Picasso is waiting

Fostermom Lindsey says Picasso, who was living in a dirty and dangerous alley before we took him in, is "an absolute pleasure to have around. Perfect for anyone looking for a loyal companion and a cuddle buddy. A total purr machine who adores attention and sleeping on laps. He loves to talk too (which is why we've been calling him Ira Glass). He's such a unique cat, and has the personality of a kitten-puppy hybrid. He will, without fail, greet me at the door whenever I get home, and if all the roommates aren't home, he will hang out close to the door until everyone is together again. He'll then proceed to take turns sitting on everyone's lap. He even licks my face sometimes! But as calm and affectionate as he can be, he also has what seems to be an infinite supply of playful energy, so he's really the best of both worlds.

Everyone who's met him agrees he is a very special and loving cat, so I hope he meets some equally amazing potential adopters."

Picasso went to our adoption event last month and he was amazingly chill. When a dog came in he was like, "oh a dog. Whatever."

Here is Picasso making a friend:



Thank you to the person who donated to us "in memory of [her] mother, Elizabeth Smith, who loved cats!" We appreciate your thinking of us and I apologize that it took so long to get this acknowledgement up.

TNR: R U doing it?

Well folks it's kitten season again. All the unfixed cats roaming our alleys and parks and streets are going to be having their babies.

An unspayed female cat will go into heat every three weeks, and kittens as young as six months old can produce kittens One mamacat can have eighteen kittens in one season!

Many of these kittens will die, because cats weren't meant to live in city alleys. Some of them will grow up to be feral cats themselves, repeating the cycle and creating yet more street cats. A lucky few will make it inside, courtesy of caring people in the community and the TNR movement.

Want to save kittens? Bloggers tell you how. I love 2kitties1pittie's illustrated account of a small TNR project. Guess what -- she did it, and you can do it too.

Twokittiesonepittie: What is TNR anyway?

Beastsandbeauty: Doing right by alley cats

Pictured above: Porkchop and Isla with their baby, MeToo, before Kim TNRed.

Tabby Monster

Tabby Monster is a classic big-headed male tabby cat. He was found outside in Pilsen, eating food put out by animal rescuers extraordinaire Yvette and Frank. After being neutered, he began to warm up and eventually he was allowed in to reside in the special foster room. Yvette reports he has now completed the process of acculturating to the inside. He has perfect litterbox habits, uses a scratcher, and sleeps in a cat bed. He is fine with small dogs, but seems apprehensive about big ones so far, and he's also been fine with other cats (most former colony cats are). Now, T.M. has his own rules about being petted -- he doesn't like his lower back scratched, but you can scratch his head all day, he will even start drooling sometimes because he loves it so much. Like many former outdoor cats, T.M. has a 'special' relationship to food (meaning he LOVES it). He gets a bit bossy at meal time and tries to smack the scoop of kibble out of your hand if you don't pour it fast enough... but he is a doll otherwise. While he may retain a little nervousness around new people, you will soon win him over with food and treats.

Contrast to this photo of T.M. outside in mid-December, when Yvette put him on her to-do list ("TNR this cat"):



Wow! This incredible-looking guy is going to make somebody very happy. TM is neutered, vaxed, neg/neg, and ready for his furrever home. Email hydeparkcatsadoptions@gmail.com to apply.

Mei, and thanks

Some thanks today -- to James M. and Mike H., for their ongoing support. And to Che and Lorelei, trappers and caretakers of South of the Midway cats -- a big thanks for their generous gift to our fund at Tree House Humane Society. Che's employer, who wishes to donate anonymously, matched Che's gift for a total gift of $1,360. The cats who will receive veterinary care because of these donations thank you (well, at least we thank you).

Meanwhile we congratulate Che and Lorelei on welcoming their newest member: Mei, formerly of the Battlestar Galactica (Redux) colony. She is a stunning 3-year-old Turkish Van! Che says "she has been instrumental in teaching me how much the concept of 'feral' is fluid and transitory. May all of your fosters and adoptions be at least one-tenth this easy/joyful/rewarding. Trust me on that one."

Happy life, MEI!

More about donating to Tree House

ETA: WHY CAN'T I MAKE THIS PHOTO ROTATE
 

Furr-ever home updates: Marcus and Martha

Fluffy couch cats.


Marcus, born to a feral mom in South Chicago. Furrever mom Erika writes "He is doing great! When I wake up in the morning I always have a selection of toys laying on my pillow ready for some play time. And he is turning in to a regular water lover, always quick to appear whenever there is running water so he can splash around in the sink or bathtub. He and his new sister Jasper are really starting to get along well. They are at the point where they will nap next to each other, but not quite ready for cuddling, yet. In the picture, Marcus is even curled up around her tail :)." HAPPY LIFE MARCUS!


Martha, scooped out of Animal Care and Control in 2010. Furrever mom Kirsten writes that "Laddie has been such an amazing cat and she is just full of life. She loves to play with her new sister, our puppy, Bailey. She cannot get enough of her. Laddie loves to be with Bailey and Bella 24/7. She really has really become the mediator in the house with our new puppy and Bella. Laddie knows exactly how to get us up in the morning by eating my hair and chirping until I get up so she can go down stairs and eat her breakfast. She also is the culprit of showing Bailey how to jump on our bed and wake us up in the morning. And she loves to come snuggle on the couch when ever she has a chance. She still has her sneezing problems and that comes and goes as the weather changes. Thank you guys for helping cats find homes! They are wonderful creatures. " HAPPY LIFE, MARTHA!

Thanks to all our adopters -- we love hearing from you!

Devon and Goldie Update

An update on Goldie. Goldie and Devon are back in their place with Tanya. Thanks to the Hyde Park Animal Clinic for giving them TLC, and thanks to Martha B. for donating towards these needy cats.

Woodcock

This woodcock was huddled into itself on the playground of my kids' school this morning, clearly injured, so I drove it to Northerly Island, where Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation Center has a small bird hospital. For this deed I earned the dubious distinction of bringing in their first wounded soul of Spring Migration 2012. Chicago is part of the great Mississippi Flyway, and over seven million birds use the Flyway to get to their summer nesting grounds. Along the way many succumb to human-made perils, including smacking into plate-glass windows (like my woodcock).

To learn more about what to do if you find an injured bird (or other animal), please visit Flint Creek's website and/or their Facebook page.

We brought Paloma to this same facility in 2009, and they were just as nice about that pigeon as they were about the woodcock. The average cost to rehab one injured bird is $50; please consider a donation to Flint Creek if you are reading this ... a show of support from the cat contingent!