Happy New Year!

It's the last day of 2009, we're looking at a new year and the beginning of a new decade. What will this new decade bring as regards cat welfare?  My wish list would fill this blog! I hope it brings more compassion, more thought, more responsibility towards these beautiful animals. 

Even after 15 years working in cat rescue, I am still shocked, still appalled, still heartsick, still distressed, still so very sad at the way cats are treated.  We have a love/hate relationship with them in this country, we either love them or hate them.  The amount of people who say "I hate cats!" with real feeling annoys me so much.  And if you ask them why, you'll get some pretty lame excuses: "I was bitten by one when I was a child."  (Well, I was bitten by a dog once when I was a child, but that doesn't make me hate dogs or even be afraid of them.). "They smell!"  (Not if they're neutered).  "They're dirty!"  (Not if you provide a litter tray).

We need a seismic change of attitude towards cats in this country and that's what I hope this new decade will bring.  We need to open our minds, step outside our comfort zones and try liking cats!  

I got a Christmas card from a family I homed two kittens to earlier this year, it sums up what I'm saying:  "Just to let you know the kittens are doing really well, getting bigger by the day.  I have to say after 2 dogs, we are definitely cat people.  We adore them and they bring us all great joy, they're like 2 added family members.  Thank you so much.  The other night we all sat watching the X Factor Final in bed and the 2 cats curled at the end of the bed, spoilt or what!!" Now, that's what I like to hear!  

Happy New Year everyone!

Rosie and Jack dance on ice

Poor Jack and Rosie, my two dogs, they haven't had a proper walk in over a week.  We usually stride out every day for a 3 mile hike, but that's come to a skiddering halt this past week. The road outside our house has been treacherous since before Christmas due to the very bad weather, - 7 degrees some nights and lower.  It's like a skating rink out there, cars skidding into the ditch, cars abandoned.  Every morning we walk/slide down the drive to check the conditions of the road. It hasn't been good.

Jack with his long greyhound legs is not impressed with dancing on ice. The first time his legs went in four different directions, he got such a fright, the look on his face was very much a "what the hell was that?" look.  Rosie struggles at times too so they're almost happy not to be going for a walk.  Normally they'd be bouncing around straight after breakfast impatient to get going. Now, we struggle to the end of the drive, survey the glacial road surface and there are no protests when I turn to go back to the warm cosy house.  But it is thawing and tomorrow is looking very good.    

Wheelchair for peaches?

Last night I was looking at wheelchairs for Peaches, the CH (cerebellar hypoplasia) cat, on the internet.  For those unfamiliar with CH, it can occur when a mother cat contracts panleukepenia (feline distemper) while pregnant which can in rare cases attack the cerebellum of the kittens resulting in balance problems, jerky movements, tremors and walking difficulties.  There are several videos on YouTube which show these loveable cats in action.

Peaches came in last year at 3 days old with her mother and siblings, it took a few weeks to realise she had CH.  Her litter mates were all fine. She is a complete sweetheart and the love of my life.  She will of course live out her life here however long or short that may be.

Peaches is 8 months old now, a little small for her age and is quite severe in that she can manage a few slow steps before falling over. But in every other respect, she is a cat.  Sure it takes her longer to eat or get to where she wants to go, but she gets there in the end. She has her own way of doing things and that's fine. She has a good quality of life, good nutritious food, a heat pad in her bed at night to keep her cosy, plenty of toys to keep her occupied, her own way of playing and trips outside to "climb" trees (I hold her while she climbs with her front legs).

But I often wonder if a quad wheelchair would benefit her.  There's a website in the US with some amazing machines for animals with special needs. 

http://www.doggon.com/doggon_photos.html

They have a branch in the UK which I checked.  Might give them a call in the next few days. Prices begin at £400 stg!

Halle is her name

So, I was considering Christmas names for the black cat abandoned here this day last week and the first to pop into my head was Holly.  Followed by Noelle, Carol, Twinkle, Tinsel, etc. I really like Holly but we've had a few Hollys over the years and then I though of Halle, after Halle Berry. I love it!  So Halle it is. She popped in today for a quick cuddle, too quick for me to scan her for a chip. It would be a surprise if she is chipped, but you never know, it's becoming more popular.  It would be great if she was, I could contact the owners and either return her to them if she strayed away or have a word about them dumping her here.  Otherwise a new home will have to be found for her. She's joining a long list!  I am completely over run with cats.

Whoever had her took great care of her, her black coat is shining with good health. 

I'm not sure where she's sleeping. There are extra beds in the blue shed for the feral cats so that's an option and the old sheds at the back are accessible. And of course there's food in the blue shed and under my car all the time. It's the best I can do for her at the moment.

Abandoned black cat is a girl

This morning, when I got up to let the dogs out for a wee, I spotted the black cat who was abandoned here last Tuesday under my car.  I was so relieved. There was no sign of her at all yesterday at either morning or evening feeding times so it was really good to see her, the weather is soooo cold.  I thought the dogs might have chased her and she was too frightened to come back, especially after all she's been through - dumped here sometime last Tuesday when no one was home in the freezing cold weather (some nights - 7 degrees!) with no warning, no call, no note, nothing.  If I hadn't gone into the blue shed and seen the unfamiliar dustbin lying on its side, an unfamiliar towel in it, the lid hanging off,  I'd never have known.  The cat obviously had got out of the dustbin and scarpered through the permanently opened cat flap. There was no sign of her for two days until I heard her meow in the distance on Christmas Eve and suddenly she appeared, a lovely black young cat with a round face and yellow eyes. She's been coming at feeding time every day since except yesterday for some reason. 

Then later this morning she actually came into the utility room while I was getting the food ready for all the cats and I was able to pet her and give her a cuddle and discover she is a girl. She is an absolute dote, very friendly, purring and meowing happily and in great condition. She seems to be standing her ground with all the other cats.  No mean feat!  Whatever her story is, I'll probably never know. Wonder if she's spayed?  And what shall I call her?  

Welcome to the world of cat rescue

Welcome to the world of cat rescue.  I hope this blog entertains, but also hopefully informs, raises awareness and highlights the plight of unwanted, homeless, stray, abandoned, neglected and feral kittens and cats in Ireland, of which sadly, there are many thousands.  Welcome to my world!