This week, we are featuring two out of our many beautiful black cats.  Black cats are one of the most misunderstood colors of cat in the US, due to superstition and folklore from the past; we can assure you that these cats are some of the most loving, playful cats you could ever adopt.  In fact, you would be LUCKY to adopt one of these stunning cats.  Just ask someone overseas, where black cats are largely regarded as a good luck charm!

Tracy is a petite girl with a little bit of shy streak but big on love.  She adores human affection and will practically melt in your arms if you hold or pet her because she loves it so much.  If you have a minute to spend with her, you will realize that she is a major lover and appreciates every scratch or pet you give her.  Otherwise, give her a good window seat and she’s content to relax.  She enjoys playing with toys and laser pointers as long as the other cats don’t overwhelm her because she is easily intimidated when things get a little too noisy and crazy.  Other cats are fine as long as they aren’t aggressive and quiet, older children are fine too.  In her little bit of experience with dogs, she hasn’t done very well (she is too intimidated).  This might be different with a smaller or more reserved dog but we’re certain.  A quiet house without too much activity is ideal for her.

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Chipotle, on the other hand, is full of attitude and mischief.  He is an outgoing boy who demands attention, both because of his looks and because of his persistence.  He is a big, solid DMH male (black with white accent on the toes and chest) with a fluffy plume of a tail and bright white whiskers.  It’s hard to miss him when you walk in the door because 9 times out of 10, he is right there, wanting you to pet him or play with him.  He loves to steal things, as our volunteers have discovered; he apparently has an affinity for stealing the dish sponge when volunteers are trying to clean water  bowls.  Similarly, when our volunteer professional photographer came in for the first time, he made it a point to be present the entire time and help her ‘adjust’ her studio lights that were easily twice his size.  He wants to know what’s going on at all times and won’t let you forget it.  Overall, he is one of our most outgoing, attention-hog cats.  Chipotle also loves laser pointers and catnip so if you want a playful cat, he fits the bill.  He tolerates other cats but can sometimes be a little overbearing so would be best in a no-cat  cat household OR a household with laid-back, easy going cats.  He enjoys the company of older kids but might be disinterested in a younger, louder child.  Overall, he’s a very confident cat who is perfect for just about any house.

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Their pictures lead to their Petfinder, so please click on their images to find out more information and to find links for an application.

Adoption fees are $75 for one cat or $100 for a pair. This helps offset our costs which include: spay/neuter, first round of shots, flea treatment, deworming, and negative test results for feline leukemia and FIV.  Our adoption contract specifies all adoptables are to be indoor-only cats and are not to be declawed.  To see any of the other wonderful cats and kittens we have available for adoption, check our Petfinder page!

This week, we’re featuring two polar opposites: a laid-back male and an attention-demanding female!

Griffen, a big polydactyl black and gray tabby with white, is a cool and collected boy who spends a lot of his time nestled in a comfy bed where he can watch the world, content to mind his business and do his own thing.  However, he doesn’t just sleep all day and it doesn’t take much to get him in a playful mood; this cat loves to play with laser pointers and wand toys.  Griff came to us in October of 2011 from a very nice lady who was managing a feral colony in Northern Michigan.  She’d come across Griff (and a litter of smaller kittens) when they just tiny babies and knew that she needed to find us homes so she contacted Carol’s Ferals for help.  After paying for their spays/neuters, vaccines and tests, she tried to find homes but had no luck.  Thankfully, she and Carol worked out an agreement for them to come into the adoption program.  All the kittens found homes but Griff was a bit older than them, so has had a harder time finding his furrever home.  He’s still a young cat at the approximate age of 14 months though so we think that his time will come soon.  Not much phases this cat: he handles small children with flying colors and loud noise like it’s not even there.  Other cats are a-okay too!  He’d be perfect for just about any household and we can’t wait for someone to take him home.

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Averill, a small grey tabby, is very much an attention hog in every sense.  When you first walk into our facility, odds are that she will be one of the first cats to greet you, usually with a loud meow and persistent stalking until you give her the attention she wants.  She was obtained through TNR, as you can see with her very clearly tipped left ear.  Initially, she was to be returned outside, but she ended up being too friendly to let go, so Carol took her into the program.  She’s been featured in Grand Rapids Magazine so she’s one of our ‘famous’ kitties, yet she’s been with us for awhile now (she’s about 3 or 4 years old and has been here for well over a year now).  Averill can be a little nippy when overstimulated and isn’t super fond of other cats, but she adores human attention and would do anything to jump in your lap and just snuggle with you; if you want a lap cat, she is definitely a good cat to adopt.  She would be a great in a no cat household, but she would also do well in a household with other cats that are not aggressive or super possessive.  Small children make her a little anxious but older, respectful children are great.  If you want a playful cat, she is also great with toys.

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Their pictures lead to their Petfinder, so please click on their images to find out more information and to find links for an application.

Adoption fees are $75 for one cat or $100 for a pair. This helps offset our costs which include: spay/neuter, first round of shots, flea treatment, deworming, and negative test results for feline leukemia and FIV.  Our adoption contract specifies all adoptables are to be indoor-only cats and are not to be declawed.  To see any of the other wonderful cats and kittens we have available for adoption, check our Petfinder page!

This week, we are featuring two of our stunning adult cats featuring pointed coat patterns.

First we have lovely little Milu, who we believe is a Birman-mix.  This gorgeous girl was found outside of a Goodwill one day with two kittens in tow.  Oddly enough, the store had also received a very generous donation of cat related items that day…perhaps a coincidence, but we think not.  They were discovered by the employees and spent several days befriending the kittens and mom before one employee contacted a casual volunteer at Carol’s Ferals for help.  With a little time and patience, Milu was trapped and brought into the facility for a physical.  Her kittens found homes shortly after that with the very employees that found them because they were young, cute, and friendly.  Milu herself was pretty friendly, but shy after her stint outdoors.  She also had a lot of plant burrs stuck in her fur so we had to do some clipping to get her coat clean and shiny again.  After some time at the facility, Milu has gained a little weight, has grown out her fur, and looks every bit like the regal princess she is.

Milu is less shy than she used to be and loves to have affection rained down on her, but she is very much her ‘own’ cat.  She is perfectly content to have a nice comfy bed to rest on and to watch everyone in the room when she’s not seeking some physical affection.  Even though she is long-haired, she is relatively low maintenance and requires only periodic brushing to keep her coat looking it’s best.  We think Milu would be perfect in a household with or without other cats.  She tolerates older children without much of a problem but very young children might want more attention from her than she is willing to give.  We estimate she was born in 2006, so she is still definitely an adult cat, but still playful at heart.

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We also have Cody, a handsome Siamese-mix.  He came to us as a medical mess: his tail was practically rotting from a large wound over the majority of the last few inches of tail and his throat was swollen and bloody with a terrible abscess.  We weren’t sure at first if he was going to make it, but he started to turn a corner a week or so after surgery.  The infection of his tail was so bad, they had to amputate most of it and the abscess cleared, or so we though.  The abscess returned one more time before we finally had it cleared up, but by then, he was already so much better than he had been when he first arrived. It’s been several months since the last occurrence, so we are sure that he is back on the track to great health and is looking for the next step in recovery: a new home.

Cody is a very people-friendly cat and adores attention.  He will sit in your lap and soak up all the pets and scratches you have to offer and doesn’t mind being picked up too much.  Cody often comes out to greet volunteers when they arrive and doesn’t mind being out and about with strangers either.    He is a very calm cat overall and very well mannered.  Cody has been through a lot in his short life, but don’t let that scare you as his needs are very minimal: his tail just needs to be treated with care.  He was estimated to have been born in 2007 and is a well-trained cat, perfect for almost any household.  He tolerates other cats wonderfully and kids of all ages don’t seem to bother him.  We would love to see him find a family that can give him all that he needs.

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Their pictures lead to their Petfinder, so please click on their images to find out more information and to find links for an application.

Adoption fees are $75 for one cat or $100 for a pair. This helps offset our costs which include: spay/neuter, first round of shots, flea treatment, deworming, and negative test results for feline leukemia and FIV.  Our adoption contract specifies all adoptables are to be indoor-only cats and are not to be declawed.  To see any of the other wonderful cats and kittens we have available for adoption, check our Petfinder page!

With the start of a bright, shiny, new year, we thought it was best to start it off with featuring some of our brightest colored kitties looking for their forever home.

Sugar and Spice are two sisters that came to us as kittens.  Originally, they were to be spayed and sent to a barn to live an outdoor life as barn cats, but Carol realized that they were sweet and friendly…perfect for the adoption program!  They found a home quickly, but their new owners realized that they just weren’t ready to be pet owners right then.  They came back to Carol’s Ferals because we stand behind our cats if they need a place to go, but we put them in foster because they needed a little more socialization.  Sooner after, they returned to the facility so they could get the exposure to adopters that they needed.  All the juggling from home to home made life difficult for these two girls and they had problems adjusting at first.  Now the two girls have had time to relax, their personalities shine as bright as their golden eyes.  Sugar is a true cuddle-bug and one of the most people-needy cats we have.  She adores being held and will put her paws on your shoulders, her face against your neck, and will purr like crazy the entire time.  If you let her, she will also perch on your shoulders whether you are sitting or walking around the adult cat room.  Sugar is not very fond of others cats, including her sister, and would do best in a home with only no cats or 1 laid-back cat and no small children (under the age of five).  A quieter home is ideal for her.  Spice is less needy in terms of wanting to be held, but she still comes up for pets and lap-time whenever possible.  Her favorite thing is a laser pointer or a string wand toy; she will bounce off the walls for it!  Spice gets along fine with other cats and will even sit down and groom them whether they like it or not!  She should be okay with small children and would be a great addition to a semi-busy household.

Oliver, one of our newest cats, came to us through our weekly TNR openings.  He came in to be neutered and returned outside, but this gorgeous red-orange tabby boy purred himself right into Carol’s heart and, unsurprisingly, into the adoption program.  We’re still learning a bit about his personality but he’s already proven to be very friendly to people.  Other cats don’t seem to bother him much and even with the noise that comes along with adoption days, he stays out and about to watch.  He is not a super-needy cat but doesn’t mind being pet and brushed.  Sometimes he’ll even talk to you once he gets to know you.  We’d think he’d be great with just about any home situation and should ease into new home life without too much of a problem.

Willard is one of Carol’s personal saves.  He hung around the home of one of Carol’s friends for several days before she was able to meet him personally.  The poor guy was scrawny, flea-ridden, dirty, and absolutely starving.  Luckily for him, he was also extremely friendly and let Carol pick him up.  Carol immediately brought him to the facility and got him started on fast-track to good health.  Willard has proved to be a laid-back, low-maintenance cat; give him a soft bed to lay in so he can look out a window and he’ll be content.  He is very tolerant of physical contact from kids of all ages and doesn’t mind other cats so much.  A busy house should be no problem for him.

Last, but not least is Wayne.  This boy was rescued from outside of a restaurant called Mangiamo where the traffic was a real danger.  After several days of dumpster-diving, Kolene rescued him and brought him in to us.  At first, we weren’t sure if he was going to work out as an adoptable cat because he was scared and people-shy, but he’s come out of his shell and have actually turned out to love attention.  He’s not big on being picked up and carried around, but if you have a seat and let him come to you, he’ll be happy to warm your lap.  Otherwise it’s not uncommon to see him tailing people as they wander through the adult cat room, hoping you’ll look down and see him begging for some attention.  We think Wayne would be best in a no cat or single cat household with no small children.

Their pictures lead to their Petfinder, so please click on their images to find out more information and to find links for an application.

Adoption fees are $75 for one cat or $100 for a pair. This helps offset our costs which include: spay/neuter, first round of shots, flea treatment, deworming, and negative test results for feline leukemia and FIV.  Our adoption contract specifies all adoptables are to be indoor-only cats and are not to be declawed.  To see any of the other wonderful cats and kittens we have available for adoption, check our Petfinder page!

Urban Pharm is a property management company in Grand Rapids. If you follow their Facebook page, they post too often about animals left behind when tenants move out. In fact, they have gotten pretty good at taking in abandoned dogs and friendly cats, and rehoming them themselves whenever they can.

They contacted us a week ago when they visited an empty house on the Southeast side of Grand Rapids after a tenant moved out, and found the lid to a dog kennel on the ground with a pile of cat food dumped next to it. It was obvious someone had to leave at least one cat behind when they left quickly. Urban Pharm saw one skittish cat lurking about and called us for help.

3 skittish kittens left behind

We stopped by a few times but never saw a cat. Then 2 nights ago, Carol went out herself and found three 6-8 month old kittens. Too scared to be picked up, but not entirely feral either, she returned yesterday with a team of volunteers and traps. Scared about the upcoming storm that was to hit within hours, they hoped they could get all three in time.

Fortunately all 3 cats were caught quickly, just as the first snow flakes of the storm began to fall. We will get them in to see our vet so they can be fixed and vaccinated. In a few days, we’ll start working on their social skills and try to get these cats used to living indoors so that they can be put up for adoption and found a home where they never have to worry about being abandoned again.

Many thanks to Urban Pharm for caring enough to contact us for help! If you need housing, they have a lot of rental listings on their website – they are great landlords! Not only do they care about cats, but they are a wonderful local business who loves Grand Rapids and being a part of the community.

Check out few more pictures from last night.

This white cutie pie will be available for adoption soon.
All three cats out of harms way. One white, one black, and a cute little tortie in the back.

We are able to help these 3 cats because of the generous support from our community. Please consider giving a donation today to support out work. A gift of just $25 will neuter one male cat. $40 will fix a female. Thank you!

Mrs. Mast holding Bow during her last visit

It’s been a while since we updated you on Bow, the community cat we found back in May with an arrow through his face.

In June, Bow received a stack of letters from Mary Mast’s 3rd third grade class from Cesar E. Chavez Elementary school. Her class learned about Bow and wanted to send him get well messages.  Mrs. Mast is an inspiration to us — on top of teaching her classroom about compassion to animals, she has also visited Bow, volunteers with Carol’s Ferals, and donates items to us whenever she can.

We know that it is imperative that kids learn the value of all animals and are a voice for those in need if we are ever going to see a day where every single animal is treated with compassion.  Because of Mrs. Mast, her students will grow up to love and care for animals just as all of us do. When the new school year started up, Mary said that it was just a few days in to the new year that one of her students asked how Bow was doing. She was happy to tell them that he was making a full recovery and doing so good in foster care learning how to be a house cat. We even have a few of them keeping tabs on his progress on his Facebook page.

Well it’s not the holiday season, and while most kids were wondering what Santa was bringing them, Mrs. Mast’s kids were busy creating special messages to Bow. Bow received a stack of letters and a card a few days ago.  The letters are better than any amount of catnip Bow could have received from Santa Paws. Daniel wrote “Happy holidays Bow! Bow I wish I was a cat to sit on someone’s lap. I’m glad you don’t have to sit in the cold and out on the streets any more.” Silvia said “I’m sending you a Christmas hug!” and Kendra wrote “On Christmas Eve, look out the window at the brightest star and know that Mrs. Mast’s class loves you!” Be sure to have some tissue on hand when you read all of them!

Carol, who is fostering Bow, has been making HUGE progress with him. He’s sharing a bedroom with her, and she has started waking up with him on her bed. He even gives her kisses on her nose when he’s in the mood. He is definitely not the scaredy cat he once was despite what he has been through. Physically he has recovered 100% from his wound. In 2012, we will definitely see Bow move into his permanent furrever home.

It’s because of the support from our volunteers and donors that we were able to help Bow through his ordeal. Please, as we approach the end of the year, can you give a small amount so that we can help cats like Bow in need? Please donate today to support our efforts and save a life.

It’s been very busy at Carol’s Ferals, especially due to the end of the year creeping up on us all.  A lot of exciting things have been happening for us, such as being featured at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum’s tree display.  We were able to display our new branding and also show just how crafty many of our volunteers can be!

Our tree in it's full TNR glory!

Our theme (TNR of course!) won Best Theme out of all the other trees on display.  We look forward to next year’s opportunity to educate the public about what we do at Carol’s Ferals.

Another amazing thing that has us all buzzing is the progress that our one and only Bow has made while living at Carol’s home these past few months.  After being shot in the face and left for dead, this darling bundle of fur has been granting Carol sessions of bed snuggling, belly rubs, and even morning kisses!  We are confident that Bow will continue to show progress as he learns to trust humankind under Carol’s careful, loving watch.  You can read up on Bow’s progress at his very own Justice for Bow Facebook page.

New Additions

Castle and Beckett came to us from a sad situation that could have been totally preventable if their owner had saw them as valued family members and not just a personal possession.  Kathy contacted us as a last ditch effort before being forced to turn them into a kill-shelter, having tried all rescues in the area and being met with the truth that many, if not all, are full to the brim.  These two gorgeous boys were left to live outside after their owners dumped them outside and moved away.

Kathy fed them for the six months they were outside, but being highly allergic, could not take them into her home.  She provided them with sheltered boxes as the weather started to turn bitter cold, but knowing that these cats were used to the lifestyle of an indoor home, also knew that they did not belong outside.  They would try to get into her home at any opportunity and it broke her heart to keep them outside.  All the while, she had searched for a safe place to take them, but found no rescues with available space.  It was after speaking to us that we agreed to take them and offer them a chance to find a new home.

Castle enjoys the warmth and comfort of an inside home after being outside for 6 months.

Castle came to us wearing a tattered brown collar that bore a faded name tag reading ‘Max’.  His beautiful golden fur was dirty and he was sort of a cranky boy, unaccustomed to being enclosed in a carrier or cage.  It took a lot of time adjusting to the environment of shelter life and so many other cats before we were able to let him interact freely with the other ‘residents’.  His name was changed to Castle because he is a very large boy, with a regal lion-like face, and a bit of royal attitude.  Castle prefers to be the solo ruler of the roost and to be able to do what he likes, when he likes.  He loves people, but could do without other cats unless they give him lots of space.

Beckett relaxes in the TNR office during his exam by Kendra.

His companion, Beckett, is extremely friendly with people and loves to talk, enjoying any and all attention paid to him.  He is a very large cat, with sleek black fur and a small patch of white on his chest.  While doing our standard FIV/FeLV testing, we found that Beckett tested positive for FIV+.  We are not sure if he acquired it from a fight while left outside or if he had it all along, but he will join our other FIV kitties in the office instead of joining Castle in the adult room.  FIV is a very misunderstood disease and we recommend that if you don’t know anything about it, you should learn about it!

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One of our newest kitties, Click, was found by Kolene.  This ultra friendly, young boy was found outside of a business where the traffic and volume of people were extremely dangerous.  Kolene had no problems scooping him up and bringing him to us to see if he had a microchip.

Click shows off his new family.

He didn’t have one, but luckily for him, he found himself a furrever home within three weeks of arrival.  This boy oozes charm constantly, so it’s no surprise to us how quickly he found a home.

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Van, Halen, Dreamboat Annie, and Wilson came to us from the same man who brought us Journey, so we stuck with the band theme that Journey started.  Van and Halen came to us first as tiny little balls of fur, too small to be neutered and too grumpy to be ready to find a new home.  Luckily, they were still in the ‘zone’ to be tamed down, so we enlisted the help of our trusty foster parent Beth and her family to do the job.

Van (right) and Halen (left) show off at their foster home.

These two have turned out to be wonderful, friendly kittens and will be ready for their neuters once we reopen TNR after the holidays.  After that, they will be in-house for adoption where they will hopefully find a new family to take them home.

Dreamboat Annie and Wilson (named after the rockband ‘Heart’) were slightly different in that they were just large enough to be spayed, but they were just as grumpy, if not as worse as their fuzzier counterparts.

Dreamboat Annie shows she's still adorable even though she needs a little more socialization.

We’re in the process of getting them set up to be fostered so hopefully they’ll learn to love us all just a little more.  With the right attention, we feel they’ll be ready for a home in no time.  They have already calmed a little just hanging in the kitten room.

Wilson is a little less than thrilled at our attentions...we're working on it.

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Merrill, another stray, was found in a boot box by a family who was, unfortunately, too allergic to take him in.  No one in the neighborhood knew who he was or who he belonged to.  Luckily for him, he was friendly enough to convince Carol that he’d be a good kitty for us to take a shot on for the adoption program.  Although a little shy at first, he’s warming up to life in the teen room.

Merrill adjusts to the TNR room while waiting for his test results to come back clear and healthy.

He’s a bit more of a loner right now than most of our cats and isn’t super cuddly yet, but it’s still early.  He seems to get along with other cats until they get right into his personal space.  Hopefully, with time, he will become more outgoing and trusting of the volunteers and those coming into the facility.  We’d love for him to find a home and give him the personal attention he needs.

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Two more siblings were brought in by our board member Jim, who is very involved in practicing the principle of TNR in his own neighborhood.  Paisley and Preston are sister and brother that were found by Jim before the weather turned dangerously cold.

Paisley shows off her good side while living the good life at Jim's house.

Jim passed by a farm near his home that had many cats.  The owners of the cats do not believe in TNR, feeling that spaying and neutering their cats would cut down in cats left to control the pest population.  Unfortunately, the farm is bordered by an extremely busy road.  Sadly, Paisley and Preston’s siblings were killed by passing traffic and if Jim hadn’t saw them on the side of the road before they too tried to cross, they might have suffered the same fate.  He took them into his home, refusing to let them chance being killed later.  They were not feeling great due to some parasite issues, plus they were thin and not huge on people.

Preston kicks back, living the high life at Jim's.

He was able to get them over a nasty case of giardia (an intestinal parasite) and got them socialized so they were feeling better before we took over their care.  They are quiet, calm cattens who like to lounge in the cat beds and mind their own business…perfect for a family that wants a laid-back companion that won’t bounce off the walls.

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This handsome boy name Spicoli came to us by way of another dedicated trapper named Jamie who has brought cats to us for TNR for a long time now.  He was found on her deck, scared to death to be outside.  It was learned that he had belonged previously to her neighbors who were young college-age kids and when they moved out, they dumped him outside to fend for himself.  While that was never a good thing for this poor guy to be left outside, it was also learned that his ‘owners’ also treated him very badly and did some cruel things to him while in their ‘care’…so in the end, he was rescued from a bad situation and put into the care of Carol’s Ferals.

Spicoli checks out his new 'temp' home in the adult cat room.

His ear is a bit crumpled, probably due to a past ear-mite issue or injury, but causes him no pain and gives him a little more personality, not that he needs any more!  He is a gentle giant and prefers to be a lover instead of a fighter, loving nothing more than to bask in the sunlight in a comfy bed and to mind his own business until someone comes to give him attention.

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Bono came to us as a kitty in dire need of help some time ago.  His eyes were inflamed and painful and he was barely a pound in weight.  If he had gone back outside, chances are he wouldn’t have made it because he was so ill.  Even so, he was still a very noisy boy and very demanding for attention.  We knew he’d be great for the adoption program as long as he could make it through the nasty illness he had.

Bono shows off how good he looks after some TLC.

Our vet tech Kendra took him in for fostering and now he’s healthy and purrfect for adoption.  He still needs to be neutered but it will be happening soon as soon as we open again for the holidays.

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Lastly, Fischer came to us from our Rehoming Assistance Program (RAP) Coordinator, Nicole.  She has been coming through us for some time now, having kitties fixed and finding them great forever homes.  She has always been very good about getting the cats the medical care they need, but even so, sometimes their care requirement exceeds what simple medication can solve.  Fischer (nicknamed Fishy by her children) arrived with an extremely swollen eye.  Nichole had tried several antibiotic and steroid creams, with no resolution, so we decided to have our vet take a look.  We had a feeling that the eye was going to be unable to save…we were right.

Post surgery, Fischer looks a little rough but has already healed quite nicely considering the condition of his eye.

Fischer ended up having the eye removed completely, which was no shock, and was tearing around the TNR rehab cage the next day.  This kitten never missed a beat…he acts as though he’s been this way since he was born.  Personality-wise, he hasn’t changed an ounce so we know he’ll be an amazing kitty for one lucky family.  Once he’s healed up 100%, he’ll be up for adoption and ready to find a home that can handle his energy.

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And now, time for a story…

Every once in awhile, we have something happen at the rescue which we feel is a good moment to sit back and reflect on why we do what we do…why we advocate TNR and why we urge people to keep their cats indoors-only to name a few.  We know TNR saves lives in many ways, such as lowering the numbers of unwanted cats in shelters that are eventually euthanized simply due to a lack of space.  It also saves lives by finding those strays outside that are lost from their family and find themselves a new home through our adoption programs or even are reunited with owners who have been missing them dearly.  Reunions are rare, especially if a cat isn’t microchipped, but we had one happen in the last few weeks.  However, this kitty was not ‘lost’ according to his owners.  No, this kitty is a free-roaming indoor/outdoor pet that liked to hang out about two blocks south of his home by a man who does TNR through us regularly.  This man saw this cat around his home on and off for three months, so it was pretty safe to assume the cat was a wayward stray and he wanted to help it.  No neighbors knew who he belonged to, so he acted.

Our wayward kitty friend shows off one major reason why friendly cats don't belong outdoors.

When the kitty arrived at our facility, we knew immediately he was friendly and got him out of the trap, into something a little more comfortable.  It was then we found a bite wound on his neck.  Luckily for him, the wound looked pretty clean and even more lucky, this kitty had a microchip.  We got on the phone immediately and tracked down the owners to let them know we had their cat and that we’d take care of his wound for them and they could come get him.  At the time, all we knew was the cat had been by his trapper’s garage for months, so surely this cat had been missing all the while, right?  Wrong.  Apparently the cat had only been missing for the day, having been let outside to wander freely.  When he didn’t return home that evening, they started to worry.  Lucky for them, we found their beloved family pet and returned him to their care the next day after our vet tech cleaned up the wound.  They also left with some important lessons about why a family cat should never be let outside unattended and free.

Lesson 1) A household pet can wander a long distance from home and be found by ANYONE, some with questionable motives (like someone who sells pets to research labs) and some who are truly good Samaritans trying to help (like our TNR guy).  Cats will cross dangerous roads and find themselves in dangerous locations, like in the engines of cars or places with poisonous chemicals.  This kitty walked more than two blocks away from home, crossing at least two major streets and countless homes on the way.  He ended up being trapped by someone with a good-heart, but that doesn’t always happen.  The danger from humankind is very real for an outside cat.

Lesson 2) A house cat allowed outside is at risk of being injured or becoming ill from other animals.  The bite on the cat’s neck could have come from any sort of animal and because we don’t know what kind, we don’t know the entire story of what this cat could have been exposed to.  Rabies is always a major concern and can be carried by raccoons, opposums, dogs, cats, etc.  Rabies is painful, deadly, and a risk for humans too.  Distemper is a major contagious illness that can and often will kill a cat that isn’t properly vaccinated and can be transmitted as easily as casual contact from an infected host.

This bite wound can be the doorway to FIV, FeLV, rabies, or many other dangerous cat-carried diseases.

Another huge concern that a bite can bring is the transmission of FIV or Feline Leukemia.  While FIV is not a death sentence, it can cause complications for the cat and makes him susceptible to all kinds of diseases if not kept vaccinated and in the safe, clean environment of a family home.  Feline Leukemia (FeLV), on the other hand, is a devastating illness that will almost certainly cause a cat to suffer a long, painful death and can cost thousands of dollars in medical bills.  Both of these illnesses are totally avoidable if a cat remains indoor-only and all other cats in the family are indoor-only as well.  All pets should be tested for FIV/FeLV after 6 months of age at the very least…but now with a questionable bite injury, this cat should be tested again, which can be costly.

Even with those major illnesses as possibilities, you are also risking so many other diseases and illnesses from something as simple as casual contact…upper respiratory infection, coccidia, giardia, fleas, ticks, worms to name a few.  All things that are contagious and can cause the health of your pet to suffer.

Reasons like the above are why we are so adamant about keeping family pets inside at all costs.  You and your pet can be spared from costly medical bills, devastating diseases, and the fear of a pet becoming missing or being killed from the dangers outdoors.  Friendly cats belong indoors with a loving family to keep them safe.  Please consider keeping your beloved family cats indoors exclusively.  They depend on you for their safety.

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With the start of the New Year, we will have all sorts of projects and events to talk about in the coming months that I will be sure to talk about.  I know that I had mentioned briefly our remodeling project for the adoption side of the building and will hopefully be able to show some progress.  We have completed most of the painting and we’re going to start installing kitty-friendly shelving, ramps, cubbies, etc to help create a more stimulating and accessible environment for our cats.  We are all extremely excited about the new additions to the facility and I’ll be sure to share photos when we get to that point.

Soem of our silly cats in our adoption center

Sharon and her daughter Hanna started volunteer at Carol’s Ferals adoption center almost two years ago because they wanted to spend time with cats and have the opportunity to play and pet them. When Sharon and Hanna come to their volunteer shift, they get to do that as well as  scoop poop, feed them, water them, and clean up after all 50  plus cats who call Carol’s Ferals their home while they wait for someone to fall in love with them. Sharon jokes that her and Hanna call themselves “maids to cats”  but also says, “If you’ve ever spent an hour in a room full of rascally kittens you would know it was worth the extra work!”

Through our aggressive Trap-Neuter-Return program, our mission to end feline overpopulation in West Michigan will become a reality. Over 1100 cats were brought to us and fixed in 2011. Many of those community cat caregivers could not afford the medical bills, and we are able to assist them because of the generous support from our donors.

Sharon says that her passion for TNR has grown as well as her commitment to Carol’s Ferals. “I was honored to join the Board of Directors and hope to guide the organization towards its mission. We have BIG dreams:  A future where there is no more killing of unwanted pets, no homeless kitties, a world that believes animals have value, and an educated public who understand the  importance of spay/neuter and  our No More Free Kittens campaign.”

Please consider donating to Carol’s Ferals this holiday season.  Because we are all volunteer run, your donation goes straight to the cats who need our help. We will see an end to feline overpopulation in West Michigan because of the support we get from the community and you.

Tommy

Last March one of our supporters found some semi-feral cats locked inside a foreclosed home. By the time we got to them, only 2 of the 3 young and skinny cats were still alive. We nursed them back to health, fattened them up, and named them Tommy and Smudge. Tommy and Smudge were not quite ready to be put up for adoption, so we looked for foster homes they could each go to so they could get used to family life first.

Our friend Cindy quickly offered to take Tommy into her home, which already had two 11 year old cats. She says she didn’t initially intend to adopt Tommy, “I was really surprised at how quickly Tommy warmed up to us and started showing his playful personality. Ultimately, we failed at fostering and were happy to adopt him. Our other cats, Angie & Dana also liked him, so we had 3 happy cats in our home.”

Just 4 months later, Angie was diagnosed with Renal Lymphoma. She was very sick. Tommy is very playful and as Angie’s condition worsened, Cindy and her husband were worried that Tommy was being too rough with Angie. Cindy asked our Executive Director, Carol, for advice. Carol suggested that she foster Smudge temporarily, so that Tommy would have a better suited playmate.

Tommy and Suzy

After just a couple of days Tommy and Smudge were getting along like they had never been separated. Smudge was never very fond of humans (who could blame her after what she had been through) and she developed a tight bond with Tommy. Sadly, Angie passed away not long after. That’s when Cindy decided to keep Smudge and rename her Suzy.

Of the experience, Cindy says “I’m really happy that we were able to foster and adopt two kittens from Carol’s Ferals this year. We couldn’t have picked out better kittens to become members of our family. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to foster!”

We were thrilled when Cindy wanted to keep both Tommy and Smudge. We know that Cindy will give them both the best loving home ever.

It is because of the support of donors like you that we are able to help cats like Tommy and Suzy in need. Please consider a donation to Carol’s Ferals this holiday season to help cats in need just like Tommy and Suzy!