One Year Later: Without Nick

Yesterday I mentioned my gentle giant, Nicholas, to someone...a memory I had of him, something funny he had done to a-mewse me. As I spoke about him, it occurred to me that he had passed away in February 2012. I checked the date on his urn, and saw it was today, February 20th. I couldn't believe it has been one full year since Nick passed away from a mold-related respiratory infection.

I still can't believe he's gone. I tried not to think about him too much during those first awful weeks. His bed lay untouched where he last slept in it. The other cats didn't dare nap in it--it belonged to their missing leader. His dinner bowl, a wobbly, pottery mishap with an apple painted on the bottom and a chip on its rim went unused. His black cloth collar with magical decorations and a giant red heart name tag dangled from my bedside lamp. For months.

I still have not inserted his photo onto his urn. I have a photo of him propped against it, but its not the right photo. The one that I will forever associate with my sweet Nicky is this one, and I have yet to have it printed from my computer.

I realize now that I have to print it. I have to cherish his memory without tears. It's just that it really hurt to lose him. In the beginning, Nick wasn't an easy cat to love, but love him I did--for reasons I didn't understand at the time, but now I do.

Sometimes someone -- be they human or animal -- comes into your life for a reason, to teach you something, to give you something you didn't know you needed until they gave it to you. That's what Nick did for me. He arrived on the heels of the death of Genny, an angel who touched my soul, who Ray and I mourn still, fourteen years later. He filled the need to be needed in me. He had spirit, and intelligence. He had a silly personality, yet clearly his heart had been wounded from neglect. So I guess you could say I filled that need in him.

From December 1999 to February 2012 Nick and I were best friends. I love my other cats, but Nick and I had a deep bond that lingers still.

In January a stray cat family arrived in my yard, hungry and desperate for help. Mom cat had four kittens with her. The daddy cat...looks like Nick, sounds like Nick...and has that silly, goofball personality like Nick.
He's not Nick, of course...but that Nikolas arrived in my life almost a year to the day I lost Nicholas makes me wonder if perhaps he was sent to fill my arms, and let me hug on a gentle giant of a cat, one last time.

Nicholas Ridiculous!

Nikolas Ridikolas!

Nikolas

 Please click for links to the stories: Celebrating Nick, Black Mold, and Mold Symptoms.

Buddy the Tabby Celebrates 22 years!

I remember Valentine's Day 1993 because the love of my life joined my family.

I'm not speaking of my husband, although he is indeed the LOVE of my life. I'm speaking of my tabby, Buddy.

We lived in a small patio home in Jacksonville, Florida with my Turkish Angora, Genny, and my Tortoiseshell, Mandy. I also had numerous stray cats thanks to a feral mother who was impossible to trap, and littered my neighborhood for several years until I lured her into a cage with grilled salmon sauteed in butter.

On that particular Valentine's Day, Ray was in the front yard hacking away at an Oleander bush. The thing was poisonous and he had a horrible skin rash on his arms every time he pruned it. I have a memory of standing in the garage, looking toward the driveway where Ray was sitting, sharpening a tool...and I saw he had a cat watching him. "Who's your little buddy?" I asked. "Don't know," he responded. "Haven't seen this one before."

At first I thought I hadn't either, but something about the tabby struck a familiar chord with me. A couple years before Angel, the feral littering my yard, gave birth at Christmas. Ray and I came home from Eve services to find six kittens crowding our front doorstep. "Is this a joke?" Ray shouted. The kittens scattered. Angel had been in the habit of bringing me her kits to take care of, so she could go back to being footloose and fancy free. The slut. The following week she brought her kittens back to me, this time into my yard, where she left them during the day. Naturally I fed them and provided a dog house for their shelter.

Wonderpurr Cats Looking for Forever Homes

The Stray Cat Family is now seeking adoption. Please take a moment and read their bios. If you know of someone who is in desperate need of a wonderpurr cat, please call the number at the end of this post and reference Susan Huff and Kim Kozlowski.

 

Nikolas Ridikolas

“I don’t want to be your whole life, just your favorite part.”

Day job: Purrfessional belly rub receiver.

Dream job: Loves mewic. Can hit tenor high C and plans to win AmeriCat Idol.

Purrsonality: Natural comedicat known for random acts of silliness. Embraces his inner goofball and completely dorks out for no reason.

Caregiver Notes: This is a fun cat with lots of personality. Impressive that after a year as a stray he invites belly rubs and greets me at the door with dog-like excitement, however he has no experience with dogs. Nik is a good father to his 4 kittens with AdoraBelle.

AdoraBelle

“We can’t all be princesses. Someone has to clap when I go by.”

Day job: Devoted Meowmy of 4 - AdoraPurr, Addie Pray, Kepurr and Kopea

Dream job: Pampurr’d Princess and Full Time Lap Cat

Purrsonality: Grace Kelly regal with a touch of Beyonce cool.

Caregiver Notes: Her approachable friendliness and devotion to her first litter brought her to my attention. Belle is sweet, though reserved due to hard start in life. She puts her family first, allowing them to eat before her. She enjoys cuddles and sweet nothings whispered in her ears. Sincere appreciation for how wonderpurr she is will make a huge impact on her. She needs a home where she never has to worry or be afraid ever again. Has no experience with dogs.

AdoraPurr

“If I was your kitten I’d never let you go. You’ll never be alone. EVER!”

Day job: Manning phones for Itty Bitty Adopt a Kitty Committee

Dream job: Designer for Pampurr’d Princess fashions

Purrsonality: Wonderpurr from ears to tail. Easy going, sweet and unafraid.

Caregiver Notes: Someone forgot to tell “Dori” never-handled, stray kittens are supposed to come with a little wildness. She loves to be cuddled, sits sweetly in laps and is trying so hard to be purrfect in order to find a Forever Home. We assured her she has nothing to worry about.

Addie Pray

“If it’s only a Paper Moon, does that mean I can shred it?”

Day job: Toilet paper destroyer

Dream job: Actually, destroying toilet paper is my dream job. Yay!

Purrsonality: All bark and no bite--or scratch. Enjoys ear rubs and back rubs.

Caregiver Notes: Named for Tatum O’Neil’s character in Paper Moon, Addie’s purrpetual squinty glare disappears when she’s being handled. After spending her first 3 months as outside stray Addie needs reassurance no harm will come to her, but as days go by she displays a stronger trust that her life is changing for the better.

Kepurr

“When you get to know me, every day is Black Cat Appreciation Day.”

Day job: Testing cat toys to determine worthiness for his attention.

Dream job: His natural curiosity would make him a fabulous Investigative Repurrtor for LOL Cats mewsletter.

Purrsonality: Calm, sweet-natured. Enjoys back rubs while eating.

Caregiver Notes: Initial fear of being handled has evaporated and he loves back rubs. He takes after his father, Nikolas Ridikolas, with a zeal for fun. Has loud purr! Kepurr is definitely a keeper.

Kopea

“Basement Cat jokes make me worry no one will love me for the wonderpurr kitteh I am.”

Day job: Exploring caves, showing fur-sibs he’s not afraid of the dark.

Dream job: Climbing mountains, proving to himself he is worthy of a Forever Home.

Purrsonality: Curious, but reserved. Possibly subjected to cruel Basement Cat jokes during his formative weeks. Idolizes his father, Nikolas Ridikolas, and copies him thus his name, Kopea.

Caregiver Notes: Kopea is on his way to becoming a pawsome housecat. His life as a stray kitten left him skeptical that humans won’t scare him, but he shows signs of wanting more from life than watching his fur-sibs interact with me. He clearly adores his father, Nikolas, and mimics his movements, even to the point of joining him in the litter box! Kopea would be ideal in a home with happy Cat Whisperer-type people willing to prove to him he has nothing to fear and was born to be loved.

To inquire about adopting any of these wonderpurr cats, please contact

DeSoto Animal Rescue Society

Horn Lake, Mississippi

(662) 342-9448

Reference Susan Huff and Kim Kozlowski

Ninja Kittens, Tornados & Unexpected House Guests

I'm FRUSTRATED!!! <--- notice extra exclamation points. This means I'm serious.

This past Tuesday night I had 16 cats inside my house. SIXTEEN! But I'm getting ahead of my story.

Adult Male #1 -- handsome panfur mancat

On Monday I hauled Stray #1 - Male - back to vet. He'd been sneezing with runny eyes which equaled a respiratory infection. Also -- worms. Pretty sure, why not, the kittens do. I also took in the sweetie pie female tabby so my vet could see her. She's 3 months old, 3 lbs, and guess what? Besides worms...she has ear mites. And so did Stray 1. Ack!

I had to buy dewormer for Mom cat and the Ninja kittens plus ear mite liquid.

So after dinner I begged Ray to help me deworm the Ninjas. It’s a topical like Advantage only with a special ingredient (like platinum) to make it super pricey. Whatever! I dewormed Mom Cat and did her ears, bless her she's so nice.

The Ninjas... I had Ray on the ready outside the bathroom door with ear stuff and deworm stuff. I went in carrying a towel and managed to get hold of Feisty aka Mister Congeniality. Compared to the two black kittens, Feisty is a piece of cake. Ray came in, making rude comments about how the bathroom stinks (like I couldn't tell -- rolling eyes here) and he applied the stuff to Feisty and left. I released Feisty, then tried to grab a black kitten. I get one wrapped up like a burrito but apparently my burrito wrapping sucks because he wiggled loose, screaming like a girl at a Bieber concert. I didn't let go, but was way too wary of those back claws. I'm already sporting a lovely gouge in my left palm. Long story short -- didn't happen. Didn’t happen with the other black kitten either who has defied my every attempt to make friends.

Ninja Kittens 5, Kim 0.

THEN!

There's No Bizness Like the Stray Cat Bizness

Feisty and Angel

I wrote this post on Saturday, but didn't have time to publish it. You will see why when I post again tomorrow.

I have been overwhelmed lately...so whats new? As you may know, a mother cat brought 4 kittens to my porch a couple weeks ago. I did the humane thing by feeding them and to my surprise...they stayed. (gasp!)

Now my intentions are pure. I can't turn my back on strays, especially in winter. My electric bills and food bills will testify to that.  I have 4 heat lamps running, numerous beds and blankets arranged to thwart the cold...and I go through so much cat food...and not the cheap stuff either. No, they're eating pretty darn good, ala Friskies and Iams, both kibble and canned. And while I'm saying that so are my raccoons.

Last Wednesday I waited until Ray went to work, then ... I went to work. I placed two square cages (used to hold my cats during hurricane threat) on my back porch. I then waited until the raccoons left (at 7am on the nose! I swear they adhere to a very regimented schedule of foraging. I rarely see any of them linger beyond 7am.) Then, while the cats were milling around, waiting for breakfast, I slipped the food into the cages...and in they walked. I closed the doors behind them. Success!

Well, not really all that easy, but I'm going to skip over how one of the kittens refused to get inside a cage and how the sister cat was MIA. And I'm going to skip the part where I knocked over the water dish and generally scared the snot out of the cats with my clumsiness...but still they were hungry and went into the cages and all turned out lovely.

Happy Birthday Herman!

Happy Birthday to Herman @TattleCat who turned 12 today. On February 2nd his buddy @TweetingTruman is throwing Herman a #Spypawty on Twitter. Herman chose a Catsablanca theme with black and white avis made using 1940s film stars. Sharlene Parker, who anipal tweets as Truman, is a dear friend who set up this party, sent out twtvites to his friends, and also set up a great blog to showcase the party's exotic theme: http://spypawty2.blogspot.com/

Herman @TattleCat, Truman @TweetingTruman and Thomas @PuppyNumber7 have been making cool avis for the anipals who don't have the apps or computer software to make their own. Here are a few Herman (ahem...I) have made so far:

Elizabeth @LilacBeagle

@DylCat1

@Henrythecat2002

@KaKay41

@Mikey_W_Cat

@RiverWhimsie

@StreamieWhimsie

@Taliessa

St Francis of Southaven

The other day my friend Natalie sent me the paw print quote. My sister Carolyn called me St Francis of Southaven. My friend Sue called my place Koz's Happy Home 4 Unwed Kitty Moms. Calling me a Cat Magnet or Crazy Cat Lady is a given. If they are homeless, hungry...and pregnant...they find me.

Last week a Mom cat and her sister, both maybe a year old and really small in size, arrived with four kittens in tow...2 black, 2 tabby. They took up residence on my back patio, already set up for my Siamese Yum Yum and Jesse the Wonder Cat (named that before I began tweeting for Herman @Tattlecat and actually met @TheWonderCats.)

My first encounter with Mom Cat was friendly. She let me pet her. The sister and kittens kept their distance and would come out of hiding only after I put down the food and left. Earlier this week while petting Mom Cat a tabby kitten was close enough for me to run my hand down Mom's tail and touched his nose. He blinked, but didn't run. Good sign.

Yesterday I found that same tabby sleeping in Jesse's chair under the ever-burning heat lamp (250 watts!). When I reached down to pet him he didn't run, and ended up with a wonderpurr body massage from head to tail. Later that night I managed to touch to all of the cats including the skittish sister. So progress is being made to tame them, although they aren't technically what I'd call feral. I've dealt with feral. Angel, a tabby who littered my backyard in Jacksonville for several years before I lured her into a trap with a salmon steak sauteed in lemon butter, was the Queen of Feral.

These photos were taken this morning during breakfast. The fog you see is the cold frosting my camera lens. I have 3 heat lamps burning for them, so no worries, they are snuggy warm.