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The 20 Cats Sponsored by Cats in Need Cyprus

I was so happy when Cats in Need generously offered to sponsor the sterilization of 20 cats for me recently. Doing TNR and feeding cat colonies by yourself can not only be exhausting, it can be very expensive, so I was delighted and grateful when Cats in Need offered to help.  It was a big help.  And just in time, as several cats at my house were coming of age.

Cats in Need is a charity organization abroad that helps people like me doing TNR in Cyprus.  It is Cats in Need that donated my traps once upon a time, and they have helped me a lot since I began doing this in 2011. 

Please, if you would like to help Cats in Need help people like me in Cyprus, they welcome donations, and they are wonderful folks.  I get a lot of emotional support from them too, even a hug or two.  You can donate to Cats in Need here, a very worthy cause: Cats in Need

So!  Let's unveil the cats!

Here's a roundup of the 20 Altered Cats! sponsored by Cats in Need:

1. Starlight



Starlight photo IMG_3947Starlight1_zpsb6231fde.jpg
Starlight, mother extraordinaire, who also must have received Abraham's promise of many heirs


2. Sox


Sox altered photo IMG_6609_zps98abf2bc.jpg
Sox, who loves to do the scoop


(Speaking of which, here is a picture of Jayne from Cats in Need Cyprus visiting with the above two, Starlight and Sox, at my house before this transpired.  It wasn't planned, but they turned out to be the first two cats I altered!  I thought it was funny!  It must have been Jayne's tap!)


Jayne and Scoopy Sox photo Jayneandscoopysox_zpsf0f26b11.jpg
Jayne petting Sox with Starlight behind


3. Crackers:


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Crackers in bed is a GREAT habit


4. Bouncie


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Bouncie, the toe nibbler, who prefers bouncing to walking


5. Rudolph


Rudi Rudolph photo RudiRudolph_zpsb63dda76.jpg
Rudi likes to play in all the reindeer games


6. Bonnie


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Beautiful ingénue Bonnie needs a pink bedroom


7. Boogie


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Boogie, the precious water artist, working on her MFA


8. Vincent


Vincent photo IMG_9449VincentandToy3_zps4932d3b7.jpg
Shy, head tilting charmer, Vinnie Vinnie Voo!

9. Vanna


Vanna photo IMG_7855_zpsedb51c8b.jpg
Vanna, with her little black leather nose, granddaughter to Big Van from Sammy's, and his namesake


10. Olive


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Olive Oil, because she goes down so smooth and heals.  She likes to lick fingies and has a tiny goatee.


11. Dimples


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Dimples, one of the delectable Candies, who croaks like a frog

12. Innocence


Innie Innocence photo IMG_8572Innie_zps83141eee.jpg
Innocence, better known as Innie, the adorable loudmouth


13. and 14. were sisters, Dusty and Zelda, from the park


Dusty and Zelda photo IMG_6423ZeldaandDustybytheSea800x533_zps916312f7.jpg
Dusty and Zelda, some serious dark sugar rush when they pile on to love you!


15. Bubbles



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Bubbles, but I call her Baba.  Small, sassy, and in charge!
16. Godfrey



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Photogenic Godfrey, found as a tiny kitten at the nearby dump, still thinks I'm a tree

17. Rainbow


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Rainbow, a friendly neighbourhood cat, taught Sox the scoop

18. Alethia

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My little Doris Day, Alethia, plays the acordian

19. Punky


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Punky da da, perpetually surprised, wonderful mother figure


20. Cocoa


Cocoa photo IMG_8582Cocoa3_zps2f0de577.jpg
I'm cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs, she walks like a ballet dancer with great turnout.

and one for good luck :)  I got a little extra discount at the vets so I was able to do one more:
21. Stuart Little


Stu photo IMG_8439_zps8b5a890d.jpg
Hi Stu! Tiny man with hooks for claws!  Likes to scare the dog!



Thank you again Sue and Jayne and Cats in Need!

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Heartbreak - Losing Sunshine in The No Generation




I believe in some blending of hope and sunshine sweetening the worst lots. I believe that this life is not all; neither the beginning nor the end. I believe while I tremble; I trust while I weep.


- Charlotte Bronte



Sunshine photo Sunshine_zps2d150513.jpg
Sunshine

I was asked to help this beautiful new-born kitten by a kind young man named Christopher who contacted me through Facebook.  He met a kind young lady named Victoria at the vet.  She found the kitten, an apparent orphan.  They both brought the kitten to me late Wednesday night.

I originally posted their photo on Facebook to ask for help, along with a plea.  Although there were a handful of shares, and close to 400 people saw the post, no one responded to help.  I agreed to take him.  I believe it would have been better if someone with more time and energy nursed him, for his sake.  But there was no one.

He came rather strong I thought.  He fought valiantly the first 18 hours, but then he seemed to weaken last night.  I fell asleep on the sofa.  I was exhausted.  I didn't wake to feed him again until this morning, and he was already fading away.  I blame myself.  I think if I had woken in the middle of the night he would have had a better chance. 

I feel sad when I ask for help and there is silence. I feel sad when I think of Jesus saying the harvest is great, but the workers are few.  He commanded us to therefore pray God sends more workers into the harvest.  I pray this. 

I have a name for this new silent generation.  I call them The No Generation. 

These two young people who brought me the new-born kitten were Good Samaritans, lovely young people who I pray will never change.  Yet, they put their trust in me and I failed them and I feel terrible. 

Sunshine passed away this morning despite all my protesting and prayers, despite all my efforts to keep him warm and to wake him from the sleep I saw him falling into, and despite all the animal rights and welfare activists hollering on Facebook.  He stopped taking the milk, his suckling grew weaker and weaker.  I am greatly saddened, I feel helpless, and yet I still have faith.  I said yes.  I still believe it would have been better for the kitten if someone else had said yes.  But there was no one willing. 

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Victoria, the lovely young woman who saved Sunshine, bought formula for him.  She bought a lovely carrier for him that when I look at I want to cry.  She brought him wrapped in the softest blankets. 

I do not know if Sunshine was a he or a she. 

Godspeed, Sunshine.  Your memory is eternal with me.

I pray God sends more workers into the harvest. 

I pray for a Yes Generation.

Victoria, Christopher, I am so sorry. 

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Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? ’When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? ’Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ - Matthew 25:35-40



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The pluses and minuses of a day

On the plus side for today:
Coming home to really cute kittens
12 free cans of kitten food
Free parking
Boss in a good mood and it's the end of my work week
We've raised over $2000 for Teddy's surgery

On the minus side:
Blinky has been peeing all over the place since the kitten's arrival
Too many things to do in every day
New kittens at Gloria's and nobody to foster them

Simon, Liesl and Ellis


We will see what tomorrow brings, I've got some feral cat feeding, a vet visit for the kittens, a drop off and pick up at THS and Lionel's dentistry.
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Saving Teddy

There's been a lot of thinking and discussion lately around what to do about Teddy and his ears that need surgery.  I was feeling daunted by the procedure and the amount of money it would cost but then Sandi met a woman in Florida who had just had the procedure done on her cat.  I spoke to her and what she told me gave me hope.  Now this was a tame indoors cat but the cat is 12 years old and has had ear problems for 6 years.  Her cat had the surgery, no problems or complications and now is totally fine.

I can't turn away from Teddy especially with all that has happened lately.  I can't leave him in pain nor can I just decide to euthanize him so we are going to help him.  I have a sanctuary lined up as a possibility in case he can't go back to the colony.  We have to at least try.  I know it's a lot of money but   helping Teddy and all the cats that I can help represents the thousands I can't.  Every cat and every animal has the right to lead a dignified life free from suffering.  I feel as responsible for Teddy as I do for every cat in my home so I want to give him a chance.

We've started an indiegogo campaign and are on our way to raising the money for the surgery.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/cherry-street-cats-teddy-s-vet-bill#home  If we can save Teddy it will be worth every dollar.






Yesterday I was feeding and Ulli, who runs the boatyard, is back so I told him what had happened with the dog.  Coincidentally DJ (without his dog) had also just shown up - first time since.  Ulli was furious and went over to talk to him.  It was a bit of a scene, Ulli yelling, DJ lamely defending himself.  At the end of it the agreement was that he wouldn't bring his dog back.  Small consolation for Audrey, but without DJ's last name and address there is little more I can do.  I have to tread lightly, I need Ulli to stay on side, it's only his permission that allows us to be there.  It's a bit of the wild west there and seems everyone wants to avoid the authorities at all cost whereas law abiding people like myself have no fear of that.  I find it maddening, I try to be a good person, and guys like this get away without consequences.
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Easter kittens

Look what the Easter bunny brought, a basket of kittens!  There are six kittens in total from a feral mom , I think they are only about 4 weeks old, so young they don't even know they should be feral, they are all purring and playful.


Happy Easter to all, it's a beautiful day.  Spring means boatwork at the yard, Teddy's feeding station got moved and of course we are still on constant dog patrol.  My niece will be coming by soon to name these cuties.
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What a week

It's been a stressful week, no wonder I'm now sick with a cold.  Violet and I managed to trap Bright Eyes with the drop trap on Tuesday evening.  I'm always on pins and needles when I have a feral at the vet, waiting to hear what they find.  This time they found nothing, she looked fine, her teeth weren't a problem, we ran bloodwork, all normal.  They gave her some fluids and an appetite stimulant and she ate well last night so Bright Eyes can now go home.  I don't know what was going on but hopefully she continues to eat well.

There has been no sightings of the guy or his dog but I'm still so worried.  And I got a call from Gloria, the woman with the large backyard colony near me that I TNRed last year.  Her house just went up for sale, in a few months I don't know where those cats will go for food or shelter.  Maybe we can convince a neighbour to help out.

This is Ricky, Freddy's brother, who also is looking for a home.  He's a bit more social than Freddy, funny how each cat in a litter has a different personality.

Ricky
I'm lying around drinking tea trying to get better and hoping for a peaceful easter weekend.
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Meet Freddy

Freddy had a rough start to life but all that is different now, he's on his journey to a better life.  He was born outside in an alley sometime late last year and the man who feeds the cats brought Freddy and his siblings inside in January, a bit later than we normally bring in feral kittens so they were all shy.

He found a home for two and by the time I discovered the situation had Freddy and his brother in a cage in the middle of an antiques store.  Freddy had gone to a home with two dogs and not surprisingly didn't do well and was returned.

Susan agreed to foster the two who clearly needed some socialization.  Freddy's brother Ricky came along faster so Joanne took Freddy in for some intensive work.  In a few weeks he's made a lot of progress but needs a patient quiet home.  I know the right person will come along, he loves to be patted and play.  Another one saved from the rough life of a feral cat!  It helps to make up for the heartache recently experienced, I feel like I'm suffering from PTSD.  Now I have to trap Bright Eyes, she's not eating much.  The last few mornings I've lain in bed with my kitties holding them tight grateful they are safe and warm.
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