Merry Christmas to All

Alley Cats and Angels wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas. We hope your hearts and lives are filled with joy this holiday season. Thank you all for sharing in our love of cats and our devotion to the ferals.

To all, we wish you special gifts this holiday season – love, peace, and happiness.

"Meowy Christmas" adoption event (December 24)

What a wonderful day yesterday. Five lucky kitties found their forever home in time for Christmas. Adopted today were Chai, Fry and Bender together, Echo, and Peppercorn.

And Cabernet's adoption by his foster family was finalized (so really that makes six).

What an awesome adoption week!!

What an awesome adoption week. 14 cats total were adopted this week.


Minou was adopted this week. He was returned months ago after he keep trying to kill the adopter's very expensive bird (very naughty kitty - no one wants you to try to kill the $20 bird, but it's even more of an issue if it's a $650 bird!!), but we knew the right home was out there. Someone has been doing a foster to adopt on him to see if he and their cat would get along and it worked out and they adopted him this week.

Saturday's adoptions: Nutmeg, KA-CHUNK!, Cinders, Courtney, and Irene and Isidro together.

Sunday's adoptions: KA-BOOM! and KER-PLUNK! together, Vinca, Theodore, Anne Shirley, and (wait for it...) Merlot and Shiraz together!!!

Godspeed Beautiful Admiral

Our deep condolensces to a fellow cat lover and blogger (http://admiral-hestorb.blogspot.com/), Carole, on the loss of her beautiful tortie, Admiral - quite possibly the most beautiful tortie ever. 

Poem For Cats

And God asked the feline spirit
Are you ready to come home?
Oh, yes, quite so, replied the precious soul
And, as a cat, you know I am most able
To decide anything for myself.

Are you coming then? asked God.
Soon, replied the whiskered angel
But I must come slowly
For my human friends are troubled
For you see, they need me, quite certainly.

But don't they understand? asked God
That you'll never leave them?
That your souls are intertwined. For all eternity?
That nothing is created or destroyed?
It just is....forever and ever and ever.

Eventually they will understand,
Replied the glorious cat
For I will whisper into their hearts
That I am always with them
I just am....forever and ever and ever.
Author Unknown



URGENT - foster home needed

Urgent foster home needed for a 15-year old cat. Owner has health issues and can no longer care for the cat. Owner has to go live with family and family will not let her keep the cat. This is time sensitive, we have less than a week to find a foster home so we can keep this cat from ending up at the shelter where it will most likely be euthanized because of its age. Unfortunately we don't have any available foster homes right now but we really want to help this cat.

The cat is a male, DMH black cat who is front declawed and in good health - had a complete blood panel not long ago.  Does have a flea allergy but we will provide monthly fleat treatment. Gets along well with other cats. 

Please email info@alleycatsandangels.org if you can foster this cat.

Adoption Update

A great adoption weekend. Nine kitties were adopted - including two who had written Santa. :-)

Weekend adoptions (there are a few familiar names because of returns): Pippi Longstocking (one of the Siler City neglect kitties), Iddy (who was returned after adoption the first time because of a cat aggressive dog), Vivian (who was adopted immediately after being returned due to allergies), Simon, KER-PLOP!, and Alvin. Today, Alvin's adopters came back and adopted Light Willow.

And drumroll please....Charcoal and Casanova were also adopted! YAY!!! Casanova was adopted by the parents of Teal'c adopter from earlier in the fall. They were not at all put off by the fact that he has only one eye, is very very shy (may have even hissed!), and will hide for a while after adoption - they are willing to give him time to blossom. Thank you to all of our adopters. You adopted some great kitties!

Cinders' letter to Santa

Cinders has but one Christmas wish - a home of her own.

Holiday Adoption Promotion

In the spirit of the holidays, we have some wonderful cats and older kittens with a special adoption fee to help these purrfect kitties find their purrfect partners!

Diva has a special letter for Santa this year

Adoption Update (and more)

Slow adoption weekend but we only had an event on Saturday because of the volunteer appreciation party on Sunday.  There were two adoptions but one of them was Sabrina!  Sabrina has been with us since she was found in a ditch after a storm and was only 6 weeks old.  Poor Sabrina suffered from terrible digestive issues.  After 5 months of lots of vet visits and lots of meds, she was finally adopted at 7 months old.  And her adopter is not scared off by "lots of testing and there is nothing wrong, but sometimes she has stomach issues".  The other kitten adopted was Vivian.

The volunteer appreciation party was a great success.  Almost 50 people attended (spouses of volunteers were more than welcome at the party).  It was great company, great food (Jill, one of our board members is quite the chef) and created a spread that had at least two people ask her if she would consider catering their daughter/grand daughter/their wedding!  We decorated her house Friday and Saturday before the party complete with a tree for the "thieving santa / pink elephant" gift exchange.  Everyone had fun and it was a great turnout.  Unfortunately we were too busy hostessing and forgot to take pictures.  *big frown*. 

We love our volunteers very much - they are the reason we are able to help so many cats.

Charcoal asks Santa for his very own forever person

Merlot and Shiraz wrote a letter to Santa

We really need extra volunteers for the next few weeks - can you help?

We really need extra volunteer help for the next few weeks. Can you help?

Specific needs are:

•  Adoption center cleaners: Petsmart Capital Boulevard (Raleigh) the week of 12/12
• Adoption center cleaners: Petsmart Morrsville the weeks of 12/5
• Adoption center cleaners: Petsmart Morrsville the weeks of 12/12
• Santa Paws Photo Fundraiser: Petsmart Knightdale on Sunday, 12/11 -- need Santa, photographer and Santa's helper
• Santa Paws Photo Fundraiser:Petsmart Morrisville on Saturday, 12/17 -- need Santa, photographer and Santa's helper
• Santa Paws Photo Fundraiser: Petsmart Capital Boulevard (Raleigh) on Sunday, 12/181 -- need Santa, photographer and Santa's helper

Please help if you can -- please sign up on the google docs spreadsheet. We'll use that through the end of the year and then publish the new volunteer software program starting January 1.

If you have questions, please email info@alleycatsandangels.org

THANK YOU, thank you, thank you! 

-Signed, I'm so busy I barely have time to blog about the rescue anymore as I'm currently working on our 2011 Annual Report, the 2012 Operating Budget, and a few other time sensitive rescue related items.  (I sure wish the paying job would just pay me and not expect me to work because I sure could use that time every day for rescue!!)

It's that time of year....Santa Paws Photo Fundraiser

Alley Cat and Angels is participating in PetSmart Charities’ Santa Paws Photos holiday fundraiser to help raise money for our rescue. Bring your family and/or furry four-legged children to one of the below events to have their picture taken with Santa Claus.

Alley Cats and Angels will receive $5 from each photo taken and purchased at the following Santa Paws events. Photos are $10 each and include a digital print and a frame. If you purchase two photos, we will email you the photo .jpg file.

Saturday and Sunday, December 10, 11, 17, and 18
11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Petsmart Capital Boulevard Raleigh (corner of Capital Blvd. & Millbrook Rd.)
2800 Millbrook Road, Raleigh, NC

Sunday, December 10
11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Petsmart Knightdale
220 Hinton Oaks Boulevard, Knightdale, NC

Saturday, December 17
11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Petsmart Morrisville (corner of Cary Pkwy. & Chapel Hill Rd./Highway 54)
3101 Market Center Drive, Morrisville, NC

Adoption Update

Once again, so busy that I'm behind on posting adoptions.  I'm trying to get caught up on all the paperwork for our spay/neuter assistance program that I'm so behind on (I need to know how many we've done are male, female, pregnant, etc.).  I'm wishing for a data entry volunteer for Christmas!  :-)

We had five adoptions on the weekend of November 19/20: Mona and Izod (together), Veta, Iggy, and Merlin.However, Iggy was returned a couple of days later but it was for his safety as the family dog turned out to be cat aggressive.  Iggy is such a fantastic kitten with the best personality that he'll be adopted again soon, we're sure.

We took a very rare week off from being in the adoption centers and doing adoption events so we could all enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday and also have a much deserved break so there were no adoptions this weekend. 

We move into the Petsmart Knightdale adoption center through Saturday with just an adoption event on Saturday.  We're moving out a day early (Saturday instead of Sunday), as we are having our first annual Volunteer Appreciation Party on Sunday, December 4th. 

Bones had his leg amputated and is recovering well. He's a little pill!  It won't be too long before he's available for adoption.

Adoption Update

A wonderful adoption weekend. Seven adoptions this weekend; the following cats and kittens were adopted: Kupe and Zoya (together), Khloe, Van, Sunflower, Tallulah Rose, and Miracle!

What a wonderful start to the holiday season - seven kitties getting adopted. Congratulations to the cats and their adoptive families.

Godspeed Cinderella

It is with a very heavy and broken heart and a tear stained face that I give the update on Cinderella. She went downhill very fast, she was put to sleep by Dr. Jon not too long ago. She was agonal and went from ok to clearly suffering. We are sending her body for a necropsy.

My heart has a piece missing now. I got my hopes up so high when she did so well Friday and Saturday - and even scaled the bathtub to get out of it Friday, and with no back feet. 

This is what the adorable cutie looked like Friday.

Adoption update

Adoptions are slowing down some from what they were a month ago, but we are thankful for the adoptions we've had recently.  Below are the adoptins from the past couple of weekends since I'm behind....

• O'Neil
• Percy
• Webster
• Tutti Fruity
• Panthro
• Peter Brady and Twinkleclaws together (they adoptive family is a previous adopter but is in the process of moving so these two are hanging out at their foster mom's house for another week or so)
• Charlie Chaplin

More members added to the "Wonky Legged Kitty Club"

It is truly the year of the deformed legs:

• Light Willow originally thought to have been hit by a car had a deformed back leg that had to be amputated
• Jamie is the kitten with two deformed front legs, but he gets around really well and is totally unstoppable.  The surgeons and specialists have said there is nothing we can do.  But hope his growth has been stunted some because he's fine now but the concern is how his legs will do as he gets bigger.  This boy is the most adorable kitten ever!!  Check out our Facebook page to see pictures and videos of him.
• Bones, a little white kitten about 11 weeks old who wandered into an Operation Catnip trap but is friendly and had a hurt leg.  He actually does not have a radius on his front right leg and it will have to be amputated once he's over his URI.

And now two more with deformed legs. (Kupe's leg was not deformed, it was amputated because his previous owners let him go outside and he was attacked by something.) We took in six kittens today and of them, two have deformed legs (birth defects). They all have a 10AM appointment at Magnolia tomorrow to get checked out. The kitten with stumps for both back legs is extremely thin but does well with supplemental feedings. Some of the cats are polydactyl. Alexis came by a little bit ago and took some pictures and shot some video and it is posted on our Facebook page.

• Prince Charming: black and white tuxedo, male, regular toes all 4 paws
• Pinnochio: white and brown tabby (lots of white), male, polydactyl on all 4 paws, not quite short hair, not quite medium
• Ariel: black and white "tux-a-cow" lots of white (chin, neck, chest, belly), regular toes and feet, female,
• Snow White: long haired black, regular toes and feet, but she's a manx!
• Rumplestilskin:gray/brown tabby with some white, polydactyl on 3 paws, very short stump of a back leg on the other - holds it way up when walking, put it down for balance some.  The vet has recommended it be amputated.
• Cinderella: medium haired gray/brown tabby with white, polydactyl on both front fee, no foot on one back leg and a stump of a leg on the other. She's extremely emaciated nothing but bones probably wasn't able to make it to the food before everyone else ate it.

Cinderella with stumps for both back legs needs some serious prayers. She is so emaciated but she does well with supplemental feedings.  She's so adorable. But honestly, it wouldn't matter if she were super ugly, we'd still love her!  Two vets said we need to consider euthanasia but I'm not ready for that.  She was doing well over the weekend but late yesterday (Sunday, 10/6), she is now a bit lethargic and not eating as well.  We're headed to the vet again. 

Yard Sale Update

A huge thank you to everyone that helped with the (as Marie put it) Yard Sale Part 2: Electric Boogaloo over the weekend. We sold most of the larger ticket items the first weekend but we made $829.40 Saturday. 

The yard sale/bake sale total from both weekends (Oct. 29 and Nov. 5) is $3,248.75.

Thank you to everyone that helped me our fall yardsale(s) a success.

URGENT need for foster homes

• Six 8-week old kittens left in a box on a vet clinic’s doorstep (litter can be split up)
• Two 12-week old friendly kittens living in a feral colony
• Three adult cats living outside after their owner moved and cruelly abandoned them (can be split up into several foster homes)
• Two small 5-6 week old kittens born to a feral mom living in a box on a neighbor’s porch
• One 8-week old kitten who only wants to snuggle but is currently living outside
• Two sweet young kittens living in an old barn with feral cats

These are just a few of the many cats and kittens on our wait list that we can help if we had more foster homes. But without foster homes, we cannot take in these cats. It's getting cold outside, we want so much to bring them inside to safety and warmth. If you have a spare room (even a large bathroom), you can help save a life. Even if you do not have a spare room, we need foster homes for cats that have already completed their intake quarantine period and all medical.

 

Fostering for Alley Cats and Angels is a great experience. We provide all the medical attention and medications; we do not skimp on medical care – the fact that our cats received such great medical care is why so many people adopt from Alley Cats and Angels. We can provide litter boxes and toys. We can even help provide food and litter (if you provide the food and litter, it is considered an in-kind donation and is tax deductible). Alley Cats and Angels foster coordinators can always be reached via email or cell phone for any of our foster homes.

  We have adoption events every weekend, and space in three separate Petsmart adoption centers monthly (Knightdale, Capital Boulevard Raleigh, and the new Morrisville store). All cats get a rotation in the adoption center and we request that cats be made available for at least two events per month (three is optimal). Foster homes do not have to attend the adoption events with their fosters, but if you do it’s a great opportunity to talk about your foster to potential adopters.

 

Please considering fostering for Alley Cats and Angels today. If you’re worried that you’ll become too attached to your fosters, we also always need short-term foster homes to provide coverage during foster home vacations, etc.

 

Alley Cats and Angels is not your typical cat rescue….we are a rescue with a personal touch.

 

Please email info@alleycatsandangels.org if you are interested in fostering.

Thank you!

Alley Cats and Angels has the best and most awesome supporters and volunteers. My heartfelt thanks to everyone that helped make our yard / bake sale a success. Thank you to everyone that donated items for the yard sale; baked for the bake sale, helped sort, price and organize before the sale; set up for the sale; and picked up donated items. Thank you (and I hope you are now finally warm) to al...l that braved the terrible rains and cold to staff the sale. Thank you to Daryl for being the yard sale goddess. Really, just a huge thank you to everyone. I am so proud to be able to work with some wonderful people.

The weather was horrible. We dealt with bitter cold and rain - and not just a drizzle, it was all out downpour a good part of the sale.  Everyone was a trooper.

We made $2,400 yesterday at the yard sale and bake sale. We made another $111.50 today selling bake sale items left over from yesterday at Petsmart. 

And because we had so much great stuff donated and all of the rain, we were not able to put out all of the items for sale, so we will be holding another yard sale this coming Saturday, November 5th. 

Again, my deepest gratitude to all that make this possible,

Tia Hagnas
Founder and President

Updates

I'm behind on posting, sorry.  Getting ready for the fall yard sale and bake sell and preparations to move into another Petsmart adoption center, as well as taking in two kittens with deformed front legs has consumed all of my time lately.  Most likely no posts until after the yard sale this weekend..  Sorry....

Update on the cats taken in from the Siler City Neglect/Abuse Case

“Grandpa Tom”
Grandpa Tom was neutered and had dental done last week. He had 3 teeth removed and is healing, so he drools a lot. He has had his first round of deworming, and is on antibiotics for the infection in his mouth. He still has trouble getting around and will be on 'crate rest' for another 5 weeks as his pelvis heals. He likes to have his belly rubbed and has a big purr motor. There is a large scar over his eye from an old injury.  Tom eats a can and a half to two cans of A/D food a day.

Yeah, he's a little rough looking, but he's still beautiful to us!

The Kittens
Tiny cat weighs 1lb 8.5oz, she weighed 1.5 lbs when we got her. Still has 3rd eyelid, but no puss in her eye. Is on eye medication.  Tiny cat purrs when you pet her and likes to have her chin rubbed.

Orange boy plays with toys and other cats.

Fluffy kitten likes you to rub her belly.

The Two Younger Adults
Adult Male (Mac): The fluffy tabby male was neutered last week, as well as had some teeth pulled. He’s been on pain meds and antibiotics. He went back to the vet today and he was sedated again, and the wounds were lanced and samples were taken to be sent out for culture. A costly lab procedure but Dr. Tice needs to know what kind of infection it is in order to be able to determine the right combination of medications to treat him. It is possible that the foot may need to be amputated in the future, but with the culture pinpointing exactly what we’re looking at (what strain of infection, and possible fungal?), hopefully, medication and continuous care is all he’ll need for that food to heal. He is very sweet and loving. And very much enjoys a comfy cozy (and very clean) place to sleep and really good food. His personal butler also brings him canned food twice daily. He is doing well at the vet since he woke up from sedation and is playing with a toy mouse. (will work to get pictures of Mac).


Adult Female (Iggy): Last week, the vet had initially recommended euthanasia (not a common course of action for Dr. Tice) but we wanted to give her every chance possible for a happy and healthy life. She’s been on antibiotics and pain medication. Her wounds were so bad and on both feet. She went in to be spayed today and her wounds showed no sign of improvement at all. She was in extreme pain and Dr. Tice called me this morning and said she strongly recommended euthanasia. She does not believe her wounds will ever heal to the point where she will not have pain. She felt she was suffering, in great pain, and it was in Iggy’s best interest to help her peacefully pass. Here we have a vet who is never quick to recommend euthanasia say it was the most humane thing to do for Iggy, after more conversation, it was with much sadness and heartbreak that I agreed. It is very sad to lose one. And it is not much comfort, but she had a nice warm and cushy place to sleep for a week and very nutritious and delicious food. She too had a personal butler to ensure she had yummy canned several times daily.

General
All have received first round treatment for lice and have finished their first round of deworming protocol (Drontal, 5 days of Panacur, and 5 days of Marquis paste solution). All are eating supplemental canned food with Royal Canin prescription AD canned food, along with dry food.

Cats taken in fron Siler City Animal Neglect Case

Alley Cats and Angels was one of the local rescue groups contacted by CARE (Chatham Animal Rescue and Education) today about a neglect case they were working on. Many times no food was being provided. The little brown marble tabby came fr...om a litter where one had already died and the person responsible for the cats didn't seek vet care for him. It makes me cry that he died unloved and hungry and possibly in pain.

Grandpa Tom, the orange cat is approximately 18 years old, was run over twice by a car driven by the person responsible for his care - a responsibility she obviously took very lightly, as she did nothing to care for these cats. He is thought to have a fractured pelvis and other possible injuries. He is FIV positive. He was starving. And he is a love bug.

The other two adult cats have wounds and one is FIV positive and haven't eaten in a while.  The three kittens all have wounds and are emaciated - they eat like they haven't had food in quite some time. All cats are ridden with parasites. 

All six of these cats are at the vet today. PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING A DONATION TO HELP OFFSET THE MEDICAL CARE OF THESE CATS - as much vet care will be needed. Thank you.

Picasa Web Album of Siler City Animal Neglect Cats

Adoption Update

Adoption UpdateIt was a great adoption weekend.  We found homes for seven great cats and kittens.  The following cats were adopted:

• Walnut and Blitzle (together)
• Casper (adult!!!)
• Shiraz
• The Watch Cat (interesting story on how he got his name - I've posted it below)
• Khloe
• Courtney

Congratulations to the kitties and their new homes. 


The Watch Cat
You might think the name “The Watch Cat” is an unusual name for a kitty, but it really fits.  This incredibly handsome boy was one of three kittens trapped at a feral colony for TNR, however, they were just a little too young to be TNR’d so someone offered to foster us until we were old enough for spay/neuter. Unfortunately, two of the cats didn’t think much of humans. When they went to an Alley Cats and Angels’ foster home, the two hid all the time but this boy didn't hide.  Instead he sat and watched everything. He was very interested in people and would watch to see what they were doing and what was going on in the house, Because of his interest in people, his foster mom knew he was meant to have a forever inside home. She started calling him “The Watch Cat” and the moniker stuck! He still likes to watch everything – he finds it all just fascinating. His foster mom fell fast in love with him but knows she can't adopt every cat she falls in love with!  It was hard but she let him move into the adoption center.  She was at the adoption event yesterday and had the final say on the adoption (his foster mom happens to be one of our best adoption counselors) and she knew The Watch Cat and his new family were a good fit for each other.  Although she did cry.  Sometimes we get extra attached to some of the cats and it's hard to say goodbye.


The other two kittens were returned to the back yard colony, however, since they were returned after being inside for a while to be tamed, our barn cat relocation protocol was used and the cats were caged on the caregivers back porch for several weeks before they were released from the cage. 

Adoption Update

It started out to be a painfully slow adoption weekend - no adoptions yesterday, the first time we've had no adoptions on a Saturday in what seems like forever!  Of course it was an absolutely gorgeous day out yesterday, so maybe that kept people away. 

Today was much better.  Four adoptions today.  Wiggles, Jackson, Trix (YAY Trix!!!), and Bob.  BOB!!!  Woohooo - Bob!!  Sorry, we get extra excited when an adult cat is adopted.

We are so happy these families opened their hearts and homes to our rescued kitties. 

Prison Cat Project - another update

The prison cat project was featured again today in the newspaper.  Bob Wilson wrote an article in the Opinion / Viewpoints section of the Durham News.  The piece is titled "A Timeless Story of Cats and Cons".  He also references a great project at the Indiana State Prison with the inmates and cats.  It's great.  Check out the article here:
http://www.thedurhamnews.com/2011/10/02/208890/a-timeless-story-of-cats-and-cons.html

Runt is adapting nicely.  She lets me put her all over.  Twinkletoes is coming around but a little slower but I can reach and pet her with no issues.  Bobo and Smokey - the older of the cats we took in - are slower to adjust.  I can reach in and pet Bobo but he's scared.  When he looks directly at me, I blink slowly and then look away to let him know I'm not a threat.  Smokey - who gave high fives to inmates - isn't so sure he likes the indoors but he likes his nice cushy bed!  And they love cat treat.  They think Temptations Tuna treats are the bomb!! 

Prison cat project story is in the News & Observer

http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/09/27/1520831/after-prison-closing-what-about.html

I would like to thank the writer, Brooke Cain, for diligently working to get all the facts and also writing an article with a positive TNR slant.  Hopefully this will help people know that there is another option - a humane option - for feral cats other than trap and kill by animal control. 

No tax dollars was used for this project, it was funded by donations made to Alley Cats and Angels. In fact, this project saved the tax payers money by the prison not having animal control come in several times a year and trap and kill cats. 

And for the bird lovers, who say cats are the primary danger to birds.  According to Cornell Lab of Orinthology (birds) "By far the largest threat to birds is loss and/or degradation of habitat due to human development and agriculture. In some regions the loss of habitat is extreme." So for the cat haters that say cats are the primary threat to birds. Open your mind and read about directly from the bird people! http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/conservation/planning/threats

Adoption Update

Three cats/kittens were adopted over the weekend.  Waldo, Sasquatch, and Chessie.  CHESSIE!!!  YAY Chessie!!  Chessie is an adult cat who is just the sweetest big ol' girl but really hated adoption events. 

A very nice couple met her about a month ago when she was in the Petsmart adoption center but was headed on a long vacation.  They checked back in with us when they got back and she was still available.  Paws crossed she gets along well with the resident dog, then all should be ok.

Facebook Contest - Please Help Alley Cats and Angels will $500

Alley Cats and Angels is participating in a contest sponsored by Capital Chrysler Jeep Dodge. The rescue group with the most votes get $500! You can vote once a day. Please go to http://www.facebook.com/CapitalChryslerJeepDodge.  Like the page (the first time you visit), then on the left side click on "vote for contest", and then vote for ALLEY CATS AND ANGELS.

PLEASE VOTE DAILY!  Thank you.

If we win, the money will go to our ALTER AN ALLEY CAT SPAY/NEUTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. Please spread the word.



Please be patient, the page may take a minute for the page to load once you've selected "vote for contest".
 
Thank you!!

Prison Cats Update

In the summer of 2010, Alley Cats and Angels did a TNR project at a local prison.  We TNR'd 15 cats, took 8 kittens and 1 cat into our adoption program and 4 kittens into our barn cat program. 

On Saturday, the prison called to let us know they were closing down due to state budget cuts (inmates would be parsed out to other prisons), and asked if we would be able to take the four friendly adoptable cats.  There were five, but one inmate who was released took Max the cat with him. 

The last of the inmates would be moved on Tuesday (yesterday, 9/20) and we would need their help getting the cats.  Went to the prison Sunday after adoption events but the cats took one look at me and headed for the hills!  Marie P and I went back on Monday and were able to catch three of the four cats.  Ok, actually, we took traps, food, and other supplies but two of the inmates actually got the cats.  We were asked repeatedly by the few remaining inmates "you're not going to put Bobo to sleep are you", "you won't kill the cats, will you?".  Of course not, they will be safe with us. We explained they will go to the vet and get checked out and get their vaxes updated, etc.  We let them know the feral cats on the other side of the prison outside the gates would stay but that someone would care for them and make sure they are fed and watered (and if any newcomers show up, they will be TNR'd as well),

The relationship of the inmates and the cats was very touching. 

Upset that we didn't get the last cat, but we had to leave for the day because had to get the cats settled and then move cats into the Petsmart adoption center. 

Called Tuesday and Smokey (last cat) was sighted but hadn't been caught yet.  Was going to try to get him tonight after I cleaned at Petsmart and drove in to put food out for the ferals. However, the prison called and said one of the officers could pick up Smokey and put him in the trap we left if we could come get him. Ummm, absolutely!

So all four kitties (Runt, Bobo, Twinkletoes, and Smokey) are now settled in their individual cages.  They are confused, having never been inside except in traps last year before and after surgery.  Each cage is set up like we set up barn cat cages - with a carrier with door tied open to cage for each cat to hide in, litterbox next to it, food and water up front, etc.  Twinkletoes finally came out of laying in the litterbox and moved to the carrier tonight.  Runt is still in the carrier, but I know she was out of her carrier because her toy ball was in her litterbox -- aha, she was playing!!  Bobo is still hiding in the litterbox.

I'm not sure how "friendly adoptable" they are. But I have been able to touch and pet them on the nose. I'm actually trying to leave them alone some so they will eat and drink because they haven't yet.  Poor kitties.

There are about 6-7 feral cats outside the gates at the other end of the prison.  Fortunately, the storage buildings will be staying (they are raised up on cinder blocks) so on Monday, we were able to put two kitten sized litterboxes filled with food out (they hold a lot of food) - one under each shed to keep it out of the elements and then a large container of water also.  Replenished the food tonight and it seems like that was the right amount to leave for the cats and whatever wildlife would get some.  Unfortunately, I live 45 minutes from the prison so it's not optimal for me to feed there several times weekly (at least every other day). 

We reached out to another rescue group - based in that area - and got an email back already from someone that can take on the care of that colony.  They do travel some for work so we're still looking for a backup, but I am very thankful to IAR in Durham for sending out an email to their contatcts in the area and helping us find someone to help with the prison ferals.

Long post, so I'll close for now. I'll keep you updated on the progress of Bobo, Runt, Twinkletoes, and Smokey.  I keep telling them to just eat their food (it's laced with meds) and they won't have to be caged for too awfully long.

As a last note, there were no kittens born at the correctional facility since all the cats were TNR'd last year.  This proves that TNR WORKS.

Adoption Update

Seven cats/kittens were adopted this weekend:  Fozzie Bear (an adult and the last of the Muppet cats [mama to the muppet kittens]), Kimmie, Wednesday and Marsha Brady together, Whisper, Kelly, and Lexington (Lexie adopted by a family who adopted two kittens from us last year).  Congratulations to the kitties on their new homes.  Congratulations to the families that have a wonderful addition to their home, and thank you for opening your heart to a rescue cat from alley Cats and Angels.

Kenzie's adopters came by to visit and to report that she is doing well - even with the grandchildren.  YAY!!!

RIP McLovin'

This extremely emaciated and lonely lost soul was found Saturday by our TNR Task Force Leader, Marie P.  He was found at a local fast food restaurant in a maintained colony.  She saw him and could see he was extremely thin.  She approached him slowly and expected he would start to run but he came towards her and was so friendly. 

I get the call "are you driving?, no? are you sitting down?", expecting her to say there are somewhere a zillion kittens in this small managed colony, I was relieved that it was only one cat (we have no available foster homes right now), of course we take him in. 

Marie set him up in a cage in an empty bedroom (where she typically recovers feral cats after TNR) and started small doses of A/D canned food mixed with NutriCal and water to make a puree so it was easy for him to eat.  Very small doses at a time so he doesn't get sick.  Around midnight, Jill and I headed over to Marie's house to give him some fluids and meet the sweet boy.  He did so great with fluids - sat in a lap the whole time during the 125 cc's of lactated ringers. 

Jill took pictures of him but because he's medium haired, you don't really see really now emaciated he is.  He was nothing but bones and a big ol' head (not neutered). His sides were so sunken in, it was painful to see.  Because he was so loving, Marie P named him McLovin'.  Fit him to a T. 

McLovin' went to the vet this morning for an exam and testing.  The first test of course being an FeLV/FIV test.  I got the dreaded call at 11:02 this morning.  McLovin' is FeLV positive.  After making sure it couldn't be a false positive and discussing it with the vet, it was determined that his very poor health was due to the FeLV and we had to make the hard decision to euthanize him.

Hearts are breaking - only knew him a short time, but fell in love.  It's so sad.   The knowledge that we provided him a soft and safe place to sleep for a few nights/days, gave him lots of love and attention, and filled his tummy with good food eases the pain only slightly.  We are thankful he didn't die alone on the streets and in pain.  We are sad, but we are happy that we got to know this wonderful boy, even if for such a short time. 

We love you McLovin'. RIP and run free sweet boy. 

Attention followers....

And ones that I follow..  Having problems posting comments on some of the blogs we follow (Random Felines, Admiral Hestorb, etc).  It started about a month ago and I haven't figured out the issue  yet.  I'm still following and reading but have been unable to comment.   I miss being able to comment on your blogs.  But I'm still able to comment on some blogs (Animal Shelter Life Volunteer), so I'm stumped.  Anyone have any ideas?

Adoption program update

Eight adoptions this weekend:  Lambchop,  Pikachu, Popsicle, Orangesicle, Pugsley Addams and Morticia Addams (together), Greg Brady, and Raichu were all adopted this weekend.

We also have one adoption pending neuter, rabies, and rest of vetting (few weeks away).  Sasquatch is the pending adoption.  After Saturday's adoptoin event, the family that adopted Popsicle went to the foster home and met Sasquatch and fell in love.

A very good weekend for the kitties. Congratulations to the newest members of the Alley Cats and Angels alumni!

We love our adopters....

It makes us feel really great when people are so happy with the cats they adopted from us that they drive in from Wilson to adopt a third cat from us (the first two were adopted months apart). And when they say "we are always telling everyone to adopt from you because you all take care of the cats so well. It amazing what you all can do", it makes us feel even better!

Thank you so much for your confidence in Alley Cats and Angels. And congratulations on your new addition!

New Alley Cats and Angels Website!

Check out Alley Cats and Angels newly designed webpage - this is our 'soft launch' so please let us know if you have suggestions or find anything we've missed. http://www.alleycatsandangels.org/

Thanks so much to Maria Brown, Ronald Murphy, Eugene Cheung, and Jill Walters for all their hard work!!

Not only do we have a new look, but we have a lot of new and improved content. 

Adoption Update

Five cats and kittens were adopted this weekend (Saturday/Sunday).  Pretty good for a holiday weekend!  The following were adopted: Creamsicle, Gomez, Malibu, Cindy Brady, and Kenzie. 

A wonderful couple came and met Kenzie on Saturday and she was not on her best behavior at all (which is why she hasn't been adopted yet, she's a beautiful and sweet Maine Coon mix but doesn't "show well" at adoption events.  I thought that would be it because she really was naughty to the people.  But they came back Sunday and want to give her a chance.  I think she's a good fit for them - as long as she'll be a good girl when the grand children come over for their weekly visit.  Fingers crossed that she'll be as good as she acts in her foster home.

Congratulations to the kitties adopted this weekend and to their new families.

2011 Cash Raffle Winners Announced

Congratulations to our 2011 Cash Prize Raffle Winners:

• $500 First Prize: Maria Brown
• $250 Second Prize: Pam Long
• $100 Third Prize: Joe Walker

Thank you everyone for supporting the cats and purchasing raffle tickets. The proceeds are going to our medical fund as we've taken in a lot of hard cases this year. We are so grateful for everyone's support. Thank you.

 

And an extra thank you to our first prize winner, Maria, who has donated her winnings back to the rescue.

 

Miracle Update

Miracle is fast approaching 2 pounds - as of today, she was only 1.5 ounces shy of 2 pounds. But the even bigger news is that Miracle is now bright eyed and bushy tailed like a healthy kitten. No more looking at her and thinking "oh my, she's got a long way to go". She will also be small for her age but she looks healthy.

And, drumroll, she's playing like a healthy kitten! She's playing with itty bitty fuzzy toys and she's playing with bell balls. And she's trying to pounce on the toys when her leg cooperates. THIS IS HUGE.

Elizabeth Ruffing will be coming over this week to get pictures of the W kittens and Miracle and we'll post those as soon as they are available.

SO HAPPY!!

Last week for rafle tickets - please help us help the cats

There is only one week until the raffle. If would like to buy tickets, please email us. If you're selling tickets, please do a final push to sell any tickets you have left. Also, if you think you can sell more and need tickets, please let us know - we have some left and can get to you ASAP (Sunday/Monday). The prizes are money and who couldn't use some more money!! Read more abou the raffle: http://www.alleycatsandangels.org/raffle.pdf


Our medical expenses this year have been extraordinarily high. We have had many expensive surgeries, in addition to almost triple the number of kittens that were so sick upon intake and have required continued medical care to get them healthy. Our bank account has been extremely hard hit and we really need to sell all the raffle tickets.

One of our supporters emailed us this week and said "I've been brought to tears so many times lately with the stories of all you're doing to save all these precious kitty lives... no matter the cost, you always give them the best new beginning so they can live happily ever after." This is very much true, we do everything we can for the cats we can save and that care is expensive. We are a smaller rescue group with a limited number of volunteers, but we rescue on a big level -- the number of cats we save each year is astonishing. Therefore, I implore you to please push out of your comfort zone if you're not comfortable asking people to buy tickets and please work hard to sell those tickets because the cats need you.

Below are just a few of the medical cases from this year.


Thank you.

Tia Hagnas
Founder and President

Light Willow (aka "pretty little amputee kitty")

 Miracle, a "work in progress".  Extremely small and underweight for her age due to malnutirtion (she's less than half the size and weight she should be).  She is steadily gaining weight but requiring ongoing medical care for her health and her front leg.

Siren, sweet kitten with cerebeller hypoplasia.  So tiny right now and requiring ongoing medical care 

Casanova, one of three cats requiring eye enucleation (removal) surgery this year

Adoption Update

Three adoptions this week.  Martini was adopted Thursday and two of the Fine Wine Kittens, Pinot and Reisling, were adopted together today.

That calls for a celebration.  So, how do we celebrate - martini or wine?!!  Or catnip for the kitties?  Well, I think the latter is the winner.

Adoption Update

It was a pretty good adoption weekend.  Six kittens were adopted this weekend: two of the Brady Bunch kittens were adopted (Bobby Brady and Jan Brady), the last three Stargate kittens were adopted (Adria, Sha're, and Teal'c), and Lucky Charm was adopted.  You may remember Lucky Charm as "itty bitty spitty kitty from Spring Hope" - the most feral little 6-week old kitten.  Well, she definitely blossomed into a wonderful little girl.  So sweet and loving. 

Congratulations to the kitties on their new homes.  And congratulations to the families who adopted them. Thank you for opening your hearts and homes to our wonderful rescue kitties.

Adoption Update

It was a slower adoption weekend, but three kittens were adopted this weekend:  Tweety, Mojito, and Vala.

And while we're at Petsmart doing the adoption event, one of the managers from Staples office supply came wheeling in a Staples shopping cart with a little kitten in it  asking if we had misplaced a kitten (um, no...).  Apparently this little guy pressed the "Easy" button on how to find a new home and walked right in the front door of the Staples store (Brooke, I stole your joke!).

He so hungry that when we put food in front of him, he almost dive-bombed the bowl. We did scan him to see if he was chipped...nope. He's very friendly and appears to be between 8 and 10 weeks old. Clearly he's been with people but we can't imagine how he got to be in the middle of a very congested shopping area on a very big and busy street unless he was just dropped off there by someone. Possibly he hitched himself a ride on a vehicle?

We wanted to name him Staples, but his new foster mom vetoed that and named him Marco Polo because he's a smart little adventurer.  We like that name too!  He was FeLV/FIV tested last night and he is negative.  YAY!

 In the picture above, he's giving himself a bath after he had just been given a bath by foster mom.  :-)

New pictures of Siren, our Cerebellar Hypoplasia (CH) kitten

Isn't she beautiful?  

Siren (est. DOB June 23, 2011) is such a sweet and beautiful girl - we know someone won't let Cerebellar Hypoplasia (CH) shy them adopting her.   CH is a disorder found in cats and dogs in which the cerebellum is not completely mature at birth. The disorder causes jerky movements, tremors and generally uncoordinated motion. The animal often falls down and has trouble walking. Tremors increase when the animal is excited and subside when at ease. Although kittens affected with CH lead an otherwise normal life and have the same life expectancy as a cat without the condition, many shelters euthanize these tiny angels.  But she’s safe with us.

Pretty little amputee kitty

Meet our new pretty little amputee kitty. We found out about her last weekend and we trapped on Sunday and then Marie and team trapped Monday and Tuesday until this little princess was trapped. Her back leg was badly deformed and her foot...was turned almost 180 degrees and was pointing in the wrong direction. She went to the vet and had her back leg amputated on Thursday. She is not feral and is very sweet. Dr. Jon said the leg was a congenital birth defect.

Nothing pitiful about this girl -- look how happy she is now that she's had surgery and doesn't have all that "dead weight" to carry around.  We hope that she was not in pain all 14 weeks of her life, but if she was, she's not now.  And she's safe now.

Miracle Update

Miracle has been shunning canned kitten food in favor of Royal Canin Baby Kat 34 so we've been doing supplemental syringe feedings a minimum of 5 times daily with KMR mixed with kitten nutrical and just a bit of canned food.  Shake that concoction in a cocktail shaker and and pour it out through the strainer and it's perfect for syringe feeding -- might as well put that cocktail shaker to good use! 

Well, today, she decided the canned kitten food wasn't so bad and ate a little on her own.  She's still eating food out of shallow canned food covers but she's drinking water from a very shallow dish and doing well.

She's starting to "peep" every now and then so I think she's feeling somewhat better.  I bet killing off those intestinal parasites and ear mites is also making her feel better.

Her weights:

• Tuesday: 14.8 ounces
• Wednesday: 14.8 ounces
• Thursday: 15.3 ounces
• Friday: 16.3 ounces (YAY!!!! over one pound now!!)

Injured feral update

Marie and Nicole went out both Monday night and tonight to catch the injured kitten and finally caught him tonight under the drop trap -- which was tricky because the racoons were out in full force tonight.  Poor kitten is about 10 weeks old maybe and it certainly looks like his back leg is broken.  He'll be going to the vet tomorrow (well, later today).  We don't know if he'll need a cast or amputation, but they will take good care of him and then we'll continue his care.  He'll most likely become a new long term resident (aka "lifer") of Alley Cats and Angels.

Meet Siren and Sasquatch

These two little ones came from a mobile home park where our TNR Task Force Leader, Marie, has been trapping.  Sasquatch was named such becuase he has a big head, lots of fur, and huge feet - he's polydactyl.

Siren has had the shakes and has a neurological issue.  Siren was diagnosed with Cerebellar Hypoplasia (CH) today. Apparently her mama came in contact with feline distemper while she was in utero. It is not contagious, merely a congenital defect that she seems to have adjusted to. Her motor skills are affected and she does have some visible shaking...but she purrs, plays and is otherwise a happy girl.  She'll need a home that is willing to make a few modifications to keep her safe.  Sasquatch shows no signs of having CH.

Meet a little Miracle

As I posted earlier, Alley Cats and Angels responded to a request for help on Friday, 8/6, and took in 6 cats. A mama and her four 3.5-4 month old babies, and one little one who was temporarily named itty bitty pitiful kitty.  

This little one was one of the most pitiful kittens we've rescued in a long time. Close to 9 weeks old (confirmed by vet today), this little one is the size and weight of a 4.5 week old kitten. She was originally "rescued" over a month ago by a well meaning person after she saw some young boys abusing it. Unfortunately she did not have money to buy kitten replacement milk and the things a growing kitten needs. This little one was fed only condensed milk and hadn't grown in at least 3 weeks when we took her in.  

This little one is an angel, and at her age, she should be chasing little play mice and balls with bells in them. However, she doesn’t have the energy for that – she sleeps with her teddy bear and hobbles out of bed to take a couple bites of food at one time or go potty.  

This little girl is a real fighter, a survivor, and she's a miracle – so we have named her Miracle. She is way too small for her age, she's underweight (currently weighs less than 1 pound) and her body is in poor condition – she’s very thin, despite her potbelly - which is most likely due to parasites. She tested negative for both FeLV and FIV - yay! And she's currently on medication for intestinal parasites and ear mites. She is weak and has muscle atrophy on her right front leg; she does not use that leg well at all. The vet has recommended we monitor her leg carefully and the worst case scenario, it may have to be amputated in the future. 

Despite being so thin, weak, and not being able to use her right front leg, she gets in and out of her tiny litterbox and gets up to eat. What a trooper.

She's so small that we put her food and water in the plastic tops that go on open cans of cat food - beause they are so shallow.  She prefers Royal Canin Baby Kate dry to canned food/formula mix, but we'll do supplemental feedings with the canned food to make sure she gains weight. Dr. Jodi wants us to weigh Miracle every day to make sure she's gaining weight and will go into Dr. Jodi Reed at Harmony Animal Hospital on a regular basis for follow-up.  

One look at Miracle and she will steal your heart and break your heart at the same time. She has a long road ahead of her until she's a healthy girl but she's in very good hands with us.

Please keep Miracle in your thoughts and wish her lots of good health. She really is much tinier than she looks in her picture.