Kittenpalooza: July 10!

Join us on SATURDAY JULY 10 at Parkers Pets, 1342 E. 55th St., for tiggerkittenpalooza!





Meet and greet our kittens available for adoption! We have plenty of darling and adorable kittens for you to hug and pet!

Please come and support Parkers Pets, who give us the space and time for these adoption events at no cost. They have donated a lot of food to us and help us out in many ways. Neighborhood small woman-owned business, yay!

Thanks Rhonda for the food and to James for his donation.

Lydia

Lydia is a very pretty calico found nearish to Black and White Cat World. Diane, the B/W caretaker, says her husband Jerry "scared the kitty out of the peony bush near our parking area when he came down to help bring in groceries last night. note to my husband: help bring in groceries. He said there is something wrong with her eye. I knelt down to take a look and try to coax her out --imagine my horror when she looked at me with one eye and a pink socket! I put some food down immediately, because who goes grocery shopping without buying cat food, and she immediately went for it."

Lydia is a very sweet and affectionate cat. She is a young adult, apparently has had kittens at some point in the not too distant past, and ... has a very distressing problem with her eye. She is ravenous. After a stopover at Ruth's Hotel de Garage she is now with fostermom Amy who says she is the friendliest cat she's ever met, and it's hard to take pictures because Lydia keeps getting right up into the camera in order to be close to her new fostermom.

Moses

Little Moses was found under some bushes in the middle of the night and coaxed out by Ben and his room-mate. He is a friendly little kitten, about six or eight weeks old. Where did he come from? Moses is currently with fostermom Laura S. but will shortly be available for adoption.

Lotta

"Tabby patch" of a few posts ago -- trapped! Spayed, tested, etc.; currently pondering the indoor life in Vicky's bathroom. She eats out of the hand and allows pets on the head, but hisses when Vicky enters the room. Friendly or feral? Stay tuned to find out.

found cat

another cat found, 47 and woodlawn. email your description or call 773-538-7613.

three kittens one box

BOX FIGHT!

Dharma initiative

Dharma and her initiative of kittens continue growing ... in cuteness! Pictured here are

Thanks to Rob S. and Laurie K. for the recent donations of "stuff." Yes, readers, we CAN use your open bag of cat food, etc.

Thanks to Amy M., Julie L., and Jennifer McD for their donations to Nadia. Anything left over after paying the vet goes directly to helping other cats in need.

found cat

found cat. write in with a description or photo.

Nadia update

Nadia died yesterday afternoon at the vet hospital. In the late afternoon, she quietly slipped away, peacefully and safely. This is the painful part of our work – having to face the fact that we can’t save all of the cats. Her death also raises the inevitable question of how we use our resources and whether it is worth trying to save a little cat like Nadia who was alone in the world and who didn’t belong to anyone.

Mary Jean, who was alerted to Nadia's plight and picked her up and drove her to the vet writes that "there are no easy answers for these questions, and we have to ask them over and over again. However, for myself, I am confident that we did the right thing for Nadia. She didn’t belong to anyone, but for seven hours yesterday, she was cherished by the Hyde Park Cats network; she was held in our hearts and surrounded by our compassion and love. She died in a comfortable bed, swathed in towels, warmed by hot packs (when she came in, her body temperature was 2 degrees below normal), and carefully turned by the vet techs at Hyde Park Animal Hospital. Having seen her sprawled at the bottom of a concrete stairwell, in the middle of filth and covered with flies and fleas, I have absolutely no doubt that we did the right thing in providing her a dignified and peaceful death.

The painful irony is that we can only do our work if we become deeply involved with all the individual cats that cross our paths, and yet maintain enough emotional objectivity to be able to let them go when the time comes – and still be willing to love the next one that comes along. Nadia’s brief moment in my life only strengthens my resolve to continue both loving and letting go."

To all who contributed to her care and to the rest of you who sent good wishes her way, thank you so much for these profound gestures of humanity. Nicole T., Norah O'D., Chelsea L ("Eemo"), Ruth A., Annika H., Kat H., Amy L., Marilee W. ("mom"), Heather S., Anna F., Alexis C., William M., Mamiko S.: together you have covered the bill for providing a quiet, warm, safe, and peaceful death for one small and vulnerable member of our community.

Nadia, rest in peace.

Nadia

Nadia (young female, about 6 months) was found at the bottom of a stairwell in the 6700 block of Cornell (Tanya's Tribe territory), barely breathing and limp. She is at the veterinary clinic now, but it is unclear about what is wrong. Given her symptoms, it could be trauma (though there is no evidence of wounds or broken bones), toxicity, or heat stroke. She is on fluids and perking up some. Can you please help us to cover the costs of her care? Her name, Nadia, means hope. Keep your positive thoughts flowing for Nadia ... and open your wallet! Donations of any amount are welcome. Please do not think that ten dollars doesn't help. It goes directly to paying the veterinary bill.

Champagne Chateaux

Some pictures from an ongoing TNR/TNA (trap neuter adopt) project in Oakwood just to our north, near Champagne-Furbana and seemingly an offshoot of it. The gorgeous petite female is now spayed....she has a sweet personality. Feral male Orange Cat is back in the alley after being neutered and seen by a vet for a bad leg (they said soft-tissue sprain) and seems to be fine. Then there are some kittens: a beige boy about 4 months, fixed and all, and a female that is a little darker with more stripes. Candice, the caretaker of this area, is socializing the kitties and also doing some kitty decorating ... see below! Some of these cats are perfectly friendly and are available for adoption. Thanks so much to Candice and Walter for working on this project to help the cats!



Thanks to the Veres Family for the donation!

Bulldoggy

Bulldoggy is an incredibly sweet and friendly, five-year-old, four-paw declawed, green-eyed, black and white cat waiting for the perfect home at the Felines Inc shelter in Chicago. Click on the image to view it larger in a new window.

Bulldoggy absolutely loves people; she is extremely affectionate and playful. She prefers to be the one and only pet in the household.

Sadly Bulldoggy came to the Felines shelter in appalling condition (photo at right). Most of her fur was missing and her eyes and ears were swollen and inflamed due to a horrible allergic reaction. Luckily the folks at Felines didn’t give up on her, and she has absolutely thrived with lots of TLC, a grain-free diet, and daily medication.

She was found in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. The woman who found her had brought her back to her “owner” who said … “just let her die out there.” Her rescuer wouldn’t allow her to suffer so she contacted Felines. How embarrassing for us here in Hyde Park.

Bulldoggy is now in great condition, spayed, virus-tested, micro-chipped, and up-to-date on rabies and distemper vaccines. She will need to stay on a grain-free diet which is readily available at pet supply stores, and Felines will provide medicine and lab work for her lifetime.

You can meet Bulldoggy at Felines Inc from 12:30PM - 6:00PM seven days a week. For more info, please e-mail info@felinesinc.org or call 773-465-4132. Felines Inc is located at 6379 North Paulina (corner of Paulina and Devon). Her adoption fee is on a sliding scale from $75 to $100 and benefits the 125 rescued cats at the Felines Inc shelter.

shluffin' ketzels

Kittens shluffing. Three of Sophie's six ... available for adoption!

Amos and his Mamacita

Amos and Mamacita of Tanya's Tribe are inside. Mamacita is very shy; she'll return to Tanya's alley. But little Amos is a darling little boy, about three months old and quite possibly the softest kitty ever. He is currently on antiobiotics for a goopy eye but will be as good as new in no time. We are accepting applications for adoption for this special little sweetie!

try try again

Trapping cats requires patience and commitment. Here are some tabby patches still on the loose chez Vicky, evading the traps once again at evening feeding time. Keep trying, Vicky!

Kittens in paper bags

Kittens. In paper bags. Available. For adoption.

(Two of Sophie's Six.)

Big Papa

Big Papa was a surprise catch at Tanya's Tribe a few nights ago. He's an old male tom, as evidenced by his giant "football" head. Poor Big Papa has clearly been on a downward spiral: he has fluid in his lungs, a touch of pneumonia, an upper respiratory infection. He has bad rips in his front paw pads (so bad that flesh is coming out) and there is an old wound by his ear. Also, he has many broken teeth.

As tomcats get older, they fare worse and worse in the inevitable fighting. The amazing thing for B.P. is that he is negative for FIV and FeLV! So he's been neutered and he'll spend a bit of time in a fosterhome -- in a crate, at least at first. We'll report back on Big Papa's progress.

Thanks to Norah for her donation to help Big Papa on his healing way. And Scott, that's your dog crate he's in! All our work is funded by donations.

Rock a bye, kitty kat

Please help me ... adopt these kittens before my kids become permanently attached. Poe, Annie, and Lennon are wonderful little kittens, very sweet. All three of them enjoy cuddling. They also "enjoy" being carried around like a baby, being carried around in a basket, wearing dolly clothes, and being pushed around in dolly stroller.

תודה בנות!

Hyde Park Cats would like to thank the "Girls on the Run": Danielle, Eliana, Leah, Aya, Naomi, Leah, Lia, Margalit, Gabrielle, Sarah and Lilit. The girls postered a big chunk of our neighborhood as a mitzvah project and to help raise awareness of homeless cats! TODAH RABAH, YELADOT! תודה בנות!

pictured: orphan kitten Poe with an admirer.

Minette et Martha

Readers, sad news: kittens Maxime and Maurice succumbed to a strong URI (upper respiratory infection). Volunteer Sue S. and fosterparents Claire and Olivier made heroic efforts to save the kittens. Martha is the sole kitten survivor. But she and maman Minette are beautifully gray and gorgeous and we expect Martha to make a 100% recovery. Please email us with offers of a home. Minette is extremely affectionate, decorative and soft, loving and a good companion.

Thanks Scott M. for the donation of the dog crate. We use dog crates to socialize shy cats and to isolate nursing moms.

Happy Birthday Ariel!

Ariel in Evanston has turned 11 and she's donated her birthday money to Hyde Park Cats!

Happy birthday to you, Ariel, and purrrrrrrs from all the cats!



pictured: former alley cats turned housecats Leonard and Cohen.

Squash

Slideshow! of kitten siblings Acorn and Butternut. Unbelievably, these two adorable kittens are still seeking a loving home.

Tanya's Tribe

Some members of Tanya's Tribe at 67th and Cornell. So far nine cats have been TNRed here! Abraham and Socks were captured on Saturday. We wish all feral cats could have a dry protected spot like this. Thank you Tanya for caring for your cats.

The kitten in the foreground of the top picture is Amos. He has a URI and cannot be fixed until it's a little better.

Big hugs to Mike H. who donated towards this specific project. We always need more!

Dharma initiative kittens

Rousseau, Eko, Sawyer, & Hurley

Hurley, Sawyer, Eko, Rousseau (not indicative of gender). The Dharma Initiative kittens are seeking their forever homes: no island dwellers need apply!

Thanks much to Paula S. for the stuffs!

wuv

Widdle kids wuv kittens, you know. Save the kittens from my daughter's wuv! Adopt today!

Thank you for the donations: from Ellen O'B. and also from Rowenna T., who donated in the name of Janelle Thorson. Purrs!

Make your kids happy ...

Make your kids happy -- adopt kittens! Conversely, make kittens happy -- save them from these kids!

We have a number of wonderful and delicious kittens available for adoption. Kittens must be adopted in pairs and we offer a reduced fee.

The feral crisis

Seventy to seventy three percent of cats and kittens that enter shelters are killed there. More surprising than that is why some are marked for death. Find out more at The Feral Crisis, a paper written by MY NEPHEW for a middle-school project. He is seeking constructive criticism. Please help support the next generation of TNR activists by reading and commenting on his paper.

Pictured: two feral kittens at Clyde Colony.