Updates!

First things first.  On Tuesday, we trapped a beautiful boy from Parsells #1 spot and had him neutered.  Thanks Joel and Kings.  I appreciate your willingness to step in and help me during my convalescence.  We must continue to try to alleviate the severe problem we have with the overpopulation of cats, and we can only start with one cat at a time.  We had to let the little one back the next morning.  He sped off like a shot.

Second, of the two bottle babies I had in my care – I think I mentioned I had to bring them to Kitten Korner Rescue because the little grey one was not doing well, and I didn’t know what to do for the poor thing – one has survived.  The little grey baby passed overnight on Tuesday.  Just so sad all the way around.   First there were five, now there are three, although I don’t know the status of the two that another rescue took in last weekend.   Thank you to these rescues that TRY.  Thank you to Cyndy for caring for them during their second week of life.  Thank you to Sue for caring for them for their first few days.  Thanks Kings for doing your best to feed them for a few days.   Laraine sent me this video which I will try to upload.  The little black girl is thriving!

TURN UP YOUR SOUND FOR THIS ONE!  PURRRRRRR

Next, we have the rescues from Webster Avenue.  I have not received an update, but know they were close to weaning themselves.  We know one name to be Winky, and I’ve picked out a few others that would fit.  And they are gender neutral!  Winnie, Wilbur and Willow!  Now we just need to attach their names to the kittens, and get some little color collars on them, and get pictures!~  Woo hoo!  Thanks for all the suggestions everyone! 

Winky, Willow, Wilbur & Winnie!

Petunia and her babies are slowly coming around.  The babies are beginning to wean and use the litter box.  We have three pre-adopted already!  Someone is going to visit Petunia this weekend as well!  Ariel and her babies are all pre-adopted.

My second cousin called me for advice this week.  She found five kittens in her barn.  Momma cat is a calico.  Kittens are very pretty.  There unfortunately was a nest of raccoons in said barn, so she had to remove the kittens, and bottle feed.  They are a few weeks old already, she believes, and have opened their eyes.  She has asked me to take them in after they are bottle fed, and she will try to get momma trapped.  One of the kittens, a red one, died for some reason.

This may be my last post for a while folks.  I will miss you my wonderful blog friend, my diary.  I’ve got to get myself a laptop with keyboard somehow.  I can’t go down the stairs at home to get to the computer, and I can’t type new posts on blog from cell phone because it won’t let me!  So, wish me luck, say a little prayer that I am back on my feet in no time, and back out there saving cats!

Have a great day!

Gotcha!

It was a weekend full of highs and lows.  On Friday, we took the two bottle babies back – remember, one - Rocky – had passed away last week.  Two others went to another rescue.  Of the two I got back, a grey and a black one, the grey was struggling to eat.  On Sunday morning, I knew we needed help.  I called a kitten rescue to see if they could take these two in and help them along.  We brought them to her, and as of last night, I was told the little grey may not make it.  Sure enough, I just received word – he didn’t.   I am so heartbroken over this.  That poor little one struggled so hard for the three weeks of life he lived.  This is sometimes so sad this business of rescue.  For those not in rescue, you don’t even realize whats going on in the animal world, the suffering that happens.  Those of us in rescue, we see it all. 

On Sunday morning, when Kings and I went out to feed (me just driving of course) (and Kings half asleep from being up all night with crying kittens wanting to be fed), I had him take a picture of the kittens inside the shelter on Webster Avenue.  Sure enough, as I suspected, I could see at least one kitten had an eye issue.  Eyes sealed shut.  I knew we had to act.  I called Kristin, my buddy, and she immediately agreed to come over and we would rescue them, whether they were wearned from their mom or not, and so we did.  I sat in the truck and watched her reach in four times, and each time pull out a kitten.  She looked around a fifth tme to be sure there were no more.  When she brought them back to the car, we could NOT BELIEVE HOW CLEAN AND ADORABLE they were.  Mom kitty did a great job with them. 

This morning, Kings and Joel went out to feed and trap.  I had two spots at the clinic available for me.  We set one trap on Parsells #3 where I have noticed some uneartipped kitties.  The other trap was set for Momma kitty on Webster Avenue.  Bing bang boom.  Got her.  We think.  My dilemma, do I put mom with her kittens after she is spayed today, or do we just let her back out and wean the kittens ourselves.  If we put Mom in with kittens, and she is feral, we then have to take her away from her kittens again, and that makes me so very sad.  Between a rock and a hard place here. 

Petunia’s kittens had meet and greets this weekend as well.  One girl wants to adopt Buckie, the other girl is considering two – not sure which she wants.   Blue is spoken for at the moment, by my one niece who lost her sister who was nicknamed Blue.  You all remember Samantha, my beautiful niece, who died over a year ago, at age 20.  So Blue is very special right now, and we will see if my niece goes through with the adoption process.

Ariel also received some interested by someone.  She will be going to meet her this week some evening after work.  Pray that goes well.  Ariel and her kittens are scheduled for spay/neuter on June 3^rd.

So, again, it was a very hectic weekend.  We  have yet to name all the kittens form Webster Avenue – and are sticking to W names.  We have MANY choices – just have to commit to them!  One for sure is Winky.  Thats Kristin's car's name.  HA!  By the way, little Winky has no tail!  Can you believe it, born without a tail!  Their eyes were good this morning, after foster mom Kristin treated them and wiped them clean.  So, I think we’ve escaped the horrors of having to deal with eye issues, which are prevalent in kittens born outdoors.

That’s it for now.

Have a great day!

“The timeless in you is aware of life's timelessness. And knows that yesterday is but today's memory and tomorrow is today's dream.”

TGIF!

It was a quiet morning out there.  I was not good company for Kings.  I got 1 to 2 hours of sleep total last night.  The hip is really bad.  I am not much use, or much company for any being, or even my own cats, until this ends.  I can see pain written all over my face when I look in the mirror.  So he just went about his business of getting the cats fed while I sat in the truck miserable.

This morning we get two little ones back for bottle feeding.  I believe they are both grey.  The other two remaining have gone to another rescue.  They need to be fed every 2-3 hours.  Report from yesterday was that they weren't eating and had a bit of tummy trouble, but hopefully today they are on the mend.  We will put them in a little playpen, because they are getting a bit too big for the carrier they are in.

I also plan to trap on Monday morning the mom on Webster.  If successful, she will be spayed, and we can get the kittens out of there.  This pic was taken this morning. The kittens can then be reunited with mom and be weaned as soon as possible, and mom returned to the street.

Miss B's kittens - must get them out of there as soon as possible.  With Mom.  Once kittens are weaned, Mom can be spayed and go back to Miss B.

Petunia's children.  Adorable.  Here is who we have left.

And here is Stormi, still available.

And here is Annie, still available.

Have a great day!

“When we approve of ourselves, 

rather than always seeking approval of others, we find happiness.”

Yay

Great news.  My ankle has healed.  I was elated when the doctor told me this yesterday.  I was so nervous he was going to tell me it wasn't.  first off, its so swollen, and numb on the side where the incision is.  But apparently that is all normal, and I am good to go for the next round.  Hip surgery.  Good GOD!   I am VERY NERVOUS!  Wish me luck!

Kitties are all good.  I have one serious problem though.  I walk into my house and it smells like a zoo.  I have two foster cats, Joey and Junebug, and the rest are my clan, all old, and all bratty.  I believe its the three litter boxes in the back bedroom that are the culprit.  If anyone knows me, I like a tidy, clean house.  This is driving me batty.  I need to find a litter that is heavy duty.  Any suggestions??  Poor little Junebug is supposed to be adopted out with her brother Joey the first week of June, and she is still having potty issues.  Its just dripping out of her butt occasionally.  A nightmare.  The poor little thing cannot help it.  We've tried so many different things. I am now waiting for estimates of blood work and another test for parasites that are hard to detect - I am sure I am not saying that right - from Southtown Vet.  Poor baby has been to three different vets now and we can't figure it out.  I swear, if people questions adoption fees, I'll scream.  They should get a look at some of the bills we rescues pay to get these kitties healthy and adoptable.

As I drove Kings to each stop this morning, I noticed new kitties at a few locations.  I said to myself - must get trapping.

Kittens on Webster are still there.  I am sorry for the scare yesterday - Kings didn't see them huddled in a corner of the shelter.  He was able to touch them today, and he said they are very sweet.  I am still trying to figure out a plan, but I think the next step will be to try to trap Momma on Monday, when I have two spots at the clinic, and get her fixed, and then get the kittens.  I've had a few people offer to foster.  Actually, I need to get the kittens out of Miss B's house that are under her bed.  There are apparently four.  I bought some high quality food for the mother to eat, God knows what Miss B is feeding her, and she is also smoking in the bedroom where they are.  So I will need to figure out a plan for this too.

I am making appointments for Ariel and her kittens to be spayed in a few weeks time, and will then need to get Ariel adopted out, as her kittens are spoken for now.

Then its Petunia and her babies.  I have SO many applications, its hard to keep up.  I wish I had help with all this.  I am going to be recuperating from surgery in a week from this coming surgery, I just can't do this alone.  I don't know how other rescues do this.  Are they alone, or do they have help?

Regardless, the weather is getting better, moods are brighter, and the lawn and flowers are looking so pretty.  Bring it on.

Have a great day!

MY TO-DO LIST

FOR TODAY

- count my blessings

- practice kindness

- let go of what I can't control

- listen to my heart

- be productive yet calm

- just breathe

Rocky

Our little runt of the bottle baby litter I inherited a few weeks ago, Rocky, has passed.  His little body was just too weak to keep on going.  I got the sad news from his Momma Cyndy last evening who has been bottle feeding him for over a week now.  I get the other two back on Friday - they are thriving.  A rescue group took in the other two.  Our little boy Rocky passed peacefully in a warm loving manner.  Rest in peace Rocky.

The kittens on Webster Avenue were gone this morning.  I don't know what has happened.  I pulled up, shined the light, and there was mama outside the shelter, along with the black and white kitty.  Kings went over to do his usual thing, and when he looked inside, the kittens were gone.  Mama went back into the shelter after he began to walk away.  I think someone took them.  I am quite upset about this.  Kings will go back later to check this.  If mama had moved them, why would she be hanging around the shelter when there was still food inside.

The cat I trapped yesterday. The Siamese.  So I got a message from someone - I'll take it.  This is close to 7 pm when I am going to bed.  She has no idea if its feral or not. I don't know the woman AT ALL  Who knows what she would do if the cat flips out, escapes a carrier/trap or cage and runs through the house or window.  Out that cat goes into territory unknown. Now others are asking if feral, and I tell them I don't know.  I have Kings rub his finger on back of kitty, no movement.  Kitty has not eaten.  We even tried this morning to tell if feral.  We just don't know nor do we have time to figure it out.   Three hours later the woman answers and says she doesn't drive.  I'm already in la la land.  Others ask if feral again.  I don't know.  This is the problem.  One sees a beautiful unusual cat and wants to rescue it.  What about the plain old cats? 

But if you are serious about rescuing it, you need to make a plan.  A definite one.  One I will either see before 7 pm, or by 3 am.  That's not me being bitchy, its just a fact.  These cats shouldn't be in a trap more than 24 hours.  If kitty hasn't eaten in 24 hours, that's not good either.  There needs to be a plan.

I go to ankle doctor today to see if this has healed.  If it hasn't, the hip doctor has to postpone my surgery.  I am just beside myself because my ankle is looking funky. Wish me luck.

Have a good day.

Cherl

On Sunday, a lifelong friend passed.  I learned about it on Facebook last evening just as I was checking messages on my phone before turning out the light.  On Facebook.  I learned about the death of a close friend, on Facebook.  I just don't get it.  That's a whole other story. 

When I first moved to Webster from the city as a 12 year old, Cherl was my first girlfriend.  Boy did we have fun.  Her parents were fun.  We grew very close very fast.  Then we got in to boys, and drinking, and then the real fun began.  Ha.  We hung out for years until she went to one school and I another, because of the way Webster was split up with the school system.  We grew apart, but never far.  She even lived with me for a brief period of time.  And then she began to steal from me.  It was then that I realized she had a drug problem.  We parted ways, but only for a few years, when she began a drug program, and started to mend her ways.  She even paid back as best she could for what she stole from me.

Cherl had two daughters that she loved dearly, and four ? grandchildren.  Both her parents were deceased.  She has a sister and step sister.  And brother?  I was told 'poperly' after I finally received a call last night from her sister and she told me that she had track marks lined up and down her arm, and that there were lines of heroin still on her dresser for the next fix.  I was told that in the last six months, they revived her three times.  Over the years, we spoke once or twice within a six month period.   But it was like we had talked just yesterday each time.  I had no clue she was still using.  I spoke to her last week when she gave me advice on my surgery coming up in two weeks.  God knows she had a lot of surgeries to speak from experience about.

What a waste of a life ahead of her.  The suffering she has caused her children, friends and family.  I know its an addiction, but God.  I'm certainly not mad at her, I'm just so sad I never knew, maybe I could have made a difference if I had spent more time with her.  May be maybe maybe.  My heart is broken. 

Melville #1 TNR 051419

Today, Joel and Kings trapped this beauty.  On Melville spot #1.  I can't imagine a seal point is not fixed, but there is no ear tip, so we won't know until clinic, if they accept. We did not have an appointment.  We just know we could set a trap on every street corner and trap a cat to prevent a litter.  Its got to be done.  Until the money runs out.  Its $80 per cat for TNRs, if anyone would care to contribute.  My bill is now $650 at the clinic.  Their number is 585-288-0600.  Kitty will be spayed or neutered, given rabies and distemper, and dewormed and defleaed.

Speaking of the clinic, I stopped by to see the five kittens that Cyndy is helping to bottle feed.  They are so adorable.  Except for little Rocky, who is so much more tinier than his siblings.  I still have hope for him.  We have to keep praying for his survival.  The littlest one of all.

Its rainy and miserable out there, but the sun will shine again!  Summer is a coming!  And I still have a party on my radar for the folks that helped me through the first four months of my recovery from a broken leg/ankle.  Time just crept up and I didn't do it like I wanted to do as soon as I wanted to do it.  Pain has a way of screwing things up.  I am not even sure of the fundraiser this year.   But funds are surely running out to continue on my mission to help these babies I continue to rescue.  So I must figure this out.

Have a great day!

TNR Monday!

Thanks to Kings this morning, he set a trap on Baldwin and Grand to catch one of the newer cats hanging around, and voila!  He got this little one.

STANLEY TNR

We had two spots, but were only able to trap one.  Its hard doing it alone.  I give him credit for trying. I was not able to go with him this morning, so he was solo.  Thanks also to Kim and Satuday Sheryl for a fun morning on Saturday. It felt good to drive for them, and have a few laughs along the way.  Someone keeps messing with the Melville shelter.  Little tyrants I’ll bet.

Update on the bottle babies.  All four are thriving.  One is not.  Our little boy “Rocky” appears to maybe have some kind of birth defect.  He is definitely the runt, and is struggling, maybe neurological?  Her words:  “I’m doing everything I can to keep him comfortable and give him extra food every chance I get, but he is not thriving and I don’t think he will ultimately make it.  I suspect some type of birth defect that is keeping him from putting on weight.”   I am not quite sure what can be done.  I am so thankful to Cyndy for bottle feeding them, and updating me on their progress.  Two kittens will go to another rescue, thankfully.  Five bottle babies are a lot to handle when you have a job, a life, etc. 

I’ll keep you posted on Rocky.  Prayers for Rocky.

Gotcha!

Short Street TNR This Morning!

Glory Be!  Thanks to Joel and Kings, at my request, and advice to use mackerel, we trapped the short-legged little red cat on Short Street that had started to look a little round around the edges.  She reminds me so much of Cookie, the kitty I trapped with a kitten in the same trap.  

Cookie

Cookie was (still is) an old girl hanging around on Central in the same lot that the shelters are on now, when I had the shelters against a garage, that’s no longer there.  Cookie and a kitten were trapped at the same time.  Cookie was brought to vet and was treated for Pyometra.  In its simplest terms, pyometra is an infection in the uterus.  Its considered a serious and life threatening condition that must be treated quickly and aggressively.  If treatment is not performed quickly, the toxic effects from the bacteria will be fatal in many cases.  If the cervix is closed, it is possible for the uterus to rupture, spilling the infection into the abdominal cavity.   I still have Cookie to this day thanks to the trained doctors at Rochester Community Animal Clinic.  She is still as shy as she was when I trapped her.  But as sweet as honey.  Maybe that’s whats wrong with this little thing today.  I pray not.  I also pray the clinic is able to get her in as a standby.

EMMA

Emma was adopted this weekend to a great family.  She was returned a few weeks back after being adopted for two days after she wouldn’t stop crying at night.  I figure it was because she was left alone all day when her adoptive mom went to work, and when she came home, only had a few hours to spend with her.  She was very lonely, and cried.  So now, after good reports so far, Emma is happy, and loved.  Thanks to Janessa for fostering her.

STORMI

Stormi is doing well with her foster mom Melissa, and here you can see a few pictures of her, which are hard to get because she never stops moving!~

Have a great day.

Tiny But Strong

Pennsylvania Avenue This Morning

Cold but quiet, and dry morning out there.  Thanks to Kings, and Kings and Joel yesterday, for feeding the kitties.  They tried to trap yesterday on Short Street.  There is a short legged girl there, at least we think its a girl, that looks visibly pregnant, and we are trying to trap.  She won't let you near her, and seems to have outfoxed us.  She won't go in a trap.  We will try again tomorrow, although this will be our third attempt to get her.

Petunia!

and her babies!

Are they ADORABLE, or what. 

On another baby note, the Chili orphaned kittens that we rescued last Wednesday, that were born on April 29th, are doing well.  they went to Sue initially, then to a very stressed mama Janine - and then I received a note from a very well known person who works at a well known clinic reached out and offered to take them for the week.  She is heaven sent, for sure.  She has LOADS of experience with tiny babies such as these.  Her last note to me yesterday:  they are tiny but strong.  They will identify their gender, and come up with some names.

To be able to gender identify at 1.5 weeks old is remarkable.  She sure is experienced!  I can't even do it when they are adults sometimes!  :)

Jasper has officially been adopted, by his FOSTER MOM Gaye!  She fell in love, what can I say.  :)

Have a great day!

My Life

On Sunday, I gave Foster Mom Sue (Ariel and Kittens) a break.  A week ago yesterday, five babies were born on the ground outside and a kind man scooped them up, mother took off (he is trying to trap her), and brought them into my rescue.  Sue began bottle feeding round the clock, and I took over yesterday.  They are very tiny.  But eating, and doing their business.  I can't keep up with replacing fleece blankets.  And they smell from rolling over and sleeping in their urine stained blankets.  I've changed them four times now.  Had to wash the kittens as best as I could with a damp towel.  This is hard work folks.

On Saturday I picked up Petunia and her six babies from my sister's house to Foster Mom Jenn's house, where we sat and identified the kittens gender, and named them!  Jenn is a great photographer, among many other talents, and will surely be sending pictures of each individually with their names.  They are ADORABLE.

Petunia's Babies

Lets not forget Ariel, who has been nursing her four kittens since they were born on March 30th.  Foster Mom Sue suspects Ariel is in heat now.  It will be soon that I secure an appointment for her to be spayed.  Kittens are weaning - learning how to eat the mombabycat food - mixed with KMR, and they are eating the hard stuff too.  And using the litter box.  So far, KitKat and Peep are spoken for.  Jelly Bean and Henry are not.

I've been out on the route every day now.   Saturday Sheryl is very efficient, looking into each shelter to see if there are kittens.  Kings is hobbling along with a bad leg.  Boy, if he goes, I don't know what I will do.

The kittens in the shelter on Webster - Kings said he could touch them.  Momma is a black cat, not the black and white I suspected.  She runs out each morning and watches from a distance.  I still do NOT have a plan.

Have a great day.

The Voice of the Voiceless
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox

So many gods, so many creeds,
So many paths that wind and wind,
While just the art of being kind
Is all the sad world needs.

I am the voice of the voiceless:
Through me, the dumb shall speak;
Till the deaf world’s ear be made to hear
The cry of the wordless weak.

Oh shame on the mothers of mortals
Who have not stopped to teach
Of the sorrow that lies in dear, dumb eyes,
The sorrow that has no speech.

The same Power formed the sparrow
That fashioned man - the King;
The God of the whole gave a living soul
To furred and to feathered thing.

And I am my brother’s keeper,
And I will fight his fight;
And speak the word for beast and bird
Till the world shall set things right.

I'm Over My Head

Stevie Nicks.  Janine Wagner.  Ha.  When it rains it pours.  This is today.

RESCUED - Central Park (sweet) Pregnant Girl

RESCUED:  FIVE newborn orphaned babies

We could use bottle feeders to help out!

Have a great day!