2024 Feline Birthday & Gotcha Day!

[neely]

A very Happy 4th Gotcha Day to LC, aka Stubby! Do you have a pic of her to share?

 

[nurseangel]

Bob is our latest, rescued from a hoarding situation and ending up at our local shelter. I thought he may have been the victim of a backyard breeding situation, since he is a purebred cat. Now I wonder if someone just had lots and lots of animals. He was around five months old when we got him, which would put his birthday in May! He was DH's answer to my German Shepherd.

The shelter worker told us that they hadn't had him long, and couldn't tell us much about him. They said that he wasn't adjusting well at the shelter. You could smell Bob before you could see him in a little cage at the back of the cat room. The other cats and kittens were friendly, coming to the front of their cages for pets and sweet talk. Bob was scared and anti-social. DH said he looked at Bob and thought, "That is one sad cat. He has given up."

Can you spot Bob in the picture I took at the shelter?

Now look at him, my handsome fellow. I am really proud of DH for giving Bob a chance at the happiness he deserves. He loves our other cats (he thinks Bree is his mom) and his new life. When DH went back to review Bob's labs, the shelter manager told DH she was glad that we were the ones that adopted Bob. So are we. He is such a blessing.

 

[tarasgirl06]

Bob is our latest, rescued from a hoarding situation and ending up at our local shelter. I thought he may have been the victim of a backyard breeding situation, since he is a purebred cat. Now I wonder if someone just had lots and lots of animals. He was around five months old when we got him, which would put his birthday in May! He was DH's answer to my German Shepherd.

The shelter worker told us that they hadn't had him long, and couldn't tell us much about him. They said that he wasn't adjusting well at the shelter. You could smell Bob before you could see him in a little cage at the back of the cat room. The other cats and kittens were friendly, coming to the front of their cages for pets and sweet talk. Bob was scared and anti-social. DH said he looked at Bob and thought, "That is one sad cat. He has given up."

Can you spot Bob in the picture I took at the shelter?

View attachment 476213

Now look at him, my handsome fellow. I am really proud of DH for giving Bob a chance at the happiness he deserves. He loves our other cats (he thinks Bree is his mom) and his new life. When DH went back to review Bob's labs, the shelter manager told DH she was glad that we were the ones that adopted Bob. So are we. He is such a blessing.

View attachment 476215

Bob is ADORABLE! We had a similar situation two locations ago. I've never known what the background was, but some of the cats we rescued from that community looked like possible offspring of "purebred" cats. Anyway, in our situation and in yours, so glad they found love, comfort, good care, and safety!!!

 

[nurseangel]

Aw, thank you tarasgirl06 . It didn't matter to DH (or me) that Bob is a breed cat. DH felt sorry for him and still isn't quite convinced that someone cut off Bob's tail. We love to watch him walk - he looks like a gorilla walking on its knuckles, with his butt up in the air. He is a very sweet cat. I fell in love with him as soon as we brought him home. He has a double coat like a Husky, and at first it was like bristles. Now it as soft as silk. DH warned me about going online to search for arrests made, because he knew it would upset me. The only big raid I found at the time happened in Texas. The rescued dogs and cats were sent all over the US.

I am glad you were able give those cats a happy home. Elvis is beautiful, BTW. I especially love the second "Why are you taking pictures of me" photo. It certainly called for closer inspection. Then there is the third, "I don't like this posing for the camera business. But at least I can sleep well knowing the pictures won't be posted on the Internet for everyone to see."

 

[tarasgirl06]

Aw, thank you tarasgirl06 . It didn't matter to DH (or me) that Bob is a breed cat. DH felt sorry for him and still isn't quite convinced that someone cut off Bob's tail. We love to watch him walk - he looks like a gorilla walking on its knuckles, with his butt up in the air. He is a very sweet cat. I fell in love with him as soon as we brought him home. He has a double coat like a Husky, and at first it was like bristles. Now it as soft as silk. DH warned me about going online to search for arrests made, because he knew it would upset me. The only big raid I found at the time happened in Texas. The rescued dogs and cats were sent all over the US.

I am glad you were able give those cats a happy home. Elvis is beautiful, BTW. I especially love the second "Why are you taking pictures of me" photo. It certainly called for closer inspection. Then there is the third, "I don't like this posing for the camera business. But at least I can sleep well knowing the pictures won't be posted on the Internet for everyone to see."

I work in cat advocacy and often a cat will show obvious signs of trauma, of various kinds, origin unknown. There are HBC (hit by car) cats and yes, there are survivors of human violence. Sometimes the origin is known, sometimes not. Of course it infuriates, enrages, upsets, stresses and saddens me no end. But as this work is heartrending at best, I have a mantra that I use, along the lines of, "Well, but the GOOD part is that they are now SAFE in care, and hopefully soon to be in a loving permanent home." I've had a lot of trauma in my own life and I use that to deal with my own emotional health. We can't undo the past. My beliefs are that everyone doing any kind of evil act will absolutely be brought to Justice. Those victims of these devils -- for they are devils -- who do not survive on earth, definitely are in the Best Loving Care always and have no memory of the bad experiences. Those who do survive on this earth and who are rescued, start the journey to wellness, comfort, best care, and love. These are the things I always focus on.
Yes, Elvis is "a character," according to his dad, from whom I adopted him 7 years ago when he rehomed him due to an allergic fiancee.
He's PURRsonality Plus.
As for Bob, yes, you'll never know. Perhaps it was a traumatic "accidental" injury. The important thing is that you found him!

 

[neely]

A very Happy Gotcha Day to your dear boy, Bob.

He has a double coat like a Husky, and at first it was like bristles. Now it as soft as silk.

I've noticed that with all the cats we have adopted over the years. Their coats are dull and coarse due to poor nutrition, stress and other environmental factors. With Carleton his coat literally changed colors after a healthy diet, love and affection.

 

[tarasgirl06]

A very Happy Gotcha Day to your dear boy, Bob.



I've noticed that with all the cats we have adopted over the years. Their coats are dull and coarse due to poor nutrition, stress and other environmental factors. With Carleton his coat literally changed colors after a healthy diet, love and affection.

That's TRUE health care!!!

 

[Shawna87]

One year ago today Carlos joined our family! He was found at three weeks old and the only surviving one of his litter. My sister in law found him and didn’t know what to do with him so I had her drop him off at my house.

He was dropped off in a little box so hungry and weak but he was a fighter! I had no idea how to care for a bottle baby but he was patient with me and we learned together.

When he was introduced to my other cats my sweet cat Beau would watch over him, groom him, sleep with him, and play with him. Still to this day they are always together!

I can’t believe it has been a year since you came into my life so unexpectedly but you made our hearts so full! You have grown into a handsome sweet boy that doesn’t leave my side. I love you so much Carlos

The first day he came to me!

When is sweet little eyes changed color!

My beautiful boy now!

Also those toe beans!!

 

[tarasgirl06]

One year ago today Carlos joined our family! He was found at three weeks old and the only surviving one of his litter. My sister in law found him and didn’t know what to do with him so I had her drop him off at my house.

He was dropped off in a little box so hungry and weak but he was a fighter! I had no idea how to care for a bottle baby but he was patient with me and we learned together.

When he was introduced to my other cats my sweet cat Beau would watch over him, groom him, sleep with him, and play with him. Still to this day they are always together!

I can’t believe it has been a year since you came into my life so unexpectedly but you made our hearts so full! You have grown into a handsome sweet boy that doesn’t leave my side. I love you so much Carlos

The first day he came to me!
View attachment 476424
When is sweet little eyes changed color!
View attachment 476425
My beautiful boy now!
View attachment 476426
Also those toe beans!!
View attachment 476427

Awwwwwww! Happy Big FIRST Adoptiversary, Carlos & fams! He is adorable!

 

[Lari]

Happy Gotcha Day to Carlos!

 

[Alldara]

 

[betsygee]

Oh Carlos is adorable! He is a lucky little boy to have landed in your care. Happy Gotcha Day, Carlos.

 

[DeesCats]

Happy Gotcha day to Carlos! What a beautiful boy, you've done him proud.

 

[neely]

A very Happy 1st Gotcha Day to one of the luckiest cats on earth, Carlos. Enjoy your special day and all the ones that follow.