Relinquishing

Today Hyde Park Cats made a big trip to PAWS Chicago's Lurie Clinic to relinquish ... get ready ... eleven kittehs! Thank you, PAWS, for taking our cats, giving them veterinary care, and putting them in your adoption center. Celia, Feste, Valentine/Pipsqueak, and the "Pullman 4" kittens were all admitted. The "Diane 4" (above) have to wait until their eye infections clear up, but they're guaranteed admission.


Celia in the backpack. Look how calm and sweet he is.


The scene at PAWS (ferals recovering from surgery).


Celia, Feste, and Valentine/Pipsqueak -- bye bye! Happy wonderful new life!!!!!

It's difficult to give up our cats but the truth is we're not set up as an adoption center and we can't do this kind of work. It was particularly hard to see Celia go, since he's such a sweet love-bug. We had hoped to find him a local home but it was not to be and we're sure this loving playful guy will find a home soon. All the cats will be available thru PAWS in their adoption center, so if you are feeling pangs of remorse at not adopting Celia at our adoption event -- maybe it's not too late!

Celia

Celia was lifted out of the Battlestar Galactica colony a few weeks ago. He's about five months old and is currently in a foster home. Here are some thoughts from his fostermom:

"Celia is amazing. He is still in the litter training process, but that is really his only "flaw." He LOVES humans! He can't get enough pets and is not afraid to smash his face against your legs, arms, or whatever is in reach until he gets his pets and scritches. This has even caused me to spill his food everywhere (as I lowered the bowl to the floor, he is so excited at the hand approaching---not the food---that he smashed his head into the hand that was holding the bowl)! He is not afraid to get himself onto the bed to hang out (and get played with, of course) and he is very playful. He paws at me and nibbles playfully, and will chase my laser pointer. He is GREAT and will make some family really happy one day :)"

A boy despite the name, Celia has tested negative for FeLV and FIV. He's already been neutered and he even has a microchip! And ... he's available for adoption!

Cats available for adoption thru Hyde Park Cats

Celia at play

Stop-motion photography of superplayful Celia. He waited patiently at today's Adoption Event in vain. Celia is cuddly, loving, playful, and fun. He seeks a forever home!

In sad news, Oliver tested positive for Feline Leukemia virus and was humanely euthanized. Thanks to his finders for taking him off the street, where he would have died a horrible death, and to Ruth for providing him with a last few days filled with fud and luv.

Adopt Hoppy!

From the beginning, Hoppy has surprised his foster parents with his smartness, his curiosity and his energy. He spends hours playing with his fake mouse, running after balls, jumping from a place to another one... he is teased by any moving thing, a fidgeting string or a wriggling toe. We have to be careful because he bites them with the same strength. No way to pet him when it's playtime, your hand is just another funny playmate. When Hoppy starts to be tired, well it's time to explore his environment: a dark closet, the inside of a deep box, a high shelf. At the moment, he likes spending time in the (dry) tub. All this activity stimulates his appetite and Hoppy loves eating. He is not picky for food. Sometime when he watches us having our lunch, he begs for food, sitting on his back paws and joining his front paws. It's so heartbreaking! Hoppy can also be very affectionate, purring and cuddling, when the fancy takes him. He has perfect litterbox habits. A home with a little garden would be heaven for Hoppy.

Hoppy has tested neg for FIV and FeLV; he is neutered and vaccinated. He's ready to go to his forever home!

Email hydeparkcatsadoptions@gmail.com right away. Hoppy is a-waiting!

In a good-news update, Celia has found a home. Go to the PAWS recent adoptions page ... see the group of pix of recent adoptions -- go to the TOP row, FOURTH from the right -- Celia!!!! With a sister! And a mommy and a daddy! We are so thrilled to know that this super-loving boy has found such his family.

this weekend

Thanks to Parker's Pets for hosting us on Saturday's adoption event. Adoptable cats Tapioca (above, looking for some quiet time) and Celia (peeking out of his soft-sided crate seeking love and attention) were real troopers.



Portrait of Celia.

Other Hyde Park Cats people spent part of Saturday making one of our feral-cat colonies much more habitable for the winter (setting up feral "villas," etc.) and still others were driving kittens to PAWS Chicago in order to be admitted into the Adoption Center. Thanks to all our volunteers who do so much to help the cats.

Don't forget to order your Hyde Park Cats calendar by emailing hydeparkcatsorders@gmail.com.

Battlestar Galactica (redux)

Battlestar Galactica the vessel is no more, but there are still lots of cats in this alley and at least one colony. I'll keep calling it B.C. even though some of our trappers (you know who you are) are not giving imaginative BG-themed names. (This same trapper had to be dissuaded from naming cats with a letter plus a number -- love you, DH, but really!) Trapping last night has yielded more cats. The white cat is Celia (a boy) ... TNRed! He went in every baited trap last night and even tolerated being picked up and moved around. Another cat, possibly Mom, is still out; she has an abcess on her cheek so when she's caught she'll go to Treehouse for her surgery/check-up.

Celia checking out the grub:



Ronnie and Moggie:




Here is Ronnie entering the trap:




There's room for at least one more kitten under this bed! We'll catch that Moggie soon! (The third cat pictured here is Terry who was trapped the first time around in this colony the other night)

Thanks to Ginny for the recent donation.

Updates, thanks, and available cats

Readers! It's 2010! Time to get some cats adopted!

We have a number of cats currently available for adoption, with several more on the horizon, including kittens. Hoppy, LOKI, Macabee, Judah & Sparkle, Bella, Ori, Max ... these are some of the cats we'll be trying to find forever homes for in the upcoming months. Email our adoption coordinator, Ainat, at hydeparkcatsadoptions@gmail.com for more information. Pictured here is Hoppy, doing his male model routine. Strongly suggest adopting Hoppy for increased handsomeness quotient in your home.

Three cats went to PAWS on Saturday to enter the adoption program: Hecuba, Rosie, and Brushki. Rosie and Brushki were members of our newest colony; full report coming soon. Adopted: Celia/Cecil has been adopted from PAWS, and Valentine was adopted by her PAWS fostermom. Yay!

Thank you to our recent donors: Seth and Stephanie (the rescuers of LOKI), Judith and Mick, Julien D., and Veronica W.. Our work is funded entirely by donations.