55 Rescues!

Happy end to a not-so-great year.  For me.  I had a few too many health issues than I care to count.  
But all is well again and I am looking forward to a new year, putting sad thoughts and people out of my mind, and looking forward to happy and good times.

As far as cats go, two more lucky kitties are off the street.  Two weeks ago, someone offered me the opportunity to foster a cat - and so Fluffy was swept up from Melville Street that Sunday morning, and whisked off to Kristin's mom's house in Rush.  I was on pins and needles waiting for her to let me know how he would respond once out of the carrier because he did NOT like going IN the carrier.  Not to mention, he was a former TNR (Trap, Neuter Return) many many years ago.  This past year he has trusted me so much that he would run to the truck and hop in to rub his face with mine, and purr at the scratches and pets he got from me until we had to leave to feed at the next location.  It was heartbreaking to leave him.  He wasn't even interested in eating sometimes, he just wanted to be loved.  

So the first report I received was that the second he got out of the carrier, he began to rub against Mrs. Miller, Kristin's mom.  He did not run and hide, he just wanted to be loved.  I went over Christmas eve to check on him, and boy is he a lover.  He will make someone very happy if they are looking for a lover of a cat!

Second rescue:  Mama from Bay Street!  Mama had litter after litter until I finally got her trapped and fixed.  She would never let us get near her until maybe two years ago she started to come around.  This year, she was a lover.  She would run up for pets, always hungry, but more hungry for attention.  I rescued her four kittens before I TNR'd her five or so years ago.  Two of the four was Emmet, the other was Pip (I adopted those two out together)...   She started to cross over Bay Street which was very busy, and come to the Seventh Street shelter.  She is known for her hopping in the grass like a bunny.  Very cute.  Anyway, someone offered to take her in, and voila!  I got her last Sunday morning.  Thank God for adopters and fosters!  It just takes a spare room with food, water, and a window to look out of.  Please consider!  Below is Mama.  Unfortunately, I was not able to get a picture from her adopter.  This is when she was still on the street.  I am certain she was grateful to be off the street and away from the cold and winds we have had.

I have another kitty in my sights to rescue - he is a former TNR as well and is pure black, sleek and silky, AND a cuddle bug.   He is located on Garson Avenue and runs to the truck when he sees and hears it.  He cries and cries until I open the door and when I do, up he jumps onto my lap.  I close the door and he loves to be on my lap and have the heater warming him up.  This morning, he nuzzled against my face.  A very sweet cat indeed.

We had a wicked windstorm this past weekend, but nothing like the blizzard that Buffalo had.  We had very little snow, and they had over 50 inches. I was glad to go out and see all my shelters still intact.  I worry about the shelters, but with enough bricks and large rocks, they stay put very nicely.

My needs:  DRY FOOD, tarps (dark green or brown (camo)) SHELTERS (I can tell you how to make them if you don't know how to do it).  They can be styrofoam or plastic tote bins.  Think about the size - they should be large enough for a cat to get in and turn around comfortably.  

And now for some fun facts about your cats:

8 Things Your Cat Loves

 

Because cats are such smart, sentient creatures, they can have a long list of likes (and, perhaps, an equally long list of dislikes!) In most cases, the things your cat loves are the very same things you love—like fresh, tasty food, long naps in cozy spots, and plenty of fun activities, to name a few.

Just like us humans, the things cats find interesting, fun, or exciting can change as they age—your cat may love her toy with feathers one day, but find it boring the next. As a kitty parent, it's your job to recognize when your cat's interests change, so you can keep her happy, healthy, and engaged. Although likes can vary from cat to cat, these eight kitty "likes" are a great place to start.

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Cats Love Taking Naps

It's no secret that cats love to sleep. In fact, the average kitty sleeps for a whopping 12 to 16 hours per day! Because cats are nocturnal creatures, they snooze most of the day away—and who can blame them? Everyone loves a nice, long nap in a cozy, comfy spot.

Keep in mind, kittens and senior cats will spend more time sleeping than, say, an adolescent cat. But if you're worried that your cat is sleeping too much—or too little—talk to your vet about what's normal for his breed, age, activity level, and size.

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Cats Love Grooming and Being Groomed

Did you know adult cats spend approximately half of their waking hours grooming? Clearly, grooming is an important part of a kitty's life!

There are a few reasons cats dedicate so much time to grooming:

1. It keeps them clean. Not only does grooming help cats remove dirt and grime from their coats, but it prevents predators and prey from detecting them. How? Licking their coats removes any smells it has absorbed.
2. It keeps their skin and coat healthy. Regular grooming disperses the oils naturally produced by a cat's skin and fur, keeping her coat healthy, shiny, and hydrated.
3. It makes them feel relaxed. There's nothing more relaxing than a massage, right? Well, cats feel the same way! Rather than visiting a masseuse, they simply groom themselves to reduce stress and calm down.
4. It helps them bond with other kitties. Cats groom each other—and their humans!—to develop and strengthen their bond. You'll often see cats grooming each other in hard-to-reach places.
5. It cools them off. Humans sweat. Dogs pant. Cats lick themselves. When it's super hot out, cats dampen their fur with saliva to cool off.

Not every cat loves to be groomed by his humans, but if yours does, try brushing his fur with a natural bristle or rubber brush. It'll remove any residue from his fur and feel super relaxing, too.

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Cats Love Fresh, Nutritious Food

It's unlikely that you'd want to dive into a big plate of spoiled food at dinnertime. The same goes for your cat. Stale and spoiled food doesn't just taste bad, either—it can grow mold or host multiple types of bacteria, like Salmonella and Staphylococcus, too.

Whenever you serve your kitty's meals, be sure to check the expiration dates on both wet and dry food. This will ensure you're only feeding her fresh, nutritious, and safe meals.

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Cats Love Running Water

If you have a cat, you know they'll try to drink water from running faucets whenever the opportunity presents itself. Fortunately, there are tons of drinking fountains—designed especially for cats—so they always have cool, fresh, running water available.

Believe it or not, some breeds of cats also like to play in the water. If your cat loves to splash around, try filling up the bathtub or a kiddie pool with a few inches of water during her playtime. This activity will help her get a little bit of exercise and cool off on particularly hot days.

 The 7 Best Cat Water Fountains of 2022, Tested and Reviewed

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Cats Love Scratching and Clawing

 

@woocy_woo / Instagram

One of the cats' basic instincts is to sharpen their claws by scratching and clawing different surfaces. They also happen to get a ton of joy from it, too.

In addition to sharpening their claws, scratching can help relax and rejuvenate cats. Think of it as the human equivalent to a nice, long stretch when your muscles are tired or achy. A quick scratch session on a cat tree or scratching post can wake a tired kitty up immediately.

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Cats Love Daily Playtime

Playtime is a serious business for cats, all the way from kittenhood to their senior years. It doesn't take much to keep a cat entertained—she'll play with anything from lint to tricked-out cat toys—but it is a vital part of their health and development. Not only does playtime hark back to their days in the wild when they had to stalk, hunt, and capture their prey, but it keeps them exercised, engaged, and happy, too.

There are literally hundreds of thousands of cat toys on the market, but your cat may like playing games, such as hide and seek, too. No matter your cat's choice of play, it's important to sneak in a few minutes daily.

Cats Love Watching Birds

 

@adventures_in_catland

not uncommon to see cats curled up on windowsills. Why? It's a prime bird watching location! Whether cats love to watch birds because they're prey or simply because the movement captures their attention, some cats can spend hours observing birds every day.

If your cat loves to curl up in windows, be sure to protect her skin from the sun's harsh rays, especially if she has light-colored fur. Try to limit her hours next to the window when the sun is strongest—between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.—and talk to your vet about kitty-approved sunscreens.

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Cats Love Their Humans

Although cats are often depicted as solitary animals, they need love, attention, and companionship—and love to get it from their humans. The ways cats say "I love you" are just a little bit different than we humans.

Some signs your cat loves you include purring, bunting (or putting her head on you), sleeping on or near you, meowing, licking, and even sticking her butt in your face. Yes, really.

Now, have a great day!

All Creatures Great and Small!

The pic above was taken by my cousin in Florida, where she encountered this creature on the golf course yesterday.  Searching for balls....

Crazy past month.  To begin with, I had some bad news finding out that two of my paid helpers can’t help me.  That left me with one.  And that one is an artist and she travels for shows a lot and can’t always help me during the week.   Thank God there is dependable Sheryl who has been helping me EVERY weekend for TEN years, for which I am so grateful for.  As guilty as I feel sometimes, she has told me that I don’t have to pay her – we are friends.  One of the girls broke her ankle, and the other had knee surgery.  So it was a scramble to find someone.  All I could think about was… is that it?  Is this the end?  Will these cats suffer and die out there without me not feeding them?  Of course, they would, so I was DESPERATE. I put out another plea on Facebook but after knowing what the ‘job’ would entail, no one really wants to get up and go out at 5 am.  But then I got a message from sweet Christina, and her girlfriend Lindsey, who happen to live right near me, and have adopted four kitties from me, and she offered to help through thick and thin.  I felt like a huge weight was lifted from my shoulder.  There is also another kind man who lives near me named Harold who I am hoping to be a backup if no one else can.

This is proving to be an arduous undertaking – I have people that don’t know exactly what I do and see out there – that tell me that I need to just stop doing it.  But how can I?  Anyone that has gone out with me knows the deal, and how it would literally be a death sentence for so many cats. 

On to better updates………………  So out of the four foster black and white kittens I’ve been fostering, Oatmeal has been unofficially adopted (it's never final until spay/neuter day) and has been renamed Stanley (my father’s name!).  He is the kitten that was found under the engine of a car in a parking lot at Wegmans (make sure you pound on your hood before driving!).  Graham has been unofficially adopted and will go to his new home this weekend.  I sure will miss that little one.  

So we have Chip and Oreo left, which I am hoping will be adopted together.  These cookie kitties had to go to the vet last week because of upper respiratory in each of them.  That was $300+ to see them all for exams, and treatment.  This cost is not charged to adopters.  We rescuers lose money, at least I do.

Hazel was adopted this past weekend.  I realize now that their vet costs are more than the adoption fee I charge.  Hazel had an umbilical hernia, and her total was $187 for removal and spay.  I charge $150 per cat, male or female, kitten or adult.  I have to rethink this.  For this transaction, I lost nearly $40.  That’s a lot.  That is almost two days of wet food for over 100 cats. That is 2.5 bags of 16-lb dry food.  Murphy and Lainey were adopted out a month or so ago.  Murphy cost me $167 at the vet.  I give breaks to people if they take two cats, so I lost out on this also.  But they are good kitties and good people, so I can’t really compare – the cost of rescuing and placing them in good homes is priceless.  Again, though, I have to rethink this. 

There are at least five cats right now on the streets I am focusing on for rescue, but cannot do until I have a foster.  They are just the sweetest little things.  One fluffy Maine Coon looking cat is on my first spot at Melville, he actually gets in the truck and sits on my lap.  In the 2^nd Melville spot there is a young brown tabby that runs to the truck crying.  On Garson, there is a beautiful shorthaired grey cat that is very sweet, and on Parsells, there is a brown and white tabby that runs crying when I pull up that winds his legs around you to be petted.  Sometimes, that is all he wants to do.  On Central and Fourth, there are several former TNRs that now have no fear of humans and would love to be rescued.  Its so hard.

Please spread the word that all it takes is a spare room with a window.  All the cat needs is a litter box, water, food and a little love.  I will do the rest!  There are people out there looking for an adult or young adult cat, and I will find them!  You are literally saving a life when you foster.

On a final note, thank you to all that made donations this past Giving Tuesday!  What a difference a few dollars make – a huge relief knowing I can keep feeding these cats.  And getting them medical attention when necessary, and rescuing them!  Here is my count for 2022:  43. This is my lowest in years.  I usually average 80-90 for the past 15 years at least. 

And thank you to those who have stopped by and dropped off food and other donations,and those that have had delivered to my home.  Your generosity to help these cats will have you in kitty heaven in no time.  Then again, maybe you don’t want to go to kitty heaven like I do not want to do.  I’ve seen enough cats to last a lifetime!  I give the ones I’ve had in this life all the love and attention they need until they go to their mothership and get all the catnip, mice, and treats that they can consume and roll around in!   I need a break!  😊

Have a great day!

Dark Side of the Moon

Isn’t that an album title for Pink Floyd?  Love it.  Last week, at about 5 in the morning, I was out and looked to the sky and remembered hearing the day before that there was to be an eclipse.  Well….  How cool was that?  I took a picture, but obviously, with the moon being a trillion gazillion miles away, it looked like a little glowing dot in the picture.  But I thought to myself, how many people miss this kind of stuff?  I probably would have missed it if it weren’t for feeling guilty and obliged to go out and feed a hundred cats every other day.  And a handful every single day.  They say sleep is for the dead.  Stay awake and live now.  Plenty of time to do that the other way.

Let’s see, so last week, I was feeding on 7^th Street, and along comes this little itty bitty kitty – actually an older kitten – maybe around 7 months?  It was 5 am. and she rolled over on the ground.  I picked her up and noticed a lump on her belly.  There was no way I was going to leave this kitten in this neighborhood outside and run into the street, with a suspected hernia, and a big one at that.   So I scooped her up, and she joined the rest of the clan of kittens I am fostering, Graham, Chip, and Oreo. Yesterday I brought her to the clinic where they confirmed it was in fact a hernia, and that they would get her in ASAP.  

Meet Hazel:

Oatmeal was adopted, along with Rosemary, Basil, Nutmeg, Pepper, and Sage.  The Spice kittens were from Momma Cinnamon, who has also been adopted.  Oatmeal came from Wegmans in Irondequoit, where a call was placed to the police because shoppers in the parking lot heard meowing under a car engine.  Apparently, someone drove to Wegmans to shop, not realizing the kitten was under the hood.  So my police friend called me and of course, how could I say no.  Could you?

Oatmeal:

 

And some of the Spice Girls:

And of course, Purrrrrl - so beautiful, so shy, but will make someone SO happy:

I am not sure if I mentioned this in my last post, but on Garson Avenue, near Chamberlain, at my shelter, Sheryl found a baby kitten there.  And here I thought we got all the cats there spayed and neutered.  Someone new always comes along.  She brought him to me and it was clear that there was something wrong.  We placed him in the carrier and went on the rest of our route.  Once home, I drove directly to the Animal Hospital in Pittsford.  They asked me to leave him there and the doctor would call me when she could take a look.  I named him Baby Gee (grom Garson Avenue).  It was obvious, the arm was broken in several places, and the back legs weren’t working, and we don’t exactly know what happened, but when the doctor called me, the kitten also had blisters inside his mouth (blister is not the word….).  He had obvious neurological damage and was in very critical shape.  We discussed and made the decision to euthanize.  The doctor also reminded me of all the other cats I could save and rescue without spending – literally $1000s of dollars to diagnose, and treat.  And he was such a little guy.  He was in so much pain.  It's always crushing to me when I have to make this decision, but I don’t make it hasty.  I have to think of my small rescue, and what I can actually do to keep it going.  Money.

On Sunday I drove to Hilton to bring a few bags of critter bedding that someone donated - and I wanted out of my car! - and brought to a wildlife rehabber, here are some of the critters I met!

Finally, just to put it out there, I work for United Way, and a year ago I was told that it is a conflict for me to participate in the ROC The Day while I am employed by them.  ROC the Day is a 24-hour, online giving extravaganza powered by United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes that takes place annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, also known as Giving Tuesday. Roc the Day gives people in our community an opportunity to support all of the not-for-profit organizations doing great work  Rochester area. This year, Roc the Day will take place on November 29 from midnight to 11:59 pm.  So I will reach out via Facebook, and this blog, asking for help to support me through the coming months.  I am happy to send you a tax receipt for your donation.  I cannot continue to do this without your support.

I thank you and wish you a great day! 💓