Feed a Cat for Christmas!!! JENN A!!!!

Jenn A.!  Thank you so much for your help in helping me to Feed a Cat for Christmas!  You are an angel. Jenn has also made a few trips to my house to donate food items for the kitties, and I could not be more grateful!

I thought I would end the year - my last post for 2016 - with a feel good story!  If you all remember Sydney and Joanie, two of the five kitten litter that I rescued this fall, here is what their new Moms have to say:

Our 1st Christmas
as told by Sydney and Piper (Joanie).

Hello humans and Happy Mew Year! To start, a TREMENDOUS Thank YOU to everyone involved in rescuing us and giving us a great shot at a good home. You also helped our siblings get adopted and got our Momma fixed so we have no more brothers and sisters roaming those cold streets alone! For that, we are so grateful!! 

We got to spend our first Christmas warm, safe, dry, and spoiled! We snuggled with our new brothers while waiting for Santa to arrive.

(Spooky and Piper)

(Sydney and Rudy)

We are fed, watered, given lots of toys and entertainment. We are turning out to be the most amazing kittens our Mom's have ever met. Who wouldn't adore us?

See how my sister is hugging my tail while we sleep? We love each other so much! And again are so happy we get to live with each other forever! Please always consider taking 2 if you can.We really are inseparable... 

As 2017 approaches, we'd like to ask for something for those not so lucky as us. Please do whatever you can to help our Mom and other friends that are still out on the streets alone, waiting for their warm, safe homes. If you have any spare change, please donate. If you have a spare room, please foster. If you can make things, a shelter is what kept us warm and dry for many nights. If you aren't able to do any of that, then please spread the word far and wide about what Janine does. You never know who may be listening and wants to help. There are so many more of us out there waiting for our furrever homes...... so PLEASE continue to help our friends!  

Again, thank YOU to everyone that helped us and continues to help all of our friends that are still out there.

We hope 2017 blesses and rewards you all!  

Much love and purrs, Sydney and Piper.... (and big bro Rudy)

AWWWWWWW!!!!!!

And from me:

I am so thankful to have all these kittens and cats come through my life... Together, with the help of fosters and adopters and those spreading the word, we have made an enormous difference in the lives of so many unfortunate souls, and stopped many from reproducing.  Every cat has brought me joy and comfort and a feeling of truly making a difference.  And I also want to thank each and every one of you.... you are my people.

In case I haven't told you lately how much I love you:  your comments, your humor, having a place to share aspects of my personality that no one in my real life "gets"... Is a wonderful gift.  Thank you for it.

PS, Kristin just wrote me that I TNR'd 44 cats and rescued 43 cats.  An average of one rescue and one TNR every 8 days all year.  Fantastic.  Again, couldn't do it without YOU.

xo

Happy New Year!  See below for the best advice for the new year, as written by Ann Landers!

Advice for All on New Year’s Day

Ann Landers

Let this coming year be better than all the others. Vow to do some of the things you’ve always wanted to do but couldn’t find the time.

• Call up a forgotten friend. Drop an old grudge, and replace it with some pleasant memories.
• Share a funny story with someone whose spirits are dragging. A good laugh can be very good medicine.
• Vow not to make a promise you don’t think you can keep.
• Pay a debt.
• Give a soft answer.
• Free yourself of envy and malice.
• Encourage some youth to do his or her best. Share your experience, and offer support. Young people need role models.
• Make a genuine effort to stay in closer touch with family and good friends.
• Resolve to stop magnifying small problems and shooting from the lip. Words that you have to eat can be hard to digest.
• Find the time to be kind and thoughtful. All of us have the same allotment: 24 hours a day. Give a compliment. It might give someone a badly needed lift.
• Think things through. Forgive an injustice. Listen more. Be kind.
• Apologize when you realize you are wrong. An apology never diminishes a person. It elevates him.
• Don’t blow your own horn. If you’ve done something praiseworthy, someone win notice eventually.
• Try to understand a point of view that is different from your own. Few things are 100 percent one way or another.
• Examine the demands you make on others.
• Lighten up. When you feel like blowing your top, ask yourself, "Will it matter a week from today?"
• Laugh the loudest when the joke is on you.
• The sure way to have a friend is to be one. We are all connected by our humanity, and we need each other.
• Avoid malcontents and pessimists. They drag you down and contribute nothing.
• Don’t discourage a beginner from trying something risky. Nothing ventured means nothing gained. Be optimistic. The can-do spirit is the fuel that makes things go.
• Go to war against animosity and complacency.
• Express your gratitude. Give credit when it’s due—and even when it isn’t. It will make you look good.
• Read something uplifting. Deep-six the trash. You wouldn’t eat garbage—why put it in your head?
• Don’t abandon your old-fashioned principles. They never go out of style.
• When courage is needed, ask yourself, "If not me, who? If not now, when?"
• Take better care of yourself. Remember, you’re all you’ve got. Pass up that second helping. You really don’t need it. Vow to eat more sensibly. You’ll feel better and look better, too.
• Don’t put up with secondhand smoke. Nobody has the right to pollute your air or give you cancer. If someone says, "This is a free country," remind him or her that the country may be free, but no person is free if he has a habit he can’t control.
• Return those books you borrowed. Reschedule that missed dental appointment. Clean out your closet. Take those photos out of the drawer and put them in an album. If you see litter on the sidewalk, pick it up instead of walking over it.
• Give yourself a reality check. Phoniness is transparent, and it is tiresome. Take pleasure in the beauty and the wonders of nature. A flower is God’s miracle.
• Walk tall, and smile more. You’ll look 10 years younger.
• Don’t be afraid to say, "I love you." Say it again. They are the sweetest words in the world.
• If you have love in your life, consider yourself blessed, and vow to make this the best year ever.

Feed a Cat for Christmas! TALITHA P.!!!

Thank you TALLY!  I met Tally at a fundraiser.  She was/is a volunteer for a large rescue organization that was having their summer bash down by the lake.  I was there to meet a friend, but as you all know me, I don't stay too long in one place.  Always on the go.  So I missed my friend but made a new one!  Thank you Tally for your generosity!! 

I thought this would make a cool picture, so I took it before I got back in the car to go to my next spot this morning.  The snow was just starting to fall.  4:54 a.m.  Click on it to see it up close.

At a few stops up, a girl stopped to ask me for a light.  I told her I didn't have a light.  Then she asked me for $.50.  I told her I didn't have any money and that I was feeding cats.  I moved closer to her and could smell alcohol.  She then asked if I had any extra cat food.  I told her I did after she told me she ran out of it for her cats.  She then asked me if I was the one on the news about the shelters being taken away on Short Street.  I said I was.  She went on to say how ridiculous it was of the city being concerned about the rats and that they were natural predators, etc.  Then she went on to tell me about some people around there - like an old man on the corner down the street that was feeding the kitties around his house.   I gave her the food, and my card telling her to call me if she sees any pregnant kitties or kittens.  I told her to go home and get some sleep.  She said she was going to get an inhaler for her asthma from her cousin and then going home.  She walked away and lit a cigarette.  hmmm...

It was actually a very mild morning - no wind, and not too cold.  The forecast is calling for some major snow starting today, coming in bursts.  I am not looking forward to that, and I am positive the cats that are out there aren't either.  I am so thankful for the shelters I have built for the lucky ones that find them at the 16 locations I have set up.  Although with high winds and blowing/drifting snow, it easily can get into these shelters.   Oh I wish I had a home or building for all of them.  Until then, I do what I can do.

Did you know...

1. While you may think your cat is narcoleptic, it’s natural for them to spend a lot of time napping.  The average cat spends roughly 2/3 of its life sleeping.
2. Cats don’t have collarbones – this allows them the flexibility to fit through openings the size of their heads.
3. In North America, there are more cats than dogs.  In fact, according to the Encyclopedia of Cats, over 30% of households own at least one cat.
4. A group of cats is called a clowder.
5. According to Tips for Cats, all kittens are born with blue eyes.
6. According to two psychologists at Queen’s University Belfast, female cats tend to be right-handed, while male cats favor the left.
7. There are 40 recognized breeds of domestic cats in the world.
8. According to Love Meow on why cats purr, “Cats can purr while inhaling and exhaling. This is a technique that we simply cannot imitate.”
9. According to Jenni Bidner, author of Is My Cat a Tiger?, a “cat can travel at a top speed of approximately 31 mph over a short distance.”
10. Also according to Bidner: “A cat can jump up to five times its own height in a single bound.”
11. Egyptians were serious about their cats: they held funerals for their dead feline friends, then entombed them either in the family crypt or a pet cemetery, often surrounded by tiny mummies of dead mice.
12. Also in Egypt, smuggling out a cat was punishable by DEATH.
13. According to The Telegraph, the British government feeds 100,000 cats to keep down mice population on government property.
14. The first cloned cat was named “Little Nicky” and cost $50,000.
15. The world’s biggest wildcat is the Siberian Tiger.
16. The largest litter on record is 19 kittens, 15 of which lived.  They probably had to eat in shifts.
17. According to Random Facts, “In Holland’s embassy in Moscow, Russia, the staff noticed that the two Siamese cats kept meowing and clawing at the walls of the building. Their owners finally investigated, thinking they would find mice. Instead, they discovered microphones hidden by Russian spies. The cats heard the microphones when they turned on.”
18. Also per Random Facts, “One reason that kittens sleep so much is because a growth hormone is released only during sleep.”
19. A cat named Andy fell 16 apartment stories and survived – the record height for a cat fall.
20. Kittens lose their “baby” teeth at around 6 months old.
21. Cats are CLEAN – probably cleaner than you.  They spend 1/3 of their “awake time” grooming.
22. According to the Way of Cats, our furry friends must learn to climb down a tree, whereas climbing up is instinctive.  They also can’t climb down head-first because their paws point the same direction, so they are forced to back down.
23. According to 25 Strange But Interesting Facts About Cats, “Cat urine glows in the dark when a black light shines on it. If you think your cat or kitten has had an accident in your home, use a black light to find the mishap.”
24. The world’s first cat show occurred in London in 1871.
25. After a cat named Hamlet escaped his carrier on a flight, he travelled an estimated 373,000 miles before being discovered seven weeks later.
26. The average cat has about 130,000 hairs per square inch.
27. The biggest domestic cat breed is the Maine Coon.
28. According to Science Kids, “The heaviest domestic cat on record is 21.297 kilograms (46 lb 15.2 oz).”
29. It’s not just Amazon’s idea:  a group of baby cats is sometimes called a kindle.
30. According to Catster, “A cat reaches the approximate human age of 15 during its first year, then 24 at age 2. Each year thereafter, it ages approximately four ‘cat years’ for every calendar year. Thus, a 5-year-old feline would be approximately 36 in cat years.”
31. The Pet Wiki claims Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar and Genghis Khan all suffered from ailurophobia, the abnormal fear of cats.
32. English writer Geoffrey Chaucer cited a cat door in his 14th Century work Canterbury Tales, so we know they are at least that old.
33. The primary use of a cat’s whiskers is to determine if he or she can fit through an opening.
34. Grown cats rarely, if ever, meow at one another.  As kittens, cats meow to ask things of their mothers – so if your grown cat talks to you, it may be an indication that he or she sees you as a maternal figure.
35. The lifespan of the average cat is between 15 and 20 years.
36. The most expensive cat breed?  Reportedly the Ashera costs $125,000.  It is a hybrid of the domestic housecat, the Asian Leopard Cat and an African serval.  The most expensive specific cat on record was an ALC-Domestic Shorthair blend named Zeus.  He sold for $154,000.
37. According to PBS Nature, 25% of cat owners blow dry their cat’s hair after a bath.
38. In 2006, between cats and dogs, Americans spent $23.2 billion on veterinary care.
39. People are allergic to cat dander, not cat fur.
40. Unless they are polydactyl (aka multiple-toed, aka Hemingway cats), cats have five claws on their front feet and four on their back.
41. Florence Nightingale named a number of her cats after famous figures, including Otto von Bismarck.

Who knew??  :)

Have a GREAT day!

Feed a Cat for Christmas! LISE B.!!!

Lise!  Thank you LISE B.!! for helping me to Feed Many Cats for Christmas!  I met Lise years ago when she was volunteering for Lollipop - I don't recall what I was doing there - maybe I had volunteered to help with a gala they were having, or once had - not sure they have those anymore - regardless, this is also where I ran into my old friend from grammar school.  We all made an instant connection.  I am grateful to have Lise back in my life.  What a sweetie... Thank you!

DASHER - Available for Adoption

An update on Dasher.  Dasher and his foster mom met me at the vet on Monday to discuss his aggressive behavior toward his foster mom.  The vet we met, I just love this man - he gave me second opinion on two of my cats - Patches - God rest his soul - didn't make it, but Spencer did, and with medication, enjoys a healthy life in my home.  He spent a good 30 minutes with us talking about behavior in animals, and he firmly believes that its TIME that will cure Dasher, and most likely, that's it.  These cats come off the streets and have had to fend for themselves, fight for the food, etc.  They get rescued, and are enclosed in a room, and have no other way to let their fear out.  By yesterday, Dasher was already calming down.  Dr. G. gave Foster Momma several tips and pointers, and introductions to the dogs and other cats have slowly been made, and with success!  Dasher will soon be ready to go to his forever home, and hopefully with people who realize the needs and challenges these cats face when rescued from the streets. The doc figured he is between 1-1/2 to 2 years old, and with a clean bill of health!  He is gorgeous to boot!

FLUFFYPANTS! (#2)

Fluffypants – UPDATE!  Fluffypants is going to be adopted by his foster mom.  Yes, another ‘foster failure’, but its not really a failure.  Alaine and Bill have been ‘bitten’ by the cat bug for a while now.  They suffered heartache when they had to give up fostering Paddy because another kind person who wanted to adopt him.  So when they got Fluffypants to foster, they knew they found the perfect cat to join their household.  Who knows, maybe they will want to foster again in the future.  For now though, I’ve lost a foster.  We need more fosters!  HELP!

Dixie – guess what???  Dixie is also being adopted!  A wonderful rescue group reached out to me yesterday offering one of their former adopters to meet Dixie.  The president of the group thought there was just something about Dixie that this wonderful family was looking for.  So she came and got her yesterday after I got home from work, brought her to the family for an hour long meet and greet, and they fell in love with Dixie!  I will be bringing her to her new home on Friday, my day off.  There was another wonderful family that wanted to give Dixie a home, but I had to turn them down.  I felt horrible about it, and I won’t post why, but they were a very nice family also.  When I give a little kitten away, its like my own child, and I have to do what I feel in my heart.  The situation has to be perfect.  Not always for the adult cats, but for kittens, it must be.  I want to thank my friend Melissa for all she does for me, and the kittens and cats she has fostered.  She  has helped change the lives of so many to become good companions ready for adoption.

Scenes from this morning:

Rescuing is hard work.  Sitting on the sidelines is easy.  You see this pretty kitty?  Everyone wants me to grab the pretty kitties but don't always speak up about the other not so pretty ones - especially when I post their pictures on Facebook.  But the reality of it is, I don't always have room in my house for another to hold while trying to adopt that cat out, or to get it the needed medical attention all cats do when they are first taken off the street - and who is going to step up and say 'I will take it, I will have it spayed or neutered, I will have it tested, and I will try to adopt it out, and if its positive for FIV or Felv, I will keep it as my own, or do what I have to do for this animal.'  I NEED MORE FOSTERS!   

PARSELLS

New kitty where Luna was rescued on Chamberlain and Parsells - I fed this morning again.

Central Command Post:  This shelter below looks like a homeless person shelter.  But its the best I can do right now - I added another brown tarp to the left as you can see - just this morning.  I hope and pray someone doesn't come along and destroy it - it houses several young kittens and adults.  Its really an eyesore and is very obvious in broad daylight.  I wish I had more help in figuring this location out.  Click on the pics to see up close.

Have a great day!

WORDS

"Words have the power to build, and they have the power to destroy.  Choose your words and your tone of voice wisely.  Do this while speaking to others and to yourself.  Keep your words positive.  IF you need time to choose your words, remain silent for a few moments.  This will bring more joy to your relationships and your life."

I need to remember this more often!

Feed A Cat for Christmas! NANCY C!

My friend NANCY C! is making this donation in memory of Snowflake, who she rescued from me when she rode with me that lucky morning on a very cold winter day.  Snowflake was one of many!  Snowflake recently passed away, and she is missed dearly - she was just a young kitten in this picture.  I am so blessed to have Nancy with me that day when she said 'Lets get her off the streets!'   She was loved so much.  Thank you NANCY!!! 

SNOWFLAKE

Winds were whipping out there today!  I was prepared to have half my shelters blown away.  But luckily only had to batten down a few tarps here and there.

For anyone that is not familiar with what I do – for the past 20+ years now, I’ve been getting up and going out into the cover of darkness at 4 am. to feed hungry homeless stray and feral cats in the Beechwood section of Rochester – its near the public market.  I cover from Culver/Parsells, all the way down to Niagara Street, close to Portland.  I have 16 shelters set up for cats that house an average of 5 – some more than that.  One of my spots I’ve counted 15 cats, and there are not enough shelters there because they have, and will in the future, been taken away because they are on a house that has been vacant for some time.  But these cats have nothing else, so I provide what I can for them at this location.

I go through nearly 30 pounds of dry food a day, and nearly 54 of the 5.5 oz. cans of wet food, EVERY DAY.  Up until maybe three years ago, when I started having a fundraiser each year – and raised awareness to what I do, I did all of this myself out of my own pocket.  I still do, but have had more drop offs of food, and donations from campaigns, like the Feed a Cat for Christmas campaign, that really help me out. 

Each shelter has either plastic totes, or Styrofoam boxes painted dark brown or black so they are not so obvious, and pallets and boards and tarps to cover them.  To see the little faces come out of these shelters in the morning makes me feel good.  When the City removed and destroyed two of the shelter locations this past summer, I was devastated – for the cats.  This was their only home.  I have since rebuilt, but with all these shelters, they could be gone in an instant.

There is one location that is on the demolition list for 2017.  The house could be gone tomorrow.  I now need to start again, looking for a new spot right near there, so that I can try to get the cats over to it.  I will need to build up a shelter, and it’s a lot of work doing it, and getting them to come to it.  They will be so confused. Its terrible to lose a spot (feed and shelter area).

I also trap neuter and return cats to the street so that they won’t reproduce.  I bring them to a clinic nearby.  It costs me $65 per cat to do this.  I hate doing this – to return a cat to the streets to fend for itself, but there aren’t enough people out there willing to help a cat.  I also rescue those that I can.  I think I’ve rescued at least 60 this year.  Kristin, my friend, will have to help me with this total. 

It’s a (dreaded) labor of love that I do this – I’ve sacrificed a lot in my life because of it – but I know they are hungry and waiting for me each day so I begrudgingly get up and go out, no matter what the weather, because they are on the clock!  I sometimes have to bring a shovel to dig out their little huts out so that I can get in and pour food, empty a frozen ice bowl of water, pat a tiny head.  I wish I had more like me, I could have some rest.  But for now, with your encouragement and help with food donations, I carry on.  

Here are the angels I've rescued recently that are needing a permanent home:  (CLICK on Picture to see up close!)

Dasher

Dixie

Mr. Fluffypants #2

Bacardi does not come with the human.  :)

Peaches - does not come with a human toe

They are all being fostered right now, but are all in desperate need for a permanent home.  Please consider.  Also, please consider foster for one of the angels out on the streets.

Have a GREAT day!

LISTENING

"You were given two ears and one mouth.  This is because it is more important to listen than to speak.  There is a difference between simply listening to people and listening with deep interest. 

Listening with interest signifies that you really care.  When listening to someone, keep eye contact and create mental pictures to help you remember the conversation.  Ask this person for updates the next time you meet."

LOVE THESE DITTIES!

Feed a Cat for Christmas! MONICA L.!!

Dear MONICA L. - Thank you for helping me to Feed a Cat for Christmas!  Many cats actually!   Such generous people  I am not sure how Monica and I 'met', but I am very grateful that our paths have crossed.  Thank you!

This weekend was a blur.  I had Thursday and Friday off, and today, and its never restful.  I am out of my mind with things to do.  Of course, my TO DO list for home stuff never got done.  Maybe, just maybe today they will.  Although I have a vet appointment at 2 pm. with Dasher and his foster mom.  Lets see if we can get some good suggestions for Dasher and his aggression, which seems to be dwindling a bit after Foster Mom has learned some new tricks!

POSTER of Luna, the missing cat in JUNE 2016

The highlight of this weekend was the reunion of a man and his cat that was lost since June.  So Friday morning, as I turned the corner from Parsells onto Chamberlain to get to my next feeding shelter on Garson, and I saw a cat dart between parked cars, so as usual, I had to get out and place food and water for the kitty, like I do for so many others just about every morning...  As I set the food down, I heard crying, and this cat shows up and starts to come closer and closer, and finally came right up to eat.  I petted it, took a picture of it, as I usually do with the cats I feed, and off I went.  I came home and posted the pics of the morning on Facebook, and a friend Carole saw it later that day, and being one of the many people who pay attention to lost cats that are posted on Craigslist, and elsewhere, she recognized this cat.  She put picture to picture together, and voila, she knew she had a match!  She contacted the owner of the cat, asked if the cat in the picture I took was his cat, and he couldn't believe what he was seeing.  He called me, and thanked me and asked if I would try for her again tomorrow, and to call him no matter what time it was - I had told him I do all this from 4-5 every day of my life.  :)  I told him it would be early IF we could get his LUNA.

Picture of cat I fed on the side of the road on 12/24/16

The next morning, I set out doing my four stops prior to going to this corner, I got out, set the food down, made the normal kissing sound, and there she came, sauntering over to me, and as soon as she was comfortable taking a few bites, I grabbed her by the scruff and took her over to the waiting carrier that Saturday Sheryl had open for me.  I called MIKE, and told him, and brought him to his house which was just blocks away.  He was nearly crying.  He said he had given up hope in ever finding LUNA.  I had tears in my eyes as I saw his joy.  YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!

REUNITED!  At 4 am!

Mike and Luna Reunited!  - she sure looks happy to be home!

Lets hope that all missing kitties are found.  Please spread this blog far and wide in hopes that some of the pictures I take are cats that might be found! 

Have a wonderful day!

ENDURANCE

"The challenges of life help you build endurance of the body, the mind, and the spirit, and endurance fosters success.  When you feel like giving up, remember that your chance of achieving your goal will get much greater if you hold on for just a bit longer."

Feed a Cat for Christmas! ELAINE V.!!!!

Thank you ELAINE V.  for helping me to Feed a Cat for Christmas!  Elaine read about me in the newspaper, and offered to help out to feed some kitties for Christmas.  I am so grateful to Elaine.  Although I've never met her, talking to her makes me feel good.  A sweet and kind older woman, with a heart of gold!

I've been noticing a tabby kitty that looks rather bulky in the middle on Parsells.  She comes right up to eat, she seems so hungry.  I had reached out to see if any rescues could take her, and after a day or two, got the OK to rescue under the condition that a vet had to see her to confirm her pregnancy.   Otherwise, they will not take her.  I can see their point.  I went ahead and grabbed her this morning. She does seem like a nice cat.  No hissing, let me pet her through the carrier door, and I placed food in her carrier and she started to gobble it up.  Its just disappointing because I will have to return her to the streets.  I am naming her SUNSHINE for now.

SUNSHINE

I cannot take in another cat while I have people out there - three to be exact - fostering cats for me.  Its not fair to them.  One is having a hard time with her charge, and needs to return him to me because of his aggression toward her.  I feel terrible about that and it will take a toll on me and my house when he has to be returned.  We are going to see what the vet says about this the day after Christmas, Monday, and hope that they might have a solution.

Otherwise, it was the usual morning out there.  I saw these prints - most likely a dog, leading to my shelters on Pennsylvania.  The next pic is of the kittens and others on Central and Second.  Hungry little things. I need to do more trapping there. 

This next picture - I saw a cat dart from under a car on Parsells and Chamberlain and I got out to put food and water for it.  It came right up to me, hungry.  I would say this is someone's cat, but probably is a stray.  Lost.  If anyone can post this picture far and wide, I would appreciate it.  Lets find her home.

Have a great day all!

CALM

"When faced with difficulties, you have a choice.  You can choose to explode or you can respect those around you and proceed calmly.  Choose calmness reduces the stress of all involved, results in better decisions, and promotes longevity.  Learn from the situation and move on."

Feed a Cat for Christmas!!! SHARYN and JESSICA!!!

SHARYN and JESSICA!  Thank you for helping me to feed MANY cats for Christmas!  What can I say about these two.  Sharyn is Jessica's Mom.  Jessica found me, I think my blog was it?  I wound up going over to meet her, and several times more, meeting most of her family.  Her Dad built me a shelter or two and provided me with tarp materials and stuff to help with the kitties.  Her grandmother, even though is not fond of cats, has been generous in providing food for them which her daughter buys and gives to me when I go over.  Her family has been a blessing to me, and in many ways, almost like a second family to me.  I love them dearly and wish I could be with them more in my life.

The little tabby that looks like she is pregnant was there this morning, but kept her distance from me.  A rescue offered to take her, but my worry is that WHAT IF SHE ISN'T pregnant.  Do you put her back?   I would hate for her to go back to the street.  There are so many things involved in rescuing a cat!  I wish it were easy!  I wish there were more fosters out there!

I saw so many tiny footprints in the snow this morning.  These ones were particularly small, but not those of a kitten.  No worries.  I have not seen any new kittens yet, so far.

(CLICK ON PICS TO SEE UP CLOSE!)

I wanted to capture and show you this little 'village' I've built for several cats at one of my locations.  This shelter provides at least eight cats their own 'quarters.'  Each morning when I truck to the back of this lot, I can see at least four little ones coming out after hearing my snow crunched footsteps.  First there are three reds, and then a calico, and then a tabby.  All hungry, and waiting patiently for me to serve them breakfast!

Once I am finished up with the above location, I am DONE.  Its a relief.  Its a toll on me in the winter, my bones ache after this hour and nearly half journey I make EVERY SINGLE DAY.  Ugggh.  Wish I could clone myself and have her (I would name her Natasha) go out sometimes.  I just want to stay in bed.  :(

BACARDI

DASHER

DIXIE

On another note, we have little Dixie chick waiting for a home, and we have beautiful Bacardi, and beautiful Dasher all waiting for forever homes.  Help me to find one for them, so that I can continue to rescue more of these sweet babes.

Have a great day!

Warmth

"Hearts should come with a label that reads "Keep Warm."  Warm the hearts of others with a smile.  Give a heartfelt handshake, a hug, or a note of encouragement.  Use a soft, kind voice with positive, encouraging words.  Warming the hearts of others has a rewarding side effect:  your heart warms up as well!"

Feed a Cat for Christmas! CHRISTINE G!!!

Thank you CHRISTINE G. for your generous gift to help me feed the kitties in the Beechwood section of Rochester for Christmas!   You are so giving and kind.  I've 'met' some wonderful people by doing this blog, and feeding the cats in the Beechwood section of Rochester in the past 20+ years.  I think I am nuts. Certifiably.

The temperature was much milder out there this morning.  I was planning on grabbing a kitty I think might be pregnant on my first Parsells stop.  She lets me feel her belly, but then hisses.  The past two mornings she has come around – prior to that she sits at the bottom of the steps waiting for me to finish up pouring the food.  She let me pet her during those mornings.  Today I went to grab her by the scruff, like I always do when I am going to rescue a cat and place them in a carrier, but this time I didn’t get her scruff just right.  The correct way will immobilize them long enough for me to place in carrier, but the carrier was too far away for this awkward grab, and she struggled immensely, so I had to put her down.  BUT, she did not run away, she stayed and ate.  I gave her a pat and told her I would try again.

Onto the next stop on Parsells where I’ve counted 15 cats at one time.  Shelters on the porch of this vacant home, along with a few scattered under the bushes.  The long haired whitish cat was not to be seen – since I was going to rescue it the next morning!  Same with Jane at the previous spot – the day I decide to rescue that older girl, she never appeared again!  What is going on?

I took a bunch of pictures this morning to share.  This is what I see each day.  (don't forget to click on the pics to see up close!)

Last Stop - Pennsylvania Ave.

 

Central and Fifth

Central and Fifth

Third and Central - waiting for the good stuff - wet food

Third and Central (inside boarded up doorway)

Second and Pennsylvania

Second and Pennsylvania

Third and Central

Garson Ave

Suspected Pregnant Girl on Parsells

Parsells cats

More Parsells Cats Waiting Patiently to come up

Suspected Pregnant Girl on Parsells

Thats it in a nutshell.  This is what I do each and every day!

Have a good one!

Generosity

"Create a habit of giving your attention, time, efforts, talents, and resources to others.  This is best done without expecting anything in return.  Giving often feels better than receiving and can enrich your life in ways you may have never imagined."