Party Report

Matilda's birthday has come and gone, and I'm told it was a hit.

As you're probably aware, I'm not crazy about cats being dressed up, but it was all for a good cause -- kitties raising money for kitties. Perhaps a better idea would have been if the people who attended had to wear faux fur cat costumes. I doubt Matilda wore anything but her own luxurious coat.

Cat Hoarders

I dropped by my local Humane Society (OSPCA) today to drop off some stuff for the yard sale they're holding on August 23rd. The large storage room was bursting at the seams, so it should raise lots of money to help run the centre.

While there, I visited the cats (of course) and found that the shelter had recently taken in 42 cats from the home of a "cat hoarder". I'd never heard that term before, and discovered it applies to anyone owning ten or more cats. I looked up "cat hoarder" on Google, and got over 5,000 hits, but didn't check any of them out because I was afraid there would be heart wrenching photos -- and I'd already seen enough.

The OSPCA had posted some pictures at the shelter depicting the living conditions the felines had to endure -- mounds of garbage strewn throughout, and filth coating every surface. The cats had never played with toys nor had any human interaction, yet they didn't turn away when I patted them. I'm hopeful that once adopted, the cats will respond to the love given by their new families.

You know, we joke about the 'crazy cat lady' , but having too many pets might overwhelm the average person -- no matter how much that person believes they love the animals. I suppose, instead of treating these people with humour, we should make sure the cats are receiving the appropriate care.

Matilda's Birthday Bash

Earlier this week, I received an email from Kim Hong writing for the Algonquin Hotel in New York, inviting Meeko and I to Matilda's 13th birthday party. Do you remember Matilda, the Algonquin cat? I wrote about her here. Unfortunately, we're unable to attend the celebration, but I promised Kim to let you know about it.

Festivities, benefiting the North Shore Animal League America, will include:

North Shore’s Purrrrfect Company therapeutic cats, taking the day off from hospital and nursing home visits, to strut their stuff on the Algonquin Hotel’s “cat-walk.”

Meow-Wear outfitting Matilda’s friends in the latest teen-kitty couture for the cat fashion show.

The North Shore Animal League giving Matilda a special birthday gift of helping find homes for some of her feline and canine friends at their mobile adoption units outside of the hotel from 2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

The Algonquin Hotel’s signature Matilda cocktail and a variety of special purrrr-tinis being sold to benefit North Shore Animal League.

The cat fashion show and birthday reception will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on August 7th. Attendees are requested to RSVP by calling 212-419-9197 or emailing matildaalgonquincat@algonquinhotel.com.


This is a worthy cause, and should be a lot of fun, so if you're in the area, why don't you and your furry friend(s) drop by?

Mark Your Calendars

Sometimes we need a nudge to celebrate the furrier members of our world:

National Cat Day
October 25, 2008

National Dog Day
August 23, 2008

One purpose of these special days is to help galvanize the public to recognize the number of cats and dogs that need to be rescued each year. Another is to urge you to celebrate the pet(s) in your life, to give them unconditional love for the companionship they bestow.

Humane Society Walk for the Animals
October 5, 2008

All proceeds benefit the lifesaving adoption, humane education, and spay/neuter programs.

What I'll Go Through For My Cat

The dried food I buy for my cat is called Performatrin Ultra: Slim Care Formula. It's great stuff (my cat told me so). I recommended it to my parents for their overweight, grouchy as hell cat. Within weeks, not only had their cat regained her girlish figure, she positively purred (Note: they had been using a vet-recommended brand).

As I said, it's great stuff. Unfortunately, in my area, Performatrin can be purchased at only one store. The employees are friendly and knowledgeable, and the store is well-stocked, but I dread going there to buy the food.

Why? Because they have caged kittens and cats up for adoption--right there, at the front of the store. There's no way I can avoid their furry paws reaching through the mesh, nor can I resist their sad eyes and pitiful meows (it's a wonder I don't come home with a package of food under one arm and a cat under the other).

Anyway, tonight I noticed that I only had a bit of Performatrin left. I've thought about asking my husband to go to the store for me, but he'd probably look at me like I'd lost the final bolt that was holding my mind together.

Wish me luck--I'm going back to the store tomorrow.

Click here for more information about this great cat food (would my cat lie to you?)

Strays and Snowstorms

After a snowstorm, earlier this year, I began clearing my driveway. Amid the scrapings of shovels along the street, I heard a plaintive "Meow." Then another. My "Kitty in trouble" radar went up, and I searched for the source.

Several houses down, a large, black and white cat peered from atop a garage roof. A neighbour and I rescued the cat, set it on the ground, and wondered how the big guy got up there in the first place.

Then the cat followed me home.

I should have continued shoveling, but instead, I let the poor thing in the house where he proceeded to eat and make himself completely at home. Only problem was, I already had a cat and she was terrified of the newcomer.

The male cat (alternately named Buddy and Benjamin), was extremely friendly, affectionate and intelligent. And he wanted to be boss. After five days, a visit to the vet, 50 unanswered "Found Cat" notices around town, multiple sprayings inside my house, and an incredible amount of stress in my own cat, I took Buddy/Benjamin to the OSPCA (The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals).

The shelter near my home has great facilities--large rooms, comfortable bedding, clean litters, windows, and lots of cat toys. Despite that, I cried as I filled out the forms and paid the Society to find this wonderful cat a new home. I promised myself that if he wasn't adopted within the month, I'd buy him back and live with the consequences.

During the following week, my daughter and I visited him, and he seemed to have settled in with the other cats quite well. I watched his progress on the OSPCA website (where they had named him "Eddie" for some reason), and by week two, he'd been adopted.

He was only in our house for five days, but he still made a big impression on us. Perhaps not as big an impression as he made on Meeko, our own cat. She still avoids the chair that Buddy/Benjamin/Eddie had claimed for his own.