Helping Paws For The Cause Feral Cat Rescue

Felix and Me at Maestros Dog Haus

My friend contacted me about some premium cat food that they had at Maestros Dog Haus in Ferndale, Michigan, and asked if I knew of a rescue that could use them.  YES, I said.  Paws For The Cause Feral Cat Rescue (PFTC) is my favorite home-grown cat rescue, and they gladly accepted the boxes of canned and dry food.  Thank you, Felix and Maestros!

I also make up flyers of adoptable kittens and cats that PFTC have, and pin them on the employee boards all 'round my office campus.  I update them as the cast of characters change.  Co-workers often stop by to talk 'cats' with me!

Mama PFTC and Me!

I dropped off the boxes of food from Maestros in Chesterfield, Michigan, and got a chance to catch up with JW, who not only was a co-worker of mine (she's retired now), but is also the mom of the founder of PFTC!  We talked and chatted, and even assisted JW's neighbor whose two dogs ran away (I grabbed one's collar to hold him).

Wish I could donate millions of $$$ to help feral cats, or hours of time with trapping, vetting, feeding, etc.  Since my wallet is thin, and my work hours are long, a food transport here and a flyer there are the ways that I can help out.

Thank you again to Felix and JW!

😺😸😺

P.S. Felix adopted the first cat that I'd TNR'd, at my old office parking lot.  We never knew if George was feral or a dropped-off pet, but Felix and family took care of him for years until his death.  Angel George set me on the TNR/feral cat rescue path, and he'll always have a piece of my heart.

Angel George

Daisy and Lily

Pretty girl Daisy

Lily with beautiful eyes

Spent time on Sunday with Paws For The Cause Feral Cat Rescue at their adoption event.  Daisy and Lily are two-year-old sisters, whose human lost her apartment.  Lucky for them, the lady called the rescue, and the cats are being fostered until a real furrever home can be found!  Lily is all white, with all of her eyesight and hearing (many white cats are deaf), and she is very friendly and relaxed.  Daisy is not a typical tortoiseshell kitty; she is loving and sedate!  If you've ever heard the word 'toritude', that's because tortoiseshell and calico (three-colored) kitties often have big personalities, and want to dominate the world!  Lily and Daisy are just as sweet as can be.

https://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/34806189

https://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/34806166 

Farewell, Sophie

Sophie in front, Shelby in back

Sophie

I posted about Sophie and Shelby four times this year (4/12/15, 6/14/15, 6/26/15 & 7/1/15). Unfortunately, Sophie was struck down suddenly yesterday, and passed away within a mile of the veterinarian's office while on route.   It was a seizure, which they attribute to a blood clot.  She heard loving words and felt loving hands as she left this world.

Paws For The Cause cared for these two all of their lives, and will continue to search for Shelby's furrever home.  Rest in Peace, Sophie; all of us loved your sweet face, your flirty personality, and your sisterly devotion.

Aw, Baxter!

Sunday, at the Paws For The Cause adoption event at Petco Lakeside Mall (Sterling Heights, Michigan), lil Baxter just wasn't having any of it!  He meowed...and meowed...and meowed!  Jinx and Bethany, Baxter's bro and sis, just stayed quiet and pleasant the whole time!  Baxter's racket brought many looky-loos to our table, but alas, no adoptions yesterday.  But some day, these kittens will be in their forever homes.

Bethany giving Baxter the stink eye

Cat Purse

Angel models with my new purse

Scored a brand new Laurel Burch purse at the Paws For The Cause Feral Cat Rescue fund-raising garage sale on Saturday.  Pretty cool!  We had lots of buyers, and I heard we collected some good $$ for helping kitties.  Everything on sale was donated!

Thanks to all the folks that stopped by!  Especially the mom and her daughter who purchased the cat creamer; hope your next adopted kitty comes from Paws For The Cause!

While driving down the road...

On roadside, Gratiot Avenue in Clinton Township, MI

Close-up

Yesterday, as I drove south on Gratiot Avenue near my home in Metro Detroit, I spied this white thing tossed on the side of the road.  As I went past at 50 mph (the legal speed limit!), I saw what it was.  A Pet Carrier.  My heart jumped into my mouth, and I turned around just as quickly as I possibly could.  

When I pulled over on the gravel, I broke out in a sweat.  Did someone toss out a puppy, or a bunch of kittens?  Can I even handle that?  No sounds came from the carrier, and even that wasn't a good sign.  I screwed up my courage, and bent down.  

It was empty!  Looks like someone may have purchased it from a garage sale; there is at $10 sticker on the top.  Did it blow off the back of someone's pick-up truck?  I dunno; it's clean and I stuffed it into my car trunk.  

Maybe I'll keep it in the trunk, because one never knows when you unexpectedly have a critter and no where to hold it!  Or, I'll donate it to an upcoming garage sale, to raise funds for Paws For The Cause Feral Cat Rescue.  I have already lined up some cat books and other items to donate, plus some volunteer time.

Whew!  

Natural Bleach: Sunshine

Today was 'wash the litter pans' day, and I took advantage of the hot sunshine by laying the scrubbed and cleaned pans in the driveway.  By the time I picked them up again, the sun had baked the black plastic, making them HOT to the touch, and naturally germ-free!

However, since I promised a long time ago to NEVER show photos of litter pans; I mean, really...

I'll just post a few images snapped of interesting cat and nature stuff...

Pile of kittens at
Paws For The Cause adoption event
They are adorable!

Angel, sniffing the camera

Chuck, apparently not appreciating
having his photo taken

Milk Weeds growing in our garden;
I want to attract any Monarch butterflies in the area!
I saw one, but it flittered away...

Patty, snoopervising the litter pan cleaning today

Huge storms are roaring across Michigan right now; I'm turning off the computer NOW!

Update on Lulu, Reggie, Shelby and Sophie!

Reggie has a home!

Marco has a home!

Sophie says, play with me!

Lulu has a home!

Shelby is a lap cat

Since Friday, June 26, Reggie, Lulu and Marco have found their furrever homes!  I left Marco off of my earlier post here, because I thought he was already adopted, but he travels to his new home this weekend.  Reggie is already gone, and Lulu gets picked up tomorrow.  I met her new pawrents, and they are fantastic folks!  YAY!

Now, we need to find a home for Shelby and Sophie, and there is Max, the cat surrendered by his owners when their home was destroyed by fire.  Max actually ran out of the burning building and hid inside the engine of the firetruck, only to be discovered and quickly taken to the veterinarian. He lost a bit of his tail due to burns, but he is a sweet and loving ginger, and needs his real furrever home!

I know you blog readers already have your own hordes of cats, so please pass the word along.  Older cats are wonderful pets; they've left the crazypants of kittenhood behind, and already know the ropes. For more info, click on Petfinder and search in zip code 48051, and you'll see listing for Shelby, Sophie, Max and many other wonderful cats and kittens under the care of "Paws For The Cause Feral Cat Rescue".

Thank you!

Lulu, Reggie, Shelby and Sophie

These approximately 1-year old kitties need their own homes!  I know that I am singing to the choir on this, but if you have a friend or a friend of a friend, or a distant relative that is looking to add cat love to their lives, won't you please pass along these photos?  More information available at Paws For The Cause Feral Cat Rescue

Sophie, taken from a hoarder

Sophie, Shelby's bonded sister, and a mirror image of her

Lulu, floofy, adorable and spunky

Reggie, already neutered, found living in a feral colony
Handsome, charming and friendly

Thank You

Thanks, all for your recent kind words.  Cannot tell you how helpful they were to me.  I turned off my computer, my news feeds and Facebook for awhile.  Read a good book...two, actually, watched some favorite movies, and generally recharged.

Yesterday, the hubby and I went on a day-long date: attended an art fair in downtown Royal Oak, Michigan, went to eat at our favorite restaurant The Pita Cafe in nearby Oak Park (Majadra dinner and Starter Combo that we both share), and attended the afternoon baseball game in Detroit where the Detroit Tiger's team lost to the Cleveland Indians.  But the home team took two of three series games, so yippee!

What's really GREAT about Comerica Park, where the Detroit Tiger's play, is the tigers!

Funny thing: I found a penny while walking the art fair.  I picked it up and put it in my pocket.  While going through security before the baseball game, there were coins sitting on the table.  I scooped those up because I was sure the money belonged to the hubby...and they were just sitting there with no one else around.  Turns out, they weren't his.  In about the fourth inning of the game, I noticed some money laying under the seats of the guys in front of us.  The hubby fished the bills out, and we offered them to the two men, who refused because they checked their pockets and swore the money did not belong to them.  There was no one else around!  So, I FOUND a total of $11.28 yesterday.  How cool is that!  Proof that my recent frowns needed to be turned into smiles...the universe paid me back!

Then, today, I spent a couple hours with Paws For The Cause, playing with Sophie and Shelby, Reggie, Lulu and Marco...and five kittens; four orange, one tortoiseshell.  And right now, Chuck is howling at me to stop whatever it is I'm doing, and pay 100% of my attention on him.  

And he's right!  What can possibly be more important than to adore a cat?

 

Fun Saturday!

C'mon Marco...smile!

Lulu

Reggie

They are mirror twins!

Shelby

Sophie

These are the kitties up for adoption with Paws For The Cause Feral Cat Rescue at the local PetSmart adoption enclosure, and I got to play with them on Saturday!  The sisters Shelby and Sophie played together, and Marco enjoyed the feather toy best of all.  Both Lulu and Reggie seemed to want to nap more than play, but it was still hard for me to put them back and close the door to leave.  Marco, especially, pulled at my heart strings because he's downright gorgeous (peach, mocha and grey fur, with blue-green eyes!), and he just did NOT want me to go.  No fear, dear Marco...Laura and Matt and team are working hard to find you your furrever home!

Sunday Adoptions

Marco

Sophie

Missy

First off, I wish a very Happy Birthday to the hubby!  He NEVER wants to make a big deal out of his birthday; I usually find a way to make a fuss, but this year both he and I are trying to overcome our respective sinus issues, so he enjoyed watching the Detroit Tiger's win their game on TV, and he whipped up dinner for us both.  A beautiful day in Metro Detroit today after a rough Winter; a perfect birthday day!

Secondly, I spent a few hours today with Laura from Paws For The Cause Feral Cat Rescue where they have adoptable cats housed in the permanent display area.  What's so nice about this area, is the plexi-glass...NOT CAGES...and the cats can move freely between areas.  Today there were many folks asking about the cats, and a few completed applications. Missy was the one garnering the most looks; she's about seven years old, and she has a white undercoat, with dark grey overcoat. Her story is sad: her owners claimed they are moving, and brought her to the veterinary office to have her euthanized!  Thankfully, the staff there said they don't do that sort of thing, and they convinced the family to sign her over as a surrender.  That's when Paws For The Cause stepped in. Missy is sweet as can be, although a little shut-down because her quiet home life was turned on it's head a week ago.  But she'll find a home quickly; her personality shines through that lovely floofy fur!  Marco has strikingly good looks; his fur is grey and peach, with beautiful blue-green eyes.  Sophie and I played with wand toys together, and I believe a good time was had by all!  Sophie is bonded to her sister Shelby; they will be adopted together.

Back home again, I watched Patty O'Malley and Sweetie nap in the afternoon sunshine on the deck, and some of my worries about them slipped from my shoulders.  It was a wicked Winter, but the warmer temperatures and plants beginning to bud can only mean that we are headed into Spring now.  YAY!

Lost Dog

Last week, a co-worker alerted me to a dog in our parking lot!  Both he and I gingerly approached the pooch, but the dog just sat there and panted...and seemed to be shivering.


Scared doggie!

We went inside, pulled a ham sandwich apart, and put the pieces on a plate.  With a bowl of water, I approached the scared dog, and at first he didn't move.  We thought maybe he was injured; the road is not far away.  But then the dog walked over and wolfed down the food, and drank thirstily. 

Now what to do?  Thank goodness for Paws for the Cause Feral Cat Rescue, because Laura answered my texts, then she got to work using social media to find a dog rescue group.  And she did!  A ReJOYceful Rescue raised their hand, and within an hour, the doggie was on his way to a better life.

Duet Selfie

He was horribly matted, and had gunk around his eyes stuck in his fur.  However, he became super playful, and once he knew we were bringers of food, he barked and jumped and was as sweet as could be. 

A email from A ReJOYceful Rescue a couple of days ago:

 

"He is doing great. He is still at the vet's being monitored. He should be going to a foster home this week.  Thank you for helping."

 

The dog was unneutered, and no microchip.  No tags either.

 

HURRAY!  And no, don't thank me...you are the one's with the hearts of gold who rescue day in and day out; that's true dedication!



My 2015 Cat Resolutions

Angel and her catnip toy

Chucky chillin'

Sweetie at the food bowl

Patty, with cute turned up to 11

Wild Bill Russell

Sammy ?-2014

My 2015 Cat Resolutions

For Angel and Chuck:

1) I resolve to put quality in our time together; toy play with Angel, and one-on-one with Chuck.

2) I resolve to finish the transition to wheat litter, in hopes that it reduces Chuck's intestinal issues.

3) I resolve to allow solutions to cat problems to grow organically with time, rather than jump to conclusions, or react with panic, or feel pressure to fix it NOW.

4) I resolve to find a new veterinarian, preferably a holistic practitioner.

For the 'o' cats:

1) I resolve to take both Sweetie and Patty in for veterinary check-ups in the Spring.  No more wishy-washy 'should I, shouldn't I?' about this.  Can't do it now, because we have no electricity for a heater in the barn as holding area, and it's too cold out now.

2) I resolve to TNR the elusive Wild Bill Russell.  

3) I resolve to put Sammy's heart-shaped container in a place that I can see daily.

For friends and family:

1) I resolve to assist The Paw Project, Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs, Best Friends Animal Society, Paws for the Cause, All About Animals Spay and Neuter Clinic and others in as many ways as I can!

2) I resolve to encourage all cat-loving people that I meet to give 100% of themselves to their feline family members.

For myself:

1) I resolve to work on my own health, so I can offer positive vibes and attitude to the hubby, my people and cat families, and to my co-workers.  This includes physical exercise and mental relaxation.  2015 is my year for joy, humor, and growth!  

2) I resolve to re-establish electricity to the barn, by sweetly encouraging the hubby to GET IT DONE.