Well you read about our wonderful little Abby and we mentioned there were two acts of compassion…  The second one began on the adopt-a-thon weekend but is only just concluding.

This story is both happy and sad.  So please read on knowing this.

During our adopt-a-thon weekend, we were standing at the back of the Oakville PetSmart, enjoying our kittens and talking to the public.  Suddenly out of nowhere appeared a young woman.  She was terribly upset and had a very small (5 week old) kitten clutched to the front of her leather jacket.

This is HER story as told to us that day.  She and her friend were coming down Dundas Street to the Timmies for a coffee.  They paused their motorcycles at the turn off Dundas Street waiting for the traffic to pass so that they could make their left hand turn.

Did I mention this is Saturday afternoon, on Dundas, near the 403 with all the cars hurtling by……?  I did?? Okay then….

As they waited patiently to turn, suddenly an object was thrown from a passing car and came hurtling past the motorcyclists to land under the front end of the car behind them.   Startled they discovered that this was not a random garbage from a thoughtless individual but rather a very tiny life spirit, a baby kitten.  This baby kitten in the picture.  The motorcyclists were shocked and horrified but clearly had their wits about them [and one heck of a lot of courage].  They immediately turned their bikes so as to stop traffic on Dundas, while they rescued the little baby.   She (the kitty) was dirty, terrified and shaking but otherwise unharmed.

So immediately they came into the store, looking for help and were directed to us.  NLCR sprang into action with blankets, food and a thorough examination to make sure that nothing was broken.  The wonderful Motorcyclist [please forgive as I didn’t ask her name] decided that she wanted to keep and raise this little baby kitten.  So we got to hold the little baby while she shopped PetSmart for the things a tiny baby kitten needs.

Coming back with her merchandise I lovingly wrapped the baby in the blanket and asked very directly:- “you are going to take this baby home and love her lots, right???”  Of course I get a resounding YES from this lovely lady. GRIN.  Then I add on that if for any reason she is unable to do so, please bring her back because I will take care of her.   Yes there is always room for one more at my house…..hmmm wondering if I should admit that??? But I digress…

She goes off and we are left wondering about the differences in people.  How can you possibly decide to abandon a kitten in such a miserable fashion??  And how wonderful and fortunate that those cyclists WEREN’T in a rush to turn that corner!!

Regrettably to the distress of our cyclist friend [we really love you], others living in her shared accommodation were very allergic to cats and she did need to bring it back the following week.  She came looking for “the blonde lady” that said she would take her, and found our wonderful director Julie.   The kitty was delivered and yes, now resides here in my home being spoiled rotten.

This lovely little lady is called Kaylee.  She has a home here with another mommy and her single kitten.  Mommy has adopted her and cuddles Kaylee with her own kitten.  Kaylee is still working through some tummy issues but is on her way to BOUNCY.

As of yet it is unclear as to whether she will ever get as far as PetSmart!!!  No it has nothing to do with health, but rather the insane desire of this volunteer to add a baby sister to the two boys that currently live here.

To our friend the cyclist…..if you read this please contact us via facebook or email.  You are definitely entitled to visitation rights.

To all the others out there that read this, give your own kitties a big hug tonight.

Friends of Ninth Life.

It came to my attention a few days back that we had been asked what happened to the blog???  Why weren’t there any new updates for a little while..??

Well a couple of reasons.

The first is a bit of dental surgery on the part of the blogger…  Yeah ouch.

The second is more of a system issue….  Does anyone out there in the cyber world know how to make Windows Live Writer (a Microsoft application) work with WordPress software….  And if you have an answer to this one, then what do I need to bribe you with…?  Big Grin in here.  Seriously though it takes several passes to create each blog entry, and if there are those out there reading this blog that have the expertise then we would love to hear from you.

Some of the topics that we are considering for the future are not only stories but also a few features on areas of “rescue” that you might not otherwise see, those which you might want to know more about, and of course our anecdotes…

In the meantime thank you for reading and I hope to send much more your way.

This weekend was the PetSmart Charities adoptathon weekend.  That in itself is significant enough. Little kitties getting out to see the public… However that is NOT what I want to tell you about today.   I want to talk about a couple of acts of true compassion that NLCR was witness to, this weekend.

The first came in the guise of a very little girl who had a 6th birthday party and has a heart as huge as they come.  Mom emailed us to let us know about a donation that they had for our kitties.  Donations are wonderful and always welcome.  This however was extra special.

Little Abby has been reading a humourous set of books about kitties; “Bad Kitty” by Nick Bruel.  They are the  misadventures of a little kitty that just always seems to find interesting stuff to get into.  Abby loves kitties and so this is HER story.  Abby was about to turn 6, and a birthday party was around the corner.   Presents ???  Well certainly that is what most people would expect at a Birthday party right??   Abby had something different in mind.  Yes she wanted presents but not for her.  She asked all her guests at her party to bring a “kitty” something so that kitties that don’t have homes could have toys, treats and special surprises.

Abby’s friends brought mice, treats, kickeroos, food, hanging toys, balls and a truckload more.  What an absolute lot of treasure.  Abby collected all her special kitty things and put them into a huge bag.

With the help of her mom, she contacted us and asked if our kitties needed some special surprises and toys. Ninth LIfe was very touched and asked that Abby come see us and give her surprises to the kitties herself.

Boy were the kittens excited when we told them. Harvey (the cat) was so happy to get one of the presents. Check out his photo with the Kickeroo right after it was opened for him.

Magic is another little kitten that is in love with his new friend Abby.  She gave him a really adorable pink mouse that squeeks!

Look at all the wonderful things that our little kitties will have as they are waiting for their PURRRRR-manent homes.

Now take a second look at our Facebook photo album and the amazing little girl ABBY that made this happen.  When they say “great things come in small packages”  Ninth Life Cat Rescue knows they were talking about Abby.

Honey we think you are one marvellous little girl with a huge heart.  Thank you for the kindness that you showed our kitties. Oh and we are proud to announce that Abby will be joining the NLCR Crazy Cat Ladies here in Oakville PetSmart occasionally, to help us love the kitties.   How could we ask for more?

Well yesterday wasn’t much better than the day before for Karen gushing water……   But I digress.  [Can you digress after one sentence??].

We have decided to go see the vet, who is to do two spays for us.  We load up the van with EIGHT cats, THREE crazy cat ladies and a bunch of blankies to keep kitties warm. Yes there are really 8 cats in the van.  I ask for my little lady [Jiggles mommy] to be spayed too.  Everyone agrees…  Oh and by the way, do you think we can take CHUCK, our maine coon, so that our vet can have a look??   Sure, that was the plan.

So like I say we all hop into Nancy’s van and bless her heart, she heads up.  Of course we have the three spays and all the others that we are hoping that the vet will have time to look at.

We arrive at the vets and get our spays into the pre-op area, only to be herded into an exam room.  Not really herded, but what else can you call it when 3 ladies, 5 cats and all carriers and all coats are put into the area the size of a powder room…GRIN…. Incoming is a major emergency.  A lovely husky dog that was hit by a car.  The staff are amazing and reacting very quickly.  We herd quickly.  GRIN

No problem, we start chatting…. the conversation??  Kitties of course.  Being super concerned and desperately hoping that someone will tell me why Chuck is so skinny I take him out of his carrier and hold him in the blankie…  Please since he is out let him be the first to be looked at….

One cuddled and fed kitty

In comes the vet, and blessings she is looking at him first….duh…he was the one on the table.  She is doing our kitties in between regularly scheduled appointments and we are tremendously grateful.  She feels Chuck’s throat.  And again.   This mommie is desperate remember…. She asks me to feel the throat so that she can explain that the trachea is not smooth like it should be.  Has the kitty been kicked?  Was it broken?  All are possibilities, we really don’t know.  All one can say now is that he is NOT in pain but it would naturally block his throat if he bent over to eat.  Then of course he wouldn’t want to do that.

Rinse, repeat and you have a very skinny Maine Coon.  Of course my next question is what will it take to fix this…?  Anticipating my question the vet says she is not sure it can be fixed.  I am very worried about Chuck and of course immediately assume this means that the dreaded “E” word will be next.  As I reach to cradle him, I very professionally, burst into tears….  Why?  I am certain I don’t know….   Everyone hurries to hug and assure me that there is NO intent to let Chuck die.   I know these ladies.  All of them including the vet.  You couldn’t ask for more wonderful people and I know what they are saying is totally true but I can’t see the way out.   How do we make this lovely kitty better…?  My face is wet, red and i could care less.

Nancy runs out to get a can of AD and whips it open.  Julie is mushing it and giving it to Chuck while I hold him upright.  [oh the vet hugged and then had to see the next appt]  Chuck is eating.  “See Karen.  He will eat. You got him started.  Chuck just might have to do it differently.”   Hmmmmmmmmm, I think I just found my mind again.  Surely I saw a PetValu somewhere near.   I say “Will you watch him while I run to the PetValu?”   I dash out and return with the $29 stand up high bowl and the assurances from the wonderful PV owner that I can return and get another if it doesn’t work.  Doesn’t dawn on me till later that I probably still had red eyes and streaks all over my face.  He was probably just praying that I didn’t start crying in his store.  GRIN.

Well yes Chuck is using his new bowl set.  This blog is not intended to praise products but the DOG WHISPERER set probably has allowed him to eat comfortably for the first time.  Last night I stuck with the tried and true method of syringe feeding.  But today we tried the bowls.  He actually had a few bites of crunchy food but that WAS a HUGE effort to swallow.  Then he chose the soft wet food and proceded to neatly eat some of that.  These are small steps but I am so grateful for them.

Now yesterday I said   “IT IS ALL ABOUT THE CATS”    And I don’t want to take it back at all….but it is all about the ladies who love these cats too.   I consider it a privilege to work alongside Nancy and Julie who will naturally shrug aside this praise and say……

“Karen, you know it IS all about the cats.”  They are right and they are wrong.  It is about the cats but it is about the love that these directors have for both the kitties and the people that they are involved with.  On behalf of Chuck and I ……we love you.

No this is not going to be a sad post…

We have had an amazing number of adoptions during the early part of February.  And yes we will definitely break January’s numbers.  While we are thrilled about the number of adoptions that is not what “Cat Rescue” is about.

Ninth Life Cat Rescue -> It is ALWAYS about the cats.

As many of our adopters and followers know, we want you and your cat to be PURRRRmanent Pals.  And we are willing to do what it takes to get there.  It isn’t always easy.  It isn’t always fun.  But it is a labour of love.  It would be easy to get on this blog and complain.  But realistically who needs to hear a blog full of complaints. Do we hear our fur legged friends complaining??  Noooooooooooo.

So this story is about another Maine Coon who doesn’t complain but keeps moving on.

All those who know me realize that utter those words and you have my immediate attention.  I have a Norweigan Forest Rescue Cat.  I have a Maine Coon Rescue Cat.

Another member of my family has another new beautiful Maine Coon Rescue Cat.    Yes they are definitely high on my list of favourites…

This past week we did another rescue (the car knows the drive by itself) bringing back kitty after kitty.  [You probably realize by now that to me every little fur animal out there is "kitty" no matter what their age.]   The kitties know us so well at the shelter that we pretty much open our carrier door and the kitten/cat in question simply walks in and sits down.  It is almost like they have a sixth sense or something.   So we are pretty much out of carriers.  For those in rescue you will realize that saying you are “out of carriers” is never a deterrent to a shelter.  More carriers will miraculously appear in the space of seconds……   These guys however are getting wise to us.

We have selected as many kitties as we can possibly fit in the car…more cages notwithstanding…and out comes one of the dedicated shelter volunteers/workers.  She is hugging this long long long long Maine Coon kitty.

“Now Karen, what do you think of this one??”  As  I hear my heart begin to thud…there is only one thought in my head, sure I can hold him in my lap.  As luck would have it [or could it be arrangement] a carrier materializes.  The lovely MC walks into the carrier and off we go.  Naturally Karen is fostering THAT ONE.  Everyone just grins as we leave.

The first niggles of worry begin as we reach the vet.  This kitty is a big one and yet he tops the scales at only 6 pounds.  Poor guy he needs fattening up.  No problem…we will take him home and give him everything under the sun….  Well that would be a plan.  Someone however forgot to tell the CAT, that he is supposed to EAT!

This poor little (should be big) guy weighs less than my 9month old.  I stroke him very gently because I can feel every last bone in his body. Who needs an x-ray when I can pretty much feel everything?  What on earth has happened here?  Of course I keep him near me and the precious darling snuggles in my lap and purrs.   How it possibly be???

I look deeply into his eyes and beg him to help me.  Yeah I know it sounds sucky but I did it.  I ask give me mental telephathy, a hint, whatever I will take it….just help me to know what I need to do.  Wait isn’t that supposed to be the other way around?

Notice I used the word CAT back up there, not kitty…..    Well after running to vet and buying several types of expensive kitty food, I decide that is IT!!!!!!!!   I decide that we are getting out the syringe, warm water, and AD wet food.  Here comes the fun….but we have to get food into you.

I prepare all the implements on a tray…. I pick up a large plush childs blanket to wrap him in.  6 pounds is small but when it is squirming wiggling cat, it can be a nightmare.  I go in prepared to do battle.

I get food all arranged near me.  Pick up cat.  Turn cat on back in blanket.  Wrap gently.  Pick up syringe.  I am prepared to do the trick of hitting the corner of the mouth to get at least bare minimum in….. Out comes kitty’s [yep not cat] tongue and begins to lap it from the end of the syringe.  This is as fast as I can push it.  Push. Refill. Push Refill. Push.  Refill…… yessssssssssssss I finally found the right food.  Gently I stand him on his feet in front of the bowl.  Nope he cant eat.  Hey just wait a minute… I thought you liked this one.  Poor precious cannot eat and breathe at the same time.  Not sure why but it is readily obvious, so I pick him back up and continue the Push-Refill process.

As he finally gets enough into him, to feel like he has the semblance of a full tummy, a single long paw reaches up and he places it across my heart.   The eyes that look at me say more than any words could possibly ever do.  My eyes fill once again, as I am sure they will do many more times.

Yes this kitty will see the vet tomorrow.  But tonight he has and will have a full tummy. I am only one volunteer in this rescue… There are many more stories to tell.  But of course the MAINE one is…..

IT IS ALL ABOUT THE CATS

Yes whe have hit that infamous time again of the “PetSmart” adoptathon weekend. This wonderful weekend before HEART day, is the weekend where you can show a little fur kid your heart.

Ninth life will have the front and back of Oakville PetSmart with wonderful little furkids checking out the people that come into the store.   So please line up neatly against the enclosure so that the kitties are able to see you and decide who they like best.

Our “shush” kittens will be in the store playing and entertaining at large…in their little jungle gym.   They are just toooooo adorable so getting ready for some over whelming cuteness.  They are all little scamps too.

yep we love to play

We will also be in the Etobicoke PetSmart this month and this adoptathon.  While not scheduled, Ninth Life was asked to take another month because we are able to take good care of the store and the animals.   Yeeeeeeeeeeea!!!

We are thinking that word is getting around.  SMILE.   We got a call from a third PetSmart asking if NinthLife was interested…   Hmmmmm we will let you know what we decide.  THat is for another post.

So our Etobicoke crew will also welcome you with open arms into the store.   There are gorgeous kitties in both stores waiting to be loved.  And please don’t forget those black cats…. They are never the first to be chosen but I must say this is really unfortunate.  I have a little black kitty in the store KEERA and she is simply a perfect doll.  Cuddles with you at night and head butts your knees during the day for affection..   Could she be YOUR forever companion??  Come see us.  And to the wonderful lady who called me this evening looking for two cats…………boy do we have some angels for you.  And if you already have 17 cats, 2 fish, a dog and a hamster…… Well come anyways because you can tell everyone else how wonderful it is to have pets! ‘

‘Oooops scuse me that should have read FUR CHILDREN

Hi! It has been a bit since I told you about Ninth Life but it has been a busy week.  So what do cat rescuers do when you don’t see them at the local pet store, in the shelters or other associated locations???   Well all kinds of crazy things.

Early in the week we did a run to an overcrowded animal shelter for 3 animals. Yes we all understand how to count, however there still were 4 cages in the back of the SUV. Upon leaving the shelter we managed to accumulate 2 more cages.  They magically appear when it appears that the current quota brought have been filled. One is a lovely bright pink for a very stylish little girl that we picked up. (No she wasn’t one of the three originals).  So we look at each other and decide that just maybe we could add a few more.  Well as luck would have it, [at least for the animals] several adopters were there vying for the kitties attentions.  Now we should tell you that we gladly take a back seat to a potential adopter.   We do wonder however how the potential adopter feels as we gasp loudly as they take the one that we had been considering!!!! SMILE.

Okay I say, dragging the director of our rescue out of the building, it truly is not dignified to have a tantrum because we cannot take them all.  [Just joking here].  We both agree that another run is in order…. but right now we will actually make the trek home.  Oh drat where is the gas station?  Walking with all these carriers will NOT be fun.

Gassed up [the car i mean] we decide we can make the vet before they close.  She is wonderful and even holds them so I can take pics for PetFinder as she is examining. Multi-tasking at its finest.   Sure lets spay the little girl now so that she doesn’t have the opportunity to….. ummmmm, weeeeeeeell.  Yeah we rescued all boys except for her.  No more said.

Do I have time to do a run out to Etobicoke Pet Smart???  Well I am inclined to say yes because I simply cannot remember anything else desperately pressing other than the nagging feeling that I am missing something.  Right, those two cats I took in this morning before the run.  I guess the vet is waiting for me to pick them up.  Probably should do that.

Hey so we meet tomorrow at PetSmart in the morning right???  ‘Kay.   February is the beginning of HEART month.   And what better way to celebrate that to bring in two little sweethearts of my own into the local Oakville PS.  So i am cleaning cages and talking “kitty” to the little fur-people there, when an employee asks me if I have any kittens…. a quick “Yeah sure, two adorable ones” makes sure this person leaves so I can continue talking kitty.  [Takes a lot of practice you know].  Well unbeknowst to me the person was asking because she had an amazing family that had called all around looking for a baby.  I am barely done the cleaning, my little kittens are just about the enter their new little kitty condo at PS, and this family is arriving to ask “so where is the kitty’.  I want to ask them if they took the jetplane.   Well they fell in love with my little Bhaloo [of Jungle Book fame] and off he went to his Purrrrrrmanent home.  He loved them and they desperately loved him [they stood guard while the payment took place so no one else could get him].  And today his pic is on our facebook page…  Doesn’t he just look soooo satisfied? We simply love families like this.

Now off to the vet and pickup other little girl dropped off for spay.  Somehow I am forgetting that there are a few things I really need.  No worries I am about to be reminded….  Desperately during the adoption process, a lady called our rescue wondering what to do with 3 tiny baby kitties. -> Love them???. Nope that will not be the right answer.  They were born Dec 11th in her home because her granddaughter rescued them….. We aren’t exactly sure whether Grandma knew about the impending birth or not…. GRIN…. however these little darlings would just warm your heart any time of the day.  The family have tended and cared for the darlings but soon they will be reaching that age of ‘I need a PURRRRmanent home’.  “Can you help”, she asks???    Scrounging for foster homes is the main issue in delivering, the answer for which everyone hopes, to this question.  Fortunately in this case the little ones are young enough that a big floor cage, blankies, toys, food and climbers still work.   Well since this happened to be my house…..”sure no problem” came quite quickly.  Dash off to pick up the little angel that I just had spayed at the vet and I will come and get the babies…..

So i have little ones that are screaming for attention in my bathroom as I desperately set up the floor cage.  Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh now I remember what I needed.  LITTER.  No problem I think, I will just steal one of the downstairs litter boxes for tonight.  Run downstairs.  Wow! think my own animals, Something good must be going on downstairs.  Let’s careen in between her feet and see if she can still stand.  Well I made it to the basement stairs in one piece but when I grabbed the litterbox to be stolen I remembered the other thing I hadn’t done the night before…and at that point nearly fell over.  Yikes….. What have I been feeding you guys. Oh right TUNA.. Hmmm gotta rethink that one.  So after using my last pail of litter cleaning and stealing.   I place babies gently into the wonderful little kitty condo.  Babies promptly crawl up my arm into my sleeve and race across the living room floor.  Ever tried catching 3 babies with two hands when all are going in different directions.   Yes the words “I need a drink” came up.  Fortunately it was diet coke only….

Well today has been relatively quiet so far. I have done the replenishment run for all essentials.  The fire is roaring away in my fireplace and I can finally update the kitty database, add some stuff to PetFinder and a few other things I wanted to do.  Well i certainly can do it however I must concurrently hold one cat that has decided to sleep between me and the laptop keyboard, another that is on top of the mousepad I use, while another attempts to dislodge the power cable from my machine.

Can i complain?  Noooooooooooope.  The most i can do regards these kitties is LOVE THEM.  They are my own and I adore them.   This is my story for the past few days and I am only one of many volunteers that make up this rescue.  Imagine all the other crazy cat stories going on.   Somehow I can convince myself that it is great….I am only one of many crazy cat ladies!!!  Thank heaven for all you other crazy cat ladies out there…  I am certain we keep each other sane

Hey keep your eyes out….This is also the month where we have a HUGE PETSMART ADOPT-A-THON so how about you come out and see us.  Feb10th-12th.  More on this one a little later.

It was a rainy miserable Tuesday in Streetsville….…. [ha thought I was going to say Pizzaville eh???].   But it was icy cold as well.  That was the day, last week, that the temperature dropped about 10 degrees in the space of a couple of hours. Then added wind chill.    NLCR got the call about a dozen 4-month old cats.  Some of you may have seen the article in the Mississauga News but for those that haven’t, you can read the full article at the link below.

http://www.mississauga.com/community/article/1281279–gas-station-cats-find-friends

It began to get a little scary for the rescue groups after the article was published.  We were concerned that Animal Control might want to address the colony situation.  Please don’t mistake what I have to say here. Animal Control provides a vital service to the community and one for which Ninth Life Cat Rescue has the utmost respect.. They do not have, however either the time or the funding to work with a kitty that is terrified.  Often the animal is deemed FERAL.  And quite often feral animals hit “THE LIST” sooner than later.

Speculation abounded that these animals were feral. Really?? How do you tell?  One of the numerous dictionary definitions of a feral animal states that a feral animal is an animal which has escaped from a domestic or captive status and is living more or less as a wild animal.  This broad definition doesn’t really cover all situations does it.

There is a huge difference between FERAL and SCARED.  The story in the paper, bits of which i have snagged below show that these kitties were just looking for someone to love them. Someone that would care.

Tru Valu station employee Alexander Bronshtein feeds some of the many young cats that have found temporary shelter behind the Streetsville gas station where he works.

…….Yesterday, in the pouring rain, they peeked out shyly out from their hiding spot, lured by the aroma of canned cat food……

…Tru Valu station owner Michael Iazovtsky is looking for cash donations to pay for having the cats neutered and spayed. His employee, ……Alexander Bronshtein, has been feeding the cats for months. Bronshtein, a cat owner himself, said there were five cats initially, but more have joined the colony as the winter wears on and food becomes more difficult to find………

A colony ??  Definitely!                                Feral ?? Not so much.

Well  They found the caring in Alex that fed them.  In the  wonderful community that rallied around Alex and the kitties.  In Sandra that wanted a RESCUE to care and brought it to everyone’s attention.  And they found it in NINTH LIFE volunteer foster homes who said “I’ll take one and foster…no problem.”

Now we are a small rescue, but we are a “all races, creeds, colours and ages” rescue. And I am not talking about people….[though this is true too] …..I am talking about cats. We do have small fluffy ones…we also have ones that desperately need to be rescued. There is no magic line on age that we draw. All we require is a belief that we can help this animal find a loving purrrrrrmanent home.

Part of the NLCR mandate is help out in colonies…. With that in mind, Alex and NLCR were on the phone pretty much immediately after a pet store owner updated us on the situation. Forty minutes after that NLCR and Alex were already working together to trap cats. Two of the twelve cats in the colony already had foster homes as of article publishing time. By the time concerned community members were reading their papers more volunteers were standing in the freezing cold catching another three.. From there things have sky rocketed with the same communities’ unbelievable gifts of food, beds shelters and money in assistance of these kittens.

The community is fantastic and it is going to take this support to keep moving forward. As I said we are a small rescue but dedicated. I am certain that you have taken your kitty to the vet. Ninth Life will now have 12 kittens to get shots, spay/neuter etc. I am sure you are now thinking “Whaaaaaaaaaaaaat?” So to the lady that put the Kitty Food on the counter tonight – Thank you. You just helped us make a nice fully tummy. To the lady coming in earlier this afternoon and dropping a $20 bill in the donation box, you just helped with the vet costs. The ones who donated the beds. Guess who is warm and toasty… Yep you got it! And to all those community members that came and gave and that I did not see…..

THANK YOU!!!

We at Ninth Life will keep you updated via our blog on the progress of these little ones.  We will also be sharing pictures both here and on facebook.  To start this sharing look for Josh and Fritz that are currently on our FaceBook page.  Alex’s favourite cat [привлекательный] which i am told means cute as a button is now called Alexa with his permission.  She will be showing up here soon…..

You know, I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t scared. Sometimes I meeeeeeeowed and cried at the same time.  Oooops I didn’t tell you, I am Kylie-kitty and my foster mommy helps people know stories about little kittens like me…   I am a little kitten but I was even smaller than I am now.  I always had to run and hide to stay safe.  Big dogs chased me on the street. They have such loud barks and BIG growls.  All the other “street” kitties were bigger than me so they could find the food faster. I hardly ever got any food.  I was really hungry and hoped the other kitties would share but they put out their claws and hisssssssed at me.  I got so scared that I ran like the wind.  Then there were the big people that walk on two legs.  Some of those people shoo’d me away with brooms trying to hit my poor little tail.  Then the scariest thing possible happened.  Big people in a huge white van [mommy says they are called Animal Control] came and caught me.  I cried so hard but the man in the big van said not to worry….

“What do you mean????”  meowed me.  The man said “don’t worry we are taking you to the shelter”.  Oooooooh No. I was so so scared.   The kitties on the street told me that they lock you in cages at the shelter….   I didn’t want to go there.   But the man in the van picked me up gently and took me inside.  That didn’t matter though, cause I was shaking so hard that my teeth rattled and my tail shook.  I tried to make myself too small to see, by curling up as much as I possibly could.  I can kind of curl my tail up my tummy and then put my head there too so that I am a little small furball.   But it didn’t work…..the lady at the “SHELTER” was really nice to me but I didn’t trust her.  I thought she might get out a broom and whack me….but she didn’t.   She took me to the kitty-doc (mommy says it is called vet-tech) and checked me all over.  Then I did GET LOCKED IN A CAGE.   Oh my goodness what the kitties told me was true. But it wasn’t a mean cage…more like my own little place where no one else can snatch my food or water. I know it might not look really wonderful but to a poor little kitty like me who was cold and hungry and wet this was sooooooo warm and nice.   And they talked in “nice” voices, not angry ones.  And when they saw how scared I was they gave me a tiny brown box so I could hide. It was my very own brown box.  And IT wasn’t wet either!!!!

It was a NEW YEAR, (I don’t know what that means) so not so many people were in the shelter and it was quiet and warm.   Then three ladies came in and they talked in loud voices….  They said “Lets look at all the kitties!”.   Oh oh….I thought..better go hide in my box.  Quickly I dove into the box….but I wasn’t quite fast enough.  A lady with yellow hair and a yellow top saw my little tail sticking out.  She asked if she could hold me.

“Please say no, phu-leeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease….”  But the shelter lady said yes.  The yellow lady picked me up gently.  I curled into a little ball and shook so hard.  The yellow lady hugged me close and said she wanted me….  I was so scared that I pooped on the ladies yellow shirt.  I knew I was in trouble then…..BUT… I wasn’t!! She just said oooooops and put me back in my box then asked the shelter lady if she had a cloth. And she STILL wanted me….

All the ladies discussed it and then they agreed that I would go home with BIG YELLOW PERSON…..  Oh this was almost as scary as THE SHELTER.   The yellow lady kept whispering to me “Don’t worry little one…..you won’t get hurt”.   I had to go in another cage to go home but they put soft blankets in the carrier.  I laid quietly and wonderd what would happen next.  The ladies took lots of us kitties that day and the BIG YELLOW PERSON took some black kitties home too.

When we got home the mommy put out blankets and toys and food and water.  And there was lots of it.   There were so many toys, I wondered who they were for.  There is a big kitty tower by the window so we can see the birds, but I didn’t know that then so I hid in a corner.  Mommy must have known how scared I was because she decided I needed a separate house in the same room as the black kitties. In my house I got a soft blankie, a Pink teddy bear and my very own food and water.  I didn’t have to beg it from anyone.

The Mommy (that is what the Yellow Lady is called) kept coming in and I tried to hide from her.  But she is really good at finding kitties.  But she kept holding me gently and hugging me and whispering nice things in my ear.  One day she put me in her lap and sat on the floor making funny noises to me (mommy people call it singing) and suddenly I started making rumbles too… Oh I was so surprised and so was the mommy…  She said “congratulations little one….you are PURRING”.  Oooooh so that is what the rumbles are.  I seem to do it when I feel good inside.  So that night the mommy said I might be brave enough to have a little sleep in her bed.  I went with her and that is when she took this picture of me in the little red blanket.  Do you think I look cute??  Mommy says I do. I was trying to be very brave and keep my ears up and my eyes open.  Well then mommy put me beside her and she rubbed and rubbed me.   I purred like crazy.  Suddenly the mommy stopped rubbing and her eyes were closed…. Oh dear I didn’t know what to do.  So I hopped off the bed and tried to go back to my house with the teddy bear.  But I got lost in the big big big house and hid behind some boxes.  The mommy woke up and couldn’t see me… She called and called but I was scared and didn’t come.  When she finally found me there was water running down her face.  She said that I had scared her… ME A LITTLE KITTY????  The mommy told me that she loved me and was worried.  I haven’t ever been LOVED before.  Mommy loves the little black kitties too.  All of the kitties in her house get along.  No one hisses or puts out their claws.

Now I try to remember to come when the mommy calls.  When she comes in the room I go over and head butt her to let her know that I love her too.  One time she got out the broom to clean and I was scared.  But the mommy gives the kitties rides on the broom (if they want) to show them that it isn’t scary.  I am not brave enough to do that yet.  I just go up on the tower.

This mommy already has THREE kitties of her own.  She says now that I am a little braver, she can help me look for a PURRRRRRmanent mommy of my own.

DO YOU WANT TO BE MY MOMMY?   I don’t need an awful lot honestly.  Just food and water and lots of LOVE.  And if I am very good then maybe next December Santa might give me my own toys…. I am Kylie (sometimes Kylie-baby) and I really want to love you.

So this is a “blog” and I try not to make it a second site for email…….however on certain occasions I get something that is just “toooooooo good” not to share.  So I opened up my email this evening and up popped this funny.  Now today was pretty high on the arthritis pain in the joint  scale so perhaps it was just funnier for me…. however i thought I would share with you anyways.

I woke up,
I lifted my arms,
I moved my knees,
I turned my neck….
Everything made the same noise:
‘CrrrrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaaccccK!’

….I came to a conclusion:
I am not old,
I am crispy!!!