Saving Hitch

OK, I'll say it, and I don't say it very often, but...I NEED HELP!

I'm relocating Hitch to a feral cat sanctuary and costs are totaling $800.

Her fundraising page is HERE.

This is Hitch, one of the first times I ever met her, doing recon for a TNR project in 2009, with North Brooklyn Cats.

 She was a baby then, but old enough to be feral and not able to socialize. She was very curious, always watching us, interacting from a safe distance.

 She was trapped, spayed and released back to her colony. I did not manage this colony, but when one of the feeders was hit and killed by a truck, I filled in until the community started feeding regularly.

 She knew the sound of my voice, and came running when she heard my bike. She was adorable. I stopped feeding there, because they didn't need me anymore, and after that I popped by once in a while on a run or bike ride to say hello.

 In 2012, North Brooklyn Cats received a call that an exterminator was trapping cats at this colony. I headed over and there it was, a set trap laying in a puddle, from the thunderstorm the night before..., with the exterminator company's tag on it. I tripped the trap and, long story short, a summer long rescue mission was underway. Hitch was in terrible shape and something had changed with her. She no longer interacted with her colony and was very skittish (more than feral skittish, something else) - we found out she went missing for a while, and returned very different. We have no idea what happened. We relocated 4 of the remaining 6. Hitch came to my warehouse colony.

 She did very well here and was happy. She greeted me when I arrived, and followed me around while I refilled the feeders, waterers and litter boxes.

 Changes at this warehouse left Hitch in trouble again. She was very scared and uncomfortable and was living in a very tiny space in the ceiling. It was time for her to move on. But she's already lost 2 homes, is fearful, and another relocation just isn't an option. It's incredibly difficult to relocate ferals, and it's always risky.

 When we showed up to trap, she immediately headed down to the warehouse floor and got into a small corner where we couldn't reach her - either by trap or net.

 The next week, we showed up with netting to net off that whole area, and set traps at every escape point. We got her!

 She saw the vet, looks good, tested negative for FIV and FELV, her blood work is out for analysis and she received vaccination boosters and parasite control.

 The estimate to get Hitch safely to her sanctuary is $800. The sanctuary fee is $350, the vet bill was $370 (copy available upon request) and the fuel estimate for next week's journey is $80.

 She's ready to go! We just need a little help from our friends! Anything you can spare is appreciated.

 Very soon, Hitch will be in a safe, well maintained, feral cat sanctuary. She'll be surrounded by trees, grass and fresh air. I hope she'll again be happy and worry-free. Please help! 

Her fundraising page is HERE!

The full link is below if you can't click on the "HERE" hyperlink.

http://www.youcaring.com/pet-expenses/saving-hitch/156909

THANK YOU!!!

Buster needs a foster or furrever home by 3/15. Please share!

Hi, I'm Buster! My foster mom is moving and I need a new foster home, or better yet, I'd really prefer a furrever home. Here's what I have to offer:

I'm adorable,

 

I can purrfectly execute Q pose,

I photo bomb like a boss,

 I can do #waytooexcitedguy face,

 I play the keyboard,

I'm pretty mellow,

 and I don't need much. All I need is food, water and a little love. I like catnip too, catnip would be a bonus. 

You can learn more about me by reading my blog post. Big City Little Kitty found me, but I can't live in her house because her cat, Mr. Eko, and I don't get along. I don't really like other cats, if you foster or adopt me, I'd like it to just be me and you:)

My foster mom is leaving NY March 15th, I really need a safe, loving new home. Can you please share this on your social media sites? Big City Little Kitty shares, but she's always talking to the same people, your page might introduce me to someone new, and they might be able to give me a home!
If you want to adopt or foster me, contact Big City Little Kitty at bigcitylittlekitty@yahoo.com or go to my petfinder post.

Thanks!

Hear ye, Hear ye! Raptor has been adopted!

Hear ye, hear ye: Raptor has been adopted!

That's right, people, get those paws in the air! Our little dinosaur is living happily ever after! You can see her story on Big City Little Kitty from the day she showed up screaming, and was named Raptor,

to the day she was ready for her furrever home.

Raptor DID find her valentine!

Her new mama tells me "She really had no problem transitioning, and was cuddling with us that night!" YES! I was a little worried, but I had a pretty good feeling about this after their first meet & greet! And...they kept her name! Raptor's living the dream! Cat dancers,

toys,

and she's keepin' it real on mom's med school books!

 Most importantly, "she's definitely a keeper," says her mama!

 I could not be happier to hear this fantastic news! Thank you for all those incredibly skilled snuggles and nuzzles, Raptor. Enjoy your happy ending, furrever and ever. 

xoxoxo,

Big City Little Kitty

Spin, the Little Kitten with the Big Heart

I'm sorry to share this sad news, but Spin has passed away. He had an enlarged heart, and we've known for quite some time this was a hospice situation. We didn't want to announce it, he never seemed to notice, and we wanted him to enjoy his limited life to the fullest and share his joy with others until it was his time, and he did. 

Here is Spin's story:

Spin was found alone as a tiny kitten. He should have been nursing from his mom, but he was only interested in dry food. Lisa, of North Brooklyn Cats, took him in and eventually got him bottle nursing, then weened him at the proper time. He had a terrible roundworm infestation, too. Despite these challenges he began to thrive. 

Around this time, my foster kitten, Lucky, needed a friend. So he came to Big City Little Kitty.

I was immediately in love with him, and he made himself right at home.

He was always happy, every minute of every day.

We learned early on that he had an enlarged heart, and some other health issues that we were unable to explain. We made every attempt to improve his health, and were successful some of the time, but his heart only worsened, and he was not well enough to withstand surgery. At this time, we knew he would not be with us for very long.

It's devastating when we realize we can't save them. It's what we do. We take them in sick, injured, scared and whatever else, patch them up, love them and place them in their happily ever after homes.

It was not time to let Spin go yet, he had a lot of love to give and a lot of fun to have. 

 He loved bags:

 Any bag would do.

He had a favorite place, the Key Bowl:

 LOOK OUT, FROGGY!

He LOVED the 'puter!

He had friends:
North Brooklyn Cats,
Bushwick Street Cats,
his Facebook friends,
YOU,
Lucky,

Papa Eko,

 and Raptor.

 And he had me.

Something happened yesterday, we still don't know what, but he was not himself and his breathing was harsh and labored. \We took him to the vet and she confirmed this was a significant event, and that these were probably his final days. He's been on meds for a while now, and she gave him a large injectable dose to see if we could relieve some of the fluid, hoping he'd recover and have some more time with us. Last night I made him very comfortable, and kept a close eye on him.

Most of the night I was able to hold him,

other times I just stayed close.

In the morning, because he had not improved, but declined, I knew it was time to say goodbye. We got ready to go to the vet, and Shawn and Lisa, of North Brooklyn Cats, picked us up.

We said our goodbyes, and I held his head and paw as he passed on.
Spin fans: thank for all the "Likes" and love comments along the way, each and every one warmed my heart.
I created a "Best of Spin" video, full of all of his fun times. The image quality is poor, but it captures his life and if you've been following him, I think you'll enjoy it.

Thanks for all the love, Spin.
Rest well, sweet boy.

XOXOXO