Blog Posts - Catty Shack Rescue

This is why we do this...

7/31/2015

Hi Everyone,

We have been working on an area in town where there are multiple cats and kitten, friendlies, who needed spay/neuter and testing. It is where Little Guy and his siblings came from. Today we got the last of the cats who had been evading us, a pregnant calico girl. She had actually been trying to look after Little Guy after he was abandoned.

She was taken into MileHi and tested before she went to the waiting foster who had agreed to take care of her during her birthing process and after. The vet tech's estimated that she is 8 years old, missing half of her teeth and very close to delivering!

Who knows how many litters of kittens this friendly girl has had or how she has managed to live on the street, fend for herself and multiple litters of kittens, suffered most likely from her mouth pain, avoided contracting FIV and still had the heart and soul to try to help Little Guy as he struggled to maneuver the streets, virtually blind? Is it survival instinct or a great heart at work?

She would surely have been euthanized at any normal shelter even after all her years of struggling to live. She would be "too expensive" or "unadoptable" or some other reason not to bother with her and her unborn kittens. She would easily have fit into a category where she would be gotten rid of without shelter numbers being affected.

This is why we struggle to rescue, raise money for food, spay and neuter, find fosters and shelter. Why we spend time and energy every day to save lives and shelter them until they find homes, This girl is the poster child for what happens when no one cares, rescue is not an option and we discard animals as undesirable.

In case you ever question yourself about if what we do matters and why we continue the daily battle, this is why we do it. To find ways for cats to enjoy their middle age with a loving person or family and for kittens to be born safely or prevented or placed in loving homes.

Thank you to you all for making it possible to help this girl and all the others. I am proud to be associated with you and to be able to help this girl and all the others past and future.

Susan

Baby Mac

7/16/2015

Hi Everyone,

We in rescue encounter many animal personalities in a day or week or month. Some pass in and out of our lives leaving little mark, some are there for a short while for whatever reasons and go on their way. And some open our hearts and impact us in ways we never forget.

This is how it was for Deborah and Baby Mac. Baby Mac has been on Deborah's feeding route for 2 years and 5 months, exactly how old he was when he died this week. First he lost his mom as a young kitten and then his sister. He went on to face the world in the best way he could as a feral living on the street.

He always talked to Deborah and showed up when she called. But as we all know, the life of a street cat is much shorter and harder than the life of a cat in a home. Baby Mac's life was prolonged because he had the care and concern of Deborah as she made her daily rounds, making sure he was there to eat and be ok.

Until today when Deborah learned that he had been found in a parking lot in the extreme throes of death not even able to wait for euthanasia. He died from unknown causes. We can only guess at the myriad of things that can threaten a street cat's life and it doesn't really matter what it was. It matters that he lived and died and had a caretaker to bear witness to his life. And to his death, as Deborah went and found what trash bin his body had been disposed of in and got it to be taken for cremation as one would care for any loved one.

It may be hard for some to understand the sorrow over the loss of one little cat but there is a personal relationship that impacts both parties in ways too mysterious to explain. Why do we love who we love? We watch their struggles and their victories and they become ours. We admire their bravery in the face of adversity. We wish for things to be better for them and try to make it so. We grieve their loss and send them on their way knowing they enriched us as we tried to help them.

Good bye Baby Mac. You are not leaving the world alone. Our hearts go with you as you take your leave of this world and cross the rainbow bridge.

What a beautiful soul.

This is why we rescue.

Susan

A big welcome to Pearl and kittens!

7/15/2015

Hi Everyone,

Pearl and the kittens have arrived at The Shack. They are 3 1/2 months old now. They are in the front bedroom and hopefully Franklin is featured in The Courier today. His picture is below.
They are loving and playful so when you get a chance come by and visit them.

Also, Goldie and Smoke have found homes! Goldie is already in her new home and Smoke is going to his today! Lucky kitties! Callie is still at NOAH so if you meet anyone looking for a very nicely behaved, 7 year old long haired calico who talks to you and loves to be petted, send them her way.

I am feeding 2 medium aged kitties at a house where the owner died and they were turned out. I will try to get pics later today and send. They are in a filthy, precarious situation and I am hoping to get them out of there. I have two weeks to accomplish that.

Thanks for helping to save all of their lives. Susan

Sad news

6/29/2015

Hello Everyone,

It is with a heavy heart that I wish to inform you that Tiny Blind Kitten AKA Little Guy died today. I guess it might be hard for some people to understand why the death of one tiny handicapped kitten hits us so hard.

In the bigger picture it represents why we rescue. To keep little kittens out of harm's way and not exposed to infections and viruses they can't recover from. To spay and neuter the adults so little kittens with no one to care for them are not left to fend for themselves. To view every life as precious and having a role to play in this world we inhabit.

Another level is restoring health to the abandoned, neglected and unloved so they may find their place and people who love and value them. And so they may take up their role in the lives of their humans to love and comfort them and bring them such joy.

Then there is the personal role of the one on one relationship with the rescuer and the rescued. Of finding what they need and how to provide it for them hoping they will thrive. Of learning to read their signals and cries to breach that gap left by a missing mother. Who doesn't know the intense joy of holding a furry little kitten to your face, tickling their belly and counting their tiny toes? Snuggling with them while they burp after a meal and having them fall asleep purring in your arms? You dream of who they will be and how they will grow finding that perfect home where they can unfold in safety with love.

I learn from every cat I rescue. It will take me longer to process what this experience has brought to me than the short 3 weeks Little Guy lived with us. He had multiple strikes against him and yet he didn't know that. He ate, drank, slept and played with everything he had. He didn't question why his world had become a cloudy place or why he was inside a house. He accepted it all and enjoyed the good things it had to offer.

He has left a hole many times larger than himself in our hearts. Bless you little one as you make your journey across the rainbow bridge.

And thank you all for being there for through your contributions, work and care you make it possible for us to help these vulnerable souls.

Susan

Update on Little Guy

6/11/2015

Hi Everyone,

Little Guy is continuing to improve with the ulcers in his eyes receding and his face taking on a more normal shape. And, SURPRISE, Little Guy has siblings that one of our volunteers has consented to foster! So far we have a sister and we are trying for the third baby but no luck as yet. These are lovely social little kittens who will be a joy to watch grow up. Hopefully, we will get the last baby tomorrow and everyone will be in and safe.
Thanks for all your well wishes and support through this process. If anyone wants to do anything too help monetarily, we can use cases of ProPlan kitten food in chicken/liver flavor, Royal Canin kitty dry food, Naturally Fresh walnut litter, small soft beds, rolls of paper towels, etc.

And thank you to Deborah for getting these tiny, sick kittens off the street and into a safe place

Also, thank you to all the volunteers filling in for people who can't do their shifts and taking on the extra shifts so that we can be open for the public to visit the kitties. It means so much to know that everyone has a level of commitment that makes it possible for the rescue of these kitties and keeping them safe until they are adopted.

Thank you, as always, Susan

Looking for a home for Sasha and Nikki!

6/8/2015

Sasha and Nikki are looking for that special someone to give them a loving home where they can feel safe and secure.

These beautiful girls were found abandoned together and had to fend for themselves in dire circumstances until rescued by Community Cats. They have been with a foster and groomed and pampered but now it is time for them to find their furrever home.

Sasha is the beautiful black and white long haired love and Nikki is the more adventurous long haired tortoiseshell girl.

Both girls are under the age of 3 and are spayed and tested. They had shots when they were younger but could receive boosters if their new owners were so inclined.

For more information call Community Cats/Catty Shack Rescue at 928-778-6951. We are a 501(c)(3) non profit rescuing cats from the street since 2011.

Bella and Sinbad find a new home together!

5/31/2015

Bella and Sinbad were adopted together yesterday and went home with their new mom. Bella was dumped at the Courthouse Square with her sister when they were about 3 weeks old. Bella is a long hair dilute tortie. We still have her sister Aurora, who is a traditional tortie.

Sinbad and his mom and siblings were found outside at the end of December. He and his siblings were barely 3 weeks old. We still have his mom and brothers.

They both turned out to be loving kitties and we are wishing them all the best in their new home.

A BIG Welcome to Little Louie!

5/29/2015

We will be welcoming Little Louie to The Catty Shack today. He is around 12-16 weeks old and neutered. Come by and visit a nice boy looking for a home!

Leo was adopted!

5/23/2015

Little Leo found his people and his home Thursday and left the Catty Shack. We loved that boy! He left behind his sister Lily, Bella and Aurora, his foster sisters and Tarzan, his foster brother. Maybe they will soon find homes of their own and go out into the world to live their lives. They are waiting to be discovered at The Catty Shack. Good luck Leo. Our hearts go with you.

Susan

Kitty Day Camp and Other Happenings

5/2/2015

Hello Everyone,

I just wanted to let you know that we are back at Kitty Day Camp at NOAH's and are featuring the 3 boys, Jasper, Einstein and Sinbad this week. They are adjusting and hiding so they are in and out of the little hidey house in the enclosure. There is a lot of activity for them to get used to.

The URI is just about gone with Suki being the last to recover but she was also the last to come down with it.

AND....we got an incredibly generous 4 figure donation this week along with other donations of money, food and bedding. We can now get REAL signs to put out at the adoption events with our logo on them. As well as have a little cushion for food and vet bills. But most of all having the validation that our work is important coming from community members makes the work feel appreciated and inspires us to push on and keep rescuing and sheltering those who cannot help themselves.

Thank you all for making this possible, Susan