A short update on Coda

We received a note from Laurisa, Coda's foster mom, tonight:

"Coda is improving daily-- still very, very thin and a bit flopsy (for lack of a better word) and uncoordinated, but he tries to play with toys and eats well now."

Still a long way to go, but we are so encouraged to hear this and wanted to share.

-Sarah

A visit to PAA

Today I visited our friends at Prairie Animal Assistance, who have been helping us to tame and socialize formerly semi-feral street kittens. Many of their PFA charges are now perfectly tame adult cats, and ready for amazing adoptive homes. Laurisa has trained the cats with treats and clicker training, and this photo captures some of her charges as they "sit" to get a treat. It is rare to see cats so obedient!

If you could imagine yourself with a clicker trained cat, please do check out the adoption ads for Slick and Jade, or Silver and Slinky.

-Sarah

Another girlfriend for Bugsy

My beloved rehabilitated tomcat, Bugsy, is a rather famous character in PFA circles. He lived at a feeding station for a long time, and we think he had been on the streets for even longer. When we finally succeeded in trapping him his injuries were so severe that he eventually needed 3 surgeries. Very timid to begin with, Mr Bugs is now Mr Purrsonality, the welcome ambassador to my home. Bugsy loves hanging out with young females (like many older males do!). He always takes my female foster kittens under his proverbial wing, and sweet Belle has proven to be no exception. In the photo above they are enjoying a comfy snooze on a cold winter day.

-Sarah

From trauma to total contentment

Volunteering with PFA can be incredibly gratifying, as we work to ensure happy endings for our feline charges. However, it can also be devastating when we are faced with heartbreaking animal suffering, and the truth about how cruel some people can be.

Angel, the little black kitten, was one of those cases that made many hardened rescuers cry. She was found partially frozen to a driveway in the midst of winter, hungry and terrified. Once she was safe in a foster home, we discovered that Angel (whose name was changed to Angel from Sheeba when we realized what a little miracle she was) was horrifically injured. Her tail was badly broken, and the skin on her lower jaw was torn away from her face. She had ulcers on her feet that were likely caused by some kind of chemical burn. Our vet was certain that these wounds were inflicted on purpose.

Angel's foster mom, Cherilyn, carefully and lovingly nursed her back to health, and when she was well enough, she had surgery for her injuries. Most of her tail was amputated, but she healed from the surgery remarkably quickly. Through all of these experiences, we were all inspired and amazed at how resilient and loving this sweet little kitten was.

The photo above was sent to us by Angel's adoptive home. As you can see, she is a happy and healthy full grown cat now, with great feline companions (including another PFA rescue, the grey tabby pictured with her) and an incredibly loving human family. These are the endings that help us to keep going in the face of more sad stories on the streets of Regina.

-Sarah

Happy Endings

Kit Kat was found by PFA supporters last summer during a very nasty thunderstorm. These kind folks took him inside, but they couldn't keep him. So, he went to PFA and then quickly on to his forever home. As you can see, he made himself very comfortable right away.

Kit is a very laid back guy and always ready for a comfy snooze.

Sandy

Rocky the rampaging cat

A note from one of our wonderful pet rescue volunteers, Brittany:

"Just wanted to share something funny with you! We have a boy named Rocky...We have child-proof locks on the food cupboards because of his antics with ravaging through them (he was a starving kitten when he was found at my work 2 years ago). Last week I forgot to lock the cupboard and we went out for dinner. This is what I came home to...(I took these pictures before anything was touched...treated it like the crime scene it was...) He looks so innocent doesn't he? He's one of our 5 babies - to avoid looking psychotic I didn't send photos of all of them, but I was tempted to."

-Sarah

Bugsy is learning how to play!

I have written about Bugsy often on this blog. He is no longer a PFA foster cat, as I adopted him last year after fostering him, and realizing that I simply couldn't part with this amazing boy. Bugs is a true survivor of the streets. When he was finally trapped and taken to the vet, we weren't sure if he would ever tame up completely. We also didn't know if he would ever be able to use his damaged eye properly. Now, he has had three surgeries on his face and his eye. He has battled horrible ear infections, a by-product of the long term damage done by chronic ear mites while he was on the street. Because of this, Bugsy also has some hearing loss. However, he is now finally a healthy cat, and his eye and ears are fine.

For the first year or so at my home, Bugsy mostly slept and ate. We are used to tomcats who have been rescued virtually hibernating as they recover from their experiences, and that is exactly what Bugs did. Slowly, he would let me touch him, and he began to truly enjoy the attention. Bugsy has also made fast friends with the other critters in the house, especially my female cats, who are kind of like his harem.

Now, Bugsy has really come full circle. He is vocal and loving. He cuddles with me on the sofa in the evening, and chases the other cats around in play. And, much to my surprise, he has begun playing with cat toys! These photos are of Bugsy discovering the kitty tunnel in the living room. He loves it, and lurks in there till another cat walks by, at which point he leaps out and scares the poop out of them.

-Sarah

An update on Piglet, now Zeus.

This spring, we rescued a feral momma cat, Chika, with two of her babies. Piglet was the cream colored flame point siamese cross male, and he was a beauty! I felt so lucky to be fostering this little family.

Today, we received some pics of Piglet, and he is thriving with his adopter. Many thanks to Jacyntha for passing these along!

-Sarah

More Ninja and Jellybean!

Jellybean and Ninja!

AJ and her family adopted two kittens from us this summer... Jellybean (orange male) was the sole survivor of Sammy's litter, and Ninja (grey male) was one of three kittens rescued from a life on the street. It took a week or so for them to make friends, but once they did, they became inseparable. Ninja is a little older and bigger than Jellybean, and he loves to groom his buddy, as in this video here.

Milo's happily ever after

Milo is a sweet young male tabby who took refuge in Sandra's backyard early this spring. Sandra took an interest in this charismatic homeless kitty, and asked around the area to find out if he had a home. No one came forward, so she asked me if PFA could help. We arranged for Milo to be neutered, and Sandra offered to foster him. In a surprise twist, Milo escaped from Sandra's yard almost as soon as he got home from the vet and disappeared. Sandra eventually located him at the Regina Humane Society. Apparently someone had trapped him and taken him in.

Sandra took this well travelled feline home, and he has made friends with her formerly anti-social older female cat, LB. Sandra has formally adopted him, and he is doing extremely well!

Sandra is a great example of a community member who is willing to work alongside PFA to ensure a happy ending for a stray cat.

-Sarah

Another happy ending - SPIKE

Spike was another one of our sweet refugees from the street, rescued from a feeding station hungry and homeless. And now look at him!

"Well it's been about 2.5 weeks since we adopted Spike from pfa....we just love him ..he made friends with my dog ..Milo first..he is now getting along with my other cat tuttie...they are just starting to chase each other about ...he is best friends though with my lil girl ...they follow each other all over the house ...where one is the other is...as you can see from the pics...Thx Anya..."

Happy cats at Pat's

Pat is our dedicated and energetic President, and, like any self-respecting PFA'er, she has a houseful of kitties. Her three boys are amazing success stories. Sammy, the large grey guy, was a stray who was sheltering in Pat's backyard last year. He was semi-feral - she couldn't get close to him, although he was a faithful visitor to her back deck for meals. Finally, she was able to trap him, and have him neutered. Pat then took Sammy in to foster, and with much time and patience, she has succeeded in taming him. He is now a very loving and happy housecat.

Pat's other two boys are Ricky and Oliver, the black and white stunners pictured above.

Ricky and Oliver came from a colony at an abandoned house at Lady Lake, near Preeceville; there were approx 40 cats and kittens there. Joanne Craig, PFA founder, rescued as many as she could get, and the vet out there was kind enough to give us some real breaks in getting them all looked after. Pat fostered and tamed these two, and she couldn't part with them.

-Sarah

Friday and her boyfriend Stroller

Friday is our sweet little grey girl who was rescued two months ago on the side of the highway with a badly broken pelvis. She is still convalescing at her foster home, but doing very well. Friday has developed an incredibly close relationship with Stroller, the handsome grey and white neutered male tabby pictured with her above. Stroller came to her foster home as a foster cat, but has now been adopted by the family, who couldn't bear to part with him. He and Friday are inseparable, and we are sure that his love and companionship is helping Friday as she heals from her terrible injuries.

-Sarah

This might have been the world's fastest adoption!

Little Charlie was found on Wednesday morning perched on the tire of a community member's car. She was no older than about 5 weeks. She was clearly hungry and scared, but was absolutely thrilled to be with company, and to be offered some food.

The woman who rescued her wasn't able to keep her, as she had to go to work. So, I suggested that she drop the kitten off at our favorite vet clinic, Victoria Vet, and that way the kitten could be assessed, and it would buy us some time to come up with a foster home. The vet said that Charlie was skinny, but otherwise healthy. Wonderful Denise said that she would foster Charlie, and we planned that she would pick her up at the vet after work that day.

Well, by the time Denise arrived at the vet that day, Charlie had won the heart of the entire vet clinic staff, most especially one of the vet techs. Denise never had a chance to foster sweet little Charlie for even one night. She went home with Chandra, the vet tech, and has already found her forever home, as soon as the legal waiting period passes for the previous owners to come forward. Sadly, this rarely happens for the many cats that we rescue, so we are very glad to know that no matter what, Miss Charlie is safe and loved!

-Sarah

Tuffy has landed well!

Tuffy was the last of Molly's kittens to be adopted, but he has found a wonderful forever family!

Thanks so much to foster mom Sandy for sharing.

-Sarah

Bugsy almost a year later

Bugsy is one of PFA's shining success stories. In fact, his whole family are a great example of a happy ending.

After being trapped at a feeding station last summer by our feral team, Bugsy was neutered and treated for a horrible looking eye infection. Bugsy had never given any indication of tameness, but he was so calm that we brought him to my house for a few days for assessment. While he was still very timid, Bugsy quickly allowed me to handle him, and I fell in love. Flash forward a year, and Bugsy is a very contented housecat, adopted by me and my brood. He has had two eye surgeries, with the costs assisted by many PFA friends. Bugsy has gone from hanging in the basement and only allowing me to touch him, to being the king of the entire house and greeting all visitors with his distinctive siamese meow and rubbing his considerable backside against their legs. He loves to be cuddled and brushed, and he has even made peace with my hyper Korean chihuahua.

I took this video with my blackberry last night while watching TV, Bugsy on my lap, Blue (PFA foster cat) at my elbow, Atti (my rescued Korean dog) on the couch opposite, and Chopper (my rescued 15 year old chihuahua) beside us. Domestic Bliss!

-Sarah

Trapping Blitz Update

The PFA feral team recently undertook a spring trapping blitz to try and prevent the births of unwanted kittens on the streets of Regina, especially surrounding our feeding stations in North Central and the Warehouse District.

The blitz began on March 20th. So far, we have rescued 48 cats.

TOTAL CATS RESCUED AND STERILIZED ON FERAL ROUTES: 45 (17 females, 28 males).

3 SINCE DECEASED: Hoss (taken to RHS by private citizen, probably a car hit), Simon the kitten (euthanized due to multiple disabilities and health problems), Clement (Warehouse cat severely injured, thus, humanely euthanized).

TOTAL FERAL CATS TNR'D (trap/neuter/release): 32 - 12 females (would have had litters on the street), 20 males.

TOTAL TAME CATS RESCUED: 6 (4 females who would have had litters on the street), 2 males. Plus Jade's 5 babies, now socialized = 11.

TOTAL TAME CATS IN FOSTER CARE OR BOARDING: 4. Honey, Stroller, Jana, and 1 of Jade's babies left (Dusty).

TOTAL TAME CATS ALREADY ADOPTED: 6: Buffy, 3 of Jade's kittens, Peaches and Shawn.

We also worked with a private citizen to trap, neuter and release three feral cats in the Glencairn area. All 3 have now been relocated to a screened and approved farm. 2 males, 1 female.

Total rescues = 48.

Thanks so much to all of the volunteers who have worked so hard to make this happen, and to all of our wonderful supporters and donors who understood the importance of this blitz. We have prevented the births of literally hundreds of cats this spring!
-Sarah

Mitzi, home at last

We wrote about a sad story of cat hoarding this winter on the blog.

Mitzi was the first of the cats that PFA was able to rescue from that situation, and one of the most traumatized. She was fostered by Carol and Bob for almost a year, and finally found her forever home last month.

The photos above are of our beloved Mitzi in her new home, with her new best friend Buddy.

Her new family writes:

"Just a little update. Mitzi seems to realize that she's a big part of our family. She's playing with Buddy (they chase each other and play fight), she sleeps with him and us every night now. She was pretty skittish for a while, always running away when we came into the house or a room unexpectedly, but she is much better now. We can walk around her, even while she's eating, and she doesn't get scared. She has two favorite places to watch the world go by outside (on the back of the chair by the window in the livingroom and on the bookcase by the big window in the dining room), she has a couple of toys she likes and she knows ALL about treats! Mitzi loves falling asleep in our laps or snuggled up beside us. All in all, she's become one of us! And it all happened in her own time and on her own terms. We love this little girl to pieces and are so happy to have her with us. Buddy is in love with her, too. So you can be assured that she's happy and healthy and getting along fine now. Just thought you'd like to know how well everything has turned out. "

I also wanted to share a little bit of Mitzi's former foster home's response when they heard how well she was doing in her new home:

"We certainly know how psychologically damaged Mitzi was when she came here, and she is a testament to an animal's ability to heal. I won't go into how traumatized she was again, but from the cat she was when she first came here, one year ago this month, to the cat you describe, is absolute night and day. I've fostered lots of cats in my time, but I can tell you honestly no other cat, and no other cat's adoption has touched me like Mitzi, and you, and Buddy. "

Thanks so much to Carol, Bob and Zoe, Mitzi's loving foster family, and to her new family for loving her so much. Thanks also to our tireless pet rescue volunteers who helped save so many cats from that unsafe environment.

-Sarah

Mackie is now Stanley!

Pat and Bob recently rescued a small grey kitten from a 7-11 at 3am. We all joked that he was there for a slurpee. Mackie was a holy terror from the very beginning - adorable, but a total FIREBALL!!!! The older cats at his foster home had no idea what to do with this little fluffball who kept on hopping sideways at them and jumping on their backs.
Mackie was just adopted by Michelle and her family, and he has fit right in, as Stanley. Michelle has even blogged about him. She says: "He is really such a fun little ruffian and he has charmed/chased/chewed his way into everybody's hearts around here. Very soon, I expect him to be riding on Emmett's back and curling up for naps with Molly (our two dogs). "
Another happy ending. We love those.
-Sarah