WANTED: Good Foster Homes for Kittens

WE NEED GOOD FOSTER HOMES FOR 2-3 WEEK VISITS OF OUR KITTENS

This is only the 23 day of the month and we have already taken in 34 new kittens/cats in just June. There 4 more kittens due in tomorrow at 11 am and another 5 on Wednesday. Most of this month’s entries are young kittens abandoned in the most horrible situations.  We have 3 nursing mommas who have pitched with in feeding these orphans, but a whole lot of around the clock bottle feeding has had to go on to support these overworked moms. Foster living is needed for the kittens who are now eating on their own and are about 7 weeks old.  Just for about 2 weeks of visiting with you and they will be ready for adoption.

We are anxious to increase our foster home network. To become a foster home, we ask that you complete an application, available HERE. This does require a home visitation before application acceptance. Most people understand that if we don’t know you, we need to check out the home to assess if it is a safe environment.  We wouldn’t want to OK a hoarder who would just add to the young kitten’s misery.

It’s A Jungle Out There

It is June, at the height of kitten season and we are overloaded with sick mommas with sick babies and well babies with no momma and well babies with well mommas.  This all requires around the clock bottle feeding and then we add into this mix way too many young adults who became “throw away” toys just when they reached breeding age and through no fault of their own. I now function with never more than a 2-hour stretch of sleep if it is a good night. My impatience with irresponsible pet owners is high. Several people can attest to that. Sorry, animals and children first.

It is 2 am and I am just finishing up bottle feeding 5 orphan babies who grab at that nipple like it is the last meal they will ever see. I hear noises in my backyard and finishing up the last kitten’s feeding, I go to investigate. It is big, very huge, and ugly, both in looks and in the mean expression reflected in its eyes.  This appears to be a large bear cub and I try to scare it away as I stand in my kitchen doorway. I know noise will scare him. “Boo,” I whisper instead.

Suddenly, I realize I have left the side garage door open and the light on inside. The animal steps into the lighted area and I see the largest raccoon ever. I mean this animal could not get his head into one of my large Hav-a-heart traps he is that big and he is not scared of this old lady standing in her robe and slippers. At the same time, I realize that my old cats, Faith and Charity have run past my feet and they cheerfully go to greet the “newest” guest in our kitty foster home. I can taste my concern for their safety and also realize that our rescue’s food delivery was in and was stored in the garage until sorted. I knew he wanted to rip open all those bags, eat a huge dinner and then lay his scent by peeing and “you know” all over the food.  HHPR cannot afford to lose this food.

OMG, I jumped back and grabbed a kitchen knife. Not a butcher knife – really just a table knife. Realizing how stupid I look, I reach back and grab my broom instead – much better. I stand on the steps waving the broom and yelling, “Go away, go away.” He looked back at me as though he would raise an eyebrow. I realized I would have to go all the way out, open the large noisy overhead door, and close the garage side door from the inside. I dance sideways across the yard with my broom doing a sort of side step of the Mashed Potato dance from the 1960’s. Maybe the noise of the door would scare him. I am within 4 feet of him to get to the other door still waving my broom. I open the overhead door and now stare almost nose to nose with Herman, the raccoon. We are on a first name basis now. He is not afraid, but I am doing big time deep breathing to cover up my fear scent from him. It doesn’t work.

He doesn’t break eye contact. I am too scared to move my eyes. I pray that my good neighbor across the street is up again and looking out his window. He keeps our neighborhood safe, but where the devil is he now. I feel Herman is about to make a move, I strike first plunging my broom at the door slamming it almost closed before he could actually move in. Only his nose is inside and he is not very nice about this. I ease up just enough to let him release his nose. Racing back out the overhead door, slamming it closed, I head to the house just as he comes around the garage corner. My broom and I do a wicked fast Mashed Potato dance all the way back to the house. The cats were waiting at the kitchen door. “Come on in, you fools,” I complain. “Although right now, I don’t know who was more of a fool, the cats, the raccoon, or me.”

Kitten Season – Spring 2013

Life at Halfway Home Pet Rescue (HHPR) is looking much better for this young Momma Cass than it did a couple of weeks ago. A young girl was taking the garbage out to the outside garbage barrels when she heard a soft pitiful cry. Looking over the barrel at the ice still between the garage building and the garbage cans where the sun can’t reach, she saw little Momma Cass frozen in the ice with her 5 young kittens. Reacting quickly, she got her parents and they quickly started thawing out the ice to release the momma and 5 babies. Unfortunately, 4 of the babies could not be revived. The family soon brought the feline family to HHPR for more help. Momma Cass and little Rocky were treated with eye ointment and antibiotics during their recovery and are now slowly gaining weight and energy after their near death experience. This family is a hero to the HHPR volunteers as they postponed their day’s tasks to save the lives of this feline family. Momma Cass has recently taken over the care and feeding of 4 new orphan kittens. She is extremely loving and grateful for her rescue.

HHPR is in great need of Purina Kitten Chow and Purina Cat Chow. Our supply is extremely low and our population is high. We have many kittens still too young for adoption. We have had several young adult cats come in with various injuries like a broken tail (possibly from being hit by a car), stomach cut open about 5 inches from an abuse case, blistered feet, many signs of starvation, and other injuries. These cases take time to heal and become adoptable house cats. We also are very short in supply of 24/7 heating pads and heated beds for the comfort of orphan kittens and abandoneds cat with very little body heat of their own due to starvation. We cannot use the heating pads that turn off every two hours because the weak cats require a steady warm pad. We also are looking for nicely used shoes, sneakers, work boots, and dress shoes for both woman and men. This is for our Shoe Recycling Program which helps HHPR pay their vet bills. We are still overfull of beautiful adoptable cats with all their medical needs completed including spay/neutering. Our special adoption fee of $10.00 for an adult cat over 6 months will continue until June 1. Our adoption prices will return to the usual $40.00 for adult cats as of June 2. Adoption hours at 489 Main St., in Caribou are on Saturday from 12 noon to 3 pm. Special appointment can be made with advance notice for the volunteer schedule. We made $690.00 at the Caribou Yard Sale. Thank you for your support. Your help does make a difference. FMI: Call 999-1075.