Show us your pets!

[smilingcat]

This is mama cat. Her owner of 10 years or so had rescued her as a young "feral" cat. Mama was very pregnant at the time. Her dad for 10 years adopted out all but one of babies and kept both mama and one of her son Buddy.

About a year ago, her dad died in the kitchen and for about a week, Mama Cat, Buddy and a third cat named Pepper survived without fresh water and food. They were found when the police finally broke in to find out what had happened. The three ended up in a kill-shelter. Both Mama and Pepper were labeled feral.

The neighbor who I never met had posted a sign all over the neighborhood within a day of being picked up. On that day, my internet connection at the house wasn't working and I ended up at a neighborhood coffee house called JavaMan (great place if you are in Hermosa Beach Ca.) and there I found her story. They had Wi-Fi there. Anyway, I contacted the gal and helped her with getting all three cats out of the kill-shelter. It helps when I have connection through our cat rescue group.

A few month past by and I ended up fostering mama. She was scared at first. I made her a "nest" for her where she felt safe. And in January of this year when my job was terminated, I started to spend quality time with mama. Get her out of her shell, develop trust in me... She eventually would sit in my lap, bury her head in my arm, sleep on my pillow. And she talked to me. Very personable. Bit demanding with bit of an attitude. cute though.

But she didn't get along with my pride and eventually she went back to the gal who initially posted the fliers. That was two months ago. Then on Monday, I got a call from her. Wanted me to look over her. She had a growth under her teets.

We took her into my vet yesterday and confirmed that it was a tumor. In less than 60days it went from nothing to something about 2inches in diameter and about 1/4 inch thick to about 1/2 inch with very rough margin. The vet said she could feel it up and down her belly near from the fore leg all the way to the groin area. Oncologist tend to get bit of a cold feet just from a needle biopsy and would prefer a sizable chunk...

We decided that if it is benign, we would leave it alone because of its extent. Healing time would not give her the quality of life. If it is malignant, it still would not give her the quality either. Live another 3 month in pain from post surgery... So we decided to let nature take its course. If it was me, I would do the same. She has few more month of quality life for the time remaining and when the time comes, she will let us know...

She had a good life, a very lucky life. Saved from the street while pregnant, then be rescued out of a kill-shelter, her son Buddy and Pepper were adopted out. And she has a foster home now a permanent home with a gal who adores her.

There is a place and time for all of us. I'm sad to see her go so soon... And I'm happy for her that she was one of the lucky "feral" cat to have had a nice comfortable home.

I'm really glad I was part of her life.

[Zen]

I'm really glad I was part of her life.

So is she.

[badger]

mama cat sure has beat the odds and found love in so many places. She's a beauty!

[nancielle]

This is mama cat.[...]

I'm really glad I was part of her life.

Look at the smile on her face. She's glad you were part of her life, too.

[FunSize]

My roommate was very impulsive and brought home a puppy two days after moving in with me. There had been a casual conversation where he had asked if we'd be okay if he had a dog. we said yes thinking, "we like dogs. Dogs are accepted here." Not realizing he thought this meant he could get a puppy immediately. He soon found out how hard puppies are to take care of. The one person without the permanent job (me) got to raise it while he and my bf were at their full time jobs. Anyways, i was able to take a couple pictures of the puppy before my roommate unexpectedly took him back to the shelter after realizing that maybe when you have a full time job it is not a good time to have a puppy.

His name was Teddy and was probably a terrier-chihuahua mix. I am confident that he got adopted quickly after being taken back to the humane society. He was way too cute not to be.

[invsblwmn]

The other day I was sitting on the couch with my big girl, Bailey, Shar Pei laying next to me. I realized that the new Pei, Beau, was not in his usually spot on the chaise, or on the floor or on the bed, and I began to panic. Where did he go??? I got up and there he was, perched on top of the back of the couch, snoozing life away...Gotta love the fur babies...

[jessmarimba]

My mom was doing some work at my house while I was at the office one day, and she realized that she hadn't seen the "lazy" cat (Skunk, behind the bike above) in several hours despite searching my entire house. She knew the cat hadn't gotten out but was terrified that the cat had eaten some of the paint she was using and was sick or dead somewhere.

Well, Skunk is good at hiding. And sleeping. And if I'm not home, she has to be protected on at least 3 sides to take a nap (probably because she came from a cat colony and lived outside for several years...and also because when she sleeps, she's out cold). It turned out that she had gotten inside a box stored under my bed and didn't want to come out until she knew I was back. Poor Mom.

[Trekhawk]

The other day I was sitting on the couch with my big girl, Bailey, Shar Pei laying next to me. I realized that the new Pei, Beau, was not in his usually spot on the chaise, or on the floor or on the bed, and I began to panic. Where did he go??? I got up and there he was, perched on top of the back of the couch, snoozing life away...Gotta love the fur babies...

Oh that is too cute!

[Catrin]

This is Tigger, my last cat. He was an HIV kitty who I had taken from a friend as a favor. I had always been able to deal with my allergies for cats, but it had been some years since my last cat and apparently my allergies got worse. After two trips to the ER for asthma attacks, and no relief from the usual allergy remedies/drugs, I found him another home where he got another HIV+ playmate to live/play/fight with. They didn't even fight but started playing immediately, I think they were both lonely kitties and needed another cat around.

I miss him, and I miss having a cat around. No other kind of pet seems to compare with having a cat or two. As you can see, he was a bibliofeline and could not resist laying on whatever book I happened to be reading at the time

[NoNo]

Bibliofeline! I think I'm familiar with that breed.



I'm always a fan of just how comfortable she gets, as if she's had such an exhausting day and really needs to unwind.

[indysteel]

This is Tigger, my last cat. He was an HIV kitty who I had taken from a friend as a favor. I had always been able to deal with my allergies for cats, but it had been some years since my last cat and apparently my allergies got worse. After two trips to the ER for asthma attacks, and no relief from the usual allergy remedies/drugs, I found him another home where he got another HIV+ playmate to live/play/fight with. They didn't even fight but started playing immediately, I think they were both lonely kitties and needed another cat around.

I miss him, and I miss having a cat around. No other kind of pet seems to compare with having a cat or two. As you can see, he was a bibliofeline and could not resist laying on whatever book I happened to be reading at the time

Awwww. This had me choked up. Tigger is one handsome cat, and I'm so touched that you took him in and that he's now living with another HIV kitty. I'm so sorry about your allergies. That's tough. Can you be around them at all? You're welcome to come watch the Izzy and Henry Show anytime. It's quite entertaining. We can bribe Brian to tune up your bike while we play with the critters.