Meet the Cats
Click on an image below to learn about our adoptable, new, resident and alumni cats. Or, for more pictures and videos, go to the Facebook group 'Friends of The Cats of Paint Lake'.
Our adoptable cats change frequently; even if you don't see your 'match' below, contact us to start the conversation about a future adoption.
Adoptable
These cats are ready for their forever home. If you're interested in adopting a cat, please contact us.
Jazz - Adopted Sep 2022
Gender: Male
Age: About 1 year old
Breed / Colour: Black cat
Spayed / Neutered: Y, and vaccinated and micro-chipped
Adoption Summary:
Jazz is ready for adoption, as of August 2022. He is at the rescue, and will go straight to his forever home. He’s a lovely boy, playful and silly, and very friendly. He’s been described as an upside-down hanging, ball chasing bundle of fun. He has lovely green eyes and a cute little spot on his nose. If you're interested in talking to us about Jazz, or maybe coming in to meet him, we'd love to hear from you. He deserves a loving home and people of his own. He has a lot of love to give.
Age: About 1 year old
Breed / Colour: Black cat
Spayed / Neutered: Y, and vaccinated and micro-chipped
Adoption Summary:
Jazz is ready for adoption, as of August 2022. He is at the rescue, and will go straight to his forever home. He’s a lovely boy, playful and silly, and very friendly. He’s been described as an upside-down hanging, ball chasing bundle of fun. He has lovely green eyes and a cute little spot on his nose. If you're interested in talking to us about Jazz, or maybe coming in to meet him, we'd love to hear from you. He deserves a loving home and people of his own. He has a lot of love to give.
Panther - Adopted Sep 2022
Gender: Male
Age: About 2 years old
Breed / Colour: Black cat
Spayed / Neutered: Y, and vaccinated and micro-chipped
Adoption Summary:
Panther is ready for adoption, as of August 2022. He is at the rescue, and will go straight to his forever home. He came from a barn colony, where we rescued 11 cats back in February. Of course, he was quite feral to start, but has responded beautifully to people at the rescue. He is very active, playful and affectionate. He does still need to learn to play more gently with people, as he can be a bit exuberant. He is a beautiful black cat, with a little white on his throat and belly. If you're interested in talking to us about Panther, or maybe coming in to meet him, we'd love to hear from you. He’s looking for a great home, with people who will love his energy.
Age: About 2 years old
Breed / Colour: Black cat
Spayed / Neutered: Y, and vaccinated and micro-chipped
Adoption Summary:
Panther is ready for adoption, as of August 2022. He is at the rescue, and will go straight to his forever home. He came from a barn colony, where we rescued 11 cats back in February. Of course, he was quite feral to start, but has responded beautifully to people at the rescue. He is very active, playful and affectionate. He does still need to learn to play more gently with people, as he can be a bit exuberant. He is a beautiful black cat, with a little white on his throat and belly. If you're interested in talking to us about Panther, or maybe coming in to meet him, we'd love to hear from you. He’s looking for a great home, with people who will love his energy.
Shadow
Gender: Male
Age: About 2 – 3 years old
Breed / Colour: Short-haired tabby
Spayed / Neutered: To be neutered, vaccinated and micro-chipped prior to adoption
Adoption Summary:
Shadow is ready for adoption, as of August 2022. He is at the rescue, and will go straight to his forever home. He’s a sweet boy and gentle, although shy. He’s looking for a quiet home where he can become comfortable. If you're interested in talking to us about Shadow, or maybe coming in to meet him, we'd love to hear from you.
Age: About 2 – 3 years old
Breed / Colour: Short-haired tabby
Spayed / Neutered: To be neutered, vaccinated and micro-chipped prior to adoption
Adoption Summary:
Shadow is ready for adoption, as of August 2022. He is at the rescue, and will go straight to his forever home. He’s a sweet boy and gentle, although shy. He’s looking for a quiet home where he can become comfortable. If you're interested in talking to us about Shadow, or maybe coming in to meet him, we'd love to hear from you.
Birdie - Adopted Sep 2022
Gender: Female
Age: Almost 2 years old
Breed / Colour: Short-haired tabby
Spayed / Neutered: Y, and vaccinated and micro-chipped
Adoption Summary:
Birdie is almost ready for adoption, as of September 2022. She is at the rescue, and can go straight to her forever home. She came to us in the Fall of 2021, with a litter of three kittens. The kittens have moved on, and it’s now Birdie’s turn. She has beautiful colouring and, while still shy, has an affectionate nature. If you're interested in talking to us about Birdie, or maybe coming in to meet her, we'd love to hear from you. She’s looking for a great home, with people who will love her quiet personality.
Age: Almost 2 years old
Breed / Colour: Short-haired tabby
Spayed / Neutered: Y, and vaccinated and micro-chipped
Adoption Summary:
Birdie is almost ready for adoption, as of September 2022. She is at the rescue, and can go straight to her forever home. She came to us in the Fall of 2021, with a litter of three kittens. The kittens have moved on, and it’s now Birdie’s turn. She has beautiful colouring and, while still shy, has an affectionate nature. If you're interested in talking to us about Birdie, or maybe coming in to meet her, we'd love to hear from you. She’s looking for a great home, with people who will love her quiet personality.
Freya - Adopted Sep 2022
Gender: Female
Age: Estimated 2 years old as of Sep 2021
Breed / Colour: White with tabby points
Spayed / Neutered: As of November 2021 she has been vaccinated, and spayed and microchipped. Also has been treated for fleas and parasites.
Adoption Summary:
April 2022 - Freya is looking for a home and people of her own. She's shy, but sweet and affectionate - on her own terms. This unique little girl is from Minden. Freya AKA "Stubbs" is unique because she has a funny, stubby little tail. She is not the only cat from this colony with the same genetic trait. She has enormous, almond-shaped eyes, super soft fur, and a pretty little face.
Freya needs a quiet environment, and would do well either on her own, or with another quiet, gentle pet. She does love to play with the other cats from the safety of her crate. She is shy, and will likely need some patience to help her adapt to her new home. But once she feels safe, she is a funny little girl, who loves to play all by herself, tossing toys up in the air and catching them, chasing them around, or batting at a dangling string. She has a lot of love to give, and we suspect she will bond very strongly to 'her' person, when she finds them.
If you are interested in meeting Freya, or learning more about her, we'd like to hear from you. We can be reached on Facebook, or by email at catsofpaintlake@gmail.com. Potential adopters will be asked to complete our adoption questionnaire. An adoption fee applies.
Detailed Log:
April 23, 2022 - Freya is looking for a home and people of her own. She's shy, but sweet and affectionate - on her own terms. This unique little girl is from Minden, where she was being cared for by a small community of people. They knew she deserved better than a life spent outdoors, so they got in touch with us for help.
Freya AKA "Stubbs" is unique because she has a funny, stubby little tail. She is not the only cat from this colony with the same genetic trait. (Her sister Rita is with us too, and she has the same shortened tail.) Her photos don't do her justice. She has enormous, almond-shaped eyes, super soft fur, and a pretty little face.
Freya needs a quiet environment, and would do well either on her own, or with another quiet, gentle pet. She does love to play with the other cats from the safety of her crate - she is frightened of being let out to free roam among all of the others. She is shy, and will likely need some patience to help her adapt to her new home. But once she feels safe, she is a funny little girl, who loves to play all by herself, tossing toys up in the air and catching them, chasing them around, or batting at a dangling string. Her favourite is her pink flamingo, which is now a little the worse for wear!
She has a lot of love to give, and we suspect she will bond very strongly to 'her' person, when she finds them.
Jan 2022 - Freya loves her crate at the rescue; it is her safe space. She is still quite shy, but ready for a forever home, as long as it is a quiet, peaceful one. She is beautiful, and she has a cute little short tail that makes her unique.
Sep 2021 - Freya likes to get pets now, but is still timid. She is at the rescue, and was trapped in Minden, from a small colony, about early June 2021. She was previously called Stubbs, and is a sister of Sonia (now Minnie), who had been trapped earlier and has now been adopted. She will be available for adoption as soon as she is spayed and microchipped.
She was feral, but is now friendly, although shy and with a very mild temperament. She doesn’t much like being picked up, though! Freya is pretty, petite, and mostly white with tabby points.
August 7, 2021 - Another beautiful little baby new cat on the Block, Freya. She came from Minden colony and is a lovely little girl. Quite timid, she's shaping up to want and accept touch and pets just like her sister Minnie / Sonya. She is in need of a spay and shots and then she will be ready for adoption.
Age: Estimated 2 years old as of Sep 2021
Breed / Colour: White with tabby points
Spayed / Neutered: As of November 2021 she has been vaccinated, and spayed and microchipped. Also has been treated for fleas and parasites.
Adoption Summary:
April 2022 - Freya is looking for a home and people of her own. She's shy, but sweet and affectionate - on her own terms. This unique little girl is from Minden. Freya AKA "Stubbs" is unique because she has a funny, stubby little tail. She is not the only cat from this colony with the same genetic trait. She has enormous, almond-shaped eyes, super soft fur, and a pretty little face.
Freya needs a quiet environment, and would do well either on her own, or with another quiet, gentle pet. She does love to play with the other cats from the safety of her crate. She is shy, and will likely need some patience to help her adapt to her new home. But once she feels safe, she is a funny little girl, who loves to play all by herself, tossing toys up in the air and catching them, chasing them around, or batting at a dangling string. She has a lot of love to give, and we suspect she will bond very strongly to 'her' person, when she finds them.
If you are interested in meeting Freya, or learning more about her, we'd like to hear from you. We can be reached on Facebook, or by email at catsofpaintlake@gmail.com. Potential adopters will be asked to complete our adoption questionnaire. An adoption fee applies.
Detailed Log:
April 23, 2022 - Freya is looking for a home and people of her own. She's shy, but sweet and affectionate - on her own terms. This unique little girl is from Minden, where she was being cared for by a small community of people. They knew she deserved better than a life spent outdoors, so they got in touch with us for help.
Freya AKA "Stubbs" is unique because she has a funny, stubby little tail. She is not the only cat from this colony with the same genetic trait. (Her sister Rita is with us too, and she has the same shortened tail.) Her photos don't do her justice. She has enormous, almond-shaped eyes, super soft fur, and a pretty little face.
Freya needs a quiet environment, and would do well either on her own, or with another quiet, gentle pet. She does love to play with the other cats from the safety of her crate - she is frightened of being let out to free roam among all of the others. She is shy, and will likely need some patience to help her adapt to her new home. But once she feels safe, she is a funny little girl, who loves to play all by herself, tossing toys up in the air and catching them, chasing them around, or batting at a dangling string. Her favourite is her pink flamingo, which is now a little the worse for wear!
She has a lot of love to give, and we suspect she will bond very strongly to 'her' person, when she finds them.
Jan 2022 - Freya loves her crate at the rescue; it is her safe space. She is still quite shy, but ready for a forever home, as long as it is a quiet, peaceful one. She is beautiful, and she has a cute little short tail that makes her unique.
Sep 2021 - Freya likes to get pets now, but is still timid. She is at the rescue, and was trapped in Minden, from a small colony, about early June 2021. She was previously called Stubbs, and is a sister of Sonia (now Minnie), who had been trapped earlier and has now been adopted. She will be available for adoption as soon as she is spayed and microchipped.
She was feral, but is now friendly, although shy and with a very mild temperament. She doesn’t much like being picked up, though! Freya is pretty, petite, and mostly white with tabby points.
August 7, 2021 - Another beautiful little baby new cat on the Block, Freya. She came from Minden colony and is a lovely little girl. Quite timid, she's shaping up to want and accept touch and pets just like her sister Minnie / Sonya. She is in need of a spay and shots and then she will be ready for adoption.
Mr Weathers - Adopted Aug 2022
Gender: Male
Age: Estimated over 5 years old
Breed / Colour: Blond long-haired tabby
Spayed / Neutered: Yes, as of November 2021, and vaccinated and microchipped
Adoption Summary as of July 2022:
Our lovely Mr Weathers is finally up for adoption; from his feral beginnings, he has proved himself to be the most amazing, affectionate cat you could ever imagine. We are taking adoption inquiries now, and will be seeking a home that is the best fit for him and for his adopters. He will have a big part in deciding who he connects with and wants to go home with. Please let us know if you would like to consider this opportunity; contact us via email at catsofpaintlake@gmail.com
He's come from our most feral, back in April 2021, to our most snuggly, now. He needs a quiet home with low stimulation, and lots of human attention.
December 2021 - Mr. Weathers has been at the rescue since late April 2021. He is an older cat, estimated to be between 5 and 7 years old, and had been living outside for a long time, perhaps his entire life. He has needed and will continue to need, for some time, special care at the rescue as he recovers from medical issues and learns to socialize with humans. He was a sad little guy when he first arrived, see the lower right picture in his collage, but he is a big, handsome boy now, and has quite the personality. While he doesn’t hiss at everyone the way he did in the beginning, he can make it clear, with just a look, if he is not happy with you. He has also become a gourmet eater; he turns his nose up at our regular cat food, but loves his higher end Royal Canin food. And, as of November, after his neuter, he has left his crate behind to become a free roaming cat. He is coming along! If you would like to sponsor Mr. Weathers, please make a donation via e-transfer directly to catsofpaintlake@gmail.com, and add a note to specify it is for Mr. Weathers.
Detailed Log:
Mid November 2021 - Mr. Weathers was neutered in early November and is now out of his crate and free roaming.
August 7 - And of course our absolutely beautiful and majestically grumpy lovely baby boy Mr. Weathers. He still has his moments, but he doesn't look sad anymore, he loves his hammock, his food and to play with some of the other cats and with toys. Heather seems to be the only one he likes even though he strikes out at her sometimes. He will be taken in for his neuter and shot shortly cuz he's getting to the point where it could probably happen without a huge amount of stress for him or the people at the Minden animal hospital. He didn't want to at first but he's seeming to really start to enjoy his life and comfort.
June 26 – Mr. Weathers is finally letting us pet him tonight for a long time, and he loved every minute of it, we think he's turning a corner and finally feeling love and accepting it. He has come such a long way. He's a nice cat, he just didn't know it and these are the ones that need love the most because they've gone through the most trauma. This is what the foundation of our organization is about, taking these cats out of their situation and getting them the best love we can for the rest of their lives.
June 5 - Mr. Weathers: A work in progress. This gorgeous, very feral cat has been with us a little while now. It has taken this long to get his digestion working properly. And finally, the effort we have put into this seems to be paying off. (to those of you who have donated high quality veterinary food, and good probiotics, a special thanks. He is especially fond of the Royal Canin "loaf in sauce", thanks Sheila!) He is obviously feeling physically better. He is filling out, his coat is no longer matted ... He's been grooming, which is a very very good sign! And he *sleeps*. Peacefully, bonelessly; I can pass within inches of him without waking him as he sleeps.
Everyone who comes here spends a little bit of time with him. Even when he's grumpy and reactive. Even when he hisses and spits at them for no apparent reason. Everyone seems to just love him, and that's not for nothing. I think all of you can see in him what we see. He's a beautiful mess, and a guy who hasn't had an easy time of it out there. I don't know about you, but I think he deserves a break, and a good life from here forward.
He lets me touch his paw upon occasion, and though he draws it back, he does it slowly, and sometimes he hisses at me but without sound. He is nearly at the point where I can touch his face without him threatening to bite me. He has yet to actually do so, or even to make a really serious attempt at it. He has a lot of bluster. If really pressed, I think he would react swiftly. But slowly, we are working to bring his adrenal system back down to baseline. Slowly, he becomes less and less reactive, more accustomed to the comings and goings of people and animals around him, more used to the sounds and smells of the indoors, with which he had no familiarity prior to his trapping.
One day at a time, we and our fabulous volunteers will continue to work with this incredible, beautiful wild thing. He has an intelligence that anyone who looks into his face can see. He doesn't really want to trust yet. Or rather he does, but he hates that he sort of likes the attention.
We wait for the day when he decides to make the mental shift, from fearful to open, from feral to friendly. It's a weird transformation when it happens, because it usually seems as though it happens overnight.
May 27 – Mr. Weather's in all his glory - we will keep working with this old weathered soul until he feels better and comes out of his shell. His tummy is bothering him which could contribute to the whole thing we're getting him on probiotics and special food to help him out. This guy is a lovely little boy! Who deserves a chance to be loved.
April 27 - Mr. Weathers (Gorgeous George Weathers, if you please!), our newest rescue, is still very frightened and reactive. He is bedraggled and absolutely exhausted. He is quarantined and quiet. We are letting him settle, only opening his crate to clean his litterbox and refill food and water. In between our incursions into his space, he sleeps. He will need time, and patient care, and lots of love. I sometimes take a few minutes to just keep him company and talk to him softly. He just listens and sits quietly. Only if I start messing about inside his space does he bestir himself to defensive behaviour.
We think he is a naturally placid boy, who has been out there trying to survive and on the defensive for far too long. We're going to help him settle, love him up, and see how long it takes him to begin to relax. Cats can have PTSD, just as any human can. And it will take him time to 'come down off the ledge'. But we can see the sweetness behind his fear and aggressive behaviour.
April 25, 2021 - New sweet baby thanks to Dorset Rescue Kittens for facilitating the transfer from the Kinmount colony. Poor Mr. Weathers has probably seen some terrifying times. We'll turn this little sad baby into a happy baby over the next while here. We make sure every cat gets a home.
Age: Estimated over 5 years old
Breed / Colour: Blond long-haired tabby
Spayed / Neutered: Yes, as of November 2021, and vaccinated and microchipped
Adoption Summary as of July 2022:
Our lovely Mr Weathers is finally up for adoption; from his feral beginnings, he has proved himself to be the most amazing, affectionate cat you could ever imagine. We are taking adoption inquiries now, and will be seeking a home that is the best fit for him and for his adopters. He will have a big part in deciding who he connects with and wants to go home with. Please let us know if you would like to consider this opportunity; contact us via email at catsofpaintlake@gmail.com
He's come from our most feral, back in April 2021, to our most snuggly, now. He needs a quiet home with low stimulation, and lots of human attention.
December 2021 - Mr. Weathers has been at the rescue since late April 2021. He is an older cat, estimated to be between 5 and 7 years old, and had been living outside for a long time, perhaps his entire life. He has needed and will continue to need, for some time, special care at the rescue as he recovers from medical issues and learns to socialize with humans. He was a sad little guy when he first arrived, see the lower right picture in his collage, but he is a big, handsome boy now, and has quite the personality. While he doesn’t hiss at everyone the way he did in the beginning, he can make it clear, with just a look, if he is not happy with you. He has also become a gourmet eater; he turns his nose up at our regular cat food, but loves his higher end Royal Canin food. And, as of November, after his neuter, he has left his crate behind to become a free roaming cat. He is coming along! If you would like to sponsor Mr. Weathers, please make a donation via e-transfer directly to catsofpaintlake@gmail.com, and add a note to specify it is for Mr. Weathers.
Detailed Log:
Mid November 2021 - Mr. Weathers was neutered in early November and is now out of his crate and free roaming.
August 7 - And of course our absolutely beautiful and majestically grumpy lovely baby boy Mr. Weathers. He still has his moments, but he doesn't look sad anymore, he loves his hammock, his food and to play with some of the other cats and with toys. Heather seems to be the only one he likes even though he strikes out at her sometimes. He will be taken in for his neuter and shot shortly cuz he's getting to the point where it could probably happen without a huge amount of stress for him or the people at the Minden animal hospital. He didn't want to at first but he's seeming to really start to enjoy his life and comfort.
June 26 – Mr. Weathers is finally letting us pet him tonight for a long time, and he loved every minute of it, we think he's turning a corner and finally feeling love and accepting it. He has come such a long way. He's a nice cat, he just didn't know it and these are the ones that need love the most because they've gone through the most trauma. This is what the foundation of our organization is about, taking these cats out of their situation and getting them the best love we can for the rest of their lives.
June 5 - Mr. Weathers: A work in progress. This gorgeous, very feral cat has been with us a little while now. It has taken this long to get his digestion working properly. And finally, the effort we have put into this seems to be paying off. (to those of you who have donated high quality veterinary food, and good probiotics, a special thanks. He is especially fond of the Royal Canin "loaf in sauce", thanks Sheila!) He is obviously feeling physically better. He is filling out, his coat is no longer matted ... He's been grooming, which is a very very good sign! And he *sleeps*. Peacefully, bonelessly; I can pass within inches of him without waking him as he sleeps.
Everyone who comes here spends a little bit of time with him. Even when he's grumpy and reactive. Even when he hisses and spits at them for no apparent reason. Everyone seems to just love him, and that's not for nothing. I think all of you can see in him what we see. He's a beautiful mess, and a guy who hasn't had an easy time of it out there. I don't know about you, but I think he deserves a break, and a good life from here forward.
He lets me touch his paw upon occasion, and though he draws it back, he does it slowly, and sometimes he hisses at me but without sound. He is nearly at the point where I can touch his face without him threatening to bite me. He has yet to actually do so, or even to make a really serious attempt at it. He has a lot of bluster. If really pressed, I think he would react swiftly. But slowly, we are working to bring his adrenal system back down to baseline. Slowly, he becomes less and less reactive, more accustomed to the comings and goings of people and animals around him, more used to the sounds and smells of the indoors, with which he had no familiarity prior to his trapping.
One day at a time, we and our fabulous volunteers will continue to work with this incredible, beautiful wild thing. He has an intelligence that anyone who looks into his face can see. He doesn't really want to trust yet. Or rather he does, but he hates that he sort of likes the attention.
We wait for the day when he decides to make the mental shift, from fearful to open, from feral to friendly. It's a weird transformation when it happens, because it usually seems as though it happens overnight.
May 27 – Mr. Weather's in all his glory - we will keep working with this old weathered soul until he feels better and comes out of his shell. His tummy is bothering him which could contribute to the whole thing we're getting him on probiotics and special food to help him out. This guy is a lovely little boy! Who deserves a chance to be loved.
April 27 - Mr. Weathers (Gorgeous George Weathers, if you please!), our newest rescue, is still very frightened and reactive. He is bedraggled and absolutely exhausted. He is quarantined and quiet. We are letting him settle, only opening his crate to clean his litterbox and refill food and water. In between our incursions into his space, he sleeps. He will need time, and patient care, and lots of love. I sometimes take a few minutes to just keep him company and talk to him softly. He just listens and sits quietly. Only if I start messing about inside his space does he bestir himself to defensive behaviour.
We think he is a naturally placid boy, who has been out there trying to survive and on the defensive for far too long. We're going to help him settle, love him up, and see how long it takes him to begin to relax. Cats can have PTSD, just as any human can. And it will take him time to 'come down off the ledge'. But we can see the sweetness behind his fear and aggressive behaviour.
April 25, 2021 - New sweet baby thanks to Dorset Rescue Kittens for facilitating the transfer from the Kinmount colony. Poor Mr. Weathers has probably seen some terrifying times. We'll turn this little sad baby into a happy baby over the next while here. We make sure every cat gets a home.
Luna - In a foster to adopt
Gender: Female
Age: Approximately 3 years old
Breed / Colour: White with black, short hair
Spayed / Neutered: Spayed, fully vaccinated and micro-chipped
Adoption Summary:
As of end of May 2022 – Luna is looking for her forever home! This petite, beautiful girl came to us through an area SPCA. She is a house cat who was surrendered, and was really having trouble adjusting to the shelter.
She is an affectionate and talkative girl, loves to snuggle up in bed with you at night, loves lots of attention and pets, and generally loves people
She is not, however, fond of other cats. Luna needs to go to a home where she would be the only cat, where she can have peace and calm, a nice window to look out of, and to have her need for affection met. We don't know how she would react to dogs, but if her reaction to other cats is any indication...She's probably best on her own. But she is worth it. She's a sweet and loving cat, and doesn't ask for much more than peace, a cozy bed, good food, and the love of her human. She's dying to bond to 'her' person.
If you think you might be Luna's person, please get in touch so we can arrange an opportunity for you to meet her! Much as we would miss her, we would love to see this little beauty in a home of her own. She deserves it.
We can be reached via this website, or by email at catsofpaintlake@gmail.com, or via Facebook. Potential adopters will be asked to complete our adoption questionnaire. An adoption fee applies.
Age: Approximately 3 years old
Breed / Colour: White with black, short hair
Spayed / Neutered: Spayed, fully vaccinated and micro-chipped
Adoption Summary:
As of end of May 2022 – Luna is looking for her forever home! This petite, beautiful girl came to us through an area SPCA. She is a house cat who was surrendered, and was really having trouble adjusting to the shelter.
She is an affectionate and talkative girl, loves to snuggle up in bed with you at night, loves lots of attention and pets, and generally loves people
She is not, however, fond of other cats. Luna needs to go to a home where she would be the only cat, where she can have peace and calm, a nice window to look out of, and to have her need for affection met. We don't know how she would react to dogs, but if her reaction to other cats is any indication...She's probably best on her own. But she is worth it. She's a sweet and loving cat, and doesn't ask for much more than peace, a cozy bed, good food, and the love of her human. She's dying to bond to 'her' person.
If you think you might be Luna's person, please get in touch so we can arrange an opportunity for you to meet her! Much as we would miss her, we would love to see this little beauty in a home of her own. She deserves it.
We can be reached via this website, or by email at catsofpaintlake@gmail.com, or via Facebook. Potential adopters will be asked to complete our adoption questionnaire. An adoption fee applies.
Holly - Transferred
Update Aug 2022 - Holly has been transferred to another rescue where she will be loved and cared for until placed
Gender: 1 male, 2 females
Age: Approx 1 year old
Breed / Colour: Tabbies, Nicholas is a male with white-tipped toes. Vixen is a long-haired female, and Holly is a short-haired female
Spayed / Neutered: Y
Adoption Summary:
Update May 2022 - Holly is available and continues to look for her forever home. Meanwhile, Vixen has been adopted.
Update Jan 2022 - Vixen and Holly remain at the rescue, currently enjoying life with all their cat friends there. Vixen is ready for a permanent home - she is playful and cute, and has a big personality. She will need a friend, another cat companion, wherever she goes. Holly is not quite ready; she is coming along, but is still a little sketchy toward most people. Watch this space for updates on her progress.
Update: Nicholas has been adopted, as of July 2021, by his fosterers, but his sisters are still available. They should be adopted separately.
These summaries have been provided by the foster mom, who has been caring for these kittens for several months.
Nicholas – As of July 2021 – Nicholas is one of the three Christmas kittens. He was rescued around Christmas 2020 and had been hanging around a construction site since that summer.
He needs a forever home with a kitty companion (his sister Vixen would make a great companion) and someone who is willing to spend time with him every day. He will also do best to have toys, a window preferably with a good view of nature, at least one scratching post, and a wand toy to play with you!
He is the SWEETEST kitty; I tell him how lovely he is every day. He enjoys playing. Most importantly, he needs companionship and needs someone to love him and let him love you regularly. He loves his siblings, chasing them, napping with them, and, naturally, grooming them.
I always have favourites and he is mine by a landslide. Every morning and every evening (and almost every time in between) when I come into his room, he comes RUNNING to me, rubs up against my legs, headbutts me, and follows me around. Lately when he wants attention, he will run into the bathroom, meow, and wait for me to come in and pet him - IT'S SO CUTE!
He is: Lovely, Handsome, Soft, Not-so-athletic (lol), A little playful, Curious, And likes lots of cat-naps in the sunshine.
He is neutered, microchipped, and his vaccinations are up to date.
Vixen – As of July 2021. Vixen is one of the Christmas kittens. She was rescued around Christmas 2020 and had been hanging around a construction site since that summer.
She is a brown-black tabby, and has long hair (she has the furriest tail I have ever seen on a cat!). For her forever home, she will do best if she has a smaller area to get comfortable and will probably take a little time to adjust. She has so much love to give and deserves a loving home with a cat companion as well as someone who will give her playful attention every day.
She was extremely feral when she was rescued. She has come a long way in the last 7 months in her foster home, but still is nervous in new areas and hesitant around new people. Right now she feels most comfortable in a small room (a bathroom) where she allows me to pick her up and pet her.
She is very playful – she plays with her siblings every day and definitely needs that entertainment. She also enjoys having enrichment things like climbing towers, toys, and windows to watch the outdoor activities.
Vixen has the most personality of this trio (and maybe of any kitty I’ve cared for!). A few of the cutest things she does: #1 She will sit and tilt her head to the side when she is pensive (SUPER CUTE). #2 When she wants something from me, she will run up to about 1m from me, sits down, and then stare until I figure out what she wants. #3 When she falls asleep, she will keep her head propped up and it looks like she is smiling
She eats well, uses the litter box with no trouble, is a thinner kitty – but extremely healthy.
She is spayed, microchipped, and has all her required vaccinations.
Holly - As of July 2021. Holly is one of the Christmas kittens; she is the tiny one of the litter. She was rescued around Christmas 2020 and had been hanging around a construction site since that summer. She isn’t quite ready for adoption yet, but with some more time she will come around.
She is a brown-black tabby, and has short hair. She was extremely feral when she was rescued. She has come a long way in the last 7 months in her foster home, she likes to be around her foster family, but she mostly does not like being held or pet. Right now she feels comfortable in her room and will allow for some petting and handling in a small room (a bathroom) – once in a while she even purrs!
Holly LOVES playing with springs. They are her FAVOURITE toy! I gather all the Christmas kittens’ toys and put them in one spot almost every day. Holly comes to the pile, picks out her spring, takes it to her desired location, and then plays with it until she loses it under a couch (it’s the CUTEST thing to watch).
She has the prettiest face, she loves her siblings and grooms them every day in nap-time, she definitely needs to play every day, she’s curious and above all is loved.
She is spayed, microchipped, and has all her required vaccinations.
Detailed Log:
Apr 18 - I let the Christmas kittens explore another room yesterday for a couple hours and to no surprise of mine, Vixen was the first one out! And moments later Nicholas and Holly followed. They enjoyed the big window too!
Mar 2 – The kittens have been in their foster home for almost two months. Lately with the Christmas kitties, we have been working on their comfort level with us walking around and not always freaking out and running away. It’s really slow progress and it’s hard to explain the “wins”, but I think every day we are making baby-steps towards it. For example, the kittens don’t always run away every time when I move around the room near them; or if I angle my body a certain way, move slowly towards them, and hold out my finger, they will actually smell it instead of running in fear; and once in a while, Nicholas will stay put and let me pet him!!!!!!!! He is by far the most social in this way; it’s not every time he lets me get close to him in the open, but it’s more frequent for sure. The other two are still making progress in this direction and I’m hoping their brother will pave the way for them.
Jan 6, 2021 – The kittens started out quite frightened, and would almost panic every time someone came near. Over the past days and weeks they have gotten calmer, and their digestive systems are starting to work better after transitioning to their new diet and de-worming treatments.
The past few days, they have begun to get more and more curious about the environment beyond the crate. They watch the other cats play with toys and race around the house. They even engage with them through the bars of the cage! They have begin to tentatively accept touch from us, their caregivers. And after their time of rest and change in diet and environment, they are itching to get active!
I dropped them off at an amazing foster placement today, where they will continue the process of learning to socialize and live among humans. She has a dedicated space, starting with a large clean bathroom to use as their home base, and then when they are more comfortable, they will get “day passes” to move into the other part of a small suite where she will supervise and play with them. She is very excited to have them and help them along this next phase of their journey.
Dec 24 - Our three new arrivals are settling in nicely and interacting with the other cats through the bars of the crate. Next adventure will be weigh-in and gender confirmations. After I don my armour, of course!
Dec 21, 2020 - We had been looking forward to a quiet Christmas holiday, just us and the kids and the few cats that we live with and look after... And then yesterday we got a message from a friend about some cats at her workplace, a local construction company. Three kittens, to be precise. One of the crew members has been feeding them, and even socializing them to a point, they will come and sit on his lap and accept treats and play with toys.
Today we trapped two of the three, beautiful tabbies, one short haired and one long. The third, the smallest, is also the shy one of the bunch, and has not yet decided to enter a trap. (He/she was fed this morning, whereas the other two were ravenous!) Hopefully the final holdout will be reunited with their siblings by this afternoon.
Gender: 1 male, 2 females
Age: Approx 1 year old
Breed / Colour: Tabbies, Nicholas is a male with white-tipped toes. Vixen is a long-haired female, and Holly is a short-haired female
Spayed / Neutered: Y
Adoption Summary:
Update May 2022 - Holly is available and continues to look for her forever home. Meanwhile, Vixen has been adopted.
Update Jan 2022 - Vixen and Holly remain at the rescue, currently enjoying life with all their cat friends there. Vixen is ready for a permanent home - she is playful and cute, and has a big personality. She will need a friend, another cat companion, wherever she goes. Holly is not quite ready; she is coming along, but is still a little sketchy toward most people. Watch this space for updates on her progress.
Update: Nicholas has been adopted, as of July 2021, by his fosterers, but his sisters are still available. They should be adopted separately.
These summaries have been provided by the foster mom, who has been caring for these kittens for several months.
Nicholas – As of July 2021 – Nicholas is one of the three Christmas kittens. He was rescued around Christmas 2020 and had been hanging around a construction site since that summer.
He needs a forever home with a kitty companion (his sister Vixen would make a great companion) and someone who is willing to spend time with him every day. He will also do best to have toys, a window preferably with a good view of nature, at least one scratching post, and a wand toy to play with you!
He is the SWEETEST kitty; I tell him how lovely he is every day. He enjoys playing. Most importantly, he needs companionship and needs someone to love him and let him love you regularly. He loves his siblings, chasing them, napping with them, and, naturally, grooming them.
I always have favourites and he is mine by a landslide. Every morning and every evening (and almost every time in between) when I come into his room, he comes RUNNING to me, rubs up against my legs, headbutts me, and follows me around. Lately when he wants attention, he will run into the bathroom, meow, and wait for me to come in and pet him - IT'S SO CUTE!
He is: Lovely, Handsome, Soft, Not-so-athletic (lol), A little playful, Curious, And likes lots of cat-naps in the sunshine.
He is neutered, microchipped, and his vaccinations are up to date.
Vixen – As of July 2021. Vixen is one of the Christmas kittens. She was rescued around Christmas 2020 and had been hanging around a construction site since that summer.
She is a brown-black tabby, and has long hair (she has the furriest tail I have ever seen on a cat!). For her forever home, she will do best if she has a smaller area to get comfortable and will probably take a little time to adjust. She has so much love to give and deserves a loving home with a cat companion as well as someone who will give her playful attention every day.
She was extremely feral when she was rescued. She has come a long way in the last 7 months in her foster home, but still is nervous in new areas and hesitant around new people. Right now she feels most comfortable in a small room (a bathroom) where she allows me to pick her up and pet her.
She is very playful – she plays with her siblings every day and definitely needs that entertainment. She also enjoys having enrichment things like climbing towers, toys, and windows to watch the outdoor activities.
Vixen has the most personality of this trio (and maybe of any kitty I’ve cared for!). A few of the cutest things she does: #1 She will sit and tilt her head to the side when she is pensive (SUPER CUTE). #2 When she wants something from me, she will run up to about 1m from me, sits down, and then stare until I figure out what she wants. #3 When she falls asleep, she will keep her head propped up and it looks like she is smiling
She eats well, uses the litter box with no trouble, is a thinner kitty – but extremely healthy.
She is spayed, microchipped, and has all her required vaccinations.
Holly - As of July 2021. Holly is one of the Christmas kittens; she is the tiny one of the litter. She was rescued around Christmas 2020 and had been hanging around a construction site since that summer. She isn’t quite ready for adoption yet, but with some more time she will come around.
She is a brown-black tabby, and has short hair. She was extremely feral when she was rescued. She has come a long way in the last 7 months in her foster home, she likes to be around her foster family, but she mostly does not like being held or pet. Right now she feels comfortable in her room and will allow for some petting and handling in a small room (a bathroom) – once in a while she even purrs!
Holly LOVES playing with springs. They are her FAVOURITE toy! I gather all the Christmas kittens’ toys and put them in one spot almost every day. Holly comes to the pile, picks out her spring, takes it to her desired location, and then plays with it until she loses it under a couch (it’s the CUTEST thing to watch).
She has the prettiest face, she loves her siblings and grooms them every day in nap-time, she definitely needs to play every day, she’s curious and above all is loved.
She is spayed, microchipped, and has all her required vaccinations.
Detailed Log:
Apr 18 - I let the Christmas kittens explore another room yesterday for a couple hours and to no surprise of mine, Vixen was the first one out! And moments later Nicholas and Holly followed. They enjoyed the big window too!
Mar 2 – The kittens have been in their foster home for almost two months. Lately with the Christmas kitties, we have been working on their comfort level with us walking around and not always freaking out and running away. It’s really slow progress and it’s hard to explain the “wins”, but I think every day we are making baby-steps towards it. For example, the kittens don’t always run away every time when I move around the room near them; or if I angle my body a certain way, move slowly towards them, and hold out my finger, they will actually smell it instead of running in fear; and once in a while, Nicholas will stay put and let me pet him!!!!!!!! He is by far the most social in this way; it’s not every time he lets me get close to him in the open, but it’s more frequent for sure. The other two are still making progress in this direction and I’m hoping their brother will pave the way for them.
Jan 6, 2021 – The kittens started out quite frightened, and would almost panic every time someone came near. Over the past days and weeks they have gotten calmer, and their digestive systems are starting to work better after transitioning to their new diet and de-worming treatments.
The past few days, they have begun to get more and more curious about the environment beyond the crate. They watch the other cats play with toys and race around the house. They even engage with them through the bars of the cage! They have begin to tentatively accept touch from us, their caregivers. And after their time of rest and change in diet and environment, they are itching to get active!
I dropped them off at an amazing foster placement today, where they will continue the process of learning to socialize and live among humans. She has a dedicated space, starting with a large clean bathroom to use as their home base, and then when they are more comfortable, they will get “day passes” to move into the other part of a small suite where she will supervise and play with them. She is very excited to have them and help them along this next phase of their journey.
Dec 24 - Our three new arrivals are settling in nicely and interacting with the other cats through the bars of the crate. Next adventure will be weigh-in and gender confirmations. After I don my armour, of course!
Dec 21, 2020 - We had been looking forward to a quiet Christmas holiday, just us and the kids and the few cats that we live with and look after... And then yesterday we got a message from a friend about some cats at her workplace, a local construction company. Three kittens, to be precise. One of the crew members has been feeding them, and even socializing them to a point, they will come and sit on his lap and accept treats and play with toys.
Today we trapped two of the three, beautiful tabbies, one short haired and one long. The third, the smallest, is also the shy one of the bunch, and has not yet decided to enter a trap. (He/she was fed this morning, whereas the other two were ravenous!) Hopefully the final holdout will be reunited with their siblings by this afternoon.
Ruby - Adopted
Gender: Female
Age: Ruby is estimated to be between 1 - 2 years old as of mid 2021
Breed / Colour: Ruby is a light brown / blonde short-haired tabby
Spayed / Neutered: Yes, as of early November 2021, Ruby is spayed, vacc'ed & microchipped
Adoption Summary:
Update May 2022 - Ruby may not be available. She is currently in a foster-to-adopt placement.
Update January 2022 - Ruby continued at her foster placement after her kittens were all placed; she is a beautiful girl, and looks forward to a permanent home.
Update – As of early October 2021, all of Ruby’s kittens and foster kittens have been adopted, and it’s now Ruby’s turn to find her forever home. She should have completed her spay, vaccinations and microchipping by the end of October and will be ready for adoption then. As per Ruby’s foster mom, her babies showed her how to be playful again; she has become loving and actively seeks attention, and would enjoy a quiet home where she can get the love and attention she needs and deserves.
Update - As of early September, Ruby's two 'foster' kittens (Orchid's two girls) picked their people - they gravitated to them immediately on a visit! - and have been adopted.
Also, note that Samson is no longer available for adoption.
Almost ready! - Ruby and her six kittens won’t be ready for adoption until the kittens are weaned, likely sometime late in August. They will then be looking for their permanent homes. We’re still assessing them, to determine when they are ready, if they should go in a pair, or if one may go with the mom … TBD. However, if you are interested in one or more of Ruby and/or the kittens, please contact us.
Ruby was an outdoor cat, fed by but then abandoned by her owner. She was pregnant and fending for herself, and was brought into the rescue in June. She had her kittens at the rescue, and is now in a wonderful foster home, with her six babies. Ruby is a rock star mom – after having her own four kittens (and unfortunately one additional still-birth), Ruby also took on Orchid’s two kittens, born on the same day, when Orchid rejected them. These six kittens are rascals; they are active and playful, and look to be enjoying themselves immensely exploring their foster home.
All of the kittens have spent some time with children and they were great. All are litter trained, and eating both wet and dry food. They all reach out for affection, to be held and cuddled. Note that none have been dog tested.
Update from their foster mom, mid-August 2021:
Ruby – Because of being outside for the beginning of her life, she's had lots of adjustments during her time in foster. Learning how to use a litter box, learning to trust humans and know she will always be fed and loved. Ruby is affectionate by nature and now seeks affection and petting. She also loves being brushed. She knows nothing about cat toys, although she watches her kittens play. She is very food driven and will certainly tell you when she thinks it's time. Ruby would do best in a quiet home, 1 or 2 adults and absolutely no dogs (she sees them as predators). She could be paired with one of her kittens. (Samson would be a good match). Her adopters would need to be patient with her, give her time to explore her new home and get to know, trust and love her new people.
Gentle Ben – he is the largest of Ruby's kittens, with spectacular markings. As he has grown it looks likely he will have his Mom's long legs. He and his brother, Samson, took 2 or 3 days in their foster home to venture out of the crate. Within a week they were active and engaged with their siblings. Gentle Ben has two very distinct parts to his personality. He can mix it up with the rest, tearing around, playing and wrestling hut then is the first to climb up into your lap for a nap. He is a really sweet boy, full of curiosity and affection. He is very protective of his sister Minnie and I often see them napping together and grooming one another. They are a bonded pair and would do well adopted together.
Samson – he is the other of Ruby's two boys. He is a little smaller and darker in colouring than his brother with a stockier build. He is a busy lad, exploring everywhere and everything. Only difference is he often does it on his own. Samson is energetic and curious, he LOVES all the cat toys, even balled up pieces of paper. Samson took a little longer to seek out affection and in the beginning could always be found napping alone or near Mom. But in the last few weeks he has come to my lap for a nap and to be petted.
Minnie – she is the smallest of Ruby's four kittens but she is the feisty one of the group. Always exploring, looking for new places to climb, playing with the cat toys or looking around corners to see what she might be missing. In many ways she's the leader of the pack. She is affectionate by nature and seeks out your lap for pats and a snooze when she has played herself out. Minnie is very bonded to her brother, Gentle Ben. They look out for each other and when it's down time, those two are often napping together. They would do well being adopted together.
Detailed Log:
July 19 – At her foster home, beautiful Ruby is seeking affection more and more, which we are happy to give her.
July 9 – Ruby is taking necessary breaks from her babies. She just hops over the baby gate and can eat alone, has her own litter area and can relax.
July 8 - Ruby and her babies arrived yesterday afternoon at our foster home, and everyone is settling in nicely. Ruby seems to remember this place which makes my heart happy. (Ruby’s foster mom was the one who realized Ruby had been abandoned, and helped to bring her to the rescue.) Comment from the rescue: Ruby is a rock star, and a super protective mama. I am so grateful for you guys, who will love her up and help her get some space and some breaks from this active brood! And those babies will get to stretch those newly-walking little legs!
June 11 – Ruby has accepted the second of Orchid’s babies and we are so delighted!
June 11 later - Orchid shaboon ended up having her first kitten just a moment ago and she rejected it so we cleaned it up a little bit and gave it to Ruby who lost one of her babies this afternoon to stillborn. She seems to have accepted it and hopefully she will foster this kitten as Orchid is 6 or 7 years old and we think does not want to have anything to do with her litter. We are waiting for a second one. It's been one whirlwind of a day.
June 11 later – Given the size of Miss Ruby's pregnant belly, I was surprised when she had only four... She just also gave birth to a stillborn. Rushing her into the vet right now to make sure there are no others in there, and to make sure she's okay. UPDATE: All is well! The vet examined her and x-rayed her and there are no remaining kittens, no internal bleeding, she's just incredibly tired after her last 24 hours. Her four babies are fine. Everyone just needs time to rest and eat and rest. We will be watching them closely.
As always, we are grateful to Minden Animal Hospital for their excellent care, and for squeezing us in on an emergency basis, on a Friday afternoon. You guys are the best!
June 11, 2021, early in the day - Kitten watch Ruby: It’s happening now, everyone. We’ll keep you posted.
Age: Ruby is estimated to be between 1 - 2 years old as of mid 2021
Breed / Colour: Ruby is a light brown / blonde short-haired tabby
Spayed / Neutered: Yes, as of early November 2021, Ruby is spayed, vacc'ed & microchipped
Adoption Summary:
Update May 2022 - Ruby may not be available. She is currently in a foster-to-adopt placement.
Update January 2022 - Ruby continued at her foster placement after her kittens were all placed; she is a beautiful girl, and looks forward to a permanent home.
Update – As of early October 2021, all of Ruby’s kittens and foster kittens have been adopted, and it’s now Ruby’s turn to find her forever home. She should have completed her spay, vaccinations and microchipping by the end of October and will be ready for adoption then. As per Ruby’s foster mom, her babies showed her how to be playful again; she has become loving and actively seeks attention, and would enjoy a quiet home where she can get the love and attention she needs and deserves.
Update - As of early September, Ruby's two 'foster' kittens (Orchid's two girls) picked their people - they gravitated to them immediately on a visit! - and have been adopted.
Also, note that Samson is no longer available for adoption.
Almost ready! - Ruby and her six kittens won’t be ready for adoption until the kittens are weaned, likely sometime late in August. They will then be looking for their permanent homes. We’re still assessing them, to determine when they are ready, if they should go in a pair, or if one may go with the mom … TBD. However, if you are interested in one or more of Ruby and/or the kittens, please contact us.
Ruby was an outdoor cat, fed by but then abandoned by her owner. She was pregnant and fending for herself, and was brought into the rescue in June. She had her kittens at the rescue, and is now in a wonderful foster home, with her six babies. Ruby is a rock star mom – after having her own four kittens (and unfortunately one additional still-birth), Ruby also took on Orchid’s two kittens, born on the same day, when Orchid rejected them. These six kittens are rascals; they are active and playful, and look to be enjoying themselves immensely exploring their foster home.
All of the kittens have spent some time with children and they were great. All are litter trained, and eating both wet and dry food. They all reach out for affection, to be held and cuddled. Note that none have been dog tested.
Update from their foster mom, mid-August 2021:
Ruby – Because of being outside for the beginning of her life, she's had lots of adjustments during her time in foster. Learning how to use a litter box, learning to trust humans and know she will always be fed and loved. Ruby is affectionate by nature and now seeks affection and petting. She also loves being brushed. She knows nothing about cat toys, although she watches her kittens play. She is very food driven and will certainly tell you when she thinks it's time. Ruby would do best in a quiet home, 1 or 2 adults and absolutely no dogs (she sees them as predators). She could be paired with one of her kittens. (Samson would be a good match). Her adopters would need to be patient with her, give her time to explore her new home and get to know, trust and love her new people.
Gentle Ben – he is the largest of Ruby's kittens, with spectacular markings. As he has grown it looks likely he will have his Mom's long legs. He and his brother, Samson, took 2 or 3 days in their foster home to venture out of the crate. Within a week they were active and engaged with their siblings. Gentle Ben has two very distinct parts to his personality. He can mix it up with the rest, tearing around, playing and wrestling hut then is the first to climb up into your lap for a nap. He is a really sweet boy, full of curiosity and affection. He is very protective of his sister Minnie and I often see them napping together and grooming one another. They are a bonded pair and would do well adopted together.
Samson – he is the other of Ruby's two boys. He is a little smaller and darker in colouring than his brother with a stockier build. He is a busy lad, exploring everywhere and everything. Only difference is he often does it on his own. Samson is energetic and curious, he LOVES all the cat toys, even balled up pieces of paper. Samson took a little longer to seek out affection and in the beginning could always be found napping alone or near Mom. But in the last few weeks he has come to my lap for a nap and to be petted.
Minnie – she is the smallest of Ruby's four kittens but she is the feisty one of the group. Always exploring, looking for new places to climb, playing with the cat toys or looking around corners to see what she might be missing. In many ways she's the leader of the pack. She is affectionate by nature and seeks out your lap for pats and a snooze when she has played herself out. Minnie is very bonded to her brother, Gentle Ben. They look out for each other and when it's down time, those two are often napping together. They would do well being adopted together.
Detailed Log:
July 19 – At her foster home, beautiful Ruby is seeking affection more and more, which we are happy to give her.
July 9 – Ruby is taking necessary breaks from her babies. She just hops over the baby gate and can eat alone, has her own litter area and can relax.
July 8 - Ruby and her babies arrived yesterday afternoon at our foster home, and everyone is settling in nicely. Ruby seems to remember this place which makes my heart happy. (Ruby’s foster mom was the one who realized Ruby had been abandoned, and helped to bring her to the rescue.) Comment from the rescue: Ruby is a rock star, and a super protective mama. I am so grateful for you guys, who will love her up and help her get some space and some breaks from this active brood! And those babies will get to stretch those newly-walking little legs!
June 11 – Ruby has accepted the second of Orchid’s babies and we are so delighted!
June 11 later - Orchid shaboon ended up having her first kitten just a moment ago and she rejected it so we cleaned it up a little bit and gave it to Ruby who lost one of her babies this afternoon to stillborn. She seems to have accepted it and hopefully she will foster this kitten as Orchid is 6 or 7 years old and we think does not want to have anything to do with her litter. We are waiting for a second one. It's been one whirlwind of a day.
June 11 later – Given the size of Miss Ruby's pregnant belly, I was surprised when she had only four... She just also gave birth to a stillborn. Rushing her into the vet right now to make sure there are no others in there, and to make sure she's okay. UPDATE: All is well! The vet examined her and x-rayed her and there are no remaining kittens, no internal bleeding, she's just incredibly tired after her last 24 hours. Her four babies are fine. Everyone just needs time to rest and eat and rest. We will be watching them closely.
As always, we are grateful to Minden Animal Hospital for their excellent care, and for squeezing us in on an emergency basis, on a Friday afternoon. You guys are the best!
June 11, 2021, early in the day - Kitten watch Ruby: It’s happening now, everyone. We’ll keep you posted.
Dolly - Transferred
Update Aug 2022 - Dolly has been transferred to another rescue where she will be loved and cared for until placed
Gender: Female
Age: Estimated to be one year old as of November 2021
Breed / Colour: Short-haired tabby
Spayed / Neutered: Yes, and vaccinated and micro-chipped
Adoption Summary:
Update May 2022 - Dolly may not be available. She is currently in a foster-to-adopt placement.
Update December 2021 - Dolly has found a new good friend at the rescue, Billy Idol; she even frequently hangs out with him in her crate. It's very sweet to see.
November 2021 - Dolly and her sister, Erin, were trapped and brought into the rescue in January 2021. They were just kittens, and had been taken care of by a nurturing male cat (Alistair, who also came into the rescue). As of November 2021, Dolly is ready for adoption.
She is a very lively cat, and has spent time at the rescue both in a crate and free roaming. She has also spent some time in a foster home. She is now very used to people contact, although can still be skittish. Sometimes she is called ‘parkour’ Dolly as she loves to jump and to explore all the spaces, high and low, in a room.
Dolly should likely be an only cat in her forever home, so that her adopters can focus just on her. If you want to adopt a beautiful and lively young cat, and give Dolly the calm space and attention she deserves, please contact us.
Detailed Log:
July 3, 2021 - Wednesday night to Thursday morning was very rough (post-spay). Dolly was deeply angry and took it out entirely on her sister Erin. She relentlessly stomped up to Erin and hissed and growled at her, and both kittens were not happy about the situation. 7am Dolly pulled her onesie down to her hips and I had to rescue her from the tangle. Add to that Dolly had a seroma that was worrying to us with her activity level. After a lot of talking with Heather Deveaux (thank you for all your time!), we sadly decided the two sisters would have to be separated and we took Dolly to the The Cats of Paint Lake rescue to rejoin all her friends, especially Katniss. Alex donated a stuffie so Dolly could have a Timmy replacement (thanks Alex!!!). Today we had Dolly to the @mindenanimalhospital as she wasn’t eating and she checked out fabulously! Seroma is gone, and she is healing very well. I miss Dolly terribly, but we had to do what’s best for both girls. Erin is recovering extremely well, happy in her jammies, and allowing more pets every day.
April 8 - Erin & Dolly the 2 feral kittens who are in foster care discovered that they could offer a whole lot of closeness in exchange for Sardines I Was Hungry treats! Thanks for the high value kitten treats The Granville Island Pet Treatery
March 14 - Erin & Dolly two rescued feral kittens who were being looked after by feral male cat, Alistair, who we originally thought was their mom! These two are getting comfortable enough to play with a feather wand with their foster humans, as well as bounce around their room. Amazing change in just one short week of fostering, that just warms our hearts. Welcome inside to where it's safe and warm you two wonderful sisters.
March 9 - From the evening of the first full day of foster home, to late last night, 2nd full day, curled up on the bed. A very successful couple of days and nights. Erin & Dolly you are cute little heartbreakers
March 7 - First full day of foster care, with the crate door open. There was some exploring, but eventually Dolly decided she felt best in her carrier and Erin chose to hang out between the crate and the wall. They are happily napping even though foster mom is on the floor a few feet away.
March 6 - Erin and Dolly newly transferred to our foster care. Taking their time to decide if they are comfortable to come out. Understandable, it’s been a tough morning.
February 26 - Dolly & Erin love their Cat Hammock. (Leave it to kittens to figure it out first). See the name change? I turns out that Aaron (male) is really an Erin (female)!
January 19 - Dolly and Aaron Purr, chillaxin’ and being photogenic. They chat a lot with the other cats, and are starting to play with toys. Slowly coming down off the ledge after being trapped and out there in the cold scary big world.
January 15 - Good morning, babies! Aaron Purr and Dolly were finally reunited last night, and apparently passed a peaceful night together. The night before, Aaron had spent much of the evening meowing and meowing...poor laddie, he must have been scared and lonely. Last night, with his sister to snuggle with (on a soft memory foam mat!)...silence. This morning they were both perky and alert, interested in their environment, and looked a lot less fearful. Time to start getting to know these little ones.
January 14, 2021 – Hello Dolly! After several days of trying, we finally managed to trap the second kitten who has been out there all by herself since yesterday. Welcome, little one! We will tuck her in with her brother for tonight so that neither one of them will be alone anymore.
Gender: Female
Age: Estimated to be one year old as of November 2021
Breed / Colour: Short-haired tabby
Spayed / Neutered: Yes, and vaccinated and micro-chipped
Adoption Summary:
Update May 2022 - Dolly may not be available. She is currently in a foster-to-adopt placement.
Update December 2021 - Dolly has found a new good friend at the rescue, Billy Idol; she even frequently hangs out with him in her crate. It's very sweet to see.
November 2021 - Dolly and her sister, Erin, were trapped and brought into the rescue in January 2021. They were just kittens, and had been taken care of by a nurturing male cat (Alistair, who also came into the rescue). As of November 2021, Dolly is ready for adoption.
She is a very lively cat, and has spent time at the rescue both in a crate and free roaming. She has also spent some time in a foster home. She is now very used to people contact, although can still be skittish. Sometimes she is called ‘parkour’ Dolly as she loves to jump and to explore all the spaces, high and low, in a room.
Dolly should likely be an only cat in her forever home, so that her adopters can focus just on her. If you want to adopt a beautiful and lively young cat, and give Dolly the calm space and attention she deserves, please contact us.
Detailed Log:
July 3, 2021 - Wednesday night to Thursday morning was very rough (post-spay). Dolly was deeply angry and took it out entirely on her sister Erin. She relentlessly stomped up to Erin and hissed and growled at her, and both kittens were not happy about the situation. 7am Dolly pulled her onesie down to her hips and I had to rescue her from the tangle. Add to that Dolly had a seroma that was worrying to us with her activity level. After a lot of talking with Heather Deveaux (thank you for all your time!), we sadly decided the two sisters would have to be separated and we took Dolly to the The Cats of Paint Lake rescue to rejoin all her friends, especially Katniss. Alex donated a stuffie so Dolly could have a Timmy replacement (thanks Alex!!!). Today we had Dolly to the @mindenanimalhospital as she wasn’t eating and she checked out fabulously! Seroma is gone, and she is healing very well. I miss Dolly terribly, but we had to do what’s best for both girls. Erin is recovering extremely well, happy in her jammies, and allowing more pets every day.
April 8 - Erin & Dolly the 2 feral kittens who are in foster care discovered that they could offer a whole lot of closeness in exchange for Sardines I Was Hungry treats! Thanks for the high value kitten treats The Granville Island Pet Treatery
March 14 - Erin & Dolly two rescued feral kittens who were being looked after by feral male cat, Alistair, who we originally thought was their mom! These two are getting comfortable enough to play with a feather wand with their foster humans, as well as bounce around their room. Amazing change in just one short week of fostering, that just warms our hearts. Welcome inside to where it's safe and warm you two wonderful sisters.
March 9 - From the evening of the first full day of foster home, to late last night, 2nd full day, curled up on the bed. A very successful couple of days and nights. Erin & Dolly you are cute little heartbreakers
March 7 - First full day of foster care, with the crate door open. There was some exploring, but eventually Dolly decided she felt best in her carrier and Erin chose to hang out between the crate and the wall. They are happily napping even though foster mom is on the floor a few feet away.
March 6 - Erin and Dolly newly transferred to our foster care. Taking their time to decide if they are comfortable to come out. Understandable, it’s been a tough morning.
February 26 - Dolly & Erin love their Cat Hammock. (Leave it to kittens to figure it out first). See the name change? I turns out that Aaron (male) is really an Erin (female)!
January 19 - Dolly and Aaron Purr, chillaxin’ and being photogenic. They chat a lot with the other cats, and are starting to play with toys. Slowly coming down off the ledge after being trapped and out there in the cold scary big world.
January 15 - Good morning, babies! Aaron Purr and Dolly were finally reunited last night, and apparently passed a peaceful night together. The night before, Aaron had spent much of the evening meowing and meowing...poor laddie, he must have been scared and lonely. Last night, with his sister to snuggle with (on a soft memory foam mat!)...silence. This morning they were both perky and alert, interested in their environment, and looked a lot less fearful. Time to start getting to know these little ones.
January 14, 2021 – Hello Dolly! After several days of trying, we finally managed to trap the second kitten who has been out there all by herself since yesterday. Welcome, little one! We will tuck her in with her brother for tonight so that neither one of them will be alone anymore.
New Cats on the Block
These cats aren't ready to be adopted yet but may soon be available. Stay tuned!
Sebastian
Sebastian is still in the wild, but we are determined to rescue him, rehabilitate and neuter him, and find him a great home. As you can see from his picture, he is a handsome boy.
Resident Cats
These cats live with us at the Rescue. You may see them hanging around if you visit! If you'd like to sponsor one of these sweet cats, please contact us
ShyAnne
Daughter of MamaCat, Shy was the sole survivor of a winter litter, and came to our porch at the age of about 5 weeks with her mother. Her story is told in full here: https://www.thecatsofpaintlake.ca/post/shyanne
Katniss and Peeta
Katniss and Peeta were found with two other litter mates in June 2020, at four days old, sweltering at the top of our woodshed. They came into our rescue and we bottle fed and hand raised them. They are a joy, an adventure, a nuisance, and two of the most wonderful beings we know. On June 15, 2021 we celebrated their first birthdays. We fell in love with these two and so they have stayed with us. Peeta is our #1 Therapy Cat here at The Cats of Paint Lake. He and his sister Katniss welcome all comers to the rescue, human and feline.
Earlier in July 2021, unfortunately, Peeta became very ill – more details are below, in Their Story, but he did have to spend time at the vets, and undergo many tests – he is recovering, although we still don’t know what made him ill. All our wishes are with Peeta for a full recovery.
Should you wish, you may sponsor Katniss and/or Peeta on a one-time or ongoing basis. Contact us, or make a donation directly via e-transfer to catsofpaintlake@gmail.com; you may include details if you wish to make your donation, for example, specific to either cat, or to medical bills, or to feeding and care.
Their Story:
Found at four days old, in June 2020, sweltering at the top of our woodshed, Katniss and Peeta, along with their litter mates, Mork and Mindy, came into the rescue and were bottle fed and hand raised. When two weeks old, their eyes were open, they were starting to play, and Peeta started purring … and hasn’t stopped since! Even at the vet’s he purrs; the vet has to hold an alcohol swab under his nose to get him to stop purring in order to listen to his heartbeat. We know that their mother is ShyAnne, and her mother is MamaCat, part of the original feral colony that we cared for, and why we started our rescue. Katniss and Peeta have a very strong bond; they’ve been loving and taking care of each other since the day they were born. We love it when we get to watch their unwavering affection for each other, in adorable action. And they work too, here at the rescue, welcoming and playing with the other cats as they arrive. Peeta is usually the welcoming committee. And Katniss loves to play with the younger ones, and also, when being held by Kyal, she purrs and shows the others that being held by a person is kinda nice!
By mid-summer 2020: Katniss is an active, friendly, playful, funny girl. She likes to scamper faster than you would think is possible for such a little creature. And she’s quite well socialized, loves to snuggle, and purrs the moment you pick her up. Litter trained and starting to eat solid food. Peeta loves long naps, preferably in your lap. He’s a big boy, will probably be a good sized silver tabby. He’s a gentle spirited, friendly guy, loves to cuddle, has the best purr ever, he’s litter trained - and so far he’s resisting eating solid foods. A bit of a mama’s boy.
By September of 2020, we knew that Katniss and Peeta would remain with us at the rescue as resident cats. They are wonderful as therapy cats for all the new ones joining us. Peeta especially loves kittens, and mothered our sweet Floof when she was deathly ill as a tiny kitten. He also insists on greeting each of the young ones by entering their cages while I feed, change water and clean litters. I lock him into each crate, one by one, and he hangs out with the occupant(s). Then I let him out, or drag him out, as the case may be!
Happy first birthday to Katniss and Peeta, on June 15, 2021!
On July 15, 2021, Peeta really scared us when he became very ill. He spent all day at Minden Animal Hospital today, for a lot of really non-specific symptoms that all add up to he is not ok. Lethargy, dehydration, lack of appetite and fever. Blood work has so far been inconclusive and vague, and very confusing. Diagnostic imaging showed nothing of concern. IV fluids and antibiotics have perked him up, but only slightly. $1,300 plus in testing and care, and we still don't really know what's wrong with him. He's home again so we can observe him over night (the clinic is not staffed at night), and get an apparently disgusting-tasting broad spectrum antibiotic into him. He is still sleeping, eating very little, and generally worrying us so much. We will take him in again in the morning for a reassessment, and a decision as to whether he needs to have another day of IV fluids and antibiotics. So for tonight...we wait. Peeta is special. Everyone thinks their pet is special, but Peeta is love, just pure love, and he gives it out freely, to one and all. He needs our love tonight.
As of July 19, good news, Peeta appears to be holding his own now. We still don't know what is/was wrong with him. He lost a lot of weight, and is still not his energetic, goofy self. We've been keeping him close by and observing him. He is slowly returning to us after two days of intravenous fluids and medications, a lot of inconclusive and confusing test results, and a broad-spectrum antibiotic which he hated. There is still one test that we are awaiting results from, which may or may not shed light on what that was all about. Meanwhile, we keep watch over him to see if any of his previous symptoms return. So far, so good. He's eating and sleeping, seems to like being crated at night so he can rest undisturbed in his squishy bed, and is moving around under his own power in the daytime. All good signs. Hoping this healing trend will continue into this week.
Earlier in July 2021, unfortunately, Peeta became very ill – more details are below, in Their Story, but he did have to spend time at the vets, and undergo many tests – he is recovering, although we still don’t know what made him ill. All our wishes are with Peeta for a full recovery.
Should you wish, you may sponsor Katniss and/or Peeta on a one-time or ongoing basis. Contact us, or make a donation directly via e-transfer to catsofpaintlake@gmail.com; you may include details if you wish to make your donation, for example, specific to either cat, or to medical bills, or to feeding and care.
Their Story:
Found at four days old, in June 2020, sweltering at the top of our woodshed, Katniss and Peeta, along with their litter mates, Mork and Mindy, came into the rescue and were bottle fed and hand raised. When two weeks old, their eyes were open, they were starting to play, and Peeta started purring … and hasn’t stopped since! Even at the vet’s he purrs; the vet has to hold an alcohol swab under his nose to get him to stop purring in order to listen to his heartbeat. We know that their mother is ShyAnne, and her mother is MamaCat, part of the original feral colony that we cared for, and why we started our rescue. Katniss and Peeta have a very strong bond; they’ve been loving and taking care of each other since the day they were born. We love it when we get to watch their unwavering affection for each other, in adorable action. And they work too, here at the rescue, welcoming and playing with the other cats as they arrive. Peeta is usually the welcoming committee. And Katniss loves to play with the younger ones, and also, when being held by Kyal, she purrs and shows the others that being held by a person is kinda nice!
By mid-summer 2020: Katniss is an active, friendly, playful, funny girl. She likes to scamper faster than you would think is possible for such a little creature. And she’s quite well socialized, loves to snuggle, and purrs the moment you pick her up. Litter trained and starting to eat solid food. Peeta loves long naps, preferably in your lap. He’s a big boy, will probably be a good sized silver tabby. He’s a gentle spirited, friendly guy, loves to cuddle, has the best purr ever, he’s litter trained - and so far he’s resisting eating solid foods. A bit of a mama’s boy.
By September of 2020, we knew that Katniss and Peeta would remain with us at the rescue as resident cats. They are wonderful as therapy cats for all the new ones joining us. Peeta especially loves kittens, and mothered our sweet Floof when she was deathly ill as a tiny kitten. He also insists on greeting each of the young ones by entering their cages while I feed, change water and clean litters. I lock him into each crate, one by one, and he hangs out with the occupant(s). Then I let him out, or drag him out, as the case may be!
Happy first birthday to Katniss and Peeta, on June 15, 2021!
On July 15, 2021, Peeta really scared us when he became very ill. He spent all day at Minden Animal Hospital today, for a lot of really non-specific symptoms that all add up to he is not ok. Lethargy, dehydration, lack of appetite and fever. Blood work has so far been inconclusive and vague, and very confusing. Diagnostic imaging showed nothing of concern. IV fluids and antibiotics have perked him up, but only slightly. $1,300 plus in testing and care, and we still don't really know what's wrong with him. He's home again so we can observe him over night (the clinic is not staffed at night), and get an apparently disgusting-tasting broad spectrum antibiotic into him. He is still sleeping, eating very little, and generally worrying us so much. We will take him in again in the morning for a reassessment, and a decision as to whether he needs to have another day of IV fluids and antibiotics. So for tonight...we wait. Peeta is special. Everyone thinks their pet is special, but Peeta is love, just pure love, and he gives it out freely, to one and all. He needs our love tonight.
As of July 19, good news, Peeta appears to be holding his own now. We still don't know what is/was wrong with him. He lost a lot of weight, and is still not his energetic, goofy self. We've been keeping him close by and observing him. He is slowly returning to us after two days of intravenous fluids and medications, a lot of inconclusive and confusing test results, and a broad-spectrum antibiotic which he hated. There is still one test that we are awaiting results from, which may or may not shed light on what that was all about. Meanwhile, we keep watch over him to see if any of his previous symptoms return. So far, so good. He's eating and sleeping, seems to like being crated at night so he can rest undisturbed in his squishy bed, and is moving around under his own power in the daytime. All good signs. Hoping this healing trend will continue into this week.
Floof
Update early January 2021 - Sweet baby Floof seems to be doing much better with her new medication on board.!! She's eating normally and this morning playing with the other cats!
End of December 2021 - Sweet Floof has had a lot of health challenges in her short life, to date. The runt of her litter, born with almost no guard hairs in her coat to insulate her from the harsh winter weather, we are grateful that we managed to trap her - and her mama and sisters - in the fall of 2020.
But she soon had other health issues. If you have been following her story from the beginning, you will remember the terrible case of prolapsed bowel that Floof suffered from as a tiny kitten. The veterinarian who repaired the damage said it was the worst case he had ever seen in his career, and nearly gave up on it. But he persevered for another 20 minutes, and finally succeeded, for which we are ever grateful.
Floof's health has continued to have challenges. The most recent is what the vet tells us is is a heart condition. She has had episodes of laboured breathing, fast respiration, coupled with lack of appetite, dehydration, and lethargy. The vet took x-rays, and found some things that are concerning, including an enlarged heart and vessels, fluid around the lungs, and markers in her blood work that are consistent with heart failure.
We have started her on daily heart medication, and completed a course of antibiotics, while she was isolated in our 'intensive care' area. The antibiotics seem to have helped to some extent, in terms of returning appetite and more-or-less normal energy levels. But her respiration continues to be of concern. The heart medication we are now giving to her twice daily, and we observe her, waiting to see if this helps her condition. Some cats can live long and healthy lives, even with heart issues, as long as the condition is caught early enough and treated. But it would require lifelong treatment.
So now, we wait to see if treatment will have positive results. Meanwhile, we monitor her carefully, check her respiration regularly, and love her up every day of her life. We never really know if she will be here the next day or not.
Floof will be a long-term resident of The Cats of Paint Lake. We have long known that her health was precarious, and now we realize that it is quite serious and her care will be lifelong and probably extensive. We would like to open up a sponsorship program for anyone who would like to contribute to Floof's ongoing health issues, on a one-time basis or on a regular basis. She will require regular veterinary care and monitoring, medications, and a special diet to manage her conditions.
We are always grateful for any support we receive, and can accept donations via e-transfer direct to our corporate bank account at catsofpaintlake@gmail.com, or through our GoFundMe page at https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-cats-of-paint-lake-rescue. If you prefer to mail a check we can also accept those, made out to The Cats of Paint Lake and mailed to PO Box 344 Dorset ON P0A 1E0
Thanks everyone, for all of your support and best wishes. We are grateful and humbled by the outpouring of love and donations of time, energy, financial backing, food, toys and all the things that make this rescue a success. This year has been an amazing and life changing experience, and none of it could have happened without all of you.
End of December 2021 - Sweet Floof has had a lot of health challenges in her short life, to date. The runt of her litter, born with almost no guard hairs in her coat to insulate her from the harsh winter weather, we are grateful that we managed to trap her - and her mama and sisters - in the fall of 2020.
But she soon had other health issues. If you have been following her story from the beginning, you will remember the terrible case of prolapsed bowel that Floof suffered from as a tiny kitten. The veterinarian who repaired the damage said it was the worst case he had ever seen in his career, and nearly gave up on it. But he persevered for another 20 minutes, and finally succeeded, for which we are ever grateful.
Floof's health has continued to have challenges. The most recent is what the vet tells us is is a heart condition. She has had episodes of laboured breathing, fast respiration, coupled with lack of appetite, dehydration, and lethargy. The vet took x-rays, and found some things that are concerning, including an enlarged heart and vessels, fluid around the lungs, and markers in her blood work that are consistent with heart failure.
We have started her on daily heart medication, and completed a course of antibiotics, while she was isolated in our 'intensive care' area. The antibiotics seem to have helped to some extent, in terms of returning appetite and more-or-less normal energy levels. But her respiration continues to be of concern. The heart medication we are now giving to her twice daily, and we observe her, waiting to see if this helps her condition. Some cats can live long and healthy lives, even with heart issues, as long as the condition is caught early enough and treated. But it would require lifelong treatment.
So now, we wait to see if treatment will have positive results. Meanwhile, we monitor her carefully, check her respiration regularly, and love her up every day of her life. We never really know if she will be here the next day or not.
Floof will be a long-term resident of The Cats of Paint Lake. We have long known that her health was precarious, and now we realize that it is quite serious and her care will be lifelong and probably extensive. We would like to open up a sponsorship program for anyone who would like to contribute to Floof's ongoing health issues, on a one-time basis or on a regular basis. She will require regular veterinary care and monitoring, medications, and a special diet to manage her conditions.
We are always grateful for any support we receive, and can accept donations via e-transfer direct to our corporate bank account at catsofpaintlake@gmail.com, or through our GoFundMe page at https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-cats-of-paint-lake-rescue. If you prefer to mail a check we can also accept those, made out to The Cats of Paint Lake and mailed to PO Box 344 Dorset ON P0A 1E0
Thanks everyone, for all of your support and best wishes. We are grateful and humbled by the outpouring of love and donations of time, energy, financial backing, food, toys and all the things that make this rescue a success. This year has been an amazing and life changing experience, and none of it could have happened without all of you.
Bess - Adopted Sep 2022
Gender: Female
Age: Estimated to be 2 years old as of October 2021
Breed / Colour: Short-haired tabby
Spayed / Neutered: No, Also not vaccinated nor micro-chipped
Update Sep 2022 - Bess has been adopted. Although considered a resident cat for awhile, Bess has now found her forever family and home. Such a great new life for a lovely girl.
Summary:
Bess is a beautiful female cat, feral all her life, trapped in Spring 2021, in Dorset. She was a wild one and fearful of people, but also very curious. And it was that curiousity that led her to overcome her fear and to become comfortable at the rescue and with people. She currently free roams all over the rescue, and has made some good cat friends here. She has also learned to accept, appreciate and even ask for pets and affection from us. She is currently a resident cat, but at some point in the future will need adopters who are very patient and very careful with her, as she settles in, and she will repay that with her lively, curious and affectionate personality.
Detailed Log:
July 29, 2021 - Bess: Our regular volunteers will recall this super spicy little girl, who hissed and scratched at all who approached her. Fast forward to this morning, Bess has decided that she likes being a house cat! She has been befriended by the working cats here, our therapy cats and other resident members of our little indoor colony. In the afternoons we often find her napping in the middle of our bed!
May 9 - Sweet Bess was a wild thing who we caught here in the town of Dorset. She was reactive, defensive, and prone to strike first, ask questions later. It took weeks before she would allow me to come near her, and then only under certain very strict conditions. (We couldn't approach her head or face, from the front. We could stroke her back or her sides, and work toward the head. But to attempt to put a hand near her face directly was to take the risk of being swatted, and Bess didn't kid around.)
Over time, she became calmer, more affectionate with Kyal and I. At one point we let her come out to free roam, in brief, supervised periods. She immediately went to her 'downstairs neighbour', the lovely Shabeen/Clementine/Kashe, and made nearly instant friends with her. For a time they became roommates, and that seemed to work out well. They roamed together for periods of time in the day or evening, and then would take themselves back to their 'home base' crate.
Bess no longer has a crate, she free roams with the rest of the cats who live and work here at the rescue centre. ShyAnne has taken a shine to her, and seems to guide her at times, shows her what to do if Bess is uncertain. Shy rubs on Bess, and just loves her; She seems to have taken Bess under her wing! It is especially lovely when we consider that Bess looks a great deal like Shy's mother, the long-missing MamaCat. I think their relationship must be good for both of them.
Bess has a couple of sleeping spots that she loves, will approach for pets, and is learning that she CAN just walk past a human, even in close proximity, without being fearful, or skittering along the floorboards. She becomes more and more calm amid the clamour and sights and sounds of a home. She doesn't panic if the vacuum comes on, even near her sleeping spot. She ventures upstairs occasionally, has a look around, and then returns to the rescue space where she is most comfortable, where she knows that food and water and beds abound. Slowly, Bess is becoming a house cat!
She has taken to sitting in one of the guest chairs. She used to dash off if I took a seat in the chair next to hers. But now she waits for me, sits beside me and lets me pet and stroke her. And if I stop, sometimes she lets me know she wasn't finished with me, yet.
We are very proud of this sweet, formerly sketchy feral cat's progress. She seems more and more content every day. She still isn't very sure about people other than the two of us, but with time and the help of our excellent volunteer Cat Companions, I believe she will open up to other people, too. Baby steps!
April 10 - Sweet Bess is a Dorset feral who had never known humans, had never been indoors, or touched by human hands. She is deeply suspicious and defensive around most people, still. But she is learning to accept, appreciate, and even ask for pets and affection. Socializing adult ferals is a slow process, but it's worth it when you see them begin to trust.
March 28 - Bessie, aka Bess or Mitzy: from a frightened, defensive feral, to curious, to accepting of touch and affection. Bess was trapped right here in Dorset, and was quite perturbed by this! She tried to scratch us as we loaded her into the back of my vehicle, hid when I cleaned and messed about in her habitat, hissed and growled at anyone who tried to come too close.
And then, she got curious. She learned the daily routine of litter box cleaning, feeding and cleaning, and ceased to be upset by it. Little by little, day by day, Bess has been coming down off the ledge of fear and distrust, and has in the past couple of days decided that we can touch her. This has graduated from small strokes to full on scratches and now, belly rubs.
We have been monitoring her for a potential pregnancy, and now it looks like she may be expecting kittens! Obviously we can't have her spayed now until we know for sure, and until she has her babies if she is pregnant. Her round little belly tells me we need to wait a while longer... Meanwhile we will keep working to earn her trust by touching her and spending time with her. It is always so exciting when they finally make the decision to give us silly humans a chance. Cats socialize themselves, by their own choice. We have seen it happen over and over again. One day they just make a shift, and then everything changes, almost overnight. Bess is trying something new and scary, and we are so proud of her.
March 20, 2021 - Trapped in Dorset, Bess is a wild one, fearful of people, still doesn’t want to be touched, though she is very curious. She watches all the other cats crowd in for pets with interest, or possibly disdain.
But day by day, she settles in quietly. She is a fastidiously clean girl, never prone to tossing her crate about. She loves to watch us go about our daily business, and looking out the big window. She never tries to rush out the door, never hisses, and seems strangely content, if highly suspicious.
She likes her comfort, loves good food, and talks to me in the night when I’m in the center for feeding time. I think she’s curious about humans, and wants to trust. She has come within a hairs breadth of rubbing her face on my hand when I’m working with her, but retreats at the last moment. And so I wait for her to tell me when she’s ready. It’s coming. She’s a sweet girl, and I think she’s grateful to be out of the cold and the scary big world. She’s safe and warm and fed. The rest will come with time and love.
Age: Estimated to be 2 years old as of October 2021
Breed / Colour: Short-haired tabby
Spayed / Neutered: No, Also not vaccinated nor micro-chipped
Update Sep 2022 - Bess has been adopted. Although considered a resident cat for awhile, Bess has now found her forever family and home. Such a great new life for a lovely girl.
Summary:
Bess is a beautiful female cat, feral all her life, trapped in Spring 2021, in Dorset. She was a wild one and fearful of people, but also very curious. And it was that curiousity that led her to overcome her fear and to become comfortable at the rescue and with people. She currently free roams all over the rescue, and has made some good cat friends here. She has also learned to accept, appreciate and even ask for pets and affection from us. She is currently a resident cat, but at some point in the future will need adopters who are very patient and very careful with her, as she settles in, and she will repay that with her lively, curious and affectionate personality.
Detailed Log:
July 29, 2021 - Bess: Our regular volunteers will recall this super spicy little girl, who hissed and scratched at all who approached her. Fast forward to this morning, Bess has decided that she likes being a house cat! She has been befriended by the working cats here, our therapy cats and other resident members of our little indoor colony. In the afternoons we often find her napping in the middle of our bed!
May 9 - Sweet Bess was a wild thing who we caught here in the town of Dorset. She was reactive, defensive, and prone to strike first, ask questions later. It took weeks before she would allow me to come near her, and then only under certain very strict conditions. (We couldn't approach her head or face, from the front. We could stroke her back or her sides, and work toward the head. But to attempt to put a hand near her face directly was to take the risk of being swatted, and Bess didn't kid around.)
Over time, she became calmer, more affectionate with Kyal and I. At one point we let her come out to free roam, in brief, supervised periods. She immediately went to her 'downstairs neighbour', the lovely Shabeen/Clementine/Kashe, and made nearly instant friends with her. For a time they became roommates, and that seemed to work out well. They roamed together for periods of time in the day or evening, and then would take themselves back to their 'home base' crate.
Bess no longer has a crate, she free roams with the rest of the cats who live and work here at the rescue centre. ShyAnne has taken a shine to her, and seems to guide her at times, shows her what to do if Bess is uncertain. Shy rubs on Bess, and just loves her; She seems to have taken Bess under her wing! It is especially lovely when we consider that Bess looks a great deal like Shy's mother, the long-missing MamaCat. I think their relationship must be good for both of them.
Bess has a couple of sleeping spots that she loves, will approach for pets, and is learning that she CAN just walk past a human, even in close proximity, without being fearful, or skittering along the floorboards. She becomes more and more calm amid the clamour and sights and sounds of a home. She doesn't panic if the vacuum comes on, even near her sleeping spot. She ventures upstairs occasionally, has a look around, and then returns to the rescue space where she is most comfortable, where she knows that food and water and beds abound. Slowly, Bess is becoming a house cat!
She has taken to sitting in one of the guest chairs. She used to dash off if I took a seat in the chair next to hers. But now she waits for me, sits beside me and lets me pet and stroke her. And if I stop, sometimes she lets me know she wasn't finished with me, yet.
We are very proud of this sweet, formerly sketchy feral cat's progress. She seems more and more content every day. She still isn't very sure about people other than the two of us, but with time and the help of our excellent volunteer Cat Companions, I believe she will open up to other people, too. Baby steps!
April 10 - Sweet Bess is a Dorset feral who had never known humans, had never been indoors, or touched by human hands. She is deeply suspicious and defensive around most people, still. But she is learning to accept, appreciate, and even ask for pets and affection. Socializing adult ferals is a slow process, but it's worth it when you see them begin to trust.
March 28 - Bessie, aka Bess or Mitzy: from a frightened, defensive feral, to curious, to accepting of touch and affection. Bess was trapped right here in Dorset, and was quite perturbed by this! She tried to scratch us as we loaded her into the back of my vehicle, hid when I cleaned and messed about in her habitat, hissed and growled at anyone who tried to come too close.
And then, she got curious. She learned the daily routine of litter box cleaning, feeding and cleaning, and ceased to be upset by it. Little by little, day by day, Bess has been coming down off the ledge of fear and distrust, and has in the past couple of days decided that we can touch her. This has graduated from small strokes to full on scratches and now, belly rubs.
We have been monitoring her for a potential pregnancy, and now it looks like she may be expecting kittens! Obviously we can't have her spayed now until we know for sure, and until she has her babies if she is pregnant. Her round little belly tells me we need to wait a while longer... Meanwhile we will keep working to earn her trust by touching her and spending time with her. It is always so exciting when they finally make the decision to give us silly humans a chance. Cats socialize themselves, by their own choice. We have seen it happen over and over again. One day they just make a shift, and then everything changes, almost overnight. Bess is trying something new and scary, and we are so proud of her.
March 20, 2021 - Trapped in Dorset, Bess is a wild one, fearful of people, still doesn’t want to be touched, though she is very curious. She watches all the other cats crowd in for pets with interest, or possibly disdain.
But day by day, she settles in quietly. She is a fastidiously clean girl, never prone to tossing her crate about. She loves to watch us go about our daily business, and looking out the big window. She never tries to rush out the door, never hisses, and seems strangely content, if highly suspicious.
She likes her comfort, loves good food, and talks to me in the night when I’m in the center for feeding time. I think she’s curious about humans, and wants to trust. She has come within a hairs breadth of rubbing her face on my hand when I’m working with her, but retreats at the last moment. And so I wait for her to tell me when she’s ready. It’s coming. She’s a sweet girl, and I think she’s grateful to be out of the cold and the scary big world. She’s safe and warm and fed. The rest will come with time and love.
Fuzzy
Callie
Alumni
These cats have either moved on to their adoptive families, or gone missing from our original feral colony group. You're welcome to read their stories!
MamaCat
The alpha, the first of our ferals, mother to ShyAnne and Fuzzy, among many others...her story is told here: https://www.thecatsofpaintlake.ca/post/the-beginning
Shadow
This fellow used to come with MamaCat to eat and warm up. They were buddies. One day he just stopped coming. We never found out what happened to him.
Gidget - Adopted June 2022
Gender: Female
Age: Approximately 4-5 years old
Breed / Colour: Black and white, with medium-length hair
Spayed / Neutered: Spayed, fully vaccinated and micro-chipped
Adoption Summary:
As of April 2022 – Gidget is looking for her forever home! A favourite of our volunteers, Gidget will charm you with her quiet ways, her steady gaze, and her downy-soft, silky coat. She is from North Bay, a stray cat who was dropped off at the local shelter. She wasn't feeling her best there, so, in October 2021, she was transferred to us, and our wonderful volunteers have been working with her ever since.
It has taken her a little while to come out of her shell, but as she gained confidence we learned more about her quirky ways, her playful personality, and her love of cozy spaces. She has a habit of poking visitors on the shoulder if they have their backs to her and haven't yet taken a moment to greet her. She is fascinated by all of the comings and goings and activities at the rescue, and likes visitors to greet her with a quick sniff and a pet. Once she has approved them for entry, so goes back about her own business - usually napping or watching the world outside the windows.
Gidget would love a home with a cozy place for her to curl up, preferably by a window where she can watch the birds and squirrels. She gets along well with other cats, and shares her toys, but can be overwhelmed by too much activity, so a quieter household would probably suit her just fine. She would like to have a kitty friend to play and snuggle with. She hasn't been tested with dogs, aside from the sound of barking, which doesn't seem to bother her much.
If you're interested in learning more about Gidget, or want to set up an appointment to meet her in person, please get in touch with us!
Age: Approximately 4-5 years old
Breed / Colour: Black and white, with medium-length hair
Spayed / Neutered: Spayed, fully vaccinated and micro-chipped
Adoption Summary:
As of April 2022 – Gidget is looking for her forever home! A favourite of our volunteers, Gidget will charm you with her quiet ways, her steady gaze, and her downy-soft, silky coat. She is from North Bay, a stray cat who was dropped off at the local shelter. She wasn't feeling her best there, so, in October 2021, she was transferred to us, and our wonderful volunteers have been working with her ever since.
It has taken her a little while to come out of her shell, but as she gained confidence we learned more about her quirky ways, her playful personality, and her love of cozy spaces. She has a habit of poking visitors on the shoulder if they have their backs to her and haven't yet taken a moment to greet her. She is fascinated by all of the comings and goings and activities at the rescue, and likes visitors to greet her with a quick sniff and a pet. Once she has approved them for entry, so goes back about her own business - usually napping or watching the world outside the windows.
Gidget would love a home with a cozy place for her to curl up, preferably by a window where she can watch the birds and squirrels. She gets along well with other cats, and shares her toys, but can be overwhelmed by too much activity, so a quieter household would probably suit her just fine. She would like to have a kitty friend to play and snuggle with. She hasn't been tested with dogs, aside from the sound of barking, which doesn't seem to bother her much.
If you're interested in learning more about Gidget, or want to set up an appointment to meet her in person, please get in touch with us!
Mera, Tux & Oopsie - Adopted June 2022
Gender: Two males, One female
Age: About 10 weeks old, as of early May 2022
Breed / Colour: Tuxedo (males), Tortoiseshell (female)
Spayed / Neutered: The kittens will come vet checked, dewormed, flea treated and with their first vaccinations. Spaying / neutering will be the responsibility of their adopters
Adoption Summary:
As of May 2022 – These three little sweethearts are now available for adoption.
They are the second generation of a group of cats that were dumped out in the bush up north near Powassan. The homeowner tried to care for them as best he could, but when they started showing up with kittens, he took steps to get help. We got the first bunch out pretty easily. There were three females and one male in the group. Two of the ladies were vastly pregnant, and one had just had hers. The four kittens are that first litter, now about 10 weeks old, happy and healthy in their awesome foster home.
The kittens will come vet checked, dewormed, flea treated, and with their first vaccinations.The two tuxedo cats, black and grey, are males, and the two tortiseshells are females
If you are interested in learning more about them, or would like to discuss adopting one or two -
or all three - of these lovely babies, please get in touch with us.
Age: About 10 weeks old, as of early May 2022
Breed / Colour: Tuxedo (males), Tortoiseshell (female)
Spayed / Neutered: The kittens will come vet checked, dewormed, flea treated and with their first vaccinations. Spaying / neutering will be the responsibility of their adopters
Adoption Summary:
As of May 2022 – These three little sweethearts are now available for adoption.
They are the second generation of a group of cats that were dumped out in the bush up north near Powassan. The homeowner tried to care for them as best he could, but when they started showing up with kittens, he took steps to get help. We got the first bunch out pretty easily. There were three females and one male in the group. Two of the ladies were vastly pregnant, and one had just had hers. The four kittens are that first litter, now about 10 weeks old, happy and healthy in their awesome foster home.
The kittens will come vet checked, dewormed, flea treated, and with their first vaccinations.The two tuxedo cats, black and grey, are males, and the two tortiseshells are females
If you are interested in learning more about them, or would like to discuss adopting one or two -
or all three - of these lovely babies, please get in touch with us.
Billy Idol - Adopted June 2022
Billy Idol (aka Billy Boy or just plain Bill) -
Gender: Male
Age: Estimated at 3 – 4 years old as of October 2021
Breed / Colour: Black / brown tabby
Spayed / Neutered: Neutered, vaccinated and micro-chipped
Adoption Summary:
Update May 2022 - BillyIdol may not be available. He is currently in a foster-to-adopt placement.
Update December 2021 - Bill has found a new good friend at the rescue, Dolly; he even frequently hangs out with her in her crate. It's very sweet to see.
October 2021 - Bill is one of the North Bay Boyz. He is shown here hanging with his buddies Marcus and Magnus (Bill is the very handsome one sitting up tall). As of October 2021 he is ready to be adopted. If you are interested in adopting Bill, please contact us.
Bill is a sweet boy, a gentle giant weighing in at just over 7 kg (close to 16 pounds). He likes to spend time with the other cats at the rescue, and comforts them too. He will need cat companionship in his forever home. Bill can be skittish still, and so will also need patience from his humans, as he settles in.
Detailed Log:
September 23, 2021 - Bill came to us via the North Bay Humane Society, one of a large number of colony cats that they took in. He was slow to warm up, and made the most hilarious face in lieu of hissing, lifting one lip and squinting at us. He was instantly dubbed Billy Idol. Bill has recently become one of our free roaming cats, and loves his scratches and snuggles, though he can still tend towards skittishness. He's a sweet big boy, and we are working with him every day to help him get more comfortable with people and other cats. He seems to fit right in with the crew so far!
August 7 - One of our gnarly boys from North Bay another new cat on the block, Billy (Idol). He has the best sneer and hiss that you've ever seen. He's starting to accept brushing from a distance. This little boy needs some loving care and attention and he will be an excellent adoption one day.
Gender: Male
Age: Estimated at 3 – 4 years old as of October 2021
Breed / Colour: Black / brown tabby
Spayed / Neutered: Neutered, vaccinated and micro-chipped
Adoption Summary:
Update May 2022 - BillyIdol may not be available. He is currently in a foster-to-adopt placement.
Update December 2021 - Bill has found a new good friend at the rescue, Dolly; he even frequently hangs out with her in her crate. It's very sweet to see.
October 2021 - Bill is one of the North Bay Boyz. He is shown here hanging with his buddies Marcus and Magnus (Bill is the very handsome one sitting up tall). As of October 2021 he is ready to be adopted. If you are interested in adopting Bill, please contact us.
Bill is a sweet boy, a gentle giant weighing in at just over 7 kg (close to 16 pounds). He likes to spend time with the other cats at the rescue, and comforts them too. He will need cat companionship in his forever home. Bill can be skittish still, and so will also need patience from his humans, as he settles in.
Detailed Log:
September 23, 2021 - Bill came to us via the North Bay Humane Society, one of a large number of colony cats that they took in. He was slow to warm up, and made the most hilarious face in lieu of hissing, lifting one lip and squinting at us. He was instantly dubbed Billy Idol. Bill has recently become one of our free roaming cats, and loves his scratches and snuggles, though he can still tend towards skittishness. He's a sweet big boy, and we are working with him every day to help him get more comfortable with people and other cats. He seems to fit right in with the crew so far!
August 7 - One of our gnarly boys from North Bay another new cat on the block, Billy (Idol). He has the best sneer and hiss that you've ever seen. He's starting to accept brushing from a distance. This little boy needs some loving care and attention and he will be an excellent adoption one day.
Libby - Adopted June 2022
Gender: Female
Age: 3 years old as of October 2021
Breed / Colour: Domestic short-haired tortoiseshell
Spayed / Neutered: Spayed, vaccinated and micro-chipped
Adoption Summary:
Update May 2022 - Libby may not be available. She is currently in a foster-to-adopt placement.
Update Jan 2022 - Libby is currently in a tentative placement.
As of late October 2021, Libby is ready to be considered for adoption. She came to our rescue in early October, through the North Bay and District Humane Society, from a cat hoarding situation. She is used to people, and a good cat; she prettily ‘begs’ for her food, she doesn’t bite or scratch and she can be petted and even picked up if you are slow and gentle about it. She is just a love!
She does have alopecia (hair loss), but it is improving, and was perhaps caused by the stress of the cat hoarding situation she was in. She will be better in a smaller setting, with patient adopters in a quiet house. If you are interested in adopting Libby, please contact us.
Age: 3 years old as of October 2021
Breed / Colour: Domestic short-haired tortoiseshell
Spayed / Neutered: Spayed, vaccinated and micro-chipped
Adoption Summary:
Update May 2022 - Libby may not be available. She is currently in a foster-to-adopt placement.
Update Jan 2022 - Libby is currently in a tentative placement.
As of late October 2021, Libby is ready to be considered for adoption. She came to our rescue in early October, through the North Bay and District Humane Society, from a cat hoarding situation. She is used to people, and a good cat; she prettily ‘begs’ for her food, she doesn’t bite or scratch and she can be petted and even picked up if you are slow and gentle about it. She is just a love!
She does have alopecia (hair loss), but it is improving, and was perhaps caused by the stress of the cat hoarding situation she was in. She will be better in a smaller setting, with patient adopters in a quiet house. If you are interested in adopting Libby, please contact us.
William - Adopted April 2022
Gender: Male
Age: 2 or 3 years old, as of April 2022
Breed / Colour: Black short-haired domestic
Spayed / Neutered: Yes, and he has been vaccinated, microchipped, dewormed and treated for fleas and other ailments
Adoption Summary:
This charming and friendly boy is William, and as of April 2022 he is ready for adoption. He came to us from the streets of Huntsville. He was a mess, was so skinny we could count his ribs, and he was utterly exhausted. He seemed defeated, and we weren't sure he was going to make it. Fast forward to the present day, and William is doing wonderfully well. He is friendly and affectionate, greeting people with a jumping-head-butt, and asking for a scratch or a cuddle. He loves to spend time with the people who visit or volunteer here. He gets along well with the other cats, and takes care of the smaller and younger cats, grooming them and watching out for them, especially his friend Mystery. He is finally ready for the next step in his journey, a home of his own, where he can be pampered and loved as he deserves.
If you are interested in learning more about William, or would like to schedule an appointment to meet him, please get in touch with us. We can be reached on Facebook, or via email at catsofpaintlake@gmail.com. All potential adopters will be asked to fill out our adoption questionnaire, and pay an adoption fee that helps to offset the cost of his veterinary care. The Cats of Paint Lake is a registered Canadian charity.
Detailed Log:
April 23, 2022 - Ready for Adoption! William came to us from the streets of Huntsville, brought in by a kind member of the community who saw his condition deteriorating over time. He was becoming a target for other local stray cats, and he was in trouble.
He was a mess, most of his fur was gone, he was riddled with fleas and ear mites, had lesions on his body from where he had injuries that hadn't healed well. He was so skinny we could count his ribs, and he was utterly exhausted. He seemed defeated, and we weren't sure he was going to make it.
Several months later, with treatment, good food, rest, and the kind care of our amazing volunteers, he was finally bouncing back. Fast forward to the present day, and William is doing wonderfully well. He is friendly and affectionate, greeting people with a jumping-head-butt, and asking for a scratch or a cuddle. He loves to spend time with the people who visit or volunteer here. He gets along well with the other cats, and takes care of the smaller and younger cats, grooming them and watching out for them, especially his friend Mystery. He is a sweet boy, and full of personality. He is healthy and filling out well, and his fur is glossy and thick. He is finally ready for the next step in his journey, a home of his own, where he can be pampered and loved as he deserves.
October 25, 2021 - William. Sweet William. This adorable, affectionate boy came to us through a lovely couple in Huntsville, who had been watching him in their neighbourhood, his physical condition deteriorating rapidly, while other neighbourhood strays targeted him for abuse. They trapped him and brought him here to us for help.
William's condition upon arrival wasn't great. He was super skinny, sickly, dull-eyed, exhausted, with his coat filthy, thin, and covered in fleas. He has healed puncture wounds on his side from a previous injury. He also had an upper respiratory infection. He slept much of the time in his hammock, and for a time we struggled to get him to eat enough. This is no longer an issue! He eats like a horse, every morsel we put in front of him. With time to rest, treatment for his infestation and illnesses, and even a warm sponge bath courtesy of one of our awesome volunteers, he started to recover.
He has also started to come out of his shell, and now not only accepts pets but actively seeks attention and affection. He head butts all of the volunteers here at the rescue in greeting, then gets in everyone's way while they clean his space, rubbing on them and asking for cuddles. He will make a wonderful pet for some lucky adopter.
Age: 2 or 3 years old, as of April 2022
Breed / Colour: Black short-haired domestic
Spayed / Neutered: Yes, and he has been vaccinated, microchipped, dewormed and treated for fleas and other ailments
Adoption Summary:
This charming and friendly boy is William, and as of April 2022 he is ready for adoption. He came to us from the streets of Huntsville. He was a mess, was so skinny we could count his ribs, and he was utterly exhausted. He seemed defeated, and we weren't sure he was going to make it. Fast forward to the present day, and William is doing wonderfully well. He is friendly and affectionate, greeting people with a jumping-head-butt, and asking for a scratch or a cuddle. He loves to spend time with the people who visit or volunteer here. He gets along well with the other cats, and takes care of the smaller and younger cats, grooming them and watching out for them, especially his friend Mystery. He is finally ready for the next step in his journey, a home of his own, where he can be pampered and loved as he deserves.
If you are interested in learning more about William, or would like to schedule an appointment to meet him, please get in touch with us. We can be reached on Facebook, or via email at catsofpaintlake@gmail.com. All potential adopters will be asked to fill out our adoption questionnaire, and pay an adoption fee that helps to offset the cost of his veterinary care. The Cats of Paint Lake is a registered Canadian charity.
Detailed Log:
April 23, 2022 - Ready for Adoption! William came to us from the streets of Huntsville, brought in by a kind member of the community who saw his condition deteriorating over time. He was becoming a target for other local stray cats, and he was in trouble.
He was a mess, most of his fur was gone, he was riddled with fleas and ear mites, had lesions on his body from where he had injuries that hadn't healed well. He was so skinny we could count his ribs, and he was utterly exhausted. He seemed defeated, and we weren't sure he was going to make it.
Several months later, with treatment, good food, rest, and the kind care of our amazing volunteers, he was finally bouncing back. Fast forward to the present day, and William is doing wonderfully well. He is friendly and affectionate, greeting people with a jumping-head-butt, and asking for a scratch or a cuddle. He loves to spend time with the people who visit or volunteer here. He gets along well with the other cats, and takes care of the smaller and younger cats, grooming them and watching out for them, especially his friend Mystery. He is a sweet boy, and full of personality. He is healthy and filling out well, and his fur is glossy and thick. He is finally ready for the next step in his journey, a home of his own, where he can be pampered and loved as he deserves.
October 25, 2021 - William. Sweet William. This adorable, affectionate boy came to us through a lovely couple in Huntsville, who had been watching him in their neighbourhood, his physical condition deteriorating rapidly, while other neighbourhood strays targeted him for abuse. They trapped him and brought him here to us for help.
William's condition upon arrival wasn't great. He was super skinny, sickly, dull-eyed, exhausted, with his coat filthy, thin, and covered in fleas. He has healed puncture wounds on his side from a previous injury. He also had an upper respiratory infection. He slept much of the time in his hammock, and for a time we struggled to get him to eat enough. This is no longer an issue! He eats like a horse, every morsel we put in front of him. With time to rest, treatment for his infestation and illnesses, and even a warm sponge bath courtesy of one of our awesome volunteers, he started to recover.
He has also started to come out of his shell, and now not only accepts pets but actively seeks attention and affection. He head butts all of the volunteers here at the rescue in greeting, then gets in everyone's way while they clean his space, rubbing on them and asking for cuddles. He will make a wonderful pet for some lucky adopter.
Toothless (TL) - Adopted Feb 2022
Gender: Male
Age: TBD
Breed / Colour: Black short-haired domestic
Spayed / Neutered: Neutered, vaccinated and micro-chipped, as of Nov 2021
Summary:
January 2022 – Toothless, or TL for short, was very spicy when he first arrived at the rescue, but has recently decided that he really is a sweet cat and that he likes people a lot. He will let everyone pet him, and he ‘talks’ to them as well. He will be ready for adoption very soon; if you are interested in adopting TL, please contact us.
Toothless was given his name by some children visiting the rescue, who immediately decided he looked like Toothless (who has retractable teeth) from the movie How to Train your Dragon. So Toothless, or TL, he is, despite the fact his teeth don’t retract. TL now roams free all day at the rescue, but does return to his crate at night. He is becoming more social with the other cats as well, now that he is out and about. He does have a wrist problem on one of his forelegs; he can walk and get around just fine, but his gait isn’t perfect. It may be able to be improved, but as yet, that hasn’t been investigated, and it doesn’t appear to bother him.
Age: TBD
Breed / Colour: Black short-haired domestic
Spayed / Neutered: Neutered, vaccinated and micro-chipped, as of Nov 2021
Summary:
January 2022 – Toothless, or TL for short, was very spicy when he first arrived at the rescue, but has recently decided that he really is a sweet cat and that he likes people a lot. He will let everyone pet him, and he ‘talks’ to them as well. He will be ready for adoption very soon; if you are interested in adopting TL, please contact us.
Toothless was given his name by some children visiting the rescue, who immediately decided he looked like Toothless (who has retractable teeth) from the movie How to Train your Dragon. So Toothless, or TL, he is, despite the fact his teeth don’t retract. TL now roams free all day at the rescue, but does return to his crate at night. He is becoming more social with the other cats as well, now that he is out and about. He does have a wrist problem on one of his forelegs; he can walk and get around just fine, but his gait isn’t perfect. It may be able to be improved, but as yet, that hasn’t been investigated, and it doesn’t appear to bother him.
Shabeen - Adopted Jan 2022
Gender: Female
Age: Between one and two years old as of October 2021
Breed / Colour: Blonde tabby
Spayed / Neutered: Spayed, vaccinated and micro-chipped
Adoption Summary:
Update Jan 2022 - Shabeen is currently enjoying visits from a potential adopter; they seemed to 'match' immediately upon seeing each other.
Fall 2021 - Shabeen is a beautiful young female cat, who has evolved over several months from a scared feral to a confident and very friendly domesticated cat. She spent some time in a foster home in the summer, but has been back here at the rescue for a little while. She has perhaps become too attached to this place; while she free roams here, she continued to have her own crate in her own spot in the room, and only very reluctantly gave it up just recently. She was found by a couple, in spring 2021, on Kashagawigamog Lake, and they watched over and fed her, then trapped her and brought her to us.
Potential adopters should visit the rescue and take some time to be with her, and to confirm the right fit, so that Shabeen will be comfortable leaving what has been her only safe and happy home. If you are interested in adopting Shabeen, please contact us.
Detailed Log:
August 7, 2021 – Shabeen - she is a complete Pharaoh who has become quite attached to the sanctuary and Heather; we are looking for the right person for her to fall in love with so she can go to a forever home. She's a complete love, likes to snuggle, likes to be petted, and will come after you for food and bat at your pant leg to get your attention; she is a lovely little princess.
June 1 - Sweet Shabeen. She came to us several months ago... terrified and timid, trying her best to hide from us, occasionally reactive and hard to handle. It took months for her to begin to trust people, and many of us who worked with her to bring her to the point that she is at now, happy and healthy and almost ready for a forever home. To all of our amazing volunteer Cat Companions, thank you for your love and care, and for continuing to work with Shabeen.
April 17, 2021 - Beautiful feral cat learning to trust...When Kashe / Clementine first came to us, she didn't have a name. The kind folks who were watching over her and feeding her managed to trap her and get her to us. I asked them if they had a name for her, and they said they did not. That they knew they couldn't take her in, so didn't want to get attached. I asked them if they'd like to give her one now...and with a marital look, the lady looked at her husband and said "Kashe, for Kashagawigamog Lake, where she was found". Kashe she became. (The people who bring them to us always love them.)
She was reactive and completely freaked out, not unexpectedly. She spent her first two weeks here hiding her face, hiding her body as best she could, behind her litterbox or her bed. We kept trying, kept speaking softly to her, finding ways to ensure that she didn't get startled and set off her adrenal system. We touched her, when she was receptive. And sometimes, to our peril, when she was not. Most of all we tried to help her know that she was cared for, safe, loved. We had helpers, lots of lovely cat-whispering, Cat Companions. She's amazing, such a beautiful girl, and so desirous of love and affection. I can't remember the day, or the time, that this sweet cat decided to open up to touch, but one day she did, and suddenly I could rub her belly, scratch her, even surprise her, and the worst reaction we would get was a hiss. Followed by a request for cuddles. One of our volunteers took a lot of time with sweet Kashe, in the evenings when she was awake and alert and receptive to interaction. They have a great connection. She has her own name for Kashe: "Clementine". When we look at her, we see a lion. She's distinctively feminine, but looks like a male lion, with that incredible blonde mane and piercing green eyes. (dig that eyeliner!?) She's a beauty. We've been calling her Sabine, or "Shabeen" (anyone care to guess which of us called her the latter?). We're taking her in to the vet on Wednesday to have a look, assess her physical condition, and decide if it's time to vaccinate her and plan for her spay. Stay tuned!
Age: Between one and two years old as of October 2021
Breed / Colour: Blonde tabby
Spayed / Neutered: Spayed, vaccinated and micro-chipped
Adoption Summary:
Update Jan 2022 - Shabeen is currently enjoying visits from a potential adopter; they seemed to 'match' immediately upon seeing each other.
Fall 2021 - Shabeen is a beautiful young female cat, who has evolved over several months from a scared feral to a confident and very friendly domesticated cat. She spent some time in a foster home in the summer, but has been back here at the rescue for a little while. She has perhaps become too attached to this place; while she free roams here, she continued to have her own crate in her own spot in the room, and only very reluctantly gave it up just recently. She was found by a couple, in spring 2021, on Kashagawigamog Lake, and they watched over and fed her, then trapped her and brought her to us.
Potential adopters should visit the rescue and take some time to be with her, and to confirm the right fit, so that Shabeen will be comfortable leaving what has been her only safe and happy home. If you are interested in adopting Shabeen, please contact us.
Detailed Log:
August 7, 2021 – Shabeen - she is a complete Pharaoh who has become quite attached to the sanctuary and Heather; we are looking for the right person for her to fall in love with so she can go to a forever home. She's a complete love, likes to snuggle, likes to be petted, and will come after you for food and bat at your pant leg to get your attention; she is a lovely little princess.
June 1 - Sweet Shabeen. She came to us several months ago... terrified and timid, trying her best to hide from us, occasionally reactive and hard to handle. It took months for her to begin to trust people, and many of us who worked with her to bring her to the point that she is at now, happy and healthy and almost ready for a forever home. To all of our amazing volunteer Cat Companions, thank you for your love and care, and for continuing to work with Shabeen.
April 17, 2021 - Beautiful feral cat learning to trust...When Kashe / Clementine first came to us, she didn't have a name. The kind folks who were watching over her and feeding her managed to trap her and get her to us. I asked them if they had a name for her, and they said they did not. That they knew they couldn't take her in, so didn't want to get attached. I asked them if they'd like to give her one now...and with a marital look, the lady looked at her husband and said "Kashe, for Kashagawigamog Lake, where she was found". Kashe she became. (The people who bring them to us always love them.)
She was reactive and completely freaked out, not unexpectedly. She spent her first two weeks here hiding her face, hiding her body as best she could, behind her litterbox or her bed. We kept trying, kept speaking softly to her, finding ways to ensure that she didn't get startled and set off her adrenal system. We touched her, when she was receptive. And sometimes, to our peril, when she was not. Most of all we tried to help her know that she was cared for, safe, loved. We had helpers, lots of lovely cat-whispering, Cat Companions. She's amazing, such a beautiful girl, and so desirous of love and affection. I can't remember the day, or the time, that this sweet cat decided to open up to touch, but one day she did, and suddenly I could rub her belly, scratch her, even surprise her, and the worst reaction we would get was a hiss. Followed by a request for cuddles. One of our volunteers took a lot of time with sweet Kashe, in the evenings when she was awake and alert and receptive to interaction. They have a great connection. She has her own name for Kashe: "Clementine". When we look at her, we see a lion. She's distinctively feminine, but looks like a male lion, with that incredible blonde mane and piercing green eyes. (dig that eyeliner!?) She's a beauty. We've been calling her Sabine, or "Shabeen" (anyone care to guess which of us called her the latter?). We're taking her in to the vet on Wednesday to have a look, assess her physical condition, and decide if it's time to vaccinate her and plan for her spay. Stay tuned!
Cocoa & Espresso - Adopted December 2021
Gender: Female, Male
Age: Estimated to be 10 weeks old as of end of October 2021
Breed / Colour: Black short-haired domestic
Spayed / Neutered: No, Also not vaccinated nor micro-chipped
Adoption Summary:
Espresso and Cocoa will be available soon! These two little sweethearts will soon be ready for adoption, after they receive their vet checks and first vaccinations in November 2021.
Nicknamed "The Squirrels" by the volunteers at the rescue, this active little pair were rescued from behind a home in Huntsville when they were very young. They needed to be bottle fed for their first few weeks in care. (Their mama was trapped some time later, a beautiful petite female who is still quite feral, and can be seen at our rescue.) Since then, they have become busy, active, healthy little kittens, full of fun and adventure, and they love to chase each other around, tumbling over each other in their enthusiasm for life. They did spend some time in foster care, so have learned a little about what a home and family can be. We believe that this brother and sister duo would be best placed together, with people who will enjoy their antics, engage them in playtime, and snuggle up with them when they finally tire of their play. They are affectionate and sweet, and purr in stereo.
If you think your home is right for this dynamic duo bundle of fun, we'd love to hear from you! Please contact us.
Age: Estimated to be 10 weeks old as of end of October 2021
Breed / Colour: Black short-haired domestic
Spayed / Neutered: No, Also not vaccinated nor micro-chipped
Adoption Summary:
Espresso and Cocoa will be available soon! These two little sweethearts will soon be ready for adoption, after they receive their vet checks and first vaccinations in November 2021.
Nicknamed "The Squirrels" by the volunteers at the rescue, this active little pair were rescued from behind a home in Huntsville when they were very young. They needed to be bottle fed for their first few weeks in care. (Their mama was trapped some time later, a beautiful petite female who is still quite feral, and can be seen at our rescue.) Since then, they have become busy, active, healthy little kittens, full of fun and adventure, and they love to chase each other around, tumbling over each other in their enthusiasm for life. They did spend some time in foster care, so have learned a little about what a home and family can be. We believe that this brother and sister duo would be best placed together, with people who will enjoy their antics, engage them in playtime, and snuggle up with them when they finally tire of their play. They are affectionate and sweet, and purr in stereo.
If you think your home is right for this dynamic duo bundle of fun, we'd love to hear from you! Please contact us.
Misty - Adopted December 2021
Gender: Female
Age: Estimated 1 year old
Breed / Colour: Dilute (grey) tortoiseshell
Spayed / Neutered: Yes, as of early November 2021, Misty is spayed, vacc'ed & microchipped
Adoption Summary:
Misty (Shamoan) is a house cat and was surrendered by her people, who were looking to rehome her, in July 2021. She is staying at the rescue and she will be ready for adoption after she is spayed, microchipped and vaccinated. She is a sweet, pretty cat, affectionate, chatty (she tells you when she wants something!) and full of life. She will make an amazing addition to someone’s family. If you are interested in adopting Misty, please contact us.
Detailed Log:
August 7, 2021 - Another one of the new cats on the block, Misty / Shimoan’s owner needed to rehome. She's absolutely gorgeous, loves to be petted, picked up cuddled and kissed. She's also very vocal and tells you when she wants something … lol. She needs to be spayed and get her shots and she will be up for adoption. This little princess is in need of her forever Castle.
July 25 - One of the newest babies here at the shelter, Misty or Shamoan is her name. This beautiful girl just needs to be vetted for vaccines and a spay and then she will be available for adoption.
Age: Estimated 1 year old
Breed / Colour: Dilute (grey) tortoiseshell
Spayed / Neutered: Yes, as of early November 2021, Misty is spayed, vacc'ed & microchipped
Adoption Summary:
Misty (Shamoan) is a house cat and was surrendered by her people, who were looking to rehome her, in July 2021. She is staying at the rescue and she will be ready for adoption after she is spayed, microchipped and vaccinated. She is a sweet, pretty cat, affectionate, chatty (she tells you when she wants something!) and full of life. She will make an amazing addition to someone’s family. If you are interested in adopting Misty, please contact us.
Detailed Log:
August 7, 2021 - Another one of the new cats on the block, Misty / Shimoan’s owner needed to rehome. She's absolutely gorgeous, loves to be petted, picked up cuddled and kissed. She's also very vocal and tells you when she wants something … lol. She needs to be spayed and get her shots and she will be up for adoption. This little princess is in need of her forever Castle.
July 25 - One of the newest babies here at the shelter, Misty or Shamoan is her name. This beautiful girl just needs to be vetted for vaccines and a spay and then she will be available for adoption.
Sally
Gender: Female
Age: 7 years old
Breed / Colour: Tuxedo
Spayed / Neutered: Y, and vaccinated
Adoption Summary:
Update early December, 2021 - Sally has been adopted. Her adoptive mom was looking for a cuddly and quiet companion cat, and Sally was the perfect choice. Here's to their quiet life together!
September - Sally is now ready for adoption, as she just received her last vaccinations in mid-August 2021. She was a house cat, and was surrendered to the rescue recently. She was only at the rescue for a few days and is now in a foster home. She is overweight (her foster parents are working on that!) and is also polydactyl. She is a beautiful, mature cat, and is likely better as the only cat in the home, or with one other calm cat. If you are interested in adopting Sally, please contact us.
Age: 7 years old
Breed / Colour: Tuxedo
Spayed / Neutered: Y, and vaccinated
Adoption Summary:
Update early December, 2021 - Sally has been adopted. Her adoptive mom was looking for a cuddly and quiet companion cat, and Sally was the perfect choice. Here's to their quiet life together!
September - Sally is now ready for adoption, as she just received her last vaccinations in mid-August 2021. She was a house cat, and was surrendered to the rescue recently. She was only at the rescue for a few days and is now in a foster home. She is overweight (her foster parents are working on that!) and is also polydactyl. She is a beautiful, mature cat, and is likely better as the only cat in the home, or with one other calm cat. If you are interested in adopting Sally, please contact us.
Shannon and her 3 kittens
Gender: Female; Kittens: 2 male, 1 female
Age: Shannon approx 1 - 2 years old: Kittens born June 6, 2021
Breed / Colour: Shannon is calico; Kittens are tabbies, grey and white colouring
Spayed / Neutered: Yes, as of early November 2021, Shannon is spayed, vacc'ed & microchipped
Adoption Summary:
Update - As of December 11, 2021, Shannon has been adopted. She recently became friends with a little flame point cat at the rescue, and they are being adopted together. A wonderful finale to Shannon's story.
Update – As of early October 2021, all of Shannon's kittens have been adopted, and it’s now Shannon's turn to find her forever home. She should have completed her spay, vaccinations and microchipping by the end of October and will be ready for adoption then.
Almost ready! - Shannon and her three kittens won’t be ready for adoption until the kittens are weaned, likely sometime in late August. They will then be looking for their permanent homes. We’re still assessing them, to determine when they are ready, if they should go in a pair, or if one may go with the mom … TBD. However, if you are interested in one or more of Shannon and/or the kittens, please contact us.
Shannon is one of the Grandview trio, who were dumped and abandoned, in May, near Grandview Lake. They were obviously house cats, and, at a vet visit a short time later, Shannon was found to be pregnant. On June 26, she had four kittens! Unfortunately, one died a few days later. However, since then, Shannon and her kittens have come along beautifully.
Shannon is a very attentive and loving mama, and she is also seeking out pets from her foster family. She still doesn’t want to be held, but she loves to have her head and neck (and back) scratched as long as you’re able to. She purrs and looks at you lovingly. She is so special. Her babies are currently called: Gandalf the Grey, Ollie, and Marilyn (or perhaps Stormi).
Detailed Log:
July 4, 2021 – Beautiful Shannon and her sweet babies are spending their first days as fosters in our home. We’ve been loving, watching and caring for this little family and seeing their personalities emerge as they have taken over a guest bedroom. Shannon is a very attentive and loving mama, and she is also seeking out pets from us. She still doesn’t want to be held, but she loves to have her head and neck (and back) scratched as long as you’re able to. She purrs and looks at you lovingly. She is so special
Her babies are called: Gandalf the Grey, Ollie and Marilyn (she’s the female and has a beauty mark); my daughter insists on calling her Stormi so we will see which name sticks….
End of June – Shannon and babies are moving to a lovely foster home – more updates will come from her foster family.
Jun 9 - For those of you who are no doubt wondering about Shannon's three remaining babies, they are doing well and finally it seems like they're turning a corner. They were all pretty small and delicate, too thin for my liking, and not very energetic. But over the last day and night they are plumping up, have more energy, and they're eating well without supplementation or bottle feeding. Shannon seems to be managing them fairly well, though we are still removing them from her box between feedings and cleanings by their mama. Soon we may be able to leave them with her full time, but we are still monitoring closely to see how things go. Thank you to everyone for your condolences on the loss of the fourth kitten, for your messages and words of encouragement and support. It means a lot to us!
Jun 8 - Sad news... Last night we lost one of Shannon's kittens. She apparently rolled on top of him and smothered him. This was not the first time we had seen her be apparently a little oblivious to one or another of her babies as she would come to lay down in her birthing box. We started monitoring her with them every five minutes. Half an hour after we found this baby, we found her laying on top of another one. So we had to remove the kittens from her box, and now only bring them in for feedings. Hopefully when they are a little bigger, we will be able to let them be with their mother full time again. Until then, we have to keep them separated, except for feeding times.
We were a little concerned about this litter, or at least a couple of the smaller ones. All of the kittens were a little on the small side, two were especially tiny. This little guy was one of those. In between supervised feedings last night, I supplemented the remaining three with a little KMR kitten formula. They all seemed a little weak. This morning they were better, more active, more 'juicy' and filled out. We continue to remove them after feedings and keep them in a heated box where we can keep them nearby and monitor them.
As heartbreaking as this is to us, as much as we want to second-guess ourselves, we also know that sometimes it's a part of rescue. You can't save all of them, as much as we would like to. Sometimes there isn't much we can do, except move forward and do the best we can for each of the animals in our care.
RIP little one. You were loved, however brief your time here was.
Jun 6 - Kitten Watch: Shannon - FOUR healthy beautiful babies, everyone! Shannon wanted me to pet her and rub her throughout, sweet little girl. Mama and babies are resting and doing fine.
May 14 – A vet visit this week for ear swab, vaccinations, and medications. The Grandview Trio appear to be in relatively good health - All three are being treated for fleas and ear mites. The boys are less than a year old. There is some question as to whether Shannon is their sister, or actually their mother?
The really big news from this visit, however, is that the vet believes that Shannon is expecting kittens! So no vaccinations yet.
May 8 - Three cats are now in our rescue, after being dumped on a dead end road on Grandview Lake near Baysville. One of these cats is female, and a calico – we’ve named her Shannon.
All of these cats are very sweet and cuddly, and were obviously house cats. The female is as sweet as can be, but prefers not to be picked up. She will tolerate it for a time, but it obviously makes her very nervous. She loves to snuggle into her cozy bed and sleep the day away. She seems completely content to just rest and eat, but loves to be stroked and petted.
So far all of these sweet cats are settling in and feeling safe, getting good food and lots of love. They are booked to see our vets next week, so we'll keep everyone posted on how that goes too.
Thank you to everyone who made it possible to rescue these kittens from almost certain death out there in the big scary wild.
Age: Shannon approx 1 - 2 years old: Kittens born June 6, 2021
Breed / Colour: Shannon is calico; Kittens are tabbies, grey and white colouring
Spayed / Neutered: Yes, as of early November 2021, Shannon is spayed, vacc'ed & microchipped
Adoption Summary:
Update - As of December 11, 2021, Shannon has been adopted. She recently became friends with a little flame point cat at the rescue, and they are being adopted together. A wonderful finale to Shannon's story.
Update – As of early October 2021, all of Shannon's kittens have been adopted, and it’s now Shannon's turn to find her forever home. She should have completed her spay, vaccinations and microchipping by the end of October and will be ready for adoption then.
Almost ready! - Shannon and her three kittens won’t be ready for adoption until the kittens are weaned, likely sometime in late August. They will then be looking for their permanent homes. We’re still assessing them, to determine when they are ready, if they should go in a pair, or if one may go with the mom … TBD. However, if you are interested in one or more of Shannon and/or the kittens, please contact us.
Shannon is one of the Grandview trio, who were dumped and abandoned, in May, near Grandview Lake. They were obviously house cats, and, at a vet visit a short time later, Shannon was found to be pregnant. On June 26, she had four kittens! Unfortunately, one died a few days later. However, since then, Shannon and her kittens have come along beautifully.
Shannon is a very attentive and loving mama, and she is also seeking out pets from her foster family. She still doesn’t want to be held, but she loves to have her head and neck (and back) scratched as long as you’re able to. She purrs and looks at you lovingly. She is so special. Her babies are currently called: Gandalf the Grey, Ollie, and Marilyn (or perhaps Stormi).
Detailed Log:
July 4, 2021 – Beautiful Shannon and her sweet babies are spending their first days as fosters in our home. We’ve been loving, watching and caring for this little family and seeing their personalities emerge as they have taken over a guest bedroom. Shannon is a very attentive and loving mama, and she is also seeking out pets from us. She still doesn’t want to be held, but she loves to have her head and neck (and back) scratched as long as you’re able to. She purrs and looks at you lovingly. She is so special
Her babies are called: Gandalf the Grey, Ollie and Marilyn (she’s the female and has a beauty mark); my daughter insists on calling her Stormi so we will see which name sticks….
End of June – Shannon and babies are moving to a lovely foster home – more updates will come from her foster family.
Jun 9 - For those of you who are no doubt wondering about Shannon's three remaining babies, they are doing well and finally it seems like they're turning a corner. They were all pretty small and delicate, too thin for my liking, and not very energetic. But over the last day and night they are plumping up, have more energy, and they're eating well without supplementation or bottle feeding. Shannon seems to be managing them fairly well, though we are still removing them from her box between feedings and cleanings by their mama. Soon we may be able to leave them with her full time, but we are still monitoring closely to see how things go. Thank you to everyone for your condolences on the loss of the fourth kitten, for your messages and words of encouragement and support. It means a lot to us!
Jun 8 - Sad news... Last night we lost one of Shannon's kittens. She apparently rolled on top of him and smothered him. This was not the first time we had seen her be apparently a little oblivious to one or another of her babies as she would come to lay down in her birthing box. We started monitoring her with them every five minutes. Half an hour after we found this baby, we found her laying on top of another one. So we had to remove the kittens from her box, and now only bring them in for feedings. Hopefully when they are a little bigger, we will be able to let them be with their mother full time again. Until then, we have to keep them separated, except for feeding times.
We were a little concerned about this litter, or at least a couple of the smaller ones. All of the kittens were a little on the small side, two were especially tiny. This little guy was one of those. In between supervised feedings last night, I supplemented the remaining three with a little KMR kitten formula. They all seemed a little weak. This morning they were better, more active, more 'juicy' and filled out. We continue to remove them after feedings and keep them in a heated box where we can keep them nearby and monitor them.
As heartbreaking as this is to us, as much as we want to second-guess ourselves, we also know that sometimes it's a part of rescue. You can't save all of them, as much as we would like to. Sometimes there isn't much we can do, except move forward and do the best we can for each of the animals in our care.
RIP little one. You were loved, however brief your time here was.
Jun 6 - Kitten Watch: Shannon - FOUR healthy beautiful babies, everyone! Shannon wanted me to pet her and rub her throughout, sweet little girl. Mama and babies are resting and doing fine.
May 14 – A vet visit this week for ear swab, vaccinations, and medications. The Grandview Trio appear to be in relatively good health - All three are being treated for fleas and ear mites. The boys are less than a year old. There is some question as to whether Shannon is their sister, or actually their mother?
The really big news from this visit, however, is that the vet believes that Shannon is expecting kittens! So no vaccinations yet.
May 8 - Three cats are now in our rescue, after being dumped on a dead end road on Grandview Lake near Baysville. One of these cats is female, and a calico – we’ve named her Shannon.
All of these cats are very sweet and cuddly, and were obviously house cats. The female is as sweet as can be, but prefers not to be picked up. She will tolerate it for a time, but it obviously makes her very nervous. She loves to snuggle into her cozy bed and sleep the day away. She seems completely content to just rest and eat, but loves to be stroked and petted.
So far all of these sweet cats are settling in and feeling safe, getting good food and lots of love. They are booked to see our vets next week, so we'll keep everyone posted on how that goes too.
Thank you to everyone who made it possible to rescue these kittens from almost certain death out there in the big scary wild.
Maximus - adopted October 2021!
Gender: Male
Age: Estimated 2 – 3 years old
Breed / Colour: Short-haired tabby
Spayed / Neutered: Y, and vaccinated. Not micro-chipped
Adoption Summary:
Maximus is nearly ready for adoption, as of August 2021. He is at the rescue, and will go straight to his forever home. He’s a sweet boy, although shy, and likes to be petted and picked up. He needs a laid-back home, and quiet time by himself. If you're interested in talking to us about Max, or maybe coming in to meet him, we'd love to hear from you. He deserves a loving home and people of his own. He seems to have a lot of love to give.
He was one of a colony of cats from the North Bay and District Humane Society; he and five others came to the rescue about the end of May.
Detailed Log:
July 2021 - Max is from a colony in North Bay. He came in with five others from the same colony. At first he was housed with one of his buddies/family members (we may never know the relationships). Max was the first of the group to get interested in humans, to watch us closely, to sniff proffered hands.
One day during morning cleaning, Max decided to step out for a bit. He was so sweet and chill, and allowed himself to be touched and petted. I decided to let him stay out for a bit and see how he did.
He was out of his crate for a couple of weeks, during which time he didn't dart away or hide if I discovered his resting place. But he only ever skulked around the edges of the room. He was obviously uncomfortable in the play and activity of the free roaming crew. I worried he wasn't eating or drinking sufficiently. So I crawled under a stairway alcove, bare-handed, to retrieve him. He graciously permitted himself to be towed forward by his front legs, then around his torso, and then pushed (gently) by his back end into a cat carrier.
From there we transferred him to a large dog crate complete with hidey-hole, hooded litter box, squishy beds, and all the food he could eat or drink. And boy did he eat for the first week! He had obviously not been having his big-boy needs met in 'general population' with the free roam cats.
Now he can be petted and scratched by anyone who cares to reach in to touch him. Never a hiss or a scratch, or even the hint that he might consider such a thing. He's a good boy, a really sweet natured 'gentle giant' type. He has learned to love being brushed, and has even been picked up by a random stranger.
Max is nearly ready for adoption. He will need patient adopters, willing to let him adapt to a new environment. He has been petted and scratched by children and adults, with equally placid responses.
Age: Estimated 2 – 3 years old
Breed / Colour: Short-haired tabby
Spayed / Neutered: Y, and vaccinated. Not micro-chipped
Adoption Summary:
Maximus is nearly ready for adoption, as of August 2021. He is at the rescue, and will go straight to his forever home. He’s a sweet boy, although shy, and likes to be petted and picked up. He needs a laid-back home, and quiet time by himself. If you're interested in talking to us about Max, or maybe coming in to meet him, we'd love to hear from you. He deserves a loving home and people of his own. He seems to have a lot of love to give.
He was one of a colony of cats from the North Bay and District Humane Society; he and five others came to the rescue about the end of May.
Detailed Log:
July 2021 - Max is from a colony in North Bay. He came in with five others from the same colony. At first he was housed with one of his buddies/family members (we may never know the relationships). Max was the first of the group to get interested in humans, to watch us closely, to sniff proffered hands.
One day during morning cleaning, Max decided to step out for a bit. He was so sweet and chill, and allowed himself to be touched and petted. I decided to let him stay out for a bit and see how he did.
He was out of his crate for a couple of weeks, during which time he didn't dart away or hide if I discovered his resting place. But he only ever skulked around the edges of the room. He was obviously uncomfortable in the play and activity of the free roaming crew. I worried he wasn't eating or drinking sufficiently. So I crawled under a stairway alcove, bare-handed, to retrieve him. He graciously permitted himself to be towed forward by his front legs, then around his torso, and then pushed (gently) by his back end into a cat carrier.
From there we transferred him to a large dog crate complete with hidey-hole, hooded litter box, squishy beds, and all the food he could eat or drink. And boy did he eat for the first week! He had obviously not been having his big-boy needs met in 'general population' with the free roam cats.
Now he can be petted and scratched by anyone who cares to reach in to touch him. Never a hiss or a scratch, or even the hint that he might consider such a thing. He's a good boy, a really sweet natured 'gentle giant' type. He has learned to love being brushed, and has even been picked up by a random stranger.
Max is nearly ready for adoption. He will need patient adopters, willing to let him adapt to a new environment. He has been petted and scratched by children and adults, with equally placid responses.
Ruby's kittens
Gender: 4 female, 2 male
Age: Kittens born June 11, 2021
Breed / Colour: The kittens' mom, Ruby, is a light brown / blonde short-haired tabby; Kittens are tabbies with grey / brown colouring
Spayed / Neutered: Not as of Fall 2021
Adoption Summary: Update – As of early October 2021, all of Ruby’s kittens and foster kittens have been adopted.
Update - As of early September, Ruby's two 'foster' kittens (Orchid's two girls) picked their people - they gravitated to them immediately on a visit! - and have been adopted.
Also, note that Samson is no longer available for adoption.
Almost ready! - Ruby and her six kittens won’t be ready for adoption until the kittens are weaned, likely sometime late in August. They will then be looking for their permanent homes. We’re still assessing them, to determine when they are ready, if they should go in a pair, or if one may go with the mom … TBD. However, if you are interested in one or more of Ruby and/or the kittens, please contact us.
Ruby was an outdoor cat, fed by but then abandoned by her owner. She was pregnant and fending for herself, and was brought into the rescue in June. She had her kittens at the rescue, and is now in a wonderful foster home, with her six babies. Ruby is a rock star mom – after having her own four kittens (and unfortunately one additional still-birth), Ruby also took on Orchid’s two kittens, born on the same day, when Orchid rejected them. These six kittens are rascals; they are active and playful, and look to be enjoying themselves immensely exploring their foster home.
All of the kittens have spent some time with children and they were great. All are litter trained, and eating both wet and dry food. They all reach out for affection, to be held and cuddled. Note that none have been dog tested.
Update from their foster mom, mid-August 2021:
Ruby – Because of being outside for the beginning of her life, she's had lots of adjustments during her time in foster. Learning how to use a litter box, learning to trust humans and know she will always be fed and loved. Ruby is affectionate by nature and now seeks affection and petting. She also loves being brushed. She knows nothing about cat toys, although she watches her kittens play. She is very food driven and will certainly tell you when she thinks it's time. Ruby would do best in a quiet home, 1 or 2 adults and absolutely no dogs (she sees them as predators). She could be paired with one of her kittens. (Samson would be a good match). Her adopters would need to be patient with her, give her time to explore her new home and get to know, trust and love her new people.
Gentle Ben – he is the largest of Ruby's kittens, with spectacular markings. As he has grown it looks likely he will have his Mom's long legs. He and his brother, Samson, took 2 or 3 days in their foster home to venture out of the crate. Within a week they were active and engaged with their siblings. Gentle Ben has two very distinct parts to his personality. He can mix it up with the rest, tearing around, playing and wrestling hut then is the first to climb up into your lap for a nap. He is a really sweet boy, full of curiosity and affection. He is very protective of his sister Minnie and I often see them napping together and grooming one another. They are a bonded pair and would do well adopted together.
Samson – he is the other of Ruby's two boys. He is a little smaller and darker in colouring than his brother with a stockier build. He is a busy lad, exploring everywhere and everything. Only difference is he often does it on his own. Samson is energetic and curious, he LOVES all the cat toys, even balled up pieces of paper. Samson took a little longer to seek out affection and in the beginning could always be found napping alone or near Mom. But in the last few weeks he has come to my lap for a nap and to be petted.
Minnie – she is the smallest of Ruby's four kittens but she is the feisty one of the group. Always exploring, looking for new places to climb, playing with the cat toys or looking around corners to see what she might be missing. In many ways she's the leader of the pack. She is affectionate by nature and seeks out your lap for pats and a snooze when she has played herself out. Minnie is very bonded to her brother, Gentle Ben. They look out for each other and when it's down time, those two are often napping together. They would do well being adopted together.
Detailed Log:
July 19 – At her foster home, beautiful Ruby is seeking affection more and more, which we are happy to give her.
July 9 – Ruby is taking necessary breaks from her babies. She just hops over the baby gate and can eat alone, has her own litter area and can relax.
July 8 - Ruby and her babies arrived yesterday afternoon at our foster home, and everyone is settling in nicely. Ruby seems to remember this place which makes my heart happy. (Ruby’s foster mom was the one who realized Ruby had been abandoned, and helped to bring her to the rescue.) Comment from the rescue: Ruby is a rock star, and a super protective mama. I am so grateful for you guys, who will love her up and help her get some space and some breaks from this active brood! And those babies will get to stretch those newly-walking little legs!
June 11 – Ruby has accepted the second of Orchid’s babies and we are so delighted!
June 11 later - Orchid shaboon ended up having her first kitten just a moment ago and she rejected it so we cleaned it up a little bit and gave it to Ruby who lost one of her babies this afternoon to stillborn. She seems to have accepted it and hopefully she will foster this kitten as Orchid is 6 or 7 years old and we think does not want to have anything to do with her litter. We are waiting for a second one. It's been one whirlwind of a day.
June 11 later – Given the size of Miss Ruby's pregnant belly, I was surprised when she had only four... She just also gave birth to a stillborn. Rushing her into the vet right now to make sure there are no others in there, and to make sure she's okay. UPDATE: All is well! The vet examined her and x-rayed her and there are no remaining kittens, no internal bleeding, she's just incredibly tired after her last 24 hours. Her four babies are fine. Everyone just needs time to rest and eat and rest. We will be watching them closely.
As always, we are grateful to Minden Animal Hospital for their excellent care, and for squeezing us in on an emergency basis, on a Friday afternoon. You guys are the best!
June 11, 2021, early in the day - Kitten watch Ruby: It’s happening now, everyone. We’ll keep you posted.
Age: Kittens born June 11, 2021
Breed / Colour: The kittens' mom, Ruby, is a light brown / blonde short-haired tabby; Kittens are tabbies with grey / brown colouring
Spayed / Neutered: Not as of Fall 2021
Adoption Summary: Update – As of early October 2021, all of Ruby’s kittens and foster kittens have been adopted.
Update - As of early September, Ruby's two 'foster' kittens (Orchid's two girls) picked their people - they gravitated to them immediately on a visit! - and have been adopted.
Also, note that Samson is no longer available for adoption.
Almost ready! - Ruby and her six kittens won’t be ready for adoption until the kittens are weaned, likely sometime late in August. They will then be looking for their permanent homes. We’re still assessing them, to determine when they are ready, if they should go in a pair, or if one may go with the mom … TBD. However, if you are interested in one or more of Ruby and/or the kittens, please contact us.
Ruby was an outdoor cat, fed by but then abandoned by her owner. She was pregnant and fending for herself, and was brought into the rescue in June. She had her kittens at the rescue, and is now in a wonderful foster home, with her six babies. Ruby is a rock star mom – after having her own four kittens (and unfortunately one additional still-birth), Ruby also took on Orchid’s two kittens, born on the same day, when Orchid rejected them. These six kittens are rascals; they are active and playful, and look to be enjoying themselves immensely exploring their foster home.
All of the kittens have spent some time with children and they were great. All are litter trained, and eating both wet and dry food. They all reach out for affection, to be held and cuddled. Note that none have been dog tested.
Update from their foster mom, mid-August 2021:
Ruby – Because of being outside for the beginning of her life, she's had lots of adjustments during her time in foster. Learning how to use a litter box, learning to trust humans and know she will always be fed and loved. Ruby is affectionate by nature and now seeks affection and petting. She also loves being brushed. She knows nothing about cat toys, although she watches her kittens play. She is very food driven and will certainly tell you when she thinks it's time. Ruby would do best in a quiet home, 1 or 2 adults and absolutely no dogs (she sees them as predators). She could be paired with one of her kittens. (Samson would be a good match). Her adopters would need to be patient with her, give her time to explore her new home and get to know, trust and love her new people.
Gentle Ben – he is the largest of Ruby's kittens, with spectacular markings. As he has grown it looks likely he will have his Mom's long legs. He and his brother, Samson, took 2 or 3 days in their foster home to venture out of the crate. Within a week they were active and engaged with their siblings. Gentle Ben has two very distinct parts to his personality. He can mix it up with the rest, tearing around, playing and wrestling hut then is the first to climb up into your lap for a nap. He is a really sweet boy, full of curiosity and affection. He is very protective of his sister Minnie and I often see them napping together and grooming one another. They are a bonded pair and would do well adopted together.
Samson – he is the other of Ruby's two boys. He is a little smaller and darker in colouring than his brother with a stockier build. He is a busy lad, exploring everywhere and everything. Only difference is he often does it on his own. Samson is energetic and curious, he LOVES all the cat toys, even balled up pieces of paper. Samson took a little longer to seek out affection and in the beginning could always be found napping alone or near Mom. But in the last few weeks he has come to my lap for a nap and to be petted.
Minnie – she is the smallest of Ruby's four kittens but she is the feisty one of the group. Always exploring, looking for new places to climb, playing with the cat toys or looking around corners to see what she might be missing. In many ways she's the leader of the pack. She is affectionate by nature and seeks out your lap for pats and a snooze when she has played herself out. Minnie is very bonded to her brother, Gentle Ben. They look out for each other and when it's down time, those two are often napping together. They would do well being adopted together.
Detailed Log:
July 19 – At her foster home, beautiful Ruby is seeking affection more and more, which we are happy to give her.
July 9 – Ruby is taking necessary breaks from her babies. She just hops over the baby gate and can eat alone, has her own litter area and can relax.
July 8 - Ruby and her babies arrived yesterday afternoon at our foster home, and everyone is settling in nicely. Ruby seems to remember this place which makes my heart happy. (Ruby’s foster mom was the one who realized Ruby had been abandoned, and helped to bring her to the rescue.) Comment from the rescue: Ruby is a rock star, and a super protective mama. I am so grateful for you guys, who will love her up and help her get some space and some breaks from this active brood! And those babies will get to stretch those newly-walking little legs!
June 11 – Ruby has accepted the second of Orchid’s babies and we are so delighted!
June 11 later - Orchid shaboon ended up having her first kitten just a moment ago and she rejected it so we cleaned it up a little bit and gave it to Ruby who lost one of her babies this afternoon to stillborn. She seems to have accepted it and hopefully she will foster this kitten as Orchid is 6 or 7 years old and we think does not want to have anything to do with her litter. We are waiting for a second one. It's been one whirlwind of a day.
June 11 later – Given the size of Miss Ruby's pregnant belly, I was surprised when she had only four... She just also gave birth to a stillborn. Rushing her into the vet right now to make sure there are no others in there, and to make sure she's okay. UPDATE: All is well! The vet examined her and x-rayed her and there are no remaining kittens, no internal bleeding, she's just incredibly tired after her last 24 hours. Her four babies are fine. Everyone just needs time to rest and eat and rest. We will be watching them closely.
As always, we are grateful to Minden Animal Hospital for their excellent care, and for squeezing us in on an emergency basis, on a Friday afternoon. You guys are the best!
June 11, 2021, early in the day - Kitten watch Ruby: It’s happening now, everyone. We’ll keep you posted.
Lazarus
Rest in Peace, sweet boy
Gender: Male
Age: Estimated 10 – 12 years old, but could be much younger or older
Breed / Colour: Flame point Siamese
Spayed / Neutered: Not as of August 2021
Summary as of mid-September 2021:
Lazarus arrived at the rescue at the beginning of August 2021. He was in very poor condition, but had a will to live and was slowly recovering. Despite his condition, he was a friendly cat, and talked to us and asked for gentle pets and scratches.
Sadly, we lost this sweet boy earlier this week, due to what appeared to be a stroke. RIP to lovely Lazarus.
He was quite an elderly fellow, who came to us in terrible condition; Dirty, matted, frightened, painfully thin, near to starvation, with sunken and infected eyes, and wasted muscles especially in his back legs. The vet exam and blood work showed him to have a hyperactive thyroid, anemia, with high white blood cell counts. He was in rough shape. However, over time and with patient care, he gained a bit of strength, and enjoyed exploring, finding new napping places, having regular brushings and lots of snuggles. He also made friends with a kitten who insisted on following him everywhere. A few evenings ago, we watched him as he lounged on a little rug; he had a strange moment of "twitch" and tremble and his breathing became laboured. He made it through the night, but had an odd hitch in his gait the next morning. And shortly after, he quietly passed away.
I was really hoping to give this fellow a good year of life, to feel good, healthy, safe, and loved. He only got six weeks. I console myself with the knowledge that the quick actions of his rescuer saved him from ending his life in fear and hopelessness, hungry and cold and wet. At least while he was here, he received care, and love, with a warm and comfy place to sleep, ample good food, and lots of attention from the people who cared for him. He was a favourite among our volunteers. Such a sweet and affectionate boy. We will miss you, Laszlo! I will remember you always.
Detailed Log:
September 17, 2021 - RIP to lovely Lazarus. We lost this sweet boy earlier this week, due to what appeared to be a stroke. He was quite an elderly fellow, who came to us in terrible condition; Dirty, matted, frightened, painfully thin, near to starvation, with sunken and infected eyes, and wasted muscles especially in his back legs. The vet exam and blood work showed him to have a hyperactive thyroid, anemia, with high white blood cell counts. He was in rough shape.
While he was here we tried him on thyroid medication, which was challenging since he was extremely difficult to get pills into! And if we did actually get one in, we would frequently find he had 'cheeked' it, and spit it out when we weren't looking! After trying the medication for a couple of weeks, we realized that for him it had the unwanted side effect of drastically reducing his appetite! So we took him off of that medication again and fed him the best quality diet we could get him to eat. He gained a little weight, but not much. He gained muscle tone, however, when we let him out in the main loft to walk around as much as possible. At first he couldn't get his legs to stay upright on the slippery floor, but over time he gained a bit of strength, and enjoyed exploring, finding new napping places, having regular brushings and lots of snuggles. He also made friends with a kitten who insisted on following him everywhere.
A few evenings ago, we watched him as he lounged on a little rug; he had a strange moment of "twitch" and tremble. His breathing became laboured. We encouraged him to move back to his bed, where I sat with him and petted him until his breathing settled back to normal, and he fell asleep. I wondered if he would still be with us come the dawn. It was late, and the nearest emergency clinic is two hours away from us. We believed it would be more stressful to bring him to a vet than to leave him be. So we left him to sleep. By morning he was still with us, but had a very odd hitch in his gait, which led us to believe that what we had witnessed had indeed been a stroke. I contacted the vet to give them an update and ask for their advice. They wanted to see him, so I scheduled an appointment. But five minutes later I had to phone them back to cancel that appointment. He had already passed away, apparently with little fanfare.
I was really hoping to give this fellow a good year of life, to feel good, healthy, safe, and loved. He only got six weeks. I console myself with the knowledge that the quick actions of his rescuer saved him from ending his life in fear and hopelessness, hungry and cold and wet. At least while he was here, he received care, and love, with a warm and comfy place to sleep, ample good food, and lots of attention from the people who cared for him. He was a favourite among our volunteers. Such a sweet and affectionate boy. We will miss you, Laszlo! I will remember you always.
August 7 - We hesitated to post about this beautiful wreck of a cat when we first received him. We all thought at the time that this was a female. Pretty, delicate, and desperately thin and malnourished. Gums so swollen he could hardly close his mouth, and the putrid breath when he hissed at us! Eyes caked with goop, and sunken so far into his head we thought it was a good possibility that we were too late. Our vet fit him in at the earliest possible time, shifting one of our other appointments to accommodate him. (Thank you to the Queen of Creative Scheduling, Emily.)
When I phoned in the appointment I didn't even have a name in mind yet. Rather than let a generic label suffice for this sweet creature, I dubbed "her" Hope.
Three days of quarantine, treatment for fleas and mites, carefully controlled diet, along with gentle bathing of blackened ears and filthy fur, and some tlc... by the third day he was starting to self groom, and all systems seemed to be functional. When I came to feed him, he meowed at me! He was actually pulling back from the brink, choosing to live.
It was pretty amazing to watch him turn around. By now I had groomed him enough to finally have gotten a good look and established his gender. Un-neutered male. No microchip.
This guy has a huge will to live. We have no idea how old he is. From some physical examination, his age could be 10-12, possibly a lot younger or a lot older. His physical condition is emaciated, fur matted and filthy, tail that was full of burrs, removed at the vet's. He has thyroid issues, kidney issues, and muscle loss. His teeth and gums aren't great so we've been feeding him exclusively wet food, or a little dry food soaked in warm water.
We don't know anything about his history beyond a week ago. But he doesn't seem to fear humans. Either he has known them before, or he was at the point of being beyond caring or fear. We believe it is the former. So many questions about why this lovely fellow was out there. But at this point all we really care about is that he's here now, warm and safe and fed, lounging in our comfiest, squishiest cat bed, and sleeping bonelessly. He talks to us, and asks for gentle pets and scratches. He eats, he sleeps, he drinks, he uses his litter-box, and then he goes back to sleep. One day at a time.
Thank you to Lori W for dedicating days to catching this lovely cat before the worst could happen. You saved his life.
Gender: Male
Age: Estimated 10 – 12 years old, but could be much younger or older
Breed / Colour: Flame point Siamese
Spayed / Neutered: Not as of August 2021
Summary as of mid-September 2021:
Lazarus arrived at the rescue at the beginning of August 2021. He was in very poor condition, but had a will to live and was slowly recovering. Despite his condition, he was a friendly cat, and talked to us and asked for gentle pets and scratches.
Sadly, we lost this sweet boy earlier this week, due to what appeared to be a stroke. RIP to lovely Lazarus.
He was quite an elderly fellow, who came to us in terrible condition; Dirty, matted, frightened, painfully thin, near to starvation, with sunken and infected eyes, and wasted muscles especially in his back legs. The vet exam and blood work showed him to have a hyperactive thyroid, anemia, with high white blood cell counts. He was in rough shape. However, over time and with patient care, he gained a bit of strength, and enjoyed exploring, finding new napping places, having regular brushings and lots of snuggles. He also made friends with a kitten who insisted on following him everywhere. A few evenings ago, we watched him as he lounged on a little rug; he had a strange moment of "twitch" and tremble and his breathing became laboured. He made it through the night, but had an odd hitch in his gait the next morning. And shortly after, he quietly passed away.
I was really hoping to give this fellow a good year of life, to feel good, healthy, safe, and loved. He only got six weeks. I console myself with the knowledge that the quick actions of his rescuer saved him from ending his life in fear and hopelessness, hungry and cold and wet. At least while he was here, he received care, and love, with a warm and comfy place to sleep, ample good food, and lots of attention from the people who cared for him. He was a favourite among our volunteers. Such a sweet and affectionate boy. We will miss you, Laszlo! I will remember you always.
Detailed Log:
September 17, 2021 - RIP to lovely Lazarus. We lost this sweet boy earlier this week, due to what appeared to be a stroke. He was quite an elderly fellow, who came to us in terrible condition; Dirty, matted, frightened, painfully thin, near to starvation, with sunken and infected eyes, and wasted muscles especially in his back legs. The vet exam and blood work showed him to have a hyperactive thyroid, anemia, with high white blood cell counts. He was in rough shape.
While he was here we tried him on thyroid medication, which was challenging since he was extremely difficult to get pills into! And if we did actually get one in, we would frequently find he had 'cheeked' it, and spit it out when we weren't looking! After trying the medication for a couple of weeks, we realized that for him it had the unwanted side effect of drastically reducing his appetite! So we took him off of that medication again and fed him the best quality diet we could get him to eat. He gained a little weight, but not much. He gained muscle tone, however, when we let him out in the main loft to walk around as much as possible. At first he couldn't get his legs to stay upright on the slippery floor, but over time he gained a bit of strength, and enjoyed exploring, finding new napping places, having regular brushings and lots of snuggles. He also made friends with a kitten who insisted on following him everywhere.
A few evenings ago, we watched him as he lounged on a little rug; he had a strange moment of "twitch" and tremble. His breathing became laboured. We encouraged him to move back to his bed, where I sat with him and petted him until his breathing settled back to normal, and he fell asleep. I wondered if he would still be with us come the dawn. It was late, and the nearest emergency clinic is two hours away from us. We believed it would be more stressful to bring him to a vet than to leave him be. So we left him to sleep. By morning he was still with us, but had a very odd hitch in his gait, which led us to believe that what we had witnessed had indeed been a stroke. I contacted the vet to give them an update and ask for their advice. They wanted to see him, so I scheduled an appointment. But five minutes later I had to phone them back to cancel that appointment. He had already passed away, apparently with little fanfare.
I was really hoping to give this fellow a good year of life, to feel good, healthy, safe, and loved. He only got six weeks. I console myself with the knowledge that the quick actions of his rescuer saved him from ending his life in fear and hopelessness, hungry and cold and wet. At least while he was here, he received care, and love, with a warm and comfy place to sleep, ample good food, and lots of attention from the people who cared for him. He was a favourite among our volunteers. Such a sweet and affectionate boy. We will miss you, Laszlo! I will remember you always.
August 7 - We hesitated to post about this beautiful wreck of a cat when we first received him. We all thought at the time that this was a female. Pretty, delicate, and desperately thin and malnourished. Gums so swollen he could hardly close his mouth, and the putrid breath when he hissed at us! Eyes caked with goop, and sunken so far into his head we thought it was a good possibility that we were too late. Our vet fit him in at the earliest possible time, shifting one of our other appointments to accommodate him. (Thank you to the Queen of Creative Scheduling, Emily.)
When I phoned in the appointment I didn't even have a name in mind yet. Rather than let a generic label suffice for this sweet creature, I dubbed "her" Hope.
Three days of quarantine, treatment for fleas and mites, carefully controlled diet, along with gentle bathing of blackened ears and filthy fur, and some tlc... by the third day he was starting to self groom, and all systems seemed to be functional. When I came to feed him, he meowed at me! He was actually pulling back from the brink, choosing to live.
It was pretty amazing to watch him turn around. By now I had groomed him enough to finally have gotten a good look and established his gender. Un-neutered male. No microchip.
This guy has a huge will to live. We have no idea how old he is. From some physical examination, his age could be 10-12, possibly a lot younger or a lot older. His physical condition is emaciated, fur matted and filthy, tail that was full of burrs, removed at the vet's. He has thyroid issues, kidney issues, and muscle loss. His teeth and gums aren't great so we've been feeding him exclusively wet food, or a little dry food soaked in warm water.
We don't know anything about his history beyond a week ago. But he doesn't seem to fear humans. Either he has known them before, or he was at the point of being beyond caring or fear. We believe it is the former. So many questions about why this lovely fellow was out there. But at this point all we really care about is that he's here now, warm and safe and fed, lounging in our comfiest, squishiest cat bed, and sleeping bonelessly. He talks to us, and asks for gentle pets and scratches. He eats, he sleeps, he drinks, he uses his litter-box, and then he goes back to sleep. One day at a time.
Thank you to Lori W for dedicating days to catching this lovely cat before the worst could happen. You saved his life.
Luna and her kittens
Gender: Luna female; Kittens 3 female, 1 male
Age: Luna estimated to be 1 year old; Kittens born May 26, 2021
Breed / Colour: Tuxedo with tabby colouring
Spayed / Neutered: Prior to adoption, the kittens will be weaned, vaccinated and vet checked. It will be the responsibility of the adopters to spay/neuter and microchip kittens when they are 5-6 months old.
Adoption Summary:
Update September 2021 - Luna and her kittens have all found their forever homes and are settling in.
July 2021 - Almost ready! - Luna and her kittens won’t be ready for adoption until the kittens are weaned near the end of July or middle of August.
Luna has already been spoken for (her new name is Miss Puss Puss), but her kittens will be looking for their permanent homes. We’re still assessing them, to determine when they are ready, if they should go in pairs, or if one may go with the mom, or if a single kitten may be adoptable into a home that already has a cat as a companion… TBD. However, if you are interested in one or more of these kittens, please contact us.
Luna is petite, with a delicate physique, very tiny and slender. She has beautiful markings, and a glossy mid-length coat. Her kittens take after her. We suspect the father was a long-haired tabby who roams the area (and nobody has been able to catch, yet!)
Luna was trapped here in Dorset, neighbours said she had been dumped on their road some months prior. She arrived skinny, bedraggled, and sick. She vomited plastic wrappers within the first day she was with us, having ingested packaging along with its contents, we can only assume from someone's trash. A rush to the vet revealed that little Luna was pregnant with four kittens.
Luna is an exceptionally attentive mother, and spends most of her time caring for her kittens, born on day of the lunar eclipse, May 26th.
Detailed Log:
Jun 6 – Luna’s babies are healthy and growing, and now have their eyes open.
May 26 – Luna’s four star-babies have arrived, on the day of the eclipse. All is good!
May 13 - Sweet little Luna. Trapped right here in Dorset, after we received a report of a cat in town that was dumped. She is so very tiny that at first we thought she was just a kitten. She was having trouble keeping food down, and threw up a plastic wrapper from some food that she had scrounged while she was out there on her own. She had a very distended abdomen that made us wonder what was going on with her.
We took her in to our fabulous vets, Minden Animal Hospital, who squeezed her into a very busy day on an emergency basis. They ran tests that were inconclusive, and finally took x-rays of that belly. "Spines!!", the vet techs reportedly exclaimed. Yes. Our sweet, teensy-tiny little Luna is pregnant. Very pregnant, as it turns out. We are told that there are at least four large kittens in there, one of whom is pressing right on her stomach, which could go a long way to explaining why she was vomiting so much, poor thing. She was also dehydrated from all of her stomach upsets, and needed subcutaneous fluids, and a prescription to help line her stomach to help her digest food easier. She is on special recovery food now to help her get in all the calories she needs. She is ravenous!! Those babies are taking every resource she has.
So now she is back here at the rescue centre, in a newly-converted nursery crate, with a birthing box all ready to go. And now...we wait. Given the size of that belly, it shouldn't be long now. We will be watching her closely, and have her on video surveillance, to alert us when it begins. We are a little concerned about the size of her, vs. the size of those kittens. Hopefully she will have little trouble with the birth, but we stand ready to help her if necessary, or get her emergency care if needed.
Age: Luna estimated to be 1 year old; Kittens born May 26, 2021
Breed / Colour: Tuxedo with tabby colouring
Spayed / Neutered: Prior to adoption, the kittens will be weaned, vaccinated and vet checked. It will be the responsibility of the adopters to spay/neuter and microchip kittens when they are 5-6 months old.
Adoption Summary:
Update September 2021 - Luna and her kittens have all found their forever homes and are settling in.
July 2021 - Almost ready! - Luna and her kittens won’t be ready for adoption until the kittens are weaned near the end of July or middle of August.
Luna has already been spoken for (her new name is Miss Puss Puss), but her kittens will be looking for their permanent homes. We’re still assessing them, to determine when they are ready, if they should go in pairs, or if one may go with the mom, or if a single kitten may be adoptable into a home that already has a cat as a companion… TBD. However, if you are interested in one or more of these kittens, please contact us.
Luna is petite, with a delicate physique, very tiny and slender. She has beautiful markings, and a glossy mid-length coat. Her kittens take after her. We suspect the father was a long-haired tabby who roams the area (and nobody has been able to catch, yet!)
Luna was trapped here in Dorset, neighbours said she had been dumped on their road some months prior. She arrived skinny, bedraggled, and sick. She vomited plastic wrappers within the first day she was with us, having ingested packaging along with its contents, we can only assume from someone's trash. A rush to the vet revealed that little Luna was pregnant with four kittens.
Luna is an exceptionally attentive mother, and spends most of her time caring for her kittens, born on day of the lunar eclipse, May 26th.
Detailed Log:
Jun 6 – Luna’s babies are healthy and growing, and now have their eyes open.
May 26 – Luna’s four star-babies have arrived, on the day of the eclipse. All is good!
May 13 - Sweet little Luna. Trapped right here in Dorset, after we received a report of a cat in town that was dumped. She is so very tiny that at first we thought she was just a kitten. She was having trouble keeping food down, and threw up a plastic wrapper from some food that she had scrounged while she was out there on her own. She had a very distended abdomen that made us wonder what was going on with her.
We took her in to our fabulous vets, Minden Animal Hospital, who squeezed her into a very busy day on an emergency basis. They ran tests that were inconclusive, and finally took x-rays of that belly. "Spines!!", the vet techs reportedly exclaimed. Yes. Our sweet, teensy-tiny little Luna is pregnant. Very pregnant, as it turns out. We are told that there are at least four large kittens in there, one of whom is pressing right on her stomach, which could go a long way to explaining why she was vomiting so much, poor thing. She was also dehydrated from all of her stomach upsets, and needed subcutaneous fluids, and a prescription to help line her stomach to help her digest food easier. She is on special recovery food now to help her get in all the calories she needs. She is ravenous!! Those babies are taking every resource she has.
So now she is back here at the rescue centre, in a newly-converted nursery crate, with a birthing box all ready to go. And now...we wait. Given the size of that belly, it shouldn't be long now. We will be watching her closely, and have her on video surveillance, to alert us when it begins. We are a little concerned about the size of her, vs. the size of those kittens. Hopefully she will have little trouble with the birth, but we stand ready to help her if necessary, or get her emergency care if needed.
Ginger, Fred and Deanie - Adopted as of August 2021
Gender: Female, male, female
Age: Estimate 12 weeks old by end August 2021
Breed / Colour: Ginger is calico; Fred tuxedo and Deanie tortoiseshell
Spayed / Neutered: Not as of August. They will be vaccinated and vet checked. It will be the responsibility of the adopters to spay/neuter and microchip kittens when they are 5-6 months old.
Adoption Summary:
Update: As of end of August 2021, these three have all been adopted into their forever homes!
Almost ready! – These three cuties will be ready for adoption late August or early September 2021. They are currently in a short-term foster home, and we’re still assessing them, to determine exactly when they will be ready, and if they should be adopted separately or in some combination together. However, if you are interested in one or more of these young ones, please contact us.
These three are very sweet; they were found lurking behind a porch with their mother, and trapped by the homeowner near Haliburton. Their mom, Bernice, is estimated to be under a year old, and is still very feral (not ready yet for adoption).
Detailed Log:
August 6, 2021 - This funny trio of siblings headed out last night on a short-term foster placement. It's the last step on their journey from Feral to Friendly. I think of it as "Kitten Finishing School", a time where feral kittens get to interact with humans and other animals, in a home setting, where they will learn how to be good house cats. And of course, a place to stretch out and play and use their abundant energy. A lovely extended family will love them up and handle them as much as possible, play with them and teach them the rules of the house.
July 28 – Fred - He's a total sweetheart. Changed from a hissy, stinky little feral to a sweet little mush kitten. Still a little stinky sometimes. But he's learning!
Early July - These three kittens were found lurking behind a Haliburton homeowner's porch, with their mother, Bernice. Fred and Ginger were trapped first, and the last kitten and mama trapped a week later. A fourth kitten was adopted out by the homeowner, prior to getting in touch with us. They were scared, dirty, and very very hungry when they came into the rescue. They hissed and scratched at everyone at first, but with the help of our volunteers, have been coming around to social contact with humans very well. They have received baths (several of them!), deworming treatments, probiotics, and the best quality foods. They are getting healthier and easier to handle, and will soon be ready for adoption. Fred and Ginger are quite attached to each other, while Deanie is more standoffish. All are incredibly beautiful, soft and sweet.
Age: Estimate 12 weeks old by end August 2021
Breed / Colour: Ginger is calico; Fred tuxedo and Deanie tortoiseshell
Spayed / Neutered: Not as of August. They will be vaccinated and vet checked. It will be the responsibility of the adopters to spay/neuter and microchip kittens when they are 5-6 months old.
Adoption Summary:
Update: As of end of August 2021, these three have all been adopted into their forever homes!
Almost ready! – These three cuties will be ready for adoption late August or early September 2021. They are currently in a short-term foster home, and we’re still assessing them, to determine exactly when they will be ready, and if they should be adopted separately or in some combination together. However, if you are interested in one or more of these young ones, please contact us.
These three are very sweet; they were found lurking behind a porch with their mother, and trapped by the homeowner near Haliburton. Their mom, Bernice, is estimated to be under a year old, and is still very feral (not ready yet for adoption).
Detailed Log:
August 6, 2021 - This funny trio of siblings headed out last night on a short-term foster placement. It's the last step on their journey from Feral to Friendly. I think of it as "Kitten Finishing School", a time where feral kittens get to interact with humans and other animals, in a home setting, where they will learn how to be good house cats. And of course, a place to stretch out and play and use their abundant energy. A lovely extended family will love them up and handle them as much as possible, play with them and teach them the rules of the house.
July 28 – Fred - He's a total sweetheart. Changed from a hissy, stinky little feral to a sweet little mush kitten. Still a little stinky sometimes. But he's learning!
Early July - These three kittens were found lurking behind a Haliburton homeowner's porch, with their mother, Bernice. Fred and Ginger were trapped first, and the last kitten and mama trapped a week later. A fourth kitten was adopted out by the homeowner, prior to getting in touch with us. They were scared, dirty, and very very hungry when they came into the rescue. They hissed and scratched at everyone at first, but with the help of our volunteers, have been coming around to social contact with humans very well. They have received baths (several of them!), deworming treatments, probiotics, and the best quality foods. They are getting healthier and easier to handle, and will soon be ready for adoption. Fred and Ginger are quite attached to each other, while Deanie is more standoffish. All are incredibly beautiful, soft and sweet.
Camino - Adopted as of July 2021
Gender: Male
Age: Less than 2 years old
Breed / Colour: Shorthaired tabby, reddish-brown
Spayed / Neutered: Y
Adoption Summary:
Update: Camino was adopted as of July 2021!
Camino is now ready to go to his new home. He will need patient adopters, who will give him some time to settle in and get comfortable in his new environment. But he will make a great addition to someone's family. Adoption fee will apply, to help offset the cost of veterinary bills. If you are interested in discussing adopting Camino, please contact us. If you have already submitted a questionnaire and would like to consider adopting Camino specifically, let us know.
Camino was originally found east of Haliburton. He was feral, and roaming a densely wooded area. A nearby family began feeding him, then trapped him and brought him to us.
He is a beautiful boy, a reddish toned brown tabby, sleek and graceful, well-muscled, and in wonderfully healthy condition.
He is gentle, sweet natured, easygoing, very inquisitive, and loves pets and cuddles. A little uncertain in a crowd, and doesn't like a lot of commotion. A bit reserved at first, but very friendly. Doesn't get into conflicts with other cats. Eats very well! Clean and uses his litter box with no issues. Loves his cozy bed.
He has been neutered, and is fully vaccinated and microchipped.
Detailed Log:
June 28, 2021 - Despite his wild start in life, he is a sweet and gentle boy. He is placid and quiet, likes his naps and loves his food! He gets along well with other cats, though he can be a little shy. He loves pets and cuddles, though he is still deciding if he likes to be picked up. He is a beautiful boy, with a long, lean, muscular physique, and amazing colours, tabby brown with reddish highlights. Photos really don't do this guy justice.
May 2021 - Introducing Camino. Camino is a feral cat who was being fed by a family in the Haliburton area. They say they had been seeing him around for at least a year. They finally decided to take steps and get him to a rescue to be cared for and neutered. Not an easy choice, since they all had fallen in love with him! And who could blame them? Not only is Camino a beautiful boy, he is also a gentle spirit with kind eyes, already affectionate and sweet and welcomes touch and cuddles.
He has settled in well here, and we think that it is time to let him come out to free roam with the other cats. We begin that process in small supervised periods, and if there are no issues with getting along with the others, hiding, or litter box use, he will get to stay out longer and longer until he is also free roaming. He goes to get his first vet check and vaccinations in another week and a half, and a couple weeks after that, for his boosters, neuter, and microchip. Such a lovely boy!
Age: Less than 2 years old
Breed / Colour: Shorthaired tabby, reddish-brown
Spayed / Neutered: Y
Adoption Summary:
Update: Camino was adopted as of July 2021!
Camino is now ready to go to his new home. He will need patient adopters, who will give him some time to settle in and get comfortable in his new environment. But he will make a great addition to someone's family. Adoption fee will apply, to help offset the cost of veterinary bills. If you are interested in discussing adopting Camino, please contact us. If you have already submitted a questionnaire and would like to consider adopting Camino specifically, let us know.
Camino was originally found east of Haliburton. He was feral, and roaming a densely wooded area. A nearby family began feeding him, then trapped him and brought him to us.
He is a beautiful boy, a reddish toned brown tabby, sleek and graceful, well-muscled, and in wonderfully healthy condition.
He is gentle, sweet natured, easygoing, very inquisitive, and loves pets and cuddles. A little uncertain in a crowd, and doesn't like a lot of commotion. A bit reserved at first, but very friendly. Doesn't get into conflicts with other cats. Eats very well! Clean and uses his litter box with no issues. Loves his cozy bed.
He has been neutered, and is fully vaccinated and microchipped.
Detailed Log:
June 28, 2021 - Despite his wild start in life, he is a sweet and gentle boy. He is placid and quiet, likes his naps and loves his food! He gets along well with other cats, though he can be a little shy. He loves pets and cuddles, though he is still deciding if he likes to be picked up. He is a beautiful boy, with a long, lean, muscular physique, and amazing colours, tabby brown with reddish highlights. Photos really don't do this guy justice.
May 2021 - Introducing Camino. Camino is a feral cat who was being fed by a family in the Haliburton area. They say they had been seeing him around for at least a year. They finally decided to take steps and get him to a rescue to be cared for and neutered. Not an easy choice, since they all had fallen in love with him! And who could blame them? Not only is Camino a beautiful boy, he is also a gentle spirit with kind eyes, already affectionate and sweet and welcomes touch and cuddles.
He has settled in well here, and we think that it is time to let him come out to free roam with the other cats. We begin that process in small supervised periods, and if there are no issues with getting along with the others, hiding, or litter box use, he will get to stay out longer and longer until he is also free roaming. He goes to get his first vet check and vaccinations in another week and a half, and a couple weeks after that, for his boosters, neuter, and microchip. Such a lovely boy!
Mindy
Scruffy
Marlene, Floof, and Penny
Alistair
Mr. Darcy
Smoki
Sponsor a Friend
Sponsor the sweet cat you like best (it’s ok to play favourites!). Some of our cats stay at the rescue for longer periods of time than others – this may be due to, for example, extra time needed to unlearn feral behaviour and to learn to socialize with people if they’ve been in the wild for some time, or because of medical issues. You may have seen multiple updates on some of them on our Facebook group, Friends of The Cats of Paint Lake, or information here on the website under New Cats on the Block or Resident Cats. Should you wish to sponsor one of these cats, please make a donation via e-transfer directly to catsofpaintlake@gmail.com, and add a note to specify which cat you are sponsoring. Sponsor the sweet cat you like best.
We, and the cats, appreciate any donation you are able to make. Thank you so much!
