Rescue Cats

I volunteer with a cat rescue. On most weekends I can be found at the local Petco helping find cats & kittens forever homes. People are always asking how the older cats ended up in need of homes. Most are abandoned or just tossed out. It’s amazing how many people ask what is wrong with the cat.  

My Molly was tossed out TWICE. What is wrong with her? So much! Her purr is too loud, her meow too cute and her heart is too big! OK. She has some issues. She is a chewer. If you let her, she will chew pursue straps and toes. With a little redirection, she uses her (dog) crew toy and cardboard boxes.  It’s part of her charm.

The question is not what’s wrong with the cat; it’s what is wrong with the people. How can anyone take a living, breathing, feeling being into their homes and lives and then walk away for any reason? House cats left outside don’t know how to feed or protect themselves. They can feel fear, hunger, and pain. Even if they are lucky enough to be rescued and find their way into a foster home, it’s not over for them. They can become depressed and mourn the loss of their people. It’s heart breaking to see. No one will ever love you like a rescued pet.

Lessons Learned from My Cats

It’s been three days since I brought little Molly home. I had expected my older cat, Baby, to have trouble adjusting to a new kitten. I expected my younger cat, Huey, to love having a new playmate.

 

 

Baby is 5 years old. He is more serious and plays less than his brother. Baby is calm, quiet, loving and devoted.

Huey is 3 years old and loves to play. He has boundary issues and often insists on playing with Baby, whether Baby wants to or not.  He is outgoing, talkative, playful and funny.

Baby took right to Molly. He played chase with her and followed her around.

Huey growled and hissed and made wild animal noises I have never heard come out of him before. At first, I thought he was Alpha catting her. Making sure she knew who was boss. I made sure she was not in physical danger from him but left them to work it out themselves. It became clear pretty soon that Huey was scared of her.  

Once I realized what was going on, I changed my behavior. I made sure that I paid extra attention to Huey. Petting him, praising him, playing one on one with him. I wanted to help build his confidence and make sure he felt secure.

Just a few long days later, he is playing with her. He still hisses and growls at her when she startles him, which is often.

 

Molly is only six months old and still has a lot to learn about being a cat. She now has two wonderful, very different, boys to help her grow up to be a confident and secure cat.  

Things don’t always go the way we think or want them to. We must be willing to adjust to whatever life throws at us.  Others may not behave in ways we expect. We may not always be able to anticipate their reactions and motivations. We need to be sensitive to others and be willing to adapt if we want peace and harmony in our lives.

Molly

I have been volunteering with a cat rescue, going to adoption days at Petco Viera and running the Facebook: page http://www.facebook.com/CathysCatsCritters. A few weeks ago, there was an adoption that was not working out. Since the adopted family lived near my parents, I volunteered to help get her back to her Foster Mom. This 6 month old kitten had gotten out of her adopted family’s home. They did not know where she was. I looked around the neighborhood but had no luck. She is all black and could have been in the bushes right under my nose and I would not be able to see her. A storm was heading in and I felt terrible leaving her out there.

She came back and the next day I went to pick her up. She was sick. Coughing, sneezing and her eye was runny. She looked so small, so sick, so scared. I sat with her in my parent’s living room. In spite of her ordeal and her sickness, she was still alert and curious. Her name is Molly.

As I sat in my parent’s living room holding sick little Molly cat, I could not help but think of another Molly I knew. Molly Ann Lindsay, One of my best friends in High School. We had so many fun times hanging out in my parent’s living room. I was sitting under the fan she once broke when she jumped up and grabbing the chain in her teeth. Yes, really. Molly was hilarious.

Molly also adopted a stray cat, Aime, that I took in while I was in college. My Mom has allergies and would not let me keep her. Both Molly and Aime are gone. Molly lost a very long fought battle with cancer in 1990.  I still miss her.

I started thinking that I would foster Molly; maybe see how she did with my cats. I was worried that my 4 year old Baby would be very unhappy with a new cat. He isn’t always happy with Huey, who I brought home two years ago. I gave Molly to her Foster Mom and told her I might want to foster her. The more I thought about it, the more I realized I could not foster her. Whatever it took to make her part of my family, I would do.

Molly’s Foster Mom nursed her back to health and two weeks later, Molly is now home. She is in a room by herself for now, away from Huey and Baby. I want to make sure she really is over her cold and give my boys a chance to get used to the idea of her.

I love her. She is fun and playful and loving. She is safe, healthy and happy. She never has to worry about being without a family again. Holding her fills my heart with such happiness.

The last several years have been very difficult. Having this little girl come into my life reminds me that no matter how it feels, the best is always yet to come. Your next source of happiness and love is just around the corner. Waiting for you to open your eyes and your heart and let it in.

11-11-11

On Veteran’s Day, I met a few friends at Satellite Beach. We chanted and enjoyed the beauty of the day.

What does 11-11-11 mean? What does Veteran’s Day mean? Do they have special meaning being joined?

Be still and listen…

Here are a few photos from the morning.

Black Point Wildlife Drive

I took a drive up to Titusville to take some pictures at Black Point Wildlife Drive. When did they start charging? I was happy to pay $5 if it keeps the park open. Glad I had cash, too.

It was warm but a there was a nice fall breeze blowing. I had Taylor Swift playing softly in the background.  It was a beautiful day.

Most birds were not interested in being photographed. That explains so many in flight and heading away from me.

Even a Momma raccoon was not interested in having her babies photographed and she heading them into the woods at her first sight of me.

The egrets put on a show. They did not mind me being there at all.

There was a spider that was not camera shy.

The alligator, I would say at least a 6 footer, obviously was not worried about me at all.

The gnarled tree has no choice but to be still for me.

Not a bad way to spend a Saturday.



Holiday Tree Globe

As the holiday season approaches I thought I would try my hand at ornaments. I am introducing my Collection of Holiday Trees.  I did not use gem stone for this project. I used acrylic beads.  I think holiday decorations should sparkle. The acrylic beads sparkle the best. After several attempts, I settled on three different types. All the trees are hot glued into an acrylic snap globe.  

The blue ones are in a small globe and the red and green are in a large globe. Stone chips are used around the base of the tree.

The small blue beads are used with silver wire to make the tree.

  Medium red beads used with antique brass to make the tree.

Large green beads are used with antique brass to make the tree.

I am pleased with how they have turned out and hope that others enjoy them as well.

Photographing them proved to be a bigger challenge than I anticipated. How to best show them in photos will be an ongoing process.

Happy Holidays!

Tomorrow really is another day

When life is difficult, remember that even the darkest night gives way to dawn.

 “All of life's riddles are answered in the movies.” Davis- Grand Canyon

 “I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow.” Scarlett-  Gone with the Wind

 “So uh, you, uh, never know... what... what events are to transpire to get you home.” Jim Lovell-Apollo 13

 “And I know what I have to do now. I gotta keep breathing. Because tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?” Chuck Noland- Castaway