Happy Monday!

For anyone who doesn’t know what I do or where I do it, here’s the scoop.

Nearly 20 years ago, I drove to the public market in the wee hours of the morning – I hate crowds, and I am an early riser regardless! – and when I was driving home, my headlights shined on an empty lot – Bay Street and First Street to be exact - with several pairs of eyes illuminating in the dark.  I knew they were cats, as I had seen several around by now.  I drove home, got some food, placed it, went back the next day, placed some more, and there you go.  Hook, line and sinker.  I was hooked.  On feeding cats.  Next thing you know, I had brought some little houses for these cats to take shelter in, with winter looming around the corner. 

Today, I feed nearly 100 cats – I can count at least 70 each day, those are the non-ferals.  The ferals are hiding around the corner waiting for me to leave because of their fear of humans.  The non-ferals are the cats that have been abandoned, discarded, neglected.  Neglect from non-spay or neuter.  You can always tell when there is a cat around that is not neutered or spayed.  The males are fighting, and the females are howling being in heat. 

I go through 30-40 pounds of dry food each day, and three jugs of water.  I also go through at least 44 cans of wet cat food EACH day.  Cats need this.  Especially the cats living on the streets.  In the wild, cats get most of their moisture from the animals they hunt and kill, but unless they are hunting mice and eating them on a regular basis, they rely on me for all their food and water. An exclusive dry food diet just won't do it, because they don’t get a sufficient amount of water from the dry.  Plus, it plumps up their body fat which they need to get survive our brutal winters.

I spay and neuter two cats per week from spring through the beginning of winter (if it’s a decent fall).  I rescue those that I can.

I adopted out Lucy and Jace this weekend to two sweet college girls (yes, they are very responsible!) and I look forward to getting updates and pictures of the kittens as they grow and begin to develop a relationship with them.  Jules is also going to his new home this coming weekend, after his new mom and brother came over to meet him.  I am praying (with fingers crossed) that they will adopt Jinx with him, because they are bonded, and I don’t want Jinx to be alone.  He’s been part of a foursome for a long time now.  Jinx was the last of the litter to be rescued from Seventh Street, prior to his sibs Lucy and Jace.  Jules came from Central and Fifth, trapped with his mom.

Speaking of trapping and kittens, I finally spotted a kitten next to the auto repair place on Bay on Sunday morning.  I set two kitten traps this morning, but no luck.  My heart aches for this.  Yes, if anyone is able to help me with this project, I welcome it.  I also need to get momma spayed so tomorrow I may set a trap there as well for her.  Its TNR Tuesday tomorrow, I have two spots at the clinic, $60 each. 

My wish list:  paper bowls (not Styrofoam), brown tarps, someone to come over and cut some large boards up so that I can transport them to build new shelters.

I also want to add that the fundraiser on October 1^st will not be doing gift baskets, but I would love donations of $25 max of gift cards, wine, wine glasses, plants, jewelry, ANYTHING that you personally would like to win for a raffle.  I could really use help with donations like that.  I am also looking for a band, if we can find one.  Otherwise, we will still have music – perhaps a jazz band!  Either way, it will be one great party of food, music, booze, and soft drinks of course. 

That’s it for today.  Off to work! 

Have a great day!

"In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit."