Feline Friday - Christmas Cassie!

Cassie and I are here to wish everyone who reads Pawprints and all of the volunteers at StreetCats a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

Feline Friday -Truman!

Here is Truman!  As you can see, he is a gorgeous long hair kitty with black and white fur.  Born in 2005, he is one of our more mature cats. 

Truman is a guy that really knows what he wants and for several months now he has wanted to be the office cat.  He keeps track of everything happening in the shop.  His favorite place to sleep is in a bed tucked in between the paper cutter and the printer. 

Truman was previously in foster care, as are most all of our cats.  While there he got along with their dogs and other cats.  He also gets along with cats in our shop. He can be a little testy at times so we think he would probably do best in a home without small children.  The foster parent said that he was friendly and affectionate and liked to sleep on the bed.  Here at StreetCats he seems to be laid back and calm.  

Here Truman has ventured out of the office to see what was going on in the visiting area.  It's all work and no play when you're in charge of a host of volunteers and sometimes up to 14 other cats.

He has been to the vet and has had all of the tests and shots that he needed.  He also has had a micro-chip placed just below his skin.  The new owners' contact information will be put on it.  If he is lost, and then found, any vet or animal rescue organization can scan it and find out who he belongs to and where he lives!

Truman is really getting into the Christmas spirit with his own catnip filled stocking.  While I was at the shop he told me that he had a talk with Santa Paws, (I think he meant Santa Claws, or was it Santa Clause).  He told him that he had only 1 thing on his list this year.  He asked Santa to bring to the shop a human who would take him to his very own forever home.  We love him here at SteetCats, but we know that he would be most happy in a home of his own.  

If you are interested in meeting Truman, feel free to come by StreetCats at 6520 E. 60th St, in Tulsa, 10:30 - 5:00 Tuesday though Saturday, or call our message line, 918-298-0104 with any questions that you may have.  We would love to show you around and introduce you to him and I’m sure that he would love to meet you, too!

Feline Friday - Adam Revisited!

Here is our buddy Adam!  He is a 5 year old brown tabby with white.    Doesn't he look handsome with his golden moustache?

Adam is an outgoing!  He keeps a careful watch on the happenings in the shop. Nothing gets by him.......except during nap time!

He can be very friendly and he enjoys being a lap cat, but when he is ready to go he does have a tendency to give a warning and quit being so friendly. He is declawed on his front paws.  He also prefers to go places on his own and not to be picked up.  He is his own man!

He gets along with dogs and most other cats.  He probably would not be a kitty for children since he can be unpredictable at times.

He is clever and he loves drinking out of the faucet or breaking into the cabinets, when he can, and disrupting the contents.

 I yawn every time I look at this photograph....zzzzz

He loves to play!  Here he is taking a short break.  

Adam is a healthy boy!  He has been checked out by a veterinarian and has had all of his tests and shots.  He also has been micro-chipped!  After he is adopted we will add all of the new owner's contact information.  Should he be lost and then found any vet or animal rescue organization can scan it and find out who his owners are!

If you are interested in meeting Adam, feel free to come by StreetCats at 6520 E. 60th St, in Tulsa, 10:30 - 5:00 Tuesday though Saturday, or call our message line, 918-298-0104 with any questions that you may have.  We would love to show you around and introduce you to him and I’m sure that he would love to meet you, too!
 
  

Really??!!

"I could never volunteer here.  I just couldn't leave the cats here!"  I think if I hear this again I'm going to yowl!  I know that Lulu, Janie, and Vanna have talked about this!  Especially Janie!  She knew our humans were angels!  But here it is, the truth, one more time!

StreetCats is a good place to be!  No, it isn't our forever home, but it is not a bad place to live until that home is found!  Every day our people come.  They clean our space, they wash our litter boxes every day.  They give us fresh food and water in clean dishes every day.  Well, at times they are a little slow with this job, but they only need a gentle reminder.  Just sit on or beside your food tray and they'll remember.  This is what I do!

Now cleaning and feeding always comes first.  But when that is done then we kitties get a lot of love!  Laps are provided for those that want them.  The lap I'm going to show you is chubby enough to hold two kitties.  See?

And we provide laps in a variety of sizes!  If you play your cards right the person with the lap you choose might actually even share their yogurt with you!

And for kitties who are shy?  They get their very own private condos!  Here is Smokey in her house.  Her food, water and litter box are even left nearby so that she never has to go far if she gets scared.  But it rarely takes very long before even shy cats realize that this is a safe place!

And I haven't even talked about the Feline Specialties Spa where we get all the care we could possibly need!  And the toys!  Oh my gosh!

So please, come volunteer!  Yes, you will fall in love with us!  How could you not?!  But you'll know when you leave that we have been properly spoiled!  You'll miss us when we go to our very own homes!  But you'll kiss us good-bye and be happy for us!  And for the next needy cat who will come and take our spot until that kitty gets his home.  And you'll look back at our pictures and be happy for having known us.  😻

Heir Apparent

First, this is a very serious blog.  I have serious good news and serious bad news.  We will start with the serious bad news.  My Royal Photographer is injured and I had to take the pictures for this blog myself.  Oh dear!  Now it is important to note that this court photographer did not ask my permission to be injured and therefore not be able to come to StreetCats.  After much contemplation regarding consequences I have determined to pardon her this offense.  But if it happens again, off with her head!  Hurry back, Royal Photographer!

Now on to the serious good news.  I have expanded my court to include a prince, an heir to my throne.  I wasn't sure I would ever see a young cat who had the potential to be a King someday.  But by golly, here he is.  You may have noticed that I have beautiful markings, a qualification for being King.  Well. So does this kitten.  His name is Spangles and here he is!

And he meets ALL the other qualifications.  First, he is a healthy eater and will grow up to be big and strong.  Kings must be strong!

He understands what humans are for . . . massage therapy!

And the boy can play!

 

So henceforth this kitten will be known as Prince Spangles!  I will plan a huge celebration . . . as soon as I get a Royal Huge Celebration Planner!

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE KING

I know everyone would like to know what a King does all day.   For sure!  Because being King is not an everyday kind of thing.  It's something that everyone would like to experience.  Right?!  But first I have to tell you that since I have learned so much from my mentor, President Kathy, that my days have dramatically changed.  There was a time when I sat on my throne all day and just noticed all the things that weren't being done right.  But now I'm a working King.  If you want something done right, do it yourself!  Or supervise very carefully!

So here I am riding the fences.  Ha!  Well there aren't any fences here and I don't ride anything.  But that's what cowboys call it when they're checking to be sure everything is in order on the ranch and that's sort of cool, I think.  But instead of riding fences, I walk cabinets.  I have to repeatedly check these cabinets to be sure they are shut and no cats have gotten inside them.

Now here I am checking to be sure the cabinets are well secured, that the latches are closed in such a way that the cats cannot get them open.  Yes, these cats somehow sometimes manage to get the latches undone and the cabinets open.  And then they get inside and make a terrible mess!!  But I'm just checking here because I, as King, would never do anything like that!

And here I am keeping watch.  No more cat naps for me!  Because being King and keeping watch around here means never being able to rest.  Eyes have to be kept open . . . on cats, on humans, on the front door.  This is a busy gig, but I'm loving it!!

And it's not just cats that have to be carefully watched!  Here I am checking to be sure the humans have cleaned well enough to meet the high standards of StreetCats!  It's amazing how often humans come into my kingdom and say it doesn't smell like cats.  Well, frankly that is a little confusing to me.  Of course it smells like cats!!  But clean cats!  What a wonderful aroma!!

So I'm remembering how I used to sit on my throne all day and cavetch.  But now I sit on my,throne only after all my work is finished.  And what a wonderful feeling of satisfaction to rule over and be in charge of such a great kingdom!!

Feline Friday - Summer Adoptions!

I decided for this week's Feline Friday blog entry to show some of the kitties who were adopted in recent months!

This is Bodie!  I'm not sure how I got this ecu, (extreme close-up), but here he is in all of his handsome glory!

This is Gypsy!  Most of you didn't have a chance to meet her.  She came in on a Monday, when we are closed, and was adopted the next day right after we opened. Although you can't tell it by the photo, she is a very young and playful cat!

This is Kit Kit.  She was a bit shy, but the right person found her, loved her, and took her to her forever home!

Sweetie was a wonderful tabby cat to have in the shop.  Sweetie was with us, at StreetCats, for a very short time.  He was so "sweet" that he was adopted right away!

Tortie Mae was one of our favorites, especially with volunteer, Judy Lloyd, who fostered her.  We are so happy that she went to a good home!

And the gorgeous Scarlett was adopted this summer, too!  We really enjoyed her while she waited at StreetCats to be adopted.  Her beauty was only matched by her very, very, good nature!  

These were just a few of our recently adopted kitties.  I hope you enjoyed seeing them for the first time, or revisiting them through these photographs, in this week's Feline Friday!
 

Feline Friday - Munchkin and Spiro - Special Edition!

Munchkin, as many of you know, has been with us at StreetCats for several weeks.  Spiro came into the shop this week.  He is a 4 or 5 month old kitten. I went to the shop on Wednesday and this is when I caught all of the action.  

Munchkin spotted the newcomer and came down from his favorite perch, atop the big cat tree in Abbey's Room, to check him out. Spiro flattens his ears trying to look tough. 

Here they are sizing each other up.

Tough little Spiro make the first move!

The wrestling begins!  They tumble around for a while in their play fight.  Spiro is so serious with his tail all puffed up while Munchkin easily scores 2 points for a take-down!

After the wrestling match is over a tie was declared!  It's all for fun and they are both winners in my book. Looks like the beginning of a beautiful relationship!

While watching them play, another volunteer and I, marveled at how gently Munchkin was playing with his "tough" little friend.  

Both of these wonderful kitties are ready for adoption!

If you are interested in meeting Munchkin and Spiro, feel free to come by StreetCats at 6520 E. 60th St, in Tulsa, 10:30 - 5:00 Tuesday though Saturday, or call our message line, 918-298-0104 with any questions that you may have.  We would love to show you around and introduce you to them and I’m sure that they  would love to meet you, too!

Feline Friday - Boo!

Meet Boo!  She is an approximately 2 1/2 yr. old "torti".  Torti is short for tortoise shell.  The colors in "tortis" are similar to the coloring of many tortoiseshells.  Perhaps that is how they got their name.  Also tortis are exclusively females!

Boo is delightful!  She's very good natured and loves to be petted, especially while sitting on a nice warm lap.  We hear that she is good with dogs, and we know that she gets along with the other cats at StreetCats.  Here Munchkin is introducing himself to her.  Although her ears were back she didn't seem to mind allowing a little nose sniffing. 

Like most of our cats we don't know their complete history so it's very necessary to have them fully checked by a veterinarian.  Boo has had all of the tests and any needed treatments, and of course all of her vaccinations.  She is one healthy kitty!
In addition to the high quality veterinarian care we provide for our cats, we also provide a micro-chip that has been placed just below her skin.  Should she get separated from her family a scan of the chip by a vet or an animal rescue facility will lead her right back to you, her owner.  Being micro-chipped is the best way to get a pet returned home.  StreetCats will also register and pay for the first year's fee!  
 

If you are interested in meeting Boo, feel free to come by StreetCats at 6520 E. 60th St, in Tulsa, 10:30 - 5:00 Tuesday though Saturday, or call our message line, 918-298-0104 with any questions that you may have.  We would love to show you around and introduce you to Boo and I’m sure that she would love to meet you, too!

I'll get by with a little help from my friend!

First I would like to let you know about my upcoming vacation plans.  Of all the suggestions I got (there were two) regarding where I should go, I have accepted the suggestion that I go to CATalina Island.  I still have many details to work out, but until I have all my plans made I shall go there in my mind.  So I close my eyes and see that all the bars serve saucers of milk, all the restaurants have huge selections of fresh fish (maybe even a songbird or two) and the lounging chairs around the pool (filled with those fresh fish, of course) are covered in cat hair!  So thank you, Linda Holland, for your wonderful suggestion!  Aaahhh!  I'm enjoying it already!

And, as you can probably tell, I'm feeling splendidly well this morning!  And why is that you might ask.  Well, it is all due to one very special human who has lifted my spirits more than you can imagine.  Now this lady may know more about StreetCats than even I, King Truman, know.  She is one of the people who originally founded StreetCats in 1997.  So it is easy to see why I have decided to make her my royal archivist, right?!  And she has held every position on the StreetCats board that there is to hold!  She is a very special person and she has taught me the importance of hard work and humility.  Does she sit back and expect others to do the hard work?  No!!  She comes in and cleans, she is a foster parent to many of our kitties, she works hard at our primary fundraiser, My Furry Valentine, and she does all this while serving as President of the Board of Directors of StreetCats.  Oh my!  Her name is Kathy Balsiger and here she is with one of our kitties, the wonderful Boo!

And she doesn't just like cats!  She likes people, too!  She babysits on an ongoing basis with her granddaughter, Hannah!  Now how she has time to do this I don't know!  But I heard Hannah call her Grandma and I know enough to know this signifies a very important relationship in the human world!!  I bet those two are going to be bonded forever!!  I'm so glad she's passing her love of cats on to Hannah!

The more astute of you readers may have sensed that since I became King of StreetCats I have been stressed and depressed.  It is just an overwhelming job!  But now I know Kathy is there for me and it is so helpful to know that I'm not alone.  After all, she is President so she does have some understanding of what being King might entail.  Well, recently she reached out to me and she told me that she understands and that she LOVES me!!  The smartest thing I ever did was to reach back to her and accept her offer of help!!  My life is going to be so different now with Kathy as my special friend!  So here's to you, Kathy Balsiger!  Thank you for all your help!  I love you, too!!!

Feline Friday - Cassie!

Cassie is a 100% pure white sweetie.  She is about 3 years old with beautiful green eyes!

She is an affectionate little cat, but still a little shy. She has become a lap cat while at StreetCats!  She is has been a little fearful around the other cats and is getting better, but we think that she would do best in a home as an "only" cat.  We don't know whether or not she would get along with kids or dogs.  

Treat time is very popular at StreetCats!  Here she is placing her order for 1 handful of her favorite treats. Cassie is vocal when it comes to treats and fetching.  That's right, she likes to play fetch with small toys.  When she "captures" her prey she announces it to everyone with a strange, "I've got my mouth full of a toy" meow/yowl.  I tried to get pictures of her playing fetch, but she always stopped when I pulled my camera out. 
 

As always she really enjoyed her treats and high fives the volunteer who brought them to her!

 
Cassie is healthy. All of her tests and shots are up to date.  When she is adopted we will put a micro-chip under her skin with the new owner's contact information.  Micro-chipping is the best way to have your pet returned to you should she get lost.  Every veterinarian and animal shelter has a scanner that they use first thing when a stray or found pet is brought to them. To show our appreciation for adopting one of our cats we, StreetCats, will pay for the first year's registration!

If you are interested in meeting Cassie, feel free to come by StreetCats at 6520 E. 60th St, in Tulsa, 10:30 - 5:00 Tuesday though Saturday, or call our message line, 918-298-0104 with any questions that you may have.  We would love to show you around and introduce you to her and I’m sure that she would love to meet you, too!

I Can See Clearly Now

Well, not really.  I tend to navigate my world with my nose and my whiskers, but that's just a saying to let you know that I'm not depressed any more.  Oh I know that you didn't know that I was feeling down.  If you'd known you would have come running.  But I didn't tell anyone.  I'm telling you now that it was a little rough for a while.  I can just hear you saying, "Aaahhh, King Truman, what was wrong?"  So I'm going to tell you.

If there is anything harder than being the King of a bunch of cats and cat loving humans, it is being a totally powerless King.  I have had to come to accept that here at StreetCats I am only a figure head.  They let me be king, keep my throne clean and really they do provide for my every need.  But power?  I have none!  Remember Queen Scarlett, my queen for a day that I decided to make queen forever?  Gone.  And Sheriff Adam?  Gone.  Now cats come and go through this facility all the time.  They only live here until they're adopted.  Yes, yes, I know adoption is a good thing!  Really good!!  But it just happens without even a "by your leave" to the so-called King.  If that's not a reason to be depressed then I don't know what is!!  But I've got to stop talking about it or I'll get down, down, down again!

So what is causing me to see clearly now???  I've decided to take a trip!!!  And not just to the StreetCats spa either!  I'm going to take a real trip!  And I want you to help me decide where to go!  One friend told me that Kyoto, Japan, has the best Mexican restaurant in the world, so I did give that some thought.  But no, this vacation will be in one of our great United States.  Please send your recommendations to me as soon as possible so that I can begin planning!  If you've taken a trip recently, tell me all about it!  All options will be considered.  No wait, all but one.  I won't go to Hawaii!  Why?  Well, because Hawaii is very, very safe for cats.  Did you know that it's the only state that has always been rabies free?!  Pretty cool, huh?!  So why wouldn't I want to go there?  Because, in order to keep it safe, they have a very strict quarantine law!  Before going there I would have to be quarantined for a very long time.  Now I enjoy my own company more than anyone else's company.  But, even so, I might get a little lonely during quarantine.  So . . . send me your choice of which state I should visit.  And if you've been to Hawaii, bring me a lei!  🙀

There's a New Sheriff in Town

I am now going to demonstrate to you the kind of intelligence and cunning it takes to be a king.  Remember me telling you about how much Adam has been bugging me because he wants to be the court jester of StreetCats?  The boy has been on my heels constantly and just doesn't get the word NO!  And remember me telling you that I'm so tired of my subjects, both feline and human, bugging me with questions and requests and complaints, etc., etc?  Oh my gosh, my brilliance in solving both these problems at the same time amazes me!!!

So here's the deal.  I'm making Adam my sheriff!!  Okay, let me explain.  Adam will be an important official in my kingdom and will leave me alone about the court jester business.  This is a very positive thing because, quite frankly, I was beginning to think he was going to try to overthrow me and take my throne!  Now some might question my choice of him as sheriff because he has no claws on his front paws.  But the boy can bite and isn't afraid to use his teeth!

So here's the deal.  Yes, Adam will still be staying close to me . . . could find no way around that.  But he'll have his attention focused outward, discouraging any creature who wants to interrupt my meals or my naps.  Adam is happy and I'm no longer being badgered!  Brilliant!!!  So I hereby introduce Adam, Sheriff of StreetCats!

Now, as an additional demonstration of just how smart I am, I would like to tell you something that I bet you didn't know.  Of course humans recognize how superior cats are.  How could they not?!  And one of our most superior attributes is our whiskers.  We use our whiskers to navigate and man, that is so useful!  Well, humans thought they could copy us and in the 1950's they tried to put whiskers on cars.  No, I'm not kidding!  They called them "curb finders" or "curb feelers" and they were long, stiff wires installed low on the body of cars.  When a car got close to the curb these "whiskers" would make a loud noise so the driver would know he was close.  Well, you'll notice cars don't have "feelers" these days.  Give it up, humans!  You'll never be a match for felines!!!

Feline Friday - Tortie Mae!

Tortie Mae is a black and gold beauty!  She is estimated to be about 7-8 yrs. old.

She is a sweet little cat, but also very shy.  She likes to sit on laps, but rather than jumping she will politely wait to be lifted onto your lap.  In a new home she would probably do well with other cats, but probably not with children or dogs.

Sleeping is one of her favorite ways to pass the time.  It seemed liked every time I went to the shop to photograph her I was interrupting a nap.  Other volunteers claim to have witnessed her roaming around exploring the building and checking out the other cats, but when I was close by with my camera she became very sleepy and camera shy.

 

She was taken in by one our very own volunteers after Tortie Mae decided to move into her backyard a year ago 

June.  This is Tortie Mae and Judy, her rescuer.

 

She is healthy!  She has been checked by a vet and given all of the tests and shots needed.  She will also be micro-chipped with the new owners' contact information.  Her first year's registration with HomeAgain will be paid by StreetCats.

If you are interested in meeting Tortie Mae, feel free to come by StreetCats at 6520 E. 60th St, in Tulsa, 10:30 - 5:00 Tuesday though Saturday, or call our message line, 918-298-0104 with any questions that you may have.  We would love to show you around and introduce you to her and I’m sure that she would love to meet you, too!

Disclaimer:  I have no idea why all of a sudden this page decided not to allow me to left justify and then did.