Schmitt - The Cat Rescue Diaries: 56 True Life Stories of Cats Who Found Their Forever Homes, and the People Who Saved Them

The Cat Rescue Diaries

Book 1

56 True Life Stories of Cats Who Found Their

Forever Homes, and the People Who Saved Them

By

Kurt Schmitt

Copyright 2014

Cat-Lovers-Only.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced in any format, by any means, electronic or otherwise, without prior consent from the copyright owner and publisher of this book.

Introduction

Among the numerous emails and messages I get from readers are some interesting requests. One of the oddest questions I get often goes something like this... "Where can I get a cat? I really want one."

Apparently, these people don't realize that their purrfect cat could be waiting for them to come to the rescue. It seems these folks missed the memo that on any given day, there are thousands of homeless and stray cats that need good homes. Some of these cats are abused, or suffer the pain of abandonment (a different form of abuse). Some are left in dumpsters, in boxes on the side of the road, or left to fend for themselves in the woods.

Many are dropped off at shelters with any number of excuses. Some are "too old" or ill, and either medical care isn't affordable, or it's no longer convenient to keep the animal. Others are left outside the shelter door without a word.

Unfortunately, I've also heard from those who believe that somehow, adopting a cat from a shelter or rescuing one from the streets means that you're welcoming into your home a cat of lesser stature. Nothing could be further from the truth, and I intend the stories contained herein to put an end to that way of thinking.

The stories you're about to read concern the lucky ones, the cats who have found their forever homes with loving humans. These people cared enough to step up, and take these cats into their homes. In return, they're showered with love from their feline companions.

These people are willing to sacrifice and yes, sometimes break some rules in order to save cats. In fact, some of these stories might just renew your faith in humanity, and they will show that rescued cats make fantastic companions.

You'll meet cats like Bella, who changed a father's mind about cats, and Dusty, saved from the strip mines after being abused by a worker. Then there's the story of Callie, a calico barn cat who took well over a year to rescue.

Among the 56 stories here, you'll read about people who found their "soul cats," sometimes when they least expected it. There are stories from people who consider their cats to be their children, and kitties that changed the lives of their humans.

You'll read about abandoned or feral kittens, saved from a harsh life and given a couch on easy street. You'll meet cats that were in horrible circumstances before being whisked away to live the good life.

Because they're real stories, you'll hear some sad tales as well, of feline friends passing through. While not all sunshine and rainbows, if you enjoy reading stories of good people stepping up and helping cats in need, this book is for you.

This book is hard evidence that there are still people out there who are compelled to show compassion and do good things. In fact, if it's two things I can say for sure after putting this book together, it's that first, if you're destined to meet your soul cat, you will, and second, when people with good hearts set their minds on saving animals, good things happen. If you love cats as much as my regular readers do, this book is for you.

My Shadow, Spanky

My cat Spanky, named after The Little Rascals, was adopted from the SPCA as a kitten. When I brought him home, he was so sick, with an upper respiratory infection and conjunctivitis. I remember waking up in the morning to blood on my furniture, the walls and just about everything.

I called the adoption agency, which only offered to take him back, so I took him to the vet. They were wonderful and gave us all new medication. I made him chicken broth and nursed him back to health.

Ten years later, he is a healthy, happy love, and he is my best friend, my shadow. He follows me all day long and greets me at the door when I come home from work. When I dry my hair you will find Spanky waiting for me to blow dry and brush him. He's my diva and my furry kid. We are forever bonded. He makes me happy when I'm sad, and he is a blessing.

Shannon Drews

Bogey

I'm a dog lover converted. I wouldn't trade any of my furballs for anything, and all three are rescues. Bogey was a feral kitten who was dumped on my deck by his mother when he was too sick for her to take care of. That's the story I tell. I have no idea how he actually managed to get up on my deck. I have to digress, my husband is blind I told him the sad story of the very sick, very little kitty on the back deck. I finally announced that I could not let him die. I dragged him in (he was too sick to put up any resistance).

My blind dog she was 16 at the time didn't think too kindly of the new addition getting so much attention. I found an emergency vet who would see him/her. The first thing he asked was his or her name. I had no idea. So I thought about my golf game and decided if it was a girl, she'd be named Anika for the great female golfer. When it turned out to be a "him," I named him after my golf game "Bogey."

The vet gave me antibiotics that he warned me could make him blind but should make him healthy. I contemplated life with a blind husband, blind dog and blind kitten (my version of three blind mice NOT) but decided I couldn't live without him. Whoever said black cats are bad luck never met this sweet boy. He recovered fully, never lost his vision and is the sweetest, nicest big-boy cat a person could have. He loved the dog until the day she died, and takes good care of my husband still!

Deb Felmey

The Kitties Three: Garfield, Babi, and Raven

I have three rescue kitties. Garfield, my oldest, is a five year old Maine Coon. He was rescued from the streets by a friend and when she passed away, he was still a kitten and I took him in.

My second rescue is Babi, a little black kitty that I adopted from a local rescue organization.

The third kitty is Raven, and yes, another black kitty. She showed up on my carport one day in March, starving, pregnant and terrified of people. I put fresh food and water out for her every day. Eventually, she would let me sit on my steps while she ate and not run away.

As the days and weeks wore on, she let me get closer and closer to her, until one day she climbed up on my lap, purred, curled up, and went to sleep. I continued to feed her and sit with her every day. I provided a place in my outdoor shed for her to have her kittens as she still was not going to come into my home. I think the other two cats scared her.

She did have her kittens but they did not survive, I think in part because she was so young, and in part because she had been undernourished until I started feeding her. As soon as she had the kittens I took her to my vet and had her checked for all the kitty diseases and had her spayed. She got her shots and I brought her home. My Garfield just loved her and made her feel right at home.

She is now a part of the family, and a sweet and loving kitty. She loves to follow me around and sit on my lap. I have a screened in porch where all three spend a good bit of their day, weather permitting. As we live in Florida, that is most of the time. They are all indoor kitties and are perfectly content with that. We have cat condos, empty boxes, and all kinds of kitty toys to keep them amused, and they are all spoiled... as they should be.