Monty the bald cat update

Just an update on this sweet black and white guy.
He is still eating up a storm, and loves his soft food with fish oil mixed in to help him regrow a lovely fur coat.
Two nights ago he decided to settle in on my lap and have a nap. It was so sweet. Last night when I went to his room to watch the news with him, he jumped up on my lap right away, and spent an hour washing himself, snuggling, and playing with me. Monty is also starting to "talk" more, both to me, and to the other cats. He is still in his own room, but last night I let my little fluffy white Frankie cat in to visit, and Monty chirped away to him. He is clearly not aggressive with other cats, and is only interested in being friends.
This morning when I went in with his breakfast, it was clear that for the first time, Monty had actually snuggled into one of the beds I made up for him with a big soft blanket, rather than sleeping on the wooden ledge, as he had been since he was rescued. This big guy is finally relaxing and learning to trust that he is safe!
-Sarah

A black cat happy ending

Too often, PFA finds it very difficult to find homes for the black cats that we rescue. Many people claim that they don't think black cats are attractive, or they cling to the old superstitions about them.

That's why we are extra excited about the recent adoption of both Star (now renamed Amber) and Charlie (now Max). These amazing cats waited far too long, but they are now in a very loving home that appreciates them for how amazing they are!

Their new mom, Elaine, says:

"They are wonderful cats and... we are more than pleased with them. The pic of the two in the window, amber is on the left, and she is the one in the bowl. They make a wonderful pair and both have a good time watching the birds from on top of the cage."

-Sarah

Update on spring trapping blitz and Buffy

We received an email from Sandra today, who is coordinating the Trap, Neuter, Release efforts on our feral cat routes in Regina's inner city.

"Just a quick update on what has happened on the "trapline" since we started a week or so ago. To date, from the start of the "blitz", we have trapped 8 cats, plus taken another cat and her 5 newborn kittens into foster care. So, total, that's 14 cats "rescued", with 7 returned to their home sites. Of those 8 cats, 5 are male and 3 are female. One female was a "kitten",under one year old and I had no report from the vet that she was pregnant, so we assume not. One adult female was pregnant, early stages. The third adult female, no evidence of conception. Of the 5 males, 3 were "kittens" (again, less than a year old), and 2 were adult males. Of the 9 cats in total that have been rescued (not counting the 5 newborn kittens), 8 are feral cats. Seven have been, or will be (today) released back to their home sites. The mother of the newborns will return to her home colony after the kittens are weaned. The kittens are being socialized and will be adopted out. One cat was domesticated, is in foster care now and will be placed for adoption soon."

The tame/domesticated cat that was rescued was Buffy, pictured above. This sweet female cat has now been spayed and is in foster care. We have reported her as found to the humane society, but, as is common with so many of the tame cats that we rescue, no one is looking for her.

We are so pleased with this first week of the trapping blitz! More to come...

-Sarah

More Monty!

Monty the hairless wondercat

We wrote about Monty last week, and my how things have changed for him since then!

His rescuer Melissa was able to take him to the vet clinic, where Monty was tested for FIV and was found to be healthy. We had him neutered, and while he was under, they shaved him from head to toe, as his fur was so matted it was disabling him.

Monty has been eating up a storm since he was rescued, and is a very happy boy, albeit still a little surprised about the whole thing.

For now, Monty is living in my basement fostering room. He is still a little timid with new people, but every day he is becoming friendlier. I knew I won his trust yesterday when he head butted me :) I'll be honest - I can be pretty tough about rescue situations, but Monty broke my heart, and I am glad to have him here to help him regain full health.

Monty is also thriving with the special care package that Alanna brought him full of high quality food from Metro Pet Market, so that when his fur does grow back it will be healthy. Thanks, Alanna!

-Sarah

PFA in the news again!

We were interviewed as part of a story about the cat overpopulation crisis in Regina for the local newspaper, the Leader Post. To read it, please click HERE

Angel this week

Our sweet little Angel had her surgery last friday.

Her little face has healed up remarkably well, and so the only point to doing surgery on it would have been for cosmetic reasons. So we decided not to do that. Dr S did say that if we decide that surgery is necessary further down the road, it could be done during her spay.

As far as her tail goes though, most of it was dead, as Cherilyn thought. They amputated most of it, leaving about 2 inches worth.

The ulcers on her feet are improving, but still not great. Dr S said that all we can do is let time heal them, and keep her comfortable. She said that either frostbite or a chemical burn would have caused them - and she finds it strange that if it's frostbite, it only affected her feet and not her ears. This little cat is an enigma and a miracle.

Dr S also said that Angel purrs continually when being examined, and NOTHING they tried could get her to stop!!! Made it hard to listen to her heart :)

I received a note from Cherilyn, Angel's foster mom, this morning:

"Angel's feet are slowly healing - it will take time as they are still painful. I still have to watch when I pick her up and now with her tail have to be very careful. It is cute though since she can't wash her own face with the Elizabethan collar on she licks the collar when she is done eating which is funny.I have to admit though it will be hard to let her go as we developed such a bond. I was watching animal planet and one of the foster mothers on there said the hardest ones to let go are those that are abused and you spend so much time with. She is right. Angel deserves now the best home ever where they will treasure her. One day at a time - I told Angel this morning one more week of collar and meds and hopefully everything will heal and go well and she can just be a kitten."

-Sarah