Robin Olson's blog

If you don't count the GILLION or so articles, stories and posts I've written here as being published, then you can visit one of our good friend's-Feline-Nutrition.org where I'm proud to say, I have my first article posted!

I'm constantly asked by my adopters; "What should I feed my new cat/kitten?” My article discusses the challenge to change peoples' minds about the dangers of feeding a dry/kibble diet, why Raw feeding is excellent for cats and how they can, at least, begin to make a change, even if it means only feeding a grain-free diet.

My article is here, along with oodles of information about what to feed your cat and why, including helpful tips and stories from folks, like you and me, who are struggling with keeping their cats happy and healthy.

Also, they just re-designed their web site and it looks fantastic! So be sure to stop by and check it out!

Control-A-Cat Remote Control

I love this part of the description: “No batteries required - powered by wishful thinking.”

If only it really worked. Also, it's missing buttons for: “Don't PEE There!” and “Quit Bugging Me, I'm Not Going to FEED You Right Now! (Not sure that would fit on a button, though.)

A few folks have asked how to make a donation as a "Gift" so our fundraising isn't charged a 3% fee and we get 100% of your donation. To do this You must have a PayPal account!

1. Log into your PayPal account

2. Select the top tab that says "SEND MONEY"

3. In the "To" box fill in : SpaldingUrgents@hotmail.com

4. Type in the amount you want to donate (remember, for this fundraiser, I will MATCH your donation, dollar for dollar)

5. There are TWO TABS below the amount you are donating. One says PURCHASE one says PERSONAL

5. Choose PERSONAL

6. Then select: GIFT

Fill out the rest as prompted to complete the donation. There's a MESSAGE form near the end, where you can designate that this is for "Santa's Team" or the "Reindeer Kitties" and we will direct the funds accordingly.

THANK YOU!

These are my babies-the cats and kittens I've “busted out” of Henry County in McDonough, GA-home to 90% euthanasia rates. These cats are on their way to having their first Christmas out of a cage, no longer facing certain death.

I've got transport lined up. The cats are in a boarding facility, in two week quarantine until they can be cleared to leave for Connecticut. The last piece of this phase of their rescue is to raise funds to cover their needs until they arrive. Some will be spayed or neutered. All will get their combo tests, first FVRCP shot, de-wormed and de-flea'd. Their boarding is $5/day; some are boarded for more than 2 weeks due to transport run timing. The costs are listed below.

I realize that asking to raise $925 is asking alot-which is why...

FOR EVERY DOLLAR YOU DONATE, I WILL MATCH IT UNTIL WE HIT OUR GOAL OF $925. THIS MEANS I AM PLEDGING ABOUT $463.

THANK YOU for your help. I know these babies would not stand a chance at life, let alone a Happy Holiday without ALL of OUR EFFORTS! We've had a GREAT YEAR together! I'm SO PROUD of ALL OF YOU for doing SO MUCH to help cats in need! Let's end the year with JOY, knowing that although we can't save them all (yet!), we can save some. Thank you for being part of my Team and sharing my passion.

Thank you to Barb Lowe & Susan Birnbaum at Winging Cat Rescue for making this rescue possible!

The only Holiday Song my cats know is: “Feed Me! Pet Me! Feed Me!”

(from left to right) Petunia, Spencer, Gracie, (front-center) Nora & Nick (held by Gracie) Bob J. Dole. ©2008 Robin A.F. Olson

This sweet little fella wasn't doing so well when I picked him up from our Director a few days ago. Two young boys found him in a dumpster, filthy and starving. I was scared he'd die before I even got him to the Vet (which I admit to driving a weeeee bit over the speed limit to get him there quick).

Cheech needed a lot of care, so he stayed at the Vet for the weekend. We were all worried that the call would come in saying he'd passed away.

But Cheech is a plucky little kitten and after a bath, some fluids, antibiotics, good food and some rest, he started to perk up.

Cheech got to hang out with Kringle, the last kitten from GA to get adopted. Their friendship was short lived. Kringle went to her forever home today. Her adopter's daughter got Kringle for her birthday gift. When she realized she could take the kitten home she screamed aloud; “I gotta kitty! I gotta kitty! I gotta kitty!”

I feel badly that Cheech is alone. My efforts to pull a dozen (the Twelve Cats of Christmas!) have failed. I've rescued NINE cats so far, but the remaining three...well I don't have a GA Rescue license and sadly, things are too busy with other rescues to add mine to the mix. I am determined to take more on as soon as I can.

Meanwhile, Cheech will enjoy the comforts of a warm room and enjoy driving me crazy by finding a way to get behind the TV, which requires me to take way too many things out of the way to get at him. I've blocked off the access, but I swear he can slip through objects to hide. I'm annoyed I've been outsmarted by a KITTEN!

Chee-chee is a cutie pants, so he has that going for him. That and the biggest, roundest belly I have ever seen. He's been de-wormed. Hopefully it's nothing more than that. I need to get this boy healthy and relaxed and ready for his forever home! I think he's well on his way.

P.S. I did NOT retouch his eye color! Yes, they ARE amazing!

My dearest friends and supporters. In August I began “busting out” cats and kittens from Kill Shelters in Georgia and South Carolina. Each time I've done it, I've worried that I've taken on more than I can handle and each time things work out, although there have been PLENTY of bumps along the way.

Kringle (below), Nino (top center), Nina (center), and Mayflower (right), four of the nine kittens I rescued over Thanksgiving. Kringle is the only one waiting to find her forever home. The rest are all adopted and with their families.

With the Holiday Season in full swing, my mind and efforts should be focused on preparing for Christmas, but I cannot. I cannot sit around while I know that 90% of the cats in one shelter don't make it out alive.

I've decided to do ONE, BIG, PUSH to pull more cats and kittens than I ever have before.

I'm going to have a very long, elegant neck from sticking it out so damn far.

I hope to “BUST OUT” at least TWELVE cats. Five are already in quarantine awaiting transport and four more joined them, today. Tomorrow, I hope to get the last three.

I hope you're with me on this, guys, because I'm not going to be able to do it without some help! Talking about money is uncouth, so I'll leave it for now, until we're ready to go with fundraising. In the meantime, if you wouldn't mind digging around in your sofa cushions for any loose change, you can set it aside for the newly rescued kitties. I would be very grateful and I know they would be, too.

In less than a month “our Will,” the kitty who survived being hit by a car, stuck at a shelter that would have to euthanize him due to his medical needs, then suffered a 900+ mile transport, is now living the life of luxury in Connecticut.

Apparently Will is:

1. not afraid of dogs

2. the alpha dog

3. a bed hog

Photo of Will (left) and Millie (right) provided by Will's doting Mother, Clare, who we at CiCH simply adore!

It's a good thing his family is English, because they teach their companions good manners at all times. I'm sure Millie, the dog, would never be so rude as to insist on getting her dog bed back! Also, with Millie's excellent breeding (pardon the pun), there are high hopes that it will rub off on our wiley, Will!

Will, please learn to share, buddy! Glad to see you doing so well!

Although I'm still foggy after a VERY LONG WEEK, I have to shout out that yesterday's adoption event was our BEST EVER! Yes, we're a small group, but sheeeeeet we did great! 10 out of 11 cats are either ADOPTED or have an ADOPTION APPLICATION on them that needs to be processed. With any luck, those cats will be in their new homes in a few more days!

IN JUST OVER A WEEK ALL THE KITTENS HAVE FOUND HOMES-PLUS 4 ADULTS, PLUS TWO 16 WEEK OLD KITTENS WHO WERE RETURNED TO OUR PROGRAM (COMPLETELY OUT OF THE BLUE) WERE ADOPTED BACK OUT IN 5 HOURS!!!!!

Yeah, I'm PUMPED UP! And geez. I'm realizing I won't have any kittens for a few weeks! How will I stand the loneliness?

Oh. I know! I'm gonna BUST out MORE KITTENS from that nasty-ass KILL shelter in GA! HA! HA! HA! HA! Yes I am insane! Plans are in the works for another BUST-OUT announcement! Hopefully, it will go smoothly, but Monday is “euthanasia day” and while I'm glad there's no Hallmark card for that, I'd like it if there was one for BUSTING THEM OUT day!

STAY TUNED!

About two years ago I trapped a few feral cats. Two of them: Buddy and Bronte, have taken to hanging around our house; enjoying the endless buffet, fresh water and cute little feral cat shack-including a heated cat bed!

The kitties have been showing up more and more often. It's nice to see them relaxing in the screen room, out of the worst of the weather. They're not terribly afraid of us, but they do keep their distance. I keep toying with the idea of pulling Bronte back inside for hard core de-sensitiazation, but she is chubby and seems happy. If I kept her indoors all winter, it would mess her up if I had to let her go back outside come spring, if she didn't want to be a domesticated kitty-pal.

I suppose that one of the cats wanted to thank us for the great grub, since they're probably “not that into” mice any more and they're probably trying to tell us that we suck at providing for ourselves. Obviously they haven't seen the mountain of crap we eat every day.

Or perhaps they have?

Regardless, this (see below) was left outside our front door.

Gore blurred out of respect for the mousey and so you guys don't barf.

This poor little mousey is in Heaven. It's earthly remains are all that linger. I'm sorry the little mousey died, but am glad to know that should I run out of cash, feeding all these damn cats, that I can count on my feral cats to provide for me.

Now if I could only train them to rob banks and vacuum the house, I'd be all set.

Rest in Peace, little mousey.