New Years Eve

This New Year's Eve, cats and kittens in our fosterspaces -- like Roger, who was living in the Liliana Colony at 62nd and Cottage, or Curly, from our Pullman sister site -- await forever homes.

Paulina and Heartie, shy kitties who were living outdoors for probably their whole lives, are inside and learning to love this New Year's Eve. Paulina has an adopter waiting for her, but Heartie still seeks a home.

This New Year's Eve, we remember the kitties we said goodbye to in 2011: Zane, Opus, Reese's Pieces, Duke, Aki, Sophia, Meshi (who died in her adoptive home), 65 and Woodlawn Kitten ... and those who never had a name.

This New Year's Eve, our alley cats are eating ... and not procreating.

This New Year's Eve the kittens we're going to unveil soon are charming their fosterfolks and getting ready to charm potential adopters.

This New Year's Eve, some adoptable cats -- like Orange Cat and Charlotte are outside, waiting for someone to want them.

This New Year's Eve, all the kitties who were adopted from us in 2011 are curling up with their forevermom, or foreverdad, or foreverkids, with the memory of their outdoor life behind them.

This New Year's Eve, homeless cats out on the street are still cold and hungry.

May 2012 bring us many more opportunities to rescue cats, yet fewer cats to rescue.

December

December is usually our slowest time of year. We scramble for foster homes as our devoted fosterers take a break from their fostering duties to travel for the holidays. And usually there is very little interest in adoptions this time of year.

Something great happened this December -- you could call it a [insert your winter holiday of choice here] miracle. EIGHT kitties found new homes. Yes, readers, if I were more on the ball I would have made this post on the eighth night of Hanukkah! But better late than never.

The starring lineup is:

Octavia and Livia: two of our many current kittens, together!

Grady: whose adopter recently lost an elderly ill kitty.

Shy Paulina, picked out of the Nursing Home colony at 62 and Dorcester: whose adopters asked us to suggest a kitty we had a hard time placing.

Jojo: who got his very own 12 year old boy for Christmas.

Ellison: A 'foster failure' case with a new kittysister.

Paxton, the cat who beat the odds.

and Clark whose adopter and boyfriend TNRed a cat with our help months ago, and so that good deed came back to us when it came time for her to adopt her own kitty.

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WANT TO MAKE AN END-of-the-YEAR DONATION? Click here to read our FAQ on donating to Hyde Park Cats. We have tax-deductible and non-tax-deductible options.

HUGE THANK YOUs to RECENT DONORS! To Ginny L. and Dan M. for their generous end-of-year donations to our fund at Treehouse, we thank you for funding many TNR surgeries for future kitties. Thanks also to Veronica W. and to Matt M. for donating to our local efforts!

Shia (Shy-a) was a starving stray found in the backyard of an apartment building. Despite being allergic to cats, her finder took her in when it became too cold for her to remain outside and named her Shia, which means “follower,” befitting of her sociable nature and tendency to follow her person around from one room to the next. She's a lovely green-eyed girl, about five, and she is always good about using the litterbox and her scratching post. Shia adores playing with feathers and sparkly balls, knows her name, likes to cuddle, and has a genuinely sweet and social personality.

Shia's finder has allergies and we need a home for her! Please help Shia ring in the new year with a purr.

Grady: ADOPTED! Grady wishes everyone a happy happy end-of-Hanukkah/Boxing Day/end of the year!

Thanks to everyone who has made Hyde Park Cats run this year. To our fosterparents, who take such loving care of their charges -- thank you! To our fabulous team of volunteers who do everything from coordinating trips to the clinic to accounting for our money to checking references to setting up adoption events -- thank you! To our adopters, who welcome our cats into their forever homes -- thank you! To the community (businesses like Parkers Pets and 57th Street Books, various University offices, and all the individuals we meet who want to help, and do) in and around Hyde Park and beyond, who support us in so many ways -- thank you! To our donors and readers who sustain us both physically and emotionally -- thank you!

Specific thanks today to Amy and George D., who wrote "Happy Holidays! Thanks for everything you do." Thanks to Yvonne S., whose donation "is in memory of my mom and step dad's beloved kitty, Bella, who passed away this year after a long life as a cherished family member. And thanks to Sherri C.; Julie L.; and Judith D. and Michael C.

Happy ending update: Ellison

Ellison has found his forever home just in time for the holidays! Forever mom and dad say "We love Ellison (now Balthazar) and his squeaky little meow, the way he stretches his whole body out for a tummy rub, and how quickly he became friends with our other cat, Portia. The two of them love to play-wrestle, sit together by the window, and "help" with research by settling down on stacks of paper or warm laptops. He is a sweet, affectionate, debonair cat (just check out his bow tie), and we're so happy to have him as part of our family!"

Patches

This little calico cutiepie was rescued from one of our numerous alleys. She is only about six or seven months old. Patches has been microchipped, spayed, vaxed, and tested for FIV and FeLV ... and she has such cute little pink jellybean pawpads!!! She says this grumpy face is only because she doesn't know if she will be opening a Hanukkah gift, a Christmas present, or a New Years Eve offering ... in a forever home?

Sofia

Our friend in cat-rescue Heather S. has worked very hard for the last several years TNRing her South-Side neighborhood of Pullman. Not only does she TNR in her neighborhood, she has pulled multiple friendly cats, such as the majestic Siegel off the streets. In her spare time she "enjoys" rescuing cats from highways.

Heather has a special case she would like some help with, a black kitten named Sofia. Heather writes that "Sofia had trouble walking pretty early on but nobody could figure out what the problem was. She wanted to play so badly but she seemed to be in pain when she would even attempt to walk." Finally a diagnosis has been reached -- this kitten has Rickets, a rare vitamin D deficiency which causes Sofia's bones to be very soft, causing constant painful fractures and deformity. This is treatable and since it was caught early, good news -- but that comes at a cost.

If you would like to support Heather in her excellent work saving cats on the South Side, and help give this kitten a shot at life, please consider The Sofia Chip-in. I know this post catches you at a time when you have already been asked to give to many causes. Please know that small amounts do add up for those of us trying to care for the kitties in our midst.

Sofia is also in need of a forever home, of course. If you feel you are up to the challenge of loving this adorable but special kitty, then perhaps you are in for the happiest holiday of any of us. Contact hydeparkcats@gmail.com.

Roger

Roger has been waiting for his forever home for a long time. This handsome punim belongs in your home, making it more awesome. Apply to adopt him right now.

Still plenty of time to get one of our stocking stuffer/any night of hanukkah emails (you can also buy a paper one at Parkers).

Thanks to Anna F. for the donation and to Janice C. for the towels.

round-up

Great news! Yesterday we brought Paxton to be tested for FIV/FeLV, and he is negative for both! Paxton had been discovered in a yard in a crate with another cat, and that cat was discovered to be dying from FeLV. Paxton seemed healthy, so we gave him some indoor fosterhome time before testing him (to rule out any false positives). And he's neg/neg, so this beautiful boy is healthy and ready to be adopted! View the video ... he plays fetch.

Yesterday's group trip to the clinic also included an adult male, Lenny, from the Parkview Katz colony, and a lone kitten, Opus, from that same colony. Opus has a serious eye infection requiring antibiotics. We are keeping him in a volunteer's bathroom for now, but are seeking a foster home or two to help us with our cat overflow. Would you like to make a concrete contribution to goodwill towards ALL this holiday season? Foster a cat!

Thanks to the UC Admissions folks who posted us on their Tumblr. We appreciate the support!

Huge thank-yous to some recent donors: Joanne S., Mike R., and Jennifer P., and to Mary H., who donated to us in honor of Meg Matthews and Bryan Howie. Your donations pay for spay/neuter surgeries and vaccinations for street cats and routine care as needed, such as booster shots, for cats in our foster-care system. And thanks to Anna F. for the donation of cat toys (etc.), which I've been giving out to fosterers. Thank you all!

JoJo

Jojo is a young beautiful male tabby. He was put outside by his owners, and ended up outside the door of one of our feral-cat colony caretakers, where he cried and cried, begging to be brought inside. He is extremely playful, enjoys people, has a bit of a superior attitude towards his fosterdogsister (understandable), and loves to play with his feather stick, and is looking fior a home where he can run and jump and play.

Thanks to recent donors Anne C., Gretchen E., Michael H., and Yoko K. We appreciate your support!

stocking stuffers/hanukkah gelt

Need a stocking stuffer or small gift for someone for Hanukkah? Donate $5 or $10 (or more, if you like!) anytime this week and I will email you a PDF (printable) stocking stuffer certificate! It will have our logo and be cute. Please specify "stocking stuffer" if paying by Paypal.

Nicole's Service Project

Last week one of our volunteers, Sarah Z., told me that her 8th-grade cousin, Nicole, was undertaking a service project as part of her confirmation. Here is her story!

Sarah writes, "First, we read through information on HPC and Tree House about the importance of TNR and the decline in euthanasias in Chicago since aggressive spay and neuter programs were implemented. Additionally, we went over ways to trap safely and eliminate any physical contact with the cats. Then we set and baited the Tru-Catch traps.



We choose a gangway alongside my garage where I have caught four ferals during the summer. Nicole made sure the traps were set correctly and we sneaked inside the garage and sat against the farthest wall. I made sure the cats could not see us, but that we could hear the traps spring. After an hour, we had not caught any. Nicole rebaited the traps so that they smelled as pungent as possible and we moved them to the yard side of my garage where the ferals sometimes congregate. We then went inside and peered out my glass back door. No luck and then it started raining.

I wanted a hands-on experience for Nicole, so we headed into my basement bathroom where I keep my fosters from PAWS. I had three 6-week-old kittens in there, recovering from being separated from their mom and taken to animal control. Nicole syringe-fed the two who still need formula. She did such a good job... a total natural!"



Nicole herself writes that "what I will remember most about working together with my sponsor on this project was definitely when we were in the garage, waiting for the cats to smell the tuna in the traps. It was fun, also, to set up the traps, knowing that, if we caught one, we'd be helping the cat we caught by making sure that it will have a better chance of surviving after it is returned to the place where we caught it. Once they're spayed, there would be less cats out there, allowing the remaining cats to have enough to survive."

Thanks to Sarah and Nicole for this project. And you know, we've all been there not catching cats in our traps! It's part of the experience. What a great way to spread the TNR message and what a wonderful post for our Monday mornings.

Rosemary update; black kitten needs help

Dog update: Pit bull Rosemary was originally featured on our site here in 2009. She had been abandoned on the major highway of Chicago. We've caught wind of a wonderful update. Enjoy!

We've had a couple sightings of a very small and scared black kitten around 55th and Everett. If you see or even capture this kitten, please let us know immediately. If possible, take the kitten inside and isolate in a bathroom.

Thanks to recent donors James M., Carissa H., Diane H., Diana Z., William M., Marilee W., Davi da S., Rhonda S., and Mark C. and Kim C. We appreciate your vote of support.

Fergus

Fergus is a very friendly, sweet, and personable medium-haired tabby. Fergus approached Hyde Parkers Devin and Jen one evening near 55th and Cornell, meowing for attention. He had no collar and was quite thin, so they scooped him up and he made his way to us. Thanks to Devin and Jen for bringing him to the vet, too.

Fergus knew he wanted to be a Cat with People, and he's very happy to be inside. He greets fosterpeople at the door with friendly chirping and every time he sees fostermom he acts as though she is most amazing person in the world. He loves to play with string, sit on your lap, and sleep in the crook of your leg. This darling boy belongs with someone who will shower him with affection and appreciate his sweet, good nature. Are you seeking your bestie? Fergus is waiting.

Fergus' fostermom adds: Fergus is such a sweet and loving cat. He loves to cuddle and be around people. Check out some updated photos of him on the facebook page in the available for adoption album!"updated photos

please and thank you

Readers,

The end of the year is upon us and we are low on funds. If you are reading this post, could you donate even a small amount today? We treasure your support and the fact that donors give what they can. Together we make a big difference! We use donated funds to spay/neuter the cats. But all the cats we take into our adoption program also need follow-up care, such as boosters for vaccines. We have volunteers who have trained to actually administer the vaccine in order to save money, but the vaccine and supplies must still be purchased. Please consider a donation now to help us continue our work into 2012.

There's a few ways you can help us help cats ...

1. Buy a calendar!



Calendars are only $10 and are available in Hyde Park at Parkers Naturals (petstore) or 57th Street Books! While you are at Parkers stick some cash into our donation jar! Or write to hydeparkcats@gmail.com to order one online.

2. Donate directly to us via the Paypal button on the side of this website (not tax deductible).

3. Tax-deductible donations can be made via Treehouse. For more information on making a tax-deductible donation, see this FAQ page.

Thank you, readers and donors, for continuing to support us!

Bubbles

Bubbles, aka Bubba, is a very handsome and very awesome cat. He was found drifting around the Parkview Katz colony (51st and Cottage Grove), unneutered and uncollared, although very dapper and fancy looking. He was clearly friendly, desperately wanting into a home. Caretaker Aimee brought him in for vetting and he is currently in our special safe house on campus. Bubbles is neg/neg for viruses, neutered, chipped, and oh so very soft, an unusual tabby pattern and gorgeous green eyes. He has big giant lion feet for making biscuits with, and a big lion head with big jowls. He is responsive to his name, soft, holdable, confident. He is not afraid of dogs, but does not seem to want to share the glory with other cats. He would be the perfect pet for someone seeking calm companionship, a cat who will help you enjoy your holiday cheer. Apply today for some quality snuggling during the chilly weather!

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A belated thank you to Joan P. for her Thanksgiving donation. Her note read: "Because I am thankful today for, among other things, all the cats that have enhanced my life over the years. And because I am thankful for people like Hyde Park Cats who are there for kitties in need. Happy Thanksgiving to all!"