Last month, Feral Paws Rescue received a call from the CCSPCA Shelter to rescue several kittens, mostly Torties, which they did. The kittens were brought to their main rescue location. At the same time, there was a dilute Tortie female who had been at the shelter along with her kittens.
One of the most rewarding parts of working in rescue is watching a cat transform from being scared to becoming friendly and trusting. I shall tell you about one very special cat I have worked with while volunteering at Feral Paws Rescue.
In June 2012 a handsome, big, brown and black tabby found himself at North Central Shelter in Los Angeles. His human had betrayed him and left him there at age eight. Thanks to some networking and help from local rescuers, he arrived at Feral Paws Rescue on June 25, and immediately went to a foster home. Feral Paws had to make sure he would be kept inside, as he was declawed.
Around three years ago a handsome gray and white cat named Austin somehow found himself at the Los Angeles County shelter in Lancaster, California. He was scared and only had days to be rescued or adopted. Thankfully Feral Paws Rescue found out about him and made the long trip to the shelter and rescued him along with a few others. Since Austin was friendly and healthy he was brought to the Rescue’s Adoption Center.
Caleigh is a beautiful long-hair Calico who was rescued by Feral Paws Rescue from a kill-shelter in Los Angeles County in late 2011. She was brought to the main rescue in Fresno, and in early February 2012, Feral Paws Rescue received a call from a lady who was interested in their Rescue and wanted another cat to add to her existing family of a handful of mostly black cats. Feral Paws Rescue brought Caleigh over to the lady’s house, and it was love at first sight. At the time, it was estimated that Caleigh was three years old. No other history was known about her, but she quickly assimilated herself to living indoors with other cats and most of all to her new human as she wanted to be with her and followed her all over the house.
Valentine’s Day is this month, and there are many, many heart-shaped boxes of chocolate candy on the shelves of stores for people to give to those they love or just eat themselves. I am going to write about another type of candy though—a beautiful long-haired dilute Calico named Candy!
When Feral Paws Rescue opened their Adoption Center four years ago, I had the privilege of volunteering there, caring for the cats and working in the office. I met some very special cats who I will never forget.
One of the cats Feral Paws Rescue saved from a high-kill shelter was named Grandpapa. He was 18 years old at the time of rescue. Grandpapa was the sweetest old gentleman, who loved attention, loved to be held, and loved it when I would share my food with him—specifically part of a burrito from a nearby Mexican restaurant.
Everyone loves kittens…that is, every cat lover loves kittens. So when there are kittens up for adoption at the shelter, usually they are adopted pretty quickly, unless they are black. Multi-color younger adults also have a good chance of finding a forever home. Adult blacks, especially if they are rather large, are the last to be adopted. Sadly, that is a fact.
Shortly after President’s Day weekend this year, Feral Paws Rescue received an email from the local SPCA asking if they were interested in pulling another cat. This request was like so many others, a cat who was sick or injured and needed out of the shelter in order to survive. Of course Feral Paws Rescue pulled this cat.
As October brings thoughts of Halloween and black cats, I am writing about the beauty of black cats, that they are not to be feared, that they are the most loving cats and, most of all, that they should be kept indoors so they cannot be harmed by those with evil intent.
