Happy MEW Year! :)

Question: What could possibly be happier than a formerly homeless PAWS cat beginning the New Year in its very own forever home?

Marmalade

Answer: A WHOLE BUNCH of formerly homeless PAWS cats beginning the New Year in forever homes.  And that’s exactly what’s happened since our last adoption update! Among the end-of-the-year graduates you may remember from our blog are sweet Calico Manx Marmalade and handsome cow cat Puck.

Here’s the entire list of exciting adoptions:

Adele and Bruno

Bailey

Boogie

Cal

Clarice

Divine and Knick Knack

Dolle

Eddie

Frankie

Jeannie

King

Kramer and Kosmo

Liza

Marion

Marmalade

Mayflower

Plymouth

Puck

Pumpkin

Riddle

Shasta

Romeo

Storm

Trinket and Tchochke

Vinnie

Zoe-Bob

Congratulations to all of the recent adoptees and their new families! And to all of you – our friends and blog followers, both new and old – Happy New Year! May your coming year be filled with peace, love and much happiness. :)

Purrs and head bonks,

us

A new fave, and a new award :)

A little more than two weeks ago, we were selected as the winners of KC & the Sherwood Bunch's PetFusion Cat Scratcher Lounge contest. Thank you Mom ML, KC, and the rest of the Sherwood Kitties from all of us. Especially Moosey, who has made it clear that it is his new favorite piece of furniture AND his scratcher of choice. He took to it immediately, and as you can see from this picture, can often be found on top of it. :)

Then, a week ago, we were incredibly honored when our friend Sparkle the Designer Cat gave us the Liebster Blog Award (Liebster is German for "favorite" or "beloved").  This is an award for "up and coming blogs with less than 200 followers." Apparently, the bloggers who gave the Liebster to Sparkle bent the "less than 200" part of that rule for her, and Sparkle made an exception for us, too. We're actually glad, since it gives us the chance to pass it along to five of OUR favorite up-and-coming blogs.  So here's our list (in no particular order) ... we had such a difficult time choosing just five.  If you haven't already done so, please visit them ... you'll be glad you did!

Sundays at the Shelter

Purrfect Haven

Alley Cats and Angels of North Carolina

White Dog Diary Online

Critters in the Cottage

Have a great day, everyone! :)

Happy Meow-lidays! :)

All of us here at Animal Shelter Volunteer Life wish you the happiest of holidays, and a blessed new year. We'll be taking it easy for the next few days, but want to thank you all for your continued support and friendship!

Love,

Kevin, Tracey, Sammy, Moosey, and all the PAWS cats :)

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday - Jack and Jet

Cute boys Jet and Jack are definitely on Santa's "good" list. We're hoping their wishes for forever homes come true for the holidays. :)

Jet and Jack (foreground)

And for all of you last-minute holiday shoppers who live in and around Norwalk, Connecticut ... come check out all of the great stuff for sale at the PAWS store (located at the shelter)!

Moosey's Quest for a Christmas Hat

Hi there, everybuddy!  It's me, Moosey!  Sammy and I have been very good boys this year, so we have high hopes that Santa Claws will be visiting our house on Christmas Eve.  I'm hoping to stay up to greet him, and want to look extra special when he comes down the chimney.  So I've been trying to find just the right hat for the occasion.  Since today is my dad's birthday (Happy Birthday, Dad!), I let him pick HIS three favorite hats on me.  Here are the ones he chose:

What's that I hear?  Is that you, Santa?

Have a great weekend! :)

Tri-Color Tuesday

Looking to add some color (and sweetness) to your holiday season? Then Callie may be just the cat for you!

Just look at my beautiful furs! :)

This gorgeous ladycat is 10 years young. Callie enjoys being pet, getting scritches, and giving headbonks to her favorite staff members and volunteers. She is on the reserved side, so she's looking to be an only pet in a quieter home. Callie is spayed, microchipped, current on her vaccinations, and has tested negative for FIV and FeLV.  Won't you consider giving this gentle girl the forever home she so deserves?

FURever Home Friday :)

Carter: (A) Home for the Holidays! :)

Even though some PAWS cats are still waiting for their forever homes, it warms our hearts to think of some of our "graduates" enjoying their first holiday seasons with their new families. Check out this list of recent adoptions that's sure to provide you with some holiday cheer...

Blanche and Moorehouse (together)

Cali

Carter

Coraleigh

Goldie

Grier and Sol (together)

Harrison

Loomis

Rhyme and Reason (together)

Sugar Ray

Sabrina

Sam and Tiger (to foster)

Thicket

Tinker
 

Remember our pal Kessa, who in October, finally found her very own forever home after waiting for 2 1/2 years? Well, her new mommy wrote us to say:

Cassie (formerly Kessa) is "a wonderful addition to (our) family."

"I just wanted to let you know that Kessa (now known as Cassie) is doing great. She enjoys naps in a variety of places and enjoys a spirited game of tag every morning with the other girls. Zoom, zoom up and down the stairs. She also likes to surprise me by getting on top on the refrigerator. She is very cuddly and has a tongue like a wire brush, which she loves to use on my face. Thank you for taking such good care of her. She is a wonderful addition to our family."

Now that's what we call a happily ever after!

Have a great weekend, everybody! :)

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday - Doris and Dae

This is Dae.

Here's Dae with her sister Doris. They love each other very much, and MUST be adopted together.

They are extremely friendly, sweet, and available for adoption.

Doris and Dae would make somebody's holidays very happy indeed! :)

For more about these adorable sisters, visit "Sundays at the Shelter," a great blog written by our friend (and fellow PAWS volunteer) Maggie. :) 

Easy Like Sunday - Maribelle

Maribelle is one of the lucky cats who live in the Meeting Room. As you can see, she's decided to take it easy today. How about you?

Have a great (and easy) Sunday, everybody! :)

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday - Pete

Pete is one of the sweetest, most adoptable mancats we know. He enjoys snuggles, loves being pet, and he plays with the reckless abandon of a kitten (even though he's 7 years old)! :)

"What?  I'm not a kitten?"

Sigh...

Pete is neutered, current on all his vaccinations, and has tested negative for FIV and FeLV. Oh, and did we mention that he's highly adoptable? :)

Easy Like SUNday - Brothers

 

More and more, our boys Sammy and Moosey seem to like each other's company. Here they are, sharing an autumn sunpuddle. :)

Here's wishing you all an easy Sunday!

Happy Thanksgiving :)

Moosey: Hi everyone!  Sammy and I are searching for turkeys, but we're not having much luck. Have any of YOU seen any turkeys around here?

Sammy: Yeah, it feels like we've been out here for... um, Moosey ... turn around ... verrrrry slowly...

Now that the boys have found their elusive turkey (and with it being the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in the U.S.), we pause to give thanks.

We are grateful for everybody who adopts shelter animals and/or takes in stray pets. And thankful for those who work with, or volunteer with, shelter animals; serve as fosters; care for feral cats and/or participate in trap-neuter-return programs; and those who raise awareness about animals in need.

We also give big thanks for our families and friends (animal and human alike), including the ones we've made through this blog. Thank you all for sharing in our lives, and for allowing us to share in yours!  Your ongoing friendship is a continual source of strength, encouragement and joy. :)

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Love and head bonks,

(Pilgrim) Sammy, (Native American) Moosey, Mom Tracey and Dad Kevin

Easy Like Sunday - Concha and Julio

Concha

Julio

Concha and her son Julio are usually inseparable, but today they've each chosen a special spot for taking it easy.  Have a great day, everybody! :)

Photo FUN Friday - Derek

Hey Derek, whose 'nip nanner is that?

Mine! Mine! All mine!

Derek and his brother Andy are still waiting for their forever home. Two sweet Persian brothers, AND a free catnip banana ... it doesn't get much better than that! :)

Two (Brothers) on Tuesday

Looking to add a PAIR of kitties to your life?  As you can see, brothers Hippity and Hoppity are pretty fond of each other.  We would love for them to be adopted as a pair (and so would they!). :)

FURever Home Friday :)

If you're looking for a reason to start the weekend with a smile, you've come to the right place. The cat volunteers and staff at PAWS have been really busy caring for, and getting to know, a lot of NEW residents. And of course THAT means ... a whole bunch of cats have been adopted since our last update! :) The adoptees include:

Betsy

Victoria

Leo

Sailor

Here's the full list of our latest "graduating class"

Betsy

Buster

Chatham

Ciara Mist and Coco Peru (together)

Gideon

Hedda Lettuce and RuPaul

Klaine and Finchel (together)

Leo

Loretta

McGuire

Pixie Doodle

Puzzle

Sailor

Sandy (to foster)

Smith and Thompson (together)

Sonic and Tango (together)

Spookie (to foster)

Victoria

Zoe Bob (to foster)

We love and will miss you, sweet kitty friends. Congratulations to you and your new forever families!

Mancat Monday - Ringo and Pablo

Ringo and Pablo are two of the handsome mancats waiting at PAWS for their forever homes.

Tiger tabby Ringo is super sweet, and gets along well with most other cats.

Ringo

Creamsicle cat Pablo is still kind of nervous, but getting better.

Pablo

Dona Nobis Pacem

Eden the Peace Cat

Today, we’re taking part in “BlogBlast for Peace.” Since Mimi Lenox started it in 2006, this day of peace has grown to include thousands of bloggers in 53 countries. How, we wondered, could we integrate Dona Nobis Pacem (Latin for “grant us peace”) into our blog about the cats at the shelter? Then we looked at our pal Eden, and we had our answer.

When you see Eden head on, his facial markings are reminiscent of the "Peace" symbol. That's pretty appropriate, because (like so many of us) this sweet boy yearns for peace and love. Eden came to PAWS from a home where yelling, screaming and discord were normal, so we understood why he wasn't sure he could trust the people or cats here. He would watch warily from the confines of his litter box as we moved about the room. He’d make himself as small as possible. He shied away from our touch. Would this handsome boy ever be okay?

Behold the transformative power of peace. While PAWS isn’t a “home,” it is a place where Eden has experienced more peace than he had ever known. That peace, which comes from knowing the humans here speak gently, move slowly, and offer encouragement, pets and food, has given him the courage to love and trust. It’s especially evident whenever he confidently jumps down from his chosen perch to greet his favorite volunteers.

Eden has been at PAWS for more than two years, and he’s so ready to find his own forever family. He’s still reserved and cautious, so he would do best in a quiet home with people who will be patient as he adjusts to his new surroundings. But we know Eden will be a great and loyal friend. Won’t you please consider giving this “Peace Cat” the home he deserves?

Wishing peace for all beings this day and every day,

Kevin, Tracey, Sammy and Moosey

Happy MEOW-loween :)

Happy MEOW-loween from all of us at Animal Shelter Volunteer Life! As you can see, some of our pals from PAWS (Nurse Diamond, Lady Liberty Petunia, Princess Praline, Good Witch Marmalade, Queen Claire, Jester Puck, Officer Carter, and Elmer the Bunny] are ready to join us for some trick or treating. We sure hope they (and all the cats at PAWS) get forever homes of their very own soon. Now THAT would be the sweetest treat of all! :) *

Purrs and Hugs,

"Master" Sammy and "Chef" Moosey (and mom and dad, too)

(* Click on the picture to "biggify" it, so you can see everyone's pawsome costumes!)

(Almost) Wordless - Lloydie and Me

Sweet Lloydie came to PAWS with his brothers Fritz and Max. As you can see, he really loves people. :)

Bonk!

Four in a Tree Friday

(from left) Io, Jerome, Mindy, and Hunny

The kitties in (open) Cat Room 5 really love their donated cat trees (which look like trees)! It's pretty common to see two, three, or even FOUR cats together on the big one (as demonstrated here by Io, Jerome, Mindy and Hunny). :)

Have a great weekend, everybody!

Doing the Happy Dance :)

Do you remember our pal Kessa? This sweet girl, who was our entry for this year's Wordy Wednesday Challenge, first came to PAWS more than 2 1/2 years ago (making her one of our longest term residents). Well, we received a text message late today from a fellow volunteer that Kessa has finally found her very own forever home!

We don't have a lot of details yet, but we do know that Kessa now has a loving home, a lap to curl up on, and a human to whom she can give kitty kisses like there's no tomorrow. We're going to miss this sweet girl SO much, but this what we've ALL been waiting for. Be well in your forever home, Kessa ... we love you!

Okay, back to doing the happy dance. Anyone care to join in? :)

National Feral Cat Day

It's National Feral Cat Day! Now in its 11th year, National Feral Cat Day was launched in 2001 by Alley Cat Allies, the national advocate for feral and stray cats and a recognized authority on Trap-Neuter-Return (T-N-R) — the program wherein cats who live outdoors are humanely trapped and brought to a veterinarian to be evaluated, spayed or neutered and vaccinated.

Friendly cats and kittens are put up for adoption. Feral cats that have undergone the procedure are released back into the areas from which they came, with volunteer caregivers providing a managed food source and monitoring the colony to aid sick or injured cats. And because they are spayed and neutered, the feral cats don't have to deal with stuff like mating and pregnancy, and no new kittens are born.

If you'd like to learn more about National Feral Cat Day, Alley Cat Allies, and/or how you can help feral cats, please click HERE.

Leo is Looking for Love

Looking for a PURRfect family pet? Then Leo may be the cat for you! This super sweet and extremely handsome mancat has lived with children and dogs, and gets along well with most other cats.

"Look at me, up in a (cat) tree!"

Leo is about 3 years old, and is neutered, microchipped, current on all his vaccinations, and has tested negative for FIV and FeLV.

Easy Like SUNday - Sammy

Happy SUNday, everybody!

Our own sweet Sammy is taking it easy (with his statue buddy) today.

What do you have planned? :)