daily dose of dogs (aka cats with your coffee)

Joe

We were quite surprised with the vet’s approach to Joe’s illness.  My thinking on that Wednesday morning was that little Joe needed assistance OUT of his misery.  Of course, that wasn’t our decision to make as he is a foster.  The decisions are made by the shelter board in conjunction with the vet.  However, when I am told that there is ANY chance of survival (with quality life to follow), I am ready to give it my best effort.  If a vet tells me there is a chance, even a slim one, it becomes impossible not to hope.  The fact that we had to get through 48 hours before we would know if the meds would work was the hard part.  It is very difficult to watch any animal struggle.  As I said yesterday, I was surprised to discover that a bit of peace accompanied my experience with Joe.  I gave him the love and attention he deserved, as did the other members of my family.  Older Daughter force-fed and gave meds on schedule.  She gave subQ fluids with Younger Daughter’s or my help.  There were three possible outcomes.  Joe would die on his own.  Or, he would get no better and would be assisted to the Bridge on Friday.  Or he would show signs of recovery.

Joe made it through Wednesday night.  Thursday was no different from Wednesday.  I was deeply disappointed, but I still knew that my part in this was to give love.  For the first time, the satisfaction of giving love outweighed the horror of watching the struggle.  Joe would give up and go, he would stay the same (which was terrible), or he would start to improve.  Thursday was long.

Then Joe made it through Thursday night.  In the wee hours of Friday morning, when I first checked on him, I felt a crazy mix of emotions when I stepped into the bathroom.  Immediately, I was disappointed that Joe hadn’t been able to let go on his own.  I knew today was the day that he would go back to the vet to be assisted out of his struggling body.  I had watched him get thinner before my very eyes over the few days he had been with us.  He was nothing but a skeleton.  Every breath had been work.  I was disappointed that he hadn’t slipped away on his own and that he was still suffering.  And then there was the nightmare of taking him in - that is rarely anything other than an agonizing decision.  I sat down beside him, and he looked up at me.  The third eyelids were up, as they had been all along.  I lightly stroked him and told him how sorry I was.  And then I noticed that his abdomen wasn’t swollen.  The air, the trapped air, that had been collecting in his abdomen was gone.  I lifted his face to mine.  I watched as he breathed.  Was I kidding myself, or was he struggling ever so slightly less than he had been in the middle of the night?  And there it was - hope. 

When Older Daughter joined me downstairs, I had her come in and see what I had seen.  He definitely did NOT have a swollen abdomen anymore.  The breathing, while neither of us could be sure, we both thought seemed less labored.  He would NOT go to the vet TODAY.  He had fought to stay here through nearly unbearable suffering.  We would see how the rest of Friday went.  I knew the reality all too well.  Everything could turn around on a dime.  But it had been nearly 48 hours, and there had been a 5% chance that the meds would begin to work.  Joe would stay right here for now. 

Older Daughter gave fluids and meds and then went to work.  Younger Daughter went to campus.  I force-fed Joe during the day.  I maintained my calm.  But it was definitely now mixed with anxious desire.  By Friday evening, it was no longer questionable - Joe’s breathing was easier.  On Saturday, he walked around in the bathroom some.  He breathed.  He coughed.  He sat over his water dish and seemed to want to drink.  More meds, more force-feeding, more fluids.  Before bed, we put some canned food out in a bowl.  Joe sat over it, tried to lick it, but for some reason just couldn’t do it.  We went to bed.

The next morning (Sunday), as I came down the stairs, I heard my husband’s voice from inside the bathroom.  Do you have some food for this kitty?  His bowl is empty.  I literally crashed through the door.  And there was Joe.  Sitting up.  His food dish was empty.  Somehow without breaking my neck, I slid into the kitchen and grabbed the food.  I put out a small amount and he ate it.  There was Joe, eating, coughing, breathing, sitting up.  I let myself believe we were on our way.  I was so glad he was here in our home and so glad I had been less burdened this time with the suffering and more focused on the love.  All day Sunday, as I went about my day, I thought about how this could have had a very different ending.  In fact, it absolutely SHOULD have had a different ending, and still could.  It was comforting to know that if Joe had left us, on his own or with assistance, I had found a way into a new peace this time.  This time, the love he needed and that I was able to give was enough to keep the devastation of losing him from taking me out of the game.

Joe did better and better until late yesterday.  He seemed lethargic, and I noticed he hadn’t eaten in several hours.  We took his temp, and he had fever.  It was mild fever, but it was still cause for concern.  Today, no fever and back to eating.  We will watch him closely.  Joe may be a back-and-forth case like so many others we’ve cared for.  They go so far down that it is hard to come all the way back without some rough spots.  And I don’t kid myself - I know from experience that Joe could head into a nosedive that he doesn’t come out of.  We are taking it day by day.  What I know is that Joe afforded me the opportunity to discover that my Summer of Loss was not entirely in vain.  Something has shifted ever so slightly in me - something that will help me survive the losses that are sure to come in my future.  I also know that whatever we face now with Joe, he has known boundless love.

I did not take pictures when he was sitting, hanging his head, trying to breathe.  Here he is looking SO much better.

And now a quick word about a fun time that occurred here over the weekend.

I mentioned on Monday that this past weekend, Amy (House of Cats) and Andrea (Celestial Kitties) did birthday posts for their Winnie’s Wish kitites - Trixie (Tuxie) and Leo. [They are in the sidebar as adopted.] Both Amy and Andrea added BIG plugs for us here at the daily dose in terms of trying to generate interest in adoptions.  Well, since it was Trixie and Leo’s birthdays, it was, of course, also Glitter, Cashmere, Spritz, and Mitts’ birthdays as well.  We don’t normally celebrate kitty birthdays here (too many!), but we do have the occasional cathouse party.  With the help of a BIRTHDAY PACKAGE from brother Leo (and his mom Andrea), we had a birthday celebration of our own.  I’ve got pictures.

See you tomorrow.

Joe ~ A New Place for Me

On Tuesday of last week, Older Daughter brought a kitten home (Joe) because he was VERY sick, and once again, she wanted to make sure he would get the care he needed.  He had stopped eating, so now he would need to be force-fed, and he wasn’t drinking, so subQ fluids would be imperative to keep dehydration at bay.  However, she had not realized just how sick this older kitten really was.  As we cared for him throughout the evening, it became glaringly obvious that this boy needed additional vet care.  He came to us with an antibiotic, but his breathing was terrible and he barely moved at all.  Older Daughter forced food and gave fluids, but by the next morning, Joe was absolutely struggling to breathe.  Older Daughter got on the road with him.  She called the Director of the shelter and said she would be taking Joe in because his condition had worsened despite the antibiotic. 

Joe was one of a litter of kittens that had come into the shelter several weeks ago.  The males had been neutered very recently.  Shortly thereafter, Joe seemed to begin to fail.  He began to have some respiratory trouble and was put on an antibiotic.  The other kittens in his litter all seemed to be OK.  Joe was put in quarantine, but continued to worsen.  That’s when Older Daughter brought him home.  At the vet last Wednesday, Older Daughter helped with the X-ray and viewed it along with the other vet techs.  It was unbelievable.  Joe’s lungs were 100% black on the film.  He had one of the worse cases of pneumonia the vet had ever seen.  In addition, Older Daughter had noticed that Joe’s abdomen was now swollen.  The vet said his abdomen was filling with air because his gastrointestinal system was shutting down.  Joe was dying.

With the full-blown pneumonia and system shut-down, the vet looked at my daughter and said that Joe had a less than 5% chance of survival.  Older Daughter could plainly see that every breath was a struggle for Joe.  She asked if we were to the place of considering euthanasia.  The vet said that he had some medications he could send Joe home with. He would have to be force-fed and given fluids to try to sustain his body and give the medications a chance to work.  However, he said he did not really expect Joe to pull through.  The plan would be that if Joe was no better by Friday, and had not died on his own, to bring him in to be euthanized.

When Older Daughter got home with Joe, I was horrified to think that this cat had to struggle every moment for every breath for the next 48 hours.  We discussed the fact that he would probably die on his own, but we did NOT want him to struggle and suffer every minute that he had left.  It was horrible to watch him.  He couldn’t get in any type of reclining position because it appeared to make him feel like he was drowning.  So he sat, head hanging down, and pulled for each breath. 

That Wednesday and Thursday were tough.  We kept reminding ourselves that Trex had been nearly to this point.  His organs had started to fail, and he was given virtually no chance of survival.   But he did survive (and is happily bouncing around in the cathouse at this moment.)  Our position has always been that if we are told an animal has a chance to come all the way back to good health and live a comfortable life, we will allow the suffering in the moment in order to reach recovery.  If an animal is suffering, and has no chance of coming back, then we feel it is time to let go.  Joe had a less than 5% chance.  It was hard to watch this guy suffer in return for such a small sliver of hope.

I tell you this story because in the midst of caring for Joe, I discovered something.      I discovered that I was calm.   I realized that even though I was watching an animal suffer, there was some tiny part of me that was at peace.  I would sit in the bathroom floor with Joe, petting him very lightly and talking to him in a quiet voice.  He was such a sick kitty that I was sure he wasn’t even aware of my presence a great deal of the time.  And then I would listen closely, and underneath the labored breathing, Joe was purring.  Even though I have always known in a sort of sterile, intellectual way, that giving comfort to a suffering animal is good and worthwhile, I have never been able to FEEL it.  That’s because I am always so distressed over the struggle these innocent ones must endure.  But with Joe, I knew (REALLY knew) that my sole purpose in these moments was to shower him with love.  I knew he probably wouldn’t make it, but we had 48 hours to get through.  As much as I hoped for a miracle, I recognized that it would be OK either way.  The only thing that mattered was that I give Joe the love he deserved while he was in my care. 

I realized that this Summer of Loss we’d just come through had not been in vain.  Something in me was different.  I have a suspicion that those of you who sent prayers to us during the Summer had a part in creating a new place of peace in me.  I questioned if I was strong enough to continue this work after losing so many.  And I might still discover that I am not.  But my experience with Joe was “different”.  Still deeply hopeful that he would live and thrive, I knew that wasn’t the most important thing over the 48 hours from Wednesday until Friday.  The most important thing was the love.  I’d always known that in my head.  With Joe, I could feel it in my heart.

See you tomorrow.      

 

Winnie's Wish Continues

This will be a short post today.  I had a busy weekend, and I’ve got an even busier Monday.  These are the last few days of August - Winnie’s Wish month.  I’d still love to order twenty bricks with which to start the Walkway.  I currently have orders for six.  If you’re still considering a brick, you can let me know via email or comment on the blog.  For more information, click on the picture of the brick at the top of my sidebar. 

More than anything, I’d love to have some wonderful homes come forward for some of the cathouse gang.  My goal is STILL to get at least six kitties placed in honor of Winnie.  I know how busy everyone is, but may I please ask you to keep helping me?  Everything helps - Facebook, Twitter, and some of you have said you’re willing to post about my current need on your own blogs.  Amy (House of Cats) and Andrea (Celestial Kitties) did birthday posts over the weekend for their Winnie’s Wish cats Trixie and Leo.  I hope you stopped by their blogs.  Their celebrations included giant plugs for adopting Winnie’s Wish kitties.  Thank you, Amy and Andrea.    We’re a little desperate here, having reached our maximum number in the cathouse.  And every day when I go in that building, I just marvel at how many amazing cats and kittens we have.  Of course, the kittens are growing up.  They are reaching that long, lanky look.  I SO hope that at least some of them will get “chosen” before they become adults. 

My friend Mere Lyn, who transported Goldie’s Max and Dearest, is taking another trip that direction in September.  It would be a great time for me to send some kitties to new homes!!!  I’ll have more details soon.  Please keep in mind that we can get your kitty to you just about anywhere.  There are kitties in Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, Georgia, California, and Canada.  As we keep saying, don’t let distance stop you.  We’ll find a way.  Because if you adopt a Winnie’s Wish cat or kitten, you’re opening a spot for another needy kitty to come here and recover from a life of straying, starvation, and sickness.  You help TWO kitties when you adopt one.

This week, I want to tell you about some cute things that are happening as the dynamics change in the cathouse.  I also have a story to tell about a kitty you’ve never met.  And if it was Leo and Trixie’s birthdays, then it was also Glitter, Spritz, Cashmere, and Mitts’ birthdays as well.  (Pictures to come.)  Those things this week.

Have a great Monday.   

Winnie's Wish - Comments from Current Parents

It was so nice to write a “happy ending” story over the last couple of days.  We have a story going on here right now that could go either way.  Hopefully, I’ll be telling another “happy ending” story sometime next week.

I’d like to end this week with yet another plea for homes.  The Cat Blogosphere did a wonderful piece about our current need.  THANK YOU, CB!  And I’d like to share some thoughts from some of my previous adoptive kitty parents - these are the folks who HAVE a Winnie’s Wish kitty.  They have given a forever home to a wonderful cat or kitten, and if we are to believe what they’ve said in their comments, they haven’t regretted a single moment of it.  I believe their comments speak for themselves.

My sister and brother-in-law are completely in love with the THREE they adopted (Handsome, Alice, and Possum).  Of course, we email back and forth, and there is NEVER an email without a picture of or a word about those three darlings. 

Amy and her House of Cats (Illinois)   said -
 . . . .the gray girls - I wish I could have taken one of them along with Trixie (you don't know how tempted I was). I can vouch for the fact that their sister is a sweetheart and so I have to guess that the others are too. And since they are coming from you I can guess that helps them be so sweet, since Ash was too. So at least I can do that - let everyone know that your kitties are awesome! 

Here’s Karen at The Monkeys (Canada) -
We're definitely not sorry about adopting Gabriel! He is the sweetest little boy and worth the work getting him here. I hope that some more people will choose some of your cats to make their own! 

Goldie (in Georgia) says -
I second the motion to get the cats adopted. And truly you won't be sorry. Max and Dearest have brought incredible joy into our house. They have adapted beautifully, and they came to me already very climated to people and other cats. They purr constantly and have perfect litter box manners! It has been definitely worth it!

Lana (California ) chimes in with -
If you can get kitties to Canada and California, anything is possible!! Jasper and Soapy are two of the sweetest, most loving fuzzies I've ever had the pleasure of being near. They have completed our family perfectly, and it was worth every second of planning and effort that it took to get them here! 

Cat (Canada) has this to say -
I know I'm a total broken record when it comes to Jimmy (Ash) but he is just the happiest and most affectionate cat. I'm just certain that anyone who adopts a Winnie's Wish kitty will not be sorry, kitties raised with your family's love and kindness are very special indeed!!!

Andrea (Ohio) finishes it off with -
I totally agree with all the other adopters! Winnie's Wish kitties are the best, most loving, most family ready kitties in the world! My Leo was more than worth the distance. No distance should be an obstacle to getting one of these wonderful kitties! Leo is especially interested in seeing his other sisters find their forever homes, so please please look over the kitties and choose one! Getting them isn't the issue, choosing from these amazing kitties is the hardest part! Winnie's Wish is worth it! Spread the word!

My adopters are wonderful, and they are my best advertisement!  You can check out the pictures of the kitties they adopted in my sidebar.  And while you’re there, you can look at some of the kitties that still need homes.  ALSO - I FINALLY updated my Winnie’s Wish post.  It became impossible to constantly write descriptions and add pictures of the new cats and kittens needing homes.  So now, when you click on the Winnie’s Wish graphic in my sidebar and go to that post, there are links to other posts.  Those other posts have descriptions and pictures of the Winnie’s Wish cats and kittens who are currently anxiously awaiting their forever homes. 

There are EIGHTEEN cats and kittens in the cathouse right now.  That is an absolute maximum number.  I won’t be able to take in any more kitties until some get adopted.  This worries me because Autumn always brings a handful of needy kitties.  So please keep up the good work.  I have wonderful emails from people offering their ideas about how to get some kitties adopted.  Some of you are checking with people you think might be interested.  Some of you are planning posts of your own to draw attention to the cathouse gang.  My understanding is that Andrea (Celestial Kitties) and Amy (House of Cats) are planning birthday posts for Leo and Trixie (tomorrow?).  And there is the nice big promotion on the CB.  I appreciate every shred of help I can get to draw in some forever homes.  There are two giant reasons to hope extra hard for homes right now - we’re at our maximum number, AND it’s the one-year anniversary of Winnie’s Wish.  We’ve just GOTTA start planning some transports.   Keep up the great work, everybody. 

Have a great weekend!
  

One Little Doggy, Two Little Doggies

A small, extremely matted, one-eyed male dog came into the shelter where Older Daughter works.  After a shave, a bath, and a trip to the vet, Bennie moved into a cage at the shelter.  Older Daughter told the story one evening, and I remember she was concerned about whether or not he would consistently get his meds and eye drops over her days off from work.  After dinner, I told Older Daughter that if she could wait one more day, I would have a run open at the kennel.  She could bring Bennie here for some R & R, and we would make sure he got everything he needed for a while.

A couple of days later, Older Daughter pulled into the driveway, came in briefly to deposit her purse and lunch bag, and turned directly at me and said - OK.  I need to tell you something.  I have TWO dogs with me.  But when you see this second one, you’ll agree that she needed to come, too.  There was NO way I could leave her behind.  Another little dog had come into the shelter.  This one was rescued from a house fire.

I asked if the two would get along in a run together - I only had the one run available.  She said she thought they would - they had ridden home together, and both seemed quite docile.  So Older Daughter took the now TWO little dogs to the run in the kennel that I had set up for Bennie.  She joined us for dinner and began to tell the dramatic story of a house fire, that ended up involving the city dog catcher, who was called in because the man living in the house said he had three dogs.  Only one was found.  This poor little girl suffered from smoke inhalation and was taken to the vet immediately upon being delivered to the shelter.  Her eyes were red and inflamed, a condition assumed to be the result of being in the fire.  The vet gave medications and eye drops and this little dog returned to the shelter.  Older Daughter said we needed to be sitting down when she got ready to describe the condition of this dog’s coat.  The hair was long, tangled, matted.  The mats were so thick over most of the body that nothing could pierce through - over half an inch thick in many places.  She didn’t use her back legs very well.  Older Daughter said that she might have bad hips.  But what she really suspected  might be the problem was that the fur on this dog’s back legs was SO matted that it had pulled each of the legs into a permanently bent position.  In other words, it was possible that the hair was SO tangled and matted on the legs of this dog that she could no longer stand all the way up.

Older Daughter was angry as she told the story.  Clearly, the house fire had not caused the matting . . .   This dog had been SEVERELY neglected.  Older Daughter had carried home the shelter’s grooming shears.  She and her sister would spend the evening attempting to get through the mats.  (That ended up being a job that took two full sessions.)  Shaving this dog would be the first priority.  But the second priority would be to change her name.  The man had said her name was Fuzz.  My daughters did NOT think that was funny.  (You'll see why from the picture.)  They renamed her Honey.  And after dinner, I got my first look at her.

I’ve seen lots and lots of neglected dogs in my life.  This was, by far, the most matted, horrible coat of fur I’d ever seen.  You could not push your fingers through any part of the mats and touch skin.  I could have just screamed.  I couldn’t imagine what this had been like - how long had she been walking around like this?  She had a terrible cough from the smoke inhalation and her eyes were so inflamed that I was sure they were painful.  I hardly paid any attention at all to Bennie because I was in shock over Honey’s condition.  When I finally noticed him, Older Daughter pointed out that he, too, had been severely matted from about the shoulders down.  She had shaved him a few days before, and although the cut wasn’t exactly worthy of being in a dog show, he was clearly quite comfortable now.  I examined the eye (or lack of) and it seemed to be doing as well as could be expected.  We marveled at how lucky we were that these two got along.  Then I started into my evening routine, and the girls got down to business.  They worked a very long time, and only got about halfway through.  But by the end of that first session, you could see a dog where a thick rug had been.  Poor, sweet Honey.  Older Daughter had been right to bring her.  Wow, did she ever need us.

The next day, during a period of time when both girls were home, they finished the shaving job they had started the evening before.  Guess what they discovered?  One - Honey was Pekingese.  And two - now Honey could walk.  It had, in fact, been the severe matting on the back legs that kept Honey from using those legs correctly.  I was even more furious.  Older Daughter was in contact with the shelter later in the day, and we were all pleased to find out that the man who owned “Fuzz” was going to be prosecuted for neglect.  And get this.  He had called to ask for his dog back.

So.  Two Pekingeses.  Both matted and neglected.  Got along great from the moment they were put together.  One found wandering in the street.  One picked up during a house fire.  The owner of the house had three dogs, but only one “survived” the fire.  Or was it only Honey who survived?  Maybe Bennie ran away from home only a couple of days before the fire.  He doesn’t see well, and he ended up in the middle of a road where a good samaritan grabbed him and brought him to the shelter.  Was Bennie one of the other two dogs living in those horribly neglectful conditions?  We probably won’t ever know.  But two little Pekingese dogs spent some time with us - shaved, bathed, fed & medicated, petted, made over, and loved.  They are now back at the shelter where we hope they will be adopted by wonderful folks.  Maybe they’ll even be adopted into the same home.  That would sure be nice.  Regardless, they will never again live like they had been living.  Now they’ve got a shot at the good life. 

Younger Daughter helped me get some pictures.    

                                                                            Honey - Before.

                             Honey - After.

                                                     A couple of the mats from Honey's back.

    Bennie.



I LOVE a happy ending.  I know you do, too.

See you tomorrow.  

A Dose of Dogs

The subject has definitely been cats.  In fairness, once kitten season hits in late Spring, there is simply no time for anything else.  Today, however, we take a break from cats and kittens, and even from the Winnie’s Wish celebration, to focus for a moment on dogs.

I will tell the sad story first.  I realize now that if I’d never mentioned the puppy we took in over the weekend, I wouldn’t feel I had to follow up with the unhappy ending.  Her name was Chloe.  She didn’t make it.  She was the runt of a litter of pups at the shelter where Older Daughter works.  She became very ill, very quickly.  The vet said she definitely had pneumonia - one of the most severe cases he’d ever seen.  Of course, the question remained - Why?  We got the answer to that question.

The vet said he did not think this little puppy would live, but he sent four medications with Chloe when she returned to the shelter.  Of course, Older Daughter called to ask.  Can I bring this puppy home and set up a quarantine cage in the kennel storage room?   I’m afraid she’s going to die alone.  I told her she certainly could.  After all, there were no kittens in that room now.  Kitten quarantine was behind us.  Chloe made the first night, but the next morning she was worse.  Then Older Daughter got a text message from a co-worker.  The rest of the litter was now sick, too.  The symptoms in some of the others looked like distemper.  In very young pups, that is nearly always a death sentence.  Chloe only made one more night.  The rest of the litter died, too. 

I took comfort in knowing that Chloe had been held, and petted, and talked to.  ALL of us had told her how much we loved her.  During one conversation I had with the little dear, I told her to please hang on if she could.  But if she couldn’t, I wanted her to move on to The Bridge WITH LOVE.  She did.

Now let’s talk about some brighter moments with dogs.  Waggles had her third cancer treatment yesterday.  Dr. K said there was clearly still something going on.  There was still drainage from a very small opening on the top of her nose and some drainage from one nostril.  Dr. K and I agreed that we wouldn’t want to bring her this far and then leave just enough of the tumor in there to render the first two treatments unsuccessful.  The idea was to do this final treatment to try to get any remaining tumor tissue.  She was under general anesthesia one-third the time of the previous two treatments.   I was so nervous to pick her up.  The night of her second cancer treatment was SO bad.  That remains such a dark night of memories for me.  But I could tell even when I picked her up that she was much better than she had been that day.  She had a sluggish evening, but she actually ate half a can of dog food by late last night.  This morning, she was active and anxious to get outside.  The worst of it is that she’s back in that darn E-collar.  Maybe not for long this time. 


I’m holding on to my vision of Waggles taking Autumn walks with us.  She hasn’t been to the pond since the treatments started.  We can’t have her taking a splash in pond water with that open nose.  She hasn’t enjoyed the heat much this summer anyway.  When she goes out (only into the fenced-in part of the yard), it isn’t long before she wants back into the air conditioning.  With the kind of heat we’ve had this summer, I can’t blame her.  Hopefully, when the weather cools off, I’ll be blogging about our precious Waggles running through the woods on a mission.  I’ll keep you posted.

One evening, a couple of weeks ago, Older Daughter told a story from her day at the shelter.  A small dog (Pekingese type) had been brought in to the shelter in really bad shape.  The person who delivered him said that he was wandering around in the street.  He had no collar or tags and was so badly matted that it appeared he didn’t belong to anyone.  Older Daughter and a volunteer managed to get a lot of the matted fur shaved off.  He was covered in fleas, so a bath was next.  Soon he would be so much more comfortable.  Following the shave, when one could see the eyes again, it was discovered that one eye was gone.  It also appeared that the sight left in the other eye might be limited.  Later that day, when the dog went to the vet, sure enough - there was no eye in one of the sockets.  The loss looked recent.  The little guy was given the name Bennie and he went back to the shelter with antibiotics and eye drops.  I listened to Older Daughter’s story with big interest, as I do ALL of her stories.  But that was that.  Working in a shelter, she has a new story nearly every evening.  Then a couple of days later, sitting at the dinner table, Older Daughter started telling a story that got harder and harder to believe as she told it.  This story ranked right at the top of crazy coincidences.  In fact, it would take days to put the pieces of this puzzle together.   That part of the story . . . . tomorrow.


PLEASE keep the word going that we are desperate for adoptions.  Send it everywhere - Facebook, Twitter, friends (that you trust), etc.   I know with any luck at all, we can surely get half a dozen kitties “chosen” and start our transport plans. 
   

Crowded Cathouse

Tibby Bean and Circe are the full-time matriarchs of the cathouse.  They will live out their lives here.  They are very content to watch as cats and kittens come and go.  They are part of what we call The Gray Girls.  There are actually eight Gray Girls now.  The old crew - Tibby, Circe, Glitter, Spritz, Cashmere, and Mitts - have been joined by Tulip and Halo (Halo is one from the Fantastic Fifteen).  Add Percy, Luna, and Golden (also from the Fantastic Fifteen), the Formerly Feral Four, and Survivor Kitties Trex and Frosting (Fantastic Fifteen, too).  Daphne is in a cage, but she is out the entire time any one of us is in the cathouse (working, playing, or taking pictures).  That’s eighteen cats living in the two rooms of the cathouse.  Yes.  We are crowded.

This is the absolute maximum number for the cathouse.  No more IN until some get placed.  And with Autumn just around the corner, well . . . .     We’ve never made it through an Autumn without needy kitties crossing our path. 

Today I will highlight three Winnie’s Wish cats that will be some of the hardest to place.  These are kitties “with problems”.  And I’ll end with Luna - no problems, big talker.

You’ve met Tulip.  She was the pregnant stray that Older Daughter picked up along with Daphne.  (The two were fighting over a chicken bone in front of a dumpster.)  Tulip had her kittens with us, but none lived.  During the process of birthing, everything shut down and we nearly lost Tulip.  When she pulled through, it took a long time for her to regain her strength.  She and Daphne were living in cages (separately) in my kennel office, and we got to know Tulip very well.  She was such a lover that we knew her personality would make her very adoptable.  She loves to be in a lap.  She purrs and rolls and rubs and takes such joy in being with a human.  She would be a perfect candidate for a forever home.  And then . . .

Tulip moved into the cathouse and was very nervous about being with the other cats.  We didn’t worry much because most adult cats have some trouble moving into a new environment of already-established cats.  Tulip would lash out at any cat who approached her.  We still didn’t worry because we knew she was just trying to feel safe.  She would eventually find her place in the crowd and do fine.  But Tulip has gone the path of Sparkles.  (Remember our special plea for an adoption for Sparkles?)  Tulip does not get along with the other cats, and she is absolutely desperate to have the attention of any of us humans who enter her world.  Like Sparkles, Tulip is an AMAZING cat in terms of her love for a person, but she does not consistently get along well with the other cats.  Don’t get me wrong - sometimes she seems content to be near the others.  And sometimes she bats and plays with toys, even sharing with another kitty.  But in a heartbeat, she can go from walking peacefully through the building to hissing at a passerby.  We know that a cat like this can make it (and even do well) in a home because we have had that experience once already.  Kat of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Horde came to our rescue and adopted Sparkles.  She now lives as Lady Audrey in that home.  The adoption has been quite successful.  We now hold the same hope for Tulip.  Can YOU provide that home?





Tibby, Mitts, and Tulip on the right.

On to another harder-to-place kitty.  Meet Halo.  I don’t think Halo has ever been highlighted in any post.  She is one of the Fantastic Fifteen.  She is a solid dark gray, almost a blue-gray.  Her tail is too short.  This group came from very rough living conditions so it’s possible she lost the end of her tail at some point.  Or this may just be the way Halo’s tail has always been.  We are pretty sure that she is the mother of Max and Dearest (the two kittens who went to Goldie in Georgia).  She is what I call a “background kitty”.  She stays in the background.  She doesn’t cause any trouble, but she doesn’t come for attention either.  She sort of gets lost in the crowd.  I try always to remember to go to her every time I’m in the cathouse.  She arches up and wants to be petted.  She seems to be completely nonaggressive.  But she will NOT demand attention, or even ask for it.  I hope that if she gets “chosen”, she will blossom in her new home.  It’s possible she just needs an environment where she receives more attention than she can get here.





Halo, with Dearest.




The third possibly hard-to-place cat is Percy.  Percy was one of the three adult males who came as part of the Fantastic Fifteen.  He is an orange & white mancat with a very strange personality.  We have no idea what might have happened to him in his life that could have caused his current demeanor.  But we have never had an adult who acts quite like Percy.  When we first took on the Fifteen, there were sick babies, and adult females and males that we had to keep separated.  Winnie’s Room filled to overflowing.  Males were in cages while females were out.  Then females went into cages to give the males a chance to move around.  It was chaotic to say the least.  We didn’t know the personalities of ANY of the cats or kittens at first.  But something immediately stood out about Percy.  He didn’t stand.  Ever.  

This “not standing” thing that Percy did began to worry us.  At first, we thought he was hurt.  We stood him up and he would wait until he thought we had seen enough, and then take himself right back down into a reclining position.  With investigation, he did not seem to be hurt.  I worried that maybe he was weak.  But as he ate and rested and was cared for by us, he continued to “not stand” even though he was gaining weight and strength.  I thought maybe he had a heart condition (or something) and it was a strain to stand for very long.  But he checked out fine at the vet in that department. 

Here is what we have finally decided about Percy.  We think he is sort of like our Jack Dog.  He has just been so traumatized by his life that he tries never to be noticed.  He tries to just be wherever he is, not moving and hopefully unnoticed.  If I go to him, sit on the floor beside him, and start petting him, he starts purring.  He doesn’t look at me.  But when I stand to leave his side, he stands and arches as high as he can to get one more caress.  Then he immediately lies down as I walk away.  Oh, Percy.  We need a person who will shower this sweet, sweet boy with affection and teach him that people are good.  He gets along fine with the other cats, but he certainly doesn’t assert himself.  If he goes to a food bowl, and another cat comes to that bowl, he moves on to a bowl that is not occupied.  He is a precious cat and I hurt for him.  He does loves the outside deck.  He learned how to go through the little kitty door and he spends some time outdoors nearly every day.  Is there anybody out there who could give Percy the love and security he deserves?     








Now a word about Luna.  We brought the kittens of the Fantastic Fifteen home before we went back for the adults.  All of the kittens were sick, but Golden also seemed depressed.  We assumed it was because she felt so bad.  But when we brought the three adult males and the three adult females into the cathouse, Golden transformed.  She ran to Luna’s side and stuck to her for weeks.  They are clearly mother and daughter.  For some time, I’ve hoped someone would adopt the two together.  But recently, Luna seems to be somewhat annoyed with Golden.  Golden is now being entertained by the recent delivery of SIX new kittens into the cathouse.  The dynamic has changed entirely.  I now feel comfortable saying that Golden could go into a forever home as a single.  And the same is true for Luna.

Luna is a joy of a cat.  I happen to LOVE talkers.  My heart cat Sofie was a talker.  Well, Luna is the talking-est cat in the cathouse.  She starts the conversation the moment you step into her world, and she manages to carry on this conversation the whole time you are there.  She is a beautiful cat, long and lanky, with a long thin tail that ends in a white dot.  Her voice, however, does not match her body.  It is a deep, gravelly meow.  It’s crazy to be in the cathouse, listening to Trex the young man chirp out his tiny little mews, while mom Luna is conversing in a less than feminine tone.  Luna is a great cat.  And she’s ready for a home of her own.


Here's Luna, eating with Halo.

Looking up at me . . . . talking.

I anxiously await a comment or an email of interest in one of Winnie's Wish kitties.  I hate to sound desperate, but truly we are at a maximum number in the cathouse.  I know that Autumn will probably bring more needy kitties.  I absolutely need to get some cats and kittens placed here at the end of Summer.  I KNOW you can do this, CB.  If you've ever thought of adopting another kitty, won't you please consider making that decision now.  I also know that l0ts of you guys tweet and/or have Facebook (I do not).  If you would highlight a kitty or refer people back to my blog, I would be extremely grateful. 

See you tomorrow.

ADDENDUM.  Percy just made a liar out of me.  I published the post this morning and headed back to the kennel.  The cathouse is right beside the kennel.  I peeked in the window (as I often do) to see what the kitties are doing when they don't know we're around.  But Circe must have heard me outside because she suddenly jumped up and shot through the kitty door onto the outside deck to find me.  What I saw next was surprising.  Percy jumped up, too, and was the second one on the deck.  I actually saw him scamper across the cathouse floor, jump up to the landing where the kitty door is, and shoot through the little door.  He walked out onto that deck, dropped to his side, and meowed directly at me.  I swear it was like he knew what I'd written about him this morning, and he'd decided to prove me wrong.  Ha. Never a dull moment. 

Cathouse Kittens (and a Special Request)

It was a productive weekend.  Thursday, the four boys (Trex, Bagheera, Monkey, and Elfin) were neutered.  Waggles went for her cancer follow-up.  There will be a third treatment (tomorrow).  The two little dogs we took in during our bout with the stomach flu went back to the shelter.  I will tell their story this week.  We took in a puppy with pneumonia on Saturday, to keep her from being alone at night at the shelter.  Her prognosis is poor, but she still deserves to be cared for and loved.  Brazzle, Dazzle, Thelma, and Louise had their vaccinations while still with us, and after assuring no complications, we returned them to the shelter on Friday.  With all males neutered, we released the Formerly Feral Four and Survivor kitties Trex and Frosting into the expanse of the cathouse. 

As you all know, I am hoping beyond hope that somebody out there is considering adopting a Winnie’s Wish kitty.  This week, I will highlight more cats and kittens to make sure every one has been adequately described.  Today, I want to talk about the dynamics of the cathouse since releasing the six new kittens.  Even though it has been wonderful to watch these guys explore and play and bounce and run, a problem has developed.  I remember when we were having our problem with Sparkles (now Lady Audrey, living with Kat and the Teenage Mutant Ninjas), I did a special post to get help from the Blogosphere.  I’m hoping my special request today will net similar results.

Frosting is being picked on.  There is no way to predict the relationships that will develop amongst cats.  Frosting has a great, easy-going personality so I know the other cats don’t see her as a threat.  She is the smallest of the kittens so maybe that has something to do with it.  I don’t know.  But she can hardly walk across the floor without being hissed at or smacked.  We can’t figure it out.  Several of the adult female cats have chosen to bully little Frosting.  If she tries to run at a toy or join one of the other kittens in a tunnel game, she only needs to get a little too close to one of the attackers to elicit a pop or a growl.  I would say that it was just part of the adjustment period.  But it has gone on all weekend long.  Yesterday, I noticed that she is now nervous about running to me when I first walk in for fear that someone will attack her.  It’s breaking my heart.

Frosting is the kitten who used to leap from the washing machine in the storage room to our shoulders nearly every time we walked into that room.  She then starts making her way around the front of you until she is hanging on your chest.  She wraps her two little front legs around your neck and starts giving nose bumps, nibbles, and kisses.  She is an absolute little doll.  When one of the cats growls or hisses at her in my presence, I race to her and pick her up.  Immediately, she hugs me.  I’ve started carrying her around with me while I’m in the cathouse; she hangs on and rides there for as long as I will hold her.  I’m desperately hoping that someone out there would love for a Frosting kitten to join their family.  She gets along with all of the other kittens, so if you’re thinking of two, any of the others would do well with her.  I REALLY hope there is someone out there who would consider adopting the sweet little Frosting.  THIS IS MY SPECIAL REQUEST - A HOME FOR FROSTING.






The girls and I have compared stories from being in and out of the cathouse all throughout the weekend.  We’ve had some of the same experiences.  To begin with, when any of us enters the building, seven kittens come running from wherever they are to meet us.  You just can’t imagine what that looks like.  They start scampering from all locations and fill the floor with their colorfulness.  They stop whatever they are doing when they hear the door open, and they race towards whoever is entering.  What a joy that is.  The biggest surprise here is Bagheera.  At first, we thought he was just running towards us because he got caught up in some kind of mob mentality.  But that isn’t it.  Bagheera has decided people are OK.  He usually busies himself playing, but over the weekend, each and every time one of us was in that building, Bagheera made his way over for some attention.  I can now say with confidence that every kitten down there is completely ready for a human of his or her own.




I’m sure I’ve felt this way about every kitten I’ve ever known.  But I can say honestly that we have an amazing group right now.  You just can’t go wrong with ANY of these darlings.  Golden has lost her need to stay with Luna.  She is enjoying the company of others her age.  She does seem to be a bit of a loner, though.  She plays with some of the new youngsters, but she also seems quite willing to hang out by herself.  I don’t know if this is a personality characteristic, or if it is because she has been without others her age for quite a while now.  It appears that she would do fine being adopted with another kitten (as a pair), or as a single.



 
Trex is having loads of fun and seems to be past his intense neediness and sensitivity.  People, he is such a little chirper.  I know some day he will be a grown mancat, but I’m betting he will still have that tiny little mew.



                                                                                Frosting and Trex

Charms is extremely busy now.  There is just so much to do in that cathouse.  She especially likes the little sparkly ball toys and can often be seen just carrying one around.  She has a face so cute it won’t let you go.




Elfin is becoming absolutely stunning.  He is not an average-looking cat.  He is becoming long and lanky, with long legs that end in absolutely giant feet.  His face is longer than the faces of his siblings, and he still has those elf ears.  White eye liner sets it off.  He is gorgeous.  But he is not just a beauty.  He has an amazing personality - playful, but also desiring human contact.  I guess he is about the perfect blend of the two characteristics.  And Elfin is a silent meower.  I love it.  He opens his mouth to speak to me, and nothing comes out.  Over and over and over.




Monkey is 100% lover.  If anyone out there is looking for a cat that will shower them with constant love and affection, this is the cat for you.  He walks around beside us when we’re working; he would be content to be held 24 hours a day.  He plays with the other kittens when we watch him through the window.  But the minute one of us goes into the building, there is no other goal than to get us for himself.  He does not quit.  He needs a human.  Of all of the kittens, Monkey is the one who definitely WOULD NOT need another kitten in order to be happy.  Just a human - a human who is ready to shower him with love.  (It’s impossible to get a picture of Monkey just sitting.  If he’s looking at you, he is at your feet begging to be held.  With patience, I caught him playing a couple of times.)




PLEASE let me know if you are interested in any of these kittens.  I would love for them to go to a home of their own before they become adults.  It would be great if they could find their homes now, as youngsters, and get to grow up with their forever families.

Leave a comment or email me with any interest you may have.  As I’ve said (and the CB has proven), we can get kitties to nearly anywhere you might be.  There’s a kitten here who needs you.  Please jumpstart our Winnie’s Wish anniversary adoptions.

See you tomorrow.      

 

Wishing For . . .

Twenty adoptions and twenty bricks.  As I shared in a previous post, if I can get homes for SIX more kitties, that would make TWENTY total adoptions in the first year of Winnie's Wish.   TWENTY bricks would mean about $600 for the rescue work.  That would be a great help in terms of spay/neuter surgeries, medical care, food, and kitty litter (oh so much kitty litter :-).  After I pay the company for the bricks, and paypal takes their part, I can net about $30 a brick to go towards our work here.   (Twenty bricks would also be a good number with which to make a great start on the Winnie's Wish Walkway.)

I spent the afternoon on the road yesterday.  Picked up four boys who successfully underwent their neuter surgeries.  All are doing well.   Our vets have two clinics - took Waggles to the farther one for another cancer follow-up.  Looks like there will be one more treatment.   There is still something going on in one nasal passageway and in the roof of her mouth.  What is there is minor compared to where we've been.  Dr. K says the next treatment will require Waggles to be under for only about 10 minutes (compared to 45 minutes the previous two times).

Keep shopping and figuring out what you want on your brick.  And please keep thinking about homes for kitties.  Next week I will highlight more Winnie's Wish cats so that there is a wide selection from which to choose.  (Scroll down to the Pick A Pair post to read about some of the choices.)  There are about two weeks left in August.  If I can get a good number of bricks by the end of the month, I'll place the first order.  If we need to go a couple of weeks into September, that's fine, too.  And if we can get some nibbles on kitties, I can start planning some fall transports.   I just know somebody out there is looking for a wonderful addition to their family.  Please come forward and kick off the adoptions for our Winnie's Wish one-year anniversary.

Have a great weekend!!

Pick A Pair

I have highlighted the Gray Girls in previous posts.   Today, I want to suggest that maybe someone out there would be interested in a pair of Grays.  Glitter and Spritz (sisters) would be a good combination.  Glitter is long-haired and very friendly.  Spritz is polydactl and much more shy.  I am thinking that if they went together, Glitter might be the security Spritz would need to make the transition.  I know none of you actually pick cats because they are physically beautiful, but it’s hard not mention that about this particular pair.  Glitter is a beauty with gorgeous fur and white eye liner.  Spritz is a tiger-looking, giant-pawed, many-toed girl with a stunning face.  After the initial fear of being in a new place, we think Glitter will adjust quickly.  Spritz is going to take patience on the part of the human who adopts her.  But we know Spritz’s personality.  She desperately wants love and attention.  As long as nothing spooks her, she comes to us in the cathouse and begs for notice.  She rubs on us and even follows us around.  She’s just more fearful than most and will take longer to adjust to a new home. 

Spritz and Glitter.  I snapped the pic just a bit too late - they had just given a nose bump kiss.

Two other gray girls (also sisters) that would make a nice pair are Cashmere and Mitts.  Their description is nearly identical to Glitter and Spritz’s.   Only in this pair, it’s the poly that is the super friendly one.  Mitts is ready right now this minute for a human of her own.  She actually was adopted when she was a kitten and she adjusted perfectly in her new home.  (Subsequently, she became very ill due to a string of events that included her not receiving vaccinations or being spayed.  She returned to us, and it was a  l-o-n-g road back to health.)  She would love, love, love the opportunity to have a family again.  Cashmere is a long-haired beauty who is much more cautious than Mitts.  She, like Spritz, desperately wants our attention when we go into the cathouse.  But she is slower to adjust and becomes spooked more easily.  Again, it’s possible that going to a home along with her sister might be the recipe for a happy ending.

Cashmere and Mitts.

Another great pair would be Trex and Frosty.  (From here on out I’ll be calling Frosty “Frosting” because that is the only thing we call her now.  She has always reminded us of cupcake frosting.)  Trex and Frosting were part of the Fantastic Fifteen.  They were a couple of the healthiest of the nine kittens in that group.  So they were chosen to go to the shelter when four spots came open for kittens.  However, they became very ill while at the shelter.  I know you remember when we brought Trex, Frosting, and Saucer back here (along with other sick ones).  Saucer passed away (and so did Sweet Pea who died in her new home).  Trex was given a death sentence at the time as well.  But he survived, as did Frosting.  We promised them that they would stay here until they were “chosen”.  I had tremendous guilt over what happened to Saucer and Sweet Pea.  My daughters struggled day and night to keep Trex and Frosting (and others) alive during a very bad time here.  They DID survive.  Trex and Frosting have been together continuously since they were born.  They play together and sleep together.  They make a good pair.  Frosting is a spunky girl who has a habit of leaping from cat trees and washing machines onto your shoulder.  As soon as she lands, she moves immediately to your chest where she wraps her front legs around your neck and bumps noses with you.  It is wild love for sure.  Trex was the little man who was very needy when he first came to us.  He seemed extra sensitive.  I believe a contributing factor to how dangerously close to death he got was that he stopped eating when he went to the shelter.  He was lost in grief.  He can’t handle that scenario.  Trex needs a human of his own.  He is, by the way, a “chirper”.  Some of you may have a “chirping” kitty so you’ll know what I mean. 

Any combination of the Formerly Feral Four would be great.  They get along marvelously with each other.  Charms is the only girl in the group - a saucer-eyed, short-haired beauty with love to give and energy to play.  Monkey is a lover extraordinaire.  He started out as the shyest in the group, and now he is, without a doubt, the most demanding in terms of attention.  Elfin is the definition of “kitten”.  He plays until he drops.  He wants to be talked to and petted, but if there is a toy in the room he has to be about the business of playing.  Bagheera is the only one in the group who still wants to be a little shy with people.  But he has COMPLETELY come out of his shell when it comes to playtime.  He is a flying contortionist.  He LOVES the tunnel toy which he runs through as is intended.  But he also leaps into the air, twists into a pretzel, and lands right on top of it.  What a cutie!  It would be great to have any two of these go to a home together.  They all love each other so much and have a such a great time together.

Elfin in the tunnel.  Bagheera drops to his side.

                                                                Bagheera following Charms.

Elfin and Charms.

                                                   Charms in the tunnel, with Monkey beside.


Bagheera, about to pounce on a sibling.

 No conversation about pairs would be complete without talk of Luna and Golden.  They, too, are members of the Fantastic Fifteen.  When we took in that group of fifteen, we got the kittens first.  There was one kitten who exhibited signs of depression.  We thought she must just be sicker than the others (ALL were sick).  But we saw this little girl make an amazing transformation when the adults came on board.  She literally raced to Luna’s side.  She looks just like Luna, so we are sure they are mother and daughter.  There was a time when I felt they needed to be adopted as a pair.  Golden stayed glued to Luna for a long time.  But very recently, Luna has become annoyed with Golden.  This would have broken my heart for Golden, except that a very new connection is being made right before my eyes.  The Formerly Feral Four are in a cage in the cathouse right now.  When I can stay in the building for a while, I let the Four out to play.  Golden is completely intrigued by this rowdy group.  She has been the only kitten in that cathouse ever since Soapy went with Jasper to California, and Max and Dearest went to Georgia.  At first she watched the crazy four play, but now she joins in. They have gladly included her.  Kittens are like that.  She doesn’t seem to be so needy of Luna anymore.  Maybe Golden and another youngster from the cathouse could be adopted together as a pair.   Here is Golden with her new friends.

Now.  Having spent an entire post designing pairs of kitties to be adopted out together, here is what I have to say.  If any kitty in this post appeals to someone out there AS A SINGLE CAT ADOPTION, just let me know.  Every kitty we have in our cathouse deserves a home.  I would be THRILLED to have ANY of the felines in this post adopted as a SINGLE.  I even have some great ideas about this.    Cat.  Andrea.  There’s a kitty here for each of you.  Come on, Cat.  You know your heartstrings pull when you look at our sleek black panther kitty.  You’ve let it slip in more than one comment.  (And the name comes from your favorite childhood movie.)  How bout that fifth cat about now?  And Andrea.  You know Miss Glitter is dying to join your family.  She asks about you nearly every day.  Or maybe, in lieu of you guys adopting Bagheera and Glitter, I’ll just send people to your blogs to hear about the ones you DID adopt from us - your sweethearts Jimmy and Leo.  Surely your experiences would inspire someone else to adopt a Winnie’s Wish kitty.

See you tomorrow.