Cat Crazy in Tennessee

Hi Everyone  :)

   My name is Brenda, I am located in the Smoky Mountains of east Tennessee. I am a cat fanatic and I THINK I have 7 lol...more likely, they have ME. Puppy is a 4 year old chocolate point Siamese with a vestibular disorder, found him on a shelter visit. Footsy is a 12 year old obese 3 legged tuxedo girl, born missing that 4th limb, again a shlter find. Dexter is 2, he was crying inside a closed box at an August yard sale at only about 6 weeks old. People are mean...grrrrrr. Burger only comes inside to visit for food, a feral girl on the side of a busy road at about 8 week, 9 maybe. Pete and Buddy are two boys born 6/26 to a stray momma that birthed them here and ran away when they were old enough. Those 2 are Leukemia positive, unfortunately Pete is now likely being taken down by FIP, as well. Fartley is another stray that shows for a few days, runs off for a few more. We have a transient neighborhood over the hill from us and that's where most of the strays come from. People are evicted or leave, they dump their pets. I don't know how they live with themselves.

    In February, I lost my beloved tuxedo Tink to Leukemia. I didn't know she had it until it had taken over her life. She is at peace under my willow tree, along with Lucky, whom I tried hard to save but she died from seizures...all because some uneducated fool put a flea collar on a 7 week old baby and let her run the streets, until she found her way here to me. All 5 of the stray's litter were Leukemia positive and FIP has claimed 3 of their beautiful lives, working on taking Pete now. They too, are under my tree. Through all of the heartbreak, I would do it all again. Under cat health, I have posted a question concerning the FIP and draining, if anyone has any input. Pete (who posed for my avatar pic) is my loverboy and I am desperate to help him. FIP is the most disgusting thing that can happen to our babies, bar none.

    I also take care of skunks and possums outside at night. The skunks actually scratch at my door until I know it's dinnertime. They are pretty awesome creatures. Very so often, a raccoon or two will show, as well. They don't bother my cats, even though my cats love to bother them. Skunks just don't get the concept of "play," apparently. I'm not a religious person but I know you gotta take care of these pets and critters because it's the weakest ones who need us the most. I have had plenty of people let me down but the critters just want food and love to love you back and well.

  I have a 14 year old daughter, a husband who thinks I am nuts for being cat crazy and I now have a beautiful 14 year old foster daughter, too. Always enough love to love more. I am lookimng forward to treading more about ya'll and your pets. Thanks for giving us a place like this.

Thanks so much for the welcome Miss Mew and Cat Person. See...cat people ARE the nicest people in the world. You have proven that. Yes, Tink knew she was loved, another throwaway baby that I adopted in my tall grass out back. Took me days of her sad crying before her sweet self would come out from hiding but she was amazing. Oh yes, I have visited the crossing the bridge thread. I still have the puffy eyes to prove it. The stories are so sad but good to know how many babies were/are so loved. I know soon that I will find myself posting there with the passing of Pete. He is a special loverboy. Regardless of how many times I have been through it, I am not ready to let him go yet. This one will hurt badly. Thank goodness for the support of people like ya'll.

   Cat Person, it is good to know there are people as compassionate as yourself in those vet offices. I have met some wonderful staff that has cried with me and comforted me. Still, there is one vet nearby that is known for her dislike for cats. She should not be in that business and I will never see her again. The PTS process is devastating. Someone like her makes it even harder. So, thank you. Your human patients know it and I am always sure to write and thank the caring ones afterward. They need to know they are appreciated.

   Miss Mew...I am sooooo sorryabout your losses. :(

   I am so glad this forum is here for all of us.

Thank you cr4zy and sugarcatmom...ya'll made me cry again, dangit! :) Those were some very kind words. I just wish there were more kind people like all of us on the planet, period. There's just SOMEthing about cat peeps, huh? They give me unconditional love right back so, I am the lucky one. I don't think I would know what to do with a pedigree or normal cat or critter. Everything has been a throwaway or injured, etc. Well, the skunks aren't but I gotta be crazy for playin with them. lol  Most people just get too busy with the unimportant things. I figure we waste enough food. They are all god's or mother nature's creatures and whatever we can do to make their lives nicer well, it just can't hurt.

    No sugarcat, I sure hope you NEVER experience FIP. I wish that on no cat lover or kitty. It crushes your heart. Like I said, I am not religious but I am even trying to make deals with a god I am not sure I believe in because I hate that he suffers like this. He is a baby who didn't deserve it and I hate feeling this powerless. I cry every hour, I think. I just can't make sense of the world sometimes. Maybe there is just something wrong with my thinking, I don't know but I just can't grasp it.

 Now, I am gonna look to see if ya'll have a profile on the boards here to learn about your babies. If not, I wanna see em! 

Oh no...I see you have a name...sorry, Julie.  Great to meet you both, by the way!

Hi Captiva, thank you- Is that your baby in the avatar?? What exquisite markings...a beautiful kitteh! That one makes me smile.

Thanks Kailie...are you really owned by ten of em? Wow...bet they are some happy, spoiled babies! I hear that "hun" in there! Are you like me, from the mid Atlantic somewhere? I'm from MD (In TN now) and say "hun" still on a daily basis.

Hi Flisssweatpea and Meuzettesmom!  Thank you so much for the welcome. I think there are some beautiful, loving people on here already and I am soooo very thankful to all of you.