Cat Shelter Felix (website)
Felix
Cat Shelter was the first guest on our blog –
the True Cuddly
Pioneers!
HERE you can see our first guest post ever.
Danica
Mirkovic, President of Felinologic Association Felix and the owner of
Cat Shelter Felix, is a lady with a purringly Cuddly Heart. We encourage you all to find out more about the Felix Shelter and how it
all started HERE.
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Danica says:
"Congratulations
on your anniversary! Thank you so much for a Super
Pawesome Cuddly Award, I’m so honored to have received it! Your
support really means a lot. (...) I would gladly be your guest again in
2013. Thank you very much again! I truly appreciate your kindness and
thoughtfulness."
"A lot has been going on around here. Some of the kitties are sick,
this awful weather is taking a toll on their health. Workers are
still here, they’re now fixing the doors. And we’ve been snowed
in for two days!
I
can’t shake off the strange feeling of uneasiness about the
upcoming cold winter months, unexplainable but no less frightening.
Frankly, my shelter is not completely ready for all of the problems
and challenges ahead. We did everything we could with the little
money we had, but I’m very much aware that it’s far from enough.
With a lot of trepidation, I’m expecting the first snow. I don’t
even dare to remember the last year’s snow burden on the roof, the
chain link fence which sagged in the middle, biting cold, sharp,
frosty winds and the deep freeze."
You can support Felix Shelter
and enjoy various kitty-themed
items when visiting their SHOP.
***
STORY OF WILLOW
"Willow,
a tripod kitty, will be arriving at my shelter by the end of the
week! She doesn’t have a clue about it yet, but she would most
certainly be excited if she knew that she is rapidly approaching the
end of her tiring journey. I hope that one day she’ll be able to
overcome and forget everything that has happened to her over all of
those years that she spent unimportant and unwanted. She has come a
long way from that cemetery in which she’d lived her entire life…
I
have a real soft spot for disabled kitties. Just the thought of a
deaf, blind or tripod cat that is spending its days in despicable
conditions, all alone, without proper food and vet care, makes me
feel enraged and desperate. All of these kitties have been deemed
unadoptable, although they can live a completely normal life, with
just a little more care. I guess that a disability is seen as
shameful and that’s why disabled animals usually don’t stand a
chance.
As
all of you already know, Willow is a tripod stray kitty who
apparently lost her left back leg as the result of a vicious dog
attack. She somehow managed to recover on her own and continued to
live in the cemetery where the attack took place. No one kept an eye
on her well-being. Like all of the other cats there, she’d been
rummaging through garbage for food scraps and fleeing from imminent
danger for years. Being disabled, Willow was at especially high risk
– she shunned humans and was never at ease, I am guessing that she
slept with one eye open. There she learned the most important rule
“Trust no one”.
A
couple of months ago she had been trapped and spayed by some animal
lovers. But to my total disbelief, she was returned to the cemetery
afterwards, in spite of the paid pension being offered. A disabled
cat returned to the cemetery??? And I thought I’d seen it all until
now…
From
personal experience with disabled kitties, I was confident that a
disabled stray cat can live a full and enjoyable life if given a
chance. When I saw a photo of Willow standing near the garbage bin I
knew I wanted to take her in. But a few problems arose – she wasn’t
easy to catch and it was questionable how she would behave in her
foster home. I had even heard that she was happy in the cemetery and
that she should be left there. People who have never had a special
needs animal might wonder why I would want a disabled cat. Those who
have, they understand.
A
small tripod tabby arrived at her foster home, shy, scared and
withdrawn, yet she immediately recognized the benefits of eating
regular, tasty meals. She soon found out how it felt to rest on a
cozy bed; she adapted perfectly to an indoor life. She no longer
jumps at every sound, and has stopped constantly looking over her
shoulder. She's finally relaxing and accepts a human touch.
Willow
now plays with mouse shaped toys and wrestles with blankets. She
enjoys play fighting with kittens, as well as the “chase me” game
and mutual grooming with her mates sharing the household. Like most
stray cats, she obviously hasn’t had the opportunity to be a
kitten, or to behave like a kitten while she was little; she was
forced to grow up fast in order to survive. She is now making up for
all of those lost years, and for everything she has missed.
Her
foster mom says that Willow is still quite shy. She has no problems
with other cats, she has a problem with humans. She hides and refuses
to eat whenever she hears an unfamiliar voice, like whenever guests
come to her current home. She evidently continues to believe that all
people are bad – all but one. Yet it’s a good sign - if she was
able to let one human into her life, she will surely be able to admit
another.
I
have no delusions that she will ever be a cuddly lap kitty. She won’t
and she doesn’t need to. But she will have a happy and fulfilled
life, safety, care and a place she can consider to be her true home.
This
is not a story of only my Willow, this is a tale of all Willows
throughout the world, all imperfect, abused, neglected and easily
overlooked kitties. This is a story of love and respect for all
fearful, distrustful, unapproachable and allegedly unadoptable
animals on the planet. Each and every one of them deserves a chance,
the maximum chance of a better life."
***
Willow's story is especially close to our hearts as it reminds us so much of Cesia's beginnings in her first safe Human home. Her transformation from an angry, scared cat into this loving cuddable bundle of cheeky sweetness - was the reason why we started the blog and why we want to tell each and everyone that THERE ARE NO UGLY KITTIES. All it took was some love, care and respect - that is all they need. And they give so much in return!
ConCATulations to our first Winner!!!
Thank you for your purrrs all the way from Serbia
and we hope to hear from you again in 2013.
We wish you a lot of warmth this winter, be safe!
The next award,
The Kitten Of The Year
will be announced in just few minutes!!!
Stay tuna'ed!
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