West Rogers Park Cats

Sharon, who does rescue work in another Chicago neighborhood, has started a blog for West Rogers Park Cats. She also does work on the South Side. Go Sharon!

Bella slideshow

Slideshow of Bella by fostermom Emma. Emma says "I'm currently fostering Bella, and since she's my first foster cat (and I absolutely adore her!), I thought I'd beg your indulgence, and send round a quick update on how she's doing. She came back from the vet just before Christmas, and is really settling in well. She's putting on weight, playing and purring like a pro :)"

Bella coming in from the cold (previous post). Bella, who was lifted out of our 'original' MJK Alley, is available for adoption! Please email hydeparkcatsadoptions@gmail.com to inquire about this beautiful calico friend.

Hoppy feeling more happy

Hoppy was neutered and got some more veterinary TLC just in time to spend Christmas at his foster home. Fostermom Claire wrote in that "Hoppy has already found the best places to take a nap: the couch and my husband's knees!" She reports that Hoppy is completely litterbox trained, purrs a lot and "completed his dinner last night with a piece of baguette." (Foster parents are from France.) We are taking applications for adoption for Hoppy. He has a clean bill of health (although he is still recovering from his wound) and obviously is extremely handsome.

Email hydeparkcatsadoptions@gmail.com to inquire about adopting Hoppy into your home.

Thanks to Melissa for the cat bowls, which we will parcel out to our fosterparents.

Akiba (happy ending update)

Akiba was trapped outside of Akiba-Schechter school over the summer.This playful and mischievious cat must have been searching for some kids of his own. And what kids did he find? Mine. Akiba knocks every object off every surface, stomps around the house as loudly as an elephant, eats any food left unattended, constantly stalks and attacks the other cats, and ruined a chair with his claws. But the girls love him. Lilah wrote a story about him for preschool: "My favorite cat is Akiba. We found him at Akiba. He stays in a basket in the basement." He allows himself to be picked up, wears Mr. Potato Head's glasses, sits in the Toto basket for endless rounds of Wizard of Oz play, and best of all lies down for pets and love from little girls. Our kitten found us, and we love him. Here's to happy endings, everybody!

Teddy (happy ending update)

Veronica writes in that "Teddy (found October 6 along the Lake) had a fabulous Christmas. A friend sent him a box of fuzzy mousies. They're not even catnip-filled but he got terrific fun and exercise out of them anyway, especially crashing around the Christmas wrappings all over the floor. And this just 48 hours after he was neutered and got his microchip installed. What a healthy and happy little guy he is! He's taken to waking me up in the morning, should the alarm not go off on time (as this morning, no chance of sleeping in on Christmas morning. NoOOOooo way!) by breathing loudly in my ear and licking my neck with his sandpaper tongue.

Keep up the great work, Hyde Park Cats!"

In other news, I saw a young woman sitting outside the Sears on State Street (Wednesday afternoon) with a very young kitten. She was collecting money for a train ride to California (believe that story or not, but the kitten was real). If you see her and the kitten again, please ask her if she will give or sell you the kitten -- we will take care of the kitten and make sure it gets a new home. When last seen they were on the street in the sleet and snow.

Kiwi and Mango (happy ending update)

Raven (Mango) and Cloud (Kiwi) (including one of them rendered in play-doh) in their forever home. Forevermom Jaime writes "It's hard to believe how big they've gotten (and how agile). Raven can leap to amazing heights and Cloud is the master of waiting patiently out of sight to pounce on him. She's very snuggly and is usually in the arms of one of the kids. Raven prefers to cuddle up with the kids, purring loudly, to wake them up in the morning. Adopting them was one of the best things we've done for our kids."

two more of our Bubble Tea cats rescued from an alley in August. All four kittens and their mama, Tapioca, have found forever homes.

Thanks to Julie L. for the donation!

Coconut and Avocado (happy ending update)

I'm running a special all week: happy ending updates! If you have adopted a cat through us, please send me your happy ending update.



Bubble Tea kittens Coconut (now Flurry) and Avocado (now Cupcake) are all grown up and appear to be in charge of their new home. Forever mom Marlis writes "here is Flurry with resident dog Tabitha; she's finally gotten relatively used to them though she still doesn't appreciate it when Cupcake crouches at the bottom of the stairs and ambushes her as she comes down! They are both cuddle bugs and Cupcake especially insists on sitting in my husband's lap. Thanks again for everything and keep up the good work!"

Coconut and Avocado were two of our Bubble Tea cats rescued from an alley in August. All four kittens and their mama, Tapioca, have found forever homes. You may remember this iconic photo of Coconut and Avocado embracing. We're soooooooo glad they were able to stay together forever.

Don't forget to buy your last-minute gifts, including your very own Hyde Park Cats calendar, at Parker's Pets today!

Thanks to Margaret B., Nicole T. and to Ruth H. for their donations, and to Emma B., Bella's fostermom, for her generous underwriting of Bella's veterinary care. Purrs to all!