Florida Hotel Cats (Conclusion)

Last week, Kathy of The Rescue Railroad started organizing a transport sheet for three Florida hotel cats to come all the way to Winnie's Wish here in southern Illinois. Cheryl had already taken in Quinn. He was in her bathroom. (She also has her own and foster cats.) One night while feeding at the colony, she put some canned food into a carrier and Quinn walked right in. It was too perfect. So she hurriedly closed the carrier and we had one cat. At some point during the week, Kathy posted the transport run sheet. Two full days of travel and an overnight. Thirteen legs to fill - all from an hour to an hour and a half. Also, someone in the Chattanooga area would need to overnight the cats. And - we still needed two more kitties. And vet appointments. Health certificates are required for transport across state lines; health certificates are expensive and they expire. Cheryl set up appointments for three cats for Friday – the day before the transport would begin . . . IF it filled.

 I checked that transport run sheet obsessively. So did Cheryl. As it started to fill, I marveled at the process. Here I was, holding my breath as I watched, and people were signing up. People I didn't know. People who didn't know me. People who didn't know Cheryl. People who had not even heard of the Florida hotel demolition.

 In the meantime, to trap or not to trap. If the transport sheet didn't fill, and Cheryl had already trapped cats – where would they go? She set up the appointments for Friday, but then we realized that even if she got two more cats and took the three in on Friday, the health certificates would only last ten days. If the transport sheet didn't fill COMPLETELY, we'd have three appointments to pay for, health certificates that would expire, and no place for three cats to go. We talked to each other, and we talked to Kathy. Go for it – said Kathy. It'll fill.   Cheryl made plans to trap on Wednesday night.

 As we neared the weekend, many spots had filled, but not all. On Thursday morning, I raced to the computer to check. At one point, if Cheryl took two legs at the beginning, and I took two legs at the end, the whole transport was filled EXCEPT FOR THREE BACK-TO-BACK LEGS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE. I panicked. No way. Legs at the beginning had filled. Legs at the end had filled. Even the overnight had filled – a wonderful person (Joan) had signed up to have the three kitties stay at her home Saturday night. We had to get those middle legs filled. They were all in Georgia. And then I remembered that I KNEW someone in Georgia! Goldie!

 If you don't remember Goldie, let me refresh your memory. She adopted TWO of the Fantastic Fifteen – Max and Dearest. So I sent off an email to Goldie which read:

I need your help.  I’m going to copy and paste the LAST THREE UNFILLED LEGS for the transport for the Florida hotel cats from Fla to me.  We have the WHOLE thing filled except for these three legs.   Can you search high and low to think of ANYBODY who might be able to drive any of these legs?  I’m desperate!!!!!  This is for THIS Saturday!!!

Leg 4 – Valdosta, GA to Cordele, GA (I-75) NEEDED! Leg 5 – Cordele, GA to Macon, GA (I-75) NEEDED! Leg 6 – Macon, GA to Atlanta, GA (I-75) NEEDED!

Goldie put the word out. But then I got an email from her that said this:    Chrystal, don’t get your hopes up yet because I have some mountains to move and they may not be movable. I am working on taking the remaining three transport legs myself and I’ll probably need today and maybe in the morning before I can know for sure. 

That was on Thursday. I also found out on Thursday that Cheryl had not been able to trap the night before. There had been a severe storm roll through the area. We were down to ONE evening to trap. If she didn't get two more cats on Thursday evening, it was too late to cancel the Friday morning appts. We would have to pay for them anyway. Cheryl had planned to pay for the appts out of her own pocket; I insisted that we split the bill.  But we sure didn't want to pay for appointments we weren't going to be able to use.  (In the end, Cheryl shredded my check.)  As Thursday s-l-o-w-l-y moved along, one of the Georgia legs filled. By that evening, a second Georgia leg filled.

When I went to sleep late Thursday night, here's what we had. The second leg in Florida had filled leaving Cheryl having to drive only one leg. Two of the three unfilled Georgia legs had filled, leaving ONE leg in the middle of the journey. I emailed the run sheet to Goldie. Right before I headed to bed, I got a text from Cheryl. Got two more kitties. Yippee. They are young. Gotta fill that transport now for sure.

I got up on Friday morning filled with excitement and skyrocketing anxiety. We had three hotel cats. We had three vet appts. We needed one leg in the middle of the transport. And then it happened. That last Georgia leg filled. AND the next to the last leg also filled, leaving only ONE leg for me to drive as well. We were there! Oh my gosh! I couldn't believe it. It had all come together at the very last minute.

Giant thanks go out from me (and I know from Cheryl) to Kathy and her wonderful, amazing, fantastic Rescue Railroad – for organizing the whole thing, for helping us save three precious kitties, AND for her constant confidence. Giant thanks also go out to each and every person who drove a leg of that transport. Clearly, without EVERY one of you, we couldn't have done this. Giant thanks to Joan who drove a leg of transport AND overnighted the kitties in her home. Giant thanks to Goldie for being willing to devote an entire day to travel if we had needed her.

 And now, the moment I've been waiting to share. Pictures of the three Florida kitties who spent last weekend in an extremely unfamiliar (and very stressful) world, traveling away from their feral lives at the hotel to the start of a brand new life – The Good Life.

Quinn

 

Quinn is an older cat. Not sure how old. He was an adult when we first saw him last May. He's very cautious.

 

 

The two younger ones started to explore immediately. Meet Peter Pan.

Meet Tinkerbell.

 

 

Kissimmee is right next to Orlando. Cheryl picked the perfect names.

 

Quinn is extremely shy.  I am working with him several times a day.  He trusts me but is afraid of nearly everything at this point.   He'll come around.  The two youngsters are doing great!  Noises still scare them, but they are eating and playing and crawling into my lap.

 

Tinkerbell in my lap.

 

 

Peter Pan in my lap.

 

 

Have a great weekend!

Comments

[Joan Flores]

I'm so glad these kitties are doing so well. I enjoyed my overnight with them. I can tell by Quinn's expression that he is already more relaxed. The two younger ones are very trusting to have come from a feral colony. They must have had good experiences with people so far. I wish we could get more out of the demolition site. I would certainly be willing to transport and overnight again.

[Cassandra]

Oh, hooray!

[Random Felines]

OMG!!!! How awesome....it can be nerve wracking to watch the legs fill. And I just put two and two together - I have driven for Kathy before (and I think she is here in OH). Good luck kitties - you are safe and in GREAT hands!!

[Kathy F]

Awesome!

[Jerry]

That's my sister for ya. Lover of all animals far and wide. She is awesome. Good luck kitties.

[meowmeowmans]

This makes my heart so happy! How amazing and wonderful that this all worked out. Quinn, Peter Pan and Tinkerbell are all beautiful, and I am glad they are with you, where they will be loved and cared for (and adopted into loving forever homes, of course). :)

[Julie]

This is a truly amazing story. What a great organization.

[The Poupounette]

WOO HOO! Love this!!! Quinn is so cute. Doubtless he will settle right in. The kittens look great too!

[Andrea and the Celestial Kitties]

Aww, what a trio of cuties! So glad they are out of that bad situation and on the road to being former ferals!

Seeing this transport work out gives me hope that the one to California can work out too! We just need to spread the word about what's needed! Someone knows someone in the areas without drivers yet. Are you one of the someones??

Please think about helping in whatever way you can. donate, adopt, share, tweet, email, talk, buy a book, get a brick. There is something everyone can do, even just reposting helps!

[Bellen]

This is probably the first time any human has ever played with them. What a moment.

[Kathy Smola]

Thanks so much for sharing their story Chrystal! It's definitely nerve-wracking to try to fill transports week after week, but it's ever so rewarding knowing that we've helped some furry friends on to a better life!

[ginny&the fur family]

All three are beautiful and amazing. life has now opened up for a loving home with people who love them. Food and Vets are great and set the stage for these beauties to be adoptable into Forever loving homes. They have probable never had human touch or love. How lucky they are that people cared enough to save them - praise for all the people along the way getting these kitties here to Chrystal's Kennel. Especially Cheryl who trapped at the right moment. A nice way to end up this exciting story of rescue. Purrrrrrfect --- Ginny & The Fur Family

[Lee County Clowder]

YAY!

Actually, that pretty much says it all, so...

YAAAYYYY!!

[Milo and Alfie's mom]

Wonderful happy news! YAY! Bless you and ALL who helped them.

[Patty Shaw]

Being animal lovers ourselves, my sister Sharon and I were able to do one of the legs to save these babies. I have transported dogs before, but this was the first cat one. We are so blessed to have been able to participate in this. God Bless you all for what you do. I'll help whenever possible. It truly felt great to save Mr Quinn, Tinkerbell and Peter Pan. They are so blessed to have you care for them so much. Thanks for the story Crystal.
Patty

[Goldie Goodwin]

Such pretty kitties, and yes - they will live happy lives because of you Chrystal, and because of all the folks who gave of their time, gas and a bit of love to get them to you. What a happy outcome! I hope to be able to be of help in transports in the future. I am sure there will some cats or dogs moving through the state of Georgia that need to go somewhere to be saved.
Sure wish I could have done those "3" legs but happy that this has worked out so well.

[Cheryl Murray]

So glad the kitties are all doing well. I enjoyed reading this and was glad to be a part. Thank you Chrystal