Gray Day

This is a special post because I am hoping to draw attention back to the kitties who have been living in the cathouse for a while now.  I had planned to do a post called Gray Day when we returned from our vacation because the ENTIRE remaining cathouse gang was gray.  You might remember that when my sister and brother-in-law were here for Older Daughter’s graduation, they adopted and took back home with them THREE of our kitties: Alice, Possum, and Handsome.  I was thrilled to see each of these get chosen because Alice and Possum had been here too long, and Handsome is one of those poor black kitties who never gets chosen.  It was amazing to have THREE go all at the same time into a wonderful home.  The first trip to the cathouse after they left that morning put us in shock.  We stepped into that cathouse and were greeted by gray - nothing but gray.   So the decision was made to put those grays on display in the hopes that someone would fall in love. 

Then came the Fantastic Fifteen.   As the girls and I were talking, somebody said - Well, now we have a handful of boys again.  We all stopped and realized - not only was everybody in cathouse #1 gray, but all were girls as well.  There are the two matriarchs, Circe and Tibby Bean.  They live there full-time and sort of run the place.  They also act as the welcoming committee.  Then there are the “feral” four.  These four girls started out as a group of six feral kittens that we took in last fall.  Their tuxie sister was adopted by Amy (House of Cats) and their only brother, Leo, by Andrea (Celestial Kitties).  The four who remain are girls . . . and gray:   they are Spritz, Mitts, Cashmere, and Glitter.   The seventh cat in that room is Tulip.  Tulip joined the gang more recently after we took her in as a pregnant mom-to-be who nearly died trying to give birth. It was a rough road back, but she is now a healthy kitty living as one of the Gray Girls.  

There is also Daphne (not a gray), our beautiful lovebug calico who is FIV-positive.  She has been living in a cage.  I cannot expose her to the incoming cats and kittens as I never know what illness the new rescues might have or be carrying.  And I haven’t freed her into the gray girl population because I don’t want anyone out there who might have adopted from us to fear doing so because an FIV+ kitty has been in the mix.  Cheri (Cats of Wildcat Woods) has been working tirelessly to find a home or rescue for Daphne.  Deb (Taylor CatSSSSS) did an entire post about how taking an FIV+ kitty into a family of other cats is NOT in fact dangerous.  We do need a home for this sweetheart.  I would keep her in a heartbeat if I could.  When I take her out of her cage to hold her each morning, she cuddles against me in a koala position and hangs on.  She kisses me and smashes her nose into my face and head bumps me over and over.  I hold her really close and talk to her.  She listens intently.  All she wants is love.  I just don’t know if I can send her to a rescue.  I guess I will, if one ever accepts her because she shouldn't be living in a cage.  But what I wish she had more than anything is a real home with a human who would love her deeply and forever.

If any of these Gray Girls is someone you could love, let us know and we’ll start planning.  If anyone out there might adopt Daphne, you will never be sorry.  She is a gentle sweetheart that I sure wouldn’t want to see live out her life in a rescue.  And then there are the Fantastic Fifteen (now Fourteen since Aeon was accepted into the shelter).  If you live anywhere along the northeast route to Canada, we can get one of these precious ones close enough for you to grab.  [MAJOR CHANGE:  GABRIEL WILL BE LEAVING HERE THIS MONDAY - JUNE 13.  IF YOU LIVE ALONG THE ROUTE GABRIEL WILL BE TRAVELING AND WANT TO ADOPT, PLEASE CONTACT ME ASAP.]  If you cannot make a decision as quickly as this weekend or do not live along this route, don’t forget Deb’s offer to fly a kitty to someone.  And keep in mind that we can set up transports to just about anywhere.  I hope you’ll consider adopting one of our sweeties - you’ll be glad you did! 

You can see Daphne on the CB.  Her story is on my blog in the ARCHIVES - May, 5/4/10. 

Now here are the Gray Girls with their descriptions.

Spritz.  Polydactl.  This girl still has issues.  She will require someone with patience.  She loves us and wants attention, but lots of things still spook her.  I don’t want her to end up as a lif-er like Tibby and Circe.  She needs a home where she will be allowed to come around in her own time, with lots of reassurance, patience, and love.

Mitts.  Polydactl.  She is completely friendly - nothing left of the feral background.  We fought for weeks to bring her back from near death this past winter.  She is a sweetheart who will fall in love with her new parent(s), and she easily gets along with all other cats.

Cashmere.  A long-haired beauty with a slight streak of mischief.  This one still hides when we open the door, but she comes out when she hears our voices.  I believe Cashmere will require patience at first, but will come around pretty easily.  

 

Glitter.  Another long-haired beauty with a giant floofy tail.  She wears white eye-liner which makes her face absolutely stunning.   This girl is completely friendly - nothing left of the feral background.

Tulip.  This one demands attention.  She has an underwater-sounding purr and she peeps  and talks to get your attention.  She runs to the door to greet us every morning.  

You can read the rescue story of the ferals throughout October 2010 (ARCHIVES), starting on October 8.         

There is a story about Tulip on May 5, and a story about Daphne on May 4.  Also, there are posts scattered all throughout the month of April about Tulip and Daphne, and even about Mitts, Glitter, Spritz, and Cashmere.

OK, CB.  Start your engines.  Take a look back at the Fantastic Fourteen and memorize this post about our Gray Girls (and Daphne).  Can you find us some homes?



     

Comments

[Milo and Alfie]

Spritz reminds me of our little Alfie; he had a rough start in life and is still spooked by lots of things. Even now he seems on constant alert and is very easily scared ~ but he is such a wonderful loving boy.
We used to give him "cuddle therapy" when we first had him (for about 6 months)~ basically everytime either one of us walked past him we would pick him up for a brief cuddle (whether he liked it or not!). At first he used to resist and wriggle, then he moved on to a stage where he would hold himself rigid but allow us to stroke him and kiss him. Now he is a complete cuddle-bunny! I suspect he had a bad experience with humans when he was little ~ and it took him a while to trust again. We adopted him when he was 12 weeks old (he'd been rescued from living feral and was in a terrible state health-wise when Cats Protection took him in). Alfie is the sweetest most gentle of cats ~ remarkable considering his early life.
I suppose all this rambling is really about me saying, Spritz will be fine ~ she just needs consistent patience and love. No more than she, and the other cats deserve. I hope she and the others get that in their new forever homes.

Love Jan xx

[Random Felines]

Mom keeps saying "if only".....if only we had a bigger house, if only we had space for one more, if only.... but we know it will happen. Come on people - step up!! FIV isn't a big deal and those grey girls are ADORABLE!!!

[The Monkeys]

Beautiful girls! I hope that one or more of them get adopted soon.

I also hope Fantastic Fourteen is a typo and that all of the cats/kittens are doing well!

[Cat's Cats]

I wish I knew someone who would take Daphne!!!

[Ginny & The Fur Family]

Today we went to a yard sale where the person was collection for the animals from the floods in other places like down in the south. She had rescued two beautiful springer spaniels from a shelter and was having to move because the land lord hated to rent to people with pets. Does that sound all too familiar? All those out there who rent have to hide the cats or dogs or pay hugh deposits to own a rescue. I feel for those peole. Most people have big hearts but sometimes they do not live in a place where they can take more than one or none and those people sometimes are the most generous to help. We here at the Fur Family say that gray is a great color and easy to hide in the shadows when the land lord comes a calling. I once rented and hid the cat in the closet when I saw my land lord. the closet had a louver door at the bottom. Later on I learned I had to buy a house when we moved to Arizona. At first we rented from a bad land lord and later on we saw a hugh St, Benard looking out of the window and the people were moving and we stoped and rented the house on the spot - We told her the truth that we had 6 cats and a big dog. and guess what? She said she didn't care - that her friend had been hiding 8 all the same color.. calico. She later bought the house next door from our rental and all was great in the neighborhood - If some one takes 3 grays they will look like the same cat all the time when they look out the windows. Gray is good - gray is great and lets hear it for Gray day. I had to tell this long ranbling story. Gray day deserves a great story. We here at the Fur family home sends prayers to Daphne that some one with another cat like her will open their heart and make a great home for the sweetie. Warm wishes to the fantastic fourteen - have a good week end. We have several black cats and that was on purpose - we saved their lives from Arizona -no one wanted black cats. They didn't have a no kill shelter and they were great cats, we still have four -Ginny & The Fur Family

[Deb & The Taylor CatSSSSS]

What FANTASTIC pictures of the FANTASTIC FOURTEEN! Ginny tells a great story! That is exactly right about telling someone it is the same cat! :) I joke about my five that I really only have one cat who leaves the room and changes into another fur coat. :)

COME ON OUT THERE!!! YOU KNOW THAT YOU WANT ONE, TWO OR MORE OF THESE BEAUTIES!!! Daphne needs a forever home - FIV POSITIVE is not a death sentence nor does it mean that she cannot live with other cats. If you have any questions about FIV, please go here: http://taylorcatsssss.blogspot.com/2011/05/watch-out-here-is-little-education.html

If you have another questions about FIV, write me at: debrastaylor@earthlink.net

Now, if think that you would love to adopt a kitty from Chrystal, but live too far away, we can arrange transport by car, plane, train, horse....etc. (okay, maybe not by horse), but you get the picture. Don't let distance be a factor in adopting a kitty and/or kitties.

Many kisses from Auntie Deb to all the furries!

[Abby]

Oh those gray babies are simply beautiful. I do hope that there is a an opening in a home out there for these special babies!
We are purring and purraying!

purrs
>^,,^<
♥Abby♥ & Mom Debra

[ML & The Sherwood Bunch]

Gray is a special color here with the Sherwood Kitties.
We have twin gray brofurs, Smokey and Brutus Jr. We love gray.
What a great opportunity to get one of these special cats and have it delivered right to you!!!
Little KC came to us from over 500 miles away. Her trip was completely arranged by Auntie Deb. KC was almost too small to fly, but it all worked out so well.
Love & Purrs,
Mom ML & The Sherwood Kitties

[Karen Jo]

I am so happy that Gabriel is leaving for his new home today. I hope that Daphne can find a home soon. FIV isn't such a big deal. Herman has both FIV and Feline Leukemia and he is doing just great.

[Lana G.]

I wish I had room for them all -- I'd adopt them in a heartbeat! They're all so precious.