A Tribute to Sienna

Remember these wee little ones?

Each cat at the King Street Cats rescue organization is special, but there are some who affect us to the core and forever change our lives.  A momma named Sienna and her two babies, Spring and Summer, are such life changers.  

To this day, I am unable to think about them 

without shedding a few bittersweet tears.

The story behind a successful adoption helps show the effort and the love volunteers place into rescued pets.  

Here is one such story: 

Sienna and her babies were transfers from a kill shelter who wiggled their way into our hearts instantly.  

As I drove from the shelter to KSC, the three day old babies looked like little white and gold cigars snuggled up to their sweetly purring mother.  She was loving, caring and completely trusting.  A tri-colored calico with medium length bunny rabbit soft fur, she couldn't get enough attention, even when she started to show signs of how sick she really was.

At first, it was an URI, very common for a shelter cat and completely treatable.  A month or so went by and she didn't get better.  Then we received the news, distemper.  Sienna passed over the rainbow bridge not too long after she was admitted to the vet's office.  We scrambled to disinfect EVERYTHING in the shelter from ceiling to floor, then we paused to look at the babies who were only a month old and huddled together for comfort and warmth.  The stone of dread sat on our hearts.  Without a mother and with her being so sick as she nursed them, the chances were high they were not going to be long for this world.  Vivien mustered the strength to gather a task force to bottle feed, clean, and snuggle the babies so we were there every day, minimum three times a day for a month being surrogate mothers for Spring and Summer.  There was such fierce determination that these babies were going to not only live, but thrive.  

The focus on getting those babies healthy intensified as they showed signs of flourishing.  

Spring grew to look just like her beautiful mother.

When they started eating solid foods and running around in their tiny cage, it was time for them to be moved to a foster home.  Lisa, a wonderful volunteer, became their "failed" foster mother.  They wiggled, wobbled, 

and ran their way into her heart so much so that she couldn't see them with anyone else.

I believe in my heart of hearts, Sienna lasted as long as she could to give her babies enough strength and love to help them grow and then passed them off to us 

being her completely trusting self.  

We must have done something right because June 10, 2012 was their 1st birthday.  

Spring and Summer's (now Izzie and Turnbuckle) "failed" foster mom, Lisa, wrote this:

"Spring (Izzie, short for Isabella) and Summer (Turnbuckle) - are doing great! Their one year birthday is June 10th! 

And we're still trying to decide how to celebrate! 

They have been foster brother and sister to ten foster kittens - two from St. Croix. Five have been adopted so far!  Turnbuckle loves every kitten who arrives and is doting and makes sure that the kittens are warm and safe. Izzie would prefer to play with her foster brothers and sisters but is not opposed to providing a good bath. Izzie loves to clean everyone - kittens and people -and she shows her affection by washing your face. But they are inseparable and love to show each other tons of affection!

Even though their mother was affected with Distemper when they were in the womb, they are two of the most lovable kitties ever! Turnbuckle was affected more and has balance issues but he goes with it and loves to flop on the ground and squirm to show his excitement. Izzie was less affected, but has a minor balance issue. We are still working on acclimating to my two older cats - but time will tell."

Sequoia, the striped tabby who is in the pic with Turnbuckle, was adopted in June with another KSC kitty, Dexter. 

 One of his sisters, Willow, was adopted in May.  His other sister, Cherry, is waiting for her forever home!

King Street Cats in their Furrever Homes-Prince & Fergie

Prince and Fergie

Love hearing about our kitties in their new homes, 

so here's an update on Prince & Fergie.

"We are Prince and Fergie O'Hara, adopted from St. Croix by way of King Street Cats in June 2010. We were 4 pound kittens then. Now we are 10 pound cats, but still just as crazy. Mom and Dad put child locks on the closets and finally learned to hide their valuables because we get daily (okay... sometimes more than that) cases of the "zooms." We literally ping off the furniture and the walls in pursuit of one another. Here we are resting with Dad, prepping for for our nightly zoom. Thanks to Allie, KSC, and the St. Croix Animal Shelter for assuring we got humans who have the energy to keep up with us (two long distance runners)."

Have you been rescued by a kitty from King Street Cats?

Please send us an update and photos!

Shoot them over to Contact@KingStreetCats.org

Senior Cats Need Love Too!

Meet PC, one of King Street Cats' beloved senior kitties!

Senior cats need love too!

In conjunction with our "What About Me?" (TM) campaign,  one of our volunteers wrote up an article about the benefits of adopting a senior kitty.

With all animal rescues overflowing with cute little kittens we sometimes forget about our wonderful adult kitties, especially the seniors!

See if you can find a place in your heart for a needy senior cat.

During kitten season, the ongoing cat overpopulation problems become increasingly severe. Hundreds of thousands of kittens end up in shelters, which are already overcrowded. Many of the kittens find homes, at the expense of older cats that have been waiting in vain. Older cats are often looked over for the "more adoptable" kittens.

Last year's kittens often turn into this year's unwanted adult cats. In these troubled times, people have abandoned their cats because they can no longer afford to care for them, their house is in foreclosure, or they have been evicted. What a sad ending for cats who have given unqualified love all their lives!

A young adult cat would be perfect for a home with smaller children, or for a younger working single or couple who need to leave a cat unattended during the day. While sooo cute and sooo adorable, little kittens aren't always the best choice for every household. Little kids can sometimes be unintentionally rough with little kittens (and vice versa). And, even in the most-diligently kitten-proofed home, a bored and mischievous kitten can wreak havoc--or worse, come to harm--when left to amuse herself during mom or dad's long work week. Indeed, raising kittens can be downright exhausting!

Adopting a senior cat is also the perfect way to avoid anxiety and worry about what will happen to your precious companion when you are no longer able to care for him. We all know that countless wonderful cats wind up in animal shelters for the simple reason that they have outlived their humans. The great news is that senior cats are far more flexible than you'd ever imagine. Their hearts are open, they do not fear commitment. They're ready to love and be loved again.

What a wonderful way to share our blessings, by giving a new home to an older cat. One of the all time great cats of my life, the kind that leave footprints on your heart, I adopted as a 12 year young senior. It was my privilege to give him a luxury retirement home for his final years. He was my husband’s best pal, and I was his faithful servant and caregiver. It was our blessing to have given him a forever-ever home. The love he gave us will be with us forever.

Older cats are ever-so-grateful for a second chance at a loving home!

To those who have adopted older cats, I'd love to read your adoption success story.

**Article written by KSC volunteer, Bonnie Turpen

King Street Cats in their Furrever Homes-Parker Pierce (formerly, Marcus)

Marcus, now Parker Pierce, from St. Croix

Love hearing about our kitties in their new homes, 

so here's an update on Marcus!

"Marcus is doing fine. He really settled in rather quickly. Piper, at first, hissed and tried to beat him on the head, but they often play fight since Marcus leaps from the corner and knocks Piper over. Piper is a lot heavier, but Marcus throws everything he has into it. If Piper has had enough, he growls a little and Marcus moves on. Marcus is not afraid of anything, even vacuums . He is in the room right now as I am typing. He still nudges us in the face. He is very close to Stephen our son. We finally named him Parker Pierce. My wife likes the name Parker and my son like Pierce (one of the actors who played in the James Bond series). 

Here are a few pictures, and a video."

-Robert,Lucinda,Stephen Jacoby

See Marcus on YouTube here!

Have you been rescued by a kitty from King Street Cats?

Please send us an update and photos!

Shoot them over to Contact@KingStreetCats.org

10 Reasons to Adopt a Shelter Cat

June is Adopt-A-Shelter-Cat Month,

and I found this great article online

about Penny (the kitty) and her human**.

Has your shelter kitty (kitties) made your life better 

than you could dream possible?

Sound off in the comments section below!

10 REASONS WHY A SHELTER CAT

IS YOUR BEST FRIEND:

1. Adopt a Shelter Cat and You’ll Make a Difference That You See Every Day

When Penny first arrived in our apartment, she was skittish and shy, tiny and scared. She ran behind our couch the second we released her into the apartment, and we didn’t see her again for another couple of hours. On her papers, under the section where her capturers were allowed to write in comments, they had instead written, “Too Many.” Poor Penny—she came with too many comments to even write. However, over the next few days, weeks and months, slowly but surely, Penny came out of her shell. I single-handedly watched her grow from a timid kitten to a beautiful, confident cat, and I’d like to think I had something to do with that.

2. Adopt a Shelter Cat and Your Heart Will Be Healthier

Before Penny, I can tell you that the stresses of life seemed much more all encompassing than they do these days. A 5-minute tummy rub or a scratch on the ears is sure to send my ball of fur into a purring frenzy, which melts all my cares away immediately. Turns out, there’s actually science behind my sentiments—according to research, cats are such a calming presence in our lives that they reduce the risk of heart attack by 40 percent.

3. Adopt a Shelter Cat and You’ll Never Feel More Needed

While her initial reaction to our home had me feeling doubtful as to whether or not Penny would ever take to us the way I had hoped, she quickly proved me wrong. Within a month’s time, Penny was greeting me at the door when I came home from work, purring as I pet her before I fell asleep every night and knocking her head into my hands as I typed away at my computer because she wants me to scratch her. While I had half expected to adopt an independent cat who would all but ignore me, what I got instead was a perfect combo—Penny is happy to entertain herself from time to time, but she always makes sure to let me know that I’m needed.

4. Adopt a Shelter Cat and You’ll Learn Important Lessons in Patience

I’ll be the first to admit it—I’m not the most patience person in the world. While I’m admitting things, I might as well also admit to the fact that I was a little worried when we first brought Penny home, that if she took to scratching the furniture, messing outside of her litter box or proved to not be as cuddly as I would have hoped, that I would have immediately run out of patience. What I learned instead is that when you love something as much as you inevitably will love any cat you adopt, your patience tends to magically grow. That’s not to say I don’t still get a tad frustrated when Penny paws at the new chair I brought home … but I love her all the same.

5. Adopt a Shelter Cat and You Could Actually Lower Your Family’s Incidence of Allergies and Asthma

Seems counter-intuitive, I know, but studies have actually shown that children who grow up in households with two or more pets have a lower incidence of allergies than children who were raised in homes with only one or no pets. Saving an animal’s life and potentially saving your kid from suffering from allergies in the future? That’s a double-reward we like to hear.

6. Adopt a Shelter Cat and You’ll Never See Another Bug In Your House … Again.

Okay, I know this might seem silly, or trite, but trust me—when you’re a New York City gal living in a tiny 4th-floor walk-up, the last thing you want to contend with are bugs. That’s no problem anymore. I’ve seen Penny take down spiders, mosquitos, flies … anything is fair game. The chicken in me who hates capturing pests, and feels even worse for killing them, thanks her for taking care of that for me.

7. Adopt a Shelter Cat and You’ll Be Happier

It’s a true story. Not only is it impossible not to smile when that furry little ball of fuzz cuddles you, or crawls across your computer when you’re working or rubs up against your legs, but studies have actually shown that it only takes 15 to 20 minutes with a dog or cat to feel less anxious and less stressed. There is a physical reaction that takes place when you spend time with your furry friend wherein the level of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress, is actually lowered, and the production of serotonin, a chemical associated with well-being, is increased ... all the more reason to spend even more time together

8. Adopt a Shelter Cat and You’ll Lower Your Blood Pressure

The health benefits just keep on coming when you take in a cat from your local shelter. Along with a healthier heart, a decreased incidence of allergies and lowered stress levels, one study of 240 married couples found that pet owners had lower blood pressure and lower heart rates during rest than people who did not own a pet.

9. Adopt a Shelter Cat and Your Risk of Stroke Will Decrease

Although research isn’t conclusive, studies have found that cat owners have fewer strokes than people who don’t own cats. This is probably partly due to the overall effects of owning a pet, but researchers also believe that cats may have a more calming effect on their owners than other animals.

10. Adopt a Shelter Cat and You’ll Learn to Appreciate the Small Things in Life

I’m amazed at what catches Penny’s eye—that cat can literally sit in the window for hours staring down at the street. What looks like an ordinary piece of string to me is endless fun for her, and that chore of making the bed that I dread … well Penny’s favorite thing is to play hide-and-seek under the sheets while I’m busy doing it. In the two years we’ve had her, Penny has taught me so much more than I could have ever imagined, and she’s brought more into my life than I can ever repay her for. I just hope that at the end of the day she knows that even though I’m the one who takes care of her in the relationship, she’s really the one whom I’m so grateful for.

Think you need a shelter cat (or two, or three...) in your life?

Check out all the adorable kitties at King Street Cats

looking for their furrever home here!

**Access the full article here.

Choosing a Pet Sitter

Kitty 1: When do you think our humans are coming home???

Kitty 2: More importantly, when is the pet sitter coming-I am starving!

Kitty 3: Dude, she was just here an hour ago!

Everyone goes through that time when they go away on vacation, work, take care of family business, etc. and one of the biggest stress inducers is trying to find someone to take care of your furry family members, if you haven't already. There are so many choices out there now; a neighbor kid, a neighbor, a professional pet sitting company or even a semi-professional part time pet sitter. Overall, it can be quite daunting to have someone enter the house, water the plants, and care for an animal(s) you love. Here are some things to consider when choosing the right pet sitter for you; budget, level of trust, amount of care needed and length of pet sitter availability.

I work part time with a wonderful pet sitting agency, Doggywalker.com so I asked Sue Lambert (office manager, pet care expert, Jill of all trades extraordinaire) several questions and these are her answers:

Are there "red flags", in your experience, that should warn people away from certain organizations or even individuals? Certain signs or mannerisms or tag words?
I would definitely make sure you ask an independent pet sitter what their back up plan is of for some reason their car breaks down or they fall ill? We as a bigger company get a lot of calls from people whose plans for care fell though at the last minute and now they are scrambling. Companies like Doggywalker.com guarantees the visits, if the primary caregiver assigned is called away, we can still provide the care because we have a back up key and a backup plan.
The only red flags I can think of would be if they are registered pet-sitters and reputable  Do a lot of research, look at their website, google them for reviews or call references.  Make sure they are legitimate!

What does insured and bonded mean to the pet owner? How does that make a difference if they are not?

Insurance will cover things like damage at the house due to things such as letting a tap run over
or leaving door open and the dog escaping or chewing up blinds, etc.  Being bonded relates specifically to the owner's personal possessions and it covers theft of personal belongings.

Do pet services do anything else for the pet owner if they are out of town for long periods of time such as mail collections, plant watering and is it expected or does it need to be discussed?

Yes, it is standard to bring in mail and paper as well as watering a few house plants.  If substantial watering of plants and vegetables in yard, you need to discuss and perhaps add additional charge .. How much time do they want you to spend with your pets versus watering!?

Anything pet owners should ask about the service or experience that people don't but should?
The number one thing is back up plan! You don’t want to be in Hawaii and  find out your pet-sitter is sick and can’t see your pets!  Transporting your pets in an emergency (i.e. medical) are they covered?  Keys how do they label and keep track of clients' keys?  Name on tag/ address?  How long IS the visit, is the walk 30 mins or the visit? Waste bags, do they supply?  

Oh, one more thing, do research first on how much visits should cost you or what you are looking for in terms of pet-sitting companies.  Call them and/or look online and then schedule to meet pet-sitter, one at a time, if you don’t match, then pick another.  Please do not waste the pet sitter's time or yours with negligent prior research.

All in all, TRUST your instincts!  You want people who like your pets to visit your pets!

What About Me? (TM)

Marta

King Street Cats is launching their campaign called

"What About Me?' (TM)

The campaign focuses on finding homes 

for the kitties that are harder to adopt out.

The older kitties.

The shyer kitties.

The special needs kitties.

While we love these kitties and they never have anything to worry about while in our care, we want them to find their furrever homes so that we can rescue more.

Each one of our What About Me kitties 

has a special story.

Marta, pictured above, 

was rescued from a hoarding situation.

She lived at KSC for about a year and half.  

Because of her background, 

she wasn't used to human interaction 

and was uneasy around all the other cats at KSC.

Little by little, day by day, she grew more brave.  

Soon we could pet her, even though 

she was tucked away in a cubby hole somewhere.  

Eventually she would come out of hiding 

if I would sit quietly on the floor near her. 

And then one day, a nice human came in and gave Marta the break she had been looking for.

Marta recently went to her furrever home 

with only one fur sibling.

We couldn't be happier for her.

Please watch the video below and get to know some of our "What About Me?" (TM) kitties.

If you are in the market for a kitty, won't you consider one of them?

If you aren't in the DC Metro area, but you have a cat loving friend who is,

share this video with them.

Or, if you'd like, there are many ways to help KSC as we work tirelessly

to rescue more cats and help them find their furrever homes.

King Street Cats' "What About Me?"™ 2012 Adoption Campaign