Thank you dear friends for all your wonderful responses and suggestions. It took a few hours to get the kitty to come near enough to try and get her in the dog crate. Our first try failed because the door wasn’t attached correctly and it started to fall on the kitty. She took off like a shot. Needless to say, we were frustrated. She had been rubbing up against us and was playing with a pink ribbon. At this point, we felt we had to move quickly to get her to a shelter. I stalked her back and forth through the bushes until I finally got her by the scruff of the neck and put her in the crate.
After calling many shelters (all of them no-kill) and being told they were full and had no room, we finally found a no-kill animal rescue shelter south of us that had one cage free. We got in the car, drove there and now she is safe. She is definitely not feral which leads me to believe she might have been dumped nearby our house. She was frightened and hungry and was not an outside kitty. When she was in the crate for a while, she finally relaxed and slept. I think she was relieved and felt safe.
Bless her heart – if only I could have kept her. (I call her she, but really I have no idea.) We called her Birdie and mentioned it to the woman at the shelter in hopes they would also call her that. I don’t know why she was drawn to our house, but we are very happy she was. When we thought about what could happen to her outside there was no doubt what our decision would be. She needed shelter and protection.
Interestingly enough, this house was known as the Cat Lady’s house before it was renovated. A woman who loved cats lived here for years and apparently she had dozens of them. When she died, a woman bought the house and had it taken down to the studs and then renovated it. Maybe cats are still drawn here? Or maybe they know instinctively where an animal lover lives.
One more thought – animal shelters are over-flowing these days. If you are able to help in any way, it would be greatly appreciated. Donations, time, adoption – all of these things are needed desperately.
Lucky kitty!
AND Lucky Whitney! I love her room!
I am trying to catch up with all of my bloggy friends, now that I’m back.
she is soooo cute, all of my pets come from the shelter.
Oh, sweet, Birdie, you will find your forever home now that you are safe.
I give regularly to our local SPCA, Best Friends and Sisters of St. Francis which I am getting ready to send in a donation to them and I will add Birdie’s name to the list that she may find her forever home.
Hugs,
Marsha
Thank you for rescuing that sweet little girlie (all cats are girls…all dogs are boys)!
Well I’m happy to hear she’s safe and out from the elements…I pray she doesn’t languish in the shelter too long and that she finds a loving home!
I wondered about her all day! I’am so glad she will now find a good home. Traci
Oh so glad it all turned out ok! We have one kitty left at the hospital and hopefully she will get a home soon. The other 2 went home this past week and she is lonely. I have 3 rescued dogs and have to wait for one of them to go to get another. There are TONS of animals with no homes and it is sad. Hope Birdie gets a good one!
Hugs, Lisa
wow…now thats a story…love your kindness!
So glad the kitty is safe now! I am glad she happened upon your home to receive such good and thoughtful care during her time spent there…
I’m so glad to hear that ‘Birdie’ is safe. Well done, Claudia!
I wish I lived close enough to take her, but alas even if it was so, I don’t think Bijou would approve! LOL!!
Hugs,
Teresa
That Birdie sure came upon the right animal loving cottage. Just in case we all haven’t made it clear today, Claudia ~ you’re a good-hearted woman.
I think there’s a special vibe that draws the cats there, maybe from the woman before or from you and your husband being animal lovers – probably both ;)
I agree with you on the giving back factor and animal shelters. Our daughter volunteers her summers. She can’t afford to give $ but spends time walking the shelter dogs and taking the cats out of their cages and playing with them. She’s also been known to tell people coming in what certain traits of each animal is and which is the best fit for them.
Have a great weekend!
xo~Tracie
What a precious kitty! You are so WONDERFUL to have taken the time and gone to so much trouble to help that sweet furry face! Bless you!!!
m ^..^
That’s good news, that you were able to rescue that sweet cat. I hope the shelter will be able to find a loving home for her very soon. My cat was a shelter cat when I rescued her. My husband said that she was “barely there”. She was starving, so they let me take her home, without the waiting period. I fed her with a syringe for at least a couple of weeks. She used to hide inside my bedroom closet, and I’d sit outside it, on the floor talking to her, until she finally learned to trust me. For the first few months, no one else could hold her, but now she’s pretty friendly.
I’m glad that you took the time to try and help her. Thank you, Claudia.
Oh this entry tugs at my heart strings. Here in London – at Battersea (or Catersea as the posters are also calling it) – they are also having problems with their cats – they have too many! They put out a plea recently for people to adopt them. I wish I could but I’m homeless myself soon – well I’m about to go and lodge but I doubt I could take a cat along with me! I keep trying to encourage my mum who already has two.
Birdie reminds me of our recently departed Boris – see here http://catofcuriosity.blogspot.com/2008/12/tribute-to-boris-tabby-cat.html who was abandoned and needed a good home. We helped him and he lived happily for 8 months but the harsh conditions of his previous life had wasted his little body and eventually he passed over. I wish we could have given him so much more – he was adorable and desperate for love and didn’t deserve the cruel life he led for much of his existence.
It is interesting that you thought Birdie was a she – I often guess at the sex of a cat and I’m often right…I think they give off an atmosphere or something! And as for your house being an old cat lady’s home – maybe birdie could smell the cats who used to live there…or if we are going to be completely cheesy and imaginative – sensed the old lady’s welcoming presence! :) I’m glad she went to a safe place where she will be well fed. I hope she finds someone to love her. She’s a very pretty thing, let’s hope so! xxx
Claudia I am so pleased this story has a happy ending.
We have 9 strays here :-( Started with 1, then another and then a couple of weeks ago 5 kitties.
None of the no kill shelters here have spaces at the moment :-(
They are still too timid to come to me but for now I just feed them all.
I am kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place.
I would’ve taken her in a minute! She’s adorable. We just put down Dexter he was the sweetest cat ever.
So glad that you took her to a no kill shelter.
See you tomorrow for PS?
Enjoy!
Oh Claudia, I am so happy you were able to rescue the kitty and I have no doubts, Birdie will be swept up by someone very soon. Kittens are adopted so quickly and she is so pretty.
Yes, she knew to come to the right place!
Thank you for helping her, I know it took a lot of time and effort. It makes me happy to know that other people feel the way I do about animals who need us. XO- Marie
I believe the sweet kitty was drawn to your house because she knew you were there and would help her. What a lovely lady you must be..to try and try to get this sweet little kitty a home. Birdy knew a loving home when she saw it..how wonderful to have been singled out and chosen.
I’m so happy she found you..
with that sweet little face I am sure he or she will find a home in no time. I was not a big cat lover until my dd brought home a black kitten. He is now mainly my dh and my responsibility because she went off to college. But he is a joy to have around. Good luck!
Precious baby…thank you for finding her safe haven! Too many little animals are left behind these days and it breaks my heart. We have two rescue dogs who are getting quite elderly now, but have blessed our lives with their devotion and charm! Eventually we will add to our menagerie again!
Also, thank you so much for your kind comment on my friend Lynda’s untimely passing. (She hadn’t told anyone that she had terminal cancer so it was a devastating shock to all.) It was good to hear from you!
glad kitty found you, too
xo
oh! She or He is such a cutie! I’m so happy you found a safe place for her!
What a wonderful thing you did!
Claudia, what a beautiful kitty and how wonderful for you to save it! The winters in our area are just terrible on little creatures that are not meant to be outside during those long, cold months. She is so beautiful. We get all of our pets from shelters or rescue groups… Some day I’ll have to post about some of the wonderful creatures that blessed us with their presence .. They may be physically gone, but they always live in our hearts… Donna