The Life of Riley and Jake!

Sweet Jake...we miss you!

Riley in her most comfortable position!
This story comes from Kris B. in LasVegas, Nv. Thank you Kris for taking in a little lost kitty and giving it:

"The Life of Riley"

A little more than a year ago, I had dropped my husband off at the airport, and was coming home. It was dark as I slowed down for our drive-way. I caught a glimpse of a kitty in a neighbors yard, and thought it was our 17 yr old cat, Jake, sitting there. I wondered how he got outside! I quickly parked, and jumped out and started calling "Here kitty, kitty". A small gray tabby cat came running...it wasn't Jake, though. She was very anxious for me to pet her and was obviously a stray...skinny and dusty. My first thought was "I don't want another cat". Jake, the old guy, wasn't going to be with us much longer, and I honestly was looking forward to no litter box! But I thought I would feed her and try to find her owner in our neighborhood. You see, we live in an area with lots of new homes and construction, and there always seems to be lost cats and dogs. I brought out a dish of food and fresh water, and she devoured it. I left her outside, and went to bed. She was slinking around the front courtyard in the morning, and was happy for more food. I took a picture of her and emailed it to a partial neighborhood list, hoping I would have luck in finding her home. One woman did come, thinking it was her lost cat. It wasn't, but she said she'd take her home anyway. I thought "Good! The kitty has a home, and the family has a kitty!". But the next day, there was the lost kitty again, outside the front door. I don't know if she got away somehow, or if the woman put her out. Anyway, I kept feeding her outside, and implored all my friends "Don't you want a sweet kitty?". No takers. All of this went on for about 2 months, and it was beginning to get pretty cold at night. The kitty curled up in a spot under a small bush in our front yard when she slept. I put an old blanket by the door, but as far as I know, she didn't use it. Anyway, John and I finally accepted the fact that she had found a home...she knew it, but it took us a while to figure it out. We brought her in the house. She was a bit skittish at first, and Jake wasn't happy at all. Our pug, Spanky, also wondered "What the heck!". I took her to the vets to get shots & spayed, and was surprised to find out that she had already been spayed. Of course, we still had to pay the cost, because the surgery still happened. And she went through the surgery twice in her life...poor thing! It took us a long time to name her....I just couldn't think of one that fit. Then, one day I was telling a friend about her story, and said she now lives the "life of Riley". Eureka! So Riley it is. I've sent a picture of her in her favorite sleeping pose. I've never had another cat that sleeps like this, but she looks pretty content and happy, doesn't she? I've also added a picture of old Jake, one that was taken his last morning, sitting on the patio. I lovingly took him to the vet right after taking this picture. He was 18 yo, and was not having an easy time any more. So now he's in kitty heaven. And Riley is now our kitty, with a sweet personality and funny quirks.

Arent they just too cute???

Ricky and Lucy...again

These two are so cute I can hardly stand it! I have been playing in my pictures today and have found some cute ones I want to share with you all. This is when they could still both fit in this basket. Now their tubby little bodies wont. Its late and the 3 of them are tearing around the house like they are possessed! Its just their normal before bed romp! Monday, I start planning our first meeting!

Tekoe's Story....

I received the following note from my friend in Florida. She has recently "rescued" a little cat that would have been doomed to be put "down", if Kathy hadnt decided to take her.


"Tekoe was my cousins 93 year old Mother's cat. Her Mother died, and I had recently had to put my dog to sleep after 15 years. My husband died almost two years ago so it can get very lonely here. I thought about another dog, but did not want to have to worry about letting it outside. I thought of a kitten, and then it smacked me in the face. What about Tekoe? I called my cousin, and asked if I could take the cat. Tekoe had been at the Vets for two months while they were trying to get her adopted. Tekoe needed me and I definitely needed her. My cousin had her front claws removed. After the healing process, Tekoe was shipped via airplane from Seattle, WA to Florida. All of this was so traumatic for the sweetheart.
This five year old little Tuxedo Cat and I bonded immediately. I am getting used to the cat type behaviors-the more I leave her be, the more she seeks me out. She has a great personality, and can be very loving when the mood strikes her. I love this little cat and am so grateful for her. Thanks for all the great work you and your community are doing for the stray kitties.
Here's a couple of pictures of Princess Tekoe."

It's compassionate and caring people like my friend Kathy that will make this little grass roots effort work. Kathy has decided to donate to our cause and I am so thankful to her.

Please share your rescued Kitty story with us along with a couple photos. We would like to share your story!

Getting Nervous!

By loving and understanding animals, perhaps we humans shall come to understand each other!

Dr. Louis J. Camuti

Now that we have been approved for non profit status with the Community Club, I am so anxious to get started. I keep seeing strays and I know they are hungry and I know they are going to multiply...Where to start? What to do? Ok...settle down. haha!

I will be gone to a tourism conferance for the next couple days, but will keep up with comments and mail. So if you have ideas, I'm totally open. I sent an email to Hearts United in NE City, NE. They are a clinic that might be able to help us and I am waiting to hear back from them. As soon as I get back I will set a date for the first meeting, make some posters, inform the newspaper and go from there! I wonder if we should invite Avoca to join us in this project. I have heard many stories of feral kitties around the truck stop. I went there the other day and was told that there are 3 living close to the cafe...they are everywhere and they are beautiful. It feels good to know they are going to get some help. The time cant get here soon enough!

We are a "GO"!

"Since each of us is blessed with only one life, why not live it with a cat?" Robert Stevens

I attended the Walnut Community Club meeting tonight and asked that they become our "sponsor" so that we do not have to file for our own non profit status. They were happy to be part of our effort. I even got at least one more excited person that wants to serve and help. I cant wait now to organize our first meeting. Must look at calender and decide!

On the way down to the meeting a little "gray" was wondering around the main street. She kind of wanted to follow us, but was too frightened. Then after the meeting two little black ones were trying to get into the ally garbage...I think one was "Boo", a little guy that used to be on my front porch and doesn't come anymore. I went home and put more food and fresh water out there, just in case he is coming when I don't see. Saw another, bigger black on running up the street when I got out of the car. Its time...we must do something.

Possum

"Perhaps it is because cats do not live by human patterns, do not fit themselves into prescribed behavior, that they are so united to creative people." Andre Norton

This is Possum. My rescued baby that is now 2 years old. Possum's story is a sad one. She was one of a litter that was born underneath my cousins porch. Thinking she had been abandoned by her mother, Susie and I sawt her out and found that she had been trapped in an upturned concrete block over more than a day! After sawing open the porch and concocting a very interesting "ladder" made of cardboard and tulle', Little Possum emerged, hungry and frightened into the hands of her new person...me! As you can see she is quite creative and loves to help me sew. Quilts are her favorite. No longer frightened or starving, she enjoys lounging around the house and attempting to eat thru my screens!

Happy Saturday!

If you would like to help our group, please leave a comment and we will get back to you.

What is a Cat?

"A cat is, by and large, sophisticated and complex, and capable of creating three-act plays around any single piece of action!" Gladys Taber

Spay or neuter your cat today!

Welcome to Take Pity On the Kitties

This is a first of many posts. This little organization is made up of several Walnut Iowa Residents who love cats. We are a small town in Southwest Iowa. Like many small towns we have a problem with stray and feral cats. While we love cats, we cannot keep them all in the house. The population is growing by the day and we finally realize we must do something about it. We are starting our group with the goal of safely capturing these kitties, taking them in for spay or neuter and then releasing them back into their colonies. At the time of this posting, we have not yet had our official meeting, but I want the word to get out as soon as possible. If you have any information or ideas for us, please comment.