Here Kitty Kitty

  

We have a situation that we could use some help on.

I have a client that I have known for years and she has a heart of gold. That heart of gold has made her amass many cats. At one time she had 17.

Much has been said about hoarding in the past few years and I would say that this is not a hoarding situation. But I can see how the continuum can happen.

First you take in a few cats that have difficult situations. Then maybe another one comes and you think...one more won't hurt. Then the universe begins to hear that you are the cat lady (or man...don't mean to have any gender profiling here), and next thing you know there are 14 cats. If you have 14, what's the difference if you have a few more.

  

This is sounding very familiar to some ofyou.

I have 3 cats and 4 dogs.

  

Now, to avoid the few emails back that explain to me that hoarding is a manifestation of mental illness, I know you are right.  I'm not minimizing the seriousness of this in some situations. I was recently called by a woman in Presque Isle that had a person they had been negotiating with for a year about 30 cats that were not spayed or neutered and asked if FOKS could help. We scheduled the weekend, the team in Presque Isle was ready to do the transport and we had the materials and support...and at the last minute the owner of the cats backed out. 

That's a hoarder.

The nice lady I'm talking about had them all spayed and neutered and tried to keep up with their care.  As her resources (emotional and financial) shrunk, she found it more and more difficult. She lost her husband a few years ago.  For the last two years I have been doing house calls and she has been bringing some in.

We discounted fees and FOKS picked up some of the supplies we needed.  But the fact is that she simply has too many cats to take care of.

So last year I started discussing her surrendering them to us and we could find new homes. She brought in 3 cats two weeks ago. We caught them all up on shots, tested them for any infectious disease, did a thyroid removal on one (Eleanor) and they are ready for new homes.

  

This is where you guys come in.

Stay with me...

We have 5 cages to keep cats in and we just took in a stray with neuro signs that will need to be kept for awhile until we find out what is up.  I need to open space so that she can bring in more cats.

So let me tell you about them, and you consider whether you are looking for a fantastic cat to add to your life (I mean c'mon...if you already have a few, what is one more?)

or if maybe you could provide a foster home for any of them.

  

First there is..

Mitties

  

She is a sweet girl with the perfect personality to add to your loving home. She is very outgoing, loves to eat and LOVES affection. She is 6, totally healthy and spayed and vaccinated.

  

Then...

Digger  

I'm thinking they are related. He is also 6 years old. He will lay with you for hours if you rub his belly. When we open the cage to feed him, he doesn't jump out, he just looks at you with his romantic eyes.  "touch me daahling"

  

Lastly...

  She is the one that had hyperthyroidism and last week I removed her thyroid gland. She also has a cloudy left eye from an inflammatory condition known as Eosinophilic Keratitis. The removal of the thyroid gland should make her in no need of treatment ever. However, the eye problem will need some drops daily. We will throw in a lifetime supply of the drops for the interested angel who takes her. I think she is about 11. But she acts like a kitten.

  

You know that the last thing I want to do is pressure you guys. But I need room to take 5 more of her cats in the next few months.  Did I mention that I had 3 cats and 4 dogs??

  

I hope you have a great week and I don't want you to even think about those poor kitties in the little cages.  Especially when you go to bed in the evening you should not picture the piercing eyes of Digger.

  

The very first one that we placed from this home was Chuck.  For those of you who remember Chuck, when we sent out an email I got several responses, one of which was very quick. The next day when Chuck's new mom came in with a carrier and a smile, I heard her say "that'll teach me to read your emails after a glass of wine."

  

So, did I mention that any takers of these cats get a free bottle of wine (with proof of id of course...so if you are 17 and reading this and thinking you'll get the bottle of wine and dump the cats on your parents...you can just forget it!)

  
A few things before I go. Number one, for those of you signing up for epetrecords, please be patient. We are a little behind, since more of you signed up than we originally anticipated. We still want you to sign up for this awesome service, but it may take a few weeks for you to have access online.

Secondly, April 15th is the time to start topical flea and tick medication (for dogs especially).  We lowered our prices this year so that more people can afford it,  and now Advantix has an added non-toxic chemical that interferes with the entire flea life cycle. Ticks are the reason we start now...remember, Lyme is on the rise.

Lastly,   in celebration of the friggin foot of snow we got last week, I added a link to a hilarious Simon's Cat clip.