Celebrate!

Tomorrow is Beau’s birthday! Can you believe he’s two? It seems like he wandered into my life just yesterday. But then, other times, it seems like he’s been here forever. Maybe he'll pose for a new pic tomorrow if we all ask real nice.

He’s still a cross between pure kitten and wise old soul. One thing for sure. He is most definitely a mystical creature full of magick. I suspect he’s brilliant and I should consider myself lucky he permits me to live in his house and provide him with food. I can tell by the expression on his face some days that I’m pushing my luck and working his last nerve. But he works mine too so I guess we’re even.

I certainly am glad he decided to take over and stay here. I’d miss his antics and his tales if he’d moved on instead. So join me in wishing him a happy birthday. And yes, he is accepting gifts, should you have the desire to send one.

Look at that Face!

I'm told mama is showing signs of having the potential to become friendly. Keep your fingers crossed for her. Isn't that the cutest little furball ever!

Success!

Did you know it takes less time to trap a cat than it does to chop up a pineapple? I know. Not a comparison you’d ever think of making, right? Well, I set the trap and went in to deal with the fresh pineapple I’d gotten at the dreaded store this week. Hey, I need some sort of reward for going. By the time I had the peal in the garbage and was taking it out to my trash can, the cat was caught.

I scurried back inside to grab the towel and carrier for the babies. Scooped them right up since they’d just eaten and were sound asleep. I put them right against the trap so mama could see them while we waited for the wonderful ladies to come get them. Let me tell you, the kittens are soooo sweet. Yes, I cuddled each one of them for a second before I put it in the towel. Of course I did. Did you think there was any chance I wouldn’t?

So mama and babies are off now. They will be checked over to ensure they’re healthy and then cared for until they can go to good, permanent homes. Some days life is good.

Four!

There’s a tortie street cat in my neighborhood who decided my house would be the perfect spot to have kittens. Yes, sucker that I am, I’ve been putting food out for her so she doesn’t need to roam.

At first I thought there was only one. A white one. The next day I saw an orange one. The day after that I saw a teeny tiny black leg.

Today when I got home mama was in the yard so I grabbed her food and my camera and ran. There are four. One of each color and a combo. Cute as can be but they really can’t stay. They’d keep making more and more kittens and get squished in the street. I can’t have that so the plan this weekend is to trap mama and scoop up the babies so they can all go somewhere safe.

Keep your fingers crossed and send out vibes to mama so she knows I’m trying to help.

Trapped

I got out of my car at work this morning to the sound of a kitty crying. And crying. And crying. It was close but not that close so I started looking around. There’s only one other vehicle in the lot at that time of day and I was afraid he’d run over one paw or something, trapping the poor cat beneath the tire. So I slide all the way around the truck, dreading but looking anyway.

Nothing. Then I was afraid the cat had crawled into the engine to get warm and was stuck. I was about to call the truck’s owner to come open the hood and help me look when the cat cried again. It wasn’t coming from the truck.

So I called it. It cried. I called it. It cried. And then I looked up. Poor baby was perched on top of the pole at the edge of the lot. An old phone/electric pole. On of the thin ones that’s been there so long the top is rounded.

It turns out the kitty had been there since 8:00 last night. In the rain. Authorities had been called and no one was willing to help it. The best anyone could do was the Animal Rescue League who said call back at 11:00 AM. If it’s still there, they’ll help. My question is why wait so long? Are they hoping the poor thing will be so exhausted it falls on its own? Or so tired it won’t fight when they try to get it?

I’m told that the ARL did finally appear when it was confirmed that the poor thing was still up there. They got the electric company out with one of their baskets to help. It was snagged, hissing and complaining, and taken off to the ARL for safe keeping. Hopefully, it’ll decide it likes being warm and dry and adjust so it can be adopted.

I’m very happy they came because I spent the day envisioning it giving up and toppling off the pole. And no, this isn't the kitty but it gives you the idea what it looked like.

Update

The pretty girl is going to live with the wonderful tech that works at my vet's office. She does rescues and is willing to take on this kitty. That means she'll end up with lots of love in a caring home. If you're interested, let me know and I'll put you in touch with Tracie. This baby is such a sweetie and I'm going to miss her. My hoard, however, has spent a very unhappy two days and won't mind seeing her go.

Home Needed

This little sweetie has been hanging around my street the last few months. She's super friendly so she must have had a home at one point. Until they tossed her out for whatever hateful whim possessed them. I watched her almost get hit this afternoon. I can't do that again so now I'm trying to find her a home. She talks constantly and has a huge rumbly purr. Anyone interested? Anyone know anyone who's interested? Anyone know anyone who knows anyone who's interested? Anyone know... Well, you have the idea. Ask around please. I'm in Reading, PA and I'll deliver farther than any pizza shop ever dreamed of. Even in a hurricane.

The Great Hunt

Has begun. For the new kitten, that is.

Beau’s momma had a litter about five weeks ago. But she hadn’t brought them as she’s supposed to. Last Thursday evening a coworker saw her with a little ball of gray fluff, sunning in the parking lot right behind one of the neighboring yards.

Naturally I went searching on Friday. She was there, in the yard, with the cutest tiny gray kitten! I said hello and merely looked through the chain link fence. I didn’t want to scare her off. Apparently, that was enough to do that anyway.

Monday, I confirmed the kitten had a home to go to but when I went back to snag it, it was gone. I saw the momma cat Tuesday heading for the parking lot so I followed her. She went into that yard but then climbed the tree and hopped into the one beside it that is all walled off. Yep, she’s moved the kitten where I can’t get to it.

I guess she’s decided to keep this one. I’m hoping she’ll change her mind and move it back so I can catch it and send it home where it will be cared for by responsible people. If you can, help Beau send out good vibes so Momma Kitty knows it will go to a good home and be as loved as he is.

Rambling

I’ve decided Beau was a raccoon in a past life. He spends all his awake time scavenging. He’s poked into everything. Literally. Things that the other cats have never given a second glance. He squirms and prods and pulls until he has whatever it is open far enough for him to wiggle his way inside. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve found the tip of his tail sticking out from somewhere.

And then, when he’s asleep he does a great impersonation of a coon skin cap. He moulds himself to my head and either wraps his tail around my neck or drapes it down my back. Only I don’t think coon skin caps purr quiet like he does.

I saw his momma today. In the yard at work. Poor little girl must have been freezing. It was 20 and windy as can be. I told her if she would be friendly and trust me just a little bit I’d bring her home where it’s warm and there are soft things to curl up on with regular food and lots of petting. She gave me a look as only cats can and turned me down. For now. I’m not giving up though. Maybe one day she’ll have had enough of fighting to survive on the street and decide to come inside.

We Now Resume Our Regularly Scheduled Blog

Hmm, let’s see. What happened last week?

I didn’t win the lottery. Oh yes, I’m truly surprised by that. After all, why buy a ticket if you don’t expect to win? If you buy one thinking you won’t then you’re simply throwing away your money. Don’t do that. Send it to me instead. I promise to put it to good use.

I went home one night to find a nasty notice tapped to my door from the city. It seems I’ve been singled out for them to collect yet another contribution from in their attempt to pull the city from financial ruin. This time it’s due to the graffiti on my back fence. Looking up and down the alley everyone’s property is splattered with graffiti. Wouldn’t mind if they put art on my fence but this stuff is nothing anyone other than the kid who put it there wants to see. Anyway, the city is going to not only fine me but charge me to paint over it if I don’t do so myself within five days. Nope, no indication of how much. My very sweet neighbor saw the notice and went out and painted my fence for me. He also said to check right before they’re due back and he’ll paint it again if necessary. Fine, right? Wrong. I’m the only one who got the notice. Sure, why not? As they see it, I’m harmless, employed and so far I’ve paid my taxes every year so why not try to squeeze a little more out of me? Um, no. I repeat. NO! As in hell no. How many times do I have to say it? I have no more to give so go harass someone else. I’m done. And if my fence is tagged again, which surely it will be since a newly painted blank spot is too much to resist, I may or may not do anything about it. Or I may find someone to assist me in suing the city for failing to protect my property from vandals.

I rescued another kitten. Beau’s sister. It was very difficult not to scoop her up and take her home because she is a real sweetie but I had to resist. She has a good home with nice people and I’m sure I can visit if I really want to so it’s better this way.

Okay, what’ve you been up to?