2015 has been a roller coaster for Catlandia. It's hard to sum it all up, but there are a few special cats I want to remember and celebrate this evening, and a few events. In March I rescued Clementine, a dumped and very pregnant mama cat, 4 days before she gave birth. I got to watch her birth 4 beautiful kits, and I watched her raise them for the next couple of months. She was so devoted and tireless. She was skin and bones. She worked around the clock. Clementine, Raven, Stevie, Jaime, and Scribbles. They taught me so much, and brought so much joy into my life. Still do. And in May I also got a call about a homeless kitten who was all alone and needed help. I went to get him straight away. Prana. In June we tore down the old 8x8 ft cattery, and replaced it with a 24ft long cattery! Very exciting. We still have some work to do on it, but this cattery has been key to the happiness of all the Catlandia cats. Also in June we rescued the Magnolia Triplets. Virgil is the only one left here, unadopted as yet, and he is utterly adorable. In July I rescued Louis Zamperini. In August I rescued Santino at the Little Italians colony. He is still here but he is doing so well I may put him on our Adoptable Cats list one day soon. Seeing him soften and relax has been so wonderful. In December I rescued Wally and Karl from a high kill shelter where they were in a cage together and very ill. Karl had been up for euthanization when a kind woman begged for one more chance and posted their photo online. I saw the photo and my heart broke when I saw little Wally, who reminded me of Prana and Louis. These two are now with a foster mom and they will be going up for adoption as a bonded pair in mid January. The amazing thing about all these rescues in '15 is that we are full here. We were full in January of this year. No room at the inn. And yet, with the help of some very wonderful people, we made these things happen anyway. That's part of the magic of Catlandia. So we were able to help some great kitties in need this year, but our year was also one of incalculable loss. We lost three beloved friends. First was Martin, a GPK colony cat in the prime of his life. One of the most kind, calm, and loving cats I've ever know. He was the heart and soul of his colony, and of this place. He was the sparkling jewel in the center of the Love Clique, the group of friends and family cats mostly made up of GPK kitties. He was also the best friend of Big Boy. He got sick, and died following a procedure at the vet's office. It was a shock. I still miss him. I wish he had gotten to be healthy and happen for another decade or two. Then Prana came down with a mystery illness. The vet feared it was rabies. We never found out was happening to him. Not rabies, we know. Prana was a beautiful soul. He was a kitten still, when he died. There's nothing more to be written about it tonight. Lastly, Louis Zamperini, so sick when he got here, got a lot better, held on for months, and the nosedived. He really never got a chance to feel great this year. He did the best he could, for as long as he could, and I'm so glad I found him when I did. Writing this has been crap. I have been nauseated the whole time. Forgive me for not doing a better job; I didn't think it would be this hard.
This year also brought us some lovely friends near and far. I tell you in all truth, we could not have made it without you. You are making the miracles happen. You are the miracles. Every kind thought, every gift, every donation sent has been received in great need and with great appreciation. Please know that you have saved lives this year. And know that we think the world of you. 2016 will be a great year for Catlandia. We will continue to do TNR work. We will try to find homes for the adoptable cats who live here, and for the adoptable cats we know out on the street, and if we have room, we will bring others in from out of the cold. We will strive to be happy and healthy and for our little community to be a safe haven for all here, and a place that inspires others to open their doors and hearts to the little wild ones out there waiting for them. Today was Prana's last day as a sick kitten. He had been failing and suffering, and so we did the thing no one wants to do. (For those unfamiliar with Prana's story, detailed on the Facebook page Catlandia, he had become catastrophically ill with a mystery neurological disease.) I want to tell you about a few other, seemingly unrelated things. A few years ago my mother died. Afterwards, I was sitting outside and a crow flew down and sat near me. Without thinking I said, "Hi Mom." Before this I was sure that death meant an end to everything we knew as life. But in this moment I knew something more. A couple of years back I was doing TNR at the GPKs colony home at night. Anything can happen there at night, and I ended up trapping a cat I did not know. I took her in for spaying, and in surgery they saw that she had already been spayed. She was a tiny thing, an elder, and very friendly. I kept her at Catlandia. I thought someone must have dumped her years ago. I called her Vera, which had been my mother's mother's name. Vera would lie on my shoulder as I would lie on my side. She got very sick, and this gave her great comfort, to be with me in this spot. She died, and I went a bit mad. It was a hard death for her, and I grieved for her and for my mom all over again. This year Martin died in the vet's office following a procedure. It was shocking, unexpected. Martin was a big beautiful cat who was the heart and soul of the GPKs colony. He was the center that held everything together, the glue. He was the gentle father figure of the Love Clique, the group of GPKs boys who are so loving and affectionate with one another. Earlier this year I got a call about a kitten who was all alone, found in a neighborhood. I came, looked for his mom, and ended up bringing him home. I called him Prana. He would lie on my shoulder when I would lie on my side, just like Vera used to do. One day I asked him if Vera was in there with him. In reply he lightly touched the tip of my nose with his little paw. And I had my answer right then. We made the appointment and a while before it was time, we got in the car and drove down to the edge of the world. I wanted to show Prana the ocean, and for us to sit here peacefully and say our goodbyes. We walked out on the walkway a bit, felt the breeze and the light rain, and Prana saw the ocean. He was curious and checking it all out. We got back in the car, leaving the door open so we could see and feel and hear the shore. I held him and told him, again, what we were doing. That it was almost over, and that in an hour he would be able to be everywhere all at the same time. That Vera and Martin would show him the ropes and be with him. That I would go with him as far as I could, and that he could come and see me in an hour, and anytime afterwards. That if there is any fairness in the thing that comes next, I will see him there again soon. I realized today that the reason Vera has been with him was about this day. She knew when I did not that this was growing, and coming. I thought she might have come for me but she came for him. In the vet's office we did the things that are called euthanization. Prana died. It was over. I came home and took a walk with Natalie the dog. When we got back, I went back outside and saw something I have not seen before. On the roof of the house next door, just a few yards away, three vultures flew down and landed. I knew this was extraordinary, and related to Prana's passing, but not what was happening exactly. I grabbed the camera and got a few photos. When I uploaded the pictures afterwards, I saw this one. And then I knew. Whoo...this is going to bring me to tears again. Here goes: When I told Prana that Vera and Martin would be there to help, I also spoke to Vera and Martin and my mother, and asked them to help. And I told Prana that he could come see me in an hour, if he wanted. I said that to him. The three vultures had atoms of Vera, Martin, and Prana in them. Can you believe that? I do. I didn't "get" it til I saw the photo, though.
When two of the vultures flew up and over a few yards to the top of the telephone pole at the corner of the yard, I saw a crow swoop down and glide in a circle around this place, and then go back off the way she came. My mom, who came to me after her own death, in a crow. I had asked her to help Prana today. And there she was. These birds coming to me less than an hour after Prana's death brought me some much needed peace. So its over. The part where Prana is here with us. What is he doing, being, exeriencing now? He has no failing body to hold him down anymore. He is flying free, I think, with friends. I hope to see him again one day, and hold him in my arms and tell him how much I love him. Today I saw the most amazing and wonderful thing. Guiseppe is a gorgeous shy gray tabby who I first met 4 years ago at the GPK feral cat colony home. He was soooooo skinny! He hung out by himself, didn't seem to have friends or even alliances within the colony. He was one of the loners who always ate last. He would not let me get too close to him except in time his curiosity allowed us to say "hello. what do you smell like?" every day by me stretching out my finger to him and him giving it a thorough sniff. So sweet, this little beauty. Then the colony was threatened, and I feared for their safety. I began trapping them and giving them a safe space with me. This colony had once been more than 25 cats, but when this happened there were a bit less. I brought as many home as I felt that I could, and I did worry whether I made good choices about who to keep, for those who did get in my trap for a second time (the first for spay or neuter). Guiseppe was one of the cats I was most unsure of. I wanted him to be safe, but I also wanted him to be happy, comfortable, and fulfilled. Here he is while still at the colony home. At the new Catlandia home, Guiseppe was even more fearful and shy. He took to hanging out in a kitchen cabinet space that I had cleaned out and outfitted with blankets and kitty beds. It is a secure and private space. He and the other shy kitty Angel stayed in there. I don't think they ever really became friends, but they are similar souls and at least got along during these trying times of new circumstances. These days Guiseppe is still shy, but his curiosity is stronger at times. He has done quite a bit of exploring, and he loves to play with wand toys, although he still will not come out of his safe zone to play. I have to work the angles to get the end of the toy to swing in to his space, but he goes at it like a kid once I get it in there. He also loves the cattery, and explores the top ramp of it (8 ft high!) with ease. Fast forward to today, to the Big Event. The small thing that is actually a Big Fucking Deal. There is no photographic record of it. I believe there will be in the future, as it continues and expands. Today when the cats were gathering to express their sincere hope in a quick meal, as they bonked heads and entwined tails in their excitement, Guiseppe was in the middle, and though he was afraid and even backed off in fear once or twice, he slid up against 2 kitties and bonked heads with them. I have never seen this before, at the colony home or here. Never. Can you guess which 2 angels he was making friends with? Big Boy and Vito. My heroes. Attaboy, Guiseppe. Thanks for making my heart sing today. You deserve many friends and so much fun and enjoyment in your life.
When I saw the great Wookie Carmelito jump on top of Buttercup Castle today, I noticed his sister was inside her spot. Long white leg sticking wayyyy out of one of the lookout holes in the castle's rampart. This is how Truf lounges all the time. Then I saw the little face inside. A new tenant! Not Truffelina after all! It was Miss Pinky Moon herself! What a fun surprise! Miss Pinky is discovering new places and things and taking comfortable ownership of them. Right on, Miss Pinky! It's a cat's world! Carmelito has to check into this, though. 'How unusual,' he must be thinking. Now, Miss Pinky Moon is a Little Italian, meaning she is from the L.I. colony. Carmelito, on the other hand, is a domestic house cat who lost his home. He is looking for a new home. Miss Pinky could be adoptable too, but only under some extraordinary conditions. Contact me if you are interested in adopting either of these two. For now, let me tell you more about the Wookie, though. First of all, he is the most beautiful cat ever. Exhibit A: Is he not amazing? Wow. What a beauty. He is a big guy, and looks even bigger because he is the furriest cat. Oranges and beiges swirling and patterning and a perpetual look of consternation. Carmelito's hobbies include: eating good canned/wet cat food, playing (wand toys and balls), bird watching, and knocking things off counters and tables. He is a weird and wonderful young man who will fascinate the right person with his quirky cat ways. He keeps his sweetness under wraps at times, and requires a caring, trustworthy guardian to be his best friend. He deserves a wonderful home now. Would you like to be Carmelito's family? Would you like to learn more about Miss Pinky Moon? Contact me! These two are so deserving and so wonderful; you'll never be sorry you rescued a cat, and every day they will rescue you right back. That's what cats do. They're magical like that.
I really apologize for neglecting to post updates here. I am afraid it has become a habit of sloth to go right to Facebook to post about these guys. I will try to do better! I love this website and I hope to upgrade it one day soon. We have had a lot of wonderful progress here at Catlandia! Today I will report on 4 formerly feral street cats who are now here at the Catlandia Feral Cat Microanctuary. These are the most feral ferals here. Progress is measured in comfort, peace, confidence, and socializing with other cats. Sometimes it also included more confidence and trust in me, the lone human here. LITTLE GREY Little Grey is a favorite. People ask me about him all the time. His progress has been quite slow in terms of confidence and socialization to me. But he is coming along at his own pace, and that is perfect. It just got a bit cold here on the southeastern tip of North Carolina. So kitties are craving warm soft spots indoors rather than spending the nights out in the cattery. Little Grey has only ever claimed a couple of spots on the floor, or a couple of inches off the floor. This can indicate that he is a "bush dweller" and it can indicate that he is not as confident as some other cats who go UP. But lately he is sleeping inside a hidey hole in the cat tree that Lani gave us. It is about 2 feet off the floor. He is most comfortable there when I not walking around much. But sometimes he gets to comfy that me walking around doesn't even really bother him. Progress! Plus his eyes are gorgeous, amazing, reshaped and bright. What a miracle. GUISEPPE Guiseppe is quite a miracle man himself. Always terribly shy and afraid, he is now bold and curious and has built a lot of trust with me such that I can touch finger to nose with him often, and even call him to me to do so. He gets up on the bar to sit and look around, and even to take naps! Totally an at risk place..open to dangers of all kinds, and yet he does this with a lot of calm and peace. He is no longer painfully thin. He no longer looks hauntingly frightened. He has made the most amazing progress, in my opinion. NALA & GENEVIEVE Nala and Genevieve are the two torties from the Little Italians colony. They have been so scared and strange. But they are hissing less, and today while feeding Nala I opened her crate, covered it with a blanket, and wedged it open 5 inches so it can't close or open more. She is still in the crate, but I hope she will do some exploring when she feels comfortable with that. Genevieve is going to get spayed in two days. We have been waiting a long while for that so this is very good news. These two photos are not very good or new, but at least you can see their beautiful faces. The first photo is Genevieve and the second is Nala. The most beautiful fierce women ever!
UPDATE!!!!! NALA IS OUT! SHE IS OUT OF THE CRATE SOMEWHERE IN THE HOME. MAY SHE FIND SAFE SPACES AND FRIENDS HERE TODAY. This is a new page about the cats here at Catlandia Feral Cat Microsanctuary. This is where some of the GPKs, and now some of the Little Italians, and more, live in peace and safety and security and as much harmony as we can get.
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December 2015
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