Monday Milestones

How's that title?  Not bad, but there aren't milestones involved in this, so its kind of misleading.  Oh well.

So much going on in my world, but then again, who's life isn't busy these days?  I did get Larry back yesterday.  Nancy, who has been kind enough to care for him since I rescued him from the streets a couple of weeks ago needed to pare down her house a bit - Larry was being kept in her bathroom and was getting lonely.  I took him and placed him in a bedroom, and after about an hour, said - 'ok, he needs to mingle with the others', so I let him out.  There was some hissing, and a near-to fight this morning, but all in all, he is a good boy and is ready to interact socially with the others.  He will continue to stay in the bedroom while I am at work, and I will let him out when I get home, but I must be there to keep an eye out for him, as he is outnumbered.  His 'Mom' must be there to protect him if need be.

At my first location, since my 'brawl' on Friday, its been fairly quiet.  Wally moved yesterday, with the help of my landlord Uncle's apartment availability, to a somewhat nicer street, if you can call it nicer.  I will miss his presence when I am there each morning.  I guess you would call it a false sense of security.  But the paper dishes and bowls are still on the ground, so I am thinking that I still have some hope to feed there.  I have considered meeting the person on the street behind the houses, to see if they will allow me to feed there - the cats would have to just walk to the back of the property.  It would be a dream if I could get away from that street.  It would be a dream if whoever lives behind would allow me to put up some awesome shelters that have been provided to me.  I will keep on working on that, and thankfully its summertime and not too harsh on the kitties weatherwise.

I have not seen Limpy around since he was released a while ago.  I think I saw him once, but that was it.  I have seen very injured raw wound kitty, but just a handful of times for him also.  His wound has definitely gotten better thanks to an injection of medicine with the help of Laura.  Thanks again Laura, for taking care of him.  Limpy #2 is still limping around, but is also able to jump up onto a porch to eat with Sparkles just about every morning.  I don't know what his injury is to his foot/leg, but it appears not to be healing and I am trying to figure out what I should do.  I don't have a lot of options.  It is at this spot that that man told me not to feed there anymore, that it was HIS property.  Guess what, I have not seen him since I let him have it.  I got to a point with both people last week that I had had it with their bullying, and that I was not going to allow cats to starve to death because of their hatred.  

Picture above is of my Smoke a boke...  a/k/a Smokey, a/k/a Fang.  I am a mauler my kitties with kisses, and Smokey sure got his share this weekend.  I will never forget rescuing Smokey a few years back.  He was living on Hebard Street off Central, in a garage, and was beginning to signs of stress and injury.  The owner hated me and hated cats, and it was a difficult time trying to feed and shelter cats at this spot, but I think I rescued all of them once I finally got Smokey, and I prayed to God for the ones I wasn't able to save.

I am feeding so many cats still.  There are so many .   I need donations of food, both dry and wet.  I see at the highest seven cats at three of my spots, five at three, and all the rest are three or so.  At 13 spots, added up that is a lot of cats.  My heart goes out to so many of them.  The ones that you get attached to are the ones that let you pet them, pick them up, hold them.  Its so hard to walk away from them each morning.  

Breaking Point Broke

Yes indeedy, I snapped this morning!  Ever since I found the threatening note and the shelter placed at the curb a few days later at my first spot each day, I have been dreading going there.  But go there I must as there are at least six cats depending on the food and water I set there.  I continued to place paper plates and water dishes down behind the house where the shelter was removed.  I will not let the cats starve to death until I can figure out another solution.  As I pulled up this morning, there were people on Wally's porch, and I recognized the young tall thin black girl as living up above him.  As I got out of my car I heard her say something like 'you aint putting no cat food down here, those cats are eating my garden, and the raccoons, etc'.  She told me to take the cats with me etc.  Well, I snapped.  I started to go up to her and defend myself.  And the cats.  I told her she had so much hatred in her heart to see these animals suffer, that I couldn't take any more of these cats, that this is the only home they have, and I would not stop feeding them.  I asked her if she would bring her children up with all this hatred for people and animals, I called her ignorant, and at one point called her a really bad vulger female body part name!  I was FURIOUS!  Because all the while I am trying to defend the cats, she's telling me 'you put down food and I will throw it out'.  I told her just because she lives such a miserable life, not to take it out on the animals.  I really let her have it.  So, at one point, I proceeded to walk down a few houses and under a tree near the curb I set down plates and water and food and three cats followed me, gobbling up their food.  As soon as I stood up, I noticed her walking toward me.  I said I am calling the police, you stay away from these cats!  I then dialed 911, and she kept coming.  Then I heard her say  'I am sorry, I should never have talked to you like that, I know how much you love these cats, my boyfriend and I had a disagreement and I took it out on you and the cats'.   She kept apologizing over and over, of course I told dispatch to never mind the call, all was fine, and she kept apologizing.  She even offered to help me feed the cats.  She told me we could put a shelter behind her house, saying even though the landlord doesn't allow pets, doesn't mean we can't feed them outside.  She really just went  on and on.  I could tell - even asked her - she was sincere.  I apologized to her, of course I was crying at this point (yes, I cry at confrontation!).  I was so shaken, but I felt better once I left.  Hopefully she meant it and the bowls are there tomorrow. 

All other spots good, as can be.  A few raccoons needed to be chased away, had to gently kick a baby raccoon, he wasn't budging.  I felt bad, but my cats need their food too!  Limpy still limping.  I pray for that sweet boy.

Its nice to have a vacation day, although its not really.  I have some cleaning to do and then going to my friend's house to enjoy her paradise in the country for a few hours, where she has an adopted kitty from me, along with her dog, four other cats, and five chickens.   Kristen has made shelter for me in the past, and has some really great ones ready for me to go.  Thanks every one for your kind comments to me about the losses of my three boys in the past three weeks.  Its been tough, but I am renewed!  :)

Hiatus

Yes, Trouble went peacefully yesterday.  She was always my special girl.  I injected her with insulin each and every day.  She was always a trooper.  When I picked her up for her appointment, her breathing was labored.  She was ready, for sure.  I told her to keep an eye out for her brothers, Cosmo and Barney.  Yes, a sad day for sure.

Pictures were taken this morning at a few spots:

 The next pic - I saw this cat crying, obviously very hungry, and placed food and water down and it gobbled it up.

I have no other good news to report, my heart is heavy today.  I promise to 'snap out of it!' soon...  I thank those that offered their condolences to me.   Your words, each of you, means a lot.  Give your babies hugs and make it a great day.

"Tomorrow always comes, and today is never yesterday."

Enough

Seriously.  I am at one of my breaking points.  One of - thank God I have more, or I don't know how I would be today.  I got to my first spot this morning, where I feed about six cats each morning, where many have been TNR'd, two of which I had to release Sunday morning, which broke my heart to begin with as these were two sweet cats that need homes, one of which I haven't even seen since I let him go.  When I pulled up, there was the shelter I had behind the house next door to where Wally lives, and on the other side of him lives the woman who wrote me that nasty note the other morning.  As I got out, and went behind the house, I noticed the grass had been mowed.  I can only assume that it was trashed by the woman that owns the house, that rents it out to people who have not bothered with me or the cats all this time.  I am so disappointed in Wally.  Why couldn't he defend me and the cats?  I know his intentions are good, and maybe he shys away from confrontations with people.    I am sure it is the latter, but it still doesn't make it any better.  I have reached out to a group on Facebook that is a coalition of the neighbors in that area, to see if there is anyone reading it with an ounce of compassion to offer me some suggestions/alternatives.  I am sick over this.  There is nothing there now, and I am sure someone is going to pick up the food and trash it after I've left.  I just don't know what to do.  There are no abandoned houses right there.  I've had so much opposition there, I am just at my wits end on what my next move will be, tomorrow. 

TROUBLE

Another situation weighing heavily on my mind is my cat Trouble.  My girl, who I rescued from a neighboring street, the only rental house in my hood, the people moved out and left her there.  There's been nothing but white trash that has lived there since.  Anyways, Trouble, unbeknownst to me, had a bun in the oven - and a week after I took her in, I looked behind the couch where she was laying, and I thought she was playing with a mouse.  It was her baby!  Since that day, she was named Trouble because of her spitfire personality.  She didn't like the others and made it clear to them to stay away.  She developed diabetes, and it was never controlled.  Hence, she weighs about three pounds now, and she just stopped eating this morning, something she has never done.  I found her staring at the furnace in the basement.  I carrier her up to the bed, and she told me it was time.  I have the appointment at 11 today.  Wish me luck.  :(

If Ignorance is Bliss, You Must Be the Happiest Person Alive!

After reading the comments from yesterday, and trying to regain my composure and not go through another tear filled day, I want to thank each person who reached out to me to give condolences on the passing of my Barney yesterday.  I have other cats that I've had far longer than Barney, but for some reason I took this especially hard.  I've never had a cat pass without the injection by a vet.  I was alone with him, and he took his last breath in front of me.

If any of you recall my old posts from over a year ago, I had adopted Barney out to a man who had been convicted of child molestation and spent time in prison.   Even though this sick man commited God knows what, it didn't, in my eyes, make him a bad cat owner.  He was lonely, being a outcast from society, and he loved cats.   But this man could not take care of himself, his home, nor Barney properly, and he knew it, and thank God he had the wisdom to call me, after I went over there often to check on Barney and always left with hesitancy, to tell me Barney was limping and that maybe I should take him back for  awhile.  I did, and I am so thankful I never gave him back.

His limp healed, and Barney thrived with me, and his brothers and sisters, for a good year and half after that.  He had scars on his mouth, barely any teeth, and what teeth he had were rotted, frostbitten ears, very course grey fur, and the oddest eyes.  I always joked that he would never win a beauty contest, but he was my special boy and I am just so thankful he came along and allowed me to rescue him - twice.

This morning was interesting in the fact that I had a confrontation with the mean dude who first took the hut that my art teacher friend and her students built for me many months ago, along with the boards, towels, bowls, etc.   I still had an open three sided heavy duty shelter that Heather had given me a few years ago behind the house.  This house, as a matter of fact, is the same place that Benny, Barney, Sasha, Teenie, Larry and so many more have been rescued.  This is where Sparkles and Limpy #2 hang also. 

Teenie, the pregnant kitten I rescued, feeding her newborns...

Anyway, I encountered this guy a month or so back while he was standing in front of the house, that is abandoned and boarded, and he told me to move my stuff and not to feed the cats - he said he owns the house and he would trash if it I didn't.  I was frightened to death of him after he told me this, I teared up, thinking 'oh no, what am i going to do'.   The next day, we moved this very heavy shelter to where Wally resides, next door where I feed the cats there.  But, I still put food and water down at the spot, not having seen the man again.  There he was this morning, and he said something like 'I thought I told you not to feed the cats here' - I got so angry, I whirled around while I was putting food and water down for these two cats waiting for me, and said 'you don't own this property (trying to call his bluff - I really don't believe he does.  I think he just lives next door).  He said he would call the police - and started to write down my plate number (like he had a pen or something) - and I said 'go ahead and write it' and I shouted the numbers to him!  He mentioned raccoons and I shouted back that raccoons would be here with or without me putting food down for the cats.  I told him I would not allow these cats to starve to death because of him, and he kept holding his hands over his ears all the while telling me not to talk to him.  I told him I had a lot of cop friends and that if he harmed these animals he would be in trouble.  Now, I don't usually get angry like that, but I am so tired of people that are openly cruel to animals.  Between him and the woman on Grand who threatened to give the cats antifreeze - what is wrong with people?

Don't these kind of ignorant idiots realize that life is too short?  Do they care that in the end, none of this matters?  God will judge them on how they treated others on earth.  These kind of people are malicious, mean-spirited bullies. They are envious of others' successes and will do their best to prevent someone else from succeeding. I believe they are unhappy, frustrated and socially isolated. I must try to remember that their anger towards me is probably how they treat others. They are looking for arguments and hostility to confirm their own negative view of the world.  I will be careful, and cautious, but I won't back down.

Barney - RIP



My boy Barney, who I rescued from the streets two very cold, snowy winters ago, went to heaven today.  He had stopped eating this weekend, I didn't know what was wrong with him.  When I brought him into the vet at noon today, he wasn't moving.  After the doctor looked into his mouth, smelled the odor of urine, she was very certain it was kidney failure.  After we agreed what would be best for him, she left the room, and as we waited for her to return with the syringe, I petted his sweet course grey fur, softly comforting him, just the two of us, and he took his last breath there and then.   As heartbreaking as it always is, I would do it all over again to ease the suffering of a cat on the street.  I am so thankful I had the chance to love him.  This is how it was for him before I made the decision to get him off the street.



 I found this perfect poem - so sweet.  Just like my Barney.

God's Garden

 

God looked around His garden

And He found an empty place

He then looked down upon the earth

And saw your precious face

 

He put His arms around you

And lifted you to rest;

God' s Garden must be beautiful

He always takes the best.

He knew that you were suffering

He knew you were in pain

He knew you'd never ever

Get well on earth again.

So He closed your weary eyelids

And whispered " Peace be thine "

Then He took you up to Heaven

With Hands so gentle and kind.

 

It broke our hearts to lose you

But you did not go alone,

For part of us went with you

The day God welcomed you home.

Whatta Weekend

I got drenched this morning.  It was NOT fun.

Saturday morning I was successful in TNR'g four male cats.  I tried to get the Buff injured cat, but no sign of him - go figure - the one morning I am able to try to save him.   A friend helped with two of of my four and with transport to and from Lollipop.  I cared for the two boys overnight, in separate bathrooms, and bonded with each of them.  It was very very difficult to let them back out into the terrible neighborhood where they came from.  Here are their pictures.

I also ran into Tamara, the prostitute on Central.  She was with the other prostitute that I wrote about a year ago when I wound up calling the police to say there was a very pregnant, very intoxicated female on the streets at 5:30 in the morning.  I thought there should have been a law or something where it is illegal to be pregnant and intoxicated, and including prostituting yourself all at the same time.  Not sure what happened then, but there they were, and pushing a baby stroller to boot.  She ran over to me, and I greeted them both.  The mother told me she now feeds cats because of me, and said she knows what its like to be hungry and felt sorry for them.  I went over to look at her little baby, Walter.  Sweet little thing was sleeping, and my heart just went out for him.  What a way to begin your life.

I went to my first spot Sunday morning, next door to Wally's house, and got a note that read something like this:  "Cat Lady - stop feeding the cats here.  Tip of the day:  Anti-freeze is quicker"  It blew my mind.  I then called Wally out of the house (he is up early in the morning) and asked him if he knew who wrote it.  He said the woman on the other side of his house.  I said what business has she got with two houses down from her?  I met the mother of the woman who actually owns the house that I feed behind, and they like cats, and have not had a problem with me feeding there.  How dare this other person threaten to poison these cats.  I will keep an eye out on this, and have proof on paper if any of my cats there get sick.  I wonder what else I can do, legally.

Another update - the kitten that the crazy woman had went up for adoption on Saturday at Rochester Animal Services.  A friend of mine was going to adopt it and then eventually my cop friend was going to foster, but apparently the little guy was adopted that morning.  I pray it was by a good person.