Ellis and Ingleside

The black-and-white tomcat pictured here (I dub him Ellis) was surprised (by me) while eating what looked like a raw chicken wing (captured on film below) out of a dumpster. I scared him away when I tried to give him a can of catfud, and a big black tom with half a tail (now named Ingleside) took his place. He was so happy to see that catfud can that he picked it up in his mouth and ran off with it!

This was in an alley right behind Fiske Elementary, between Ellis and Ingleside, around 61st. Cats eat out of dumpsters when they are very hungry. We need to TNR these toms (and whoever else is around there -- there are never just two cats!) and get them on a feeding schedule.

kittens

Flashback! Emily sent in these photos of the five kittens + mama cat from last fall (scroll thru older posts). She writes that "I believe [they] were born under my parents' porch ... these photos (taken by my mom on August 17th) depict Mama cat herding them to a new base of operations." Apparently Mamma Cat was a frequent visitor to their yard.

Mamma Cat and five kittens were rescued and rehomed. I sent these babypix on to their forever families and got these updates:

Lauren, who kept three of the five, writes that "Igby (FKA Whiteface) is now tipping the scales at 10 pounds and still growing. Bokeh (FKA Fuzzy) is about 9 pounds and still has totally disproportionate paws and head, so we're thinking he's gonna be a biggie. Malcolm (FKA Fatty), ironically, is a mere 6 pounds and looks like he'll be more of an apartment sized cat." Kat writes that "Teak (the runt with the heart problem) is also doing really well. He is still a little guy (though he may also be approaching 6lbs), and he is sooo sweet and gets along fabulously with dog and both cats." Kat also reports to me that the fifth kitten -- now named Olive, and in a third home, but with a 'step' brother -- has apparently "turned out to be a snuggly beast too."

From Feral to Sterile: Hyde Park cat lovers trap, neuter, and release

Article in Chicago Weekly: From Feral to Sterile: Hyde Park cat lovers trap, neuter, and release

I think that's a pretty clever title. Thanks to the Chicago Weekly for bringing media attention to the issue of feral cats in our neighborhood.

cat hut camouflage

I took the styrofoam cat huts to my daughter's preschool. Here they are being camouflaged. The kids were excited to do a mitzvah and help the homeless cats!

Pictures of camo'ed cat huts in situ to come.

Socks

Former First Cat Socks, one of the world’s most famous felines, died today at the age of 20 after battling throat cancer since November. A stray cat rescued by the Clinton's daughter, Chelsea, Socks lived in the governor’s mansion in Arkansas and later moved with the family to the White House. RIP, Socks.

Butterscotch is still around

Got an email alert that Butterscotch was sighted by Hyde Park Union Church. Is this your church -- can you help us trap this poor old guy?

thanks and shout-outs

A shout-out to Hadley Gets Crafty for adding us to her blog!

A big purrrrry thank you to Norah for the generous donation!

A jingly thank you to all the folks who donate to our jar in Grounds of Being, the Divinity School's coffeeshop!

A foamy thank you to Annika for the donation of the styrofoam "cat huts" -- more on this project later -- and the kiddies in Lilah's preschool class who are decorating them (and the teachers who are supervising the painting, natch)!

Foster Failure: Libby update

Ross and Meera were the bright new stars of my tiny foster network. They were doing wonderful things for their foster kitty, Libby ... the very first cat they got in to foster. Then it happened. THEY DECIDED TO KEEP HER. That, my readers, is called "foster failure." But mazel tov anyway! Libby has a forever home!

See beautiful pictures of all the failure at Meera's Flikr site .

Help Australian wildlife

Wildlife Victoria and The RSPCA Victoria need financial donations to support emergency relief work. 100% of donations will support animals affected by bush fires. This is Australia's worst national disaster in over a century; over 180 humans have died and untold numbers of Australian pets and wildlife as well. Surviving animals may be burned and their food supply is in dire condition. Please help if you can. Read more:
Millions of animals dead in Australia fires.

libby

BCE (best cat ever) libby still available ...

Frank was sighted

Frank -- or a black cat at any rate -- was sighted at the Community Garden spot on Sunday. Ginny says "hee was in the bush area with the empty cans of food when I arrived and observed from several yards away while I opened the new food. I went to approach him more closely after I was finished, but he wasn't interested in socializing. Since I don't have a cell phone, I couldn't snap any pics, although I got a good view of his face. He may have a few white hairs in the bib area (unless it was discoloration from light-colored debris in the garden), and has fairly ample cheeks."

See Community Garden -- Frank.

We're still looking for folks in that area -- gardeners, people who frequent Back Story Cafe, Press workers -- to help us with this site. Please get involved!

More Libby

More pictures of Libby, in case you didn't see Meera's comment (Meera is Libby's fostermom). Yes! This amazing cat is available for adoption! She will be admitted into PAWS around Feb. 21st if nobody adopts her, so act fast!

Libby

Libby was plucked from the streets just a few days ago!

Libby's foster mom, Meera, writes:

At some point this morning, Libby decided that the warmest chair in the house -- the one by the radiator -- was hers. She's been sitting in that spot most of the day since (getting up occasionally to eat or drink), looking like she was always there.

She's an incredibly sweet cat with the softest purr; you have to put your hand on her to feel it. She can't get enough of being petted or scratched behind the ears, and she climbs into any convenient lap. And while she loves attention, she isn't terribly needy (apart from last night's plaintive meowing, which we're hoping will not be repeated tonight now that she knows we're not going anywhere). She is, however, rather "kneady" when she gets her front paws on your legs or chest! Since her claws are clipped short right now, that's more pleasant than painful at the moment. She's very trusting, rolling over to expose her belly even though it's still shorn and a little red from her surgery, and she uses the litterbox very well. In short, Libby is a complete sweetheart, a very easy cat to take care of, and would make anyone a wonderful companion.

LIBBY IS AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION. Email hydeparkcats@gmail.com or leave a comment with a valid address!

Swift update

Swift fans: here are some photos of Swift in his foster home. Swift -- you've come a long way, baby, from a cat so feral we streeted you after your neutering -- to THIS. SNORGLING ON A BED. Shameless.

Yvette's blog -- and Nacho

Last night Yvette, who does massive amounts of TNR in Pilsen/Little Village, came to bring Nacho to a fosterer here in Hyde Park and to visit our colony -- check out Yvette's blog with some pictures she took of our kitties eating in the dark.


This is Nacho, now in foster-mom Kierstyn's Hyde Park apartment. She says he's been hiding (not surprising) but did do some apartment prowling last night when he thought the humans were all asleep. He's on the waitlist at PAWS but if you're interested in adopting Nacho leave a comment or email me at hydeparkcats@gmail.com.

Butterscotch

Spotted twice recently around campus: "Butterscotch." Quite thin, drinking from a dripping faucet on one of the university-owned buildings. Dirty face and ears with many little nicks; looks like a homeless tom, a little tired and roughed up. Poor guy has a wound on his front left leg ... He allowed observation calmly, but wasn't having any social interaction. Check out the tomcat equipment in picture #2 (you can enlarge pictures in a new window by clicking on them).

Do you know this cat? Seen at a giant old house on Woodlawn between 55th and 56th and today at Dorcester between 56th and 57th. Does somebody feed him? We'd like to TNR him (or, if he's friendly, TNfoster him).