Wednesday

Wednesday became a Hyde Park Cat last Wednesday. She's a six-to-eight month kitten who wins over everyone she meets. She was found wandering around 60th and Cottage until Kimaya took her inside; she was spayed and vaxed at Treehouse today, where the staff almost stole her away from us. She's very cute and personable; bold, yet cuddly and darling. These photos don't show how petite she is. She's a dear. Adopt her!

Scratchy

Scratchy, a young male from the 82 and Dobson site. TNRed!

Thanks to Marilee W., Desislava P., Dawn D., and Zarinah J. for their contributions to Freddie. Freddie and his primary guardian at the home, Alix, are very grateful. The home also laid off Alix, so she is especially grateful for your financial contributions at this time.

Cornelia

Mama cat Cornelia in terrible shape at 82 and Dobson site. This poor cat ... we can see she is infested with fleas, she has mange or some other skin condition (or maybe it's flea-related), and obviously she has haws, possibly due to tapeworm. She is nursing some kittens so we are afraid to TNR her right now ... we will wait until we know the kittens can make it through a night without her (and then we will get them too, if we can). Poor mama ... all you mamas, like me, who moaned about making that lunch box or whatever this morning ... take a moment to send Cornelia some strength (feel free to also send some money).

ChipIn to help Freddie

A few people wrote me and asked about donating specifically about helping Freddie so he doesn't get tossed out of his home immediately. You can Chip In here. This is not a tax-deductible donation.

Freddie

Freddie is a healthy, friendly, easygoing guy who has spent his whole life as the resident "therapy cat" in a home for mentally ill adults. Freddie's care has been dependent on the funds of this non-profit social services agency. As of this month, the state dramatically decreased this organization's budget, and the powers that be have decided poor Freddie is a luxury they cannot afford. If not for the kindness of the home's employees who fought to defer Freddie's immediate removal, Freddie would have been dumped at the city pound.

Freddie would be great for a family, as he is accustomed to living with lots of people. He grew up with other cats, and gets along with dogs. Freddie is also quite a character. He is currently an indoor-outdoor cat who loves going on walks with his housemates (and even the neighborhood dog!), although we know these cats can become perfectly happy staying inside. He also loves to ride shotgun in the car! Although he is not a lap cat, he loves being petted, and sleeping in bed with people. He is a sweetheart who brightens the day of everyone he meets.

Please consider Freddie for adoption. After all he's given to his human friends, he deserves a safe and happy forever home of his own.

Gus + Tiberias

We've had to start doubling up our fostercats. Please spread the word that we have many wonderful cats available!

We put Gus and Tiberias together and guess what, it's great! Check them out playing in fostermom Courtney's Foster kitteh Flikrstream (some photos show Zoe, who was adopted). Tiberias and Gus can be adopted singly or together. They are both affectionate and playful young male cats. Tiberias was found in Washington Park foraging in a dumpster ... Gus was found in a feral-cat colony. Either cat would be great for someone looking to adopt a cat with some personality and spunk!

Ask about our "twofer" special regarding these boys!

Thanks to Anna F. for her post-mother's day donation -- and for the scale, too!

Antonia

Antonia is a gorgeous young girl (definitely under one year) with supersoft gray fur. She was found wandering outside during one of the stormy nights a few weeks ago ... seeking attention, no collar, no chip, nobody seeking her. She is one of many extraneous and homeless, yet friendly, cats on the western side of Hyde Park. We've had her spayed, vaxed, etc., and the volunteer who picked her up has spent time grooming her beautiful long fur. Wouldn't this lovely Russian-blue style gal light up your life? Apply to adopt Antonia!

Video:

video one

video two

Dobson

Dobson, a tomcat we TNRed on Dobson around 82nd Street

And ... goodbye, Dobson!

ETA: Embedded video seems to be causing a problem. LINK to "goodbye Dobson" video

Noncat blogosphere

While I search for my camera cord, I bring you this post. I'm proud to say that Hyde Park Cats members have a wide range of interests and expertise outside of cats. Here are some blogs kept by our members for your websurfing pleasure.

The Aubergenius, a cooking blog devoted to eggplant
Assisted by Officer Fancy Pants

Kim's Zumba Blog
Once a month, Kim donates her earnings teaching Zumba to Hyde Park Cats. Thanks Kim!

Churros con Chocolate, a cooking blog
Note cat assistant Alba; past posts feature cat assistant Ilaria

Chainlinktrellis, A Blog For Green Thumbs in Hyde Park
By the volunteer who brought us Robin et al.

and finally the most amazing blog in Hyde Park, Hyde Park Cats.

Did you click on that last one?

Nico

Nico was brought to us by a young woman on the South Side who had previously sought help for "broken leg kitty". He is about four months old and full of FLOOF. Sadly for you, readers, he has already been snatched up by a couple with a young-adult cat who was seeking companionship. But you can still adopt one of our other cats and kittens available for adoption.

p.s. "broken leg" kitty in her forever home

April and her kitten variety box

April and her five kittens were dumped at a high-kill animal control center in a plastic tote bag. The shelter was closed but she waited patiently with the kittens until help arrived. She's very sweet and very social. She loves being petted and human companionship, catnip, and finding things to purr about. She adores her kittens and is an excellent mama. The kittens, who are an adorable assortment, are perfectly social and enjoy human companionship. When not purring their hearts away, they love to wrestle and play with each other.

They are currently being fostered in a comfy garage, but are patiently waiting for a foster or adoptive homes of their own. We have five kittens and one young mothercat. Please consider adopting April with one of her kittens.

Photo album

Thanks to Nadia for the dogcrate.

Dog Day: Rosemary update

Something nice for a rainy day. We've had some recent rescues on the highways and I wanted to update readers on Rosemary the red pitbull rescued before Thanksgiving 2009 by Eevie and her hubby, Hyde Park Cats and Chicagoland Bullybreed Rescue (CBBR) Volunteer/pit bull guardian angels extraordinaire! Eevie writes "the poor girl had been dumped by a cement barrier on the Dan Ryan where she laid sprawled out and trembling as cars roared past. She was pregnant at seven months old, covered with bite wounds and too scared to stand, but when the volunteer approached she timidly wagged the bloody tip of her tail. By the time she got in their car she was giving tentative but grateful kisses.

Almost miraculously, this starving and abused dog blossomed in her foster home where she immediately became BFFs with the resident female pitbull who taught her how to play and to sleep curled up on the sofa (this is them on a playdate). Her wounds healed, she was spayed, and after three weeks she was adopted by a fabulous young couple. Rosemary's (now Betsy's) forever mom is herself a rescue volunteer who works with Safe Humane Chicago to educate the public about the kind treatment of animals. Betsy is thriving in her new home where she is a cherished member of the family. She has many dog and human friends and is even allowed to come into the corner store with her mom and dad, who know better than to tie a dog outside. Once Betsy has grown up a little, her parents will begin training her for therapy dog certification.

CBBR does great work saving pitties and pittie mixes. If you'd like to help out, please check out their website or write in to be put in touch with Eevie.

Hyde Park Ballet

It's ballet weekend here in Hyde Park: the Hyde Park School of Dance and the University Ballet, are having performances! These are child-friendly performances, and also really nice community arts events.

And don't forget to write in and mention that you noticed the very best tulip dancer, who is also one of Hyde Park Cats' very best kitten lover-uppers.

Pictured above: recently adopted Lara, performing the famous Cat Ballet, "I Kill You Dead, You String Toy You."

Heartie

In early April Gretchen wrote in about a small shy cat who had been frequenting her porch at 54th near Cornell for a couple weeks. She said "my 2 cats and her have taken quite an interest in each other through the glass doors. Of course I started feeding her after a few nights, I'm a sucker to a cute face." Gretchen noticed the fur heart on the kitty's side and so she was called Heartie. We were able to help trap Heartie and had her fixed, vaxed, etc.; she's staying in a crate in a garage for a while, undergoing socialization.

Other Cats with Fur Hearts

Oni and Afikomen

Oni and Afikomen are waiting for you to adopt them! Act now and this adorable kitten bundle could actually be in your home increasing your quality of life by the end of the weekend!

We have other kittens too -- slightly older kittehs available as singletons, and kittens who are not ready to be placed yet. SO WHY WAIT--apply today!

Anna Conda video

Anna Conda would like to bring her playful and loving self into your home, please. She loves these grey mice, and will chase them into a corner, then "find" them a second later and start all over again. She's great at self-entertaining, so she could be an only cat (of course, if you'd like more than one cat, we encourage multicatting).

Thanks to Rebecca W. and to Susan and Chris F. for their recent donations. We do accept donations of the food your picky eater won't eat, including open bags, or the food your kitten outgrew, etc. We can also accept your donations of carriers, litter, cat toys, etc., which we either give to our fosterers or sometimes bring to the needy cats at AWL. We are often in need of litter as that is a difficult item to buy for those fosterers who are without car.

Capri

Capri was found near Pizza Capri on 53rd street. She's a sweet long-haired beauty who quickly made herself at home in Laura F.'s comfy fosterhome. Laura says she is friendly and loving and quickly found herself a favorite toy and favorite spot. She had no microchip and no collar -- but she was clearly somebody's lovely housepet at one time. Is she lost? Dumped? Please let us know if you know this kitty, or if you'd like to know her better! If an owner doesn't step up we will be offering her for adoption.

Remington

"No paparazzi!"

Remington (TNRed) chowing down at the Brickyard Colony.

Zoe

Well, I never got around to posting this, and now Zoe has been adopted. But every HPC cat must have her day ...


We rescued Zoe from AWL when one of our volunteers just fell in love. Zoe is a ready purr machine who revs up any time she is in your arms. She loves to be scratched on the head and back; she is full of spunk and play and her personality is edgy. She is not a cat that likes to sit around all day doing nothing; if you are around she is darting between your legs to check out what you are up to; she is brave and fearless and sees the world as her playhouse. She loves playing with anything--strings, toy mice, etc. She's super affectionate and loves snuggling. MORE PIX.

Thanks to some of our regular donors for their recent gifts: Chris G., Rhonda S., Veronica W., and Mike H. Purrrrrrs to you.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the mama cats out there ... the cats who were not spayed by their owners and "got pregnant" and then were dumped at Animal Welfare. The cats who are living outside and are giving birth right as you read this, in the best little nest they can manage. The cats stuck in a little cage with their kittens at Animal Control, hoping they get pulled by a rescue before it is their turn to be euthanized. The mama cats who were left behind when their cute kittens got adopted, and who wait and wait for a forever home.

Send a Mother's Day card with a small donation to Alley Cat Allies, a national umbrella organization working on outdoor-cat issues.

Happy Mother's Day to my mom, who manages her own outdoor cats (and indoor cats) and is the reason I keep this blog. Love you Ma.

Augustus

Augusutus is still waiting for a forever home! Fostermom Courtney says "Gus is a curious cat always inspecting any new purchases and ready to greet any guests. He is always in the mood to play and will chase around his little stuffed mice for hours. He is not a lap cat, but always wants to be nearby you and enjoys being scratched on his head." What a handsome orange man. Gus was found by one of our feral-cat colony caretakers, but he's clearly not a feral! He wants a home of his own. Gus gets along fine with others cats (and is on the submissive side).

Sitwell

Handsome Sitwell was found in a window well by a maintenance person at the UC Hospital, who then contacted us. Luckily Claire M. had just written in asking about fostering a cat, so we were able to take Sitwell in. She says "Sitwell is as loving and outgoing as they come. He has been accused of actually being a dog in cat's clothing; however, he fits nicely in laps and does not need to be taken for walks. Also, purrs. And purrs. And purrs."

Project 60651

Project 60651 and the world's cutest kitten

Nursing Home Cats

"South of the Midway," for those of you outside Hyde Park, refers to a specific swath of real estate that extends a few blocks south of the Midway Plaisance between Stony Island and Cottage Grove. This little area is being developed by the University more and more as time goes on, but it is still home to numerous apartments and condos, some churches, plenty of alleys, and LOTS of cats. There is also a nursing home in this area where some outdoor cats congregate for food, and volunteers have been working to get those cats fixed. So far one male and five females have been trapped and fixed. Three of those females were pregnant! Whimsey, Windsor, Phoebe, Felicity, Lillet, and Abby, you shall procreate no more, no more, procreate no more. Pictured here is Abby the Tabby.

Thanks to Nancy, Paula, and Ruth for performing this valuable service to the community. If you would like to go cat-trapping too, let us know! The only way we can reduce the numbers of homeless and feral cats is through TNR. We need more people who are able to go out and get it done and we are particularly interested in hearing from you if you live South of the Midway/Woodlawn.

Oni

I know some of our readers have problems viewing ultracute pictures.
If you're one of those folks, view at your own risk!




Oni: Adorable. Tortie. Baby. WANT.

found cat

Found a friendly but apparently lost cat last night in Hyde Park. Email hydeparkcats@gmail.com with photo and/or description if you are missing your cat.

Aki and Oni

Oni and her sister, Aki, were at the Animal Welfare League's 62nd street facility without their mom, so we took them home with us. Sadly, Aki died after a week in foster care. Many of these little sweeties who are at the pound or born outside just don't have the strength to make it -- but we are so glad we could give Aki a week of Danna's loving fosterhome.

These two pictures together show these beautiful baby tortie sisters together. Aki has the bright orange slash on her forehead; Oni has a pink nose. Oni is doing great -- tune in tomorrow for some unbelievably cute pix!

Thanks to Danna for caring for Aki; and Aki, look for some of our other HPCats to help you at the Rainbow Bridge. RIP Aki.