A Great Note from Ginger's Foster Dad

Last June, we posted a story about Ginger and Tump, who came to PAWS when their owner passed away. It soon became apparent that these two sweet kitties weren't particularly attached to each other, and that they could be adopted out individually. Happily for Tump, he found his forever home a few weeks after that posting, and he is now living "the high life." But for those of you asking whatever became of Ginger, this is your lucky day. Because this post is an official Ginger the Cat update! And who better to share about Ginger than Chris, her foster dad (and fellow PAWS volunteer)? So without further ado, here's Chris:

I’d like to introduce you to a wonderful cat I am fostering named Ginger. There are actually 2 other Gingers at PAWS, so she is Ginger I, but I don’t call her by that name. I call her "Gin Gin." I have no idea why, it just came out that way and I kept it.

From what I know, she is 23 years old! She is doing very well for that age. When I first brought her home, she took no time at all getting adjusted. I figured when I opened the cat carrier she would find a hidden spot somewhere, but she simply started walking around and stayed in the open. I was prepared to separate Ginger and my own cat (Tumble) until they got accustomed to each other and Ginger got used to her new surroundings, but there was no need. They weren't instant best friends, but they both immediately tolerated each other. You can’t beat that.

I don’t remember how I discovered that Gin Gin is deaf. I don’t think it was one thing but rather a succession of events. I have learned how to communicate with her without sound: vibrations, light and shadows, touching. And she is certainly not afraid to be vocal! Can she meow! And purr.

I have noticed her curling up with a TV remote control, placing her paw and head on it and relaxing. I’m sure she’s done that before, and it makes me feel as though I am getting a glimpse of her previous life (she is doing just that as I am writing). And now she’s doing the one thing that I wish she wouldn't, even though I find it amusing. If she is bored with sitting next to me on the bed as I use my laptop, she will get up, walk around the back of the laptop, around the side, to the front, and walk right on the keys. And yes, she knows exactly what she is doing. I have tried to get her to walk NEXT to the laptop and keyboard, and she almost always refuses. She has to walk ON the keyboard. She is stubborn. Or persistent. Or both. Most of the time I win and she eventually stops. Eventually. If not, we make a trip to the kitchen for a cat snack.

I think Ginger wants to win this time. And so to the kitchen I must go … dcsgvdghgbbjhnh.

Our ultimate hope is that Ginger will find a forever home of her very own. But until that happens, we are extremely grateful that Chris has opened his home and heart to her. :)

***** UPDATE (April 7, 2010): You can now refer to Chris as "DAD." He officially adopted Ginger last week. :) Yay for Chris and Gin Gin! *****

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

A few photos of some of the kitties currently living at PAWS...

Susie

Gerdy

Tee-Ma

Oliver

Tango: Love is a Good Lap and a Big Bowl of Water

One of the new "feline" loves of my life is adorable PAWS resident Tango. He's a gorgeous orange tabby who is always eager to escape the confines of his cage for some good, snuggly lap time. Let's just say that he has all of us volunteers -- who have discovered his loving and sweet nature, and his desire to be held like a baby -- wrapped around his cute little paws... (:

Kevin was holding him on Sunday afternoon, and Tango just couldn't get enough ... so he gently reached out to Kevin's hand and pulled it towards him so that he could rub his face against it. It was a sweet and amazingly tender gesture, and we felt so lucky to have experienced it together!

We have a hard time believing Tango hasn't been adopted yet, and think the main reason potential adopters aren't taking that final step is the fear of the word "diabetes." But while Tango DOES have a FORM of diabetes, it is NOT the one that involves sugar levels, insulin, and the like. The form Tango has, called nephrogenic diabetes insipidus* (see note below), will NOT negatively affect his lifespan or quality of life, and requires only that he always have access to plenty of water to drink. That's all. :)

If we didn't already have the number of kitties we have at our modest home, we'd take Tango in a heartbeat! Now, if we can only convince someone to open their heart and home to this sweet boy...

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* Here's a note from the vet who diagnosed Tango:

"Tango has nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. This means his kidneys do not respond to ADH (anti-diuretic hormone), which is produced by the pituitary gland in the brain and for which receptors are found on the kidneys. The function of ADH is to tell the kidneys to re-absorb water, but for whatever reason, the receptors on Tango's kidneys are not functioning. As a result, he loses quite a bit of water through his urine (this is why he drinks and urinates a lot). There is no medication for nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, and no way for us to get his kidneys to respond to ADH. But the bottom line is that as long as Tango has free access to water he will do just fine. He will always drink and urinate excessively, but this should not impact his lifespan or quality of life."

People Aren't So Scary After All. :)

Check out this adorable picture of our little buddy Jasmine. Isn't she cute?

When Jasmine first arrived at our shelter as a kitten, it was clear she felt comfortable around other cats. But when it came to people, she wasn't so sure. Whenever we came into the room, she'd dash away to hide behind the safety of a cat tree, a piece of furniture, or anything else that served as a protective shield. But even though Jasmine was terrified of us, she never hissed or growled, and we never got the sense that she'd lash out if we tried to "push the envelope" with her.

And so it was that we began working to socialize her each time we visited the shelter. And we're happy to report those efforts have been fruitful. The breakthroughs that have occurred over a span of months, while incremental, have been significant. At first, we were excited at just being able to sit three feet from Jasmine without her running away. We felt the same excitement the first time we were able to pet her on the head, and then again when we pet her all the way down her back. And now? Well, even though she's still one of the shyer kitties at PAWS, when with people she knows, Jasmine enjoys being pet and even (gasp!) having her belly rubbed! :)

We're confident that this sweet girl will continue to blossom, and will do especially well in a quieter forever home.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Sweet Roxy (above) and all of the other cats at PAWS (oh, and Tracey and Kevin, too) wish a Happy Valentine's Day to all of our furiends!

We Won an Award :)

Our friend Diamond has given us our very first award for blogging. Thank you, Diamond (and Lynettea, too)! We're really glad you like reading about the cats at PAWS, because we certainly enjoy sharing their stories. :)

According to the rules* for this award, we have to pass it on to five of our blogging friends. There are so many blogs we enjoy that it's difficult to choose just five! But rules are rules, so we'll give it a shot. In a VERY tough field, here are our five selections (they really are terrific blogs, so please be sure to check them out):

Cats of Wildcat Woods

The Monkeys

One girl, too many animals

It's all good.

Alley Cats and Angels of North Carolina

* Rules for Superior Scribbler Award:

1. Each superior scribbler must pass on the AWARD to 5 friends who are also SS.

2. Each SS must link the author and name of the blog from whom he receives the award.

3. Each SS must display the award on his/her blog and link to the post which explains the award. (we couldn't find this post or the one where you have to add your name to the Mr Linky List.

4. Each SS is asked to visit the post which explains the award and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List.
5. Each SS must post these rules on his/her blog.

Our 100th Post!

Meow, how time flies! It's been so much fun blogging about our kitty friends at PAWS that it surprised us when we realized this is our 100th blog posting. :)

On behalf of our own PAWS graduates Moosey and Sammy (whose handsome faces appear in the zeroes of the awesome graphic* above), Tracey and me, and all of the animals at PAWS...

THANK YOU for being our friends, visiting our blog, and for all of your kind and encouraging comments. We appreciate you all, and look forward to sharing even more "tails" with you moving forward.

* Artwork courtesy of Nancy Corbo, NC Graphics (Norwalk, CT). In addition to being an amazing graphic designer, our dear friend Nancy is a fellow PAWS volunteer and an animal lover extraordinaire!C Graphics (Norwalk, CT) ... in addition to being a great graphic designer, our dear friend Nancy is also a fellow PAWS volunteer and an animal lover extraordinaire. :)