Cat Saturday Foster Fun
Welcome to a special edition of Cat Saturday. (Revised Oct 28, 2011).
Never say never. That’s what I’ve learned this week, and a whole lot more. I said I would never foster cats, even after I founded The Annex Cat Rescue in 1997 (Merlin and Coco wouldn't let me). I said I would never want a kitten again. I said I would never consider any breed other than Siamese. Last Saturday, hubby and me picked up two foster kitties who have turned our lives upside down. In a good way. These two cats, that no one wanted to adopt have opened my eyes to what it means to be a cat person. A true lover of cats. In less than a week, I’ve come to a new appreciation of the feline species. It's the beginning of re-examining everything I thought I knew about cats.
Chances are, if you’re a regular visitor to Cat Saturday, you’re a cat lover. Sure, we think cats rule the world and our homes, but why? What is it that enchants us, or for me this week, re-enchants us? When my dear old Siamese Coco died six weeks ago, I learned that cats grieve as humans do. Coco’s brother Merlin, stoic at first, grew more morose and yowled with increased fervor 24/7. We cuddled and coddled and gave him treats. We walked him in his favorite spots in the garden. I did Reiki and massaged him. Nothing helped for long. The yowls grew louder. With his vision waning, his outdoor feral friend Domino scared him more often than not. Merlin has always been very social. He needed some kitty companionship.
Merlin in a favorite wild spot by a stream, yowling his grief.
I believe everything happens for a reason and so we found ourselves last Thursday at a nearby cat shelter called Cat Assistance Cat Assistance.org in a private home. We thought long and hard about fostering: the pitfalls versus the advantages, and how Merlin would react. As a former cat rescuer who burnt out because of the bottomless pit of need, I dreaded going inside. One look from a pair of green or amber eyes could prove as fatal as Kryptonite. What if I wanted to take them all home?
Sarah Hart, who turned her large home into a shelter and her reason for living, showed us three rooms of distinctly smelling of cat. Cats of every description scurried, jumped on ledges or sat stone still. In a small room with several other cats, the two cats we specifically came to foster greeted us. Morris, a five-month old white/tabby short-haired kitten was found on Morris Avenue in the Bronx a month ago with a badly infected eye. Over the past few weeks, he’s had surgery to remove his left eye, get neutered, vaccinated, micro-chipped, and shipped from shelter to shelter. After a hell of a month and it was no wonder he had an intense suckling issue but friendly and bursting with optimism.
Sarah felt he wasn’t adoptable just yet. He needed a cat whisperer, as did Shadow, his roommate, an old feral-like dark gray male with one tooth. I thought he needed miracle. Sara thought he was a Russian Blue (not), who’d lived in that small room for over a year. He’d been taken to different pet adoption events. No one wanted him. His former owners had kept him in the basement for about twelve years as a mouser. When they moved to a new home without one, they dumped him. Just like that. Besides Morris, he shared a room with another cat who bullied him and forced to take refuge in a tiny spot by the window where he paced back and forth like tigers in too small cages do. I swept my hand over his bony back and his eyes implored, Get me out of here! And so we did.
So much, too much has happened in the past week, I’ll just say this: never underestimate the resilience of a cat. In the spirit of new beginnings, new names felt appropriate. Within a couple days Morris became Odin, named for the Norse one-eyed god. Shadow became Gris-Gris, a lucky Voodoo amulet against evil. In less than a week, the sad duo have miraculously (magically?) transformed into new cats. For the first few days, they slinked and streaked eluding capture except at night when we thought it safer for them to sleep in their own room. Gris-Gris hid in a corner of my closet all day. Odin went wild with his new freedom and good fortune sucking on everything.
My new muse, Odin, who sees all with one eye.
Merlin’s reaction swerved from shocked to indignant, then angry to more or less resigned. He still hisses when either gets too close but no longer growls at us how could you! It's a balancing act attending to the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of four very different cats. Merlin, being top cat, leads the way.
Yesterday, Merlin and Domino communed over some fresh catnip in the garden.
Kittens know no fear
Gris-Gris and Odin play fighting over a peacock feather. The old boy has found his second kittenhood.
Gris-Gris joined us for the first time in the evening Thursday night. All three watched TV,
and much to my surprise I found all three sleeping together yesterday afternoon. No, the bed did not get made. Who would want to disturb this holy trinity of kittehs? Not bad for one week. Every day is an adventure for this healer turned reluctant cat whisperer. I'm finding the road to healing is a constant balancing act of blending practical intuition with love, moment by moment. Who knows what next week will bring. Stay tuned.
If you have never considered fostering cats, please do. It gives them a chance to feel normal, to have more breathing space and build social skills which increase their chances of finding a forever home. Most shelter and rescue groups offer this opportunity. Consider it a furlough or “love break” from prison. Even the best shelters are no substitute for a loving home. Fostering is ideal for someone who can't commit to long-term adoption. Most shelters and rescue groups provide all food and any needed vet care. When fostering, you have the chance to bond with a cat (or two), and if considering adoption, to see if they fit into your household. If you happen to fall in love, you can seamlessly segue into adoption. Either way, it's a win win for all.
Categories: Nature, Cats, Westchester County, Photography, Spirituality
Tags: miracle cats cat fostering cat assistance ardsley foster cat cats as healers cats are love on four legs one-eyed kitten cat whisperer cat wisdom 101
One of the most beautiful Cat Saturdays, ever! I'm actually crying as I'm reading this - you truly *are* the cat whisperer. That these three cats have relaxed with each other as quickly as they have (the photo of them sleeping in your bed is priceless!) is a testament to your energy, and the energy in your house.
The only thing that remains to be seen is this: will Odin and Gris-Gris become the classic "failed fosters?" I, for one, am routing for that!
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Thank-you so much!
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Wow, it looks like they are both fitting in pretty quickly. Odin is too cute playing with the old man. That is just so great that you helped those two cats or a kitten and a cat. I for one sure do thank you for fostering them. The pictures are wonderful as usual. Merlin hopefully will get so he likes the older guy. Well done. I know I am excited and can't wait for the next chapter. Take care and have a great week end with your new guests.
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Marg, many thanks!
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Congratulations on your new life of cats! Perhaps Domino will see all the fun and finally decide to come inside.
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Bernadette, thanks, it's amazing. Domino can smell something different but is not as curious as I expected.
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Ah! The magic of down comforters! So cute to see them all sleep together, and amazing and cute to see Merlin and Domino joining in on the 'the prison guards have added more inmates to compete with us' philosophy.
I'd sleep on it, too, if I didn't have my own. My down comforter attracts Mao, who sleeps between my legs. Ched sleeps tucked into my chest.
I am so happy for you and Odin and Gris-Gris (sounding like Eliot).
You are a wonder of the world, Layla.
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Yes, down duvets must feel like clouds to the kitties. It'll be interesting to see what happens next.
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Layla, What a nice story.... I love it.. Thank you for sharing this weeks saga.. loved the pictures..
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Frank, thanks the saga has just begun...
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This is such a wonderful post to read! Thank you for giving Odin and Gris-Gris a foster home. Beautiful, simply beautiful.
Sadly, our local shelter has been known to take foster kittens, on the day they are returned by the foster mom, and euthanize them straight away for "space" reasons, without giving the moms a chance to take them back and foster for a while longer. I shouldn't have to state that they have difficulty keeping foster families.
I'm so glad this won't be the case for Odin and Gris-Gris!
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That's awful about your shelter. Perhaps some publicity is in order?
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Bless you heart, honey! Both of us are having fun with our rescued pets. I've had my little white dog for 16 days now. My cats have finally accepted him but still keep their distance. They have, however,stopped hissing. Dickon is still a wild and crazy guy, into everything -- you should see him race around the back yard and leap in the air! He makes me laugh!
So glad you decided to foster your two. Bet you keep them!
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That sounds like excellent progress with your kitties. All bets are off
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What a beautiful trio they are and I can hear the smiles in your words, so I know it is healing for you as well.
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Pat, you're right; it is healing for me.
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Oh Layla, I wanted to snuggle up with all the babies. You're such an angel of kitties and a true priestess of Bast. I'm so glad that Merlin is being wonderfully amused (as all Siamese royalty are) by Odin and Gris-Gris. I love black kitties as you know. I keep hearing a small voice telling me it will be time soon when I meet a new fur-baby brother to my two girls. I am going to keep my heart open and listen to the Goddess. Thank you so much, Layla for all of the wonderful love you bless kitties with.
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Wendy, thanks and while you're keeping your heart open, consider fostering.
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Every time I come over here...I MISS my cats!!! It is terrific that the cats are helping each other and YOU to heal. Love to watch cats...and I could really do it all day long!
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Jeanne, yes, watching kitties is often more entertaining than TV. Would your dogs consider sharing their lives with a cat or two?
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I love blog.laylamorganwilde.com!
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Bless you, my friend, for taking in these "little orphans in the snow". The Great Goddess Bastet sees and appreciates what you do. She rewards you in this life with the joy of feline company. :^D
I am so very, very sorry to hear about Coco... When my Plunkey passed your words were so comforting and, now, I find that I am woefully lacking in ability to respond in like-kind. Know that I share your grief in the loss of a very special feline friend.
I made the mistake of delaying getting another companion for over a year and a half after Plunkett's passing. At least you're not doing that to yourself. Finally, my husband felt he had to intervene and put his (rare) 2-cents in: "We need a kitty," is all he said. (The use of "we" was not lost on me... I knew what he was really saying: "Our dynamic needs close feline energy in order to function well," and it's true -- we relate to each other much better when we have a cat/s in our circle.)
Enter "Mr. Lucky Ptah"(the first part after the old TV show that showed a black cat during the beginning credits but, also, because he WAS "lucky" that I came upon him as an adult cat in our local animal shelter and adopted him -- the Ptah is after me as I call myself "Pisces Ptah" in many, many online communities). :o)
And he is GORGEOUS (not simply my own opinion)! If Plunkett was "Cheryl Tiegs", Lucky is "Jeannie Shrimpton". I use super-models by way of illustration since Lucky oddly seems to me to have had some experience in making love to the camera lens! (See my FB album Re: "Lucky and Vogue").
Time goes on and on and we beings come together and then depart from each other into the cosmos... We shall all be together again someday...
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Wow, this is great news. I'm dashing over to see Lucky!
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