Feline Friday - Rupert!

Meet Rupert! 

Rupert is a youngster and celebrated his 1st birthday with us last week. His estimated birth date is February 1, 2013. He's described as a domestic short hair red tabby that has not been declawed.

Playful and outgoing, he gets along well with other cats and people, too!  He came to us because his owner was moving and said that she couldn’t take him with her.

I think he was enjoying having having his picture taken.

As with all of StreetCats kitties he has been to the vet and declared healthy! He has had tests and vaccinations,  and has been neutered, too.

If you are interested in meeting Rupert come by StreetCats at 6520 E. 60th St, in Tulsa
Tues. - Sat. between the hours of 10:30 and 5:00, or call our message line at 918-298-0104 for adoption information. Leave your message about Rupert and you will be called back as soon as possible. 

Lessons From A Street Cat

I have some things I need to tell you.  But before I do . . . did you see those pictures of me?  I had no idea I had such pretty markings!  And how about those whiskers!  Wow, sort of glad I looked at those!

Okay, now down to business.  Here's the deal.  I've been worried about some of our kittens that have been coming through StreetCats.  It's not much like me to worry, but . . . .  Well, let me explain.  They are so darn innocent!  I mean some of them have never had one bad thing happen to them in their lives! That's what everyone wants for babies, right?  Right!  But what if they do have some hard knocks along the way?  They won't have a clue what they should do!  So I'm going to give them some advice, if they're reading.  And I hope they are!

First, I know you've heard the phrase "trust, but verify."  Well, no!  By the time you get around to verifying it could be too late.  Here is the rule:  Verify, verify, verify, and verify at least one additional time before you trust!  Got it?!  I'm telling you a lot of these kittens would walk up to just any stranger they saw on the street!  They need some lessons!

Okay, second rule.  Always maintain control, even after you trust.  You see, I had a place to stay once. I can't quite bring myself to call it a home because it wasn't forever.  And I turned my life over to the person who had me.  I can't quite call him an owner or even a human!  But I learned, after I was abandoned, to always be in control.  Never, never, never give up control over your own destiny.  Even after you trust someone, be sure they know that you will interact with them on your terms only!  Give them a nip or a scratch now and then just to remind them of who is the boss!

Okay, now for my third lesson I need to show you a picture.  Here it is.

Attention all innocent kittens like the ones in this picture!  If you ever find yourself on the street and you see this man, run, don't walk, to him immediately!  The cats in this picture are Loki and Odie and I sure hope they are reading this.  They are absolutely the most innocent, trusting kittens we've had in the shop since I've been here.  They've been adopted and they have a good home.  But things can happen!  If you don't believe it, watch The Incredible Journey!  I'm telling you they need lessons!

The man is this picture is David McAuliffe and he LOVES cats!  Rest assured that if you ask him for rescue, you will get it!  He has four cats of his own!  Their names are Earl Grey, Autumn, Rocky and P.T.  And he likes to spend lots of time helping animals!  Well, he does also like to draw, paint and play music.  But what is important for you to know is that he is a good guy who will help you if you need to be rescued!  Okay?!

That's all my lessons for today.  I sincerely hope none of you kitties reading this blog ever have to use them!  I wish I had never had to learn them!

Feline Friday - Toots!

It’s only fitting that today we feature our newest writer for the StreetCats blog!
Yes, Toots accepted the position and we’re so happy that she did.

Toots is very observant! She likes to hang out at the top of a cat tree by a window, at StreetCats, so that she can see everything that happens around her, as well as keep tabs on what’s happening outdoors. She does like to take time out from her cat perch watch duties to come down to play with the volunteers or to have her head scratched from time to time.

Despite her small size and youthful appearance we believe her age to be about 7 or 8. Toots came to us after living for 3 years, on the streets of Tulsa, outside the apartment building where her owner abandoned her when he moved out. (I’ll refrain from commenting on him). She did have a friend who helped to keep her fed and tried to bring her into her home several times, but her cats and Toots just didn’t get along. Toots has adjusted well to living at StreetCats with numerous kitties coming and going, but because of the rough times, always defending herself outdoors from other cats, we think she would prefer living in a home as an only cat. As I understood her, she’s looking for a home with a patient person who can offer her lots of love.

Toots is very healthy! Like all of StreetCats kitties she has been to the vet for spaying, and shots. And also like all of our kitties, she as been microchipped and registered!

 If you are interested in meeting Toots come by StreetCats at 6520 E. 60th St, in Tulsa, 10:30 - 5:00 Tuesday though Saturday, or call our message line, 918-298-6006. We would love to show you around and introduce you to Toots!

Longevity

There's not much of that around here these days.  Longevity, that is . . . at least among the cats.  I mean cats have practically been flying out of here!  I think I'm the old timer here now and I've been here less than a year . . . 10 months to be exact.  The other cats are lucky to experience living at StreetCats for a month before they get adopted!

Oh, by the way, this is Toots.  Yep, I agreed to write this blog for as long as I'm here.  And who knows whether that will be for another 10 months or a day.  I'm not too worried about that . . . adoption doesn't necessarily appeal to me.  Maybe I'll tell you why some day.  But I'm writing this blog because I'm getting a bit bored around here.  Janie said I should show you a picture of myself so that everyone will be able to think about what I look like while they are reading this.  So here you go . . . a picture of me, Toots.  Occasionally I hear someone say I'm pretty.  I wouldn't know.  I don't do mirrors.

Okay, that's enough about me.  Let's see, what were we talking about?  Oh yeah, longevity.  Now when it comes to the people who work here, now there we've got longevity!  By the way, these are people, aka humans.  Lulu called them servants and I sort of get that.  They do pretty much everything for us!  Janie called them angels, and I get that, too.  I mean they saved her life.  But let's face it.  They're just people, albeit good ones for sure!  I lived on the streets for three years before I was rescued and, believe me, you can't trust all of them.  But the ones that come here?  Yep, good people.

So here is one of the longest serving people you'll ever know!  She has been volunteering here (all the people are volunteers, you know) for about ten years.  Wow, that's older than I am!  She is a StreetCats foster mom.  She keeps cats at her house for a while before they come to StreetCats . . . just to be sure that they're ready to be adopted.  And she covers the phone line for StreetCats.  If you call the phone line you'll get an answering machine and then this volunteer will call you back to see how she can help you.  And she comes to the shop once a week to clean and play with the cats . . . mostly clean.  Well, sometimes she even comes more often because she's always delivering cats or some such.  Oh yeah, I'm supposed to tell you her name.  It's Lindsey Dickinson.  And here she is with Ranger.  Yep, Ranger has come and gone, but Lindsey is still here and I frankly expect her to be for at least another ten years!  She likes to volunteer here!  Some of the cats really LOVE her and I appreciate her, too.  So thank you very much, Lindsey!

So, okay, that is done for today.  I'll keep my eyes and ears open around here and report to you on any goings on you need to hear about.  Right now it's My Furry Valentine over and over and over!  I'll tell you if the recording changes!

Good Fortune Lies Within Bad

I have so much to tell you!  But before I start . . . HOW ABOUT THAT FELINE FRIDAY!!!!  I know I'm going to be watching for those posts!  And you should, too!  You'll get to see all our pretty kitties!

Now, I bet you are wondering who said this . . . I mean the title of this post.  Well, I will tell you!  This phrase . . . Good Fortune Lies Within Bad . . . was said about 2000 years ago by a very wise Chinese man named Lao Tzu.  And the story I am about to tell you is an absolutely amazing example of just what he was talking about!  (I know it doesn't always happen that way, but this time it sure did!)

I know I told you when I first started writing this blog that my angels at StreetCats saved my life.  Well, it is so true!  I was in poor health when I came to StreetCats and I had to have a kind of surgery they call "exploratory" and I've been having to take medicine every day.  And well, to tell you the truth, I just haven't been thriving.  Just in case you don't know what that word means, it means "to make steady progress, to flourish, to grow vigorously."  I apparently haven't been doing any of that!  Well, my angels were so worried about me that they took me back to the spa, Feline Specialties.  I don't mind going there, but I could tell that they were really worried about me!

Here is something else I think I told you about.  After my angels saved my life, one of them named Katie, Katie Springs, took me to her house and she "fostered" me.  What that means is that she nursed and cherished me, but only for a while.  And I thrived at Katie's house!  My thriving at Katie's house was why I was brought into the shop at StreetCats.  They thought I was doing so well that I could be adopted!  And everyone was so excited about that!

But my bad fortune (as mentioned above) is that I did not thrive at StreetCats.  I thrived with Katie, but not at StreetCats.  I can't explain it and neither can the angels, even the ones at the spa.  Did you know that there is actually a human diagnosis called "failure to thrive?"  I guess maybe cats can have that, too.  I know my angels really wondered what was going to happen to me.

So . . . if that was my bad fortune, not thriving at StreetCats, what was my good fortune that was within my bad fortune?  Oh my gosh, there could not be any better fortune than the one that has come to me!  Here, I'm just going to show you!

Katie has adopted me!!!  Can you believe it?!  Yep, this is me in my forever home with my new mom, Katie!  When she saw me back at Feline Specialities (remember, she works there) she just knew this was the answer!  She and I have been talking and talking, just catching up!  (I LOVE to talk!  They say it's because I'm part Siamese.)  I never knew that a kitty could be so happy!  Katie decided that since it seemed the only place I thrived was at her house, well, that's where I should live!  My favorite angel is now my mom!!!

Now don't worry about the blog.  I am going to convince Toots that she should do it!  I don't know if Toots will ever tell you much about herself as she tends to be a somewhat "private" cat.  But I will tell you now that she is a real street cat.  She lived on the street for three years before she was rescued and I can tell you that means she is smart!  I don't know if Lulu is still reading this blog, but I can tell you that I won't stop!  I'll be checking in often to see how things are going!  And I know that Toots will give me the straight story!

Okay, one more picture, just to show you again how happy and lucky I am right now!  And it is so special to know that my angels that are reading this are just so happy for me, too!  Bye bye!

Feline Friday!

Vanna

Vanna is our resident diva. She is beautiful and oh so special and she knows it!

She originally came to StreetCats after she was abandoned. Her estimated birthday is December of 2008. She was adopted in 2012, but unfortunately the owner returned her to us recently. She, the owner, had developed serious medical conditions and was unable to care for her any longer. Once a StreetCats kitty always a StreetCats kitty so of course we took her in and will help her find a new home.


Diva that she is we think that she would prefer to be in a household without other cats.

If you are interested in meeting Vanna come by StreetCats located on the east side of Sheridan at 6520 E. 60th St, in Tulsa (behind Charlie's Chicken), or call the message line at 918-298-0104.

Coming Soon to a Blog Near You!

Oh wow!  I haven't heard from Lulu in a long time and I don't know if she is still reading this blog.  I sort of hope not, but if she is I bet there is going to be some kind of an explosion somewhere!  She is not going to like this one little bit!  One of her "servants" doing this?!  It would not have been allowed on her watch!

Oh . . . you're wondering what I'm talking about!  This is just so exciting and I just can't wait for the first installment!  There are going to be more pictures!  Pictures of cats and kittens!  That means you get to see more of the things that happen at StreetCats!  I'm telling you, it's a happening place and this is just going to be so special!

Oh wait, you still don't know what I'm talking about!  Okay, I'll tell you!  Drumroll here, please!  I don't know how to type a drumroll so I guess you'll need to use your imagination here.  So are your eyes closed and there is a drumroll in your head?  Okay, open your eyes!

A human angel (not a servant, Lulu!) is going to start contributing to the blog!  Now do you understand why Lulu would be so upset?!  Oh she would be hissing and spitting and growling!  It's sort of scary to think about!  But I know that my angel, Vickie Sanborn, is a nice angel who takes beautiful pictures!  She hasn't taken all the pictures I've posted, but the really good ones are hers!

And now she is going to start putting more pictures on the StreetCats blog!  When you see a post entitled Feline Fridays, just know that it is our angel Vickie who is posting.  Just to clarify again, she is not a cat.  She is an angel.

Any questions?  If you have any, just post under comments and I'll respond.  Isn't this just going to be so neat???!!!  Oh, I just thought of something.  Do you suppose that Lulu is so happy in her new home that she doesn't even care about "her" blog any more?  Hmmm.