Sunday, August 16, 2009

24 Karat Gold (aka Karat)

I had a tough time in high school and this little guy soaked up a lot of tears! When he was 7, he had a heart attack and passed away. I still miss my Easter bunny!

When he was in the front yard, he needed a leash, but in the backyard, he ran free. He'd dig a hole, eat some grass roots, then plop himself down in the dirt and relax. By the time he went back in the house, he was no longer white!

When I first went to the pet store (will never acquire a pet from a pet shop again!), he was the only one I could catch. Turns out, he had pneumonia! It was the day before Easter, 1990. After nursing him back to health, he was a spoiled little bun-bun.

His first "cage" was a cardboard box that he jumped out of right away. Then he was in a covered clothes basket for 3 days. We bought a large wire cage he used for 3 weeks. After that, he was litter trained and became a house bunny. He never set paw in another cage.

The only destruction he did was chew the woodwork and eat the carpet. Luckily the carpeting passed through his system and caused no problems other than leaving "poop on a rope."

Karat loved to give kisses on demand. He also hated my car keys. If I laid them on the couch in front of him, he repeatedly knocked them on the floor. He also did that with the TV's remote. To this day, my parents said their remote will fly off the couch without anyone touching it. I do believe Karat's spirit is in their house!

On several occasions, the life insurance person would show up to go over policies with my parents. They insurance people didn't know about the rabbit, so when Karat would hop around the back of the couch, they'd always jump and ask what kind of dog that is! Silly people.

Bunnies are great pets to have, but require a lot of work. They can be destructive, love to chew everything, and will not always use their litter boxes. But, Karat was a cuddly guy and I miss him dearly. I don't think I will ever find another bun-bun with his personality.

When I moved away to college, he stayed with my parents. When my parents had their French doors in their living room shut, Karat would hop around the kitchen and into the hallway. He would pop the doors open to "announce" he was going upstairs to bed. When my dad would get home from work, Karat knew he would be getting some M&M's. (Yes, chocolate is BAD BAD BAD for pets, but I did not know this at the time. Karat ate it all his 7 years and was okay, but it probably didn't help his heart.) He would meet my dad at the door for treats and cuddles.

I love my kitties so much, but Karat was very much like a soul mate. He was definitely one of a kind and I know he's a Rainbow Bridge with Tabby Sue, waiting for the day we can all be together again.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Scarlett As A Kitten


Scarlett on 9/1/98 at Halifax Humane Society - 6 weeks of age.

Wearing Tshirt from Grammew and Gammpaw that says "I'm a pussycat." 8 weeks of age

Scarlett's first professional portrait and also her first Christmas - November, 1998

Hollywood Hounds charity photo shoot - have the session on video and she only hissed once (a miracle!)

She sure is a great gift to me!

Another Rescue


I was asked if I could help transport another kitty. Tanner is a 2y/o Maine Coon mix. He's friendly as can be. I went to Austin, TX last week - an almost 4 hour drive - to pick up Tanner from a mean person who was supposed to be holding him for 2 weeks but was refusing to give him up.

EDIT (3/24/10): Tanner has found a home!!!

Monday, August 3, 2009

More Pics


He was completely on his back moments before the picture was shot, but then popped up before I captured the cuteness.


Her Highness on Her chair. No one is allowed on this chair. No matter how much I fluff the back cushion, it returns to the shape of her body.


Horus really is a cute kitty.


Buddy is just my Little Man.


Scarlett actually does love to have her picture taken, but she always squints when she sees the camera. I don't get it. Is that like me that I show the "bird" when I see a camera pointed at me?


Yes, I know I need to vacuum, but it's hard to keep up with three cats constantly shedding!


Buddy is such a suave fellow - he loves attention!

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Cat Transport

I belong to a transport group online that sends daily emails on animals that need to travel long distances to new foster homes, or their forever homes. For several weeks there was one email that kept standing out at me - 5 cats needed to go from Texas to Ohio. However, from Texarkana, AR to Kentucky still needed filled. Finally, I asked my supervisor at work if I could use my only available vacation day to transport some cats. When approval came, I told the transport coordinator that I would drive the kitties from AR to KY to the next transporter.

I stayed the night in Texarkana, TX and picked the cats up Saturday morning at a truck stop where the previous transporter was waiting. We drove to Lexington, KY and stayed the night at a LaQuinta Inn (they are VERY pet-friendly and didn't have a problem with 4 cats). The next morning, the next transporter met me at the hotel to take the cats to their next stop.

There were originally supposed to be 5 but the fifth one was too stressed to travel. They are all Maine Coons.

These are the kitties:


Sheba

EDIT (3/24/10): Sheba has found a home with a great man who treats her as the queen she is!


Bread - Picture does NOT do her justice, but she was too scared to get a better picture. Sister Butter the one too stressed for travel.

EDIT (3/24/10): I found out both Bread and Butter were adopted, but not together. No further info on Butter, but Bread's name has been changed to Camille!


Buttons - slept in the tub all night


Bendi

Bendi and Buttons are still looking for homes. If you know anyone interested, they can be found under Petfinder.com, Maine Coon Rescue, in Michigan.

Monday, July 27, 2009

My Cats Past & Present


Scarlett, the torti with tortitude (adopted September 8, 1998, 7 weeks old)


Buddy, my little man (Appeared on porch Thanksgiving, November 24, 2005, about 1-2 years old)


Horus the Horrible (Boss brought him to work one night October/November 2007, 3 months old)


Tabby Sue, my Rainbow Bridge baby (Neighbor's friend abandoned her on my doorstep September 3, 2001, about 1 year old / she died a month before Horus' arrival October 2007 from acute heart arrhythmia at about 7 years old)