h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Smiley was adopted today.

A mom and daughter came in to look at cats and kittens. The young lady fell in love with Smiley.

Smiley is a marmalade tom (neutered) with ... no teeth. He was found as a stray and we aren't sure of his age. I don't know who named him Smiley; it sounds a bit like a schoolyard taunt that stuck.

Even as the girl carefully looked at all the other cats and cooed over the kittens, Smiley stayed close and looked up at her until she couldn't help but pick him up again. He sealed the deal with some nuzzling and kitty kisses, the clever fellow.

all animals deserve a good home and caring "owners" - respect to all

I'm so glad you have homed one. How many in total do you have and how frequently do you get to take in new strays?

Every time that we visit the local pet-supplies shop, I have to drag a bride out of there. Several kennel cages are always occupied by felines from a local rescue (friends of ours, source of our girly-) It is so hard to walk away from a little of 5 teeny balls of squabbling fur, or some poor girl of 3 years that just wasn't appreciated.

Aw, I'm glad Smiley found a good home.

I've thought about doing fostering, if we move someplace amenable to it. But I'm afraid I won't want to let them go.

THAT would be our problem, we would not be able to give them up ... And it is a small'ish home.

>>> How many in total do you have and how frequently do you get to take in new strays?

We’re completely overloaded at 97 cats and kittens, and 36 dogs. We accept all that are adoptable, ours is the no-kill shelter.

Although we get a few strays at any time of the year, we tend to get the bulk of the kittens when someone drops off a pregnant female in Spring. Most of our kittens were born in April or May, so they are pretty good sized now. (Please spay and neuter.)

Most of the strays don’t know that they are strays. They’re usually someone’s backyard cat, up until that someone moves away. The cat hangs around the home waiting for his people to return, usually about a week. Then they go looking for a new family. So they tend to show up about 7-10 days into the month, because when people move, they tend to do so on the 1st.

About fostering:

The foster families help a great deal because we simply don’t have room for all the displaced animals we receive. Fostering also keeps the animals' spirits up and helps keep them socialized.

About volunteering:

Some people provide specific care, some walk the dogs. I brush and comb kitties. Simply petting the critters is invaluable to get/keep them socialized and adoptable.

I do have space for another cat, but Leopardess is Not Friendly to other cats...

She (hardly) tolerates Lynx, there are Glares, Attacks and Loud Screams on an almost daily basis. When Li'lkitty and Her Supreme Catesty are visiting the Lair much precaution is needed to prevent fights. Surgery has been necessary...

Otherwise Leopardess is à cuddly lapcat, and maybe she would be better off as à solitary cat.

Instead I make à monthly donation to the local cat shelter, as well as pay my annual subscription fee.

Currently my spotted Kitty claims a share of my dinner. The jump from her bowls to the dinner table seemingly caused Severe Starvation.