Chatting Cats: Celebrating Furevers And Leaving The Cage Behind

Hey everypawdy, it’s me, RaenaBelle. How are ya’ll doin’? It’s furinally here, the day mommy said we could celebrate mine’s Gotcha Day. Mommy came and rescued me from a cage in a smelly house 2 years ago on June 8th. I’s was a scared little kitten, shakin’ all over with lots of gunk in mine’s eyes and nose. Mommy says she could feel the tension in mine’s body when the lady handed me to her. Mommy says contrary to mine’s breed, there wasn’t anythin’ floppy ‘bout me. I’s was shaky and stiff as a board. Mommy says her heart broke fur me and mine’s littermates cuz she couldn’t ‘magine what could make such a young kitty be that scared and I’s wasn’t tellin’.

 

RaenaBelle bunny kicks a chicken leg

 

 

 

I’s ‘member the exact minute all that tension left and I’s furinally quit shakin’ and flopped like a purr-opurr Ragdoll. Yep, mommy carried me outside of that place and sat me in her lap. I’s could feel us movin’ but I’s had never been in a car befur, so I’s didn’t unnerstand what was happenin’. And then, mommy picked up mine’s stiff little body, held me close and looked into mine’s gunky blue eyes and said she was gonna luvs me furever and ever and that I’s was gonna live with her. She said I’s would never have to be ‘fraid again and then she kissed me and held me close to her heart. I’s could feel her heart beatin’ and just knew she meant it. That’s the minute mine’s life was furever changed fur the better. And, I’s never looked back.

 

Raena hanging on the Liberty cat tree playing whacky paw with Dezi

Oh c’mon now, you’ve been here fur a couple of weeks

now, are you ever gonna stop?

 

 

 

          Me ‘members that day too Raena. Kittens!!! ‘Pawrently, you’d never seen a toy or cat tree or bed or anythin’ else. You were like a tornado runnin’ and jumpin’ all over the house. It’s like you didn’t know what to play with furst. 

 

Raena plays with the flying toy
I’s gonna ketch it this time sissy.

 

 

 

I’s didn’t sissy. I’s couldn’t believe how blest you were. I’s didn’t know a kitty could have so much pawsum stuffs. All I’s had ever known was a cage with a pawtty box in it. And mine’s littermates of course, but they’d never seen any toys either. What a life we have. And then you and mommy told me that I’s had awnties and uncles and lots and lots of furiends who already luvved me. It was almost too good to be true. I’s was ‘fraid to go to sleep that furst night. I’s thought I’s might wake up and find that it had all been a dream.

 

Dezi lays on scratcher yawning

 

 

 

          Nope Raena, it wasn’t no dream, it’s been me’s nightmare. MOL  Me’s just kiddin’. You’re alright fur a bratty li’l sisfur. Me sometimes wonders ifin sis Lexi thought ‘bout me that way. Anyways, me saw our furiend Valentine from Noir Kitty Mews hopped in his stroller and headed to our house to join in the celebration.

 

Valentine in stroller

 

 

 

Raena's Gotchaday card from Pipo and Dalton

 

 

 

 

Did you see the cutesy smilebox card he made fur me, sissy? Pipo and Dalton made me a card too. I’s so blest to have such amazin’ furiends. Fanky fank you all. Ya’ know, this month is almost over and with it goes Cat Adoption Month. But we think every month is Cat Adoption Month as well as every day. There are so many kitties out there that need savin’. Shelters and Rescues are almost always full to overflowin’ with amazin’ kitties just waitin’ fur their furever to show up and tell them they are luvved and will never have to be ‘fraid again. Maybe you’re not ready to adopt a new kitty, but you can still help. Ya’ know fosterin’ is a great way fur kitties to find their furevers, ‘specially ifin they’re one of the fraidy cats that doesn’t do well in cages.

 

 

Dezi lays stretched out on scratcher

 

 

 

          That’s true Raena. But peeps can also donate their time to volunteer. Ya’ know they could go and play with the kitties and luv on ‘em and help socialize ‘em. And shelters and rescues are always in need of supplies like foods, towels, litter, cleaners and all kinds of things. All one has to do is check with their local shelter or rescue and see what they might need at the moment. Easy peasy, it is. Every so offen mommy sacks up some of our old toys and foods that we get and don’t eat and we donate to those kitties less furtunate. And, mommy sometimes drives ‘round lookin’ fur signs of stray kitties who might be hungry. Ya’ don’t have to be rich to help, everypawdy can help in some way. 

 

Raena lays sleeping on mommy's lap

Mine’s favorite place in the whole wide universe is mommy’s lap.

 

 

 

 

Oh sissy, those are all great ideas. Ya’ know what would make mine’s celebration even more pawsum? Knowin’ that we helped to make some kitty’s dream of a furever come true. Fanky fank you all fur celebratin’ with me. Why don’t you take a minute today to see what it is that you might could do fur the less furtunate kitties in your area. Now, let’s go eat some pizza and play with the nip toys. I’s even told mommy to pull out the silvervine.

   

Till the next time……………………………………………………..Be Blest!!! 

 

Raena: Navy Blue 

Dezi: Vibrant Blue

 

 

 

Luvs and Hugs and Kitty Kisses

 

RaenaBelle and Deztinee

Service Cats: Kitten/Cat Proofing Your Home Pt. 1

MeOW  Welcome to Service Cats and Everything Feline on Furidays; where we tackle your questions and topic suggestions, includin’ Trainin’ Tips, Health, and everything purr worthy. Purrlease submit your questions in the comments below or by sendin’ us an email via our Contact page. And you can always ketch up or reread any post in this series by clickin’ the links on our Training Tips and Everything Feline page in our menu.

 

Raena sits in tiger kitty holster cat harness

 

 

 

 

The followin’ post will be written in human English fur reader and translator ease. Our Service Cat posts aren’t intended to be an all inclusive Trainin’ Manual but rather Tips, Tricks and Techniques used/developed by mommy A thru her many years of animal trainin’, cats in purrticular. And to offur insight into your questions about Everything Feline. Always remember, Training is all ‘bout Repetition and Rewards.

Dezi laying in cat tree in new harness

 

 

 

     As most of you know, mommy volunteered with rescue groups fur many years. Her specialty was “bottle babies”, kittens with no mother. She could always count on kitten season to fill up her house and every other rescue and shelter. Kitten season rolls around every year without fail because there are still so many cats that don’t get spayed or neutered. In our part of the world, kitten season runs from April to about August.

 

3 week old Lexi waddling through the house
110 camera image
Lexi at 3 weeks

 

 

 

     Spring and Summer temperatures are ideal for causing females to go into heat and start seeking to mate. Because of this, June has become known as Adopt a Cat month. However, kitten or adult, all cats are extremely adventurous and curious. Taking this and some of the emails we’ve gotten lately into consideration, we’ve decided to run a a small miniseries on prepping for and adopting a new kitty. Today, we’re going to talk about Kitten/Cat proofing your home.

 

Baby Dezi her first week at home
Dezi 3 weeks

 

 

 

     You might be thinking we should start with picking your new family member, however, we believe the process starts here with prepping your home before the new addition arrives; just as you would for a human baby. Regardless of the age you plan to adopt, you’ll need to take some steps to make sure your home is safe to bring a new kitty in to.

 

RaenaBelle travels to her forever home in mommy's lap

 

 

 

Get Low:

     Now this may sound funny to you, but kitty will spend a lot of time on the floor. You may not need to actually get on your knees but you do need to see your home through kitty’s eyes. All the cords running from your television, computer, lamps, clocks and whatever else are just large stationary strings/vines to kitty. They are also a nice chew toy. Think Tarzan swinging from vine (cord) to vine (cord). Mommy’s found the best deterrent is to wrap those cords in electrical tape. Cords hanging off the edge of desks or tables can be wrapped in those cord protectors. If you need a cheap DIY cord protector, you can use an old long sleeve shirt or lightweight pants legs. Just cut the sleeves or legs off and put the cords thru it. Depending on the length of the cord(s) and your arms/legs, you may need more than one sleeve. 

 

     Check your shelves for knick knacks. If there’s something you’d be heartbroken to lose, put it away. Don’t blame a rambunctious kitty when it gets broken. Move candles, potpourri, oil burners, dangerous/toxic houseplants, photos and photo albums, and books to higher shelves or put them in storage. Better yet, throw the potpourri out, it harbors dust mites and is toxic to kitty at any age.

 

Kitchen & Dining Room:

     Let’s take a look at the kitchen and dining room, why don’t we?. What dangers could be in such a pawsome place you ask? Well, mommy keeps the bug sprays and some of the cleaners under the kitchen cabinet, do you? Us kitties are very smart and we’re tenacious. If we want in some where, we’ll work at it until we find a way. Make sure kitty can’t get into the cabinet with cleaners, chemicals and/or poisons. Commercial child proof locks work well for kitty too.

 

     Burner covers for the stove top come in very handy and can be purchased for as low as $1.00. Never leave hot burners unattended until you know for sure how kitty will act around them. Better yet, train kitty to stay off the stove and kitchen counters altogether. Check out our Training Tips to stop Countersurfing kitty here. Throw out the plastic fruits and fruit bowls of yesteryear and make sure any fruits left out are safe for kitty to eat. Don’t leave tempting food on the counters uncovered. At least not until kitty has successfully passed the No Countersurfing course. MOL

 

     NEVER, leave the oven door open, especially when turned on. Kitty’s desire for warmth and natural curiosity combined with a hot oven can make for a deadly combination. Never leave the refrigerator or freezer doors open. More than once Raena’s tried to hop into the fridge for a look see. That girl does love her cheese. If you have one of those automatic dishwashers, keep the door closed and/or keep an eye on kitty while you load and unload. Anyways, me thinks you’re getting the idea here, open doors are rarely a kitty’s friend. 

 

Dezi lays in Gen7 stroller looking up at Raena who stands on the handle

Never underestimate a determined kitty.

 

 

 

Well, me’s gonna wrap it up fur today. As me meowed earlier, this will be a little miniseries, so we’ll be back next week with more Kitten/Cat Proofing ideas fur ya’. Don’t furget you can ketch up on any posty you may have missed by clickin’ the links on our Training Tips and Everything feline page from the menu above. And purrlease, leave your questions, comments and topic suggestions in the comments section below or send us an email via our Contact page. Remember when askin’ behavioral questions to purrlease be as specific as pawssible and include any examples you think are necessary. Now, let’s get some kitties adopted!!! OMC Me totally furgot to link up with Comedy Plus fur Feline Furiday, so we had to come back and edit me’s posty. Now, let’s get some kitties adopted. 🙂

 

Till the next time……………………………………………………………Be Blest!!!

 

Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses 

 

Deztinee and RaenaBelle