Tony: A Matter of Time

an artistic rendering of Tony

life hasn’t been easy at all for Tony.  he went from being a king cat in a home where he was adored and pampered to a foster home with many other kitties and some dogs.  his world went from an indoor/outdoor expanse to one room, and that was only his first challenge.

when your as old as Tony, any change is harder than when you’re younger.  I sympathized with him from the very start, and tried to give him as much space as he needed with attention when craved.  it wasn’t easy for either of us.  his first night was really ruff, and i did a little crying.  it was hard enuff watching what my parents were going thru much less having to watch what Tony was being challenged with, and i couldn’t help but feel guilty as if i was contributing to his unhappyness rather than being helpful.

Tony enjoying a window seat. at my parents he could go outdoors, the neighborhood was that safe. here i don’t trust my neighbors especially with the disappearance of my cat Febe a couple of years ago.

being in the room was not what he desired at all at first, but that quickly changed when confronted with the other critters of the house.  after being the only pet in my parents’ household for 8 years, other than the occassional visit from me and the dogs, it was a huge shock and everytime the door opened, a round of hissing and growling from Tony follwed.  pretty soon, he didn’t want out but to remain inside; it was the lesser of 2 evils.

Tony receiving affection while still in the room

and so weeks went by before i finally forced the issue:  i picked up Tony and brought him out the room.  that was no easy feat.  Tony is a biter when it suits him:  he was declawed at some point in his life-before my parents got him- and this is often a declawed cat’s main defense mechanism.  out he went, and upset he was.  very upset!  he managed to take it for a few hours and would rush back to the door of the room he’d been in whenever i went down the hall.  i finally conceded, and let him back in.  this routine would go on for weeks.

Tony a few days after arriving.

it was frustrating.  i knew he wasn’t happy in the room.  i would periodically hear him yowling in a low tone, and then would go in and check on him.  he was lonely.  it was obvious he missed my mom and his old life.  who wouldn’t after 8 years of a secure, happy routine?

back in his old life, my mom endulged Tony by running the water from the facet in the bathroom for him to drink.  here he had to accept it in a bowl.  in his old life, Tony asked for food and he receivedit  several times a day.  here he was on a schedule.  in the old days, Tony’s world was alot larger.  here, it was the size of a bedroom with a window to look out.  who wouldn’t howl at night?

Tony in a moment of contentment

time moved on and kitten season was on the horizon.  i knew that Tony would have to be completely out of the room and soon.  our ongoing battle of being brought out, him throwing hissy fits, literally, and eventually me succumbing to letting him back ensued.  and then calls started coming about kittens.  it was time for tough love.  Tony would have to leave the room and have to adjust to all of us out here in the rest of the house.  he pitched and absolute fit!  hissing and growling at us all.  taking swipes where he felt threatened, and then retreating to the garage for days and days before finally coming when I called him.  it was heartwrenching, but kitten season hit with 6 kittens needing to be taken in and it didn’t leave much time for me to be preoccupied with Tony.

and it was just as well.  Now, Tony no longer hisses whenever someone gets too close; he knows they aren’t going to attack him.  Now, Tony will hang with me at times, accepting a limited amount of affection-too much overstimulates him and he also has “sensitive spots”- and he’s even come and hung out with me on the bed for periods of time.  Tony now eats at feeding time with the other cats, and altho he would like to go outside, he seems to be at least accepting being able to sit in the open window and look outdoors; altho for awhile he was determined to try and get out as the dogs were going in and out.

it’s not happening fast, but he’s getting there, and i look forward to when he approaches me in the bathroom and i can run a narrow trickle of water for him to drink.  i’m positive it’s just a matter of time.

Tony 5/22 enjoying the evening view in the window

Sista Smackdown!

apparently sistahood is no different when it comes to kittens.  they tangle too.

tumbling torties

and big sisters don’t always come out the winner.

the tortie hold

sheer feistyness makes up for size.

the tortie pinch

just ask Aubree.

she got da moves!  comes by it naturally it seems!

moves

much to big sister Zelda’s chagrin.

hard right

Zelda keeps trying to get the upper hand.

team Aubree or team Zelda?

but little sis is always one step ahead!

fake to the right

if you’re gonna talk the talk, you gotsa walk the walk!

tagged again!

come on Zelda!  fight fight fight!

Walter?

meet Walter.

Walter

cute, sweet fluffy little Walter.  a little shy. smallest of the Floofenfurz.  demure.

Walter

wait demure?  Walter?

Walter?

yeah how many little boy kitties do you know that are demure?  hmmmmmm……

Walter?!?!

could Walter be an imposter?  a fake?  or…gasp!  an alien kitten??!!

hmmm Walter?

probably not, but just exactly whether Walter’s a Walter or say….a Wilma, well we’re not sure just yet.  all that floof makes it hard to determine but we are quite certain that the answer will soon reveal itself! for now, we shall patiently wait…

Walter? ….well definitely a Floofenfurz for sure!

and keep the name Wilma on the backburner just in case!

Little Man Tate

this is tate

meet Tate.

here i am!

Tate is a people kitty.

hey you!

one of those kitties that will meet you at the door when you get home from work.

look at me!

he will climb mountains…

i said…”HEY!”

(of laundry, but still)  to let you know…

that he wants your attention!!

 so when handsome features..

striped tuxedo!

or a well dressed (striped!) young man can’t get your attention..

when all else fails…

Yo!!

YELL! lol

Healing

it’s been 6 days and the Hissenfitz’ eye infections are still hanging on.  arrgh!  but this doesn’t seem to affect their energy level!  we will be checking in with the vet next week to see what he says.  meanwhile, here’s some pics of em making their online debut.

Zelda, the largest of the 4

Aubree.  the smallest of the four according to the vet.

Aubree again. Her eyes seem to be healing the quickest

little Esme. dilute tortie sister

Esme catching some sun

their coats still feel pretty dry despite drinking a ton of water daily.  hopefully we’ll be turning a corner soon on the eye issues.  it seem the diarrhea has been abated at least for now.  they will be returning to the vet for more deworming end of this week/beginning of next.

the only boy in the family. Tate. or little man Tate as I call him

despite being sickly this little man just LOVES attention and petting.  if you don’t give it to him,  he climbs up you!

course if he can’t grab on to you to climb, Tate finds a big pile of laundry just as handy if it’ll get your attention!

because of how contageous they are, i have to be really careful when hanging with the other critters and other kittens.  it sux. so i don’t handle them as much as i want too.  hopefully, they will continue to get progressively better.  every day there’s a little bit more improvement!  i’ll have more of the Hissenfitz as they continue to grow, heal and get stronger.  an potential adoption tho, is a ways away.  right now the focus is to get them healthy!

Approval

i finally cleaned the desk.

Moose approves.

that is all.

Service Kitties

about a month ago, my parents went thru a big change in their lives.  they wound up being permanently relocated to a nursing facility because both their health situations had deteriorated to the point where my family trying to keeping them in their home was not a viable option.  their needs were too great, and in the small town they live in, there was no nursing service that could provide them with the care they needed.

it was a harsh change, that really hit home with me when i went over shortly after their move, to visit them and pick up my mom’s cat Tony, who now lives with me (a post on him later).  being in my parents’ house-that was like a second home to me-and seeing all of their posessions and the little signs of what had been their daily rituals broke my heart.  i knew that this house and what had been their life in it with Tony had come to an end.  the thought that in future months we were going to have to start going thru everything and “downsizing” my parents almost felt disrespectful.  but my father had taken a reverse mortgage out on their home, and once it’s been vacated for 6 months, it reverts back to the bank.  there was nothing we could do to stop that.  (this big change for them still chokes me up).

one of the things that always gave my mom comfort, was her kitty, and of all the things that she would grab first while fleeing a fire, Tony was it.  i knew it broke her heart to have to leave him, and it broke my heart to have to take him, but i was determined not to have her 15 yr old kitty wind up in a rescue of some kind.  it wouldn’t be fair to him, and taking him in seemed the least i could for my mom.

the good news about the facility that they are now in, is that they have two kitties on staff!    this definitely seems to help my mom’s spirits and keep the lonelyness caused by her kitty missing in her daily routine, at bay.

i got to meet these two service kitties, as I call them, when i visited my parents shortly after their move.  these two kitties are brother and sister.  the thing that got me the most, is their tremendous cuddling and nurturing talents.

my mom had been at the facility about a week, and Stormy had taken up residence in her room for most of his days; sleeping with her on a regular basis-both thru the night and naps too!  my father, who had just arrived and at that time was at the other end of the facility in a seperate room (my parents now have a room together), was sharing his sleeping arrangements, with Stormy’s sister Pickles.    even tho he would deny it, my father is a cat lover and does enjoy their company.

pickles curled up on the foot on my father's bed

upon arriving at the home, we first went to my mom’s room who was napping with Stormy curled up at her feet.  she woke up shortly after our arrival, and introduced us to Stormy.  What a sweet little guy!  the markings on his face were unique and Stormy made it quite clear that he loved cuddling and affection.  he eventually made himself comfortable lying down half on me and half on the blanket bunched at the end of the bed after my mom woke up.  his motor was in full throttle!

Stormy. what a sweet little guy!

eventually my sister and i made our way down to our father’s room, only to find him also resting.  Pickles, who we later found out was Stormy’s sister, greeted us on our way.  my sister and I observed and commented on how Pickles and Stormy’s funny little builds were so similar, and what were the chances of two kitties being so alike and not related?  of course we later found out that they were sister and brother by one of the staff.  the one main difference between Stormy and Pickles (other than their sexes and one was a torbie and the other a ginger patch tabby lol) were Pickles big golden eyes.  unfortunately, at the time i took her picture, she wasn’t willing to accomodate me by opening them so that i could show them to the blogosphere at a later date!  lol

while my mom is no longer able to share her days with Tony, she is able to share them with these two kitties, and it has helped to tremendously dull the ache of her loneliness for him.  for this, i am truly greatful!  when i call, she talks about these kitties, and playing with them.  some of tony’s toys were left behind and taken to the nursing facility for her to play with Stormy and Pickles.  ironically, they respond better to the play activity than Tony ever did.  one more thing I am truly greatful for.

my siblings and i have even discussed requesting that the facility kitties bowls and other such necessities be moved to my parents room, due to the therapeutic benefits these two have with my parents.  i haven’t heard whether that has occurred.  i will have to check with my sisters.

sweet stormy boy! me and my sis thought he should be called sunny tho and not stormy with such an awesome disposition of his!

it never ceases to amaze me how as a race, we continually manage to under appreciate, the magnitude of unconditional love  our fellow creatures give us and the service that they truly provide us in so many ways.  these two kitties keep my mom’s chin up, give her company and entertainment on a daily basis without expecting much in return, and it goes without saying that they provide comfort to my father as well.

and one last thing, there are a number of vets who served our country residing in this nursing facility, and i hear that both Pickles and her brother Stormy make daily rounds to many of these american heros as well as to the other residents!  they also have an innate ability to sense new arrivals, and make extra time for the newbies, greeting them and giving them special attention.

i am so tremendously greatful for all these little kitties do!  bless them!

Easter Bunnies??!!

Miss Prettty Kitty

such pretty green eyes! and such a hard existence up until now!

the last few days being with and observing this little girl has been very heartbreaking.  on one hand i am so completely relieved that she’s in rescue, and on the other there are so many little things that are foretelling of her past.

for instance, putting the sweater on her after bringing her home from being groomed.  i felt like i was adding to her suffering not relieving it.  the expression on her face spoke volumes, but what was i to do?  i just couldn’t let her be cold.  so i fumbled back out of the room to find something, anything, that might make amends.  it came in the form of catnip. lots and lots of catnip.  come the next morning it seemed that i had been forgiven.

not happy about the sweater AT all!

i couldn’t help wonder tho how many other times have people stuck something on her, put her in something to watch her struggle or to try and hurt her.  for instance, a string with balloons on it had been tied tightly around her neck the week before we were able to catch her.  the lady who was feeding her found her that way one evening and removed the awful thing.  she informed me that of all the homeless kitties in the area, Miss Pretty was the one treated the absolute worst and she really feared for her life.

upon picking up Miss Pretty, she gently went into the carrier without any major issues.  this cat was so mild mannered, but i had wondered if part of the reason why she was so mild mannered was because she had given up.  had acts of kindness always come with betrayal at a later time from people?  how many times had she been abandoned?  the vet determined not only was she spayed, but declawed as well.

thanks to the gal who had been feeding her, she wasn’t nearly as skinny as she could have been!  the mats on her were absolutely horrendous tho!  big giant things everywhere!  the only part of her body that i couldn’t find matted was the top of her head and the very end of her rear end!  she had bald spots as well, and the lady who had been feeding her, as well as the vet, said that after awhile the mat is able to be pulled off and that it probably got caught on a tree branch or something.  so what wasn’t caught and matted was bald!  how painful, awful..uncomfortable to say the least!  the strange thing was to look at her coat u wouldn’t have thought there were any mats, but once you pet her, it was obvious as to the secret that lay underneath.

she seemed so numb tho to everything. kind of a “do with me what you will as I give up” sort of attitude, and it has just been heartbreaking.  other than the catnip, there seems to be no response to the toys.  it was the same with the wet food i put down, but when i’m not present that”s a different story.  upon visiting her the next morning, the wet food was gone, and her water had been spilt from what looks like playing with a toy.  is she so afraid to completely let down her guard in the presence  of a human? is she depressed?  or just weary?

she enjoys sitting in the window in the sun and will stay there for hours.

upon checking on her again, I am greeted with a soft meow.  I pet her and notice that she’s managed to get the dreaded sweater off.  this probably comes from a well developed skill of hers of having to remove other items she was wrapped up or entangled in by human hands.  as i pet, she purrs, and i resign myself to the fact that the sweater is staying off as i can’t bear the thought of being the one to put it on her again and receiving that look i was given earlier.  as i pet her and scratch, she begins to make biscuits and purrs louder.  aha!  my reward!  is this another break through?  i turn up the heat and hope that that will keep her warm enuff thru the nights, and wonder if i can help this sweet little traumatized kitty find her inner kitten and to enjoy play without having to have a single worry or care in the world.

Eighteen Cats

every day the list comes out: an urgent posting by Pets on Death Row to help rescue the lives of the cats slated for euthanasia the next morning at the NYC Animal Control and Care. a listing also comes out for the dogs as well on the Urgent Part 2′s facebook page.  whether cat or dog, you can literally smell the animal’s fear thru the picture.  it’s haunting, and yet what gets me the most, is that those at the helm of the NYC animal control continue the killing continue day after day; pretty much 24/7/365.  A day might pass where there are no euthanizations, but that only makes the list for the next day that much longer.

reports are numerous of animals sitting in their own waste for days.  staff and volunteers banging cages and yelling at the animals.  cats being left in humane traps without food and water, both cats and dogs in severe health conditions receiving no medical treatment much less even pain medication.  cages never being cleaned and food commingling with stools and urine.

another dog slated for euthanasia with only hours left for a last minute "reprieve"

just about anyone who’s on facebook these days and is involved with animal rescue is aware of the predictament of the NYC animal care and control.  many of us participate in the crossposting of the pictures, and Greta’s Kingdom has even stepped in to help partake in saving a few when we can.  (as a rescue, Greta’s Kingdom doesn’t draw a line when it comes to helping an animal regardless of where it’s location may be.  if we can help, we do).  for many of us animal lovers, the silent screams of those pictured are heart rendering to say the least; reaching those of us even at such far distances as colorado, california, and other parts of not only the usa, but even canada and britain.

a victim of an accident, this kitty has been pulled, is safe, and now is receiving critical medical attention all thanks to those who keep the daily listings of those slated for euthanasia at the NYC animal control. the list is leaked out by staff/volunteers who risk being discovered but who if they didn't, many more animals lives would be lost

a sweet kitty who, defeated, is curled up in it's litterbox. cats do this so as to be surrounded by their own scent which makes them feel more secure in times of great stress

it is utterly shocking that the few people in charge, manage to continue with the NYC animal killing machine despite the protests of the majority for it to stop.  granted the killing of animals is not isolated to just NYC. mass euthanasia occurs on a daily basis in other shelters thru out the united states, of note in many areas of the southern states, and the miami/dade county area of florida as well, but the contradiction of the mass euthanasia by the NYC animal care and control is a strong juxaposition to image of NYC ittself, and i believe that this is why it brings out such strong feelings by so many of us throughout this and other areas of the world.

a kitty on death row from a few days ago who's final fate is still unknown. the fear in its eyes, unforgettable.

still alive at this hour but for how much longer is yet to be determined

a beautiful dog from the Urgent Pets 2 album "gone but not forgotten" this dog is no longer alive

another beautiful dog that's been euthanized. based on examination of the albums on Urgent Part 2's facebook page, a vast majority of the dogs euthanized by the NYC animal control are pitbulls or pitbull mixes.

new york city: the big apple.  the place where art, broadway, and some of the best schools in our nation reign supreme.  home to so much culture and a certain lifestyle that so many desire to achieve and never can.  granted yes it can be a dirty city with much crime, but as a whole, NYC is viewed by so many as one of the most desireable places to be and to live, and yet such crass, vulgar and horrific slaughter continues to occur in a city that claims to be so much more.  not to mention a city that in the past had such a reputation for “truly loving their pets”.  maybe that is why it is such a shock.  we have always expected more from the big apple, and yet it continues to fail miserably when it comes to moving into the 21st century where animal rescue, sanctuary and reabilitation are concerned.

Poe. a female forced to endure a late term abortion of her kittens and who is tonight slated for euthanasia first thing in the NYC am

so what is the purpose of this post?  maybe it will help make the fire a little bit bigger under those in NYC to voice their outrage and to help stop the constant slaughter machine of the NYC animal control.  maybe it will just make those voice a little bit louder so that something will finally be done and an end to the killings will occur.  if the images impact me way out here in colorado, they surely should have that much more impact on those who live in NYC.  it’s not about pointing the finger at who’s to blame.  as far as i’m concerned, as long as the killing continues, we’re all to blame, regardless of where we live.

just one final note that i have to share.  in comparing what these animals go thru to that of a death row inmate consider this.  more rights are given to a person found guilty and who is put to death by lethal injection, that the animals on the euthanasia list that was posted tonight.  these dogs and cats only crime is in existing, whereas, the person on death row has been found guilty of a horrendous murder of some sort, and yet that person is providing not only with a clean cell everyday, but the opportunity to shower, to enjoy eneterainment via tv and even allowed to read.  to sleep on a mattress with blankets and a sheet, and most certainly not left o stew in their own urine and stools.  not to even mention the right to have whatever they want for their last meal.  and as i ponder this i wonder, did some of these animals on tonights list….were they even given a last meal?

just a thought.

if you would like to help in any way you can, the facebook page for Pets on Death Row can be found here:

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/PetsOnDeathRow

and the page for Urgent Part 2, can be found here:

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/Urgentdeathrowdogs

various chipins are posted to help those animals that have been pulled and need help getting healthy, as well as information on how you can make a difference by adopting/fostering a cat or dog on the euthanasia lists.

you can make a difference regardless of where you are located.  as evidence i give you:

Paige. a sweet kitty that Greta's Kingdom helped get pulled from the NYC animal control death machine. Paige suffered a tooth injury which is thought to have been incurred while in the custody of NYC animal care and control. she is now happy and healthy in the foster home of Dina Calarco, who was instrumental in getting her and Max the kitty below pulled, waiting permanent adoption.

Max. a 14 year old kitty on death row who was pulled via the help rescue volunteer, Dina Calarco and Greta's Kingdom. Max was fostered by Tamar Arslanian of I HAVE CAT. Tamar helped Max regain maximum health and also found him a permanent forever, loving home