Why You Should Adopt a Black Cat

I’m happy to report that two of my dear friends “Veronica and Jellybean” who I wrote about last week have been adopted. Yay! It was hard to find them a home, as far fewer people adopt multiple animals. However, a wonderful family took the girls home. Complicating their placement was that Jellybean had a normally working ear, but it was an odd shape. The third strike was that Jellybean was all black.

You see, black animals have a much harder time being adopted than animals of lighter colors. It’s harder to photograph them and get a clear photo, plus sometimes their noses and other features cannot easily be seen. Without a good photo, many people pass over them and go on to the next animal to view. There are also old superstitions and misconceptions about black equating to “bad”.

Nothing is further from the truth. Black labs are among the sweetest of dogs and both black dogs and cats are smart enough to pour on the charm when an interested person comes by, having been passed over by so many who walk by their kennel. Happily, it’s not just for show. They are equally loving and friendly as other animals, and so grateful to be chosen finally by their humans.

Like many shelters, Wayside Waifs where I volunteer has lots of black animals up for adoption. There are so many wonderful animals just waiting for their forever families. This year has seen a bumper crop of kittens too, many of them black. These terrific cats need homes and if adopt one, you’ll have a sweet pet to love you the rest of its life. Sadly, some shelters are still kill shelters and black cats there have little chance of finding homes before their time is up, so many healthy black cats are euthanized.

Won’t you consider adding a black cat to your family? Watch the video below for more information why it’s a terrific idea to adopt a black cat, and meet the black cats currently up for adoption at Wayside Waifs 3901 Martha Truman Drive KCMO. For more information on an individual cat, see www.waysidewaifs.org. Here's the link to the video about black cats.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmGAP06-RXU

Two Sweet Sisters

Before I write about my topic of today, I HAVE TO say that I am so absolutely overjoyed. I just found out that the subject of my last post was just adopted an hour or two ago, to the perfect adopter. She was a special needs kitty and needed just the perfect person. He showed up today. Yay, Gretchen!

Now that I have that out of the way, I want to tell you about my girlfriends, Veronica and Jellybean (Ronnie and Jelly). Jellybean's the all black cat in the front. They're so sweet and gentle, they get along with other friendly cats or dogs, and love humans. Playful, easy to brush and groom, total sweeties.

Pairs of cats are always harder to place and these two have had to go through it twice. They used to be pretty shy but were adopted by a wonderful lady who helped them bloom into the cats they were meant to be. They're much more people friendly and outgoing now. Sadly, she was unable to care for them any longer, so they're back at Wayside Waifs, up for adoption again.

Jellybean is all black and some people shy away from black cats, which is a shame. Many of the most friendly cats I've met were black. My theory is they're smart enough to know they have a bad rep (undeserved) so they try harder. Their features tend to fade into their fur too, so it's hard to capture them in photos or video. In Jellybean's case, one of her ears is folded back. Her hearing is perfect, but people wonder about it, so pass her by instead of asking about it.

These girls have been together almost their whole lives and are BFF's. They'd be lost without each other, so must go home together. If you're in the market for a great kitty, please consider these two. They'll entertain each other, won't cause trouble and are priced right too. At the moment, Wayside is waiving adoption fees on adult cats. But even after that ends, when you adopt a pair of cats, the second is half price. Vets often only charge one office visit for both cats too.

Here's a link to a video about the girls and see waysidewaifs.org to view all the adoptable pets and more details about these girls too. You won't regret it!

http://youtu.be/jAWMSw3tFLY

Thank you to my friend, Cathy Sherman, for allowing the use of her photos. 

Gretchen - a special kitty with special needs

This sweet kitty has a slight wobble due to less than perfect sight and hearing. She doesn't let it slow her down and she is an absolute joy - a favorite of the staff and volunteers at Wayside Waifs. Read all about her and spread the word so we can find this special young lady the home of her dreams. She deserves it. 

Hi there!!! My name is Gretchen, and I am a very, very, very special cat!!! Some people say I am a "special needs" cat. But you know what? I think that I am a "special gives" cat--because I am going to give whoever takes me home so many wonderful blessings!!!

The most important thing of all to know about me is that I am a very, very, very happy little girl!!! Yep, that's me. I may have an extra challenge here and there, but I sure don't let that get me down. No way!!! I am a brave, outgoing, playful, curious, super-loving young kitty. I live life to the absolute fullest and enjoy every single second of it! And I'd love to share my life and my joy with you!!!

I was found all alone on the streets of Belton, and was so happy to be rescued by the nice police officer who brought me here to Wayside. When I got here, I walked right out of the carrier to meet everybody, gave a little head butt to the first person I saw, and started to eat up all the affection I could get. And believe me, I get a LOT of affection and attention around here. Just the way I like it!!!

Everyone at Wayside has fallen head over heels in love with me! Am I lucky or what??? They even sent me to some special veterinarians to find out why I am "differently-abled." You see, I'm a little unsteady on my feet and my head goes a little catty-wampus sometimes. The special vets did lots of testing. They found that my hearing and eyesight are very limited, and my special way of walking and moving may just be my way of compensating for that.

But that doesn't stop me one bit!!! No, Sir!!! Cats like me live normal lifespans. We are not in pain. It is not contagious. And we are just as intelligent and loving as any other cat. (In fact, it turns out that I myself am particularly smart.) We simply learn to compensate for our different abilities. I sure have!!!

One of the very experienced cat ladies here at Wayside recently took me home to live with her for awhile so she could see just what my special needs might be in my new forever home. Boy, is she a super-nice lady, and she'd be really glad to talk to you about me if you want more information.

Here's some of what my foster mommy found out:

First of all, I am an Oriental Shorthair mix, and I've definitely got that distinctive Oriental Shorthair purr-sonality. We Oriental Shorthairs are natural entertainers, full of enthusiasm and energy. We (rightly) believe that the world should revolve around us. We are extremely loyal, very curious, and want to be involved in all your activities.

Our feelings are easily hurt if you ignore us, but if you give us the attention we need, we will repay you with a lifetime of love, affection, and intelligent conversation. We have an opinion about every subject and are more than willing to share it with you.

Like any Oriental Shorthair, I will need an adopter who is okay with me wanting so much attention and being so vocal about it! I can be pretty loud for a few minutes when you leave me alone or put away my favorite toys. And I'm awfully demanding about wanting your full and undivided attention when you are at home. I sure hope you won't mind that. After being alone on the streets, I just crave time with my humans!!!

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm fine playing by myself, like when you are at work, but when you are home, I will expect to be the center of your universe. Don't worry. We can do lots and lots of fun things together!!! How about a good game with a cat wand toy? Those are my absolute favorite. I will play and play and play that game, and even cry for more when you finally put it away until next time! If you've got some chores to do, I would love to follow you around and supervise. And when you get tired, we can sit down on the couch, snuggle together and watch some TV until bedtime.

As you can see in my video, I am very active and playful and I compensate awfully well for my condition. I understand my limitations as far as jumping up onto things. I go slowly, and don't take too big of jumps. When you are sitting on the floor, I like to crawl up onto your shoulder and then jump off for practice.

I do just fine on carpeted stairs. In order to maintain my balance and agility, I do need to keep my weight down and also cannot be declawed or have my nails clipped too short. I need them to help me balance.

I use my litter box without fail, though I do need a nice big one to move around in. I eat really, really fast, which isn't always good for me, but you can help me slow down by giving me smaller, more frequent meals.

I would do best in a house without very young children who might not understand my special needs. But I would be great at helping older, respectful children learn about those who are differently-abled.

And it would be best if I was the only pet in the house. I do like other animals. In fact, being such an outgoing girl, I kind of like to boss them around! But I will do better in a household where I am the only pet. Besides, if you have a girl with as much love and personality as I have, you won't need any other pets to make your life happy. I can do that all by myself!

I am very, very affectionate and loving. I absolutely love to be petted! And while I'm often too busy to take time out to be held, when things quiet down at the end of a busy day, I enjoy having a nice, safe, warm lap to cuddle up in. Getting and giving love and attention are my very favorite things in life.

But out of all of this, do you know the best thing my foster mom said about me? That I am an AWESOME CAT! Aww, I love you, too, Foster Mommy!!!

So there you have it! A loving, happy, "special gives" kitty looking for a very special home. If you think it might be yours, please come down to Wayside and see me. I'll be the one soaking up the love and attention of all the staff and volunteers. They're going to miss me when I leave, but they are going to be thrilled that I found a loving forever home with a person like you!

All my love,

Gretchen


Thanks to Cathy Sherman for her beautiful photos of the cats at Wayside. 

Two Sweet Girls Need a Good Home

Fluffy and Kookie

Although I normally blog about cats, these two dogs have captured my heart so I'm going to talk a bit about them today. They have spent most of their lives together and are very dependent on one another and need to be adopted as a pair. Fluffy is sight impaired and Kookie takes care of her. Fluffy can see shapes and shadows and manages to do just fine, so don't be scared off by her challenges. They walk just fine on a leash and you can walk them together. They miss their home where they lived for many years, but their owner could no longer care for them. How about you? Do you have room in your heart for these terrific dogs?

Here's their story with a link to their video below. Both are available for adoption at Wayside Waifs in Kansas City MO. Thanks for reading about them.

Hello! We are Fluffy and Kookie and are so very pleased to introduce ourselves to you! We are the sweetest, most affectionate dogs on earth and we are searching for a brand new home. Our story is a sad one, yet filled with inspiration and hope, and we intend for our story to have a very happy ending. First though, we need you to meet us and fall in love, realize what super wonderful dogs we are, decide to take a chance and rescue us, and then help us get settled into our new home. Please? Will you at least think about it? For just a minute or two?

I am Kookie, a 5 year old, 63 pound, totally housebroken Lab mix. I have beautiful black and white fur, soft eyes, and adorable perky ears that are so expressive. I am the protector for my sister, Fluffy. She is incredible, she really is! I admire everything about her. She is my sister and my partner, my best friend and loyal companion....the one stable and safe part of my life. Fluffy is mostly blind from a genetic condition, although she can still see shadows and she definitely doesn't let her blindness get her down. Her condition doesn't require any special or costly medical care. She is almost 6 years old, about 80 pounds, also totally housebroken, and also a Lab mix, although she looks very different than I do. She is soft and furry and a gorgeous yellow color. Looking into Fluffy's face can break your heart and warm your heart all at the same time. I just love that girl!

We came to Wayside when our previous owner could no longer care for us. That was a sad day for all of us. We loved our mom very much and she loved us too. It's hard to get split up from your family. Confusing and worrisome too, not knowing what's going on. And then ending up in a homeless shelter...it has been a stressful ride for both of us. We honestly don't know what we'd do without each other. The volunteers are trying so hard to help us stay positive and happy, but different people seem to take us out for walks everyday and it's hard to establish a routine here. It's much easier for Fluffy when she's familiar with her surroundings, but that's so hard too. We break a few more hearts with every week we're here, because people feel sorry for us. We don't want to be that way though! We want to be joyful and carefree and secure. We want to be part of a family again.

We thought our luck had finally changed, when we were adopted by a wonderful new mom about a month ago! My, those were good times in our new home. Our mom adored us in every way and said we were such a joy to have in her home. We were affectionate and fun and kept her entertained every single day, with our enthusiasm and love for life. We were well behaved at all times, fully housetrained, never any trouble at all in our new home. We even got along fine with the cat who lived with us! We enjoyed playing outside, going for walks and car rides, just living and loving life. Unfortunately, our new mom had a change in her lifestyle and she was no longer able to keep us. It was such a disappointment for us, but we understand...we have no choice but to understand. And to be perfectly honest, we're thankful to Wayside and it's village of staff and volunteers who welcomed us back with open arms. They were sad for us, but went right back to work searching for another new home where we can be safe, comfortable, and loved...hopefully for the rest of our lives this time around.

During our stay at Wayside, we've been fortunate in that we've touched the heart of a very special woman...she's featured in our video...and she has made such a difference in our lives. She takes us to her home for a few days each week for a break from shelter life. She's fostered many times before and says we are the easiest dogs she's ever brought home. She said we'll be the perfect match for someone looking for low maintenance, affectionate dogs who are always happy to see you! She wanted to offer up some peace of mind to you as well, regarding Fluffy's blindness. Us dogs aren't reliant on our eyes as much as people are, and Fluffy has been getting around just fine, including maneuvering the stairs. She checks out each room, figuring out where the furniture is, and she remembers! It's really no big deal and pretty incredible to watch her in action. At night, our favorite thing to do is to curl up on the couch together with our foster mom in between us. We love belly rubs and rump scratches. We also enjoy playing in the backyard and I like to play fetch. We're very well behaved and don't cause any trouble at all. We're so happy, grateful, and appreciative just to be hanging out in a home...the little things in life are like heaven to us!

We walk very well on our leashes and one person can typically take us both for a walk at the same time. Fluffy follows my lead and I never, ever lead her astray. Keep in mind, though, as I'm going on and on about how well I take care of Fluffy, that she takes care of me just as much. Her companionship means the absolute world to me. We thrive with people around to love us and our favorite thing in the world is a good belly rub, together with a cheerful human voice. We are sweet, affectionate, calm, and smart too! We can sit for our treats, which we love, and we know plenty of other commands as well. We'd prefer to have a home without kids under 5. The youngsters sometimes make us nervous, especially Fluffy, what with their loud voices and unpredictable movements. Other dogs make us nervous too, so we hope we can be your only dogs. We do just fine with cats though!

Just in case you're reluctant about taking two precious sweethearts home with you together, let us ease your mind. We love to play together and promise not to fight. We do like to eat separately and in peace, but other than that, we want to be together always. We'll be able to keep each other company when you're away, so no feeling guilty about leaving us alone! We keep each other happy and healthy. You get a special Wayside adoption deal when you adopt both of us together, too. And of course, you're assured double the doggie love every single day. How can you possibly resist?

We promise not to cause trouble in our new home! We'd love a daily walk, to help us stay happy and healthy, and of course plenty of loving attention, but other than that, we won't ask for much. We're just two sweet dogs, longing for the routine, safety, and security of our very own home and family. Don't we deserve that? Won't you please take a chance on two gentle souls like us? Our love and devotion to each other is incredible, and we'd really like to include you in our pack. Please?
Love, Kookie and Fluffy

http://www.petango.com/webservices/adoptablesearch/wsYouTubeVideo.aspx?videoid=bbSNhgBeKWY

Report Card Day - 5 out of 6

These sweet faces are just a few of the many cats who have been adopted from Wayside Waifs Animal Shelter in Kansas City where I volunteer. I'm fairly sure my blogging about them wasn't really a factor in them finding their furr-ever homes, but you never know. So I'll keep doing my best to spread the word about my furry little friends. I blogged about these guys and happily got to hear or see them going home. Remember any of these?

From left to right and top to bottom, they were Rocket, Biscuit, Mandaga, Lou and Jazz Man. They all seem to be settled in happily with their new families. The only one I blogged about that hasn't found her home yet is Miss Baily. This is Miss Baily below.

She's still waiting for the right family. We know people are hearing and reading about her, because they're calling and asking about her. Just not the right people yet. But Baily will be patient a while longer, her foster mother less so. Patience is a foreign concept to her, but she's working on it. She really just wants Baily to find the happy ending to her story. So if you're out there, Prince Charming, come and claim your princess.  And while we wait, we'll enjoy our time together. 

Mandaga - a very special kitty

This wonderful kitty named Mandega is available for adoption at Wayside Waifs. She's had a spot of trouble in her young life, but things are looking up for her. She may not be able to see quite as well as some, but she's a sweetheart and deserving of a good home. She's affecgtionate and likes other cats.  Do you have room in your heart for her? Read more about her.

You may be wondering if there is something wrong with my right eye or if the camera just caught me at a funny angle that makes it look a little unusual. Let's clear that question up right away. Yes, I had damage to that eye when I was rescued by an area animal control. The vet clinic here at Wayside did surgery on it to relieve my pain and discomfort. Yes, I am non-visual on my right side. But I just want to tell you that this has not affected my love abilities. It has made it a little harder not to get scared when people or things approach me from that side. Eventually when I am more familiar with my environment and the people in it, I may get more comfortable with that, but for now it is still kind of scary. Sometimes I have heard people around here say that they are inspired by me because I have gone through some pretty hard experiences lately and have managed to stay so positive and ready to be petted. What inspires me is the hope that some caring family will be able to see past my little challenge and love me for who I am. Who am I, really? I am a sweet, shy feline who just curls up into petting with a purr in my voice and in my heart. That just about sums me up in one sentence. What am I looking for in a family? One where I can be totally appreciated for my optimism and positive outlook. One where gentleness reigns supreme and relaxation involves cat play and snuggles. One where my basic needs for food, fresh water, a tidy litter box and a place to clean paws/claws are always met. One where my people keep me inside because they know my ability to survive outdoors is compromised by my impaired vision. One that understands my need to be a valued, respected family member and accepts that I may always be quite timid with strangers. (Wow, I really had to use a lot more sentences to answer this question!! Not being a super-talkative kitty, it just about tuckered me out!) Are we a great match? We will only figure that out if you come to meet me in person Let's try to do that because I truly do want and need my new family really soon. And if you are a cat lover, I think you might need me too!

Kansas City Jazz

This one cool cat, I tell you. He's friendly and funny and oh so loveable, and best of all he's available for adoption today at Wayside Waifs. Read all about him and consider putting your very own spin on KC's great jazz history with this special feline of your very own. You can make beautiful music together. And he comes with a gorgeous red bed and musical print kennel pad of his very own. Somebody liked this special guy to get him some things of his very own. Come meet him today. Here's more about him

Hello, I'm the Jazz Man. I'm a pretty low-key Jazz Man, the 2:00 a.m., slow, mellow kind of jazz. And I'm a senior cat, ten years old. I'm popular around here because I'm quite the lover. I don't just walk up to everyone though. I take my time, just to make sure we are in the same key. And if we are, I'll look up into your eyes and ask you if you luuuuv me. And if you pet me and love on me, I'll love you right back. My feline-ality type is Love Bug. That means I scored pretty low on the bravery test. I like to just hang out in my cool jazz pad and watch the action. If it looks mellow enough for me, I'll step out for a bit, but only as long it stays quiet. So I would like a quiet household and a special place for my own red bed which goes home with me. The other part of the Love Bug type is that I scored high on the affectionate scale. I do love people. But sometimes I like to play, too. I used to have a sparkle ball that I played with when I thought no one was looking. Even us seniors like to kick up our heels now and then! Although I have lived with other cats, it's definitely not my thing. My most recent household had cats that I didn't care for. So I did what cats sometimes do when we are unhappy - since we don't speak Human - I pooped outside the box. Gasp! Yep. It sure gets people's attention. So I went to live in foster care for a while, and I did fine, no "accidents." I tell you this just in case you might think that SURELY I'd love your own sweet cats. I'm sure they are great cats, don't get me wrong. But I have my ways of communicating. So. I really need to be the only cat in the household. That way I can have my people all to myself. And you won't have to clean up my "messages." As for the litter boxes, I had TWO covered litter boxes in my foster home, which were changed morning and evening. And I used them every single time. I really like a clean litter box, so I thought I'd let you know. During my foster time, I got to have my own room. One time an outdoor cat came right up to the window and peeked in at me, and I screamed! Wouldn't you?? Anyway, I don't want to have to be around other cats anymore. Please. Being a senior cat I enjoy my long cat naps, so it's okay if you are at work all day. But when you are home, I will want to spend time with you, sit beside you or on your lap, and share the love. Everyone here says that I'm really sweet and affectionate as soon as I get to know you. So, are you looking for a mellow, loving companion? If so, I'm the cat for you. Leave the kittens for the households with kids and dogs and cats and parties. If you think that you and I would make beautiful music together, come on by and see me. Hope to see you soon. Love, Jazz Man

Photo courtesy of Cathy Sherman

Friday - fire day

Two wonderful volunteers who I get to work with sometimes at Wayside Waifs are recovering from the after effects of a fire at their apartment complex a day ago. Best wishes go out to them both as they replace all their lost possessions. Unfortunately, one lost one of her animals and the other is at the vet being treated for the effects of the fire.

Feline Fridays with picks for adoptions will resume next week.

Feline Friday - Rocket

This sweet little guy is called Rocket. He has come a long, long way in the time he's been at Wayside Waifs in Kansas City MO. He started out such a scared little guy who refused to come out of his kennel to meet some of  his adoring fans. Now you can't get him back in. What a difference a little kindness and patience makes. He'll probably take a step back when he goes home with a new owner, but give him time and he'll  make a great pet for you. Read his story below. For more information about Rocket, go to www.waysidewaifs. org to find out more about him. You won't regret it.

Hello, I'm Rocket. When you take me home, I'll be off like a rocket - looking for somewhere to hide! I was found as a stray in Belton and I must have had a bad experience, because I was really scared of people when I arrived here at the shelter. I used to always flinch and cower when being petted. But I have always been very sweet and gentle.

Some great people have been working with me here, and I've become less fearful of being petted. I really like treats, and sometimes that's a good way to help me relax if I'm cowering in my sleeping box. 

I used to always stay in my sleeping box until things were really quiet here, then I would come to the front of my kennel and check things out. Now I've become more confident, and when the shelter is closed and I'm around people that I know and trust, I enjoy coming out of my kennel and exploring. Sometimes I even meow for attention! This is great progress for me, and everyone is quite happy for me.

But when the shelter is open I generally stay in my sleeping box where I feel safe. This is probably how I will be when I go to my new home. I'll want my own special cat bed in an out of the way corner where I can feel safe while I get used to the new environment. And I will need a calm, quiet, patient owner and household. If your house is like a private library, I would LOVE that! Just you, me, and all that peace and quiet!

Guess what! I also like to play! Usually you have to gain my confidence first by petting me, or just letting me lay my head in the palm of your hand for a while. After I begin to relax, I will perk up, and then we can play! I especially like to play with a cat charmer - you know, a ribbon on a stick? But first I have to relax and make sure that I trust you.

I can't imagine myself being around dogs or children. I have enjoyed meowing at another cat who sometimes comes by my kennel, but I haven't interacted much with the other cats here yet. Sometimes we shy cats are helped along by a friendly feline companion though. 

Everyone here agrees that I am very sweet, it's just that I get so scared at first when people come to visit me. But I'm making progress, and everyone is so happy for me. 

I use my litter box faithfully, as a good kitty should. I have a short-haired coat which is easy to take care of. I'm not much trouble, and I'm very gentle.

Are you that special person who has a way with shy cats? If so, I do hope you will stop by to see me. I had kind of a rough life before I arrived here, and I look forward to being in a relaxing environment where I can live in peace and share my sweet, gentle self with you.

Love and Peace,

Rocket

Feline Friday - Lou

Lovely Lou is a beautiful Siamese Mix who's gotten a little bit tired of waiting for his forever family. Please read about this sweet guy and if you live in the Kansas City MO area, come by and meet him. He'd make a great addition to your family. Here's what he has to say for himself.


They tell me that my photos are almost as lovely as I am.  They also tell me that I appear to be a white/orange point Siamese, and that some people just love that kind of cat so maybe I won't have to wait a long time to be adopted.  That would be wonderful, because like all of us felines out at Wayside, I just want to go to a new forever home.

I was transferred from one of Wayside's partner shelters because they were out of space and wanted to give me the best chance they could to find a family of my own.  There is always a little waiting period after a transfer before we are available for adoption.  That gives people who may have lost us time to find us, but in my case that did not happen.  So here I am, all ready for out mutual interview where we can decide if we "click".

If you are ready for an addition to your family, I wish you would come out to visit me very soon.  I can sniff you and if you approach me gently, you can touch me.  We can look into each others' eyes and read the character and personality we see there.  You can talk and I can listen or meow if you inspire me to comment.  We can spend a bit of time just hanging out in a special room together.  Then we can decide if we are an ideal match.  If that happens, you can meet with the adoption counselor and take me right home with you the same day!

Just waiting for you at Wayside,
Lou

Friday Feline - Biscuit

My pick for Feline Friday is a gorgeous 10 month old female cat named Biscuit. She's coming along nicely  and becoming friendlier and less scared as she learns humans can be quite nice toys. Read her auto-biography below and view her video too. She's a sweet and loving girl. ?Watch her video here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYuhDMyr7o8&feature=player_embedded#!
She's available for adoption at Wayside Waifs in Kansas City Mo.


As a stray kitten last October, I was lucky enough to be helped out by the person who found me struggling to survive outside all alone.  After a time, she made sure that I got to Wayside so that the people here could help me find a family who will take me home to love forever.



After coming here, I had some trouble not bothering the stitches on my tummy after being spayed, and until the incision healed up I was not able to get out to the adoption floor.  I had to wear a band around my tummy and one of the humiliating head cones.  Being a somewhat shy girl to start with, that did not help my self-confidence with people.  I know it was necessary for my healing, but kept me wondering "What next?" when humans were approaching me.


Though I am starting to be trustful and to want human friendship, I am going to need a lot of support from the family that adopts me.  They will need to be patient and gentle and kind as they help me to learn all about my new home.  That will help me understand that they want me to succeed in being their kitty.  With bashful girls like us, changes can take some time to adjust to ... and it may be a while before I start reaching out to give and receive affection like I want to do.  Can you handle still loving me without a lot of touching right away?


With all the people there are in the world, I believe that there is a special place for me to call home, with human hearts full of compassion to help me overcome my shyness.  The people here at Wayside are already working with me on it and say they see progress.  But what I really need now is a family of my own.  Are you the one(s) that need me too?


Hope to meet you really soon,  Biscuit

Feline Friday - Baily

Baily is my featured cat this week and she's available for adoption at Wayside Waifs in Kansas City MO where I volunteer. She gets over-stimulated and then can act out, so cannot be in the same room as the other adoptable cats. Her lack of visibility affects her chances of adoption. She's a beautiful Persian mix and needs a home, so please consider her or helping get out the word about this gorgeous gal. Her bio is below her glamour shot. Thanks so much. 

The name's Baily, and all you need to know about me is that I'm ten pounds of pure tortitude! What is tortitude, you ask? It's a word that describes the larger-than-life personality of a tortoiseshell cat. We torties are named for the flecks of color in our coats, and we're known for our feisty dispositions. No shrinking violet here!

Take me for example-- sometimes I like to purr and be petted, but sometimes I don’t. I prefer to have my head and ears rubbed, ear scritches are the best. To show my affection, I head butt you and kind of rub my head on you sometimes too. I prefer short affection sessions to long ones, if you wouldn’t mind. I’d prefer not to be held or picked up, but if it’s my idea, I might climb in your lap.

If I’m not in the mood, I might hiss so don’t ignore my warning. We cats love humans and try to let you know what we’re thinking and feeling. But sometimes you really need some lovin’ when you’ve had a hard day so push on and try to coax us. If you ignore my warning, I might smack you with a front paw. Don't worry, though; I'm declawed, so it doesn't hurt when I smack you.

I don't even hit that hard, to be honest. I'm not trying to do any damage, I'm just letting you know I'm not in the mood. If you have nice things, you needn’t worry about them. I won’t shred your cushions or climb your curtains. No can do! Can’t accidentally scratch you either.

As you can imagine, I like to play with toys that I can bite and bat. It's very therapeutic! If you come to meet me, we can play together. You can dangle a cat charmer toy for me, and I'll swat it and grab it. Doesn't that sound like fun?

I’m also the teensiest, tiniest bit vain and with a face with beautiful markings like this and long, silky fur typical of Persians, why wouldn't I be? I love to be told I’m a pretty girl or that I’m beautiful, what woman doesn’t? I also like being brushed to keep myself looking my best.

I'm hoping that I'll meet the right person sometime soon. I need a human who embraces tortitude, someone who understands that you don't own a tortie-- a tortie owns you! My new human will have to be the kind of person who can give me love when I want it and space when I don't. I really miss my owner who died suddenly. We were great pals and I didn’t have to explain myself. What do you say-- are you up to the challenge of making pals with a lady who knows her own mind and insists on getting what she wants?

Feline Friday is Here

This beautiful kitty is available at Wayside Waifs Animal Shelter in Kansas City MO where I volunteer. Camper has written a short auto-biography of his recent past posted below. Please read all about him and think about adopting this sweet and loving cat who needs a good home and someone to love him. You won't regret opening your heart to him. For more information, go to http://www.waysidewaifs.org/, and click on adoptions, available pets, cats and then choose Camper.

Hi there, I'm Camper and I'm a sweetheart. I was found as an injured stray and I spent my first month here being looked after by the kind vet staff. I had a large abscess which is healing well, but my hip is still tender. If you accidentally touch it, I'll twitch, but I'm too much of a gentleman to get angry about it.

I'm considered to be a senior cat, age 7, and I'm really mellow. I'm missing some teeth, too, and I'm FIV positive. FIV means I have a weak immune system, but most FIV+ cats live long and healthy lives. When we get sick or injured, it is harder for us to fight an infection, so take me to the vet. In my case I'm recovering nicely from my wound. FIV is not transmittable to dogs or people, just other cats, and only through deep bite wounds, not sharing food bowls or a litter box. As mellow a fellow as I am, the possibility of getting into a fight with another cat is low, but just to be sure, it’s best for your existing cat to not bring home an FIV positive cat. I can share my house with another FIV+ cat though. In general, as long as we FIV+ cats stay indoors in a loving and peaceful environment, and have regular vet checkups, we are usually healthy.

My feline-ality type is Sidekick. That means I'm friendly and moderately brave. I like people and I'm a happy camper when I can sit in someone's lap and be petted. That's my favorite activity - being petted. I don't get too riled up about toys or anything, I just like a comfy pillow or a nice lap. I probably won't be great in a household with young children because of the tenderness in my hip, and because I need to be in a relatively low stress environment. Probably there should be no dogs either, but I might be okay with a really mellow dog who doesn't mind sharing his home with a really mellow cat.

If you are looking for a quiet, loving companion who isn't likely to get into anything or turn on the lights at 3:00 a.m., please come by and see me. We had a cat named Cloudy that could do that. Hey, when a girl just wants to have fun, what are you gonna do? She was a hoot and a half! Do you have the right household for me? If so, I look forward to meeting you. I'm usually napping here, but when you come into my room, I'll enjoy getting into your lap so you can pet me. Watch the hip, though, okay?

Love, Camper

New Adventures in Food

Two weeks into the new year in Kansas City and it’s still 50 outside. Amazing! No reason to whine here. I was lucky enough to have vacation time recently during the amazing warm spell. Rode all around town wasting some of the gas I didn’t have to spend going back and forth to Olathe every day to go to work. I stumbled across someone at Penzey’s Spices who is quite a foodie and very knowledgeable about the local food scene. She recommended that I try a couple of stores I’d never heard of until now. They’re both off the beaten path and not visible as I drive my normal routes, and both worth a trip.

One is the Indian Emporium off Metcalf at 104^th. It’s been there about 30 years and is chock-full of ingredients for all sorts of Middle Eastern cooking, which I enjoy (some of it). I stocked up on basmati rice, tandoori seasoning, dates and a few other things, some of which can be bought at Whole Foods or Trader Joes, but much more that can’t.

The other is 888 Market at the intersection of 169 highway, Switzer road and 119^th Street. It has everything Asian you could possibly wish for and more. I wish my brother were still here for an hour (and that’s all – a year and a half was enough). Having lived in Japan for a few years, he could explain all the different kinds of rice, noodles and wrappers. Very confusing.

These are the kind of stores my mom would have loved if she were still with us. She loved trying new things and was an avid reader of Gourmet magazine. Her goal was always to get all of us to at least try just one bite of everything and keep trying new things. I remember one time it backfired as my brother had saved half of his Japanese lunch that he was treated to when his class completed a year of Japanese in high school language arts. Served her right that she had to eat seaweed and chocolate covered grasshoppers as he reminded her, “just one bite, mom, remember what you always said!” Sadist!

My sibs turned out more adventurous than I did when it comes to food, although I’ve improved as I got older. I discovered that texture or mouth feel is paramount to me. Don’t surprise me with a soft watery food on its own and expect me to like it, such as stewed tomatoes or asparagus. My mouth is expecting something sweet like watermelon or peaches. I eat tomatoes and asparagus now, but in more flavorful savory combinations or cooked to a tender crisp such as in stir fry. My list of cooked vegetables I won’t eat keeps shrinking. Mom would be proud….. or more likely would say “it’s about time, Shelley!”

I’ll share some of my favorite discoveries with you this year as I keep trying new things. Let’s start at the beginning, so expect to hear about apples and apricots and asparagus. And on Friday’s I’ll be sharing some of my favorite felines with you from the animal shelter where I volunteer. Till next time.