Our Cats..

JennyFur
JennyFur was my companion for over 13 years. She found me after the Northridge Earthquake in 1994, and I was unable to locate her original home (this was pretty much before microchips). I had put posters up and ads in the newspaper, but no one came to claim her at the shelter, even though she must have been 3 or 4 years old.  Being a single woman, I felt it was safer to direct the ads to the shelter rather than my home, but the shelter said they were going to euthanize her if she was not claimed within 10 days. It wasn't much time for Jenny to find her owners, not much of a window of opportunity especially after a disaster, but fortunately my landlord allowed me to bring her home. Now many people are trying just to hang onto their homes because of the challenged economy.  Families, that if confronted with a choice of 1) a surgery, 2) a fine, or 3) surrender their pet to a shelter, has no choice financially, but to chose option #3.  So many pets now have a short window of time to to find new homes or be euthanized.  The statistics of animals being put to sleep due to mandatory spay and neuter laws is staggering. My Jenny might have been a tragic statistic, if not for the kindness of my landlord.  Instead of mandatory spay and neuter, we should find a way to fund this surgery, so that families can keep their pets, and so that these precious animals can keep their lives! The money to create and police this law should have been channeled to free surgeries. That way the goal of zero euthanasia could feasibly and truthfully be achieved.

Lacie & Moe
This is Mo, my 8 year old, 24 lb Mainecoon Cat. Mo loves being up high on my refrigerator. The little black and white is Georgiy, a 2 year old Siberian. These cats are supposed to be hypoallergenic, as they lack the protein in their saliva that causes people to be allergic to these cats. This is how Georgiy likes to sit.


Ann

Monet & Phillip
Five years ago five feral kittens were born in our barn.   When they reached four months of age we trapped them and their mother.   We then took the six to our veterinarian and had them spayed or neutered.   The cats never left – well Momma Cat hangs out down the street and is completely feral.  

Over the course of the first year I tamed all five kittens who migrated to our back  yard and began cohabitating with our Irish Setters.    We had two house cats and birds so bringing the ferals inside was not an option.    We set up a “cat house” in our garage complete with feeding stations, beds, water, and a litter box.    For five years our “Fab Five” were an important part of our family.   Each  year I give them shots and administer Front Line for fleas when needed.

A month ago the friendliest cat, Patrick, came up missing.    We don’t know if he became someone’s pet (which we hope happened) or if he fell victim to a coyote or a wandering dog.    Two of the Fab Five are tame enough to bring inside.   Against the odds these two use a litter box, play with the dogs and for now have their own room.    We will try to introduce them to our house cats over time.    Everyone said you can’t bring a five year old feral inside.    I spent hours in the room putting them in the litterbox and teaching them to use it.   At first I put sand from our horse arena in it.     So, against the odds, Phillip and Mouser are now inside safe and cozy.

Our neighborhood has no feral cat problem even though it is a semi-rural equestrian area.     Cats are amazing creatures and can adapt more readily than some may imagine.

Thank you for featuring cats on your website.  

Tosca & Leroy
Attached is a picture of Tosca and one of our foster Border Collies.  Tosca is one of a long line of cats that have come to us from a life on the streets.  Since I was three years old and my father tamed a wonderful orange striped tom (almost sixty years ago), all of the cats I have lived with have been "strays".  At our house we say that they sign the kitty contract, which means that they agree to live with several dogs and help educate them about cats, and in return have all of their food, medical, and housing provided. Most of our cats live for many years and are the envy of the cat population.  We live on almost 3 acres and they have their choice of being inside or out.  The outside accommodations are a heated bed in a insulated small dog house, constant fresh food and water and canned food at least twice a day.  They receive regular vaccinations and checkups and any other veterinary care needed. At present I am involved in a local campaign to trap, spay or neuter, and release back to the colony the cats at large in our small city.  As I mentioned I also am active in Border Collie Rescue and teach obedience classes for the general public. 

Ari
I had always wanted a salt and pepper pair of cats. I had a solid black cat named Fizban and I was looking for a white male cat when I saw a picture of a cat for adoption in the newspaper. I made an appointment to meet him and my fiancee and I went to the cat's foster home.

From the moment I first met this cat, I knew he was meant to be with me. He was pure white, huge, fluffy, and had the most beautiful green- gold eyes I had ever seen. He head-butted my hand for me to pet him, kneaded his paws on my leg, and wound himself around my ankles all through our visit. I was smitten.

We brought him home a week later. I named him Ari, which is Hebrew for lion, because had a big leonine face and ruff. He had been found wandering down a country road in the winter, starving and injured, but he bore no resentment against people. He tried to be-friend our other two cats, but when they rejected him he just decided to devote all his love and attention to me. Having him sit on my lap, purring and gazing up at me with such love and contentment made me incredibly happy.

Ari was with us through numerous moves, the arrival of dogs and other cats, and the birth of our daughter. He took it all in stride and never lost that loving, gentle nature. At the age of twenty he developed lymphoma and despite the best care and medication, he made a swift descent into debilitating illness. I held him as he went to the Rainbow Bridge and it was one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life. Ari was my feline soulmate, the love of my life, and I will always miss him. It is my hope that everyone has the opportunity to know the love and friendship of a special fur friend as I have with Ari. It is a life-altering experience.

Tango
This is a picture of my fuzz butt, Tango! He loves to get into paper bags, so when I get home from the grocery store the first bag that gets unpacked goes on the floor and he gets right in it! He is a big talker and thinks he's a tough guy, but he's just a sissy boy! The slightest things scare the crap out of him! He is a great joy and makes us laugh every day!

Chomp
This is Chomp. He and his 3 littermates were feral for their first 3 months. I trapped them and their mother and had everybody spayed and neutered. Momma cat was very, very wild and we returned her to the safe location where she lives still. The kittens I brought inside and with the help of my little 6 year old cat Posey (also a feral rescue, but she was an infant), Chomp became the lovy-est, rubby-est, affectionate little boy. One of his sisters lives in a home, the other two still live with me. Chomp bit me on the thumb that first capture night. It took months for the hole in my nail to grow out, but I knew Chomp would be with us forever!   

Sarah

Loki
This picture is of our cat Loki when he first came to live with us.  He came to our family at a crucial time – we had lost our orange cat Charlie the year before, and my son was in the middle of a break up with his girlfriend while also battling heroin addiction.  He was pretty broken then along came this kitten – we found him hanging on our screen one day crying to come in.  He looked so much like Charlie when he was a kitten that my heart skipped a beat.  It was almost as if Charlie had come back.  I picked him up and called Andy down stairs…I was holding Loki behind my back.  When Andy came down I pulled the kitten from behind my back. Andy ran over, and from that moment on Loki and Andy have been  together constantly.  If Andy goes upstairs so does Loki – he sleeps with him and is always there to entertain.  It’s been a rocky 4 years since Loki came, but during that time this lost cat is helping a lost boy find his way again.

Fred must have grown up with dogs.  He loves my German Shepherds.  He greets and plays with them every morning.  At one time I had chickens.  Fred would alert me to when they needed food.  He would not eat until the chickens were fed.  Fred does not want to be indoors much.  Probably a fear of being trapped.  He basically lives in the garage and NEVER leaves the concrete area of my property.  He loves to sit in my lap when I am on the computer.

I sell raw dog/cat food from my home.  Fred is the official greeter when folks come to get their food.  He is very social and loves food delivery day.  The picture I am submitting is on one of those days.  He curled up in one of the food boxes while I was unloading the food.  I think he watches and helps to make sure I get it right :-)

Fred should not have lived this long.  He is a great example of a cat who overcame a death sentence to live a long, happy life.

I know this is long and you are welcome to edit as needed.