Love In Cream And Blue

Good news, the boys are doing well. Creamsicle and Sebastian Blue have been together since the girls were adopted one week ago. The wonderful Susan at Niagara Feline Friends caught Creamsicle rubbing up to and snuggling on big ole' Blue while he slept with his chin on the litter pan. She said Creamsicle purrs like a motor boat. Both are allowing Susan to pet them, but Sebastian Blue is more comfortable with human contact than the love bug is. Both seem quite content.

The girls, meanwhile, have been quite the handful in their transition to house pets. But all will be well. They are gluttons for petting and brushing and taking over the newly dubbed "princess sofa". For pictures and the update, go visit Kasia Blue.

{Pictures from the wonderful Susan.}

Stray Cat Valentine, part 1

Bella, wide-eyed and scared at the adoption fair.

Ginny-Puff hiding as best she could.

Puff crawled right on top of Bella. So scared!

Kasia Blue soothes her new fur-daughters.

So, so glad they're going home together!

It was a privilege today, to witness 2 of the winter strays meet their new adoptive family. Not just any family, but the family of my dear Kasia Blue. Bella (formerly known as Coco) and Ginny-Puff were so afraid in their adoption fair cage. Puff walked right on top of Bella, out of fear or protection, when too many faces began peering in. They melted all our hearts.

Adoption papers were signed, fees were paid and suddenly the fur girls were officially Valentines, on their way home to be fawned over and loved for the rest of their lives. Kasia and me did our best not to cry. But how could we not? We have gifted each other in meaningful ways, all in the name of love and cats.

For now, Creamsicle will bunk with Sebastian Blue. Both boys are in need of more love and work to quell their fears and make them adoption ready. The wonderful Susan of Niagara Feline Friends is fully convinced they'll get there.

So, on to the next chapter in this story of stray cats and love. Kasia will take it from here with the girls (I'll keep you posted when she has an update), and me, I've got plans in the works to keep answering the call to help cats. I'll be sure to fill you in.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Stray Cat Valentine, part 2

The wise one.

The cuddle bug.

Front and center, just like at the stray cat garage.

For Sarah and Erin

Guess what? Your new girls love toys! I'm not so sure if that handsome fellow has the same fascination, but regardless, start saving your pennies for balls trapped in plastic. It'll be fun to find out if they like catnip, as well.

Start counting the days (and hours!) until your furry Valentines arrive.

******************************************

~I do believe Mr. Sebastian Blue is doing a bit better. The wonderful Susan has sat with him in his apartment and talked to him. He actually let her pet him for 8 half strokes down his back! She has moved his bed away from the very back and has spied him sitting at the front door of his abode.

Pheeewwww. I feel somewhat better. I've been so worried for Blue and have felt a sense of responsibility towards him that is woefully unsated. I will ask for some more kind thoughts from you on his behalf. Thank you!

More Love Needed

Oh, sweet Sebastian Blue...we're sending love to you.

The frowsy, inseparable trio...a well-loved life awaits you all.

{Photos from the wonderful Susan}

Love Times 3

"My God", you're thinking, "can she really still be going on and on about cats?" Yes. Yes, she can. Because, guess what? There's news, people. Ready?

Coco, Puff and Creamsicle are staying together! Could ya just cry?! My darling friend, Kasia Blue has decided to take not only the 2 girls, but that handsome devil in orange and white. Maybe, just maybe, her decision came after I sent an email with an update from the wonderful Susan about how the trio are inseparable and seem to have an almost uncanny bond going on. Maybe it was the above picture of the trio in squalor I attached to the email as a reminder. (No pressure, I assured her...knowing full well I was stomping on heart strings.)

Family deliberation in the Kasia Blue household was short and sweet. They'd take him, because, hell, what's one more? Do you not love this family right about now? I do. 100%.

Kasia's daughters have been busy looking up cat names. You see, they already have a cat named Coco. Here's the new roster, so you can follow along: Coco is now Bella. Gwen-Puff is now Ginny-Puff. (Yes, they are keeping the 'hyphen Puff'). Creamsicle/Gabriel is back to Creamsicle. And I'm Aunt Gracie with visiting privileges. Pass the Kleenex.

If you listen close, you can hear a band of Angels giggling...

Please visit darling Kasia and give her some love.

A Request For Love

Sebastian Blue needs your help. It seems he is not adjusting well to confinement. I was afraid of this. He has escaped his adjustment 'apartment' once, hiding out for as long as he could before being caught, and he wants nothing to do with the wonderful Susan, hissing and sulking and staying in the way back. I hope I have not done his freedom-loving self an injustice.

Maybe he just needs more time than the others. Maybe he will come along eventually. He did that for me once already. It was January 12th in the evening, by flashlight. All 4 sweethearts were in the garage. Coco, Puff and Creamsicle had gathered at the front on carpet scraps to listen to me, leaning through the door window, tell them how wonderful they all were. It took a full 5 minutes of me blathering on before Blue gave a yawn from the back, did a yoga stretch(downward facing cat), and walked deliberately to the front patch of carpet and sat down. He positioned himself just slightly in front of the trio. I talked, by the glow of flashlight, for another 15 minutes until my toes started going numb. Those 15 minutes are forever etched on my heart.

Could you please talk to Sebastian Blue and help him calm down? Susan, herself, sent an email asking if all of you could send some love his way. She's doing her very best to help him adjust. But he's scared. Large doses of love will help.

And the other 3? Doing wonderfully. The girls love to be petted and have bellies rubbed. Purring seems to be their new hobby. That Creamsicle-Gabriel has also given in to being petted and scratched behind his ears. For the 3 of them, I have no worries.

Thanks for your help.

xo, Graciel

For The Love Of Cats

Sebastian Blue: his 1st night in from the cold, 1/29

Stray cat inspiration: my Buddha(former throw away) and my Remmington(former stray)

29 days ago, my life unexpectedly changed. In an innocent moment of following an instinct, I was led to the hideaway of 4 stray cats. I had adopted stray cats from shelters, but had never been the one to pluck the cats from squalor and deliver them to better possibilities. Now, I've plucked and delivered and I will never be the same.

If you've followed the story of Coco, Puff, Creamsicle and Blue, you may think the saga was relatively easy for me. It was not. The fears this brought up in me were substantial. I cried many times wondering if I would fail in my quest to figure out how to get them to a shelter. If I failed, blogging woman that I am, I would fail publicly. My heart was wrenched from the first day Puff revealed herself to me and I had more than a few sleep interruptions, waking in worry. I felt tested on many different levels.

What I did in the midst of my fears was ask for help and intervention every day. And every day I got it. Every day the next step was revealed, connections were made, and one by one these cats I came to quickly love were moved from a life far below what they deserved to live to warm possibility.

This saga has been a metaphor for me. In spiritual terms, cats are totems that help human counterparts move more easily in the unknown, as well as helping humans move more efficiently through their fears. Cats are guardians and protectors. They are guides to self discovery and personal transformation. They usher in magic. What the gang of 4 helped me to discover is: 1.) I am more capable than I have consciously given myself credit for. 2.) It is time to move myself to better, more loving circumstances. 3.) Never again hold back when my heart leaps out in front of me and points the way. Yes, that's the clincher: do not resist for any reason, any reason, when my heart's purpose reveals itself in living color.

So, today I am making plans to lift myself into a new life. These plans have to do with my floral design skills, my writing, the need to move and (swoon) my Gypsy King. My plans also include cats, because my heart has made it abundantly clear, they need me and I need them.

{There is a call from Curious Girl to post every day in February about love. Every kind of love, not just the romantic, fantasy kind invoked by Valentine's Day. I'm going to do my best. Will anyone else join us in this teeny-tiny loves fest?}

It's All Over Now, Baby Blue

7am surprise.

styrofoam on the floor, 2 layers of carpet on top, 2 blankets and a very long day. :(

Sebastian Blue in a warm car, on his way to a better life.

busting in at 4:45pm. it was dark, but he was in there. :)

To my utter surprise, the trap door was closed at 7am when I peeked in the garage window. I was on my way to work, but excitedly made the mad dash through the snow to see if, indeed, Sebastian Blue had taken the bait. He had and he was silent about it. Of course, as feared, he waited until it was 6 degrees Fahrenheit to dine. Now he faced a long day of waiting until the wonderful Susan and myself got out of work. I was fretful, but did the best I could to keep him from turning into a catcicle. With 3 layers on the floor, 2 on top and many prayers for protection, I left him.

Despite my worries for his ability to withstand the cold in a stilted position, I was ecstatic that Blue had surrendered to a better life. Even if he was passing through a cold hell to get there. At last, at last, I returned to the squalor garage to spend some time talking to Blue before Susan arrived. He was cramped and silent in the back corner of the trap, but I sang to him and told him how some day soon someone was going to fall madly in love with him (even more than I did) and give him a much deserved home.

By now, Blue is at the shelter with hot water bottles under blankets to warm him body and soul. He'll dine on wet food and kibble and be allowed to adjust to his new situation at his own pace. Susan will send pictures and a progress report as soon as she can.

And now, I have even more great news~ Coco and the Gwen Puff are going to be adopted. Already! My darling sister-friend, Kasia Blue, recently lost her beloved cat Sophie. Kasia and her 2 daughters have been following the stray cat saga since day one and had looked forward to seeing the cats in person at the first adoption fair offered. Not with the idea of adopting, but just to see the stars of the story. Then a little tragedy happened and suddenly they became a one cat household. So, to bring some sweet to the bitter, Kasia decided today to give a home to both of the girls in the story, as soon as they're ready.

It has been a very good day for strays. It has been a very good day for me, as well. I was so happy this evening, I had myself a nice cry, knowing these sweetest of souls were going to live lives they deserved. Thank you to everyone who said a prayer on behalf of Sebastian Blue. May you be blessed in return 10 times over.

Oh, yes, there is more to come...

xo, Graciel

The Sheltered Life

Here are a few pictures from the wonderful Susan to let us see how the kids are doing. Coco and Gwen the Puff will meet Susan at the "apartment" door to be petted. (See picture #1). Gwen purrs. Susan says they are throw-aways, not feral at all. They are adjusting well. Creamsicle-Gabriel is the frightened one. He will not allow himself to be petted yet and gave Susan a mad-house run around when he escaped the apartment one day. As seen by the scratch on his nose, he's not taking this transition in stride. Susan is not concerned, however. She is fully confident he will calm down and be adoption material. Thank goodness. No doubt the forthcoming trip and snip at the vets will help in that matter.

After further adjustment time, a little surgery and a clean bill of health, the kids will join the general population of 200 cats at Niagara Feline Friends. Yes, you read that right. 200 cats. Each one cared for and fawned over by the small staff of cat crazy volunteers. There will be no cages after the initial adjustment period. Large, comfortable, well-equipped rooms of roughly 50 cats each will be home to the trio until they are adopted. And notice I am not saying "if" they get adopted. There is no if in my mind, only when. Please hold that thought with me. Eventually, the trio will make the rounds of monthly adoption fairs at a local pet store, or they may even find a home through the NFF website information or newspaper ads. Maybe, just maybe, someone who has followed this story is only waiting for the adoption green light to be given. Fingers crossed.

So, I wait patiently for Sebastian Blue to join them. The trap is still empty and darnit, there is a winter storm warning here in Mayberry starting at 10pm tonight. I'm nervous. It's going to be 6 degrees by Friday. Could you please whisper in his ear to get on with it and agree to be warm and well fed? The shelter serves Science Diet and wet food, for Pete's sake!

There you have it. The update, the sheltered life, and the drama of Little Boy Blue.

p.s. 7pm, this just in~ Susan told me the girls went yesterday to be spayed and are doing great. Neither one tested positive for feline leukemia! They have all their shots and both are quite young, at 6 to 7 months. Their molars are just coming in. One step closer to being long-time pets.

Last But Not Least

The trap is set and half-way covered, the menu is sardines with a garnish of kibble, and worry-of-worries, the temperature outside is rapidly dropping. Now, what Mr. Sebastian Blue needs is your proven prayers to coax his elusive self in from the cold.

Thank you for your help. I'll keep you posted.

xo, Graciel

The Return Of Blue

He's back. The elusive member of the gang of 4 readily showed himself to me this evening. He was sitting on the rear steps of a business along the alley. Because he was sitting next to a cat dish I thought (hopefully) he belonged there. After a bit of observation, I believe I'm wrong.

I got out of my car and talked to him as he sat on the landing, staying at a reasonable distance. I then walked over to the garage hideaway with my flashlight. No one was inside and the sardines on the floor had been eaten. I walked back to my car and got inside. Immediately Blue ran down the steps and launched himself onto the open garage window. He looked down inside and then looked over at my car. That made me decide he needs help.

Blue sat in the window until I reemerged from my car with the food trough and vittles. He jumped down, but only scooted to the blacktop on the side of the garage. I dropped the trough through the window and made sure the dry food hit the bottom with some noise. I got back in my car and took the last fuzzy picture of that lonely, little Blue before driving away.

I've sent an email to the wonderful Susan asking to borrow another trap. I'll let Blue get used to food being in the garage again for a couple days and then dazzle him with sardines in tight quarters. I'll let you know, if you don't mind, when I'll be needing some more of your prayer energy for this last member of the foursome. Thinking positive, I've picked out his shelter name~ Sebastian Blue. Because doesn't his oh-so-handsome self just look like a Sebastian? I hope you agree.

Updates on the safe and snug trio will likely arrive this weekend.

Prayers Answered

I am bursting with joy! Our prayers were answered. This morning at 8am, I peeked in the window at the garage and oh-my-God the trap was shut! I called work to say I would be late. I hurried inside and there was Creamsicle. Mad as hell. M-a-d a-s H-E-L-L! Hissing and ramming himself (guessing he's a boy now) against the sides of the trap. I gingerly put him on a carpet piece and covered him up to calm him. It worked. I left. But I wasn't sure at that time how he would get to the shelter and was fretful he had to be in the trap all day.

Not to worry, the prayers were still working their magic. The wonderful Susan, of rescue/shelter fame was originally supposed to be unavailable today to help me. That changed by mid morning and suddenly the plan was made for Susan's husband and son to get Creamsicle out of the garage and into the shelter long before I was getting out of work. Serious joy overtook me.

To top it off, Susan sent the pictures of Coco and Puff (aka Gwen) in their new "adjustment home" at the shelter. I'm thrilled with the size of it and the lovely accessories. Susan went back to see them last night. She said that both cats came to the front when she opened the door and allowed themselves to be petted. Such a good sign!

So thank you to everyone who said a kind word to coax our Creamsicle to a better life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. More pictures and updates from Susan will be coming very soon. And if no one else at the shelter has the same name, I would like to choose Pam's offering of "Gabriel" as Creamsicle's new name. Pam and her Mom, all the way over in Washington State, have taken a special interest in these beautiful strays and offered gracious support. "Raphael" will be the second option, should a furry Gabriel already exist at the shelter. Thank you to all the ladies for the wonderful name selections. ( I heart Lottie!)

This just arrived. And it made me cry.

xo, Graciel


p.s. I have not seen the cross-eyed Blue since January 13th. I haven't forgotten him. I will be setting up the food bowl again and checking to see if he shows up.

Left Behind

Tonight I went to check on the 3rd trap. What I found was Creamsicle sitting on the carpet in front of the yet-to-be-sprung trap. If a cat can look forlorn, Creamsicle did. I pleaded softly and told him/her the other 2 were waiting. I went for my camera and when I got back, the fur ball had moved to the back. Sigh.

I decided to check on the sardine situation in the trap. Had any been deftly swiped? As I went to the back of the garage, I waited at the rear window and sure enough, Creamsicle stuck her head out, looking for an escape. A simply gorgeous cat close up. As it turns out, no sardines had been extracted. Perhaps the stomach of the Left Behind is not yet empty enough. I added some dry morsels to the stinky pile of sardines for good measure. And again, I wait.

Could you please offer up another prayer or 2 for Creamsicle to surrender and let me bring her in from the cold?

In happy news, the wonderful Susan from the shelter sent me an email update. She said other cats were moved around so Coco and Puff could be in the same cage. 2 cat beds were provided, along with litter box, food, water and toys. Coco went to her bed as if she knew it was meant for her. Puff was more shy, sitting on the edge of Coco's bed or behind it. Wet food was given to help soothe them. Pictures are coming. I'm thrilled they are together as they adjust.

At Niagara Feline Friends, cats have people names, I was told. Something to do with the musical CATS and the notion that cats only get into heaven if they have a human name. Well, okay. So Coco gets to be Coco, but Puff needs to be changed. I asked for Puff to be changed to Gwen, because if I could have taken any of the 4, I would have taken the disheveled puff and named her Gwen. (Truthfully, any cat of mine has 12 to 14 names, so Gwen would have still been Puff...if you follow me.)

So, let's pick a name for Creamsicle. I trust you will pray hard enough to get the cat in the trap and force a name change. So, I'm taking suggestions. Just one caveat~ I'd like it to be an Angel name. And we don't know if Creamsicle is a boy or girl, so you might have to make 2 suggestions.

Now you're up to date. Thank you so much for your most kind comments, your interest and your continued prayers.

xo, Graciel

Winter Strays No More

Bye-bye beautiful Coco.

I see you way back there, Darling Puff.

Off they went, to my great relief and sadness. Monday night was their first night in from the cold. They will be lovingly cared for at the Niagara Feline Friends shelter, first being isolated (hopefully together) from the general population for adjustment and observation. No more 5 degree nights. No more scarcity of water or food. No more crazy cat lady showing up at the window of the clubhouse.

Before they were carted off to a warmer life, I stood next to their blanketed cages in the dark and I sang to them. One small song, over and over, to help them adjust to the presence of well-meaning humans. And now, amid the happiness of rescue, I am also sad. Because naturally, I came to love them and wished I could take them home with me. But 2 shelter cats, already in my care, is my current limit.

I re-set the 3rd trap with fresh sardines in hopes of luring Creamsicle into giving up the stray life and joining the other 2. I'll be checking twice a day, and keeping an eye out for that cross-eyed Blue. As soon as the wonderful Susan sends me some photos from the shelter, I'll be sure to let you know.

Sardine Salvation~ the first success!

After an almost sleepless-with-worry night, I went to the garage first thing this morning. My nerves were palpable. When I peeked in the window, I almost cried. There, looking pitiful inside 2 cages, were Coco and Puff. The first success in this 2 week adventure.

Puff gave a few words of protest, Coco gave none. They were mildly afraid when I entered the garage, but not nearly as frantic as I thought they would be. I put them side by side on a carpet piece and covered them with an old blanket I had cut up for just this occasion. Now we wait. Which feels excruciating. The wonderful Susan, who volunteers at the shelter and drove out to give me the cages, won't be able to pick them up until the end of her work day today. Because Niagara Feline Friends is a private shelter with no public drop-in access, I cannot whisk them away myself. As well, I would have great trouble carrying a cage by myself over the mound of tires in between the garages. So we wait.

But the day will pass and at its end, these 2 beautiful souls will be in a warmer, food-filled place and on their way to a more loving life. I will clean up the sardines in the garage and start fresh again in high hopes Creamsicle will allow herself to come along too. Or maybe Cross Eyed Blue will come back and decide to dine on sardines. I will be keeping track. Because all 4 of these cats have invaded my heart and I can do nothing but see this through.

To the kind and loving people who have offered to send a donation to Niagara Feline Friends to help pay for the vet care expenses for the gang of 4, I will be sending you information today in your email or on your blog. Susan, from the shelter, will be sending photos and updates on the cats so we can all keep track of them until they (fingers crossed) find happy homes.

Sardine Salvation~ Step 1

Sardine Salvation

And so it begins, the quest to extract stray cats from squalor. A wonderful woman from the no-kill shelter is coming today to help me set up 2 humane traps in the garage. I'm nervous. But hopeful. This is new territory for me. If you could spare a moment, please say a small prayer for the safe and quick capture of the gang of 4. I realize this is so very minor in light of tragic world events, but I'm asking anyway.

I'll keep you informed as things transpire.

xo, Graciel

Update, 4:30pm, Sunday~ no cats in sight. Traps, empty.