Kitten

I promise to write a REAL update as soon as I can, but for right now all I can manage is to tell you that the kittens we rescued from Georgia arrived last night at 11PM. If you want to see something completely insane, release 9 HUNGRY, FREAKED OUT, TIRED, PENT UP kittens into a SMALL ROOM!

Imagine these kittens have also been locked up in cages at a shelter for weeks on end-some, most of their short lives. I've never seen so much bouncing, jumping, hopping and flat out running (then slamming into each other) in my life. The air was electrified by the release of all their fears as they tried to figure out in the space of a few seconds- where they were, where the food was, what where these things (toys!) all over the place and where did they go to the bathroom.

It was exhausting just watching them-which was about all I could do. I grabbed a few and bathed the stuck cat litter off them and I petted a few as they raced by.

Speaking of exhausted-that would be me and that would be why I can't write much more. I was up until 2am, then got up early to find out what they had done to the foster room while I was asleep. I imagined a 6 foot hole in a wall with smoke billowing out of it and everything in the room, shredded to tiny pieces.

Oops. Gotta go. Am bringing three kittens to Jennifer's house and I don't want to be late!

Will, not one to travel alone, has decided that he needs to bring two of his buddies with him when he comes to Connecticut this weekend. Strange that he didn't ask me about this first, but just invited them along. Who am I to say, “No” to cute, fluffy babies? I cannot say “NO”. So...

...please welcome our latest, busted out, but NOT from a Kill Shelter-we're just helping Dr. Anderson out...Pip & Squeak (at least that's their names for now until I come up with something better).

These cuties are not sisters, though they sure look like it! I don't know much about their story of how they got to Dr. Anderson. I just know they got vetted and tested and one is spayed and one is not and that's good enough for me. I am so READY to get my hands one some kitten! Woohoo!

I think I've had a two week break from fostering. I like having time for other things, but I hate going into the foster room. Opening the door and not having kittens come out to see me or to get blasted in the face by the acrid stench of "clean me NOW" kitten litter pan...well, it just touches anyone's heart to conjure up this Hallmark image. Really, I miss fosters and fairly soon I will have SO MANY of them, I will be in a really bad mood or really happy or a mix of both (most likely).

So tonight I leave for the CWA Conference! I'm super excited, not ready, nervous and tired. I hope I figure out how to do a good "pitch" of my work so I can get some PAYING writing gigs. I hope I have good hair. I hope that when I see Dr. Kevin "Hottie-Cutie-Pants" Fitzgerald tomorrow night that I chose the perfect outfit to get his attention and undying love forever or for at least one really good, memorable night. CWA President, Amy Shojai, I hope to GOD you didn't read this. I'm sure you are far too busy preparing for our Conference to read my tiny Blog that no one but about 7 people read a day. Really, don't read this. If you're reading this than stop, before it's too late and I make a total ass of myself before I meet you.

Oops.

With such sad news today, I wanted to let you all know that there ARE some very joyful things brewing behind the scenes. It's been going on for a few weeks now, but I don't want to completely spill the beans until things are finalized, but...

Does this cat look familiar? He should, by now! Do you think I'm going to tell you he got a Rescue Placement? Or...a Home? Did I have something to do with this? You know me!

And who is this cutie? You've never seen her before. She looks like she's in a cage? Is she going to be busted out soon?

What a face! What the heck is going on over at Covered in Cat Hair? Have we lost our minds? Who are these kittens?

Truth is...we never stop working on rescuing kittens in need.

These kittens are all together and are hoping to find homes. Their next stop...just you wait and see. I promise to tell you more soon!

Looks like Blackberry is in trouble! Good thing this mousey doesn't have teeth!

Yesterday I had a good chat with Karen, the ACO at Jasper about the kittens. They just had their Vet visit and got their Health Certificates for travel. Thing is-they CAN'T go anywhere just now!

Turns up, some of them have coccidia, which if you don't already know, is VERY contagious to cats, dogs, people! Oops. It would be one thing if they had it here and we could contain it, but it's just not safe to transport them if they have it.

Karen was surprised at finding the cats have parasites because they didn't really show anything more than some soft stool and kittens have all sorts of funky stool and some times it doesn't mean anything is wrong.

The kittens will go back into quarantine for 10 days to get their Albon twice a day. ALL the animals at Jasper Co. are going to be treated, as a matter of fact, to make sure it doesn't become a nasty problem. What a pain in the butt!

Karen, a former Vet Tech, sighed and said how she wished she could get a microscope and some slides. She knows how to read the stool samples to see coccidia. If she could have caught this sooner, this wouldn't have been a big problem. It also would save her $10/animal for testing and that money could stay in her budget to make the shelter even better.

I told Karen to let me know what she needs. We'll do a fundraiser for them if the county can't afford to help her out. If we have someone willing to do the work, we KNOW it will pay off and then some. Karen was shy about asking me for anything. I don't think she understands how many people care and want to help, but just don't know how.

I think Karen may be surprised to find out!

If any of you have access to a great microscope that needs a good home, let me know. I'm going to wait until I hear more from Karen about what she wants, but heck, doesn't hurt to ask to "re-home" medical equipment if someone is not going to be using it any longer!

Sorry. There's no link or Petfinder ad for this plea!

I keep hoping I can look at cats who are in need of rescue and find an excuse why I can't stick my neck out for them all. Most are too old for me to foster, but when they are young and without their mom and living in a VERY HIGH KILL SHELTER in GEORGIA, I have to, at least TRY to help them.

These beautiful babies are located at Henry County Care & Control in McDonough, Georgia. They are at HIGH RISK of being EUTHANIZED as Henry puts down 300-500 a MONTH.

I KNOW you don't want them to die. I don't, either. Here are our options to help:

1. FIND A GEORGIA LICENSED RESCUE GROUP who can remove the kittens and foster them until they find forever homes. Contact Betsy or anyone at Henry Co. Directly-ASAP. Their number is: (770) 288-PETS. The ID# are 11/9-5526~5527~5528 for litter with black & white kitten and ID# 11/9-5522~5523~5524 for litter with siamese kitten

2. FIND A PERSON OR FAMILY who LIVES IN GEORGIA and get them over to Henry Co. ASAP to ADOPT one or more of these kittens.

3. IF YOU ARE A RESCUE GROUP OUT OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA and are in the NORTHEAST OR SOUTHEAST USA AND CAN OFFER A FOSTER HOME PLACEMENT TO ONE OR BOTH LITTERS, WE WILL WORK WITH YOU TO RAISE FUNDS AND ARRANGE TRANSPORT. KNOW NOW THAT IT CAN COST ANYWHERE FROM $250 TO $500 TO PULL A LITTER OUT. THEY MUST BE IN 2 WEEK QUARANTINE OUTSIDE OF THE SHELTER BEFORE THEY ARE TRANSPORTED. WE HAVE SOMEONE WITH A GA LICENSE WHO CAN PULL THE KITTENS BUT YOU MUST MUST MUST BE A SERIOUS, BONA FIDE RESCUE GROUP WILLING TO MAKE A COMMITMENT TO THESE ANIMALS. PLEASE DO NOT WASTE OUR OVERLOADED GA LICENSE HOLDER WITH "WISHES TO HELP BUT REALLY AREN'T SURE" YOU NEED TO BE SURE. CONTACT ME: info@coveredincathair.com ASAP and I will get the ball rolling.

5. SPREAD THE WORD!!! Tell your friends to tell their friends. The more people we tell, the more likely we will find that "needle in a haystack!"

If you live in the NORTHEAST OR SOUTHEAST USA and want to adopt one of these kittens and are SERIOUS and can PAY for transport-around $200, plus boarding fee, vet fees (very inexpensive in GA), etc...then let me know and I'll get you helped out.

I don't know if I can help these kittens. I deeply want to, but I already have other promises out to take other kittens and only have so much room in my home. This is why I'm asking for help.

If you have questions...drop me a note.

PETFINDER AD FOR KTITENS ABOVE Their ID#'s are: 11/9-5526~5527~5528

PETFINDER AD FOR KITTENS ABOVE Their ID#'s are: 11/9-5522~5523~5524

These kittens are too beautiful to have to die tragically. I know I ask often for help for cats. It's tiring. There are so many. These guys really need help that's life or death. This is no joke.

Thank you all for your time and for letting me share these beautiful kittens with you.

Thanks to Winging Cat Rescue, Barb Lowe and Susan Birnbaum (who created the lovely graphic), we are now ready to ask for donations to help us move the 8 Jasper County Shelter kittens from their cages into loving foster homes in Connecticut. Once here, you know what we do! We find them great homes! These cuties won't stay long with us, we hope! Those sweet faces and personalities to match will make any cat lover's heart swoon.

Since we can't cover all the costs to rescue these babies, WCR is helping us by doing the fundraising-so all your donations are tax deductible! They are also doing all the paperwork so the kittens can be legally removed from the Shelter, since we don't have the proper license to do that. We just have a few empty rooms in our homes and anxious hearts to get them filed back up with more babies!

Please put out the word, so we can get funded quick! We need to get the kittens ready to go by next week...or else!

Thank you SO MUCH for your help! I appreciate it most sincerely. I promise we'll find each kitten a great Home for the Holidays!

P.S. Make SURE you check off "GIFT" with your donations using PayPal or else they deduct 3% of your donation for their fee!

Will continues to heal. He's eating well and his eye looks better every day. He's a far cry from where he was just a week ago-broken, bloody and dirty-either hit by a car or beaten by a cruel human. Regardless of what happened to Will, he survives as a loving, outgoing creature.

A lot can change in a week. Last Friday Will was at extremely high risk of being euthanized as he was taken to a place where they had no funding to care for him. Thanks to Jenna and Dr. Anderson, and LOTS of generous donations from all of you, Will got the chance to live.

Will looks clean and healthy. His eye is much better now and he just wants a home. His little tabby "cap" reminds me of my own cat, Spencer! Thank you for the photo, Jenna!

Our CiCH friend, Terry, helped get the word out on Will. He did a really fun poster for Will and tells me that over 14,000 people have heard about Will needing a home!!! So where is that ONE person who will step up and adopt this cute, 1 year old kitty??

Yes, Will still needs a home! Please visit his Petfinder Ad
and send it to all your friends! We can get this done, people! Will is waiting!

Will got neutered and while he was sedated Dr. Anderson took a better look at the injury in his mouth. It appears his palette is cracked, not surprising and pretty much cinches he was hit by a car, over being abused. His eye is healing, though it's not looking very pretty right now. In due time, Will should be able to heal from all of his injuries without surgery...knock wood.

Once Will was feeling up to it, Dr. Anderson let him out of his cage so he could stretch his legs and head to the second floor where comfy beds were to be found, along with some much needed peace and quiet. Will gets on well with everyone and has been assured that he has a place a the Cat Clinic for as long as he needs one. It's better he stay at the Clinic, than risk going to the local shelter. He's safe and getting stronger each day and eating well.

But where is a Forever Home for Will? Who would love a sweet, a "10 out of 10" on the friendly scale, kitten to call their own? So far, no one has stepped forward. Will doesn't need any further medical care and his costs have been paid for in full. All he needs is you-know-what (LOVE!) and a you-know-what-else (HOME!)

Will IS located in: Greenville, South Carolina.

Visit Will's Petfinder Listing HERE

Transport to the Northeast or Southeast CAN be arranged. If you're interested in Adopting or are with a Rescue Group and can foster Will, please contact Jenna Gutierrez (864) 801-3177 or email her: tomjeng@charter.net

Some cats truly get a raw deal in life. Little Fireball is a good example of that. This young cat, only six months old and barely over 5lbs., has been living in a cage for most of his life. His precious kittenhood, gone and each day his age makes it harder and harder to get adopted. The cycle never ends. The torture of confinement may eventually drive this poor young cat to some serious behavior problems.

Photo courtesy Jasper County Animal Control

Right now FIREBALL is doing well. He's healthy, affectionate, friendly. He likes other cats and people. He has the perfect Tabby personality, which makes him a great family companion. He's still a kitten at barely six months old. Did you know a cat isn't fully mature until they are FOUR YEARS OLD? That would mean, Fireball has a lot of playfulness and youthful exuberance left in him-and certainly a full life to live.

Photo courtesy Jasper County Animal Control

Fireball needs a Forever Home. If you live in the NORTHEASTERN United States we can fairly easily get him transported to you from Monticello, Georgia. If you LIVE in Georgia, then get your butt over to Jasper County Animal Control! Call: (706) 468-0396!!!

Please, tell your friends about Fireball. He's a sweet boy and he's been overlooked long enough. He's got a big heart and lots of love to share, so please give him a chance to win you over!