Merlin became very ill and after a recent hospitalization, testing, and care was found to have very, very serious heart disease. He passed way peacefully at our vet’s office in the lap of his senior foster mom of over two years. He was a very special kitty.
In 2019 Maddie had higher needs for her health issues and went to a new foster home. Maddie had a wonderful life for 3-1/2 years with her foster mom/soulmate. Sadly, in the spring of 2023 she had incurable cancer. We will always remember this special kitty who was so very lovable.
- Maddie and her foster mom Abby:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfTiIktW3WM&ab_channel=ShawSpotlight
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December 2018 update: Maddie has a home in our senior program!! We are thrilled that a long time senior volunteer has taken Maddie into her home as a senior foster in our program. Maddie now gets special attention with all the “small meals” she needs! Because of this her vomiting is very much reduced and only about once every 3 weeks. Maddie is so happy to have her own person and no cats. She has a seagull visitor every day who comes to the deck window. She has lots of lap time and follows her “mom” everywhere in the apartment. We are so happy for Maddie. It took a few years but she got a great forever home in our Long Term Senior Foster Program. Maddie has a sponsor for all of her many meds and vet care and her mom also contributes towards her food. We are happy that Maddie got her miracle.
Maddie is a great cat and super affectionate. However, she is currently on three meds for a vomiting problem, one med for thyroid, and has a hernia which is very unusual as her entire bladder is in the hernia! She is under vet care and her problems are under control and she is stable.
She does not do well with other female cats and even if she senses them outside her door she will occasionally pee on something to mark the area. We still have hopes that with a home of her own with no other cats – and kept on her meds – she could be a great cat for a kind and caring person.
August 2019 update: Over the last several months Mindy developed several medical conditions. She loved her life and kept going and going, even while battling some rough times. Finally she let us know that there was nothing more we could do treat her many illnesses. Our vet Dr. Stacey came to the house so Mindy was here in the place she knew as home for her final assistance. Mindy never got a home due to an unresolvable behavioral litter box issue so she was cared for by us for 10 years. She was the last cat we brought we us when leaving Cats Cradle to start Helping Homeless Cats. Mindy was a dear girl with a very sweet personality and we will miss her after all these years of togetherness. Mindy is white with lovely gray markings and has a one-of-a-kind appearance. The gray areas almost look like the design of a coat and hat. She is friendly, but a loner. She socializes a little bit at breakfast and then retreats for quality alone time during the day. When Mindy is very comfortable with someone, she will sit in their lap.
Mindy is quite affectionate, purrs loudly, and likes to roll around on the carpet and be petted and snuggled – once she gets used to someone which can take a couple months. She is timid around other cats and is easily frightened by dominant cats.
Mindy is very sweet and content to nap all day and wait for someone who is gone all day, but loves to come up to them later and meow to ask for attention.
Mindy is clean cat and healthy cat. She would be a good companion and nice cat to come home to. When comfy she will sleep on the foot of the bed or near the bed.
Mindy particularly likes women and in her past foster home she sometimes left the room when the husband entered. We don’t know why she is afraid of men, but she may do best in a home with only a woman.
Here is why Mindy is in this Cats in Care section: Mindy has a behavior problem where she will pee over the end of the box and occasionally has peed on other items. If there are other cats in her area she will also occasionally pee on other things to mark her territory. If she were with one quiet woman and no other cats, perhaps this would not happen as she has had long periods of not doing this – but it would be a trial foster or adoption.
Mindy has become overweight this year due to being with other cats and the type of feeding required for that situation. She would do well in a situation where the amount of her food could be controlled. Once settled and comfortable, Mindy would be a wonderful companion.
Mindy no longer has a “sponsor” but is very comfortable and enjoys her life here. However, her litter box issue has worsened and she requires a lot of special care and bedding changes. She has also had some issues with diarrhea but is stable now with treatment.
Mindy is doing about the same. She is a healthy kitty but still has her litter box issue. She enjoys the company of her roommate Mrs. Spice and also likes petting. Mindy has a sponsor who donates for her food..
Mindy still has a litter box issue and will occasionally pee in her cat bed, etc. ... However, she is extremely affectionate and loves petting. She has gained weight and is on a diet now. For Mindy, this is her home and we are able to accommodate her needs at the rescue.
Mindy does pee in the litter box a great deal of the time now, but not 100%. She remains unadoptable but has her friends here, feline and human, and is content.
Mindy is a great cat and is very stable and in good health. However. she simply will not always pee in the litter box, so she remains unadoptable. She is a very sweet girl and we will continue to provide a home for her as we are better equipped to deal with her issue than the average home...
Mindy is getting along well with the other cats here. She has continued to have her litter box problem but would be happy to have a home of her own someday if someone is willing to deal with her issues.
February 2021 Due to advanced kidney disease, Sooty has crossed the Rainbow Bridge and will be missed but always remembered.
I’m called Sooty and don’t mind the name as I prefer it to the old standbys of Shadow or Blackie or the ever-popular Midnight. I’m a black fluffy cat and we are known for our sweet personalities. I’m a little chubby because I need a nice indoors home with people who will play with me so I can get more exercise.
As with all us guys here at the “feline hotel”, I prefer not to cry to you about my troubles before rescue but we were all “down on our luck”, to say the very least, before making our way here. One day I found myself homeless and without any food and it was very frightening. I am not one to beg at doors or rummage through garbage cans as, after all, I come from a long line of royalty (but, unfortunately, was mixed up at birth with an ally cat – or at least that’s my story).
Anyway, I found an okay place to sleep with one serious drawback – no room service! I could see a nice feral feeding station across the very wide street. Having nine good lives ahead, I decided it was worth it to risk just one and make a run for it. Since I am here to write this bio, you can see that I still have nine lives left. However, the nice woman feeding gourmet meals at the station disagreed with me about whether there was actually a factual basis for the “nine lives myth” as she called it. She then cleverly tricked me into coming with her.
I’m now inside and glad I am. No more cold rainy weather and also, believe me, the snow looks much better through a window than on my fur. I had a wispy tail from those days out in the elements and it has improved greatly – although it might not yet be luxurious as it was before my homeless period. I brag to the other male cats here about how much I miss the excitement of the gamble I took running across that busy street, but we are all really happy to have a safe comfy home every day no matter what the weather.
I didn’t trust people for awhile after rescue – I had been on my own in survival mode for quite a while. Now I see there are huge benefits as I LOVE having my back scratched just in front of the tail. I’m laid back and get along with other cats and especially like the mellow ones. I mostly ignore the bossy ones and they even seem to like me. Sometimes I let them all curl up with me if it’s a cold night, but I’m most comfortable going off to my sunny window for a nap during the day. I’m friendly but not “needy”.
Sooty continues to have little cysts that need surgical removal once or twice a year. He is very comfortable here and we stay on top of his vet needs.
Sooty has a sponsor who supports his monthly food needs. Sooty is good friends with the other cats. He is pretty good with people but is hard to handle or get into a carrier unless he knows someone very well. He recently had many small cysts removed. They were not malignant but we do not know yet if they will recur.
Sooty had a recent back injury but has healed nicely. However, we don’t want to rush him. He is on a special diet to try to lose weight. It was most likely his weight that contributed to his fall. He is very bonded with the other cats here. We are going to delay seeking an adoptive home until his weight is reduced.
A few years ago Gem was adopted by her foster mom. She had a great life for many years, but sadly last year we had to say goodbye to her due to an incurable illness. We are sorry she didn't have many more years. ------------------------------------------------------------- Gem is just over 4 years old, spayed, and very healthy. She is a beautiful girl who is very friendly but not necessarily a lap cat. She likes to follow her person around. She is a nice companion and likes to play. She does not like petting from the front but does respond to petting from the back which is true of many cats. Before her first adoption she was okay with other cats if they stayed out of her space. After a lot of time alone without other cats in all three homes, she is now used to being an only cat. She is dominant around other cats but after awhile is somewhat okay if they stay far from her. She is super cute and sweet and ideally needs a home of her own. She is a 100% totally indoors cat and needs a home with no access to the outside. She was born inside and has always been inside. We are hoping to find a new home soon before she must leave her current foster home so she doesn’t need even more changes. This beautiful little girl needs a patient and loving home very soon!
June 2018 update
Gem can be a wild and crazy girl. She has a senior foster mom who adores her and totally understands her quirks. Gem can be very sweet and then have a surprising change of mood and her mom is aware of this and knows how to accommodate her and keep her calm. They have a really great time together. Her mom really admires her independent and interesting – and sometimes exciting! – personality. We are so happy Gem is with a true soul mate. Her mom is able to donate for her food and Gem has not needed vet care since intake which is wonderful.
Gem is enjoying her senior foster home. She enjoys a cardboard fortress.
Unfortunately Gem had to leave her very loving forever home after 2-1/2 years. She had a brief senior foster home that started out great but then she had a high jump leading to an accident and a “bite” to her foster mom and needed to come back to the rescue.
Gem has found a wonderful forever home! She is exploring the place and getting to know her new mom.