Giving Thanks

(After typing below, I realized that I had already told the story of Giblet (aka Fuzzy Wuzzy) in my last post  - oh well.)

Well, its been a week.  Or a week and a half?  So the Monday after I was able to rescue little Georgie from behind the shed on Garson – or property owner was able to grab him and give him to me – I continued to hear tiny cries coming from this dilapidated garage/shed that morning.  My heart sank.  I again texted Jeff at 5 am. and asked him to please go investigate.  After I didn’t hear anything, and before I had to begin work at 8, I went back there when it was light and lifted the garage door up and made my way through the debris.  I could hear the faint cry of a very tiny kitten, and then I couldn’t.  I stood there waiting, nothing.  I left with a very heavy heart.  Hours later, Jeff called and said he had him.  I drove over and grabbed the skinny little thing.  Thanking my lucky stars that I heard the cries at just the right time.  He wouldn’t have made it if it were much longer. I figured both he and Georgie were about not quite 4 weeks old.  Babies. 

Fast forward, after trying and trying to get ‘Giblet’ to use the litter box, I realized, as I had with Georgie, he needed to have a ‘mentor.’  So off he went to Foster Tamera’s house where the big kids were, and sure enough, he began to use the litter box.  AND he has learned to play!  Kittens really don’t know what to do without observing other kittens/cats.  They really do learn from each other.  When I get adopters wanting to adopt a kitten and there is no other animal in the house, I am very cautious to do that.  Can you imagine the loneliness when the adopter leaves the house for that animal?  There are a trillion reasons why its important to have a buddy system when you adopt a lone cat or kitten.  A trillion.

Today is Giving Tuesday --- ROC The Day.  Prior to working for United Way, I participated in this fundraising day and it sure helped me with the financial costs of feeding and vet costs.  But it’s a conflict of interest, and I was told I could not participate as long as I am working for UW.  So, I got creative and started a fundraiser on Facebook and I am so, SO grateful to those that have contributed to this.  There is a DONATE button on this page you are reading, if you would like to donate.  I want to list the names here, and not only are they contributors to the fundraiser today, but have done so this past month, some of them for the Feed a Cat for Christmas campaign and some contribute on a monthly basis - I will continue to list names if more donations come in.  Thank you!

Kim B.

Carol O.

Mary C.

Laurie C.

Andrea C.

Bill G.

Linda VG

Patty M.

Carrie PI

Valerie V.

Donna H.

Shannon C.

Sue HH

Karen P.

Randy R.

Elaine E.

Estelle G.

JoEllen S.

Debbie A.

Karin WB

Lynn AS

Sue C.

Betty W.

Diane W.

Sandy W.

Judy P.

Kathleen N.

Ann H.

Heather D.

Deborah S.

Rosemarie E.

Courtney K.

Baerbel P.

Den & Bev W.

David S.

Susan H.

Mary R.

Gregg R.

Mark R.

Mary Ellen F.

Jean H.

Mary Beth S.

Marie H.

Anne G.

Yuliya Z.

Jim Gaither

Barb P.

Maureen S.

Maura H. (her mom)

Tracy C.

Benita S.

Milton H.

Patricia VW

Deborah C.

• What your donations go to (these are averages):

• Cost of bag of 16 lb. dry food (I go through 70lbs per day) - $10
• Cost of box of wet food 32 each (I go through 30 cans per day) - 15
• Cost of spay/neuter with shots (1 cat) - $100
• Vet Bill from Pittsford Hospital (per month) - $250+ (depends on how many sick cats I bring in)
• Vet Bill from RCAC (per month) $1000

I've had to whittle down the feedings to every other day.  They go a day in between with no food.  This year, since January, I have rescued 75 cats and kittens from the streets.  I look forward to the day where there are no more homeless pets.  Thank you for your kindness and generosity!

Have a Great day!

“The best portion of a good man’s life;

His little, nameless

Unremembered acts of kindness and love.”

 

 

Gotcha!

I wanted to give you all an update.  Guess what, we have a new kitten!  Yes, thank God we were able to get this little guy from the dilapidated garage I was fumbling around in yesterday morning looking for him.  The property owner, after I had dropped off a trap and some food, called about an hour later and said, we got him!  I drove over and picked up this very emaciated – but you would never know it due to the FUR – The fluffiest I’ve ever seen! -  kitten that barely looks even 4 weeks old.   I brought him home, had to give him KMR through a dropper, and eventually mixed in some kitten pate, and some kitten chow in separate bowl.  Sometimes you have stick their little faces in the food so that they lick and realize…  hmmm…  this is good stuff!  He was very hungry, poor thing.  Tomorrow will be a week since I rescued his brother, who was not as malnourished like his brother.  With this one too – Fuzzy Wuzzy (for now) – I am struggling for him to learn the litter box.  I even tried stimulating him with a warm wet washcloth (to simulate a mother cleaning their bottoms for them when they are young), but nothing.  Don’t know if he has done anything since yesterday morning!  I am so grateful to Jeff for his natural ease in getting these kittens out – this was in a wall in the garage.  I pray there are no others.  We will still keep our ears open, and Jeff will keep his eyes open.  I just can't believe, if I hadn't heard his soft meowing, he would have been a goner...  💔

 No sign of injured Red Tabby on Parsells.  Waiting to grab him when I do and turn him over to my friend Lori who will care for him after that.

First snow of the season this morning.  I looked out the window and was very surprised to see the snow. But it wasn’t bad. Never bad for humans.  It’s the animals that its bad for.  Especially if they have no shelter, like the cats on Parsells, due to the bastard that removed the ones I placed on the city lot next door to where he lives. 

Have a great day!

Baby No. 2

Last Wednesday morning as I was at Garson feeding spot, I heard tiny ‘mews’ coming from the dilapidated garage that butts up to the shelters.  They were strong and fast.  I couldn’t get inside, although never realized until today that the other half of it is completely open to the elements with no walls or roof.  I got back into my vehicle and texted Jeff, the property owner, apologized that it was 5 am., but that there was a kitten in the garage and can he do what he can to get it.  I went on my way.  Later that day, Jeff called and said he had the most adorable kitten in his hands, and to come and get it.  

Fast forward, ‘Georgie’ is 4 weeks old and the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.  I asked Jeff to please take a look around to see if there are more.  He reported no.  Saturday morning, I heard tiny meows again.  5 am.  Text Jeff.  This time, today, its Monday, and still cannot get the kitten.  I drove over early this am. to bring Jeff a can of mackerel – even though kittens that young can’t smell like older cats can – and a kitten trap.  I then went to investigate myself after hearing meowing this morning.  A very faint, far off sound.  I figured out how to get into the garage, and boy, is it dangerous, so much debris.  But I finagled my way around listening to the sound, stopping, listening, and got close to where I was hearing the sound at the back of the garage, almost abutting the garage behind it, and it stopped.  I stood there for many minutes, calling, listening, silence.  My heart sank.  If anyone would like to go there today with me to see if we can find the kitten, please let me know.  That poor baby.

An excellent trapper in the city heard about the big red friendly tabby with the neck wound, after seeing the picture I posted two weeks ago, and offered – if I can get it – to take it to have it treated.  I’ve only seen it three times now in weeks.  I successfully treated it with Clavamox pill in its food the first time, but not the second. 

Finally, I work for a large non-profit (one year last month) and was advised that due to conflict, I cannot participate in the ROC The Day that runs for one day, tomorrow.  I have not had a fundraiser in many years and my funds are dwindling to feed, medically treat and rescue these homeless cats of Rochester.  I ask from the bottom of my heart to donate as much as you are comfortable with.  You can donate via the donate button on this blog, or on my website. 💓💓💓

Myself, and the poor babies on the streets thank you.

(tomorrow, updates and pics of the kittens we have that need adoption!)

Have a great day!

More Kittens........................................................................

 

Lately, and actually for a long while now, I’ve been being referred to by veterinary offices and rescue groups as a group that might be able to help out people that call the offices of these places for help with a cat situation.  Now, I know what I’ve done over the years, and am quite proud of the number of cats and kittens I’ve rescued from the streets, not to mention have had spayed and neutered and returned to the streets, unfortunately, and that number totals over 1000 in the past 15 years I’ve been doing this.  I average 80-100 cats per year rescue.  And I could not have done it without fosters.  Man, let me see if I can remember them….  Unfortunately there haven’t been many…. There was Estelle, Sue, Jennifer, Kristin, her mom Sue, Sheryl…… If I've missed anyone please speak up!  Currently I have a woman named Ellen who also works with Hearthside Cats that has taken in some kittens Kristin found, along with a feral mother – and another wonderful person that reached out to me to find out what fostering entails, and after explanation, she said “I’m in!”  Tamera has taken four kittens that were found in the Garson Avenue area.  (this was another referral to me from Carols Ferals!).  I just named them today:  Elvis, Zsa Zsa, Eva and Marilyn.  There is a theme going there, get it?  I named the kittens that Ellen has today also:  Leo, Trouble and Midnight.  They were all black cats that I have owned over the years.  Hey, sometimes you have to reuse names!

Here are some new kittens in my rescue.  Thanks to Ellen and Tamera for fostering.

 

But back to my point above.  I can’t do it all.  I had a woman recently ask me for help placing 18 of her cats.  Good GOD!  Seriously?  I want to say this.  If you don’t have a plan for your cats if something happens to you, or suddenly you realize that you have too many cats – ? --  Then don’t get them in the first place!  And for the man who calls and says his mother-in-law passed and his wife is allergic and the M-I-L’s cats are in the basement and he has to get rid of them…  Those POOR cats!!!  I have NO sympathy for the allergic daughter of that woman that had a mother that loved her cats.  NONE.  Did you ever think to have a conversation with your elderly parent about who will take the cat if something happens before they actually adopt a cat?  We need to make plans people, and if you don’t have one, don’t get any more or get a cat in the first place.  I, or, others would be happy to bring a cat or kitten  over to visit for your enjoyment.  Otherwise, just hope you outlive your cats.  So, to wrap that up, please don’t give out my name to help…  most times I just can’t do anything but give out advise like, learn to live with the allergies, take medicine, take pictures of your cats and put them up on Facebook.  Instagram.  You never know who might be looking at that poor animal that is being discarded and want it.

 I think that’s about it.  I have just started treating a big tom Red Tabby on Parsells for a very nasty wound.  I brought some Doxycline tablets with me this am. and put it in a chunk of wet food, which he ate.  I figure if I do this for a bit, it might start to treat that infected gouge on his neck.  Pretty sad.  Nice boy, comes right up.  I first saw – or rather heard him – when he was face to face with another cat around there with the eerie sounds they make when they are about to fight.  I immediately flew out of the car and placed some food down to distract them.  It worked.  

Sometimes I post graphic pics --- this is one of them.  Sorry if anyone is offended, but this is reality.  This is what I see when you are all snuggly in your bed.

Hopefully he will be around each day and I can try to treat him.  If there were someone that wanted to foster him -- treatment would be made at a vet, but until then, this is all I can do.

The good news...  he will be healed soon if he keeps showing up!

Have a great day!  

The Cat in the Hat (Box)

 

These days are dismal.  Its getting colder and there are so many cats out there that are worth rescuing – the cats come running to me, and follow me back to my car.  They are good cats, but I need fosters.  They will be adopted, for sure, there are wonderful people out there looking for an older cat to cuddle with.  I am down to one person to help out in the mornings carrying the food and water, maybe two if I am lucky and she can spare a morning, not including Sheryl who helps me on the weekends.  That, and I am getting a lot of requests from people to help out with cats in their yard, kittens born outside, etc.  And to top that off, it’s the veterinary offices that are referring these people to me.  There is even a kitten now at one of my shelters on Ferndale.  Its feral but still a baby.  And I am just ignoring the situation.  And I just cannot help.  I am overwhelmed doing this.  I can offer advice or traps, but I can’t help.  I am also down to zero fosters.  My one and only kitten foster needs a break - she has been doing it on and off for years. 

Not to mention, for now, I do have someone that has taken over four of my spots, but I am supplying the food still for that.  I am going every other day, as I have requested she do, but my cat food is costing me $80 on average for each morning I go out.  And I have to order this other girl’s food every two weeks and that is another $150.  This is a ton of money.  I have not had a fundraiser in years.  Everyone is busy these days to help.  Not to mention, the company I work for – is a conflict of interest so I can’t participate in the ROC the Day on November 30^th of this year.  I was lucky enough to make on average $1,000 each year I participated in that.  That helped.  So, funds are dwindling and I don’t know how much more I can go on helping these animals.  It’s a sad world we live in.  Thank God for vodka and wine. 😊

I’ve always been cheerful and optimistic, at least I am the first four hours of my day, but then the calls come in, the requests are made --- HELP ME!  I try, that’s all I can do.

Please consider fostering.  You will be saving the life of an animal, literally.

Now for some happy stuff.  I guess its this stuff that keeps me going.  I love it when my adopters send me updates on the kittens they adopt.  I meant to share this last week, for Halloween.  Take a look at the cuteness here.  My former foster kittens, Dewey and Audi who were adopted together, enjoying life!

I have so many new pictures to share, next time.

Have a great day!