Tail-Less Wonder
One day I took my goddaughter to a friend’s house that had a park behind it. She went to play on the playground with a bunch of neighborhood kids. About 30 minutes later she came running in the house crying hysterically and saying “The boys are being mean to it! Make them stop!”. She couldn’t tell me what “it” was but I gathered it was an animal of some sort. So off we went, running through the park. As I approached the playground I could see a group of boys standing around the slide, taking turns going to the top and throwing something down. I saw it go shooting to the end, I ran over to see what it was and have never been so angry in my entire life. A tiny, TINY kitten that was maybe 2 or 3 weeks old. They were having a contest to see who could shoot it off the slide the farthest. I grabbed the baby, put it in my sweatshirt pocket and informed them that boys, that hurt animals, all turn into serial killers and I was telling their parents immediately. They were young (about 8 years old) so the tears started pretty immediately. I ran back to the house and took the tiny little thing out of my pocket. She didn’t make a sound and just stared at me with the biggest eyes. She actually seemed fine but I obviously had to take her to get checked out. The vet said she had no injuries, was slightly underfed and just needed to be kept warm and safe. Then he said, she might be a pure bred Manx. I hadn’t even realized she didn’t have a tail because the only cat I ever had as a kid was a Manx and that was really quite normal to me. The vet thought that was hilarious. I never even considered not keeping her. I brought her home, introduced her to a new sister cat and named her Emma. It has been 15 years now and she is just the most delicious thing that ever happened. Rachel...
Read MoreScaredy Kitty
Before my husband and I bought a place of our own, our rental home was not pet friendly. As soon as we moved, I began my quest to find the perfect kitty. I stopped by our local shelter many times during the course of several weeks just waiting for “love at first sight”, with no luck. Our shelter has a Facebook page which they use to upload pictures of new animals, and that is when is saw her. I called my husband and asked him to meet me at the shelter. When we got there we went straight to her cage and we didn’t see anything, and my heart sunk thinking someone must have taken her. I asked around and they said: “She is still there, probably hiding under the bed”. And so she was. When we got her from underneath the bed she gave us the mos frighting look, like we where about to hurt her. I remember my husband saying “She is a scaredy cat. She might never change”. According to the shelter’s story, a litter was found on the side of the street with no signs of the mother. Only her and her brother where taken (probably the only ones alive) – he had been adopted earlier that day. I didn’t even think about it and took her home. When we got home, as soon as we open her cage she ran underneath the couch and did not come out for hours. This went on for days. She would just hide under the couch, and the only way to get her out was to be still and very, very quiet. But as soon as she heard the tiniest little noise, she would run back underneath. Days went by and with a lot of patience, and a lot of love, I got her to come out and start exploring here new home. It took us some time, but it was worth it! She is the most amazing, loving cat. She is part of our family and has made our new place feel like real home. – Anto...
Read MoreMeet Minnie
About 5 months ago, my mom passed away after a long 2 and a half months in the hospital. She was my only parent, and really my only family. Her passing hit hard and so did my 21st birthday a few months afterwards. About two weeks ago, a friend of mine decided to sober up, so I offered to clean his house. His ex had a few cats, and in a drugged out haze, she kicked them out and tried to run them off. One found a home with a healthy friend, but the other was hiding. Day 1, a heartbreaking cry comes from the bushes, and I spot this malnourished but adorable black cat. I found a can of tuna inside and left it out for her, but she stayed away. The next day I came back, this time with a bag of cat food. She was crying as we drove up, and she ran straight for the food. After she ate, she came right up to me mewing and rubbed up against my leg, allowing me to pet her. She was so grateful. I decided that if she was meant to come home with me, she’d be there when I finished. A few hours later, I opened the door and she was sitting on the steps, waiting. As soon as she saw me, she started meowing again, timidly coming up to me. Decision was made. She was not terribly happy in the carrier, but the more I talked to her, the more she calmed down. It’s been about a week now, and she’s getting healthier by the day. I’ve also come to realize she loves to steal my pillows at night! Shes so cuddly, and so playful. At first, I thought that I saved her. Which I did, I won’t deny that. But she saved me, too. She’s given me unconditional love and affection, and has helped me grieve. She is amazing, and I am so grateful she chose me! I know my mom’s looking down on me smiling. She always said I’d become a rescuer. Shay Vernon, BC,...
Read MoreHow McKenzie Rescued Me
McKenzie wandered into my small back patio 3 years ago starving to death. I took him to the vet, and low and behold, he was micro-chipped. His owner was contacted by my vet, but they told her that the cat was unwanted. McKenzie also showed signs of some serious health issues. Apparently in his adventures in the outdoors he must have been grazed by a car. His entire left side exhibited injury. After viewing his x-rays we could see that not only did he have a dislocated left hip, but he also had a pelvis fracture. His left fang was chipped at the tip and he had an injured left ear. The main problem with McKenzie’s injuries was that the doctor also detected that he had a heart condition and he could not withstand any sort of surgery. After about $900 and many vet visits McKenzie is now on daily heart medication. He runs through my apartment as if there is absolutely nothing wrong with his hip or pelvis. His left ear looks a bit different from the right one, but he is the most loving, cuddling, and sweet boy. I am so glad he rescued me!! Jean Irvine,...
Read MoreFoxy Lady
Our eyes met when she was bravely crossing the busy road on the bridge across the Fox River. A semi actually went over her before he could stop. But she came out right in front of our car. We stopped and I jumped out. I meowed and she answered back. She was safely in the bushes down by the river. My husband reminded me of all the traffic we were holding up so I got back in, intending to come right back to get her. I told her I would be back to get her and to wait for me. But he wanted to go to the dance and fireworks we were on our way to, but I had time to change his mind. Five hours and many beers later we went back. I found her immediately remembering where her meow was. I meowed again and she came out. I put my hand by her to introduce myself and she popped back into the bushes. I realized my mistake so I meowed once more and again she came out. I quickly grabbed her this time, almost falling into the river. My husband said he will never forget me holding her high up over my head trying not to fall in. She is now a healthy five year old after starting out with ear mites, worms, eye infection and cold. She rules over her two brothers (they get along well with her). We named her Foxy Lady because it was the Fox River she was crossing when we first saw each other. She comes to both of us when we are depressed sensing when we feel bad so we call her our therapy kitty. We are all truly lucky for having each other. Victoria Omro,...
Read MoreHow I met Johnny B
It’s 11:30pm, and my roommate is picking me up at the airport, her first words: “You’re not going to believe this, there’s this cat that’s been meowing at all the windows and doors for the last 2 hours. Doesn’t seem to care at all that there are 3 barking, snarling dogs on the other side of the screen.” I thought about it for a second, and replied “Well, if it’s that desperate, and it’s still there when we get home, we’ll bring it in.” That was almost 4 years ago and Johnny B has been with me ever since. When we first brought him in, we could tell he’d been well taken care of, he even had clipped claws. He was about 10lbs, but you could feel every single bone. We thought he was a little old guy that had probably escaped, and with that bell on his collar he couldn’t have even caught a meal… A cat really didn’t fit in with what I had planned, and a cat this sweet – someone had to be missing him. I was determined to find his family, or if I couldn’t do that a nice new home. So while the flyers went up, he spent every night sleeping with one paw touching me at all times. My roommate even convinced the husky not to eat him, and the little pom-hua and he were completely in love with each other. Needless to say, 2 months later when I still hadn’t found his family I knew I would be keeping him. There wasn’t any chance I’d be able to give him up, I was just as attached to him as he was to me. That’s when I took him to the vet to get him fixed and all his shots and I got a real surprise: He wasn’t an old guy, he was about 8 months old! He was just a kitten. Johnny B, my sweet little boy, is now a healthy 18lb boy that I can’t imagine not being in my life, and yes, he still sleeps with me. Lydia Los Angeles,...
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