 4. It's right at about 4 weeks, but when she's older a week won't matter, and she'll have a fun and easy to remember birthday. And an annual celebration, lol. She's surprisingly healthy, and her ears are remarkably clean. Other than being covered in bug bites, she's great. Still dirty in spots, she didn't appreciate the short and not heavy-duty bath I gave her Friday night. So her feet and rear aren't real clean still. But she's eating good, playing good, using the litter box. Assuming she gains enough weight, she should be fixed at the September clinic, just over a month away.

Oh, and the picture is her passed out on my lap at Petsmart yesterday. The blue cord is her leash since she didn't want to just stay in my lap, and I didn't want a repeat of the Great Kitten Escapade.

Ducky is the sweetest thing. We call her Ducky because her meow is more of a 'meh' and sounds kind of like a rubber ducky, she's the first of my "NCIS crew", and she was found on a really wet day.

Now to her finding story: She was found in a ditch on Wednesday, which for anyone who lives around here, you will remember was incredibly wet. She was found in a ditch under grass and a tree limb, screaming her heart out (which I can definitely see. She's a loud mouth, lol.) So she's a survivor. Fortunately, it wasn't cold. The lady who found her couldn't find a mother or littermates, so who knows?

If you're interested in Ducky, let me or FuRR know. You can go ahead and fill out an application and all and place a deposit on her if your application is deemed to be a suitable match for Ducky. Obviously, you can't take her home until she's fixed, but she could be "your's" before then.

Update on Daytona

2009-07-29T15:33:00.000-07:00

Trying to figure out how to get his "brother" who is up on the pool table.

Daytona is apparently settling into his new home swimmingly. Our kitten who was scared of all the big cats has apparently found a kindred spirit in his new "big brother".

From Daytona's new family:
"Daytona will climb up on our bed at night (it's a pretty tall bed) and sleep above our head on the pillow....IT IS SOOOO CUTE!!! He is soooo playful. He can find ANYTHING to play with.

He is still a little shy when a new person comes around....he'll run under our bed, but he has definitely gotten used to us and our house. He loves to play on our stairs. He can't jump up on our pool table, but the bigger cat will get up there and Daytona will be underneath trying to get each other. It's so funny to watch them both. It's like they have been brothers from the get go. I was very worried that they wouldn't take to each other, but they have to my surprise!!!"

It's good to hear he's happy and has a family who obviously cares for him, both the humans and the furry. I love getting updates. It's nice to see that "my" kiddos do well in their new homes.

Daytona was adopted!

2009-07-19T16:34:00.000-07:00

Our cutie, Daytona, was adopted at Petsmart today. He's going to a family with a little girl, about 9 or 10 or so, who will love one him, I'm sure. I think he'll be okay there. Keely was looked at, but the adoption was a no-go.

But happy news for Daytona.

Cute Daytona Pictures

2009-07-18T14:55:00.000-07:00

Daytona (and my sister, Reese)

Is he not just uber precious? I'm still arguing with myself over whether I'm going to Petsmart tomorrow, after last week's fiasco. If I do, I'm taking all 3 (Daytona, Keely, and Molly). I need to get some new shots of the others too.

Update on Daytona

2009-07-16T17:59:00.000-07:00

Daytona is cute. That can't be denied in our household. He's precious. He's a ball of fur with a fur halo. And since the escapade on Sunday, we've been doing "tough love", a.k.a. loving him whether he wants to be or not. We hold him and pet him whether he wants to be or not. When my Dad was moving in my little sister's bed (which made a lot of noise), I held him through it, though he wanted to run. I shifted hands more in 2 minutes than I have in a while with him, to keep a hold on him and try to comfort him through the noise.

And over the last few days, he's gotten a lot more lovey. He's still skittish, big noises scare him. But he's much more loving. He'll come out from his favorite hiding place (under our coffee table which is low to the ground and therefore, the big cats can't get to him.) and sit on my dad. He'll go from my dad and hop over onto the other couch and sit on me or my mom. But when he's scared, he's right back under the table.

I say this after Elsie (one of my big cats) decided to go after him. There was hissing and growling but no one was injured. Although it was loud. :/ For some reason, Elsie isn't really fond of Daytona. He plays with Nuala and the others fine, but for some reason, she's just not fond of Daytona. But Daytona has some big boots. He'll hiss and growl and spit when scared. He seems to think he's much bigger than he actually is (2 lbs., a good handful).

He loves to play, though, and be petted. He loves to be petted. He'll flop over onto his back to have his tummy rubbed, and then he'll "bunny foot" as we call it and grab onto your hands and nip. It's play-fighting. None of the other kittens have really taken to him, so we're the only "training" he's had, as a singleton. But he's the sweetest thing. He's cute, precious, loving, and has a ready purr. He'll make someone a good baby.

It's Funny Now That It's Over...

2009-07-13T14:44:00.001-07:00

But at the time...it wasn't funny at all.

I went to PetSmart in North Little Rock yesterday, for the adoption show-thingy we (FuRR) do there on Sundays. I wasn't planning on taking any kitties with me, since Keely, Molly, and Daytona all got fixed on Saturday. But Daytona was acting normal, so I decided I'd take him with me. And then he decided to hide, so it was a no go. And then...he came out and I was able to catch him, so I took him with me. Soon after I got on the interstate, I got this feeling and thought for a moment about taking Daytona back home. But I was already running late, and I was going, more or less, so I could see Mac, my first (and only, so far) adoptee. Who by the way is HUGE. He's like twice the size of his sister, Nuala. But anyway, back on topic. So I continued to North Little Rock, and about the time I get into my parking spot, I get a message from K. saying the Mac is there. I text her back and tell her I'm in the parking lot. I go in, see Mac, help give him his vaccines, and hold him a bit, and say bye. And then K. gets Daytona settled into a "display" kennel. He's, to say the least, not real thrilled. There's no where to hide and there's lots of odd noises and sounds. But, I figure, it's good for him, to get used to it.

After a little while, I decide he might like to be held, to be surrounded by a familiar scent. And some of you can see where this is going, right? Yeah. I'm holding him and all of a sudden, he jumps down and is off! I'm trying to keep up with him (he went under the table, I couldn't. There were carriers there.), K. has to hand off her kitten to help me chase Daytona around PetSmart. I've never felt like I was in a H@nnah Mont@na episode, but I really did as I ran through the store yelling 'catch that kitten!' to anyone I passed. I yelled it at a group of teenage girls he ran by and only one took off after him. If you ever see this, thank you for helping.

He ran under the big shelf for cat condos and kitty litter, and we're chasing him from end to end under this shelf, trying to catch him. I would pay to have those under-areas blocked at this point. And somewhere in this, I remember thinking 'this will make a great blog post'. We have at least 10 people after this 2 lb kitten, bird nets and all kinds of things. And then...he just poofs. No one saw where he went and no one can find him. We looked just about every where in that store for roughly 3 hours. We got kitten traps brought in and set them up, and I sadly left without Daytona. We put food in the traps and set them, and hoped he would be found this morning. After all, he's a kitten. Hunger has to hit eventually.

Mom called PetSmart this morning to see if he'd been caught. He had, they just hadn't called yet. So we told them we'd be over as soon as we can to get him.

So this afternoon I went to pick up Daytona, and he just looks at me like 'HI MOM!'. Thank god, he's cute. He was found in the trap by receiving. Thank goodness, he got hungry.

Anyone want a kitten with a story? LOL.

Available for Adoption!

2009-07-11T19:47:00.000-07:00

Daytona got fixed today (7/11) and got his first round of shots. Since he's fixed and has gotten his first vacs, he is available for adoption. He's a medium to long haired gray tabby, and his eye infection or kitty cold, whatever it was, has cleared up. He's a sweetie, very cuddly. Loves to be played with. Very fluffy. He's about 10 weeks old, we're putting his birthday at May 2nd, 2009.

This is Molly. She's our feisty girl, loving, very playful, but full of attitude. She was fixed today (7/11) and has had 2 rounds of her kitten shots (out of the 3 needed for kittens). She has a very silky coat. She likes to play with dangly things. She is available for adoption. She is roughly 3 months old. I think we put her birthday at March 30, 2009. She's petite, but makes up for it in heart and attitude. :D She's Keely's littermate.

This is Keely. Keely is a very laid back tortoiseshell calico. She's very chill and loves to snuggle. She often sleeps with me, and wants to be petted, and she knows how to be insistent about getting the pets she wants. ;) She was spayed today (7/11) and had round 2 of her kitten shots. She is available for adoption. She's 3 months old, and her birthday is guessed at March 30, 2009. She's Molly's littermate.

If you would like to look into adopting one of these kittens, please email me using the email link on the left side of the page, the gray and white cat holding a letter. Just click there. Or you can email FuRR at saveacat @ teamfurr.org (without the spaces, which are there to prevent spam bots). It's $70 to adopt any of these sweethearts, which includes a bag of kitten food, coupons, a nail trim, some flea treatment, and there may be more that I'm not remembering. Not to mention a new best friend! We're at the PetSmart in North Little Rock most Sundays, but I'm not there every weekend, so if you want to meet one of these cuties, I need to know in advance to make sure I'm there if I can be.

Oh, and P.S. the names we give them are "stage names". The person/people who adopt them are welcome to change them if they like. It would just be hard to wander around calling them Cat A, Cat B, etc. LOL.

Daytona

2009-07-08T18:10:00.000-07:00

(that whitish part at the corner of his eyes are the third eyelid, I believe. They're more reddish in real life.)

Daytona, who is also sometimes called Tony, LOOOOVES to have his belly rubbed.

This is my most recent sweetie. His eyes have cleared up a lot, but his third eyelid is persistent in staying partially out. But the drainage is all clear now. He's such a lover, loves to be petted, that's all he really wants right now, is company and pets. If it doesn't go back down by Saturday, I guess FuRR's vet will have to have a look-see. But hopefully, these drops will clear it up. He's a real cutie. I hope he gets a good family soon. Same for Keely and Molly. I don't want them to go, but it's rewarding to see them go to good families, and particularly to get updates. :D Updates are fun.

What's Going Down...

2009-07-08T16:35:00.000-07:00

I got my camera back today, so I will try to take some better shots of Daytona this evening to post. His eyes are looking much better. I think they may still be running a bit, but it's clear now, instead of that greeny snot stuff. Even my inexperienced self can tell that's a good thing. He's only had one dose of some uber eye meds (I can't remember what they were) that was a kind of gel-ish stuff, and 2 drops in each eye of an eye drop that I'd have to go look at it to see what it is. But he's already looking a lot better, like his eyes aren't bothering him so much. And he never acted "pitiful" to begin with! He's still in kitty isolation for now, though. He may be fixed this weekend with Keely and Molly, provided his eyes are cleared up. Then he, along with Keely and Molly, will be available for adoption.

The older kittens, Nuala, Keely, and Molly (Nuala is spoken for, the paperwork just needs to be filled out) are getting bigger. Keely has finally gotten enough bounce into her to able to jump onto smooth surfaces. Like the toilet, and the toilet to the cabinet, etc. She was the first one to accomplish this. Little, calm, laid-back Keely. Then today, Nuala got on a box and managed to make the jump from the box to the top of our organ. Okay, there was some claw assistance there, but that's still the biggest jump she's made. Now, we're waiting for Molly to find something to scale. Of course, she may be like Chi-Chi and have no interest in heights. Chi-Chi was over 2 years old before she started getting up on anything higher than the table, and she still doesn't do it much at all.

One funny thing Molly did do, though, was pass out on Mom. She curled up on Mom and sacked out. Reese even dumped lids full of water on her and she never woke up. Then, still asleep, she gradually uncurled until she was lying, belly up, on my Mom with her front paws extended above her head and her hind legs out on the other side of Mom. Completely asleep. It was comical. But the really funny part was when she started to wake up. She went to stretch and then started to slide into the space between Mom and I, so the hind legs flew up and she went heels over head into this gap, and then she pops up with this "WTH?" look. It was toooo funny.

Hope everyone's having a good summer. Try and stay cool, and remember to keep the critters cool, too. They have fur coats after all.

New Foster Baby

2009-07-06T14:41:00.000-07:00

Reese (my sister) and Daytona

I got a new foster kit today. His name is Daytona, and he is at least 8 weeks old, based on the fact his eye color has set in. They're a pretty copper color. He's a grey tabby, VERY fluffy. I'm betting he'll either be a long-hair or a medium-hair. He has some kind of eye infection currently, so he's in kitty isolation. Poor baby has eye snot.

A lady found him this weekend and has been keeping him on her deck in the day and in the garage in her dog kennel at night. She couldn't keep him due to a variety of reasons, among them being she's way allergic to cats. So for her to be so sweet to him was really nice. He's pretty well filled out, not scrawny by any stretch, small but not skin and bones. She called FuRR and S. emailed me and asked me if I wanted to take over his "case". So I called the lady up and met her in North Little Rock and voila!, I have another kitten who absolutely ADORES being petted and loved on. His biggest bane in life right now is probably being in isolation. He's the sweetest little thing, a bit skittish but he's small, and we're big. Who can blame him?

I'll get better pictures of him this evening or tomorrow and post them.

Spay/Neuter Clinic

2009-07-05T21:06:00.000-07:00

Keely and Molly are supposed to be fixed at the clinic this weekend. They should be ready to go by the 19th (to give them a week to heal in a familiar setting, get back to acting normal, and for me to make sure their incisions are healing up okay.)

Anyone interested in these precious little buggers?

They've grown so much!

2009-07-03T13:26:00.000-07:00

It's odd to look at my kits and see how much they've grown. I guess it's kind of like preschoolers, they've lost their "baby" looks, but they're definitely not grown up either. But they've changed a lot since we got them, gotten bigger, both physically and personality-wise. Nuala's the diva, but she's also the one who will "fight" with Chi-Chi and Elsie, both of which mother all 3 of the babies. She's very playful and very loving. Molly's fiesty, she really ought to be a redhead. She's loving, but she's definitely not afraid to make it known that 'okay, time to let me down'. She's the one who used to hiss as a baby, and still does if the situation calls for it. It was really cute when she was a baby because it definitely wasn't threatening. Keely is our calm girl, she likes to be petted. All you have to do is look at her good to get a purr, touch her and you have a loud purr. She'll tolerate just about anything. Go figure, since torties usually have "tortie-tude". LOL.

They've all grown so much. It's amazing.

The Aristocats

2009-06-30T20:19:00.000-07:00

Too cute.

Kitty Pictures

2009-06-28T19:51:00.001-07:00

Nuala gets friendly sparring lessons from my older calicos, Chi-Chi and Elsie. This is Elsie.

Keely

Molly (and Keely's rear)

Cute picture of Nuala

Keely and Molly are both scheduled to be fixed July 11th. Once they are fixed (and recovered a bit), they will be available for adoption for $70. If you would be interested in adopting either of these kittens, you can email me (see the email cat on the sidebar), and I'll contact the higher-ups in FuRR, or you can email FuRR directly at saveacat @ teamfurr.org (remove the spaces).

Nuala is probably spoken for. :D

We were at PetSmart in North Little Rock today, and we adopted out at least 4 cats, I think it was 5. One of them was a 2 year old black cat known as Willow. We're always happy (and sad, too, of course, if we've fostered them) to see them find good families, but especially happy when the non-kittens get adopted.

Article About FuRR In Our State Paper

2009-06-28T19:12:00.000-07:00

Okay, well, it's more about how the vet who so graciously offers FuRR his services, offering us his services, but hey. We take publicity where we can get it.

This article belongs to Arkansas Democrat Gazette. I do not take credit for it at all.

Veterinarian has a soft spot for FuRR

By Jennifer Nixon
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

You see it pretty often, that stray cat roaming the neighborhood. You don't own it, but you feed it and look out for it. Now imagine that cat has a litter of kittens. And those cats grow up to have kittens. Pretty soon, you're looking at a neighborhood being overrun by feral cats.
Neighborhood strays, cared for but not owned, fall into what FuRR (Feline Rescue and Rehome) volunteer Dr. Cole Bierbaum calls "the gray zone."
"We started noticing that once it became and issue, that's when people would make the phone call," explains Bierbaum, a full-time veterinarian at Pinnacle Valley Animal Hospital.
That phone call would lead to the cats being trapped by animal services and taken to a shelter where the unadoptable cats would live a sad existence and then be destroyed.
It's that situation that FuRR tries to prevent.
"Our goal was, first, to try to contain or control that issue- to stop the process.
"People alert us to a cat they've been taking care of that's not really theirs but yet they really want to do something about it."
FuRR began as an offshoot of Central Arkansas Rescue Effort for Animals (CARE). A group of CARE members wanted to focus on feral cat issues and, since CARE, didn't have the resources to support such an organization, they started their own organization in 2003.
Today, FuRR is still the only organized group in Arkansas that does feral cat rescue and TNR (trap, neuter, release).
"We work over the whole state," says FuRR board president Lynne McAllester. "Our board is still doing all the grassroots work. We all get out and trap and transport. We're very proud of that. We haven't lost that connection to our mission."
After receiving a call, FuRR volunteers trap the cat and take it in to be spayed or neutered. From that point, there are several options. If the cat has a caregiver, it is returned to its old stomping grounds. If the cat is socialized- a cat that has been a pet but was abandoned by its owners, for instance- or if it's a young kitten, a foster or adoptive family is found. Otherwise, FuRR uses its network of feral cat colony caretakers to find the animal a new place to live.
FuRR also tries to help with cats that are owned but whose owners can't afford sterilization, offering low-cost spay/neuter clinics and other financial help.
The whole object is to sterilize as many cats as possible, Bierbaum says, "so we don't get to that point where we get the pregnancy or the overpopulation and people are having to surrender them to a shelter or give them away at Wal-Mart."
Sterilization doesn't just keep a neighborhood from becoming overrun by cats. It's in a city's best financial interests as well.
Bierbaum says, "It makes more economic sense for the city to have a pet sterilized than for the city to...trap it, house it, and then have to euthanize. It helps financially. Have the pet sterilized and there will be no more."
As funding and foster home space allow, FuRR rescues shelter cats that are in danger of being killed, saving cats and easing the burden on shelters. The organization's projects have also grown to include more fostering and education programs.
Educating the public about the importance of spaying and neutering and thus nipping the problem in the bud is vital.
"It all starts with public awareness and responsibility," Bierbaum says.
For FuRR, that education and awareness go beyond sterilization issues.
McAllester says, " We try to work with people."
FuRR provides support and cat care education for people when needed. Cat owners experiencing problems have called FuRR looking for help and advice.
"We've found a lot of success in talking with people and sharing what their problems are," McAllester says.
Those problems are frequently financial or behavioral. Or a new owner might just have trouble adjusting to the realities of cat care, McAllester says. "Many times we can work that out. We try to keep the kitties in their home with their families."
Volunteers are crucial to keeping FuRR running. Vets like Bierbaum provide their services, doing the reduced cost spay/neuter clinics and giving other medical help and advice. Other volunteers help trap cats, serve as foster families or care for feral colonies.
On the financial side, FuRR is supported primarily by donations and by yard sales in the spring and fall.
"We have a huge need for homes and foster homes right now," McAllester says. Due in large part to the economic troubles, more cats are being abandoned.
In addition to FuRR, Bierbaum helped several other animal organizations, including CARE, the cities of Maumelle and Sherwood animal services, Helping Hands for Little Paws, and All About Labs, a Labrador retriever rescue group.
While some of these organizations have different specialties, they all work closely with each other and with local government. "We all work together for the common purpose to spread awareness that this is an issue," Bierbaum says. "It won't go away. It only gets worse."
"If we address it now, we can be a very progressing city where pets aren't suffering."
For more information about FuRR, visit www.teamfurr.org or call (501) 661-0956.

Too funny not to share...

2009-06-23T13:06:00.000-07:00

Names have been changed to protect the identities of the...victims? People in this story. True story! LOL.

Given that I sometimes forget to do things, I'll occasionally leave something out as a reminder to myself...

Just so for worming kittens. I broke a tablet of Drontal into 4ths, to give to two kittens later in the day yesterday and left them on the kitchen counter, by the stove.

Don had asked me yesterday morning if I would re-fill his prescription when I went to Wal-Mart for milk, coffee and sugar. No problem. I got everything done and some other stuff too. I put the new bottle of his prescription where the old one was and added his very last tablet which was left, to the new bottle.

The day progressed as normal and he came home at 5:00. We ate dinner and watched tv.
About 6:30, I went over to the counter to get ready to give the pills to the kittens before I got a drink for myself. They were gone.
I looked on the floor, all over the counter, but couldn't find them.
I asked Kenzie if she moved them. She said no and followed me to ask Don if he had moved them. She knew what they were and is super up to snuff on my actions.

I went into the living room to ask Don where he'd put them. At first, he didn't understand why I was asking or what I was looking for.
When I'd described two, 1/4 tablets left by the stove - he said, "Oh, I took them already".

I replied, "Took them? What do you mean took them? Where are they? Where'd you put them?"

He says, "The last pill from my prescription, so I took it already."

Kenzie and I looked at each other, then back at him.
OMG!! I started to giggle, then laugh, and then cry from laughing so hard! Kenzie looked at him in total disbelief, her eyes got wide and she started laughing too!

Don kept asking, "What? What's so funny? What?!"

It took at least 20 mins for us to stop laughing to be able to explain to him that he'd wormed himself with Drontal!! :-P

The lady who has basically taken me under her wing in this whole fostering thing sent this to me. And my mom and I agreed it had to be shared. Just another day in the life of fostering kittens...

Sometimes you get wormed, lol.

My Tortie Suede Cat...and Other Pictures

2009-06-20T18:17:00.000-07:00

Molly and Keely (Keely will definitely be fixed in July, and the plan is for Molly to be, too. But she needs to fluff out a bit more before I'm comfortable with that. They'll both be available for adoption after they're fixed.)

Elsie, one of my permanent cats. It was too cute not to take a shot of.

Nuala, who is available for adoption, and Keely

Keely on my bed, sprawled out on her back.

Keely is my tortie foster baby. She's as sweet as can be, and calm. You barely have to touch her to make her purr here at home. She, of course, has to fight, as kittens do, because at least one kitten in the litter likes to play-fight. So she play-fights, but she really loves to just...love. Snuggle. Cuddle. Be petted.

She's really soft, too, hence the title of the post. It took me a while to figure out just what, exactly, she felt like. She has really soft, short fur, especially on her tummy. It took me a while, but finally, it occurred to me. Suede. She feels like suede. She's soft and warm like suede wrapped around a hot water bottle, or something.

She does like to play with your fingers, and that seems to always include nipping. We're working to break her of that. Any advice on that would be appreciated, other than my approach of 'no' and taking my fingers away. But she's a real sweetie, despite that. And she never nips hard.

Anyway, Keely will be available for adoption after she is fixed July 11. I think she'd make a good companion cat, she's calm with other cats, willing to curl up and be submissive to a more dominant kitty. Or a companion for a person, as she loves her one-on-one attention and love. What cat doesn't? She's really pretty, her pictures really don't do her justice. Torties are difficult to photograph, apparently. She's a mix of black, orange, and a light sherbet-ish color.

EDIT: I just realized all these pictures have my cats asleep, or just woken up. Says something about the lifestyles of cats, doesn't it?

Nuala

2009-06-18T11:42:00.000-07:00

is available for adoption. She's spayed and has had her first set of shots. And I'm now convinced her spay-incision is healing up well enough to promote her. She's a Siamese mix (her brother is Mac, who was adopted 06/14), with blue eyes and some orange spots, showing off the fact her mother is, we believe, a tortie. The orange is on her ears and her tail. Her brownish spots are darkening up as she gets older. She used to be white with spots that were just a shade darker. I had a cat when I was young who had much the same markings, and they get darker as they get older. She also has half of a mustache on her face. It's cute.

She's a sweetie, nosey and curious. She loves to snuggle and likes to be held "like a baby". She loves to play, like any kitten. She's very in-your-face. If she wants attention, she wants it NOW. LOL. But she's a precious little cat, absolutely loving. Like all the kittens I have, she's good with other cats (we have 3 permanent residents), and with small children (I have a 4 year old sister who likes to lug them around). She's about 3 months old, born right around St. Patrick's Day.

Declawing

2009-06-17T21:20:00.000-07:00

I am personally against declawing. There is one main reason people will usually declaw: it's easier on them because their furniture won't be messed up, and they don't have to worry about being scratched. As a general rule, though, these people in question have no idea what declawing actually is. Ignorance is not bliss. Of course, there are still some people who will declaw anyway, but are these really the people we want owning cats?

Your cat scratches your furniture, so you want them declawed. Get rid of the problem, right? Well, does your kid color on the walls? Cut his hands off, why don't you? That'll get rid of the problem. Okay, that may be a little extreme, but most cat owners consider their cats their children. People buy their cats treats, special beds, lots of toys, enough catnip to get half a neighborhood of cats high, just like what one would buy a child. So, if your cat is your child, why don't you consider its medical care the same? As a general rule, the medical care one performs on a child is not elective, it is for the child's benefit. Why not the same for your cat? Spaying and neutering serves a purpose, and gives a cat a better life. Declawing does no such thing. There is no good reason to declaw, aside from medical reasons, such as tumors and cancer. Cats are declawed because it's easier on the humans.

A rough comparison between humans and cats for declawing is the removal of your fingers from the last joint (the one just below your nail) out to the tip. When a cat is declawed, that is basically what is removed. Obviously, the amount is smaller, because cats "hands" are smaller. Most people who declaw do not know this. They believe a cat is sedated and the claw ONLY is removed. Now, I'm not condemning the people who have done this without knowledge. The vet should have told you this, but it's a relatively easy $100+ dollars. The word "amputation" and "disjointing" and "dismemberment" are not words you're going to throw around for an elective surgery. People tend to react adversely to those words. The claw only cannot be removed, because to remove only the claw would leave the cells that generate the claw intact, allowing the claw to grow back, usually in an unnatural fashion: to the side, top, bottom, etc. So an entire section of bone above the claw must be removed as well to prevent regrowth. It is not like removing a human fingernail.

Cats who are declawed can develop a tendency towards biting, litter box aversion, and general aggression. They don't always, but do you really want to risk a sweet kitty becoming a mean kitty over your furniture? Cats can be trained to not claw furniture, or their claws can be clipped, or there's this awesome thing called Soft Paws (c) that work as something like plastic gloves over the claws. Pretty nifty little invention actually.

Cats also be in pain while healing, as they have a tendency to walk on their "toes", sort of like if you were to walk around in a demi-pointe, on the balls of your feet. Cats walk, more or less, the same way. Now, after declawing, the very ends of their "toes" are missing. I think that would hurt to walk on. Not all cats show discomfort, or at least not discomfort as we recognize it. Cats can't talk and ask for tylenol, sadly. Sure would make life easier. Declawing procedures can also sometimes cause abcesses, and, if done incorrectly, the claws can actually grow back anyway, in a most painful fashion, and the declawing will have to be done again, as there is no other option. It can take up to 2 weeks for a cat to be close to normal after this procedure. Spaying and neutering takes only roughly 3 days.

In fact, in most of Europe, declawing is considered inhumane and is actually illegal. Turkey, parts of Japan, Brazil, Ireland, Britain, Germany, Finland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Estonia, and others all have laws against declawing except in cases where it is of benefit to the CAT, not to the HUMAN. Like medical benefit.

So...is your furniture really worth it?

After all, there are some really nice scratching posts out there, and those Soft Paws come in lots of nifty colors. And there's this thing on TV now, the Emery Cat, which I've never tried out, but it looks really awesome. In theory. As is anything on TV that hasn't been tried out. If anyone has one of those Emery Cats, I'd love to hear how they work. In theory, it sounds really awesome.

It's so hard to be cute...

2009-06-16T13:25:00.000-07:00

Molly

Nuala and Keely

Being cute is apparently very tiring.

I also thought I'd mention that on Saturday, at the spay/neuter clinic, we fixed 58 cats! That's 58 less who will add to the problem of feline overpopulation.

Update on Mac

2009-06-15T15:28:00.000-07:00

Conked out after playing.

Playing with the mouse I sent to his new home with him. He loves toy mice.

I had to send Mac's new family his FuRR ID number, and they were nice enough to let me know his usual spunk was back. He was acting kind of off when they first met him, but after the pain meds hit he started acting normal again. I was concerned that in his new surroundings, he might not show off his usual loving personality, but my concerns were, fortunately, misplaced. He was doing fine last night, playing hard and conking out, only to wake again and play some more. Just like a kitten. :D

They also sent me pictures, which I'm sharing now. I think he's going to be one happy kitty.

FIV+ Cats

2009-06-14T18:04:00.000-07:00

I don't have any, but I understand that there's a lot of ignorance and misunderstandings about cats who have FIV. I had a cat when I was about 6 who was diagnosed with FIV, and he was put down. That's not how it is nowadays. 12 years ago, FIV had a whole different connotation. As I said, I don't have FIV+ cats, but some of our other fosters have experience with them, and we have a few FIV+ cats for adoption (adult cats).

These are FIV facts from the Best Friends Animal Shelter page about FIV.

FIV Facts

1. The Feline Immuno-deficiency Virus is a slow virus that affects a cat's immune system over a period of years.

2. FIV is a cat-only disease and cannot be spread to humans or other non-felines.

3. FIV cats most often live long, healthy, and relatively normal lives with no symptoms at all.

4. FIV is not easily passed between cats. It cannot be spread casually - like in litter boxes, water and food bowls, or when snuggling and playing. It is rarely spread from a mother to her kittens.

5. The virus can be spread through blood transfusions, badly infected gums, or serious, penetrating bite wounds. (Bite wounds of this kind are extremely rare, except in free-roaming, unneutered tomcats.)

6. A neutered cat, in a home, is extremely unlikely to infect other cats, if properly introduced.

7. Many vets are not educated about FIV since the virus was only discovered 15 years ago.

8. FIV-positive cats should be kept as healthy as possible. Keep them indoors and free from stress, feed them a high-quality diet, keep and treat any secondary problems as soon as they arise.

Most FIV cats live long, normal lives, and they can live happily among other cats with no problems, since FIV is not easily spread. They are sweet and want love like any other cat.

Links to our FIV+ cats:
Sparky
Maggie
Dusty Blue

Another good link about FIV cats is here.

I can't guarantee this cats are still up for adoption, but odds are, since they're special needs cats, they are.

Mac Was Adopted Today

2009-06-14T16:02:00.000-07:00

Mac and Nuala got fixed yesterday. Mac was supposed to be adopted today, so I wasn't really thrilled when I got home, and Mac wasn't happy. Aggressive, might be a good term. I was kind of concerned it wouldn't wear off by today. Well, it didn't, he was still cranky this morning. So we took him to PetSmart, him and Keely and Molly. Nuala refused to go back in a carrier, she hissed and spat and clawed. Not that I can blame her at all, after yesterday.

When we got to PetSmart, S. gave Mac some pain meds, and shortly after, he started acting more himself. I met his adoptive parents, they were nice. He's going to be a happy kitty in a good home, I can tell. They had the most awesome looking cat carrier. So pretty. The carrier technically belongs to his new sister, Bristol. We saw some "red threads" in Mac's adoption. His new sister is named Bristol, after the race track, my dad is a big NASCAR fan, and the adoptive mom's mother has a cat named Sam, which is what Mom called Mac for 3 days after we got him. "Sam, I mean, Mac!" LOL.

I think he'll be happy there. And I think they'll be happy with him. My first adoption...I'll miss the little guy, but he'll be in a good home.

At least 2 other kittens, Spencer and Hodge, were adopted today, as well. I think one other may have been adopted, too, though I could be wrong. So, 3, maybe 4 adoptions today. Not too shabby.

We just gave Nuala some pain meds not too long ago, hoping it will hit soon and she'll stop being so grumpy. I really can't blame her though, after being spayed. She acts like herself for the most part, except for being grumpy towards the other cats.

And we obviously need more experience giving pills to kittens. We had to give Molly some Flagyl, she's been having some tummy troubles, and it wasn't pretty, nor easy. But we think we finally got it down her. 4 more times...*sigh* Maybe we'll get better at it.

You can only cut as deep as you're willing to be cut...

2009-06-12T21:09:00.000-07:00

That's what I've discovered. Mac and Nuala are getting fixed tomorrow. That means they can officially be adopted. As in, they won't be mine any more, once they are adopted. Oh, they'll always be "mine", but I won't raise them any more. It's looking real promisingly that Mac will have a family on Sunday. Some one was inquiring with FuRR about a Siamese male kitten, and the one they inquired about on Petfinder had already been adopted. I'm happy and sad at the same time. Happy, because this is what I've been raising them for. So that they would be good for new families. Sad because, well, I love them. My job has been to teach them how to love, and you can't do that unless you allow yourself to love. So fostering is something of a double-edged sword. You can only give as much love as you're willing to have taken.

I love them, I'll miss them. If any body who adopts my foster kits would like to send me updates now and then, I would love it, but I don't expect it. I wonder if maybe after the first time it will be easier. Maybe I'll ask the other foster moms at the clinic tomorrow. Many of them have been doing this for many years. The only one I know a definite number for is S., and she's been doing this for 7 years. On average, she's kept one cat she's fostered a year. So there are some that you raise that you just can't let go.

I know whoever gets my kits will be happy with them. They're all sweethearts. Molly is actually curled up on my legs right now, curled against the heat my laptop creates (they've all discovered this awesome warm spot). Whoever gets these kits will be awfully blessed with some sweet souls. My only hope for them is really good homes, where they're part of the family, not just pets.

Tons of pics, yes. I did something of a photo shoot this evening.

June is Adopt-A-Cat Month!

2009-06-08T18:16:00.000-07:00

June is the American Humane's Adopt-A-Cat Month. (Much of the following information is pulled from their site.)

Over 4 million cats are put into shelters each year. If you are looking for a loving pet, surely one of these cats is for you. Some shelters are no-kill, which means they can only keep so many pets from euthanization, unless the pets they have are adopted. And the shelters that aren't no-kill, well, they can only keep their pets for so long. Spring is a popular time for kittens to be born, leaving many in shelters, waiting for adoption and loving homes. And of course, there are always adult cats waiting for loving homes too! Kittens are cute, but older cats are sometimes better suited to some homes.

A cat can enrich your life. If you're thinking of adopting a cat, go have a look-see at your local shelter or rescue organization.

There's also information about adopting shelter cats on the ASPCA website here.

Wormer and Shots

2009-06-07T13:57:00.001-07:00

The kits got their first set of shots today, and they got wormed (standard procedure). They were all pretty good with the worming except for Nuala, who didn't appreciate it at all, at all. She spit it out at least twice. They also got their first shots, a 4-in-1, and a Feline Leukemia shot. S. also brought her scale to weigh them. Mac is a whopping 2 lbs, 11 oz. Nuala was 2 lbs. 9 oz. I think it was (I'd get up and look at the sheet of paper, except Molly is asleep beside me), Keely was 2 lbs, 6.5 oz, and Molly (our lil' bit) was 2 lbs, 4 oz. All big enough to be fixed and adopted out.

The current plan is for Mac and Nuala to be fixed at the spay/neuter clinic next Saturday. I feel that they're big enough to handle it okay. Keely and Molly, we're holding off on. I know they weigh enough, but they're still such babies to me, I don't want something to go wrong. So we're going to hold of on them until at least the July clinic. By then, we figure they'll be plenty big.

Once they're fixed, they can go up for adoption. So Mac and Nuala will probably both be at our local adoption show at PetSmart the weekend of the 20th. I could take them on the 14th, but I figure I'll give them a little time to recuperate in normal surroundings, even though they recover really quickly being so young. I can't say that I won't be sad to see them go. They've become something like a part of the family. Better than cable, kittens are. So soft, and fluffy, and cuddly. But I know FuRR will get them in good homes, where they'll be loved and cared for and treated like a part of the family there, too.

Cute Pictures

2009-06-06T17:43:00.000-07:00

Molly asleep on a fuzzy blanket

Keely, Molly, and Nuala the night I got them

Nuala and Molly enjoying cat nip (the box was full of it. We got 2 little baggies of it when we ordered Feliway from 1-800-PetMeds. One bag was busted open. So we let them at it.)

Molly being wheeled around in Reese's baby doll stroller. She was quite content to be wheeled around.

These were all taken with my camera phone, so excuse the poor quality.

A Tale of Two Kitties

2009-05-30T19:37:00.000-07:00

My older cat, Chi-Chi, is quite a lover. She's sweet, our saint cat, allows Reese to "love" (more commonly known as torturing in kitty land, I believe) her, wag her around, etc. Well, St. Chi-Chi has become quite taken with Molly. The others, she tolerates...Molly can play with her irritated flicking tail without repercussions. A love tap here and there, moreso on Mac, Nuala, and Keely than Molly, but even Molly gets a gentle love tap now and then. But for the most part, Chi-Chi is something like Molly's babysitter, body guard, whatever, following her around the house when she's let free to roam. Which the kittens love to do. Roam. Get out of their usual boundaries of the bedroom we keep them in when they can't be under relatively constant supervision. They're just so little, we're scared to let them wander much alone.

Anyway, the point of this post is, Chi-Chi and Molly are cute. Chi-Chi follows Molly around like a shadow when she's loose.
From L to R: Molly, Mac, Nuala, and Keely

In The Beginning...

2009-05-26T00:26:00.000-07:00

So...I decided to foster kittens through a local feline rescue group known as FuRR. This blog is a chronicling of my adventures, not only in fostering, but as a member of FuRR. This is a blog about giving your heart to an animal who needs, an animal that is so much more than just an animal, so much so that it seems incredibly inaccurate to refer to them as such. Cats are, as a general rule, not animals, but friends, family, children, confidants, and even those who cannot be tamed, in those luminscent eyes, there is an intelligence and a soul that cannot be denied. These felines were once known as gods, worshipped as such, and, as is commonly known among cat-lovers, they have never forgotten this. Dogs have owners, cats have staff, as the saying goes.

Since getting involved with FuRR the first weekend in May, and being handed my first litter of foster kittens on May 9, my life has changed. I love these kits like my own, and it's sad to know they will go to new homes sooner rather than later. But I know that my tending to them will give them a better chance at a good home. All of my 4 kits are completely used to be wagged around by a 4 year old child who adores them. They have no problems with other cats- it's the other cats who seem completely baffled by them.

Mac, my blue eyed pretty boy, has the markings of a Siamese and a loving nature. A loud rumbling purr he's only too happy to let you partake of. First to the food bowl and last out.

Nuala, (new-lah) my sage-blue eyed patchwork kitty, who's cream colored, but looks like she's been splattered with bleach in some spots and ink in others. She distinctly reminds me of Marie from the Aristocats in her mannerisms. She has some random orange spots, mixed with cream, at the very tip of her black tail and at the very tips of her black and cream ears. She's a sweet heart, a bit skittish at first, but very loveable.

Keely, my somewhat funny looking, yet incredibly adorable tortoiseshell. She's a marvelous mix of black, white, and orange. She's the calm one of the bunch, taking my sister's love with a grain of salt and just going with the flow. She's very relaxed and loves to be loved on.

Molly, my black and white lil' bad girl. A sweet heart as a general rule, she'll be the first to let you know when she's displeased, either because she's been scared, upset, or just because, with an adorable hiss that you know is supposed to be imposing, but she's so small it's just not possible. Despite her bad-girl attitude, she's a lover once she gets to know you, but is quick to voice any displeasure. She, like Keely, takes my sister's love, though quite begrudingly, and will take the quickest way out to get away. She's also known as my dad's "Lil' Buddy".