Casanova has a new home in Seer Farms Sanctuary. Seer Farms is a combination temporary foster for family's in crisis and sanctuary. Currently Casanova is in a kennel as he gets used to his new environment and then will live in a space with outdoor area, and cottage with air conditioning and heat.

Update On Cats of Long Street

 5.3.16
I have gotten behind in updating. Very happy to say that most of the cats here now have homes! Updates are below. All of today's updates are in red.

7.12.15
We are URGENTLY trying to find financial support and placement for the following cats. There have been several injuries in this colony. There are too many beings living too close together here. We are trying to move all the cats out. I will list them in the order of priority.

Casanova is living at Seer Farms!

Casanova, a handsome, widefaced orange tabby, who was spotted 8 weeks ago dragging his leg, after being trapped, brought to Dr. Cameron and examined/xrayed was found to have a broken femur. He is very fearful, was trusting of the feeder for his colony, so we know he has potential. We are looking to place him in a sanctuary and need to raise funds ($1000?...looking into this). This is for a lifetime of care, food and shelter. He is Micky's son, app. 2 yrs old, FeLV/FIV neg. He is still at the veterinary hospital--should have left 2 weeks ago--desperately needs to get out into a healthier environment. (working on getting a photo)

Micky (in Foster Care) ADOPTED 12.15 He now has his own Facebook page by his new owners Mickey :)

about 4 years old, was rescued July 3rd and almost died of an infection in his bones. But at the last minute he rallied! His R hind hock is horribly bitten up and L knee is shattered. He will most likely need reconstructive surgery. He needs an angel to help with vet bills and a forever home because he is a sweet guy who lost his home when the owner moved away due to foreclosure and left him behind.

Snickers (in Foster Care) Adopted 10.15!

 is still on Long Street. We want to try and rescue him this week. Most likely he had an abcess that burst. We need to get him before the infection gets too deep. He is a friendly guy and needs a forever home.

Why these placements are so urgent:

We had been trying to get Cleo and Dunkin (mother and son--Dunkin is a tuxedo cat) a home together. Were planning to get them off Long Street. Cleo comes very close to her feeder and follows her around, goes for walks with her and her dog. Dunkin was very attached to Cleo. Unfortunately, Dunkin got into some bad brawl and his faced was very badly mauled. We tried for two weeks to trap him, but to no avail. He would disappear and then reappear. Then it was 2, then 3, then 5 days and he did not reappear. We had to accept the very hard fact that we had lost him. RIP Dunkin. We miss you and know that you are in a better place. Your passing is a lesson that we can't save you all and also to seriously consider that this is not a safe area for cats. See them in action

New trio that could be adopted:
Cleo has now bonded with little girl--a couple months after the loss of Dunkin. These two, along with a beautiful long-haired tuxedo named Fella spend their days together. They would do well together in a barn-type situation. Little Girl can be petted, Cleo loves to be close, and Fella loves to be a part of the group--he is under the car below, a little harder to spot.

Crystal

is 12 y/o and still not spayed--very hard to trap. She's very intelligent, hasn't lasted on the street this long by luck. She's given birth to many litters; has had numerous male suitors. I'm hoping to trap her in the next week or so, looking to woo her slowly into a crate and get her spayed and vaccinated. Looking to find a place for her so she can spend her senior days in a safe and caring environment. This lady deserves a break!

The Cats of Long Street

The following cats need placement urgently! I offered to help with TNVR program developing in East Orange, NJ and got involved with the colony of cats on Long Street. The situation is getting more dangerous for them there as one woman in the complex is harassing the feeder and throwing down moth balls all over, recently ammonia; throwing poop all around, stalking the feeder. Police and SPCA are involved. They are mostly strays. Their photos and descriptions follow.

Please share! And contact me with any leads or questions. There will be help with vetting.
ktyates@gmail.com

Cleo, app. 8, spayed, vaccinated, treated for tape worms. Mother to Duncan (neutered and vaccinated), the two are almost inseparable and very affectionate with each other. They wait outside the feeder's door and Cleo follows the feeder around, walks with her as she walks the dog. Was once an indoor cat. She would love being around her human. She settled very nicely in the inside environment when she was recuperating. Duncan is a little more fearful--currently is dealing with wound under his neck. Would love to get him in with his mom.

Cleo

Cleo and Duncan waiting outside feeders apt

Would like to get these 8 month olds out of this volatile environment. Baby Girl keeps going back into the trap. Seems she liked being inside.

Baby Girl and Beau--both fixed and vaccinated

Jasper--in foster care! 4/22/15
UPDATE: Jasper is living at the BARKS Shelter and is much loved.
Super affectionate, long and lean, FeLV/FIV neg., has slight cough--7 years young. Ideally would love to get him in a home of his own. Has so much love to give!

Percy--Adopted 4/22/15

He has been rescued and is living out his days in an FelV?FIV + Home May 1, 2015

Very affectionate, app. 3 y/o, petite guy, dying to come inside. He did live inside, but was abused and thrown out. His hind left leg remains a little stiff from injury.

Thank You, Scooter

Our family cat, really Dad's cat, crossed over 7.19.14. (I had been writing about him then and only now am able to catch up.) Scooter was an amazing teaching cat--he challenged us to the very edge of our patience, torturing us with spraying the house inside and out, and wacking us when we least expected it. But, we loved him. Anyone with common sense would have sent him to a farm or a refuge.

But, the thing is, Dad loved him. And when I petted Scooter I was reminded of dad's big warm hands that would calm, soothe. You felt truly comforted when you felt Dad's hand. And I have a vivid memory of my father reaching his long arm down to the floor to pet Scooter, lying right next to him.

The spraying was a nightmare. He sprayed, at one time or another, just about everything in the house--nothing was too good for Scooter. Windows, doors, chairs, coffee maker, computer, the stove and me.

He was very territorial, nervous, unpredictable. He lived 17 long, 17 short years. I began working with him when I was in the TTouch training, and after I was certified I think I must have worked with him almost every day. We went through sooooo much together. Not the least was the loss of my father.

His spraying did slow down, but we could never get rid of all the triggers, like feral or stray cats in our neighborhood--they got him all riled. And, perhaps this was not the best thing to do, but I rescued some of those cats. I kept trying to explain to him that we have to share, that we don't always get our own way, but I don't think he ever quite got my point. even though I made sure to give him attention every day.

So, I'm sorry, Scooter, if I overwhelmed you. But I did keep two upstairs and away from you. Only Cuddles and Bonnie (Mia before Bonnie) were on the first floor--I had a room divider connected to the walls at the top of the stairs, 2nd floor. And you also had the basement.

It was fascinating, however, to see the changes Scooter was able to make. He went from hiding in the basement any time he heard the doorbell to coming up and looking to see who arrived when folks came to the door. This is at 16 -17 years of age. I'll never forget the first time it happened. Our neighbor Carol was sitting in the living room and we were chatting and in walks Scooter, right up to Carol and sniffed her. Carol put her hand down, Scooter sniffed it and Carol gave him a short light stroke. Hurray, Scooter! Cats really can overcome some of their fears!

Also, I work with children in my Feldenkrais® practice and a few times he jumped on the table to see them. And it was so wonderful, in a couple of instances, to see the child reach out with her challenged hand to stroke him--so very rewarding.

In case you are interested in details, when I worked with Scooter, because he got very stimulated by petting, I would keep the sessions very brief. I stayed to his side--he was less threatened by this and less likely to whack me there than if I stood facing him. And I would touch him only where he was very comfortable. I started with slides along his neck to mid-torso. He always seemed to love ear slides. These help increase circulation and oxygen--can help bring animals out of shock. He also liked hair pulls along the top of his head and down the back into his neck. Gradually I was able to go through more of his body. And the more I worked with him the sooner I could detect if he had enough and stop before he batted me. As the weeks went by I was able to stroke through his whole body. I then added turtle touches which are circles the opposite way on his shoulders, ribs and hips. He loved this! And I would see him settle down into the ground more, close his eyes. (If you want any details on these touches you can go to TTouch.com)

This all came in very handy the time he got sprayed by a skunk. He really let me clean him all over--and did he need it!!! Even though I was very very upset about this, I couldn't help but think about turnabout as fair play...just a little.

For those of you who do not approve of cats going outside, this was what made it possible for us to live with Scooter--letting him do some of the spraying outside. He did not really go after birds--he was more interested in things on the ground, like worms and mice--mostly chasing them. And he loved racing out of the house and up the tree in the front of the house. He always knew how to get down.

Here's a sweet moment when Scooter walked in and settled near Bonnie. It was not threatening, thought Bonnie wasn't sure what to make of it. Scooter was more likely to do something like this when thunder storms were coming on.

 And here is a somewhat rare moment, but sweet nonetheless when all rested together.

Scooter has left a big hole in our home. It smells a whole lot better to be sure. And I'm only recently resting bags on the floor without jumping to quickly pick them up. Sometimes I get a whiff of spray and think that Scooter has zoomed by for a visit. It took quite a while to stop expecting to see him in his favorite resting places, and being very sad when he wasn't. He was such a big presence--all the strategies and vet visits to investigate, to try and get him to stop spraying, it made us miss him all the more. I hope when I cross over I get to see him and give him a few more touches. Scoot on happily my feline friend.