Jet to the vet

When I fed last Friday I noticed that Jet, one of the cats at Hank's, was limping and not putting any weight on his left back leg.  I hate it when they are sick or injured but I decided to monitor it, sometimes a leg thing will clear up on its own.  All weekend the same and we could see what looked like a small wound of some kind on the elbow.

Connie kindly offered to help me trap, at this location, a drop trap works best and it can be tricky to transfer on one's own.  The cats sometimes go right into the transfer carrier, other times it can be difficult.

We showed up hopeful, it was sunny, but no sign of Jet.  All the others were there, I clicked and clicked, but nothing.  After a half hour we packed up the trap and then Jet showed up so we set up again.  Sally went under, then MC and Pseudo.  They ate their fill and left.  Hank ventured under and so did Jet so Connie pulled the string.  Poor Hank, just minding his own business.  He let out a plaintive meow.  Thankfully we were able to quickly transfer him out and then Jet also went quietly in.  Off to the vet we went.

They sedated him, flushed out the wound and gave him meds.  Jet will stay at the vet to heal up.
It was such a relief to get him taken care of.

A few of my favourite things

Sometimes I feel like our house is kind of like a test kitchen for cat stuff so I thought I would feature a few of my favourite things - for cats.

Today I'm featuring beds.  Disclaimer: I'm not receiving any compensation from the manufacturers of these products - wish I was!

The Thermo Kitty Fashion Heated Cat Mat is very popular, it's basically a plush bed with an insert of a heating pad that plugs in.  Nice and snug on these cold days.

Recently I was given two of these, the Molly Meow cat duvet, you stuff it with old t-shirts or blankets.  Initially I was skeptical but the cats actually like them, they are more like a mat than a curl up in bed.  And washable which is great since the cats like to vomit on their beds never on the easy to clean tile floors.

 This was another gift, a slipper bed, again well liked.

But then again, you can save yourself a lot of money and just pick up some box lids, their rating is just as high with the cats as any of the others and no washing needed, just recycle and head back to the beer store.  I've featured the Keith's box since I'm a Maritimer.

Oh and add a bit of tissue paper in the box and you've got yourself the best cat bed ever, well next to the laundry basket full of clean clothes.

So far so good

Although it was cold last week I have to say that so far this winter isn't so bad.  I'm very happy about the lack of snow and I think the cats are too.  Bad enough to be cold but to have wet feet as well adds insult to injury.

I fed at Gloria's colony this morning, there were about 10 cats there, then when I parked I fed another couple and then at lunch I fed Mystery's gang of three and fifteen at Cherry.  It was sunny so everybody was out, having a drink of fresh water and chowing down on the Friskies before it could freeze.

Stubby with his nice thick winter coat

Sally has a scratch

But wants to know what's taking so long

Jet registers his disapproval as well

Hank, looking a bit old

First rescue of 2015

How far will I go to save a cat?  Well yesterday it was Hamilton.  Somehow, through Facebook, I got involved in a situation with a cat living outside for months and months.  A woman had been feeding him but couldn't bring him in.  The cat had been limping and finally she reached out for help.  Of course in this frigid weather my heart goes out to any cat on the streets and a friendly one, well that's just not ok.  Thanks to help from Andrea, Annex and THS a rescue was arranged for this guy and a quarter tank of gas, and a 3 hour drive later the cat was safe.  I breathed a sigh of relief when we let him out at Andrea's and he was happy to be patted and seems sane and well adjusted, however in desperate need of neutering.  It's only one cat but every cat who won't be shivering tonight is a victory.

Fluffy black cat rescued!

At home life goes on without Allie, but for such a tiny cat she left a huge hole in our household.  She was a real presence, from meowing for her breakfast, to the frequent demands to turn on the tap or for snacks, she was always there, and virtually every night she would come to bed with me and curl up between her pillows.  For five years I patted her right before I fell asleep and said good night Allie. We miss her desperately but I know she's at peace and reunited with her former person and someday with us, but I have a lot of work to do to help more cats first.

Our cats enjoying the fireplace

The story of Allie RIP my sweet little girl

Five years I saw a post on craigslist that was entitled Help, and it was about a 12 year old cat who was going to be euthanized unless a home could be found for her.  Her person had died leaving behind 4 cats and 2 dogs for days before she was discovered.  All the other cats and dogs found homes but for some reason Allie had not.  She had been briefly adopted by an elderly lady but Allie was vomiting frequently and she was returned.  As soon as I saw her picture with her cute little face and her sad story I was in.  I drove to the outer reaches of Scarborough to get her.  

Allie was a bit shy at first but quickly settled in to our lives, sleeping in the bed with us every night. She has put up with all the kittens and new arrivals.  A year or so ago she developed kidney disease but with fluids and medications she stabilized.  Tiny little Allie ate well and meowed for the tap to be turned on, she was always sweet and a joy to be with.

Today was not the day I thought I would have to lose her, she's been doing so well but last week she started using the litter box frequently.  I thought it was a urinary tract infection so I took her to the vet Friday and she received antibiotics.  Over the weekend her symptoms didn't improve and she wasn't eating much so Steve took her back this afternoon.  Our vet did an x-ray and saw a blockage. Blockages can be life threatening; Steve rushed her to another clinic for an ultrasound and there it was, a massive tumour in her bladder blocking her urethra.  Nothing to be done, the tumour was too big to be operable.  At this point she had stopped urinating, she was in pain and her bladder in danger of bursting.  I got to the vet as fast as I possibly could so that I could say goodbye to my beautiful baby girl.  I held her in my arms and tried to surround her with as much light and love as I could as she left this world.  Even though the house is full of other cats it seems empty.  How fortunate we were to have five years with her.

I hate winter and a mini-rant

All of us who care for feral cats despise the winter.  It's hard to feel happy inside all comfortable and cozy on a night like this knowing our ferals are outside.  Even with shelters they have to be cold. And the food freezes, the water freezes.  I am grateful though that the ground is dry and up until now it hasn't been that frigid.

I was worried about Bright Eyes, she hasn't been showing up as much lately but we saw her Saturday. We were feeding in the middle of that snow and rain mix so not as many cats appeared.  Lily oddly enough was frolicking in the wet snow.

I heard from Shannon tonight and Tonks is settling in well to his new home, and is Tinks to hers. Joanne's kittens are being adopted and now we just need to get Susan's tamed up.

I do need to rant just a little.  I had brunch yesterday with some old friends and one of them was telling me that they got a new kitten for Christmas.  Fantastic I said where did you get her?  The answer was from a breeder on kijiji.  Well actually a Bengal breeder whose unspayed cat got outside and got pregnant.  My friend, because she has a seven year old child and a dog, wanted a well socialized kitten from a home where she could meet the mother etc.  I had to bite my tongue but it was difficult, I didn't even ask what she paid for this kitten.  She knows I do cat rescue and didn't even ask me if I had kittens, or go to the THS or contact Toronto Cat Rescue or Annex Cat Rescue.   Now of course I'm happy this kitten got such an amazing home, but this is what rescuers are up against.  She's a smart educated woman who still bought a kitten from a breeder.  Argh!  Ironically at this time of year it seems there is almost a kitten shortage, but in just a few months there will be kittens being born everywhere that we will be scrambling to save and find homes for.

2014 year in review

Every new year's I like to do a little year end in review, and 2014 was certainly not lacking in stuff going on.  With the colony, all spayed and neutered and aging, most of the news is sad.  Every day when I see my ferals and they look healthy I'm happy but every year we lose a few and 2014 was no exception.  

Teddy the big old patriarch was having issues with his ears, bleeding and clearly sore.  The only solution was very expensive surgery.  We did an on-line fundraising campaign and thanks to people's generosity, raised enough funds for the surgery but sadly the old cat died a few weeks afterwards.

Teddy RIP

Pebbles died during last year's brutal winter.  He was always very wary.  I'm still not sure what happened to him.

Pebbles RIP

And tragically one of the newer cats, Audrey, was killed by a dog in the spring.

Audrey RIP

It wasn't the best year for the four cats I relocated to the yard.  Clara disappeared when things got busy and I found her two months later a kilometre away emaciated.  Miraculously she recovered and now she is living safely at a sanctuary.  The other two Penny and Bonnie, has passed their one year anniversary at the yard and have settled in.

Clara in recovery

One of my favourites, Stubby, got friendlier and friendlier, allowing me to pat him and brush him. With winter coming, I thought that perhaps he could be homed, so I scooped him up, got some dental done, but in recovery it was clear he was miserable inside so he's back "home" now, getting Fancy Feast.

Stubby

Our numbers are at about fifteen right now, it feels like not many cats at all. but I know that the losses are inevitable, but it's still heartbreaking every time.  I've also started feeding at two other sites too, one colony has 12 cats and the other 3 or 4.

Things were busy on the rescue side too.  About 25 TNRs, a dozen tame adults rescued and homed, and 50+ kittens.  Joanne gets the most kittens fostered award, she didn't even want to foster kittens, but had a litter in her bathroom almost the entire year, she still has two!  Some of the kittens were feral rescues, some came from Niagara Falls and I helped a woman in Bowmanville with almost 40 cats and kittens.

Kittens!

Pigpen, one of my favourites

Maddie, born outside, now in a loving home

A few of those kittens passed through my house, this one stuck, Bunny came in February from Niagara Falls.

Bunny

And the biggest drama for me personally was the 32 horrible days and nights that Buddy was missing for.  He got out through a screen one night in the spring.  It was a nightmare, thanks to an infrared camera we knew he was out there but we couldn't get near him.  We trapped and trapped to no avail, barely sleeping and then on night 32 we got him and Buddy was home.

Buddy sleeping at home

I thank everyone who has supported what I do this year, I couldn't do it without your donations, without the foster homes, the feeders, the transport, the kind words.  It is the community that keeps me going, I've met the most wonderful people doing this.  I can feel happy that many cats are in better situations due to that community, whether it's in homes, or spayed and neutered, or injuries treated.  So I wish everyone Happy New Year.  My new year's resolution is to help more cats!  But not adopt anymore LOL.  Oh, and to find a way to monetize cat poo! If not, then I need my own internet sensation.

Tonks goes home and I keep going

Last night Tonks went to his new home!  I was tired and it was cold and I admit I sighed a bit about driving across town but that immediately disappeared when I met Shannon and her husband.  We had been corresponding over email and I already knew that Tonks would have a great home but that was one hundred and fifty percent confirmed upon meeting them.  Just a few months ago he was on his way to being a feral cat, now after being rescued and fostered, he has a whole wonderful life to look forward to.  Many thanks to Shannon for adopting a black previously sick kitten sight unseen and for Genevieve for patiently fostering him even though it was stressing out her 20 year old kitty.  I came home feeling renewed.  My cat rounds have pretty much settled down now to the usual feral routine.

I hesitated about posting the next photo for fear I may look like a crazy cat lady but who am I kidding?  This is me getting food ready for the ferals.  I mix a couple of different kinds of dry together, I have to keep it behind closed doors or else my guys chew through the bags.  As it is, they have figured out what I'm doing and come down to "help".

The cats help me to get food ready for the ferals - don't try to count

I still feed Mystery occasionally although usually there's lots of food.  The other day I was alarmed to see this orange and white cat who I've never seen before and wonder if I will see again.  There were two calicos earlier in the year but I don't see them anymore.  Clearly there is a colony of cats somewhere nearby.

Mystery and her friend

Off to visit my ferals this afternoon, buy some food for our cats and fight with Canadian Tire.  I bought a whole bunch of food but they charged me for 63 cans of one kind instead of 6.  Wish I could get wholesale rates on Friskies!

I've been so grateful that the weather has been mild and dry, it made it so much easier to do all my cat care but today is chilly, I guess that was inevitable.  I'll be bundling up!

Ernie's brother!!

It will be two years ago in February that Ernie came into our lives.  Ian had forwarded me a craigslist posting about abandoned kittens.  Of course I contacted the woman and discovered a sad story. Someone had moved out of an apartment in Scarborough and just left the cats outside to fend for themselves in the middle of winter.  A kind neighbour saw them and took them in, two kittens (one with an injured or infected eye) and an orange and white adult with a large wound on its neck.  She didn't know what to do.  I contacted THS and they agreed to take the one with the wound and the one with the eye problem.  When I went to get the cats they were friendly but clearly in need of medical attention.

She was trying to decide whether to keep the other kitten (now Ernie), he was curled up asleep in her child's bed and they really liked him, but she just didn't have the money for another cat, so I said I would take him and find him a home.  I never worry about finding homes for friendly kittens.

Off I went to THS and then Ernie went to my vet where he was treated for severe ear mites and terrible fleas.  Within hours of him being at our place we fell madly in love with him and you know the ending.  I often regretted giving up his brother, after finding out how wonderful Ernie was.  I saw that he had his eye removed and got adopted.  The adult got fixed up and adopted too.

I was so excited on Christmas Day to see a FB post about a couple who adopted a one-eyed kitten two years from THS who just adopted another one.  It was Ernie's brother!!!  It made me ecstatic to learn he had gone to a wonderful home.  I emailed her pictures of Ernie and the story of their rescue. 

There is nothing better than finding out a cat you rescued has a wonderful home, it was the best Christmas present ever.

Ernie!

Ernie and his one-eyed adopted brother Blinky

Ernie's brother Rog (on right) and his new friend

A very furry Christmas

Sadly I have no Christmas themed cat photo to share with you.  Oliver was helping Bob hang some things at our place the other day so it will have to suffice.

It's been a busy Christmas day, spent caring for many many cats indoors and out.  I think I fed 58 today!  Of course I have our guys plus the ferals, and I was taking care of Connie's ferals and a few others.

My catsitting business http://robinscatsitting.wordpress.com/has had many bookings so over the holidays I have five houses to visit, two at a few houses, one at another, and six at one + a few guests.

Time to give our cats a bed time snack, go to bed and start all over again, and add one more colony, taking me close to 70 mouths to feed tomorrow.  No wonder I'm tired.

I made the agonizing decision to release Stubby yesterday.  Before I did so, I cut a larger hole in his fence to enable me to crawl under and make sure he had a shelter.  Stubby actually seemed happy to be home, he came out today to eat his grilled Fancy Feast.  I wish he could have had a home, but for now I will just do the best I can to take care of him at the yard.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.