Category Archives: Animals

How I was Rescued by 7 Kittens

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Previously posted in 2015.

Kern kitten 1Kern kitten 2

So Wednesday morning I’m on the freeway bringing kittens to get spayed and neutered at a local veterinary clinic. Naturally, I’m late because the freeway is a parking lot. traffic jamIn the back of my SUV, 7 of the 11 kittens we rescued from Kern County are serenading me with a chorus of meows.

kern kitten 5kern kitten 3

What lucky kitties. Our feral cat rescue rarely deals with domestics but when we learned these were scheduled to be euthanized for lack of adopters, we decided to help. And that’s how I found myself on the freeway Wednesday morning. Continue reading →

All in a Day’s Work

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Trapping feral cats for sterilization means encountering something different each day. It’s the fun aspect of this work. Now don’t get me wrong; that doesn’t mean it’s one big party. On the contrary. The list of unpleasantness is long, but I’ll refrain from boring you with most of that.

you are welcomeNeedless to say, working with Marin Friends of Ferals has its moments…I’ve broken my finger, been bitten through my knuckle by a kitten barely bigger than my hand, been saturated with poison oak and nearly lost the tip of my pinky from another bite. Scrapes and bruises come with the territory from efforts to spay and neuter feral community cats, yet I love what I do. But as it turns out, love hurts.

One joy of the job includes meeting new people and traveling to places in Marin County (and beyond) where I don’t often venture. For instance, last week a family in Sebastopol contacted us wanting 4 ferals for rodent control on their 5-acre spread. Continue reading →

I’m Going Straight to Hell

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shame on me

I’m a terrible animal guardian and I’m going straight to hell. I’ll tell you why…

My animals have their routine down-pat before calling it a night. I say, “Okay, time to go night-night.” The word ‘okay’ prompts all 4 mutts to jump from their coveted positions. I open the patio door and they file outside to do their business one last time. Fortunately it stopped raining last night so I didn’t have to coax anyone out. And by anyone I mean Wally. As you now know, he’s my problem child.

what else is new

I block the French doors with my foot so my cats don’t make a beeline outside. Nellie heads for the top of the property looking for fresh poop to eat. No doubt she was out of luck last night since it rained for days, so my guess is her nightly snack was inedible mush. I apologize for the gross description, but remember, I have it worse. I’m the one forced to watch Nellie attempt to dislodge the poop stuck on her back molars. It’s hideous.

Nellie at park

My poop eater

Continue reading →

When a Cat Loves a Woman

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My cat Tippi is in love with me. And I’m not talking puppy love either. This is full-fledged kitty passion. I’ve never experienced anything like it. Now don’t get me wrong; it’s not like she’s always been enamored with me. Quite the contrary. No, this love affair has taken years to blossom, which makes her recent adoration all the more perplexing.

tippi

If you know torties (tortoiseshell cats), you know they have what’s referred to as tortitude. And trust me here, that’s not an exaggeration. They’re often temperamental and unpredictable, facts I never knew back when I was mostly a dog person. Didn’t know much about felines at all, only that my cats were all different. Surprise, surprise; cats have personalities. Go figure.

I found my first feline, a calico kitten, on a ranch I jogged by one morning. She was barely alive so I scooped her up, took her to a vet, and was told she had pneumonia and probably wouldn’t make it. But Rudie was a survivor.

Rudy sleepinga

Continue reading →

Out of the Ashes

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napa fire 3

It’s been difficult the last couple weeks to think about writing something light-hearted, so today’s post won’t be that. Now don’t get me wrong; instead of humorous, will you settle for uplifting?

Many people in the states are aware that northern California is enduring the worst fire in its history. Over 200,000 acres of picturesque Sonoma and Napa have burned and it’s still not entirely contained.

napa valley fire 2

Napa valley fire 4

Consequently, Marin Humane is now a rescue center for pets of evacuees. Other shelters have taken Marin Humane’s adoption animals so hundreds of displaced pets could have a safe haven until their families reclaim them. Some pets will remain for days. For others it will be much longer. Continue reading →