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July 31, 2012

PAWS Best Lap Cat Contest 2012

Welcome to the 2012 Best PAWS Lap Cat Contest!

Here are the amazing and oh-so-adoptable contestants: 

Allie - This six year-old black beauty usually likes to sniff around the room a little bit prior to coming over to visit. But once she does come over, a simple pat on your toweled lap is all it takes ... she's onto it and settled right in. She's a sweet girl who also likes to lay on her back, and who is tolerant of other cats (as long as they don't get too close ... LOL)!

Sophia - This lovely ginger-hued cat of 12 years is quite the talker, and she is not afraid to tell you exactly what she wants.  And what she almost always wants is to snuggle, nuzzle and lay on people's laps!  Looking for some polite conversation?  Sophia is almost always up for that, too! Quite simply, this girl has "tunnel vision" for quality human interaction.

Loreen - When this gorgeous multicolored girl first came into the shelter, volunteers and staff had difficulty understanding her. When we began spending more time with her, we discovered that she's far more amenable to things like being put back into her cage when she's gotten sufficient lap and bonding time with us.  We have no doubt that she and her sisfur Krystal will thrive in a home environment with constancy (and snuggles and laps)! 

Tessa - This gorgeous, petite and agile two year-old is a big fan of catnip, pets, and perching on the cat tree.  And when we sit in a chair by the cat tree, it's never long before she makes her way down to step daintily onto our laps.  Soon, she's snuggled in and purring away, front paws tucked underneath her.  Like Allie, she's not what you would call "fond" of other animals, but she will tolerate them if they respect her "purrsonal" space.

It's difficult to choose just one winner from this amazingly talented quartet, but it has to be done.  So after much consultation and consideration, the judges have decided that the winner of "Best PAWS Lap Cat 2012" is ... LOREEN!

And what a prize Loreen (and her sister Krystal) have won: a home of their very own!  We understand that Loreen's supreme lapcat skills (with some snuggle-filled assistance from Krystal) largely contributed to the great connection they established with their new parents.  Concatulations, Loreen and Krystal ... we can hardly wait to hear some happy tales from you and your family!

As for our runners-up Allie, Sophia and Tessa ... fear not!  Your amazing lap-sitting skills are in great demand, and we know your forever homes are out there.  Until you find them, though, the volunteers and staff of PAWS will gladly love you and lend you OUR laps. :)  
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TODAY (July 31) is the FINAL DAY to vote for us in the "Best Cause Related Blog" category of the 2012 Petties! PLEASE VOTE for us (and your other favorite pet blogs), and invite anyone and everyone you know to do the same, especially since PAWS will benefit. You can vote here (or click the Petties link in our sidebar). Thank you!

July 29, 2012

An Interview with Moosey and Sammy!


Hi everybuddy!  It's us, Sammy and Moosey!

As you all know, we usually let our dad ("meowmeowmans") and mom write the blog posts here at Animal Shelter Volunteer Life.  We're glad they give so much attention to the adoptable cats at (our alma mater) PAWS, but many of our friends have expressed a desire to get to know US.  So imagine how excited we were when the Funny Farmer Felines asked if they could interview US for Mousebreath Magazine.  What an honor, and what fun we had being interviewed by our good friends Cyndi, Percy, Rusty, Cameron, and Angel Cotton.  Thanks, FFF!  We hope you all enjoy our interview, which you can read HERE.


*** UPDATE ON OUR (DAD'S) AUNTIE K.: Great news!  Auntie K. is doing much, much better, and was able go home from the hospital on Friday.  Everyone is so happy she is home, including her three kittehs, Yuki, Mochi and Ella!  Thank you all for your continued purrs, prayers, and positive thoughts.  We know that they have helped so very much.  :) ***

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Just a few days left to vote for us in the "Best Cause Related Blog" category of the 2012 Petties! PLEASE VOTE DAILY for us (and your other favorite pet blogs) now through July 31 (and invite anyone and everyone you know to do the same), especially since PAWS will benefit. You can vote here (or click the Petties link in our sidebar). Thank you!

July 27, 2012

FURever Home Friday - WOW!

Krystal and Loreen have been adopted! :)

We're so glad it's FURever Home Friday, because we have some big news to share!

Do you remember our pals Krystal and Loreen?  These beautiful sisters waited patiently at PAWS for nearly two years to be adopted.  Until yesterday, that is, when they went off to their very own forever home!  How strange (in the best way possible) it will be this weekend without Loreen on Tracey's lap, and Krystal laying on a towel next to me.  We've been told they really connected strongly with the couple who adopted them. Way to pick your new mom and dad,  girls! New Mom Sharon and Dad Jim promise to send photos and follow-ups, so stay tuned. :)

Here's the full list of cats in this most recent "graduating" class:

Apple and Cherry (together)
Bing
Chairman Meow and Mei Ling (together)
Cheddar and Colby Jack (together)
Colby and Harper (together)
Dan D Lion
Krystal and Loreen (together)
Parfait
Shadow II and Tails (together)

Wanna smile just a little bit more?  Then check out these great happy tails tales!

"I just wanted to thank you for Jack.  He is a wonderful part of our family.  It only took a week for him to start running around the house.  And he gets along so well with our other cats.  He is just a joy and we love him."

Remember Sandy?  His new mom says "...he has a new BFF named Salt. Salt and Sandy can always be found together. Sandy is quite the talker. He is still not comfortable with quick human moves or with being loomed over (as in getting picked up), but he is all about being up on the bed at night and in the morning to snuggle and get pets. We find him to be the most lovable cat ever. And incredibly playful. He has lots of toys and drags them all over the house."

Sandy's mom also said that because Sandy is hesitant about eating in the kitchen when his humans are in there getting food and such, they moved his food to the mid-stair landing where he can eat in what he feels is a safe spot.  We love that this sweet boy has found a family that understands and loves him so well. :)

That's about it for this post.  Have a great weekend, everybody! :)
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We're a finalist in the "Best Cause Related Blog" category of the 2012 Petties! PLEASE VOTE DAILY for us (and your other favorite pet blogs) now through July 31 (and invite anyone and everyone you know to do the same), especially since PAWS will benefit. You can vote here (or click the Petties link in our sidebar). Thank you! :)

July 24, 2012

Two Pic Tuesday - Roamer

Here's handsome Roamer, relaxing in one of the PAWS meeting room's cat trees...


And here he is, doing what he does best!

Zoom!  Look at me go!
Roamer's name fits him purrfectly!  He's young, fun, playful, active, and would love a home where he can run and play.  Our friend and fellow PAWS volunteer Maggie (of Sundays at the Shelter) captured some great video of him in action, which you can see here. Like what you see?  Come meet Roamer at PAWS today! :)
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We're a finalist in the "Best Cause Related Blog" category of the 2012 Petties! PLEASE VOTE DAILY for us (and your other favorite pet blogs) now through July 31 (and invite anyone and everyone you know to do the same), especially since PAWS will benefit. You can vote here (or click the Petties link in our sidebar). Thank you! :)

July 21, 2012

Happy Gotcha Day, Sammy!

Hip, hip hooray!
It’s our sweet senior boy Sammy’s sixth Gotcha Day! 

We remember when Sammy first came to PAWS.  He had been rescued from a kill shelter, where he somehow ended up after being found in a feral cat colony.  We suspect he had been eating more than his share of food in the colony, because he weighed a whopping 21+ LBS. when we first met him.  (In case you’re wondering, he now weighs a much healthier 14 lbs.)  Check out this picture of (then) big Sammy and one of his kitten pals while he lived at PAWS:


Obviously, the picture shows just how big and round Sammy used to be, but it also helps demonstrate one of the things that utterly endeared us to him.  Sammy is one of the nicest, sweetest, most tolerant cats ever, as was clear whenever little ones like this would climb over, bounce on, and jump on him.

We loved spending time at the shelter with Sammy.  Here’s a picture of Mom Tracey’s leg (she’s camera-shy), with Sammy looking up at her:

Are you my Mommy?
 (Yes, Sammy, that IS your Mommy!)
 
And here’s Dad Kevin holding Sammy, right before he came home:

Are we going home now, Dad?
Sammy has been through a lot in his life.  His veterinarians estimate that he is somewhere between 17 and 19 years old.  He had bartonella when we first gotcha’d him.  He has arthritis, a pellet in his leg (probably from when he was in the feral colony), not too many teeth, and he is on meds for hyperthyroidism.  But Sammy doesn’t sweat all that stuff.  This sweet mancat just keeps on going, and he's happy.  And that makes US the luckiest family in the world. :)

Sammy is still a pretty good eater (we call him “the Hungry Badger”).  In fact, he loves food (his AND Moosey’s).  Sammy's other nicknames are “Smoochie Boy,”  “Mama’s Baby,” and “Dootie.”

Like his mommy, Sammy is camera shy, so photos of him looking straight at the camera are few and far between.  But here's a good one of his handsome face (nice "soul patch," dude!):


Sammy doesn’t play as much as he used to, but when he does, his favorite toys (shown here) are the trayf mouse on a string, the hex bug, and the Neko Flies Kragonfly:

Sammy's favorite toys
Sammy's favorite pastimes are sun puddle surfing, laying against things (walls, shoes, pillows, etc.), being massaged and brushed (and trying to brush himself), laying under HIS Christmas tree, family couch time, and getting a ride up the stairs (i.e. the mom or the dad carrying him).
A Collage O' Sammy

He gets along pretty well with his much younger brother Moosey, too. :)
Moosey and Sammy
   Happy Gotcha Day, sweet Sammy.  We love you, buddy!

Mom Tracey, Dad Kevin and Brother Moosey
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We're a finalist in the "Best Cause Related Blog" category of the 2012 Petties! PLEASE VOTE DAILY for us (and your other favorite pet blogs) now through July 31 (and invite anyone and everyone you know to do the same), especially since PAWS will benefit. You can vote here (or click the Petties link in our sidebar). Thank you! :)

July 18, 2012

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday - Pole Sitters

Doodle (left) and Jet
Here are pretty Doodle and handsome Jet, taking turns perching on this nifty scratching post in Cat Room 4. :)
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We're a finalist in the "Best Cause Related Blog" category of the 2012 Petties! PLEASE VOTE DAILY for us (and your other favorite pet blogs) now through July 31 (and invite anyone and everyone you know to do the same), especially since PAWS will benefit. You can vote here (or click the Petties link in our sidebar). Thank you! :)

July 15, 2012

Easy Like Sunday - Kosmo and Kramer

Kosmo and Kramer are spending part of the day in their "tricked-out" cage.  Of course, we'll make sure they also get love and attention, and some extended time out to stretch their legs and play.  But for now, Kosmo is enjoying the hammock, while her brother Kramer is hamming it up for the camera. :)

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We're a finalist in the "Best Cause Related Blog" category of the 2012 Petties! PLEASE VOTE DAILY for us (and your other favorite pet blogs) now through July 31 (and invite anyone and everyone you know to do the same), especially since PAWS will benefit. You can vote here (or click the Petties link in our sidebar). Thank you! :)


July 13, 2012

An award, and an update :)

We got an award!  A few weeks ago, we received the Very Inspiring Blogger Award from our new friends at My dog Sheba's life story!  How cool is that?  Hearty thanks to Sheba and her family (which includes a cat named Cody)!  They just started blogging in May, so please go and meet them if you haven't yet done so. :)


The rules for the award state that we're supposed to share seven things about ourselves.  As we've done a few times with past awards, we're going to use this as a chance to share pictures of seven of the awesome and adoptable cats now at PAWS.  So here are sweet brothers Derek and Andy; Doodle; Tessa; Oracle; Milo; and WoogieBe sure to biggify the collage to get a more detailed look at how beautiful these kittehs are. :)

Top: Andy, Doodle, Derek / Middle: Tessa / Bottom: Oracle, Milo, Woogie
We're also supposed to choose seven blogs with whom to share the award.  Honestly, we're inspired by so many of the blogs we read that we're going to pass this award along to all of you!

Finally, we wanted to thank all of you who have asked how our dear Auntie K. is doing.  She still has a long way to go, and is still in the hospital, but is showing improvement.  Please keep purring and praying!

Have a great weekend, everybody! :)
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We are a finalist in the "Best Cause Related Blog" category of the 2012 Petties! PLEASE VOTE DAILY for us (and your other favorite cat blogs) now through July 31 (and invite anyone and everyone you know to do the same), especially since PAWS will benefit.  You can vote here (or click the Petties link in our sidebar).  Thank you! :)




July 11, 2012

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday - Yankee


Isn't our pal Yankee cute?

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We are a finalist in the "Best Cause Related Blog" category of the 2012 Petties, and we need your help!  PLEASE VOTE DAILY for us (and your other favorite cat blogs) now through July 31 (and invite anyone and everyone you know to do the same), especially since PAWS will benefit.  You can vote here (or click the Petties link in our sidebar).  Thanks for your support! :)


July 8, 2012

SO worth the wait! :)

BREAKING NEWS!  We usually do our adoption/happy tale posts on FURever Home Fridays, but there's just NO WAY we can keep quiet about this for even one minute longer.  Let the happy dancing commence in three... two... one...

After more than two years of waiting -- and of seeing so many other cats in her room come and go -- our sweet, lap-loving pal Petunia has found her forever home!  


When "Toonsie" first arrived in May of 2010, we never imagined it would take this beautiful girl so long to be adopted.  But because it did, we're glad she was at PAWS, where she was well-cared for and much-loved by volunteers and staff alike.  And now she starts the "happily ever after" part of her life, with a home (and laps!) to call her very own. Way to go, Toonsie! :)

Also joining this week's adoption parade were Ladybug, and Gouda and Brie (together).  ConCATulations to all of the PAWS graduates and their new families!

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Have you heard?  We are among the four finalists in the "Best Cause Related Blog" category of the 2012 Petties!  And we need your help!  Please VOTE DAILY for us (and your other favorite cat blogs) now through July 31 (and invite anyone and everyone you know to do the same), especially since PAWS will benefit.  You can vote here (or click the Petties link in our sidebar).  Thanks for your support! :)


July 6, 2012

We're Finalists for the 2012 Petties!


Yes, Moosey, it's true!  Animal Shelter Volunteer Life has been selected as one of the four finalists in the "Best Cause Related Blog" category of the 2012 Petties Awards.  For those not familiar with the Petties, they are the centerpiece of DogTime Media's awards show to "recognize the best of the pet blogging community."

We're honored and thrilled to even be included in the same breath as so many wonderful bloggers we greatly admire.  Congratulations and big paws up to all the finalists! :)

We'd love it if you would VOTE FOR US DAILY now through July 31 (and invite anyone and everyone you know to do the same), especially since PAWS will benefit.  You can vote here (or click the Petties link in our sidebar).


Thanks, everyone!

July 4, 2012

Happy Independence Day!


On this, our nation's birthday, we're celebrating our wonderful Auntie K., who we love so very much. She is currently in the hospital, but making good progress. Please send purrs, prayers and lots of positive energy for her continued recovery. Thanks!

Happy Independence Day, everybuddy!