Visitors

Well it's been a crazy few weeks, storms, earthquakes & humans...not necessarily in that order. Most would think a cat would react differently for each, but I am not most cats.

So here is a photo essay of my reactions to each, my mom was very surprised at my particular reaction to that crazy electrical storm (one of African Plains magnitude only seen on the plains of the Serengeti is what mom said). Most pets were likely hiding, nervous or both. Me...I kept my cool. I think the electricity in the air balanced me out ...

Not soon after this relaxing evening I had a visit from a human friend Josh who asked his dad to stop by every time they walk by the house...yes Josh says "Cat! Cat!" & his dad is required by Spinner law to stop so his son can spend some time  with me.

Aww isn't he cute? That means both of us....

Lastly, I had a visit from a feline friend who found his way to our backyard, he would come to the screen door asking when I could come out to play. Unfortunately I don't go out but it didn't stop us from talking & staring at each other. He was very nice & would sit for hours on the back patio. Mom tried to get a pic of him & succeeded with this single one before he got a little shy & left... It's been a few days since I saw him so hopefully he is safe at home. I did tell him to feel free to stop by anytime he like though.

Do you want to hold my hand?

Yes, mommy please hold my hand....or paw

Or, if i may just use your lap while you work?

Or, when I am bored I will find a nice new box to try out? I would ask no flash though as it makes me look like I have laser eyes!

That is it for now folks, I have some serious napping to do somewhere where I can't be found....Happy Fursday!

Ode to my best brother...

A year has passed since my best buddy & brother Simon had to leave this world. I miss him & I know mom does to. This past week I have been feeling it a little, maybe it's because my mom has been a little sad & melancholy. I do know that I was spending way more time in the basement on the bunk beds, which I never do - ever. That space was reserved for Simon & me, I would follow him down to nap on the top bunk, Simon with his spot & me with mine.

So this past week I decided to sneak away to be close to where Simon spent his last night on earth & snuggled close to the big lamb. Don't tell mom but I think maybe Simon was stopping by to visit & decided his first place was the beds. This time I slept in his spot as he said it was ok he didn't really need it anymore as was everywhere now. Simon generous in life & in after-life.

Mom had a feeling she would find me there & snapped a few "adorable" photos before leaving me to have some alone time.

Now since Simon was a beautiful black cat & we looooove black cats, I have to mention the upcoming  Black Cat Appreciation day on August 17th. How appropriate that it corresponds with my brothers anniversary.

Love you always big bro...you were the best & will always be missed.

Simon 1992-2010

Happy World Cat day!

Everyday should be cat day ;) but will take it! Wishing all the wonderful felines a purrfect day! I hope that your lives are full of love, happiness, health & comfort!

For those cats who do not have their forever home I send lots of love & positive thoughts that you will soon be as happy as me. 

In honor of  World Cat Day an inspiring story from far away, Abu Dhabi:
Rescue Groups save 200 cats

For all the humans out there who help us cats a big thank you & may you continue your work to inspire others to compassion & empathy towards us fellow critters. We will love you forever!

I am a Toronto Animal Services supporter & adoption succes story!

Did you really think I would stay quiet over this one? For those of you who don't know, I was a stray cat in the city of Toronto who was picked up & rescued by Toronto Animal Services (TAS) south region in 2005. 

Life on the street wouldn't have been good for me. It isn't good for any cat, that you can be assured of.

I won't go into the details of what could have been the tragic fate to befall such a wonderful feline such as myself, instead I will tell you why as a cat I support the wonderful lifesaving services of TAS. 

For those of you who haven't read my earlier post on my story here is a quick recap: stray in the city with a disability or ability (really depends how you look at it) gets picked up & taken to animal shelter. Cat gets the obvious shelter, food, medical care, a great bunch of humans to look after me as well as volunteers to cuddle, love & keep me content until my new pet parents come along. 

The staff, rather brilliantly,  decides to enter me in the CNE cat show for publicity. They win by getting the word out that there are animals in need & I literally win, taking home 11 ribbons as best household pet...then I get a new mom, brother & sister  - Happily ever after.

The city currently has TAS under review to cut, privatize & dismantle all the hard work done over the years, and it is still to address what could be done to make it even better for animals & people.

You take away TAS you take away chances like mine (ok not all cats will win ribbons)  for wonderful loving, feeling, deserving creatures to find a permanent home. You take away a chance for them to be saved from the street, an unpleasant fate, or to be saved/rescued from abuse or neglect. 

You also remove their chances to find temporary shelter, medical attention, food & love while they wait to go to a forever home. Strays not entering the shelter system greatly increase their chances of making more babies & when I say greatly I mean exponentially! We all love a cute kitten, I was one once, but can agree there are to many strays & simply not enough good homes for all.

By not having some sort of identification system like a license or micro-chip you take away any chance for them to be reunited with family. You also remove accountability on their humans part.  

A little birdie told me that Calgary has used licensing very well & it works to help animals while bringing revenue to fund a whole list of things - maybe we, or you humans, need to give that a good look??

Trust me we do not want to be on the streets we want to be on your laps, with full bellies, in your homes to welcome you after a long day, to make you smile, laugh, show you unconditionally that you are loved no matter what.

How do we get to that? Through a place like TAS!

I know how lucky I am  believe me, everyday my mom tells me she loves me as I purr non-stop or sit on her papers while she works, follow her around, run to her when she comes in......

I want other cats to be as lucky as me & I think TAS is a great place to start. On behalf of my feline & canine friends I ask you all to support this service to make Toronto a great place to be for us four legged & feathered creatures.

You can support the Save Toronto Animal Services Facebook page &  sign the petition here:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/savetas/ 

Thanks for your support & sharing!


Meow!

Pigeon rescue

So this was a very busy weekend for mom with work & of course with our unexpected guest this past Thursday & Friday. Mom was on her way out & along the way she came upon an injured bird - first she said it looked like a seagull but upon closer inspection she discovered it was a beautiful white/gray pigeon!

Apparently he or she may have been hit by a car, yes a hit & run. A car with a few very guilty looking people were seen fleeing the scene of white feathers strewn across the dark road & a one very stunned looking bird. A man had stopped after to guide said pigeon off the road. That is when mom pulled over to investigate.

Since mom has experience with animals & has worked with wild pigeons before, she knew exactly what to do. She carefully approached, gently covered the pigeon (later named & referred to as Calvin) with a towel to calm him down & put him in a box to drive home.

Calvin spent the time, very quietly in the box with a blanket where he would be safe. A call to the Toronto Wildlife Center was made & we waited to find out what would happen the next morning. Calvin, was def not a wild pigeon mom said, he was to use to being handled. I was very curious to see what the fuss was about, so the next day when a temp home was fashioned for him I took a peak.

Here Calvin sits with his water, bird seed in his shelter. He was very curious of me as well.  Being a cat I had to look, but  sensed he was hurt so I left him to relax & chill. Toronto Wildlife Centre was helpful & gave mom a few suggestions to help find his owner (Calvin wore a band on his leg which identified him as belonging to an individual).

A call was made to the Canadian racing pigeon union the CRPU & with their help Calvin's (who is a female!) dad was found! He came right away to pick her up, she was just a young one learning to fly & get her barrings when she was lost. Her dad was really happy to have her back & get her to a vet to fix her broken wing. I learned just how brave & strong that little girl was & I know she was happy to see her dad,  I feel the same way when my mom comes home.

If you are able to help an injured or distressed animal, safely, please do so. It will mean the world to them & in some cases life or death.

All ended well for Calvin & as pigeons remember faces, especially those who are kind, mom invited her to visit if she is ever in the area again, but this time she was asked not to land on the road. 

Long weekend

Well us Canadians celebrated July 1st as our holiday (pic show what I was up to) & now our American friends celebrate today July 4th! Fireworks, yes we know our humans love them but they are scary as heck for us four-legged companions. They are very loud to us! Please be careful, keep you cats & dogs safely away from the activities & inside with some pleasant distractions if possible.

Some other great tips are to make sure your indoor/outdoor pets have identification on them just in case they escape, or run in fear. If your pets are already micro-chipped even better!

Well the sun is shining this beautiful MeowMonday! I am off to have my morning nap while mom goes to walk the dogs.