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A MOST gratifying adoption!!

3/11/2019

A MOST gratifying adoption!!
I took over a new colony after its caretaker died, and one of the twelve (?)-still confirming the number-cats was SUPER friendly!! He'd come bouncing up to me, head-butting and jumping up to greet me...stuck with me the whole time I was there...a magnificent silver/black/cream tabby. He even jumped in my car once or twice. I hated to leave him...not the safest place: feeding stations on either side of the road, careless drivers...
I had sick ones at home, so hesitated to scoop him up. He was the picture of health. Had certainly been with a family at some point.
One woman who applied to adopt (wanted kittens) sounded good...I broached the subject of adopting this guy, had been calling him Ventura Joe, and she came out to meet him. He went to her as readily as he had to me, and....she too thought he was a wonder. I hadn't had him looked at by a vet even, but didn't want to stress him by bringing him home, confining him (not warm or fuzzy) taking him to a vet, then on to her house.
She needed litter...NOT a problem; I brought some and my beautiful handsome guy to her house the next night!! He hadn't been nuts about being picked up, but went right into the carrier when I told him what was up...helps to have one which opens from the top!!
He did howl en route, just a few miles, to a small house tucked into the El Cerrito hills on a half acre of incredible gardens!
We sat down, keeping her big dog at some distance, and opened the top of the carrier. He emerged casually, and made himself RIGHT at home! The word magical is overused, but...wow! The adoptive woman had been worried about him on that street, and so had I. He ate and ate, as they do when they'e not sure if food will continue ...and expressed his pleasure, and I 'm sure, relief, in many ways.
Things like this I look back on when the going gets rough!

The Divine Elder Matthew

2/8/2019

Want to share a happy story...keeps us going!
This handsome dude is Matthew. I got a call from a woman who said that a cat she was feeding was sick. I took her some antibiotics, being in denial about taking in another cat; am trying to reduce my population. I got to her house, and met Matthew, looking as he does below. Obviously he needed a lot more than a course of antibiotics. He was thin, lethargic, matted, and coated with mud and dirt, and his mouth was badly infected. The sweet woman who had called me had been feeding him, and had given him a small bed beside her house. He let me pick him up and put him into my carrier.
Got him home. I don't give baths unless absolutely necessary, but...he let me bathe him at length. Lots of muddy water down the sink. Then wrapped him in a towel and spent maybe two hours picking the mats and burrs off of him. He let me do that too...what a blessing! When he'd had enough, I put him in a big cage in the living room, chest height, covered the cage, and let him eat and rest. Rest he did, bless him. I assured him that he was safe and would be cared for from now on. He had been with humans, it was obvious. How long on the streets? He was neutered and had his ear tipped. The tip suggests that he had been thought of as a 'feral' when taken to be neutered.

Matthew's abdomen was distended, and I feared that he might have cancer or feline infectious peritonitis...and he needed immediate dental care. So while under sedation, he received an ultrasound and x-rays. YAY!!! He was just badly constipated! An easy fix. That took care of itself. Never feed dry food...He had eight teeth removed, and got two kinds of antibiotics for the gum infection. I can speak for him to say that he was also greatly relieved...

Matthew was sooo easy-going! Nothing fazed him: not the other cats, the new environment, the sore mouth...It was only two days before he ventured out of the cage, and just days after that that he didn't need to go back in, didn't need a safe place. He tried all the spots: cat tree, couch, bookcase (!), counter...felt at home here!

Rare and lovely to find one in such bad physical shape, yet in such great emotional shape! Matthew is a very old cat...the chiropractor he sees says that his spine is in fine fettle, but that it feels like a very old spine. He sleeps a lot, but can jump like he' floating! Up onto the counter like a butterfly! He eats well, loves, LOVES, being scratched on his chin, and, from the first day, rolls over to get his ample belly rubbed! he's a big cat, with very long lets! I can't wait to see his fur after it becomes lustrous and thick! What a mensch! Welcome to your new life, beloved Matthew!! Long may you reign!

Amazing Tales, New Cats, & Warnings!

1/29/2019

This guy is Joe...and indeed, he's a regular Joe...grounded and happy. He showed up at my colony, eager to connect, but frightened. After I was able to pick him up, I brought him home...what a love! Gets along with all the others, strong and healthy, (now) neutered, and ready for his own home.

Joe's got eyes on you!

The dignified gentleman below is recuperating from who knows how long on the streets. A kind woman was feeding him, but he was losing ground. I had taken him some medicine, but when I saw him, I knew he needed to be taken in hand. The woman agreed, and I carried him home. He let me bathe all the mud, and comb all the mats, off him, and after he gained strength, he went in for "the works"... he had bad teeth: eight of them, unfortunately, came out; he had an ultrasound and x-rays, as his abdomen seemed "off". I was afraid it was full of fluid, but no! He was just constipated. All fixed now! His mouth was badly infected, and is getting better every day. We LOVE him! He is an older man, and perfectly comfortable with the other cats here! I can't wait till his gorgeous long fur is shiny and thick again. He will be available for adoption when he is healed and strong!

"Before"

"After"

I just kissed the kitten below, who arrived yesterday, and I smelled the toxic chemical smell...which so many smell of when they arrive, even newborns in blankets! The smell may take weeks to leave their fur...! I want to recommend the movie STINK, about the dangers of chemicals in so many products, cleaning, cosmetic, etc. It's on Netflix...Don't miss it!!

So what's the amazing story, you ask? This guy was found in the middle of the street, taken on BART to Oakland and back, no carrier, safely, and on to me. The folks had to go to the County Building, and had no option but to take him with them. He would not go into a bag, not sure what they had, but he rode the screamingly noisy BART train there, weathered the admin nightmare, and made it back to their home, kids and all! THAT is a miracle.

When he got here, except for smelling of toxins, he was calm and collected, until he encountered another cat. I was afraid it might take some time for him to adjust (had he never been around other kittens??) He's over that now, and starting to throw his weight around! Love this guy. Named him Gary. He will be ready for a new home very soon!!

Da word on bad food...

1/10/2019

An article by Dr. Jean Dodds ! Must read!

THE PET FOOD DILEMMA: WHY DO MANY PETS REACT TO COMMERCIAL PET FOODS?

Wholesome nutrition is the key to a healthy, balanced body and a strong immune system that is able to resist disease. The body is not meant to operate efficiently on sub-optimum nutrition. It might “get by” for a while, but eventually it will begin to break down and a host of illnesses will start to develop. This is true with people as well as with our companion animals.
Food is, literally, the fuel that runs our bodies. So, then, how come our pets are suffering from food sensitivities at an alarming rate? How could it be that the very foods that are meant to provide wholesome nutrition are instead leading to chronic itching, recurrent gastrointestinal (GI) issues, yeast infections and even inconsistent or unacceptable behavior?
RELATED ARTICLE: Gastrointestinal case studies for pets
One big drawback of commercial, mass-market pet foods is that they are highly processed. So, even a company that uses “premium” ingredients is still altering them beyond anything our pets’ bodies can normally identify. Processing exposes more antigenic sites on the foods’ molecules, which alter the body’s immune surveillance and recognition responses. In other words, our pets’ bodies view much of the “wholesome nutrition” we are feeding them like “foreign invaders”, setting off classical defensive immune responses. These defenses are typically manifested by a host of food sensitivity and intolerance symptoms suffered by our pets.
THE MAIN CULPRITKibble is a conglomeration of many ingredients that are ground up, mixed together and “extruded” into those dry nuggets you pour into your pet’s bowl. Since many common ingredients in kibble (i.e. proteins of relatively poor bioavailability along with glutens like wheat, barley, and rye , as well as corn and soy) may be reactive on their own — just imagine the effect when several are combined into one food! Moreover, the high temperatures used during extrusion further release the reactive molecules of the food.
Extrusion also kills valuable enzymes and probiotics, also known as “good” bacteria, that are vital to a healthy digestive tract and immune system. Remember that much of the body’s immune surveillance system is contained in the gut, so a compromised GI tract means a compromised immune system. In addition, dehydrating the kibble — whereby all the water is removed — actually concentrates the reactive molecules. Then, to top it off, the kibble may be sprayed with all sorts of chemical flavor enhancers, colors and preservatives! Is it any wonder that are pets become progressively intolerant of these foods over time?
THE ROLE OF CANNED FOODSCanned foods tend to be less reactive than kibble, if only because each can contains about 75 to 80 percent water, which both “takes up room” in the can and dilutes the antigens in the food. But, pets who eat “wet” instead of “dry” are still at increased risk of food sensitivities. Several reactive ingredients — such as beef, corn and soy — may be combined into one can. And, canned foods are highly processed.
Although chemical preservatives need not be added here, once filled, each can is sterilized at temperatures close to 250 degrees for at least sixty minutes. As discussed above, this processing increases the food’s antigenic qualities, turning it into a foreign invader in our pets’ systems.
Now that we understand why commercial pet foods can cause many food intolerances, what can we do about it? Watch for upcoming blog posts, where we will talk about minimizing your pet’s risk of food intolerances by feeding them functional foods for maximum health.

Sign up for news from Dr. Jean Dodds:W. Jean Dodds, DVM, Founder of Hemopet. She Rocks!
https://www.hemopet.org/education/w-jean-dodds

Bed Shunning Run Amok

12/11/2018

No comments are really needed here....

Doin it right!

How Tough They Are...!!

11/3/2018

Masie here is one tough cookie. She has just come through weeks of an illness I'm amazed she ssurvived. The first symptom was diarrhea. Started aroound Oct. 6. Got a fecal panel done, and campylobacter showed up. It's a bacterial infection, usually treated with Azithromycin. Started that. I also used my go-to Runni-Poo and Colon Rescue, which alone have worked quick miracles. And probiotics, and colostrum, and Seacure, and fluids and B-12, and homeopathics...you get my drift.
Yet, the poo just kept runing out of her. It was awful. She was sore, cramped I'm sure, and raw. No sooner had I bathed her than she was covered again. She had come to us with a "bad" tail. What was left of it curved inward, so that the stool dripped right onto that little tail. No photos avail. I trimmed as much fur as I could off her tail and back legs. She had always been sensitive in her back end, though the chiropractor never found anything amiss. The little diapers weren't too useful, as the anus is RIGHT under the tail, and the hole for the tail...plus the diaper kept the shit close to her; not good. At all.
Well, it has been a VERY long month. I could not believe she'd not get better! After a while, I figured that if she'd survived this far, she'd pull through. She got down to four pounds! Skin snd Bones! Yet her spirits stayed up! She was active, ate, and purred. UN-believable! We did a LOT of laundry. And then more laundry. The bacteria live for four hours out of the body, so we did a lot of deck swabbing, too. No one else caught it. So we hung in there. Doctor Reed suggested a blood draw, to see if anything else was involved. Good idea! Better late than never. Lots wrong, but nothing pertinent. Mostly due to her wasted condition. Working on that!

The wee tail.

Well! The day before the blood draw/exam, she stopped dripping! I knew it! It had to happen! Boy are we happy!! The treatments may just have (guess they did) take that long to take hold, but she's on the mend. This is ONE HELLOVA CAT!! As they all are. Three cheers for our Mazie!!

Notes from the Trenches...

6/19/2018

I may have alienated a caller this morning.
She asked me for help with an injured cat she had been watching. Feeding? I hope so. She said that her dad could not take the cat as he already had three, she could not, etc. I get calls like this every day.

I suggested that she herself might be the cat's best hope...

The general idea folks have is so faulty, limited, skewed, and flat out ass-backwards that it drive me nuts. There IS no one you can just call and bingo! A great home is found, a good shelter is available (virtually every shelter houses them, each alone, in metal cages...usually with desperately barking dogs, in rooms with no sunlight...), loving arms are waiting. NOT SO.

There is not a single shelter I would want to see a cat go to...including mine. Mine has too many, even though it is in a home, no cages, good food, in-out access after integration with the household, etc.

I think it's a mix of ignorance, wishful thinking, and failure to consider personal responsibility at work here. Folks just don't know...homeless or stray cats are more invisible than dogs, so how could folks know how many are out there?

I think people would reconsider breeding if they knew how many need homes. And there is no reason to "preserve the breed". The breeds are un-natural. Many did evolve, and were bred with others similar (inbreeding). Others were bred to have features useful to humans (short legs, etc.) I'm getting into dogs here, but of cats are bred too, for perverse and commercial reasons...designer or status animals. Fie.

The point here is that we all need to pitch in and help the homeless among us! Please. We cat ladies need you!
With love,

Cynthia

Hey! It's KITTEN Season!!

5/9/2018

And Yes, it IS true that we have the cutest kittens on the planet! You've heard right! Come meet them, and adopt! We are at 6073 Felix Ave., Richmond, 94805. They will go in pairs, one with mama, for lots of great reasons...(easier on you for one thing) and you'll get a 'starter kit' to take home wih your little treasures!! Email us: cynthia@beeholistic.com, or phone:
510-237-1190. We have thirteen!! Don't wait!!

Theo's Big Day...

4/25/2018

It's been awhile, and Theo wants to thank all of you for suppoting him. He was neutered yesterday...big day for him...haha. Bless his heart. I had my dear Doctor Han do surgery, as I knew that he would use as little sedation as possible. He used just one-third the usual amount of ketamine. We had put the surgery off, as , with his neurological damage, the risk was greater than usual. But he came through with flying colors, and was home as if nothing had happened.
What prompted me to go ahead was, during his visit to the chiropractor (A+ for Theo there) he became interested,very interested, in Gloria. She also has neuro damage, and we had not had her spayed for that reason. She had just come out of heat (NO chance of her getting pregnant, for various reasons) and may have had lingering attraction. But Theo was after her persistently...bless him. I felt that he might be moved to roam if not neutered, and there were other risks to him...so..it's done!

Agony and Ecstasy: the usual...

3/29/2018

My rescue has the word "rescue" in it, so I'm usually the first one showing up in a search...mixed blessing haha.
So the call came in...and my response must have sounded like the limo driver in the Dave Chapelle Baby on the Corner routine: Hmmm, uh, huh, um hmmm...WHAT! WHAT??
Hold on, I'll be right there!

Actually, the young man brought the kittens to me, three very much alive and two not. With super-loud music playing...sweet and clueless. Poor things, all.
The caller had moved a car, and when she started to tow it, a cat jumped out. When she got the car home, she found the kittens in it.
So the agony: how to find the mother and re-unite the family. Her milk could get impacted, infected, and kill her, worst case. The emotional damage...well, just consider. How could she ever find her babies? How awful.
Now the good part. The babies were within a day or so the same age as the mother I had!! What are the odds!? I immediately put the babies in with Mother Marcella and her fat five...in the photo above. She was not fazed. They started to scramble for nipples...WOW!!!
But I didn't know how long the new three had been without food, so I weighed them, got the right amount of KMR (kitten milk replacer) into them via tube (accurate and fast) one by one, and put them back.

Two new angels

The caller has been looking for the mother in the place the car had been sitting...and has not seen her. A great trapper will be there today, and the family with the car will keep looking. Say a prayer!