A REAL BEAUTY

I've just received the loveliest email from Flossy's Mom.  It was so uplifting and fun to read about all the goings on at her place with Flossy and her siblings - Whispurr (the kitty), Belle (another kitty), and Teddy (the resident dog). 

Flossy is as happy as happy can be and has absolutely become the best of buds with Teddy, who is also very protective of our little diva girl.  I don't know about you, but I personally find it so enchanting when cats/dogs become friends!

Reading about Flossy's life now, I couldn't help but think back to when I first met her, how rough her first few months here were, and how we spent 14 months together in total before her forever family came for her. 

I have loved all our foster cats, but Flossy, well she will always be that much more special because she was with me through a very dark ordeal and allowed me to soak her coat with my tears more than once in our time together.

So here is Baby Girl now - her beauty takes my breath away.

MAKING ME PROUD

The house feels abit quieter tonight with Magnum having gone to his forever home afew hours ago. His new family was very excited to pick him up and if early signs are any indication, he's going to be just fine in the adjustment department.

I always feel a tinge of pride when a new family emails me quickly after the arrival home to let me know what a good kitty our foster has been already, and how they are settling in really well. I'm so happy to report that Magnum is following suite..............here he is, not 20 minutes after they arrived home. On their chaise lounge sitting happily while their son plays video games right beside him.

Doesn't he totally look like he belongs there?

Magnum - At Home

ANOTHER CHAPTER

Magnum's time with us is drawing to a close as his new family will pick him up this coming Tuesday...........

Someone asked me just as recently as earlier today, whether I ever find it hard to let them go? The simple answer is yes; yes I do find it hard to let them go.

Alot of the adopters who have taken kitties home from the Safe Haven keep in touch, as will this family since they are friends of ours; so in many ways that certainly lessens the feelings that come with saying goodbye. But still, in being adopted it does mean that our time together is ending and even though I trust that they will be loved and well cared for all the rest of their days, there is still the emotional part of me that feels a small sense of sadness for the realization.

If life has taught me anything this past year, it's that nothing stays the same forever, that all things must change whether we want them to or not. I take great comfort in knowing that Magnum is going to a wonderful home, something that seemed an unlikely possibility even three months ago.

But I do try valiantly to always look at the glass as half full (or so the saying goes), so even now I am beginning to prepare myself mentally for the next kitty who is waiting on death row at animal control - alone, sad, afraid, and perhaps feeling without hope. And I whisper, hold on my sweet boy, your second chance is on it's way.

I'll leave you tonight with these pictures of Magnum, who we have loved having in our home and who we wish a long, happy and healthy life for.

A-OKAY!

Silly having a wee rest in his bed

 

I am delighted to report that Silly is already recovering nicely from his ear injury. It did turn out to be an abcess which was likely caused from either Magnum or Rocky biting him. The vet couldn't confirm for certain, but all indications were that that was the root cause. Silly is a wonderful cat who is completely Daddy's boy and with that comes a very comical side in his antics as well as being very physically striking to look at; but he can also be abit of an instigator when it comes to being a bug. His other ear has a small snip out of it which was like that when we adopted him, so obviously this wasn't his first go around in the ticking someone off department, and I doubt it will be his last since his personality has that little trouble maker streak running through it.

In the 7+ years we've had him, he's sent my husband to the hospital twice with bites that he's given. He's not a nasty cat, but has attention threshold issues and although my husband and he have a great relationship, sometimes boundaries are not respected, and they can both pay the price. This time around our sweet boy found himself on the receiving end and wound up at the vet's on Monday afternoon getting a freezing needle, having the abcess drained, and then sent home with major antibiotics for two weeks.

Everything already looks a million times better and he's back to his old self (although I have noticed that he's laid low the last two days or so in the fighting spirit department) - for which we are very grateful. :))

IN MEMORY

This morning's post has nothing to do with a rescued kitty or fostering, but for all of you who may stop by to read, this is just as important to me...............

Today marks 1 year ago exactly on which my little sister died at 2:32am after an eight month battle with cancer - she was 38.  For anyone who like me, has continued to live on after such a tragedy, you will know what I mean when I say that the last 12 months have been so short and yet so long.

This is one of the ways I wish to show that she's not forgotten.  The picture below is the only one I have of her.  I took it the day we went to pick her out a wig shortly after she had started chemotherapy.  She loved it instantly and although she was somewhat shy about having her picture taken moments after she'd put it on, I'm so thankful that I captured such a bitter sweet memory.

So Tanya, this is everyone...................and everyone, this is my sister Tanya.

HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM

During the course of having breakfast yesterday morning, I noticed that one of Silly's ears appeared to have a lump on the top of it.  It wasn't there the day before, so I tried to get a little closer to have a look.  Sure enough, it was a lump and and once hubby was up and out of bed, I got him to hold our boy, while I examined it (gingerley of course).

Sure enough, there was something there, a very nasty something, and even with a gentle touch it was quickly apparent that it was very sore and already expressing (I'll spare you all the gory details).  Since it was Sunday, our vet was closed but I'm just waiting for them to open this morning and will obtain an appointment for today.

This morning the bump is larger and looks alot nastier but I'm not sure if it was something that got into the house that stung him (a wasp perhaps?) OR if the boys were rough housing and someone bit him?  Regardless, I've been worried not only about what the heck it is but how much pain he must be in because as surely as I'm sitting here, that thing has got to be throbbing.

It's at times like these when I realize what a horrible Mom I am.  I worry instantly and really can't relax until the problem has been dealt with and I at least know what I'm up against.  Can you imagine if I had had human children?.....................I'd be running them to the doctor for the least little thing! 

Hopefully some antibiotics will clear this right up and they won't have to do anything too unpleasant to our Sylvester to make it go away :(

THREE'S A CROWD?

Everyone here is doing really well!  Magnum's new family was over for a short visit last night just before they head out on holiday.  Their 11 yr old son and he were bonding over a plethra of toys and seemed to get along famously already - which is excellent because it means that our boy won't suffer anxiety to be around a little person.

I just shot these next photos, and although it may appear that everyone is happily co-sharing space, this lineup didn't come without it's fair share of jockeying for positions.  There was even abit of swatting between Magnum and Silly as they settled in face to face................Magnum didn't seem to appreciate the closeness this time, and Silly is quite peeved that he didn't just get down altogether.

Ahhhhhh. boys will be boys :) :)

*Silly Thinks*: Geez I can't wait until you're gone!

A GREAT GAMBLE

Does Magnum appear to have that look of,  "I'm not worried in the slightest about getting adopted."

Well he should because as of two hours ago, he now has his forever home!  Friends of ours were over on Sunday, and loved him to bits.   They already have a kitty, a gorgeous little Russian Blue female named Holly who is just the apple of Mommy's eye (and their 11 year old son), but when they expressed interest in him I thought it was more of a wish than an actual legitimate enquiry, so I didn't really think much more about it. 

That was of course until I got the email earlier today where Mommy indicated that they had talked it over as a family and decided that they wanted to adopt Magnum! He will be with us until closer to the end of othe month because they are about to embark on a week's holiday and we all decided it would be better to take him home after they get back.

Soooooooooo we get to love him abit longer but really, to think 4 weeks ago he was in a cage at Animal Control and now.................well now, he has a new feline sister, and a family that will adore him forever!

How's that for beating the odds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THE BEST KIND OF GREETING!

Magnum has been with us a month now - how time flies!  We trimmed his back toes this past weekend (he was starting to click across the hardwood - never a good sign) and he did pretty well patience wise.

Our two boys just looooooooovvvvvve catnip, so every once in a while I take out abit of dried and let them get deliriously happy for a litttle bit.  Magnum doesn't seem to realize the big deal and wasn't overly interested in his portion, but once he saw how happy it made Rocky & Silly, he tried to groom them both in their moments of weakness!  Neither of them of course were that far gone that they relented (much to Magnum's disappointment), but it's just another indication of how much he likes other cats and how much he'd love to be their friend.

He's gotten so settled in here that now every day when I come home from work, he races up the stairs ahead of me to join me while I switch from my work clothes into something more comfy.................he takes this opportunity to roll around on the bed, head butt me (have I mentioned he's got quite abit of force in that head butt!), and then proceeds to lay down purring incredibly loudly while I chat to him and put things away.

Now I just have to hope that someone will look past the colour of his coat and come out to meet him.  We had neighours drop by last night and he was SO affectionate and friendly with them............so I know once he's introduced, he's going to knock a potential adopter/s socks right off.

One Handsome Fella!!

SOAP BOX RANT

The rescue we work with had this poster advertised, and I was so captivated by it.  Then I overheard someone talking to another person about how they wished that they could make a real impact in this world, really make a difference, before their time is through.  So outspoken me, I called the person over and asked them what they thought of this.  They looked at me a moment and said, what?  So I replied, don't you see the kitten, to which they said, yeah so?   And I went on to say that here was one way I knew of that they could help..............and they answered, it's a cat.  They went onto say that their idea of being involved isn't about saving smelly cats.

To which I replied, well one thing's for sure.................and they asked, what's that?  I answered, rescues and shelters will never go out of business as long as people like you walk this earth.  I then dismissed them with my actions as if they weren't even there to begin with.

I know this is preaching to the choir here, but seriously I ask you...............WHO could see this ad or worse yet, see a kitten or cat just like this one on their street, in their neighbourhood, at their workplace, WHEREVER - and not want to help?! 

I'm ashamed to admit it but these types of interactions drive me to judge people like this, to think horrible thoughts about them, and to instantly dislike them.  I may seem or sound naive, but I just can't imagine the heart that looks at this and sees nothing.

Can you?

TOUGH DAY

The boys have had themselves a very rough day............it's any wonder that they haven't planned some sort of a revolt what with all the hard labour they were forced to do!

Seriously, if I believed in reincarnation - I would demand to come back as a cat because while we slaved away with housework, errands, and backyard chores; they were doing.............well what they do best!!

Magnum - Resting

 

Silly - Well if you can't beat them, might as well join them!



Rocky - I'm awake only because I'm hungry!