Member News

I'm a little late here, but wanted to tell you how sorry I am for your loss, mszue.  I have had so many pets (or they have owned me) over the years, but it never gets easier when you lose one.  I am still on a feline diabetes board even though I lost my diabetic kitty 13 years ago.  I think one of the most comforting things I have read there, multiple times is, *Letting your beloved pet go is the last, best and hardest gift you can give to them*.  It never gets easier, but it will never keep me from having more furbabies.  

Here's a little more about me & my furries.  There is even some Adam reference in here.    When I moved here 10 years ago, I came with 5 kitties and 1 pup dog, Foster.  Sasha was my old girl.  She stayed in the back of the house with me as she didn't like the other 4 youngin's, who were only 3.  They came to me when I lost my Simon kitty from complications due to diabetes.  I called them my garden kitties and hence their names, Lilac, Sunflower (Sunny), Sweet William (Willie) and Big Red (it's a tomato, but also what we call our state football team).  I lost my pupdog Foster 8 years ago due to kidney failure.  He was the sweetest, most loving doggie boy I've ever known.  I doubt I will ever have another dog although I love them.  Right now, my inn is full.  

Sasha was 17.5 when she left me.  She was strictly my cat, and not nice to anyone else.  But, I loved her so and it broke my heart to let her go.  We had a very special bond.  A few days before she left me, I discovered a mama cat and 3 kittens in my shed.  The kittens were about 6 weeks old.  Of course, I started feeding the mama & kittens because that's just what I do.  Then, she had 3 more!  Two older males showed up to share in the free food.  My yard was getting so full and I had to do something about it soon.  I contacted a local no kill shelter and found that they would assist with TNR (trap, neuter & release), so I started in and was quite successful with that.  I could NOT trap that mama though, and she had 5 more kittens and then left with 2 and left me 3 black kitties who were about 4 months old.  The old males had been neutered by then and kind of took over raising these kitties.  Out of the 11 kittens that were born, I now have 5 left.  The old males, Dude and Buddy, left me within a year of each other, just disappearing like ferals do.  I hope I gave them a few years of good food and love.  I miss them.

A few other kitties wandered in and I had them neutered, etc.  But, they didn't all survive.  As I got them through TNR, I named them.  I currently have Lambert, a huge main coon looking grey guy who is as sweet as the day is long.  I can pet and interact with all of these furries now.  They know I'm their mama.  S*&@^#r is my big, black guy.  He has absolutely no white on him and looks like a small panther.  Shady and Lucy are twin long haired black kitties.  (I'm sure you're picking up on the names by now...lol).  Shea is the only one without an Adam referenced name.  He is a beautiful dark classic tabby and I was trying to find an Irish name for him as he was TNR'd on St. Patrick's Day and I have some Irish g/f's.  Their maiden name was Shea, so Shea it is!  

Shea and Lucy have been living inside with me for over a year now.  Shea had a virus that was communicable and had to be isolated.  He had been spending nights inside anyway, so after teaching him about litter boxes, he became an inside kitty.  Lucy got very sick and we almost lost her.  She got burrs in the fur under her chin and self mutilated herself so bad that she got sepsis.  My wonderful Vet couldn't guarantee that she would survive, but said she would give it her best.  After paying enough for 2 QAL shows, I brought my girl home and she is now a beautiful, playful, goofy girl.  Well worth the money even if my sons just shake their heads at me.  Lucy is also an inside kitty now.  I tell her she's too expensive to be out in the dangers of the world.  Unfortunately, we have fox, coyotes, skunks, possums and raccoons in the huge field behind my house.  UGH!

Having a feral colony generally keeps other cats from coming to the area so I figured I was done with all of that.  Nope!  The mama came back after 3 years!  I did trap her this time and she is still very feral, but not quite as afraid of me as she was a few months ago.  Her name is now Queenie...lol!  And....another little tuxedo kitty showed up about a month ago.  I don't know if it's Queenie's kitten or just one that wandered in.  Very, very spooky, but adorable.  I have yet to trap it and don't know if it's male of female.  But, I will get them soon as there will be no more kittens.

I suppose some of you think I'm pretty nuts, or at the least a crazy cat lady.  Maybe I am, but these babies are my family.  I live alone.  I have a son, DIL & 2 grandkids here in town, but that's it as far as family and after working 8 hrs. a day, I don't feel much like going out and doing things like I used to.  My furbabies keep me company and love me.  It's my life!  I love it!

Well, I guess I've taken up enough space.  I haven't posted for a long time on the main board, so maybe this will encourage me to get back to that.  I'm getting pretty excited for the upcoming QAL shows and will be sure to comment on the vids we will surely get.  I do read daily and am so appreciative of this board.  Thanks, Q3 and tinafea and all of the mods and others that keep this board running.  A special shout out to Seoulmate for the PM the other day asking about me.  Mwahhh!!