FEED A CAT FOR CHRISTMAS............ And Beyond! JANUARY 3rd!!! SANDY M.!!!

Taken this morning - these two little ones need help

SANDY M.!!!!!  Thanks to Sandy, I was able to feed many kitties today.  Some friendly, some scared, and some wild.  But all in need of food and water and shelter.  And unfortunately, not all the homeless kitties out there will  have that for today.  I met Sandy many years ago, when her friend, and my friend’s friend, who is now my friend too, (ha ha – can you follow?) adopted a cat from me.  We got together for drinks and Sandy was there, and I fell in love with her kind and generous spirit.  Thank you DOC for all you do for the animals!

Melville.  I am having a hard time adjusting with my old spot and first spot – on Melville Street.  A woman that lives next door to the empty house has offered to feed the cats that I’ve been feeding after the Q@#$!#$! Workers came by and were going to remove the shelters I had provided for the homeless cats in that section.  I’ve TNR’d most of the cats there over the years, and I trust this woman is going to feed the cats, but I went to check – naturally I had to as I’ve been their caregiver for so many years – and I saw one of the grey cats looked very thin.  I went and put food down, and water, and the cat drank the water like there was no tomorrow.  I also wanted to show her how to arrange the shelters so that it would like good, but I don’t think she wants any part of it.  She doesn't like the shelters and I think she feels that feeding them is good enough.  Those poor cats were using those shelters and my heart is breaking - she has them facing west where the wind and weather comes from – but I won’t give up.  If these #@%$^@%$^@ workers want to trash the shelters each time they are there, I will continue to place new ones.  Its cold out there.  It was in the low teens this weekend.

Speaking of trashing shelters, I need to find out who owns the property behind the bus company where the radio tower is on Garson Avenue – those @#$#@%$! Removed 5 beautiful shelters.  I will certainly give them a piece of my mind if I can find someone to speak to.  Nice job #@#$!%Qs, hope you are sleeping well at night.

Bunny was brought to her new home yesterday, out in Williamson, where she joins a new sister Kitty.  Last report I had was that she had found a hiding spot in the large bathroom she was going to be initially kept in, and she wouldn’t come out of it.  I am waiting for an update. 

Max and Jax were delivered to their new home on Saturday.  What a great pair they are, and I am so delighted to have them adopted as a pair.  Their new mom is awesome.  And they will be spoiled royally.

Miley and Limpy – these are the two cats I trapped on Melville that were supposed to be TNR’d, but the weather was too bad to let them out.  Miley was brought to Foster Sue, who now has only Holly, and Holly needs a companion, so we believe Miley will be good for her for now until they are both adopted.  I am hoping another foster will take Limpy, who is at Foster Carol’s house who is in hiding.  We are trying to figure out how to get him out and back into a cage that he escaped from. 

I need to get an update from Foster Kim who is caring for Sabrina, who really needs a home.  Lets get the word out about Sabrina!  And Katie!

Have a great day.

FEED A CAT FOR CHRISTMAS............ And Beyond! JANUARY 2nd!!! MARYELLEN F.!!!

MARYELLEN F.!!! 

My fabulous friend/near neighbor Maryellen!  Thank you for your support over the years Maryellen.  You have great compassion for the animals, and I thank you for supporting me and my crazy everyday craziness in going out into the dark and cold and feeding over 100 cats.  And cold it was this morning.  14 degrees.  It rose to 16 by the time I finished up.  With the wind, it was surely in the low single digits.  My heart bleeds for the ones I have to leave behind.  Especially the crying little black kitty in the median on Central, across from the evil deacon that runs the Pentecostal Church on 4^th and Central.  I hope someday he realizes his evil ways, and either has to ‘pay’ for it when he meets his maker, or his heart turns for the better and he begins to understand and have compassion for these poor starving animals on ‘his’ property. 

This weekend will be busy for me – no time for ME – I am delivering Max and Jax to their possible new home, and then the next day I have to drive to Williamson to deliver Bunny, to her possibly new home.  Today, foster Mom Sue brought Newton and Reese to their possible new home for a weekend furlough until next week, when they will come back to me for their surgeries at the end of the week.  They will then be returned to their new parents if all goes well.

Newton

Reese

I heard from Noel’s dad – Noel is now JOE – and he is willing to give this a shot even though it may take time.  He said let’s go for it and make it official!  Hurray!   

MILEY

LIMPY

The two new interlopes – Miley and Limpy – are still with Carol – but we are trying to figure out another solution for them.  Limpy is somewhat in hiding – he is scared, and Miley is just a darling little girl.  Both are good to go as far as adoption, but we need to get started on getting their pics out there!  For now, here’s a cute pic of each thanks to Carol!

So, now we need to find homes for Sabrina, Katie, Jule, Parsley, Hermie and Holly – Lulabelle will go to her new home where she will join three others kitties I rescued – after her surgery.  She was the runt of the litter that included Max, Jax, Newton and Reese.

Spread the word everybody!

Have a great day!

"One day you will ask me which is more important? My life or yours? I will say mine and you will walk away not knowing that you are my life."

FEED A CAT FOR CHRISTMAS............ And Beyond! JANUARY 1st! MELISSA Z.!!!

MELISSA Z.!!!

Melissa and I go way back.  She began reading my blog years ago in the winter and knew I had tons of laundry to do with the large bath towels I replaced daily in the shelters (not the huts - the huts have straw) - its more for comfort for the kitties that were surrounded by ice and snow to eat over a nice dry towel than a hard cold board.  She offered to do the laundry weekly for me.  Sweet girl.  She has even come over with her saw horse and helped cut large boards into smaller pieces.  She also adopted two kittens for her daughter Julia, who I wrote about in an earlier post for Feed a Cat for Christmas.  Julia was out of town in college and wanted to wait until she was finished with college to get her babies from her mom. 

Here is what Melissa had to say about her donation to help Feed a Cat for Christmas - Melissa sent this hand typed note to me via USPS - can you imagine?  ha ha...  She had a picture of Kitty Whitty attached, but I couldn't duplicate it so here is a picture the closest to how she looked.

Melissa writes:

"Enclosed is a check for your Feed A Cat for Christmas campaign in celebration of our cats Clawdia, Milo, Talia, Isabella, Muffin, Sheldon, Murphy, Kitty Whitty, and Kelsie the dog who keeps them all in line.

He is the kitty that got out of my neighbor’s house June 2017 and when I told them he was in my garden their answer was, ‘he lives in the garage now.’ It was very apparent that he was not being fed so we had a twice a day ritual of patting the cat on the head, being hissed at and feeding the hungry boy.

In August he was limping and bloody so I took him to the Animal Urgent Care where he got a rabies shot and an antibiotic for the infected toe. It took a while before I could regain his trust and touch him again but he always came back to eat as I walked away. I built a shelter for him with a pallet, boards and polyester fleece on Styrofoam boards to keep him of the cold ground, out of the wind and dry as it got colder. He was very afraid of being closed in and would not enter a cozier shelter I left for him.

We had our daily meetings for many months until just after Christmas 2017 when he disappeared. He had not shown up for meals on occasions before but he always returned within 24 hours or so. This time it was for days with no sight of him or evidence of footprints in the yard or near the shelter. I prayed he had gone home or found another safer place. On New Year’s day something told me to check the shelter. My husband and I pulled it apart and there he was, covered in urine, nearly frozen to the ground and too weak to move.

He gave us time to get a carrier from the house before he bolted. Due to the deep snow and his condition I was able to grab for him and catch him but not before he sunk his teeth into my hand. (Yes, those bites require immediate attention.) We brought him into the house and he just laid there, barely breathing and showing no signs of his feisty self. So you know where this story goes – off to the Emergency Vet.

He had terrible ulcers in his mouth from the Calicivirus, hypothermia, dehydration and an infected toe – not the same one as August. They patched him up and I brought him home.

What do you do with a cat you can’t handle? He’s terrified of you and your other pets in the house and its winter. Out comes the large wire cage we used to corral the puppy that is now a 60lb dog and you set up a home on a basement table with a litter box, cardboard box condo with 2 levels, blankets, food and water and a comforter to surrounding it to keep out the draft.

A radio played WXXI softly during the day so he could hear human voices and classical music. He didn’t try to escape it and did well with eating a special diet I made with wet cat food and cooked cornstarch in the food processor so he could lap it up and not have to chew too much.when warmed and mixed with a bit of water.

Some day he would hide in his condo; other days he would hang out on top of it. The washer and the dryer didn’t seem t bother him. Some of the other cats would go down and ‘visit’ him. Then one day he stopped eating, lying on top of the condo not really much but he stretched out his hind foot toward me. I cannot begin to describe the horribly swollen infected foot I saw. He must have known I wanted to help him because I had to half climb into the cage to get a hold of him to put him in the carrier. Off to the Vet and he did not freak out at all. The infection had gone into the bone which lead to having a toe amputated. He came home in a few days and convalesced in his condo. Frequent trips to the Vet to change the dressing were required. He had never shown any indication he wanted out of the cage until early March. This saga had started on New Year’s day.

I had no idea if I let him out of the cage if he would freak out and try to go through a window or hide or just what would happen. So on March 3^rd I opened the cage and prayed.  He just moved to the right and acted like he had been always been there.

The other cats accepted him without a problem. He is the only cat I have ever had that comes when called without having to pop the top of a cat food can. Periodically you will hear a noise under the dining room table. There he is happily chasing a cat toy or playing with an apron string. Occasionally he will stretch out and let you rub his tummy even though he is still wary of being picked up and cuddled. I believe he is the brother of my Muffin who the same neighbors tossed out as a kitten with a prolapsed rectum.

So Kitty Whitty is the reason I have not been able to contribute to your efforts as often as I would like this year. $3,500 reasons. My sister-in-law was very generous in helping with his expenses but $3,500 is a serious chunk of change in my world.

I read your blog each day and pray for your safety and health as well as for the kitties you tend to."

Melissa, you are a hero in my eyes, and thank you for doing your part to save a needy animal.  

Have a great day!

FEED A CAT FOR CHRISTMAS! DECEMBER 30TH - KIMBERLY B.!!!

Taken this morning on Pennsylvania Avenue

KIMBERLY!  Thank you!  Kimberly writes:  "For rescues!  In honor of Carol Peath for Christmas."    Thank you Kimberly.  Yes, I agree.  Carol is very special.  She has a heart as big as Rochester.  She would take in a cat in a heartbeat that is in need.   Don’t spread that around.  I don’t remember how Carol heard of me, but she has been a GODSEND to me with emergency situations.  Thank you Kimberly, you pick awesome friends.  And thank you for helping me help so many helpless animals in need this winter season.

It was miserable out this morning.  I know winter is looming – just around the next corner as a matter of fact.  We’ve been spoiled with little snow and higher temps.  The kitties I feed under trees on the side of the roads will not be able to eat there much longer.  We will be getting a storm the next several days that will leave lots of snow and mess.  I keep telling most of the curb eaters ‘ run back to the shelters behind you where there is a roof over your head, over the food, and a place to sleep!” but they don’t listen.  At some locations, there are cats that are more dominant and scare off others that get too close.  Animals can be very cruel to one another.  I wish I could place shelters all over the city – including the median on Central Park across from the nasty Deacon’s church, but it wouldn’t last.  People can be cruel as well.  Take a shelter from a helpless animal.  I hope Karma is real. 

There is someone messing with my stuff – I have a feeling its Lisa down on Parsells.  Lisa has a mental disorder.  I think I will stop calling some people ‘crazy’ (including Marilee) because mental illness is real.  She is moving stuff around, placing cardboard under the shelters, leaving crazy food like beans and rice…  Would love to catch her in the act and admonish her.  That’s all it would take for her to stop.  But I never see her in the early morning hours like I used to.

The two cats, Miley and Limpy (gotta get a better name – but first must get some good pictures), who I trapped Monday morning for TNR but were too sweet to let back out  in the nasty winter weather and are now being harbored by Mileage Masters Boarding House for Unwanted Cats, are doing better on Day Two.  Carol writes:   

Both ate well overnight -

Miley used her litter box -

Came out of her little house to see what breakfast is -

I can pet her - she's receptive to being touched -

She needs a home - not the street -

I'll see how my day goes - I'll see if I can set up the

"doors" and then let her out of the crate -

Limpy - ate after I left -

I can touch him - but he is weary of it -

I haven't seen him move around - he's staying

flat for the moment so I haven't seen him try to

use his leg at all -

Brought him breakfast which he will probably look

at after me leaving -

  

So, thanks again to Kimberly and Carol, the heroes of the day.

Today's Purrsonal Ad:

Bunny:  Tuxie with whisker fetish seeks same with fish breath.

I need a laugh, and the following quote is something I need to remember.  Much stress these days but I keep telling myself I will get through it.

Have a great day!

"Stop focusing on how stressed you are, 

and remember how blessed you are."

FEED A CAT FOR CHRISTMAS!!! DECEMBER 31ST!!! STEVEN S!!!!

STEVEN S!  I've never met you Steven, but I like ya!  :)  Steven writes:  "Feed a cat for Christmas and help pay for your vet bills - thank you for all that you do.  It is all so heartbreaking seeing these loving creatures suffer.  I care.  Live, Love, Rescue!"   Thank you for helping me to help them Steven.

I have a lot on my mind these days.   For instance, I had always wondered what I would do if adopters returned the cats for one reason or another.  Then it happened:  Parsley and Hermie.  Due to financial troubles and having to move in with someone, their former adopter had to give them up.  I am glad too because they weren't being taken care of very well.  Parsley had terrible mats in his fur, and was very overweight.  This was back in February 2018, and they still are not re-adopted.  They are with Carol, still, being fostered in a warm and comfy room at her business.   Then there was the ‘tale of the bunnies.  The bunny tail.  Three older kittens were trapped in Walworth, brought to clinic for TNR, but we decided to take them into my rescue and rehabilitate them.  It’s been a slow process.  Two were ‘adopted’ out – one unofficially – sort of a trial run – and both are in jeapordy – as of today – of being returned.  Those two are Thumper and Noel.  Noel was the most scared of the three, with Thumper being in second place, and Bunny the least scared.  Bunny is still in foster, but has someone who wants to try her out and adopt her.  The other two have not come around as fast as the adopters would like.  They are still scared.  I am not sure how to handle this – but it is my policy to have kitties returned to me if it is not working out.   I either keep them for life, or I return them to the barn they came from.

Below are a few guidelines on socializing feral kittens.  Some come around sooner than others, but I believe they do come around, but it takes TIME, DEVOTION, and PATIENCE.   I am not a kitten expert, nor a socialization expert.   I rely on my faithful friend and foster Melissa to do this kind of thing for these babies.  She worked with them  and then they were adopted.  

Time: Do you have the time it takes to socialize kittens? You will have to commit to caring for them one-on-one for at least a couple of hours each day, for a period of a few weeks to a month or longer.

Getting comfortable – Follow these tips to make kittens feel more at home and prepare them for socialization. • Move slowly and speak softly around the kittens. If you wear shoes indoors, consider slippers or socks around the kittens. Don’t play loud music or musical instruments. • Don’t keep the kittens confined away from the household action. Leave a TV or radio on after the kittens have been in your home for a few days, so they become accustomed to human voices and sounds. If exposure to other pets is not an issue, set the whole crate in a busy living room with a TV playing. • Kittens will respond to positive experiences. Reward positive behaviors and prevent negative experiences like scolding or confrontations with other pets. • Gauge each kitten’s ability to learn and become accustomed to you. Evaluate each individually—don’t go by set rules. • Spitting, hissing and hiding are all expressions of fear; be patient and do not mistake these signs for aggression.

Socializing with Food – Food is the key to socialization. Providing the kitten with food creates an incentive for the kitten to interact with you and forms a positive association, ensuring that she connects you with the food she loves so much. • You may keep dry kitten food out all day. When you feed wet food, stay in the room while the kittens eat it, so they associate you with food and begin to trust you. • If the kittens are very timid, try to first give them food on a spoon through the cage. • Over time, gradually move the food plate closer to your body while you sit in the room, until the plate is in your lap and the kittens are comfortable crawling on you to get to it. • Pet and handle the kittens for the first time while they are eating, so they have an incentive to stay put. Start petting around the face, chin, and behind the ears and work up to petting all over. • Gradually work up to holding kittens, making sure to reward them with some canned cat food or chicken flavored baby food on a spoon. Human baby food, especially chicken flavor, is a special incentive for kittens. (Make sure the baby food has no onion—it’s toxic to cats.) 

Hold the kittens as much as possible. Make sure they are close to your body so they feel your body warmth and heart beat. This is especially productive after they have eaten, so they associate you with the food and the cuddles.

Yesterday was TNR day for me, and also it was a nasty weather day – with freezing rain, and cold temperatures.  I could not return the two friendly cats back to the streets after the clinic visit.  So, guess who else is in Carol’s care…  These two.   Limpy - it is believed - may have a degenerative muscle in his leg preventing him to put weight on it, but he was given antibiotic and sent home.  Mister, is now Miley, as SHE is microchipped and spayed already, but the owner was unlocatable.  I have not made a decision on them yet.  

Have a great day.

"Expectation is the mother of all frustration."

FEED A CAT FOR CHRISTMAS! DECEMBER 29TH - JENNIFER M.!!!

Thank you JENNIFER M.!  Jennifer writes:  "This donation is in honor of Sue, Kirt, Kyle & Jonathan Cherry from Bob & Jennie Montione.  Sue is our sister and we know how much your organization means to her."  And guess what!  Today is actually Sue's birthday!!!  Happy Birthday to a great foster mom.  Sue sure does LOVE her kittens!.  Jennifer, thank you for helping to feed many cats during this holiday season!

MISTER

LIMPY

I had the opportunity to TNR two cats through the clinic on this very cold morning.  And I caught two.  I actually scruffed one and placed into a carrier, and the other I trapped, but probably could have scruffed that one also.  The first was on Melville #1, and I am calling him Limpy.  He goes back and forth between Melville and Parsells.  Right behind the vacant house on Melville is the house on Parsells where the kind people have offered me their back yard to place shelters.  Limpy has been limping for many months now.  His back hind leg.  I am grateful I finally got him.  Hopefully its nothing too serious.  I will need to release him back to the streets tomorrow if I am able.  The second kitty was just up the street on Melville, and this one, named Mister, is a talker.  Never stopped meowing, which is a sign that the cat is NOT feral, and is friendly.  There have been several newer cats at this location, and they all need fixing.   The part I hate is having to return them because there aren't enough homes for the.  We need more fosters.

Chance Freshly Caught

CHANCE Before

CHANCE Today!

As you will recall, Saturday Sheryl and I rescued a cat a few months back and named him Chance.  Chance was emaciated, and looked like death.  Very severe deformity in his back end due to severe diarrhea and parasites.  He was one hurting little boy.  I was ready to take him to the ED and turn him over as a Good Samaritan, but Sheryl wanted to try her best to help him recover, from whatever was ailing him.  So, we made appointment for vet, they treated him as best as they could, and Sheryl took over feeding him little by little, having a friend stop over and feeding him when she had to go to work, and little by little, Chance took a turn for the better.  Sheryl’s words to me were “he is such a sweet and gentle boy.”  Well, yesterday, Chance was brought to a new family.  And what a wonderful family to be adopted by.  They have three rescued dogs and a fat cat named Teddy.   They saw Chance, who is between 2 and 5 years old, and fell in love.   I love these kind of people, the kind that adopt adult cats.  They are so deserving.  And there are so many of them out there.  And you will never miss the look in their eyes when they gaze at you so gratefully. Grateful that you chose THEM.  Thank you Jen and Todd for giving a piece of your heart to Chance.   Looks like Chance is settling right in.  Can't wait for updates!  And lest I forget, Thank you Sheryl for giving Chance his second chance in life!

CHANCE in new home!~

Have a great day!

FEED A CAT FOR CHRISTMAS! DECEMBER 28TH - PAMELA P.!!!

PAMELA!  YOU Rock!  Thank you for helping me feed all these cats I go out and feed every single day of my life!  Without you, and all the others that have donated, it would be harder than it already is, believe me.  I am so grateful for all that YOU do as well for the animal world!

I have great sadness this morning for some friends of mine who lost their jobs yesterday – ‘downsized’.  I’ve been there! - I know the devastating feelings associated with it. But we bounce back, in time.  It feel hopeless at the moment, but things do get better.  I will miss their everyday presence.  Part of my family in a way.

As I've mentioned, most mornings these days are harder to get in and out of the car, due to my … 
AHEM…  physical ailment.  (I feel old).  Kings has been a huge help with half my spots, as I sit in the car, window rolled down, making sure there is no trouble for him in the dark lots.   And as I sit there, in the still quiet at 4 am., I’ve been noticing trees.  There sure are many grand and majestic trees out there.  I first started noticing them the other morning when the winds were whipping at 40-60 mph.  Its tricky to watch, and scary, thinking they might come down on you as you are hovering over a shelter.   I noticed the width of the trees, thinking some must be way over 100 years old.  Their intricate branches up above sway and swirl with the wind against the backdrop of a dark blue sky.  I’ve never really thought about trees, or noticed their beauty.  I also wondered how many creatures called those trees homes – squirrels, birds?  When there is a windstorm, are their ‘homes’ sturdy enough to withstand?  Oh well, back to cats.

RANGER!

Ranger is on my radar on Central Park to be the next rescue.  Ranger runs to me every single morning from the back of the lot there, where his ‘home’ is amongst the shelters.  Buddy was the most recent rescue here.  But I have to get another kitty adopted before I can do this.  So spread the word!

Today's Purrsonal Ad for one of our yet-to-be adopted babies!

PARSLEY: Attention lovely ladies! It’s your lucky day! Take a gander at this hot beefcake and tell me you don’t want a piece. I’m in the market for a female companion, ages one to four only, and preferably a tabby - stripes are hot. Meoooow! Nothing serious. I’m just out for a good time. Maybe some rolling around on expired rodents followed by heavy petting under the bushes behind the dollar store. What do you think? Can you handle all this swag?

And now for some words of wisdom:

Have a great day!