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Bee Holistic Cat Rescue and Care

Cats O' the Day: Miller & Maybelline!

1/23/2020

These two stick together! They were born here on April 3, 2019, to a mom from the streets. They grew up with humans, and the other kittens we took in during the 2019 'kitten season'. We had four mothers, and between their babies and the orphaned kittens these great moms took in, about 20 little ones. Wheee!! They were all in three rooms on one side of the house, and co-existed fine, as cats always do...
Miller and Maybelline are now 14 months old. Miller is huge! Big and soft...with a brownish tinge to his fur. Maybelline is more solid black, and a bit smaller. They don't put themselves forward: quiet and unassuming, they are. But they are always responsive when we stroke them...and purr at a touch. the still stick together, and often join other members of the Black Cat Club.

Not their most elegant poses...

MS Maybelline, if you please!

AND Miller!

Another Day, Another Miracle!

12/21/2019

Ms. Heather!

Heather! Hard to top her for amazing resilience and recuperative powers...
I have not written about her anywhere: how to relate her story, how to explain the inexplicable?
Heather was brought to me by a dear friend and intrepid cat lady this last May. She came from a colony in Tara Hills; had slipped through the cracks of a big trapping/neutering effort there. She was tiny (first photo) and had, despite being badly crippled, had managed to creep onto the steps of a house there. I take in difficult cases, and she proved to be one of the most amazing ever!
Heather was about four weeks old: she could eat on her own. But she was tiny! And she had bent, stiff legs, with a big knob on one elbow. No one ever diagnosed her fully. Here initial x-rays (now ‘rads’) were startling. She had no femoral knob on one back leg, and no hip socked there either. Okay...and the rest of her skeleton wasn't perfect either :-) But she was a happy, otherwise healthy, little one.
Heather managed well, grew, got to be friends with the others, and saw our holistic vet for supplements to her diet. She couldn’t jump, but she could get around well.
One day she started to exhibit signs of dying. She stopped eating or drinking, producing urine or stool, extended her neck, as they do. (Gail Pope at Brighthaven has a lot of great info on the dying process: brighthaven.org. I’ve learned about hospice and natural death from her. I very infrequently euthanize a cat) As with us humans, a natural death is usually painless, or made so with pain meds. Heather, however, showed signs of having pain, she cried out at times, and I was very close to having her euthanized. She was in this condition for three days, sleeping with me.
On day four, she woke up. I have seen miracles, lots of them, though none quite like this.
She started eating, and acted as if she'd just taken a nap. No more crying...
One thing however: she had completely lost the use of her legs! All four. She stayed on the couch, pretty much immobile. But she ATE!
By the way, Heather had been tested and examined in pretty much every way possible, and nothing was found to explain her condition. Inbreeding, congenital deformities...there were theories.
It was obvious that Heather was extremely displeased with her situation! She was and is an independent, strong-willed cat. Neither she nor I fancied twenty years of this!
Our cats’ chiropractor worked with her, and had the best grip on the situation (no pun) and on her future development. She told me about how ‘workarounds’ are developed from muscle and calcium, and lots more! The orthopedic surgeon said to just wait and see how things went.
I have friends, Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen, and her daughter, Basha. They run the School for Body-Mind Centering® (do yourself a favor and check it out) Basha is on our board of directors, and is wise in the ways of the body and mind. She sat with Heather, hands on, for about ninety minutes one day. At our board meeting some time later, Heather was on the table with us, and started to push herself up onto her legs. And then slowly started to walk. I just lost it!
There is so much more to relate…but let’s just say that Heather is one of my many miracles. She now runs like the wind, jumps and plays…is growing normally, and of course, is the love of our lives.
Needless to say, she'll be staying with us!

Little one on arrival

Eek! No femoral knob or hip socket!

With her loving pals...

Back from death's door and EATING!

On the MOVE!!

On the cat tree!

Valiant's miracle!

10/17/2019

GREAT DAY for VALIANT!!
Well!! Yesterday, Val got down off the couch on his own! Somehow. I didn't see him do it, but found him in the back of the kitchen on a cat tree! He had till now been unable to judge distance; was not able to get off the couch for that reason. He just went back and forth on the couch...and could get into the tree touching it, but his vision had not come back to the point where he could evaluate distances. NOW HE CAN!! Yesterday he was able to go from the greenhouse window down to the sideboard below, feeling gingerly below him. He could sense, partly see, how far it was, and made it down! Later, he was all over!! Up on other cat trees, climbing happily, playing with Little Maggie: All Over The Place!! Liberated! and happy! At the slightest touch! It's been a long journey for him, and in typical cat fashion, he breezed through it! He and I thank you for your help! (Need more hint hint) It's a bright day for Valiant...taking his place in the world after the world's worst infection in his head!
For the rest of his incredible story, here's his gofundme link:
https://www.gofundme.com/manage/let039s-all-help-with-valiant039s-amazing-recovery

Hikikomori in cats?? Well maybe!

9/21/2019

This is Bruna. She came to us from the streets on April 3, 2019, just in time to deliver her five healthy (!) babies. We had three other mothers with us, one quite "feral" one sort of feral, and one friendly. They were all in the back part of the house, and the babies mingled. Bruna was a great mother: any and all babies were welcome at her breasts. Bruna stayed hidden various places in 'her' two rooms, in or behind her box, or on the cat tree in the back bathroom. Her babies grew and thrived, were adopted in pairs, and Bruna stayed on. She got spayed and chipped. It is now late September, as the song goes, and she is still in one of the back rooms, on the counter. There is a window seat, and she's there a lot, or behind this little chest. Once in a while she goes onto the cat tree in the adjacent back bathroom. Ears go back when I'm too close. I touch her gently with a wand, and she's getting used to it. The back door has been open a lot, but she's not yet ventured out. Bless her heart. Stay tuned.

Meet Celeste. she came to us from the streets. She had been called Shadow. We thought "Celeste" would serve her better. Her human had died, and she'd been hanging around the senior complex where he had lived (often pets of the deceased are just thrown outdoors) and was being fed by another resident. I was called when she developed a horrible rash/raw area around her neck. She was sweet and gentle from the start (how much they put up with and stay sane and trusting is amazing)
The awful rash seemed to be the result of a toxic flea collar...don't ever buy Hartz products...and healed up well over a matter of weeks. She was in the big cage in the living room initially, but found her way to the middle bathroom and stayed, yes, on the top of the toilet, for weeks. We put a bed in there but the tank was just fine, thank you. And litter and water...fed her there. ...Well! Wow, she moved to the foot of my bed eventually, and has been happy there for another couple of weeks. Has also gone to the window seat by the bed. WOO! She's happy, and if I bring her to my pillow with me, she'll stay and purr. Safety trumps adventure, in many cases, for a long time! She's a bit wary of the other cats, too; may have been an only cat. We love her, and look forward to her gaining confidence and branching out! We know she will...Isn't she a love?

And now Rosemary! she was found by a good Samaritan staying at a hotel in Hercules, CA. The folks at the hotel were planning to call Animal Services, but this nice guy called me. He brought this mature, very affectionate and agreeable cat to us. That was on June 6th, 2019. Another case of extreme tolerance of a bad situation! She was fine in the new environment here, with all the others...also stayed in the living room cage for a few days to get the lay of the land. After the cage door opened, she stayed on top of it, or right next to it, for a few weeks. she was a happy, friendly cat, but wanted to play it safe: she had a nice place, and she was sticking to it! However! She branched out faster that the other two here mentioned...was in the bed in the bookcase, then on top of the tree in the Middle of the Room,on to the Table, then Out Onto the Deck...and even onto the patio a time of two. Rosemary is coming to feel safe here, is coming into her own. She's a happy lady!

But what is Hikikomori? Thanks for asking. It's a phenomenon, mostly occurring in Japan, where young folk, usually men, just do not leave home. Do not leave their rooms. Ever, in many cases. Stay put. Are fed and watered by their parents. Look it up. With cats, it is really more of a cautionary behavior. "It's fine here; why risk a move?". They come to trust over time. Cat time is not our time. Glacial pace of change. I think that, in a lot of cases, they feel that if they go outside, they might not ever be let back in...it is touching.
We'll see what the future brings for Bruna and Celeste. Rosemary is on her way!

September 14th, 2019

9/14/2019

We take in injured, sick, terrified, newborn cats: the whole enchilada.
Now and then someone is especially heartwarming and amazing...Meet Valiant!
He came to us after his eyes enlarged. A huge abcess on his cheek had broken, and after that he lost his sight. He is a sweet, gentle boy, and just clings and purrs. He had some strange symptoms: Could walk but didn't, was incontinent. The radiologist gave him an all clear from his x-rays. .He had a fever of 106.4 (raging infection) which dropped to 97! then up again for over a week. It's down to normal now. He's been on two kinds of antibiotics...At first the docs and I thought head trauma or infection behind the eyes, but the 'caretaker' where he'd been said that the eye damage didn't come quickly, as it would have been with head trauma (and there were no other signs of it). Slowly his eyes have regained function, and the swelling around them has gone. The abcess wound healed up wonderfully, and he has started to use the litter box! Wheee! It seems that he has re-gained some of his sight...The docs said that if a kitten (he's just 5 months) loses sight after they've had it, they will not run around confidently like one does who was born blind. He has begun to creep back and forth on the couch, etc. Interestingly, at no time was the area around his eyes sensitive. He didn't seem to be in any pain.
Finally gets to the eye specialist on the 23rd. And the chiropractor on the 16th. You can donate and earmark your donation for Val...he's a deserving lad!
We look forward to a complete recovery! stay tuned.

Chiropractic Care for Cats? YES!!!!!!!!!

9/1/2019

It was through a friend that I learned about Doctor Margaret, chiropractor to the stars (animal stars only)
Head slap! Cats have long spines (tails are extensions of the spines) and do a lot of jumping, twisting, wrestling, etc., so...often get out of alignment! This can cause all kinds of pains and problems. I started taking my cats to see the good doctor, and found that maybe 80% or so had one or more vertebrae needing adjustment. Wow! We go on a regular basis now, and I'd urge everyone with cats or other animals to do the same. Any animal can benefit! Dr. Margaret serves newborns to horses, and I can't say how much I admire and appreciate her wisdom and work! Margaret Holiday: she visits several of the clinics in the San Francisco bay area. She's one of those folks with a very wide range of knowledge! Often she had been the most valuable member of a cat's medical team!

My Cat (S) Would Never.....

8/13/2019

In my years as a real estate broker, I learned to focus on doing the most productive activities first. And to appreciate the difference between urgent, important, urgent and important, and urgent and unimportant ones.
Urgent and important right now is my need, goal, desire, passion, to get folks disabused of the "My cat would never accept another cat" way of thinking! NOT SO, in virtually ALL cases. I can speak with authority as I have had literally thousands of cats through my shelter, and they all, always, pretty much immediately, get along!
Lots to unpack here, to coin a phrase.
I bring home old, young, traumatized, starving, injured, cats. Cats who have had to fight for food on the streets. Cats who have never lived with another cat, and those who have lived with too many (hoarding situations) And......
THEY ALL GET ALONG FINE!

I've given this a lot of thought, and have come up with a few ideas about why mine do, and folks are so convinced that theirs will not, co-exist peacefully, even lovingly.

1. My first theory is a tad snarky, but in many cases, I'm sure, spot-on: folks don't want any more cats, and use their cat or cats as an excuse. "It's not me, it's my cat ".
2. Cats are following the expectations of the guardian. They are way more astute than we give them credit for. they understand your expectation or thinking that they won't accept another cat, and act accordingly.
3. Folks don't introduce the new cat diplomatically and tactfully! They don't explain that the new cat is for the existing one's benefit, that the existing cat's place in their hearts will not change, etc., etc.! Anitra Frasier in her book The Natural Cat, lays out a good scenario for the introduction. Six Pages! Lots to ponder and learn from!
I would be delighted to talk with you about introducing a new cat or cats!

So many more cats would be in loving homes and out of the steel shelter cages or off the streets if we could teach folks that adding cats is doable. Give it a think!

Day in the Life...

8/13/2019

Up, got coffee immediately. Checked emails and ebay.
Took a call from San Lorenzo...(I’m in Richmond) Needed help with a kitten she’d found. Needed bottle feeding, told her to take the baby to work with her. She is a pre-school teacher, hope she could and did do that…
Scheduled eye surgery for Eliza (entropian: lashes rub eyes, sometimes causing rupture, always causing irritation and worse.)
Made food for the horde…fed. Changed water dishes, etc. Gave medications. Flea combing. Ken did litter boxes, laundry, cutting up of chickens, shopping, taking ebay items to post office, and so much more J
Ordered Idexx combo Leukemia/ Feline Immunodeficiency tests. Found to my surprise that I had over $200 credit for various things (Idexx rocks) and so my order was just $40.00 or so!
Updated my gofundme.com campaign for Eliza, asking for help with the entropian surgery.
Took a call from Pinole: stray cat needing eye treatment. Recommended a vet. AND, the caller didn’t hesitate, or say “ It’s not my cat”. Hope the cats gets to a vet!
Packed up two sold items (ebay)
Looked at a VERY smart and pretty calico/tortoise shell kitten. A fellow cat lady didn’t quite know what to do with her. 10 ounces, but at least four weeks old. They usually weigh about 16 ounces at her age, but although thin, she seemed just fine! Pink gums & tongue, clear eyes…Gave her (the cat) fluids & B-12, flea combed her, saw that she was eating just fine, and reluctantly sent her on her way.
Emailed holistic vet re: Gloria’s urine sample…nothing too serious, suggested I give her Vetriscience UT chews…
Closed windows and put Gloria on the far side of the house: Got a call from a neighbor two doors over: neighbor next to us was putting poison on his deck!
Captured getting-wild Berry and picked up her brother Knight and put them in a big cage. Knight is almost over his ringworm, but Berry was on the loose (won’t let us near unless she’s sleeping) and her ringworm spread. Treated them both.
Housekeepers came, yay. Gloria all ears and eyes. I’d just sat down to feed her. She can’t stand still (old head trauma) to eat without falling, so it’s a nice time for us both. I sit on the couch with her over my lap. But if ANYTHING goes on, she is on the alert till it’s over. The ladies worked in the back of the house, and Gloria ate an okay breakfast…
Cleaned the big “Grind and Brew” coffee maker donated to the rescue. Photographed and listed it, stored it in the shed. It’s huge…want one, call me!
Time to make food again…made food, fed the ones here, went to my colonies…two dishes gone again from one spot…sigh. Everyone showed up as usual.
Got an email from a woman in Richmond…”where many feral cats come and go” lord…no thoughts of spay/neuter folks?? A kitten showed up” she can’t take her in…same old story…I’ll get back to her any see what I can do.
Getting late…called cat lady trapper friend, to see if she can help a mom and 5 babies. No place to put them if trapped, no funding for spay…oy.
Commiserated over the lack of funding for Trap Neuter Return…and placement for rescued cats. Determined to look for fosters tomorrow.
Sat down and watched Netflix Family with cats! My favorite! About a religious group in Washington with waaay too much influence. Keeping the “chosen ones” in power. Need to see how closely it hews to the truth.
Did last round of supplements, and off to bed. A nice quiet day it was!!

'Nother Mystery...

8/6/2019

Cat time! One more of the great mysteries....what universe are they living in? They take eons to make a change. the most notable example is the time it takes a cat to enter or exit through a door...Shadow here prompted this morning's post...she had a rocky last few years...her person died, and she was left on the street by a care home. A kind woman started feeding her. The woman's caretaker brought her to me after Shadow developed a horrible skin condition on her neck. Probably from a Hartz (TOXIC) flea collar, which should be outlawed. Never buy Hartz products. I digress. The cat is lovely, as you can see, but was pretty shaken up...she loved to be touched, but would startle and worry. I had her in a big cage in the living room, so that she could see what was going on and get the lay of the land here. I took her out and held her, that was okay. Eventually, after a week or so, she ventured out to explore the house a bit, and always retreated into the safety of the cage...high off the ground. After a few weeks, she took up residence on top of the toilet in one of the bathrooms. Stays there. Eats well. WTF? We put a bed in there, and a litter box...she's eating well and seems happy. Never on the vanity or in her bed, just there on the back of the toilet. Bless her heart. I hope she feel comfortable taking her place among the others soon.

When she was in her cage...

Cats o' the Day!

7/24/2019

Here we have Miller and Mabelline, with a photo bomb from Patrick, on the right. M & M are better behaved, They were born here at the shelter, to a sweet feral mother. From the start, they were sweet and affectionate, and are now ready for a home of their own, ideally together! They love to climb trees and celebrate crazy hour at dusk.