Furever Friday: GiacTheCat

Yay, it’s Furever Friday once again! This week my pal Giacomo (aka GiacTheCat) is sharing his story. And what a story it is too. I’m not really clear on whether he was placed by an angel or placed with one, but one thing is for certain; Giacomo had a very unique way of entering the lives of his furever family! But hey, it’s his story, so I’m going to let him tell it…

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Do you remember any about your life before finding you forever home?

I remember it was cold and lonely in the attic I was born in, and my litter mates were noisy cause they were crying. I also remember wondering why my cat mom wasn't about to take care of us.

How did you find your forever home (or how did it find you?)

One day Mom told Dad she heard some meowing or crying in the house but Dad said he didn't hear anything. She looked outside in the bushes but didn't find anything. Everybody thought she was nuts but she knew she heard something. Finally Dad agreed to look in the basement but he didn't find anything. Mom kept hearing the faint cries. She asked Dad to look in the attic but he thought there was no way there was anything up there. He went up there anyway and he found me and three other kittens. We were cold and hungry, and apparently our cat Mom had not been able to take care of us. We were carefully wrapped up and put in a box. Our Mom's Mom used to own and run pet shops, so she knew exactly what to do for us.

We had to be bottle-fed and kept warm cause we were only about three weeks old. Mom had cancer at the time, and taking care of us (with her Mom's help) was a nice way of getting her mind off her treatments. We grew big and strong, but unfortunately one of my litter mates didn't make it. Eventually when Mom was stronger and we were bigger, my sister and I lived full time with my Mom, and her Mom took my twin brother. Mom gave us Italian names because Dad is Italian and she was sucking up to him. He really isn't a cat person but over the years I have swayed him.

What’s your favorite thing about your adoptive family?

My favorite thing is getting lots of attention. It's hard being abandoned your biological mom and it makes me kind of needy sometimes. I also like the security, the companionship of my brothers and sister, and the great noms!

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I’m almost meowless after learning about Giacomo… I can’t wrap my paws around how he got so lucky to be rescued and loved in the very home his cat Mom choose for him! Maybe she couldn’t care for him and his siblings when they were babies, but she was very wise in her decision on where to place them! Oh and the fact that his human Mom is doing better is just a catnip garnish on a tuna casserole! (Or in human speak it's awesome, fantastico, and/or great news!)

Thank you Giacomo for sharing your story! It’s a great one and I count myself lucky to be one of your pals.

Thanks for stopping by!

Henry (aka Quadpawd)

Furever Friday: SeattleP

Yay! Today, I am lucky in that I get to share another great Furever Friday story with you!  Today’s guest is my pal Jeego, who shares her twitter account with her Mom using the name @SeattleP.  Jeego is a sweet girl who loves to visit with her friends and hangs out at the #nipclub whenever she gets the chance.  There’s a lot more to her story though, as you will soon discover…

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Do you remember your life before finding your forever home?

I was about 6 weeks old when I was left at Seattle Animal Shelter.  They didn't want me because I didn't look like a true Siamese.  My markings were not the same on my face and my front legs.  People were confused at what kind of Siamese I was.  The Shelter I was left at was a kill shelter so I was hoping I would find a home before my time was up.

How did you find your forever home?

One day the lady came in to the shelter.  She was looking for a white cat.  I was 8 weeks old and my body looked white at that age.  (I look darker now)  She saw me and fell in love with me.  My peeps were looking for a friend for Pumpkin their adult cat.  My dad picked me up a few days later after I had been microchipped and given shots.  I was really sick the first day they had to put me in the bathroom.  The vet gave me special food and medication.  I made it fine after my first night.  My brother Pumpkin was training me.  He was like a dog he would follow dad around when dad was outside.  He taught me how to knock on the door, how to stay in the back yard, come when being called.......  Unfortunately, he had cancer and passed away.  My peeps cried so hard he was a special cat.  Dad still misses him.

What’s your favorite thing about your adoptive family?

They let me jump on their tummies and bounce off like a trampoline.  They don't mind if I give them love bites.  They treat me like a queen.  I own the living room and the kitchen.  My mom let me share her twitter account @SeattleP.  My peeps are over 40 so I forgive her for being lazy and not wanting to have a blog or FB.  As long as they keep the tuna coming I am happy to share twitter with her ;)  

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Well there you have it my furiends, the cat behind the twitter account. Hehe If you haven’t met Jeego yet, I would recommend that you introduce yourself soon.  She is super sweet kitty who is always there for her furiends.  Don’t let that sweetness fool you though, she love’s her catnip and knows how to #pawpawty down. *snicker*

Thanks Jeego, for sharing your story.  Oh… and I don’t think those people who gave you up didn’t want you, I think that they just knew that you deserved better than they could offer.  Just meowin’

Thanks for stopping by!

Henry (Quadpawd)

FureverFriday: ChezLuna

OMC… I’m so excited.  This week I was lucky enough to catch up with @ChezLuna (aka Jack and Luna) a great brother and sisfur duo from Catifornia.

 Luna is a grey tabby/tortie female, about 3 years old, very lazy/cuddly lap cat. Jack is a white/brown DSH male, 1 year old, full of energy and bad ideas. Staff = Dude (surfing bear) + Frog (French mama).

DO YOU REMEMBER ANYTHING ABOUT YOUR LIFE BEFORE FINDING YOUR FOREVER HOME?

LUNA: Back in June 2008, I found myself lost on the streets of Santa Monica, CA (don't remember how). I was about 6 months old and thought I was pregnant. I was very hungry and afraid, a sweet little girl obviously used to a safe home. A nice lady took me in her apartment, fed me, and let me sleep with her in a warm, fluffy bed. Unfortunately, she could not keep me because her lease didn't allow pets.

JACK: I was dumped on the street a year ago with my 2 brothers and 2 sisters: we were 3 weeks old, so I don't remember anything. We were taken to a public shelter in Los Angeles, where we would have all been PTS because we were too young, if not for a fabulous rescue group that fostered us with a nice family until we were ready to be adopted. (My 2 sisters were adopted by a Beverly Hills family, and my 2 brothers by a Glendale family.)

HOW DID YOU FIND YOUR FOREVER HOME (OR HOW DID IT FIND YOU?)

LUNA: The nice lady knew neighbors who had lost their 23 year old cat to old age and sickness a few months before. She asked them whether they would be ready to adopt me. The neighbors --a big teddy-bearish surfer dude and a French mama-- fell in love with me instantly. Time for them to ready their home for my arrival, and to schedule an appointment with the vet, and I was in! The vet experience wasn't fun, with neutering, shots and microchipping, but luckily I only had a false pregnancy. My new staff pampered me until I was fully recovered... and ready to take over their home!

JACK: Even though Frog works from home and gave Luna a lot of attention (as well the Dude whenever he was home), she needed more fun and interaction, so the family decided to find her a companion. After much research, they settled on finding a male kitten with sufficient mojo to fit with Luna's lap princess personality. At the same time, my foster mom posted information about my litter for adoption on Craigslist and Twitter, and that's how staff found me. My 2 sisters had already been adopted, and we were the 3 brothers left for adoption. I immediately took over the Dude, while my 2 brothers Mo and Louie stuck together out visitors' way (it's a good thing they were adopted together, as I was the most fearless and independent of all.) When my foster mom took me to my new home, I was 2 months old. The first few days were rough, as Luna was reluctant to share her palace, but Frog and Dude took the time to make the introduction to Luna, with lots of cuddles and attention to both of us. Within 2 days, Luna and I shared the same room (though at a safe distance,) but Frog had to sleep in a different room with Luna for 13 days, while I slept with the Dude in a different room, until we all felt safe about Luna's potential reaction.)

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOUR ADOPTIVE FAMILY?

LUNA & JACK: We live in a nice apartment with lots of toys, a humongous, fun cat tree, scratch pads and fluffy beds everywhere, and large windows plus balcony to watch a busy wildlife: birds, bugs, squirrels, raccoons, opossums, and other pets on the street (non-stop activity!)

We get a lot of attention from Frog and Dude, and it's great to have Frog at home most of the time; nothing beats walking on her keyboard or in front of her computer screen when she's trying to work. She's also the biggest goofball of all when she plays with us. The Dude is, well, a Dude, but also the best cuddler on the planet... and the best to sleep on at night!

For Luna, it's fun not be alone anymore, and to have a little bro she can teach who's boss to, as well as the ropes of kitty life (staff calls her The Jedi.) For Jack, it's great to have a big sis from whom to learn all the kitty tricks and tips he didn't get to learn from his mommy. Our different personalities combine well for play and cuddlepiles, and we get to share and enjoy things together that only kitties can understand. Someone once said that cats come in pairs, and it's very true.

What else? Ah: our pantry is always full of yummy food and treats:

http://twitpic.com/1gega4

We also get to grow grass and catnip for unlimited consumption:

http://twitpic.com/aldlf
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http://twitpic.com/2f7t68

Last but not least: staff volunteers at a local, non-PTS rescue that helps homeless kitties find loving homes. Tough this means sharing their attention with furry strangers, we're happy those kitties get to enjoy tender love and care; plus we get to sniff all sorts of intriguing smells when staff comes home from the rescue! We may have turned into spoiled brats, but we will never forget that once, we were homeless kitties, too.

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WOW!  I gotta meow… Stories like these make me pawsative that rescuing humans is the best way for us animals to find a good home.   If you know a stray human, introduce him/her to a friendly cat or (even) dog right away.  It’s the right thing to do!

Jack and Luna:THANK YOU for sharing your wonderful story.  I am super happy that you have such a great home life!

As for the rest of you...

Thanks for stopping by!

Henry (aka Quadpawd)


Want to see more of this SERIOUSLY CUTE DUO?  Check out their YouTube Channel.

Furever Friday: JoeyBeanCat (Sp Monday Edition)

OMC…. I know what your thinking… Is it Friday already?  I’m sad to tell you that the answer is no.  There is good news though:  I have a special addition of Furever Friday for you today. Um… Maybe I should call it Furever Monday?! Hehe  Anyway, today I am happy to introduce to you my dear furiend JoeyBeanCat. 

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Do you remember any about your life before finding you forever home?

I do! I have a sad story, Mom says. I was an abused kitten who was abandoned and left to starve. Some nice animal control people came and got me and took me to a pound. From there a pet rescue got me and took me to live with a foster family. I was very shy because of the abuse and didn't do well at the adoption fairs. No one wanted me because I would hide from them! I also had upper respiratory, but no one knew it. I ended up having it for three years, until Mom found me and knew something was wrong. Because of that, I have asthma. But Mom gets me shots when I need them, and I am still healthy! I play a lot, but sometimes I do have to stop and catch my breath. 

How did you find your forever home (or how did it find you?)

Mom worked at an animal hospital, and they asked her if she wanted to meet me. She said, "Sure, I've always wanted a black cat." They brought me to the animal hospital one day so I could meet Mom, and she held me. She declared me to be the sweetest cat ever, even though I tried to hide my face from her, and said she had to take me home. She brought me home that night and went and bought me a lovely leather collar, litter box, food, food and water dishes, and toys. I'd never had so much stuff! I've been with Mom ever since. 

What’s your favorite thing about your adoptive family?

Mom is the best! She never gets mad at me, and she gives me lots of love and attention. She always tells me what a good boy I am, and that really helped me overcome my shyness and fear. Now I'm a friendly boy, and I purr constantly!

Enlarge cartoon for betther viewing!

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Wow, what a great story! I am soooo happy for Joey, it sounds like he found the purrfect Mom!  It’s also wonderful that people kept fighting for Joey until they met.   If you haven’t met joey yet, I strongly encourage you to add him to your list and drop him a message. He a great cat, and would love to be your furiend!

I would also like to send a special “Meow” out to Joey as I know I had promised I would get this posted a bit sooner.  Thanks for your patience my furiend and thank you for sharing your wonderful story!

Thanks for stopping by,

Henry (aka Quadpawd)

Furever Friday: Pumpkinpuddy

I am sooooo excited!  I was lucky enough to land a Furever Friday  interview with the lovely Pumkinpuddy.  Pumpkin is a real sweetheart and has a amazing tale to tell (not to mention a beautiful floofy tail to boot…hehe.)  But don’t just take my meow for it, check out her incredible journey below…

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Do you remember any about your life before finding you forever home?

Not much. I know I was born in a trailer park and lived there until I was about 6 or 7 weeks old. I have a brofur named Ringo who lives with Mom’s friend. I was quite tiny when I came to Mom so I don’t remember anything else.

How did you find your forever home (or how did it find you?)

Mom used to have three cats. One died several years ago at 13. Her name was Beastie and she was Mom’s first cat. A year ago spring Mom lost another cat. Her name was Pixie and she was 15. She has an interesting story. Someone threw her out of a van and Mom and her friends had tried to find her and couldn’t. About 6 weeks later there was a terrible snow storm. She turned up on Mom’s porch all matted and half starved. Well she broke Mom’s heart and Mom had to take her in. She lived with Mom for 13 years before she died.

That just left Sheena. Sheena and Pixie were best friends. Sheena was almost 18 so Mom didn’t want to spring a new cat on her, until Chris called her about me. Sheena had been kind of mopey ever since Pixie died, so Mom decided that maybe she should adopt another cat to be Sheena’s new playmate.

Mom’s friend Chris works with a shelter that catches feral cats, neuters them, and releases them. She’d been trying to catch my mom cat for over a year, so knew when we were born. My brofur and I were born in a trailer park in early to mid-September and she was afraid we wouldn’t survive the first cold snap so she took us in when we were barely weaned. She gave me to Mom and kept my brofur. His name is Ringo and he has in own Facebook page if you want to get to know him. I’m trying to get him on Twitter.

I came to live with Mom a week before Halloween. At first I lived in a great big bathroom. I was so small Mom was afraid I’d get lost or hurt because the house is kind of big. After about a week and a half Mom let me out of the bathroom and into the bedroom. About a week later she opened the bedroom door to see what I’d do. It took me probably another week and a half to get brave enough to go down the stairs.

It turns out I came into Mom’s life at just the right time. What Mom thought was moping turned out to be sickness. Sheena was very sick and Mom didn’t know it. At first the v-e-t thought it was stress because of me. It turned out to be something very serious and Mom took Sheena to the v-e-t to help her cross the Rainbow Bridge the night before Thanksgiving. That wasn’t a very happy Thanksgiving in our house.

Since I was born feral and wasn’t used to being handled like kitties are that are born in a house, it took Mom and I a while to warm up to each other. Well, it took me about a month to warm up to Mom. I think Mom was in love with me the first time she saw me. Now I adore my Mom. I follow her everywhere, and sleep with her sometimes, and love to cuddle in her lap.

What’s your favorite thing about your adoptive family?

Everything! It’s just Mom and me and we get along wonderfully. We love to snuggle. I get lots of belly rubs and more toys than I know what to do with. I can eat whenever I want and I get lots of treats, too. I’m terribly spoiled and I love it! I have my little red tent and I have my wonderful stroller for going outside. Our house has a nice back yard and lots of critters come to visit. I get to watch bunnies and birds all day. There’s a grey cat that roams around and sometimes he comes to visit me. With Mom’s help, I have my blog, a Facebook page (that I admit I don’t pay enough attention to) and I get to visit with my amazing pals on Twitter. Mom takes me to parks and for walks. And now I got to go to BlogPaws West 2010 where I celebrated my first birthday. What a year it’s been! I can’t imagine having a better place to live or a better Mom.

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OMC…  What a great story!  A big ol' nosetap and thank you goes out to Pumpkin for sharing with us!

I love it when humans let a feral kitty move in and run the household!  It makes me think that there is hope for those silly beans after all.  If you haven’t met Pumpkin yet, you are missing out!  Don’t just take my meow for it, go over to twitter and introduce yourself now.   DO IT! *hehe*

Thanks for stopping by!

Henry (aka Quadpawd)