Feedin' Time Chuckle

by CatChic

    

     I had quite the chuckle when I viewed this video, because kitties do let you know when it is feedin' time.

     My cat Neko starts hollering when he wants something, and he cries "arr-ar, arr-ar" over and over.  It drives the family nuts after a while.  I don't talk cat language, but I always figure out what Neko wants me to know.  The other cats think he is a genius because we react to his hollering, and he is able to get what he wants promptly.  Neko doesn't have to wake me up every morning.  I keep crunchies in a bowl for grazing until I get up; however, if it is empty, he will let me know.

     Tell me, how do your cats wake you up in the morning?  Feel free to comment below.

Mason Tornado Dog

by CatChic

My hero Mason The Tornado Dog

     The video post on my Facebook page, about Mason The Tornado Dog, caught my eye and broke my heart...the loyal, brave spirit of a household pet who beat the odds and made it home, to be turned over by it's 'people' to an animal shelter literally brough me to tears.  

     When I was watching the video, I was hoping to see a cheering family welcoming their "furry person" home, after his terrible ordeal;  unfortunately, I was sadly disappointed.  It appears the family had no alternative but to turn over Mason to a local animal shelter for his own 'wellbeing'.  This very well may have been a selfless act by the family, not able to look after the huge expense of his treatment, after the horrific loss they suffered as a result of the hurricane.  The practice of having to pay a huge lump sum, up front before vet care is provided, could well have been the deterrent to this family being able to keep their dog when he returned home.   

     I am a diehard animal lover, and if Mason was my dog that fought so hard to get back to his home,  I would do whatever I could for him.  My cats are like my children - they are family, not just a family pet. I would never give up any of my kids, so the same goes for my cats.  I would climb mountains for them!  My last resort would be to give him up due to a medical emergency; but, I do understand the predicament you can get in with vet bills.  I have been in some predicaments with my cats, and have had some nasty credit card charges.  Regardless of the severity of the situation, payment was always expected up front, and luckily I was always able to find a way to pay the charges. 

     I can only wonder how dear Mason felt, after crawling back to his homestead, and finding 'his people' not there.  I can only imagine his deep disappointment, after waiting for his beloved family patiently on the steps of theirhome, having to be dropped at an animal shelter for an extended stay. 

     Fortunately, the good people at the Birmingham-Jefferson County Animal Control shelter, and at the Vulcan Park Animal Care Clinic have stepped in and taken wonderful care of Mason's needs.  He's happy and through them he will be reunited with his family again.  There really are angels among us, in our times of need! God bless Mason, and I hope  his ordeal has helped us all  better understand the amazing spirit and true worth of all animals, especially our family pets!!

UPDATE: According to MSNBC Today, Mason has been recuperating well, and his family is looking forward to bringing him home.  Mason captured the hearts of so many, and he even has a Facebook page.  Hats off to Mason and the wonderful people who donated their time and services for his care! 

Happiest People

by CatChic

     Today I was surfing the net, and I came across this quote.  It really sums up what I believe, and how I am trying to find happiness in what I find is a very challenging life.  

     The amazing pets we are blessed to have in our lives,  help us so-o-o-o much to make the challenging journey that much easier. The burdens we carry in life, are a heck of a lot lighter, when you have your furry friends to share them with.

Lulu and HoneyBear kittens 14 weeks old

     Friends and family  may think all the animals I have are a burden; but, in reality they are a great blessing to myself and my family.  Having cats and kittens to cuddle and make us smile has made bearing the difficult moments along the way so much easier.  I have had so many "precious moments" because of them.

Lulu and HoneyBear taking care of each other...

     Observing my cats selfless way of caring for each other and their "furry people",  which include myself,   has been very inspirational, as well.  I never would have believed it, but it actually took a houseful of cats to help me to put negativity and the past aside, dust myself off, and  "smell the roses" each and every day no matter what life threw me.  I love my kitties a great deal for that.  

    Happiness is between our ears.  We have so much to be grateful for, but it's not always easy to see life that way.  We all need to take note of the valuable truths our furry friends are here to teach us.  Give your furry guy a hug for me, will you? Cheers to all the furry guys out there that help us to be content!!

Daughter having a precious moment with Persian "Big Daddy" Edward

Studpants

by CatChic

thanks to MysticBells...helped me with the male/female unneutered/unspayed problem

   "Say, what are stud pants you ask?"

     Since my cats are not caged, and most are not spayed and neutered yet, I've had to find some creative ways of keeping boys and girls apart.  I don't want any unplanned pregnancies, sons mating with their mothers, dads mating with their daughters and brothers mating with their siblings.  So, for the past year, I've been rotating the boys and girls upstairs and downstairs daily.
   
    I have several unspayed male cats, as of now,  that are eager to mate.  It would only take a few minutes before disaster would strike should I leave them alone anytime to hang out with the girls. Seeing my furry boys faces peering out at the girls each day, has given me quite a guilt complex, because I know they enjoy and miss the company of the young felines.  So, I've decided to give stud pants a chance.

 

Bella's Babies

 2nd Litter, Bella/Edward, bred by Susan McBride-Wentzell
by CatChic

                                                           

     The kittens I have been breeding having inspired me to work on my photography.  They are so beautiful, and so photogenic; so, I keep a camera and chord close by.  There are always priceless moments to catch with cute and playful kittens.


     This video is a tribute to Bella, an exquisite Munchkin I purchased from Terry Harris in Texas.  Bella mated with  my Persian stud Edward, and she gave birth to two litters of Napoleon kittens during her short life.  Every kitten she gave birth to was spectacular in beauty and temperament. They were hard to put down.  Someone in our house was always cuddling with the cuties.  Those that I didn't keep for breeding went to amazing forever homes.


     Bella was a best friend, that comforted me through tough times during the three short years she lived.  Purring like a motor boat, she gently wrapped herself around my head at night - even after the difficult birth of her last litter, when she had so many little kittens to look after.


     The Napoleon cat is such an exquisite breed, that I have absolutely fallen in love with! I've bred them to be  exquisite within and without.  I hope their images warm your heart as much as mine.


Hugs,
CatChic

Angel Bella

by CatChic

Bella -  December 2010

     When I decided to try my hand at breeding dwarf cats as a hobby, I had two beautiful dwarf kitties - one Munchkin and one Kinkalow - shipped to me via Air Canada from the United States.  From the day I met them at the airport, Bella my angel and Neko my beautiful boy, loved me unconditionally.  They extended loyalty like no other pet I had ever owned in my life.  Bella chose Edward, my white Persian as her mate.  I didn't realize it at the time, but breeding Bella my Queen with my Persian King Edward came with a price that I really wasn't quite prepared to face....

     Pregnancies for humans are difficult in the best of times, with all the modern technology our hospitals have to offer.  Pregnancies for cats; however,  can be downright lethal due to all the complications that can arise from a difficult labor.  The technology and medical care that is available to save a cat suffering from complications after birth, today,  is not even remotely similar to what is available to humans.  The necessary emergency vet care is very pricy too; however, when it was my little Munchkin angel I was trying to save, money was no object...


     Bella's first birth was fairly smooth.  She had a small litter of three beautiful white, short legged kittens, and she was the best mother to her kittens I could have wished for.  I was so delighted!  She was diligent in feeding her babies, and in cleaning them and socializing them to live with her people.


     Bella had her kittens under the covers in my bed, as close to me as she could, despite all the encouragement my daughters and I gave her to choose another spot when the birth was drawing near.  Bella wanted nothing to do with any place we prepared for her, other than my bed, so I welcomed her in my bed the entire time she was raising her young.   I was fascinated by her and the kittens.  We became very close, and she proudly and confidently allowed me to handle her little ones from the day they were born.


     As a result, the kittens grew to adore human companionship.  They had the calm, gentle, loving personality of their mother and they purred like motorboats!  One kitten, Meadow, stole my heart and I couldn't part with her.  Fortunately, the other two kittens, Chloe and Gabby found amazing forever homes with two dear friends of mine.  I  keep in touch with them and follow Chloe and Gabby's progress.


     Bella's second birth was not as smooth.  It was a difficult labor of five kittens, that were at least a week overdue.  Bella was rushed to the Emergency Vet Clinic nearby shortly after the birth, and was treated for an infection and given antibiotics.  Her fever subsided after a few days of the antibiotics and Bella resumed caring for her babies as usual with diligence.  I was relieved, as the fear of losing her was more than I could bear...


   It was only a few days later, after Bella had appeared to be on the mend, that she suddenly became so ill she was unable to eat or care for her kittens.  Horrified, my daughters and  I immediately began bottle feeding her little ones, and rushed her to the Emergency Vet Clinic for treatment.   Bella never came home.  Despite the valiant efforts of the vets treating her, Bella's kidneys could no longer function, due to a few Tiger Lilly stamens she accidentally ingested.  I reluctantly said goodbye to my Munchkin angel, who in a few short years had become my best friend.  I promised her that I would love and protect her babies with every ounce of my being...


     It's been several months, and the kittens are thirteen weeks old now.  Caring for them, helped me to adjust to losing Bella.  I have found forever homes, for two of the kittens, with wonderful families who value them as I do.  I feel comfort in that; knowing that two more families will experience the "ultimate pet connection" that I count myself so fortunate as having with Bella.  It's been especially difficult in rehoming Bella's kittens, because I know I will have no other amazing litters from a mother as amazing as her.  So, after much thought, I've decided to keep Tigger, her orange Tabby, that cuddles and purrs so much like Bella.  I need that piece of her...

     Now that I've made that decision, I'll be better able to rehome Bella's two remaining kittens, Honey Bear and Lulu.  I've been dragging my feet in screening their prospective owners, because the kittens bring me the same joy their mother did.  Rehoming them is like saying goodbye to her once more.  Bella...I will forever miss you, my darling, my precious Munchkin angel.  I blow you kisses in my dreams at night, and the memories of you soothe my weary mind and spirit.  In those quiet, still moments, I feel you near...