Taking a Break from the Blog

Hello friends,

It’s me Creamsicle! I wanted to let you all know that the blog will be taking a rest for the next two months (May and June). The humans here at the Sanctuary are very busy with numerous activities including some pretty major year end projects, so we’ll be taking a bit of a break from the blog.

We all want to thank our readers for keeping up with our blog, for your kind words and caring about all of us, and your support of the sanctuary. We all do read each and every comment you make on the blog and appreciate your support and dedication to the Forget Me Not Cat Sanctuary!

Since my big paws aren’t very good at typing I won’t be able to write you for a while. But I hope that all of my readers and your furry family members have a great spring! We’re all doing well, enjoying the warmer weather from our beautiful outdoor enclosures. The spring activities of the birds are a joy for us to watch, and we’re enjoying the longer days – more time to play!

So please keep well, and I invite you all back here to the Forget Me Not blog in early July. I’ll have lots of new stories to share with you, and some new photos of me and my feline friends.

Well, I’m off to have a nap now, so please take care – and I look forward to reuniting with all of you in July!

MEOWS!


Creamsicle

Famous Felines

Hi friends of the Sanctuary,

It's me Creamsicle. Of course that's not me pictured above, but Morris the Cat! Over the years there have been many famous felines. Who doesn't know about Sylvester, Garfield, and the Cat in the Hat. But I think the most famous of all would have to be Morris. Of course us handsome orange tabby cats have to stick together!

The story of Morris is a special one. Morris the Cat has been the advertising mascot for 9Lives brand cat food for many years.

There have been three different cats who have played Morris. The very first Morris was adopted from a Chicago area animal shelter in 1968. In 1969 he landed the role of Morris in the famous cat food commercials and was an overnight success! The original Morris passed away in 1978 and was later replaced by two more cats who took on the role of Morris. All 3 of the Morris cats were rescued from shelters.

Morris was also credited with "writing" or shall I say "pawing" three books on cat care. And did you know that Morris actually ran in the 1988 and 1992 presidential elections on the Finicky Party platform, campaigning for cats everywhere to enjoy a standard of nutrition?

Morris has represented the epitome of the spoiled and pampered pet over the years. The original Morris was actually named "Lucky", and lucky he was! He spent part of his life in the Hindsale Humane Society Animal Shelter in Illinois until an employee of the Leo Burnett Advertising Agency rescued him and turned him into a major TV star. In fact the original Morris was only 20 minutes away from being euthanized when he was rescued!

Morris has appeared in movies as well, and has been the official "spokescat" promoting responsible pet ownership, pet health and adopts throughout many animal shelters.

Of all the famous cats, Morris is my favorite - because just like us felines here at the Forget Me Not Cat Sanctuary, he was resuced from certain doom, only to live out a great life.

Purrs,

Creamsicle

Happy Birthday Forget Me Not Cat Sanctuary!

It’s our birthday! The Forget Me Not Cat Sanctuary is two years old!

Everyone needs a birthday so we decided that April would be our birth month. It was two years ago this April that our founders, June and Walter, took possession of the land which is now home to the Forget Me Not Cat Sanctuary.

Many years ago the dream began, with a love of cats and a passion for animal welfare. Over a decade ago, one cold winter day, Walter arrived at his business in an industrial park and noticed a group of cats desperately scratching for some peanut butter that had fallen from a bird feeder. This group of feral cats sought refuge under some old abandoned trailers. The seed was then planted in the heart and mind of the future founder of the Sanctuary, knowing he had to do something to help these, and other homeless cats.

He tried helping these cats by providing them with food, water and temporary shelter. But sadly, this only helped a little as the cats were multiplying and often none of the kittens from a litter would survive. Compounding the problem was that once people were aware that a feral colony were being cared for there, other cats were ruthlessly discarded there as well.

When he retired from his business in the industrial area, the entire colony of cats were rescued by him and his wife. Upon discovering that there were very few options available for permanent housing for feral cats, June and Walter created the Forget Me Not Cat Sanctuary, and this group of felines became their first permanent residents.

So two years ago, work began. And what a busy and exciting two years it’s been! Develop permits were obtained, construction began, an application to become a registered charitable organization was submitted and ultimately approved, and of course some very special cats began to populate the Sanctuary.

Forget Me Not is now home to approximately 150 cats, who all receive shelter, great food, clean water, cozy and comfy places to play and rest, amazing care, medical attention, and most of all lots of love and kindness. Many others, who were deemed adoptable, have called the Sanctuary home on their way to their new forever homes. And for those of us who reside here, who call Forget Me Not our forever home, we are blessed each day by the kindness of these two amazing people for creating a safe haven for the unwanted. Here, we are wanted, and we are adored and loved each and every day.

So I hope you will join me, and all of my feline friends here in thanking our Founders for all they have done for us, and all they continue to do for so many in need.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FORGET ME NOT CAT SANCTUARY!

Purrs,
Creamsicle

Happy Easter!

Easter is coming, and that can only mean one thing...a visit from THE EASTER BUNNY! All of us cats here at the Sanctuary are very excited about Easter. It’s a great time of year, with spring now officially here, the days are longer which means more sunshine and time to bird watch.

But this weekend we anxiously await the Easter Bunny’s visit. Wonder what the Easter Bunny might bring to a bunch of cats? Well, a basket full of treats of course! But not the kind you humans like, we felines prefer a basket full of toys stuffed with catnip or honeysuckle, some little stuffed bunnies or bright yellow chicks to play with. That’s our kind of Easter Fun. There will be no egg hunt around here, we’ll be hunting for toys and some special cat treats!

It’s a fun time of year, but there are also some hazards to watch out for over Easter. While they may be beautiful, there are many flowers and plants which can be extremely dangerous to cats. Lilies can be toxic to cats, if ingested your feline friend can go into acute kidney failure. Many other plants are also poisonous, so it’s best to avoid them around your furry friend as much as possible. If you want to brighten your table with some yellow daffodils or fuchsia tulips why not try the silk variety. They look just as pretty and you won’t have to worry about your cat nibbling on the petals.

The goodies in the human Easter baskets can also present some problems for your pet. The plastic type grass that is used to fill the baskets, can be ingested and create tummy problems for your pet. It’s best not to use that type of product at all, as it does get all over the house and it’s hard to keep your feline friend away from it. Of course chocolate eggs for pets are a no-no. Those chocolate Easter eggs in the bright shiny foil wrap are appealing to your cats, but can cause serious problems if they eat them.

Keep the human treats and Easter goodies away from your furry friend and provide them with some cat toys and treats and you should all enjoy the holiday weekend.

From me, all my feline buddies and all of the humans here at the Forget Me Not Cat Sanctuary, we wish you all a very Happy Easter! Hope the Easter Bunny is good to you!

Purrs,


Creamsicle

My Little Feral Friend - Angie's Story

As I walk by, the little tuxedo black and white mom cat hesitantly gives me an affectionately gentle tap on my leg. I try again to give her a pat on the head, but as always, she scurries away before I can touch her. As you will read, Angie and I developed an understanding very early in our relationship.

Last April, Walter and I arrived at a rural pound to deliver some literature and were greeted with the sad news that 2 pregnant cats had been trapped and delivered to the pound the day before, and each had given birth to a litter of kittens that very day. From many previous such occurrences, the animal control officer solemnly explained that in the next few days, both little families would be euthanized in the pound’s crematorium as there was no hope of finding an adoptive family for a mom and her new litter.

In their respective cages, were two bedraggled, skinny mom cats, one a brown tabby with three kittens and the other, a tuxedo with four kittens. The kittens were sleeping in little heaps, content as could be, unaware of their impending fate. The mothers, however, both only just kittens themselves, paced nervously in the tiny stainless steel space and hovered fearfully over their brood, seemingly sensing the horrific doom awaiting all of them.

Both of these little souls had obviously endured cruel weather, constant hunger and brutal circumstances for the duration of their pregnancies, struggling courageously not only to stay alive, but also, somehow to provide some nourishment for their future babies. And then, to be dealt the harshest of outcomes, to be reduced to ashes, alongside their helpless newborns that they had fought so fiercely to bring into this world. No, not this time – they would come with us.

The pound staff hurriedly bundled up the two feline families and gave us some sketchy instructions. The tuxedo mom cat was quite tame and they had been able to handle her and easily pet her on the head. However, the tabby was very feral and we were cautioned to be wary of her. Once on our way, we chose names for our new residents; the tame tuxedo would be Angie, and the feral tabby would be Paula.

Having arrived at the sanctuary, off we went, to place each family group in separate rooms. I took Angie as Walter anticipated that he would have less difficulty with releasing the feral cat. I carefully lifted the four little kittens who were sleeping at the front of the carrier and placed them gently on a blanket. Next, I reached into the back of the carrier for Angie. I felt a stab of pain as her teeth sunk into the flesh of my fingers and made a crunching sound at the bone. As I examined my blood-soaked hand, Walter walked into the room, looking at me with surprise, announcing that he had zero difficulty with releasing the feral cat! Yes, in our hurry out of the pound, we had either mis-heard which cat was which, or the staff had inadvertently given us the wrong instruction.

In the 10 months since, Angie and I have developed a very special relationship. Her biting me was only a reflection of her fierce protection of her babies and her experience with uncaring humans. She proved to be a loving, nurturing mother to her kittens. Her three girls were adopted out to good homes and adorable Chuckie, the lone male, remained at the sanctuary as a permanent resident because the chances were great that his constant, whining meeeee-yow would lead to his being returned by any adoptive home that was initially charmed by his affectionate personality.

Angie, still very feral, gets along wonderfully with all the other cats and is very kind to them. She very likely will always remain feral. But still, every time she sees me, she walks by and gives me that affectionate little tap on the leg, as if to give relentless thanks for saving her and her babies’ lives. As I look into her beautiful soulful eyes, it is I, who gives thanks.

June, co-founder of Forget Me Not Cat Sanctuary

Happy St. Patrick's Day - March 17th!

Top o' the mornin' to you! It's me Creamsicle, getting ready for St. Patrick's Day. All of us here are getting putting on our finest greenery to celebrate the day. There will be green toys and green treats all around.

St. Patrick's Day is here, you see.
We'll pick some shamrocks, one, two, three.
We'll count the leaves and look them over,
And maybe find a four-leafed clover.
I'll sew green buttons on my vest,
Green for St. Patrick is the best.
I'll wear a green hat, very high,
And dance a jig--at least I'll try!

From all of us here at the Forget Me Not Cat Sanctuary, wishing you a very Happy St. Patrick's Day. May the luck of the Irish brighten your day!

Great Gifts for Cat Lovers!

Today there are countless cat related products on the market, making wonderful gifts for yourself or that feline loving friend in your life. Whether it's a birthday, Mother's Day, or just-because, there are many great cat items out there that any cat lover would find absolutely purrfect. Here are some of our favorite suggestions for great gifts for cat lovers.

1. How about a fun, bright and colorful cat handbag or tote. There are tons of different varieties out there including abstract cats to adorable kittens, and every size imaginable. From cosmetic bags to huge totes, you can load up your belongings in a wonderful feline bag. The larger ones are great for a day at the beach, a stroll through the farmer's market, or carrying your things to and from work. How about taking your cat bag to the library and filling it up with wonderful cat related books!

2. If you like something a bit fancier, how about some cat related jewelry? You can find everything from pendants to earrings to bracelets and brooches. From costume style to fine diamond and gemstone products, there surely is something to tempt your feline fancy. You can even find pieces that have your cat's birthstone on them, or you can have them engraved with your cat's name. They make wonderful pieces to wear every day, or as special keepsakes in honor or in memory of a beloved feline friend.

3. You can't walk into a gift shop or home decore store these days without finding many cat related ornaments, from glass or crystal cats, to cats on cups and mugs, to delightful teapots. One of our favorite lines is the "Miss Priss" collection which was popular about 50 years ago. They have even made reproductions now as the line was so popular and the older pieces hard to find now as cat collectors are scooping up the originals.

4. What cat lover wouldn't love a subscription to a cat related magazine, like Cat Fancy or one of the many others available. They make for great reading, are very educational and have spectacular photos. There's nothing like getting a new edition every month to get your fix on reading all about felines.

5. Our absolute favorite gifts for cat lovers are personalized photo gifts. There are many companies out there there can transform your digital cat photos of your own special feline friend onto an assortment of wonderful keepsake pieces. The options are limitless! You can have your cat's image appear on everything from clothing to clocks, notebooks to placemats, coasters to table tops, playing cards to calendars, nightlights to blankets. One of our favorites is the traditional photo book which allows you to include numerous photos of your favorite feline companions. They make great gifts for friends and family, and wonderful keepsakes for the cat owner. There's nothing like having a coffee table book of photos to share with your guests.

Hope all is well with our readers. From all of us here are the Forget Me Not Cat Sanctuary!

Pet Dental Health Month

February is National Pet Dental Health Month. Did you know that ensuring your pet’s dental health is just as important for animals as it is for humans?

Dental disease in pets usually affects the upper back teeth with plaque building up on the tooth surface daily. It takes less than 36 hours for this plaque to harden and become tartar that cannot be removed with a brush. Therefore, if your feline friend is willing to cooperate, brushing should be done daily with a soft brush to remove plaque from under the gum line.

The best time to start brushing your cat’s teeth is when it is young, but it is never too late to begin this important regimen and make it part of your daily routine. There are many ways you can encourage your cat to enjoy this. Picking a time of day that will become a convenient part of the routine is the first step. If you don’t succeed the first time, don’t give up. It’s worth the effort for your pet!

In order to brush your cat’s teeth you’ll need a soft veterinary toothbrush. The human toothbrushes are too large to use for your pet’s teeth. You can buy these at your local veterinary or pet supply store. You’ll also need veterinary toothpaste. NEVER use human toothpaste as this can be harmful to your cat. There are many different flavors of pet toothpaste including poultry and fish, so your cat should find one of the many options appetizing.

The best way to get started is to offer your cat a taste of the toothpaste. You might be surprised that they will lick it right out of the tube! Then, put a little on your finger and then run your finger along the gums of the upper teeth towards the back of your cat’s mouth. Then repeat this same process using the toothbrush. You’ll want to get the bristles along the gum line, angle the brush slightly so they reach under the gum line of the upper back teeth. Work your way around both sides of your cat’s mouth. This should only take you about 30 seconds to brush both back sides of your cat’s mouth. If your pet doesn’t mind this process and eventually lets you brush the entire mouth, then that’s even better! The most important areas to clean though are the upper back teeth.

Rewarding your pet with a crunchy treat after brushing is a great way to help them find tooth brushing an enjoyable experience.

For those cats who will not tolerate brushing, there are many dental treats on the market to help as well. Ask your veterinarian about dental treats that would be suitable for your pet. The dry and crunchy dental treats also help your cat maintain good dental health.

Even with the best tooth brushing, some cats may still need an occasional professional cleaning, just as humans do. So please ensure that your vet examines your pet’s teeth during regular check-ups.

By keeping care of your cat’s dental needs, you may reduce the frequency of professional cleanings and help your pet live a longer, healthier life!

Canada Welcomes the World to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games!

It’s an exciting time in Canada, as we welcome the world’s best athletes to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games! Now you may think Vancouver isn’t exactly in our backyard, but the whole country has the Olympic spirit and everyone is excited about having such an enormous and important event being held here in Canada. Our Olympic Torch Relay which went from coast to coast, east to west, north to south, and was the largest ever held for any Olympics in history.

It’s been great watching our athletes, and we’ve still got more than half the games to go! It’s been paws up around here as we cheer on the Canadians!

The most unforgettable moment so far has been our first ever gold medal on home soil, as Alex Bilodeau captured Gold in the Men’s Moguls competition. There were meows and squeals of joy all over the sanctuary! And seeing some of our ladies follow suit and bring home gold as well has been great. We hope there are plenty more gold medals to come.

We’re especially proud of some local heroes who are representing Canada at the games. Silver Medallist in Women’s Moguls, Jennifer Heil’s hometown is just a few minutes drive from the Sanctuary! Jenn won gold four years so now has her second Olympic medal. Way to go Jenn!

Edmonton’s Bobsleigh King, Pierre Lueders, won gold and silver in past Olympics and will be going for even more Olympic medals later in the games. We wish him and his crew good luck!

Team Canada’s men’s curling team is also from Edmonton. Kevin Martin and crew are hoping to bring home the gold and have been doing great so far. We wish team Martin all the best – we’re meowing for you!

We really think there should be Olympics for cats. A lot of us here would have a good chance at medals in the following categories.

- Bird watching
- Quick cat nap
- Long Jump
- High Jump
- Speed chasing
- Toy catching
- Triathlon – which would consist of running, jumping and climbing

I think we’d all be contenders at many of these! I know I'd particularly be good at the cat nap....although I think I prefer a long catnap versus a short one!

But since we don’t have our own Olympics, we’ll continue to cheer on Team Canada in Vancouver. From all of us felines and the humans too, GOOD LUCK TEAM CANADA!

We believe!

Purrs,

Creamsicle

Happy Valentine's Day

On behalf of me, my feline friends and all the humans at Forget Me Not, we'd like to wish you all a very Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day is a great day to celebrate your love for your feline friend, here are a few suggestions on how to make the day special for your cat.

1. How about some heart shaped treats? You can buy some at your local pet supply store, or how about making some home-made ones. You can use little heart shaped cookie cutters to give your feline friend a delicious home-made kitty treat.

2. There are lots of wonderful heart shaped products on the market like comfy beds, food and water dishes, and even toys. Or if you're feeling creative you can make your own heart shaped toy by cutting up some bright red material into heart shapes, filling it with catnip and sewing it up for that special personal touch.

3. Red is the color of love so why not buy your cat a soft fuzzy red fleece blanket, or a new red collar. There are even some beautiful charms you can buy to decorate your pet's collar.

4. Spend some extra play or cuddle time with your pet today. A recent survey in Canada shows that around 25% of people would rather spend Valentine's Day with their pet than their human partner.

Remember, that pets give unconditional love all year round - they are like getting a special Valentine every day of the year. So why not spoil your special feline friend this Valentine's Day!

From all of us here at the Sanctuary, Happy Valentine's Day!


Purrs,

Creamsicle

A Tribute to Mittens

As the brilliant, insightful saying goes “There are no ordinary cats”. And, indeed, our cat Mittens was extraordinarily no ordinary cat!

From the time we found him as a little 5 week old feral kitten on December 3, 1999 up to the heartbreaking day that we lost him on October 28, 2008 he inspired us with his kindness and perceptive intelligence and kept us and our other cats entertained with his hilarious antics.

Therefore, as a lasting tribute to our beloved Mittens, it was only fitting that his image should grace the logo of our Forget Me Not Cat Sanctuary which is dedicated to providing a safe, loving, permanent residence for homeless, abused and abandoned cats – cats that are feral, cats with injuries or medical disabilities and senior cats.

Forever in our hearts,

June and Walter
Founders of Forget Me Not Cat Sanctuary

(Here is a special video tribute to Mittens)

A Note From Your Cat

My life is likely to last at least ten to fifteen years. Any separation from you will be painful for me. Remember that before you acquire me.

Give me time to understand what you want from me.

Place your trust in me.

Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, and your entertainment. I only have you.

Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I understand your voice when it is speaking to me. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget.

Remember before you hit me that I have teeth that can easily crush the bones in your hand, but I choose not to bite you.

Before you scold me for being uncooperative, obstinate, or lazy, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I don't understand what you ask of me or perhaps I am not feeling well, not getting the right food, been out in the sun too long, or my heart is getting old and weak.

Take care of me when I get old, you too will grow old.

Go with me on difficult journeys. Never say "I can't bear to watch," or "let it happen in my absence." Everything is easier if you are there.

Remember, no matter what, that I love you. Unconditionally.

A Cat's Prayer

Now I lay me down to sleep,

The king-size bed is soft and deep...

I sleep right in the center groove

My human can hardly move!

I've trapped her legs, she's tucked in tight

And here is where I pass the night

No one disturbs me or dares intrude

Till morning comes and "I want food!"

I sneak up slowly to begin

My nibbles on my human's chin.

She wakes up quickly, I have sharp teeth

-And my claws I will unsheath

For the morning's here and it's time to play

I always seem to get my way.

So thank you Lord for giving me

This human person that I see.

The one who hugs me and holds me tight

And sacrifices her bed at night.

~ Author Unknown ~

Meet Millie and Her Adorable Babies!

Hi everyone, I am Millie. I’d like to tell you about myself, my babies, and how we ended up at the Forget Me Not Cat Sanctuary.

Last spring someone found me as a stray, and on April 30th I was dropped off at a rural pound. I was pregnant and the very next day I gave birth to six beautiful babies. As the pound had no resources to cope with a momma cat and my newborns, and an adoptive home was not available to take us in, we were all slated to be euthanized within the next couple of days. Lucky for us, the folks at the Forget Me Not Cat Sanctuary were happy to save us, and on May 1st, we began our new life at the Sanctuary.

I was about 8 to 10 months old at the time so just a youngster myself. I was very emaciated when I gave birth and did not have enough milk for my tiny kittens, so the kind people at the Sanctuary provided bottle feeding to them. My babies were born with compromised immune systems. On top of that, my kittens and I all have gastro-intestinal problems (a type of colitis) which means we are constantly plagued with intermittent diarrhea and we all have to be on special medication from time to time. Because of this, we will remain permanent residents at the Sanctuary so that we can be given this type of special care for the rest of our lives.

When I first came to the Sanctuary they decided to call me “Violet”. After about 10 days the people realized that I didn’t seem to respond to that name, and it didn’t really suit me. As my personality started to shine through they could see I was very outgoing and not a “Shrinking Violet!”. So my name was changed to Millie and I loved it instantly!

I am a sweet and gentle girl, and I love spending time with my babies and interacting with the humans. I am always happy to receive pets and snuggles. One of the human helpers at Forget Me Not thinks I am one of the most striking looking cats because of my sparkling eyes and beautifully marked coat. I have an unusual look for sure!

My litter consisted of two boys and four girls. The kids are now eight and a half months old. The boys are all white with creamy tones and they are called Frosty and Snowdrop. There is a saying that the eyes are the windows to the soul, and you can see their great spirit in their sparkling blue eyes. They are typical young boys, active and playful, and they like to jump around the many pieces of furniture in our wonderful “family suite” at the Sanctuary. They love spending time looking out the windows from the sun drenched perches we have to enjoy, or snoozing on the cozy furniture after an exhausting day of play.

My four girls are the dark ones. They are Gingersnap, Nibbles, Timbit and Panda. They are sweet, loving and very inquisitive. Gingersnap looks a lot like me, she’s the one with the copper mark on her face. Nibbles is the long haired darling with the white mark arching over her eyes and nose. Panda is the long-haired beauty with white markings. And Timbit is the short-haired black and white girl. The girls are really sweet and affectionate and love to groom each other. I can't imagine my life without these adorable babies! The humans are pretty crazy about all of us too!

My children are all great friends who enjoy each other’s company and I am so happy to be able to live out my life with my children at my side. If not for the folks at Forget Me Not, we would not even be alive today, so we will always be grateful to them for saving us all.

Thank you Forget Me Not for rescuing us and giving us a wonderful Forever Home!

Purrs and meows,


Millie

Happy Mew Year!!!!!!

Happy New Year!......or "Mew Year" as we like to say here at the Forget Me Not Cat Sanctuary! 2009 was a good year, and we hope that 2010 will be even better for all of us here at the Sanctuary, and all of our blog readers.

The cats here at the Sanctuary have decided to adopt a few New Year's resolutions and we wanted to share them with you. Here is our list.

- I will be nice to my roommates and not squabble over toys. There are plenty for all of us.

- I will not push anyone off a cat tree. Again, there are plenty and I be nice and wait my turn if I have to.

- I will not help myself to Q-tips and proceed to stuff them down the sink, and throw them all over the house.

- I will not hide my toys in the bathtub. Well, maybe just the ones that look like little fishies.

- Screaming at a can of food will not make it open itself.

- I will not try and jump through a closed window to catch a bird. If I forget this resolution and bonk my head, I will not get up and do the same thing two minutes later.

- I will not assume the cat door is open when I try to run out to chase a butterfly or blowing leaves.

- I will not complain that my rear end is wet and I am thirsty, after sitting in my water bowl.

- I will not chase my tail - there are plenty of others to chase around here.

- I will not swat at the human's ears when they are trying to talk on the phone.

- Computer and TV screens are not a backlight for my gorgeous silhouette.

- I will not walk on the speaker phone and call long distance to California, Wisconsin, Virginia or any other far away place.

- An open box of pizza is not a good place for a cat-nap.

- I will not walk on the computer keyboard when the humans are writing something important jo769ouilldakelrjadll.kjed (OOPS! One down already and it's not even Midnight!)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Creamsicle

Indoor Cats

We hope you all had a very Merry Christmas! All of us cats here at Forget Me Not had a great holiday season.

This time of year, many people open their hearts and their homes to a new feline companion. And while in the depths of winter it may be common sense to keep your cats indoors, we feel it is important for the health of your cat, that no one allow cats to roam freely. Here at the Sanctuary we have many outdoor enclosures, which are secured completely by fencing. These are great, and a safe way to allow your feline friend to enjoy the great outdoors in a safe environment. If you don’t have the means or the space for such enclosures, some cats even like to go out on a harness and leash, another way to let your pet explore while keeping safety a priority.

Did you know that indoor cats live longer? This makes sense of course! There are many hazards that freely roaming cats can encounter on an outdoor adventure including traffic, poison, cruelty by mean humans, injuries encountered by fights with other animals, and exposure to many diseases. No neighbourhood is immune from the many dangers your freely roaming cat may encounter.

There are things you can do to make your indoor cat happy by making life inside fun. Having a good supply of different toys help keep your pet entertained and stimulated. Having a nice window for your cat to look out brings hours of enjoyment as they can watch the great outdoors from the safety of their own home. Here at the Sanctuary, we pass our indoor time by playing with scratching posts, climbing perches, and most importantly interaction with our humans. There’s nothing more rewarding for both you and your feline friend than lots of personal play or cuddle time together.

Purrs,

Creamsicle

A "Forget Me Not" Christmas Poem

‘Twas the night before Christmas and at Creamsicle’s House
All the creatures were snoozing, except for the mouse
The stockings were hung, and all ready to fill
Each carefully placed high near the window sill

The Forget Me Not Cats were anxious for the big day
New toys would arrive, they’d be ready to play
Santa would bring them goodies galore
Of course they had plenty, but could always use more

For some this would be a first Christmas here
In their home filled with love, and their feline friends near
No more cold winters, living out on the street
Here they are sheltered, and have plenty to eat

With the snow gently falling, each kitty would dream
While watching the bright star, and it’s radiant gleam
Christmas is coming, the most special day of the year
For the Forget Me Not cats, a day of great cheer

And then they heard it, the sound on the roof
Of Santa and his sleigh and the reindeer hooves
All of the kitties arose from their naps
Gathered at the window, Creamsicle in his red cap

“Hello all you dear cats”, Santa said
His beard snowy white and his cheeks cherry red
“You are all on my list for being good girls and boys,
What is it you want this year, how about some new toys?”

Creamsicle spoke up, “Yes, Santa, there is something you can do,
But it’s not for us, it’s for other cats too
We have all the toys and the treats that we need
We’d much prefer if you could do for us a special deed

You see Santa, there are many homeless kitties in the world
Who don’t have good homes like us, so we’ve heard
On your journey tonight, wherever you roam
Could you please find each homeless kitty a wonderful home?

We here are all thankful for all that we’ve got
Because we found our forever home at Forget Me Not”

Christmas is Coming!

Hello everyone! Can you believe that Christmas is less than two weeks away? All of us here at the Forget Me Not Cat Sanctuary are getting very excited about the big day.

We wanted to share a little video with you of some of the "Forget Me Not Elves" hard at work getting ready for the season.

Hope you enjoy it! Copy the link below to your browser, and enjoy the elves in action!

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/KRtkKqofVJspHoJUo8ku

Visit our blog frequently over the next couple weeks for more Christmas related stories.

Purrs,

Creamsicle

Look At Me Now!

My name is Mi Hija (pronounced Mee-Ha), and I have a great tale to share with you. Do you ever wonder what happens to the cats who get adopted from the Forget Me Not Cat Sanctuary? Well, I am one of those lucky cats, and I’d like to share my story with you.

My early life started out very sad. I was abandoned and left to fend for myself when I was only about 7 or 8 months old. And I was pregnant! I followed some stray cats to an acreage where a lady had put out some food for them. My first litter of babies were four little boys, and they all still live at that acreage. Then I got pregnant again, but sadly my second litter did not survive. My heart was breaking. At night I would dream about being in a permanent loving home, surrounded by kind humans and maybe even a feline sibling to play with. I wondered if I would ever have a chance for my dream to come true.

Some months later, when the lady at the acreage thought I was pregnant again, she dropped me off at a rural pound. The folks at the pound thought I would be unadoptable due to my pregnancy, so they surrendered me to the Forget Me Not Cat Sanctuary right on last New Year’s Eve. The people at the Sanctuary took me to their vet, who did an ultrasound, and found that I actually was not pregnant at all, so I was then spayed.

The folks at the Sanctuary gave me the name “Ivy” and they took wonderful care of me for the months that I lived there. I got along well with the other cats and never complained about my many feline roommates. But the Sanctuary owners noticed that I was happiest and most content in the presence of only 1 or 2 cats, so they decided it was time to put me up for adoption. They put my picture and story in PetRescue magazine with the hope that some wonderful people might see me and want to take me in. They described me as a cute little marmalade-colored furball of a cat, with a button nose, so how could anyone resist?

Soon after, a wonderful couple named Pearl and Larry came to meet me. I could tell right away upon meeting them that they were kind and gentle people, and I could see the love in their eyes as they looked into my beautiful face. They decided to take me home with them and they would be my forever family! The Sanctuary folks gave me my favorite pink blanket to take with me, and off I went!

The car ride home was fun, and I snuggled right between Pearl and Larry on my way to my new forever home. As we traveled, they told me that I was also going to have a brother cat as part of my new family. This made me very happy, and I couldn’t wait to meet him! His name is Riley.

Riley was just a little kitten when fifteen years ago, on a February morning, Larry spotted him lying in a little heap on the pavement of a very busy road. After blocking the traffic with his car, Larry rescued Riley, scooped him up and had a vet attend to his paws which were badly burnt. After being unable to locate Riley’s owners, Pearl and Larry happily added Riley to their family which at that time consisted of 2 cats and a dog.

When I arrived at my new home, Riley met us at the door. We exchanged a few hisses in greeting and the first night I slept in the guest room. The very next morning, Riley invited me to play and it was so much fun! I knew we were going to get along really well. Pearl and Larry threw little rubber balls around the floor, and then helped Riley and me chase them around the room. I will always remember those early days in my new home, with my new family.

Pearl and Larry gave me a new name, which I like very much. I am now Mi Hija, which means “my daughter” in Spanish. Sometimes they just call me “Mi” for short. And sometimes they call me “Little Miss Sunbeam” because if there is a ray of sunshine anywhere around, you can be sure I will find it!

Riley and I are allowed outside in the backyard as long as either Pearl or Larry are there to supervise us. We can go into our beautiful garden which has a stone wall we can hop onto and go for a little stroll. I have now been with my new family for 8 whole months. I have lost the once sad look I had in my eyes and I now am happy as can be.

And the rest as they say is history! I love my new family and I know they love me too. I am so lucky to have wound up at the Forget Me Not Cat Sanctuary where I was given a second chance at happiness. And I sure have found it with Pearl and Larry and of course Riley too.

Sometimes dreams really do come true!

Purrs,

Mi Hija