2015 year in review

It's already time for my 2015 year in review, it feels like that year flew by, I'm sitting on my sofa typing this with the fireplace on, a few cats beside me enjoying the warmth.  It's been a busy time, lots of ferals to feed, lot of catsitting.

2015 was fairly uneventful at the Cherry St colony, a couple of dentals and sadly two deaths, we lost our beloved Sally, she had cancer, and Bright Eyes disappeared, she always crossed the busy roadway so I have to presume she was hit by a truck.  Morris left the colony for another down the road and returned, what a funny guy.  We are down to 12 or 13 cats, a far cry from the 20+ we had a few years ago, and it's an aging population, but I'm grateful for the less wintry weather we've been having.

RIP Sally

RIP Bright Eyes

Unfortunately we lost a couple of other cats from colonies I feed at, Tilda, Mabel, Semi-Socks and Bobsey.  As I have said many times it's a hard life being a street cat.

RIP Tilda

So I keep on trapping and rescuing, it was a busy year for that again.  I had my first cat give birth in a trap, thankfully Raven took in Princess and her kittens and they grew up to get homes.  I lost track of how many cats were rescued and how many cats were TNRed but there was a lot, that much I know. I partnered with Lesley and we did some mass trappings, it was satisfying to be able to get a colony under control in just one or two visits.

Princess and her kittens

Rescued kittens that Michelle fostered

Junior a recent rescue, now inside and up for adoption

I discovered a new colony near ours, where a city employee had been feeding for years.  I jumped in and got five of six females spayed, and rescued a couple of litters of kittens.

Rescued kittens, all now adopted

One of the females I TNRed turned out to be tame and Betty is hanging out with us, rather than at a dangerous industrial yard.  She looks totally happy to be inside and warm.  She does have stomatitis so we are off to the dental specialist in January to see what can be done for her, I just adore her.

Betty before

Betty after, sleeping happily

On a personal note, it's been an interesting transitional year for me.  I left my job in the spring, and with that came lots of good stuff, more time to help cats and more freedom, but I do miss the social aspect of working and let's be honest, I miss the money, before I didn't have to worry about vet bills or food costs for the cats, but now making a small fraction of what I used to it's a constant concern.  More than ever, I appreciate everyone's support.  And when I write about all these cats helped, it's only due to the help of my many cat friends, Michelle, Susan, Joanne, Connie, Sandi, Kent, and so many others.  I know that we have made a difference in many cats lives, and that on a chilly night, there are many cats now curled up inside warm and safe due to our efforts.  That is worth celebrating! So I wish you all a Happy New Year!  Let's raise a glass to helping more cats!