Look what we got!

Check it out!  The folks at 1-800-PetMeds generously gave us a $50 credit to try out their site.  Look at what we found there!  Our sweet senior, Sammy, loves laying on our comfy living room furniture.  But because of his arthritis, it's been a while since he has been able to jump up on the sofa, chair, or ottoman without our help.  But thanks to these nifty pet steps, now he can.  As you can see, he figured out how to use them fairly quickly.

Sammy: "That was easy."

Sammy: "I love this ottoman."

Moosey: "Me, too.  I'll just wait here on the steps for my turn on the ottoman."

Shipping was fast; the pet steps arrived just a few days after we placed our order.  We were so excited to find them.  We always thought PetMeds only carried medications, but it turns out they also sell cat treats, food, crates, catnip, pet health supplements, and some toys.  Oh, and of course, pet steps. :)

The nice people there also gave us a $50 credit to buy something for PAWS.  We ordered some Advantage II flea preventative for treating cats who are new to the shelter.  Ordering was easy, and there was quite a selection.  As with the steps, the shipment arrived in just a few days.  Here are PAWS "Showcase Room" cats Anime, Bobby and Junior helping show off the goods. :)

Anime: "I sure hope you're not planning to use this stuff on me."

Junior (L) and Bobby: "The same goes for us ... we're already flea-free."

 Special thanks to Dana, Abby and all the other great people at 1-800-PetMeds.

Have a great day, everybody!

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday - Moosey!

Our sweet boy (and PAWS graduate) Moosey is doing some whapping on Wednesday! :)

Mo' Cats Day 2012, and Thank You

Hooray!  It's MO' CATS DAY on the Internet!  As we did last year, we're celebrating this special day by posting some MO' pictures of some amazing and adoptable PAWS kittehs! :)

Minnie

Maggie

Woogie

Sarah

DiMaggio

Oracle

Happy Mo' Cats Day, everybody! :) 

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Thank you all for your purrs, prayers and beautiful, caring comments about our Auntie Kathy's passing.  We are truly blessed by your love and friendship.

Thank you to our friends at Zoolatry for this wonderful memorial badge.

Farewell, Auntie Kathy.

Back in July, many of you began helping us purr and pray for our amazing Auntie Kathy (who had been diagnosed with cancer in April).  Your friendship, love and support was -- and is -- a great source of encouragement and strength, and we are so very grateful for all of you. :)

We wanted you to know that Auntie Kathy lost her battle with cancer this past Sunday night.  She was at home, and her passing was peaceful, with her two beloved daughters, my sister and other loved ones by her side.  We miss her already, but know that she is now at peace and in a much better place.

To know Auntie Kathy was to love her.  And everyone who met her did just that.  She had a smile that lit up every room she entered, and she was a source of peace, kindness, wisdom and hope to all with whom she came in contact.  She was also a huge animal advocate, who along with her daughters (my cousins) Mari and Alysa, fostered many a kitten for their local animal shelter.  Oh, and she was an awesome Scrabble player (everyone -- and I mean everyone -- in our extended family knows well the bitter taste of Scrabble defeat at her hands). ;)

Auntie Kathy was truly exceptional and remarkable.  The world, and all of us in it -- humans and animals alike -- are better because of her.  Here's a wonderful collage of her, through the years, that our Uncle Eugene (her brother) put together:

Godspeed, Auntie Kathy.  We love you always.

         

Queen of the Castle :)

Hey, was that you who knocked on the door of my carpeted castle?  It was?  Well, come on in for a  visit, because to know me (Swizzle) is to love me!  We can sit together and play some track ball, and you can pet me and give some brushing.  Doesn't that sound fun?

Our sweet friend Swizzle is available for adoption at PAWS.  She is about 6 years old, spayed, current on all of her vaccinations, and has tested negative for both FIV and FeLV.  She is tolerant of some other cats, but does not like dogs.  She would do best in a quieter home. Come meet Swizzle today! :)

Max on Monday

Here's our friend Max, posing handsomely on this chair...

... and showing the proper technique for drinking from the faucet.

Happy Labor Day to all of our friends here in the States. Of course, we also wish all of our other friends a most magnificent start to the week. :)

Friendly Cat Friday - Jack III

Here's sweet and friendly Jack III. Seriously, how can anyone resist that adorable face?  Or those cute paws?  Or those white whiskers?

This tuxedo mancat is about 4 years old, neutered, up-to-date on all his vaccinations, and has tested negative for FIV and FeLV.  Bring some sweetness into your life ... adopt Jack III today! :)

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday - Sisters

Cinnamon and Ginger (she's the one in the basket) are incredibly sweet senior sisters in search of a nice quiet forever home (together, of course).  While they seem to be okay with living in the PAWS records room, these beautiful ladycats are purring for a forever home with some nice sun puddles and some windows that are always showing "Bird and Squirrel TV."

Easy Like Sunday - Sammy :)

Here's our own sweet Sammy.  As you can see, he's taking it easy like Sunday. :)

Happy Sunday, everyone!

FURever Home Friday!

Whatever your plans are for the upcoming weekend, you may want to leave some time for a little bit (or a lot) of HAPPY DANCING, because it's time for another edition of FURever Home Friday! Just get a load of the newest PAWS graduating class:

Armani and Prada (together)

Bailey

Bluebird

Chanel

Daisy and Lilly (together)

Duke (to live with PAWS alums Smith and Thompson)

Jerome

Jill

Lefty

Mali

Molly

Nazca

Popcorn

Priscilla

Spotina

Whitney

And here are a couple of those "happily ever after" reports we all love:

Popcorn is now named Georgia, and she is doing great. Her family reports that she is a very sweet cat, and great with their children. They are absolutely thrilled with her!

Remember sisters Krystal and Loreen? Well, their new mom and dad report that:

Loreen is the ultimate lap cat. The minute anyone sits down, she's right there. And she sleeps with (actually on) us at night! Krystal prefers to snuggle in the laundry at night ... clean, dirty ... she just doesn't care. She is also quite talkative. We love Krystal and Loreen. They really like their new home, especially the open windows where they can get some sun, some fresh air and a view.

Let the dancing begin!

Have a great weekend, everyone! :)
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Oh, and be sure to check out Sparkle the Designer Cat's post about PAWS cats Goldie, Derek and Andy!  Thanks to Sparkle for helping spread the word about these adoptable kittehs!

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday :)

While handsome DiMaggio snoozes...

Sweet Doodle shows her mischievous side...

Then tries to play it off...

Who, me?

DiMaggio and Doodle are both available for adoption.  Come meet them -- and the other amazing PAWS cats -- today! :)
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Check this out! Adoptable senior PAWS cat Sophia is featured today
on the 1-800-PetMeds Adoptable Pet Spotlight! 

Memorial Mancat Monday - Lloydie

This is a very sad time for the PAWS volunteers and staff. On Friday, we bid a final farewell to our sweet and handsome friend Lloydie.  This amazing, peaceable and loving kitteh first came to PAWS in May 2011.

Lloydie and me: headbonking buddies forever

Lloydie had recently become very ill, had begun to lose a lot of weight, and was disinterested in food.  An ultrasound gave the vets strong reason to believe that cancer was the probable cause.  To complicate matters, he was in the terminal stages of acute liver failure, having difficulty breathing and weak.  As our shelter director, Michele, said so eloquently, “…extraordinary measures such as feeding tubes would be in complete opposition to our love for Lloydie, and our most fervent wish that he not suffer.”

So, with Michele holding him in her arms, Lloydie was gently helped to the Rainbow Bridge Friday afternoon.

Our wish is for all PAWS animals to be adopted to live out their days with homes and people of their very own. While that didn't happen for Lloydie, we are thankful that PAWS' no-kill policy meant he was in a safe, warm and loving environment for the final 1 1/2 years of his life.

We miss your headbonks already, Lloydie, and we love you forever. Fly free, sweet boy ... we'll see you when we get to the Rainbow Bridge.

Black Cat Appreciation Day 2012

Today is Black Cat Appreciation Day!

Did you know black cats are only half as likely to get adopted as cats of other colors? And that, on average, they stay several months longer in shelters than any other cats? Isn't that CRAZY? Well, we certainly think so.  There are a bunch of beautiful, amazing and adoptable black cats at PAWS.  Here are just a few of them:

 

Elmer

 

Mercedes

 

Jet

 

Derek

 

Allie

Come and meet these "house panthers" today! You might just find your new best friend. :)

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Be sure to visit Sparkle the Designer Cat's blog.  She is raising funds to help PAWS cats AND featuring PAWS cats every Thursday in August.  We love you, Sparkle! :)

(Almost) Wordless - Pan and Persephone

While beautiful Persephone relaxes...

...brother Pan is having a great time playing in the cat tower!

Affectionate and playful, this brother-sister duo is about 1 1/2 years old, neutered/spayed, current on their vaccinations, microchipped, and ready to be adopted together. :)

Easy Like Sunday - Maggie and Milo

Here are beautiful tuxie Maggie and fluffy orange mancat Milo.

What could be better than taking it easy with your best friend?

Thank you, Sparkle!

Our good friend Sparkle the Designer Cat is the coolest! When Sparkle learned she was a finalist for the "Best Blog Post" category of the Petties, she took nominations and held a vote to select which rescue she would support were she to win her category.  PAWS was among those nominated, and we won (thank you all who voted)!  So, if Sparkle wins, PAWS will get $1,000!

The always generous Sparkle didn't stop there. She has also placed a donation widget for PAWS on the righthand side of her blog (it will be there throughout the month of August). So whether or not she wins a Pettie, PAWS will get donations.

Sparkle will ALSO be featuring two adoptable PAWS cats each Thursday in August! Last week, she featured our pals Dottie and Allie.  If you haven't already done so, be sure to check out Sparkle's blog.  You'll be glad you did (plus, you'll get to see which PAWS cats she's featuring this week). :)

Thank you, Sparkle.  Like we said ... you're the COOLEST!

Easy Like Sunday - Minnie

Beautiful, floofy and adoptable Minnie is taking it easy.  We hope you are, too. :)

Thankful Thursday

We'd like to take this opportunity to thank everybody who voted for us in the Petties!  Heck, we're thankful no matter who you voted for, because each finalist in every category has selected a non-profit rescue to receive the $1,000 donation they'll get if they win. So animals are going to benefit no matter what! :)

Winners will be announced live at 3PM PST on September 7, 2012.  So we can all relax (as demonstrated above by PAWS resident Milo) until then. :)

Thank you again.  We love and appreciate you all!

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

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!

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!

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! :)