Greetings Friends & Family,
The subject speaks for it's self 
. All of them. They are part of my family and they are spoiled just like my husband and children. My husband tells people all the time I treat my cats better then I do them. He's just joking of course. It is his way of telling people how spoiled they all are.
I've invested a lot in my kitty cats. Vet bills, medications, kitty food and litter. Alot of kitty litter! I will share stories about some of my kitty's who left to cross over the "RAINBOW BRIDGE" to Kitty heaven.
The worst days of my life were during their illnesses to be honest. What I went through with my kitty "Boots", caused me to turn gray. Seriously. My hair turned gray, because I wasn't sleeping, I wasn't eating, I was so stressed out from crying and worrying. My kitty "Kane" was a heart breaker for me. He was my hugger. I miss them so much. I will share with you about my blessings and my losses.
My biggest dream is to one day be able to afford a farm (that will never happen in this day and age with the price of things. Unless I win the lottery.) so I can take in and take care of all kitty cats. I get so mad at people who go out and take in animals only to neglect them and abuse them later on. It really gets my gizzard when I hear horror stories of neglect and abuse. It is not fair to the little critters for people to do that just because they are cute when small, and then they changed their mind because the pet grew up. Fact is everything GROWS it don't stay small forever. When shopping for a pet, any pet remember that! It will grow up!
I have 14 cats. No I didn't go shopping for cats. They found me or were given to me. I am known as the cat lady by all. I have a weak spot for kitty cats and people know this. I have a weak spot for all animals, but cats are my favorite. Don't take a pet just because it's cute. There is alot more involved taking care of a pet other than feeding, making sure they have water and a place to sleep. They should be treated like a family member. And you wouldn't treat a family member the way some people treat their pets.
I will share my stories with you throughout my kitty pages of how it came to be that I have so many cats. Don't gasp .... goodness they are all care for, loved and spoiled. Each has it's own personality. They are all individuals and special. Their boxes are cleaned all the time. I have a cupboard full of goodies, cat food (both dry and moist), medications etc.. My kitty's lack nothing. They have a good doctor who takes very good care of them. Yes, they all live here under one roof and all get along very well. Surprising huh?
If you are wondering how my furniture holds up. It does well. They know where they can scratch and where it's not allowed. I personally do not believe in or agree with declawing. That is my personal preference, but I personally oppose it. I have this fear that if one would happen to get outside how on earth could he or she defend themselve against any other critters. All my cats are indoor cats. Although there were a few times one or two slipped out on me. Not on purpose .... accidently. They fell through the screen one time and thought they'd take advantage of it once they did get out. Unfortunetly it was two females. Three days before they were to go to the vet to be spayed they got out. Now the screens are screwed in so that never happens again.
Anyway ..... What I did, was I purchased a old wooden pine wood coffee table at a yard sale. It was in rough shape so my babies weren't going to hurt that table. Cats love to scratch and claw wood. So the table would keep them away from my woodwork and other things around the house. Do they ever love this coffee table? You betcha! They know they can claw at it until their hearts desire and they won't get scolded. Take a look at the edges of this coffee table .... I don't know if you can see how deep the grooves are in these pictures or not. Let me tell you kitty claws are strong! I honestly don't know why they don't get splinters. The table is no big deal "it's all theirs!" ... much cheaper investment then any scratching post I can find out there in the store. I paid a whole $3.00 for this table and they love it!
We purchased one of those trees for them a year or two ago and that was a wasted $29.00. They didn't pay any attention to that tree. This was a well invested $3.00 nine year ago. It will take them a lifetime to finish off this table. It will last forever.
Another great investment for me was those little through rugs with the tough backs on them. I believe they are actually outdoor scatter rugs for wiping your feet when you come in the door. These little rugs are a blessing as well. They make great scratching post and only cost $2.00 each at the dollar store. These guys will just get into those rugs something crazy.
I have them around the house where no one really pays attention to them being there. Usually inside doors even thought that is not what they are intended for. My guys love these little rugs and they know they can go to town clawing at them until they are worn out. Another cheap investment that's been lasting a long time. Just look at the rugs they aren't even pulled apart or anything. And there is a house full of cats clawing away at them. Yes, they get fuzzy and things stick to the rugs, but one swipe of the sweeper and Wa-La! Believe me they really don't look as bad as these pictures make them look.
I firmly believe that cats can be trained to know right from wrong. If you provide them with what they need you won't have problems with them. It is the cats nature to scratch and dig. I make sure they don't beat up my house by making sure they have what they need to keep them happy and to fulfill their urges. Scratching is a urge that can crop up at anything! They love to sharpen those claws A LOT!
One more thing I've done for them all is I've made large pillows and tossed them on the floor some what close to heaters. They love being warm and I found especially in the fall and winter time if I have their pillows on the floor by the heaters they stay off the furniture a good bit.
Don't put the pillows right against the heater or on top of the vents though. Close enough for them to get a little heat, but not too close. They love to feel warm and cozy on chilly days and the pillows I made really keep them happy. My babies pillow isn't as close as it appears in this photo. There is distance between them and the heater. It's just the angle I had to stand to get a picture.
They have tons of toys. They are not fans of them all. Their all time favorite things to play with are the really fuzzy mice, cat nip mice and they really love tie backs. I think that is what they are called ... they are those little plastic strips you use to wrap things with. The tip slides inside and it locks. They love them and milk rings! They can't get enough of them. They also like bread twisters, but I don't let them have those because they are so thin once the paper is pulled off them and I worry they will swallow the wire. They sure wish they could have them though. They can hear a loaf of bread being opened a mile away and they come running just hoping that twisty will fall on the floor. NOT SUCH LUCK ... ~Sorry guys!~
These are some of the reasons my husband says they are spoiled rotten. I agree. But everyone is happy so what more can I ask for. My furniture is safe, my woodwork is safe. The kitty's are happy and that's all that matters to me. Everyone is safe, warm and happy!
I do agree with neutering or spaying cats. There are not enough homes for all of them. I also agree with having your dogs spayed or neutered. We together have to stop the over population of animals. I don't mind taking in pets, but I only have so much room myself. But if it boils down to life and death I will take the pet in just to save it's life. That is how I am and who I am. WHY not take them to the S.P.C.A. you ask? Well I can't do that. Scares me to death to do that. I am not going to take a animal to the human society only to be told they will do everything they can to find the pet a home. But if they haven't found it a home in 72 hrs. (some cases) or a week (in other) the animal will have to be put down. NO thank you, I don't like the opitions. I would not be able to live with myself.
Let me tell you a story ...
This is how I found out about the 72 hr. in one case.
Nine years ago my female cat (Spitfire) slipped outside. She ended up preg.. She had a litter of four. We already had two cats who arrived in a odd way (will explain later), but I decided that we can't do this so we took Jerry, Lita, UT, and Pierre to the S.P.C.A.. My husband did it. I didn't have the courage to do it. They look at me and I melt. So he took them up. When he returned home he told me they will do everything they can to find the pet a home, but if they haven't found it a home in 72 hrs. they'd have to put the cats down. I was a wreck! I didn't sleep good at all that night.
The next morning I called my oldest son. I ask him for a favor. I ask him if he'd go get my cats for me?
He said, Sure mom. Where do I have to go?
I told him to the S.P.C.A..
Well didn't dad just take them up there mom?
Yes he did and that's the problem. This is day two and if I don't go get those babies, they will be killed. I told him let me call the S.P.C.A. and see what I have to do to get them back. I told him I'd call him back.
Now if this doesn't tell you I am nuts nothing will (laughing) .....
They said to get a pet it will cost $25.00 per pet. You guessed it! I wrote a check for $100.00, called my son and had him go get my cats back! All of them! That's how much it bothered me. Those cats didn't do anything wrong. They didn't ask for that. There was NO WAY I was going to let that happen. So he went and got my babies for me and brought them home.
Well I thought it would be better if I either kept them or tried to find homes for them myself. Crazy huh? Take 'em up there and pay to get them back, just to find them homes. Well crazy it might be, but it gave me peace of mind knowing they were alive. That's what was important to me.
We still have UT and Pierre. Ut is 8 years old. Pierre is 7 years old. They were already older when I decided to take them there! DUMB move on my part. It just ate at me that I did that to them.
So now I am going to try and find homes for them all. At least I'll know they are alive and they have a chance. I went to the locale pet shop in town. Posted that I had free cats. Two requirements in order to take my cats ... I need to know where you live and be able to check up on them for a couple months off and on. Sorry, but with animal neglect being what it is, that's how I wanted it .....
1.) A man came to the house and he instantly attached himself to "Diesel". Well she got her name before we knew if she was a boy or girl. She was a cutie and I didn't blame him. She seemed to warm up to him. I knew she'd have a good home when he picked her up and tucked her under his jacket saying,"I'll keep you warm sweetie".
This is "Diesel"
2.) A day or two later a lady comes to the door. She likes "Precious". She seemed nice enough. Didn't hesitate to tell me where she lives. My son played ball with her brother so he knew her. She had children and they seemed gentle enough with her. So she took "Precious". I named her precious because she has this little halo on her head and I thought of an angel when I saw her. One month after this lady took her home I drove by her house. Wouldn't you know it "Precious" is outside. She's not gentle and loving anymore. She was wild and dirty. I tried to coax her to me so I could take her back home. I was not successful. To this day I don't know what happened to her. (will find photo to add later).
3.) Later that week and older man called about getting a cat. I told him to stop by and look at them. he arrived later that day. His choice was "Lita". She was pretty and gentle also. How could she go wrong with an older gentleman? I found out where he lived, but for some reason I wasn't too concerned about her because he was a sweet old man. he could have nothing but love to offer her.
Well it was about two or three months later I was in the local store looking at the bulleting board. I saw a listing for a free cat with her picture. I told my Joey, "If I didn't know any better I swear that's Lita". So I took the number with me when I left the store. When I got home I matched it to the number I had and sure enough it was that older man. I called to inquire about the cat. I didn't let him know who I was. I just wanted to know if he still had the cat? (Yes, I planned to bring her home also) ... he said, no she got a home earlier in the week. said he had a heart attack and wasn't able to take care of her anymore.
I was so upset and mad about this. I told each person who took one of my babies "if you find you have problems taking care of them call me. Don't hesitate to call me. I will come and get them. I don't want the running around outside and I don't want this mistreated. And it was then ....
And I haven't. I kept them all after that!
Come on in and meet them all ....
More reading and how I got so many babies!
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Animated Kitty in bag and kitty in window above were found at:
"CAT GRAPHICS"
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