Hippity Hoppity!

TGIF.  Its been a very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very ........  sorry!  a very long week!

Its over for work after today, for two days, but not for going out at 3:45 am. to feed hungry cats.  I've also had traps set every day this week, which adds to the stress of feeding, and add to the time I am out there.  I know of two very pregnant cats and I have been unsuccessful in getting them trapped.  I only have so much time, and then have to pack it in so I can get to work.  Its sad knowing babies were born somewhere outside, under my watch. 

The male cat I had in my care last night, DeGeorge, was let back out onto the streets this morning.  His very male scent still lingering in the truck, and on my porch.  Boy do they run when sprung.

So far, Miss Kitty, the kitten I trapped two mornings ago, is doing fine in the cage in the barn in Newark.  I hope to get regular reports on her from her new mom/caretaker!  :)

Connor is going to his new foster this Saturday.  I feel he needs to be seen by another vet, sort of a second opinion.  He has no fur on his legs or under his belly.  I have not seen him licking, so that's not the issue.  And his nose sounds plugged.  Ok.  Done, I just made an appointment for him.  But he still better behave for his new foster mom!

Buffy was reported to have breathing problems again yesterday.  I am waiting to hear from Carol today to see how she is doing.  Babies are well.

That's all  I have for today. 

Happy Easter everyone!

Stud Muffin

This will be quick and short. 

This stud muffin will no longer be servicing the girls in the Beechwood section of Rochester.  This is one feral male.  Even when he was placed in truck he let off a scent that is unmistakable.  Nevertheless, he’s a cat that should never have been homeless in the first place.   His mother was a feral cat and she had him outdoors, most likely.  And most likely, his siblings, or some of them, died shortly after they were born, or at some point thereafter.  That’s the life for feral cats.  Sad but true.  And its our fault, the humans, for not doing something about it a long time ago.  Sure, there are those of us, the few and the brave, that try our best to do something about it, but its not enough and more should have been done a long time ago.  By our government.  We should have been paying people to go out and spay and neuter – it really would have made a difference.  We should have come up with a birth control that you just put the water for them and no more babies.   SOMETHING!  But now its so out of control, and its global!  I went to Greece back in 2003 and their road kill is dogs.  The cats, well they were all over the place, hanging out in the coliseums and countrysides, running through the small towns, large towns like Athens, gypsy camps, all over the place.  That was the only sad part of the trip.

But here we are, the few and the brave, trying our best.  This guy will go back to the street this evening, after the anesthesia wears off.

The kitten I trapped yesterday morning, she is out in the country as I type, being transferred to a cage in a barn, a very nice barn, a very nice horse barn, where she will be acclimated for a week or two, and then let out after learning to trust her new humans.  She was pregnant.  Very early, but she was pregnant.  And no more than SIX MONTHS OLD.  Pathetic.

Thanks to one girl Laurie, who said I WILL TAKE HER, not knowing her temperament as being feral, that I myself thought twice about letting her back to the streets.  So glad this other girl offered her barn.  Thank you Ashley.  Take care of this little girl, and keep us posted!

NYX - Such a beautiful boy...

Buffy and babies all doing fine.  Parsley and Hermie coming out of their shells.  Onyx making progress each day as well  All are up for adoption, or will be.  Kittens, not for a while.

HERMIE

PARSLEY

Connor is doing well also.  His test results came back, and he should be good to go.  I am just hoping his fur grows back. 

That’s it, off to work.  Have a great day.

"A strong and positive attitude

creates more miracles than any

other thing, because life is 10%

how you make it, and 90% how

you take it."

Hopelessness

So here are my thoughts and doings so far today.  Well, lets back up.  Yesterday was my birthday, and what a great day it was for me.  I never felt so loved.  From my co-workers, which is not always the case, to my Facebook friends, to my friends.  Seriously, it was a perfect day for me, even though it rained.

So this morning, in my quest to trap a VERY pregnant cat that I’ve seen for well over a week now, and have been setting a trap every day, knowing Kristin will take it in, and then seeing another yesterday, I set the trap again this morning, and trapped a very young kitty, probably no more than 8 mos. old.?  Most likely a female by its colorings.  I have no place to bring it to, so I am pulling out all the stops trying to get any of the clinics to take her so I can get her back on the street.

Fast forward, driving to work, I slip John Lennon CD in to play – my friend Jacqueline gave to me for a present yesterday, and my favorite song #9 Dream is playing, and I am just about in front of Wambachs and get a red light ahead.  I see a man walking with a walker ahead, couldn’t be any older than 60, sort of reminds me of my step dad when he was alive.  The song is cranking, it’s a sad beautiful song to begin with, and then man with the walker suddenly stops, straightens up as if he is in pain.  I pass him when the light turns green, and I was overwhelmed with incredible sadness.  I couldn’t help but think of not only the cats suffering, but human suffering as well.  I thought about my mother, myself, others – we ALL are suffering in some form or another, and if not now, we will be.  The older we get, the more we suffer.  Its overwhelmingly sad for me to see others in pain, especially those I am close to.  I don’t know why, but I am a basket case today.

On a better note, Buffy and her kittens have been reunited.  It’s a sweet and wonderful thing to see.  I am so glad I made the decision to return them to her, even though she was given an antibiotic of Convenia that could potentially harm them, but chances are such that it won’t.  It’s just natural for them to be together.  Just so heartwarming.

And I still haven’t gotten anywhere with this poor animal in the trap.  I don't know what to do.  Ugh.

"God grant me the

courage not to

give up what I

think is right even

though I think it is

hopeless."

Trippin' Tuesday

Coming soon!

First normal day since last Thursday?  Or somewhat normal.  So much has gone on.   First, update on Buffy.  She was doing much better when I received the call from the vet around noon yesterday saying she could come home.  She was out of the oxygen chamber, and in a regular area, but stressed, probably due to the goings on there.  They had covered her up so she wouldn’t be as frightened.  Her respiratory rate had gone from 100 something down to 60 something.  Normal respiratory rate in cats is around 20-30 something, apparently.  They ruled out many things after doing x-ray, blood work, and a chemistry panel.   She had a dark spot on her lungs after the xray, which could also mean a few things.  Heart slightly enlarged, but no murmur.  Eye gook, could be herpes virus.  Calcium normal.  No baby inside her still.  Not pyrometra.  She was given Convenia, sent home with script for Cisapride – a gastric-emptying med due to her belly showing more fluids than normal, and told to watch her.  The bill came to the tune of $1900.  Can you imagine?   I received donations to cover the bill from many wonderful people who cared so much for Buffy.  I would never be able to express my gratitude in a million years to those that donated.  And I can tell you, years ago, when I didn’t know all of you then, I couldn’t do this for a cat.  It would be a fateful situation for her.  With my income, and debt, I could never add that to it, especially with what I do each morning to feed and save them.  I couldn’t do both.  And without one, I wouldn’t have been able to save Buffy.  So you see, I am extremely grateful for your donations. 

Now the hard part.  I’ve had quite a few people stop by and bottle feed the babies that are in my care.  I was told by the vet that mixing Convenia and breast milk is not a wise idea.  But after much research, and opinions from others, it’s a mix.  I am going to go ahead and give these babies back to their mom today.  And give mom back her babies!  And of course, if Buffy is stressed due to them being back, we will have to go with Plan B.  So fingers crossed, prayers said, it’s a happy and healthy reunion for them.  Stay tuned.

I pulled up to my spot at Parsells #1.  All my shelters were placed by the side of the road.  There are at least four cats here that depend on those shelters, and the food I leave them.  One cat is a rag doll.  I am beyond devastated, once again.  There is no other spot I can make in place of it.  The only vacant lot is right next door to INSANE Lisa.  I don't know what I will do.  The property is 292-294 Parsells Avenue, if anyone knows any info about this?

Connor is still hanging on.  He is eating voraciously and I noticed his dry food bowl was nearly empty.  Dry food was something he could not eat last week.  He still is skin and bone, and has no fur underneath.  He looks funny, but loves to roll over and get his belly rubbed.  Mind you, this is a cat I’ve fed for YEARS.  He was a mean thing, no fear, and would scratch your eyes out if you crossed him.  (kidding…. But I wouldn’t get too near him).  Here he was, years later, far away from his original area, and in desperate need of medical attention.   I am so glad I was able to get him, and that he has come to trust humans once again.

That’s it for now.  Very little time today to write.

Have a WONDERFUL day!

"One day this will all be a memory

and I'll be just fine."

Bouncing Bundles!

Where do I begin?
To tell the story of how great a love can be
The sweet love story that is older than the sea
The simple truth about the love he brings to me
Where do I start?

Bull Crap.  J  those are the lyrics from LOVE STORY – remember that movie?  These poor animals.  Getting knocked up left and right on the streets, and having all these babies.  Most of them are having them in bushes, under sheds, under porches, in the weeds.  And its been so cold out, they kittens die soon thereafter.  And momma could have a condition, or something could go wrong with her right after birth, and she could die if not treated, and in most cases, she won’t be, because she is HOMELESS.  And its all because WE DO NOT SPAY AND NEUTER!  We meaning HUMANS.  Humans meaning IRRESPONSIBLE humans.  Those that get kittens, or cats, and if unfixed, spray the house, and then get kicked out left to survive on their own.  And then there are the ferals, that are a RESULT of these cats once someone’s kitten.  From that one kitten came thousands of cats. 

 

Momma giving birth to last baby

Mama and her kittens

This all happened this weekend to me!  And Foster Mom Carol.  Friday, as I was having a leisurely lunch with my friend June, on my day off from work, I got a call from Carol, my foster for Parsley, Hermie, and Buffy, the kitty I rescued Thursday Morning.  She said I was going to be a grandmother.  The kittens were being born the day after I got her!  She had SIX!  I was able to witness my first birth with her sixth kitten, by the time I got there.  She was a good mom, licking the sac from each one that was surrounding them, and getting them to nurse from her. 

HERMIE This Morning

On Sunday, I received a call from Carol stating mom was breathing funny.  I didn’t think anything of it.  I thought Carol was a worry wart.  J  I proceeded to drive to Penn Yan with Kristin to visit with the family that adopted Muffin, aka Hawkins.  I wasn’t able to see Hawkins, he was frightened, but we had a nice visit nevertheless, with them and their dog Jade. Cutie pie.  In the afternoon, after I had imbibed a bit of wine…  I got a call stating that kitty was not doing great, and she was going to keep an eye on this situation.  At 8:30 am last night, I RECEIVED another call saying Buffy was going to go into emergency vet in Brighton with her kittens.  I sent Kings over to help her.  I HAD to sleep.  I HAD to get up in the morning at 2 am. to not only feed, but to trap three cats. 

Could I sleep after that phone call?  Nope.  Could I sleep after I got a call from the vet at the emergency place telling me their estimate - $1500?  No way.  Could I REALLY sleep after the kittens were brought back to me at 10:45 pm. to be bottle fed every three hours? NFW.  Did I know what I was doing?  Not a chance.  But I would try.  So up I get at 2 am, exhausted, and try again to bottle feed.  They are just not taking to it.  Call for help.   Yes.  Facebook is wonderful for help.  Done.  Lots of offers.  Lots of offers to take kittens, but I must hold on to them until I can get an update on Momma and if she can come home today.  A vet working day shift will evaluate and call me.  Stay tuned.

Meanwhile, I set three traps this morning, and got three cats.  Thanks to Joel, who rode shotgun with me after I asked him to help out a while back with being a spotter for my traps on TNR days.

WEBSTER CAT

PARSELLS CAT - Pregnant cat STILL would not go into trap

(I wasn't able to get a pic of third kitty from Melville).

I dropped my sweet girl Elsa off at her new home on Friday.  Her new parents are world travelers at the end of winter each year, and asked if I could hold Elsa until they came back!   I fell in love with this sassy little girl that I rescued on a morning that was so cold and snowy, she had icicles hanging from her, hence the name!  I am getting good reports on her acclimation so far.

Elsa loves the tub

Connor, the sick boy I rescued a week ago, and had tumors removed from his tongue, is doing better, but still eating pureed food - baby food actually.  Won't eat much else.  He had blood coming from his mouth on Saturday.  Was better on Sunday.

CONNOR on Saturday

PS, thank God for Carol, she determined this was life threatening for Buffy, and took action, while all I wanted to do was stay in bed.  Thank you Carol.

HELP

This morning was a nightmare.  I set out to trap two pregnant cats – one on Parsells, one on Bay Street.  I went to check on the one on Parsells after racing around to feed at my other locations, and found that the food was gone inside but the door was still up.  They walked right over the trip plate and never set it off.  They ate the food and left.  I then checked the mechanism, and sure enough, it was working.  I replenished the food and went to check on the one on Bay Street.  Sure enough, there was a cat in the trap, a black one.  NOT the one I was trying for.  I told myself, I can’t let him go.  I will use the spot I was given at the clinic for this guy, because I knew the two cats I was actually trying to get were very very pregnant, and kittens shouldn’t be aborted.  ALL THE WHILE I am thinking what am I going to do with the two pregnant cats if I DO GET THEM!

So I raced home to get another trap, and raced back and set it. I continued with my feedings.  I went back to check on it before leaving for work, and sure enough, another cat was in there.  I HAD TO LET IT OUT.  I was very upset about this!  Meanwhile, the red fat pregnant cat was sitting there meowing a short distance away.  I reset the trap and went back to check on the Parsells trap.  Sure enough, there was another cat in that one, and NOT THE FAT GREY PREGNANT CAT I WANTED!  I HAD TO LET THAT ONE OUT!  I was very very upset about this!  I was only offered one clinic appt.

Keep in mind, I don’t know what I am doing with a pregnant cat, this pregnant.  In the past, rescue groups have always helped me out.  Not this time.  Thanks to the one in Buffalo that took the pregnant cat yesterday from me, but no one stepped up today when I desperately needed one. I’m not blaming, I know they are/will be inundated with pregnant cats.  So this is all new to me!  Someone HAS offered a room, so a cage is being set up, and this cat will be transported into that and then we will go from there.  I need ALL the advice I can get.  Someone.  Please. 

Update:  Kitty going to the business where Parsley and Hermie are being fostered.  She will be kept in a dog crate.  Before that, Kitty going to vet to get dewormed and deflea'd.  Pray things go smoothly.

Another update.  Connor is not doing well.  He has barely eaten since Monday.  His surgery has caused him extreme pain where he is not able to eat.  I was overjoyed when he ate a jar of baby food this morning.  But he is not looking well.  He's lost weight since Monday.  I don't know what I am going to do.  The vet office said to force feed him but he won't let me.  I don't know whether I should bring him to the emergency vet or not.

I have way too much going on.  Help.

PS, I will be setting the trap for the grey cat again tomorrow.  I need to find a place for her as well.

Stay tuned.

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly (part 100)

I say Part 100 because this has been written before.

CLICK ON PICS TO SEE BETTER!

I successfully managed to get the pregnant cat I saw at my location on Central yesterday into a carrier this morning.  A rescue group from Buffalo - PETS ALIVE WNY - is driving as we speak to come pick her up.  She was quite traumatized after being practically thrown into the carrier (before I got my hand ripped apart!) that I thought she would surely give birth before we arrived home!  But she quieted down immediately after that blood curling scream she made when I grabbed her.

The bad part was this:  I pulled up to my third spot on Parsells this morning and noticed a very fat grey cat.  It was very hard to see, but its belly was low.   I ask, is that normal for a pregnancy?  I hope someone can answer this for me?  That will determine if this cat is pregnant or not.  Next, as I pulled up to Sid and Johnny’s on Bay Street, where I was unsuccessful at trapping ANY cat on Monday, a very pregnant RED cat was waiting in the wings for me to place the food. This cat IS PREGNANT for sure.  Oh Man. 

So, I immediately called the clinic to leave a message to see if I can get in there tomorrow, and I will be setting traps at BOTH locations.

Please remember, before you judge me, I was raised Catholic, and I have an enormous amount of guilt I carry with me every second of every day.   For everything and anything.  I also see first hand the cats darting in and out of bushes in ONE QUADRANT of the city at 4 am and I know darn well they weren’t just let out from their warm homes only to have their mom or dad let them back in five minutes later when they get cold and want to come back in.  I also know there will be hundreds, if not thousands in our state this spring, kittens that will be born in straw filled shelters, if they are lucky, or under porches or junk yard vehicles.   I also know there will be hundreds, if not thousands, of kittens that will be brought into shelters by good citizens that find them and have compassion for them.  And unfortunately, I also know that both mom and babies could die during childbirth.  Its happened.  I rescued a cat on Third and Central years ago who was brought in for a spay while pregnant.  Her kitten was saved from her womb by the doctor performing the spay, and I was told that mom would not have been able to deliver that kitten due to its size.  Both would have died.  Lastly, unless I hear from someone that can take on the responsibility of taking in a pregnant cat, and her babies when born, then I have no other choice.

CONNOR this morning

The ugly:   Poor Connor.  He was neutered yesterday, and while under, the doctor investigated his mouth for reasons of why he couldn’t eat very well.  They removed TWO TUMORS from under his tongue.  He is not doing so hot today.  He is in a lot of pain.  The tumors will be biopsied and Connor was given an injection of Convenia but no pain meds.  He still can’t eat today.  So I am keeping an eye on things, and may be going home this evening to given him some pain meds I have stashed away from when I had Peaches, if any of you recall poor Peaches. 

So there you have it.  The Good, The Bad, The Ugly,

Have a nice day.

Barefoot and Pregnant

Here we go again.  Its kitten season.

Hey Lady!  Quit choking me!  :)  (he wouldn't sit still)

ONYX

So yesterday was one crazy day, and after I had to let the two kitties that I trapped and had neutered yesterday, I was very glad it was over.  I am now UP two cats from last week.  I had an offer I could not refuse.  My friend and foster, Melissa, offered to take ONYX under her wing rather than put him back on the street.  After having observed him since his return from the clinic yesterday, I’ve determined that he is a SWEETHEART.  Let me tell you a little bit about Onyx.  He is a kitty that I started feeding in the back of the public market buildings on Pennsylvania and Niagara Street last fall.   He would hear my cat call and come running from blocks away.  Really.  I picked him up in snowstorm over the winter and drove him to a shelter just down the street at one time.  I would also see him at three of my other locations – he really got around.  I knew he was unneutered, but it was winter, and I wouldn’t have let this little one go back out if I had to get him vetted, and I just didn’t have the means to rescue during that time.  I would see him around here or there, and I am glad he was ‘there’ yesterday morning when I failed to trap two more kitties.

The other two kitties spent a cold night on my porch.  They were pretty upset.  One ate, the other didn’t.   I had a heavy blanket covering both traps, and also had the heater going for them up until bedtime, and then again after I got up at 2 am.  Letting them back out was heartbreaking for me.  The temperature was like………. 19 degrees?  Freezing.

The other kitty, Chrissy, was picked up and brought to a barn.  Good luck to her, no more kittens Chrissy.

CONNOR

Today, Connor is being neutered, and the docs will be determining what is going on with his mouth that is causing drooling and pain when he eats.  He barely has any fur on his body, certainly none underneath.  He is a silly little boy that likes to lay down at your feet and roll over.  Loves to be petted.   I am still cautious of him, as I was with Blackie #1.  He will go to foster this weekend, and I will need to make sure she is cautious with him as well.

Parsley and Hermie are acclimating in their new space.  I need to get them adopted.  But not necessarily together as I was told by their last foster, Joy.  They are NOT bonded as I once thought they were.

Pregnant Cat on right (Central Park)

One more note about this morning.  As I was pouring food down at my Central near Fifth location, the normal kitties came out from underneath their little shelter to eat before I even put the food down for them, and the little black with white kitty that has been hanging around came right out to eat.  I noticed prior she was not eartipped, but this time, I felt her belly.  Full, round, and big.  Ready to pop.  I really was upset at myself for not having noticed, or checked, then again I did not have the opportunity to do so before.  I was also very upset that I didn’t bring a carrier with me, the carrier still in the bathroom with Onyx, and the traps had taken up all the room in back of the truck.    I will be ready for her tomorrow, and I pray today she does not wander and have her babies elsewhere.

Have a good day.

Snip and Chip

Don't wait for little pattering paws,

get kitty done today.

Head off to your local vets,

for a neuter or a spay.

Ignoring this is no excuse,

the shelters will concur.

They're bursting at the seams with cats,

as others did defer.

If left intact a female cat,

can mother many kits.

Twelve a year could be the norm,

so come on use your wits.

If money's tight then ask for help,

the experts can assist.

Cats all need to have the snip,

so please do not desist!

Insanity

Its Auction time!  Gift Cards, anything lightweight that would be easy to ship.  Fun fun fun!  :)

So that time of year has begun.  TNR time.  Trap – neuter – return.  The time of year that I dread.  I dread TNR for several reasons.   You are trapping a cat and traumatizing the cat.  The cat is hungry and won’t be able to eat until AFTER surgery. Sometimes, said cat is still so traumatized that it won’t eat AFTER surgery.  You have to keep kitty in the trap and let it heal from the anesthesia and surgery, overnight.  Sometimes kitty won’t eat even overnight.  Sometimes kitty has to go to the bathroom and it goes right in the trap.  Its cold out.  Kitties have to stay on my porch overnight.  I will have to get several blankets to place over the traps, without suffocating kitties, to keep them warm.  I HATE it.  The worst part of it all?  What I hate the most? RETURNING THE CAT TO THE STREETS.  HATE IT.

ONYX

There is one cat that I literally picked up and placed in the carrier.  This is the little black kitty that during a storm, I pulled over on Niagara on my way to my spot there, picked up kitty, drove it to the spot where the shelter is, ON MY LAP, and had to let it out there, where there was food and shelter for it.  A nice little fellow.  I grabbed him this morning and he will be neutered and get his shots at the clinic today.  And I have to let him back out.  I HATE it.   I named him Onyx.

 

MOONBY

The next kitty is a beautiful red fluffy kitty trapped on Melville - #3.   I named him Moonby.

PASCAL

The next kitty is a red and white fluffy kitty trapped on Parsells - #3.  I named him Pascal.

Kitty number four is a baby maker from a city location where I offered help to, and is going to be brought to a barn.  She has given birth to several litters and its now time to end the cycle.  I named her Chrissy.

I enlisted the help of some friends to sit at trap locations so that if a cat went in the trap, they would cover the trap with a blanket (it calms the cat), and then call me to let me know they caught a cat.  One spotter, my neighbor Noel (who adopted Taco!) who sat at the Parsells #2 location, caught a raccoon.  Another spotter Val didn’t catch anything at Sid and Johnnys, where there are several cats, and my third spotter Kings got the red fluffy one on Melville.  I was thinking that it would make my morning easier if I didn’t have to return to the locations to place food for the remaining cats there, not having to run back and forth to check on the traps, at the same time feeding at all 19 locations.  I did not plan very well.  In hindsight, I should have equipped my ‘spotters’ with food and water, so that when they finished spotting the traps for me, they could leave the food and water and I wouldn’t have to run back there to do that.  It was chaotic to say the least, and I have to do it again on Monday, the 26^th, but just two TNRs this time.

I could sure use help with this TNR endeavor.  Its going to be costly, but it must be done.  If anyone would like to contribute, any amount at all, please call 585.288.0600 and ask them to credit towards my account.  Thank you in advance.  Sincerely.

In other news, Parsley and Hermie were successfully moved to another foster, one closer to me, and in a larger, more spacious room – actually a room with a view.  Big windows to look out onto a field, trees, birds.  Unfortunately, they are still scared to death as they do not know their new foster mom yet, or me for that matter.  I am extremely grateful to Joy for her help in taking them when I had no clue what to do with them when they were returned to me.

 

HERMIE

PARSLEY

Connor is holding his own.  I was disappointed that the vet place did not send him home with pain meds, so I had some left over from another kitty, and gave him a small amount for two days before I ran out.  He is going to be neutered tomorrow, and his mouth evaluated for what is wrong, while he is under anesthesia.  Lets pray its nothing too serious.  He is able to eat, but so thin.  He gobbles his food like there is no tomorrow.  His fur is missing in places.  He’s a mess, but hopefully will be good as new with some time and a Whole Lotta Love (Led Zepplin!  J )  

Thanks for reading, and have a great day!

Catch Me If You Can!

(CLICK ON PICS TO ZOOM IN)

With great trepidation, I journeyed out this morning knowing I was going to try to catch a cat.  A cat that was very sick, a cat that I did not know its history, a cat that I had  no idea what I was going to do with, and a cat that I did not know if it would bite me when I put my hands on it.  The bite being my greatest fear.  I’ve been bitten twice in my life.    And both times it hurt something awful.  And I’ve seen some pretty nasty gashes on others as well.  As I headed out, the snow was falling lightly.  By the time I reached the spot on Pennsylvania where this kitty was hanging out, the snow was coming down heavy.    Mind you, its now 5 am., which is the normal time I arrive at this location after leaving the house at 3:45 each morning.  I have perfect timing, IF I am not shoveling.  I usually make it back home by 5:30 on a good day.  And ask anyone who has ridden with me – I know EXACTLY how much water I need – having to stop TWICE during the route to refill into a smaller jug from a larger jug that is too heavy to carry, and too tall to pour from -  and I usually use it to the last drop by the time I complete my last stop, AND I know EXACTLY how much dry and wet food I need as well.  Call me OCD. I am sure my friends will, that’s for sure.

So I grab the carrier, and all my gear, and headed back to the rat infested spot where this black kitty has been hanging, along with two reds, two calicos, and a muted tortie.  The latter have followed me from down the street when I got kicked out from that lot a year or so ago.  I pulled down the board, and proceeded to grab the plates (and shake out the towel I have laying inside for the cats to stand on for warmth and dryness when they eat, shake it out because of the dirt the rats leave behind when they chow down after I leave, which is hopefully after the cats have had their fill).  I layed the empty plates out just so to head the black cat in the right direction so that I would have easy access to grab it by its scruff (back of neck) and gingerly place it in the carrier.  To ‘throw’ it would be even more traumatic, which I’ve had to do with others.   Sometimes these cats are so big, and muscular (like Parsley was) that there is no skin or fat to scrunch up to carry them to the carrier so you quickly grab them and ‘throw’ them in the carrier when rescuing.

In he went, and without a word, rode with me to finish up my spots (there are three left after this location).  He was quiet except for a few meows  during the ride back home.  His meows reminded me of my Leo.  Leo is a love.  I love Leo.  I love black cats.  Leo loves me.  Leo is obsesses with me actually.  Black cats make the best cats in the world.  I don’t know how they got such a bad rap.    When we arrived home, he was placed in a spare bathroom off my bedroom, and I opened the door to the carrier, already having the food, litter and water ready for him.  He came out and GOBBLED the food, with gobs of drool coming from his mouth.  He sneezed, and smelled.  Boy did he smell.  His fur was missing in places on his body, and he scratched something wild.  This lUNNEUTERED ittle boy has some obstruction in his mouth, and major irritation by what ever on his skin.  I called the vet and made an appointment for him for 11:45 am. today at Caring for Cats.  The first thing the cat will have is a leukemia test.  That will decide his fate, and the rest of his treatment, unfortunately.

LEO and Smokey (😭 )

LEO BEO

I also then began to recall a black cat that I had named Blackie #2 that I had been feeding on and off at Baldwin and Grand for many years and had been missing the past year.  Blackie #1 was a cat I fed on Grand and Stout for ages before the house where underneath the porch his home was bought and being renovated by some very nasty people.  Thankfully, Sandra and Jim Felice offered to take Blackie and move him to the country where they lived, and where he now loved beyond words, and lives like a king.  Blackie would scratch me, but run to me at the same time knowing I had food.  This was just like Blackie #2  when I would see him around occasionally, the last place being on Parsells across from Baldwin, down a ways from the shelter on Baldwin and Grand.  That was late last fall.   I am thinking this is the same cat!  The same cat I had tried to trap for SO long on Baldwin, knowing he was unneutered.   But now he was injured and sick, and needed my help.  He wouldn’t fight me this time. 

(He would not sit still for a photo!  I must have taken 50 pictures and none better than this shot).

Looking very sickly...  poor boy....

So prayers for this little guy, and his future.  If anyone would like to help out with his care, please feel free to call Caring for Cats – under my name – at 585-865-5220.  Thank you so much.

We can’t rescue them all, but we can rescue them one at a time.

Have a great day!

UPDATE:  I just had to name this little one...  in honor or St. Patrick's Day, his name will be Connor!