Meet the Chinnies

This is Chinnie. He's top cat at the Chinnie community. Here he honors Beth by allowing her to rub his butt.

Beth's wisdom: "We have one thing in common with people who hate cats. We both want to reduce the population of wild ones."

Because of TNR practices, the Chinnie clan has been stable for several years now. There are about 28 of them. All are neutered and have had shots.

It's hard for me to understand that there are people who hate cats, but... oh well.

So I can't tell you where they live. I'm sure everyone reading this blog will understand why. But for two hours on a cool Friday evening I watched beautiful, healthy cats romp through tall grass.

"They really love the cool air." Beth said as we entered the area. I saw only white and grey blurs darting around.

When caretaker Olga arrives, everyone scampers up to great her. She calls to them by name as she sets down food.

I don't think the cats are truly hungry. They are mainly glad to see her. She and Beth discuss who's here and who's temporarily AWOL. We all share our love of felines and the severe distress it causes us to see cats in distress. That it seems is our common thread. It's probably all animals. I don't see anyone involved with cats at this level walking away from a puppy, ferret, parakeet... anything that needs help. Oh, yeah, people too.

I'll never forget the horrible desparate feeling I had when I had starving cats prowling my parking lot. The Cat House helped me as much as the cats by coming to my rescue when Dennis responded to my desparate email pleading for help and guidance.

The beloved Fluffy.

Beth and Chinnie.

Click to enlarge this photo to see toys hanging from strings. Straw bales are used to create shelter for the cats. They are always needed, particularly now that it's time to prepare for winter.

"Don't mind if I do."

No one seemed to notice that one of us wasn't actually a cat. You'd think picking up food with your hands would be a dead giveaway.

Seriously, this is why you don't leave the food overnight. Otherwise the racoons would be as fat as that possum I inadvertenly trapped on that fateful night now known as the "Night of the Possum."

This guy reminded me of Spook, who remains unaccounted for.

Notice the flat ear. When the Cat House traps a feral , in addition to neutering and shots, they snip the tip of the ear to indicate the cat is one of theirs.

I think this is Baby. Click to enlarge to see beautiful blue eyes.

Many thanks to Beth, Olga and, of course, the cool cats of Chinnies' realm for letting me visit and snap some pics.

I got so much material for thought, I'll be writing about it for a while, so you can expect more posting in the upcoming days.

And as always, my heart-felt thanks to the Cat House for existing.

Coming soon: Cats in the Mist. My visit to one of Lincoln's feral colonies

Ok, there really wasn't mist.

And believe me when I tell you I'm no Dian Fossey.

Over the weekend I'll post more words and pics about my visit to the colony site accompanied by feline-expert Beth from the Cat House, cat-caregiver Olga and, of course, the cats... twenty eight, to be exact about it.

Some of the healthiest, happiest looking cats I've ever seen were romping and scampering about during my 2-hour stay. We were even honored by an the appearance of a highly amusing wildlife guest.

Check back later when you have time. I have to go bike riding now.

Hugs and hisses,
Sheila

Cat video update

Here's an update from UNL video student Tim Svoboda. He came by to record the release of one of my ferals and interviewed me for a video project about the feral cat issue. Here's some of what Tim had to say:

"The project is getting wrapped up but with the start of school and I've been moving this week it hasn't been forgotten but it's been set aside. So far I have talked to you, Faye at the Cat House, Richie in the library and a lady who feeds the cats at one of the colonies. I hope to get most of that footage edited over the weekend and then talk to animal control and one of the founders of the TNR program and finish it."

Best of luck to Tim.

We here at the WCU look forward to seeing the project and will continue to monitor and report on his progress.

More Cat House

It's so weird on blogs, you have to read backwards, starting at the end and going back to the beginning. So, see more Cat House pictures below.

Since it's a "no-kill" shelter, a significant portion of the facility is devoted to HIV+, and other kitties that can't be around other cats for fear of disease transmission. Volunteers follow strict protocol entering and leaving these areas.

Your humble correspondant got her hands and the bottoms of her shoes disinfected a couple of times in order to go visit kittens and other cats being quarantined before adoption. This ensures a healthy cat when adoption time comes.

This guy reminded me of Chills, kind of. Notice the thing on his right ear. You see, when he first came to TCH he liked to pick fights. Well, he ended up with a hematoma on the ear, which had to be drained. Problem is, when that happens it often makes the ear "shrivel." So the thing is a cast, of sorts, to keep the ear stable until it heals.

Oh, and he has decided fighting isn't that great and has shown way better manners since The Incident.

Tough lesson, but one we all have to learn at some point.

At the Cat House, it's all cats, all the time

August was a good month for the Cat House with a record 37 adoptions. The no-kill facility holds around 100+ felines at any given time and so far this year they've found 257 homes for kitties.

Here's what it's all about. Volunteer and vet tech, Suzie hands a big fluffy kitty to its new person.

Looks like a match made in heaven.

Volunteers Faye and Dennis. Faye assist a family adopting a cat.

Dennis attempts to stage direct a feline. An onlooker appears skeptical.

More cats and more litter boxes than I've ever seen in one place!

The new cats in town

Thanks to everyone, sisters, cousins, friends, coworkers... you know who you are, who have visited this blog and held my hand throughout this long strange mission among the ferals.

I seem to be in between cats at the moment, currently no one shows up for food, so I must assume they've moved on... at least for the moment.

But, when the going gets tough, the tough get blogging.

So I want to let everyone know about a new animal welfare group in town. They are Lincoln Animal Ambassadors and the group includes people from Lincoln and surrounding areas interested in the welfare of all animals... including, of course, cats.

I attended one of their initial meetings a few weeks ago because Dennis from the Cat House was giving a presentation for this group and I needed a crash course in Lincoln's feral cat situation.

I was impressed by this groups common sense approach and the deep commitment shown by all to help animals.

They're going to meet the first Sunday (I think that makes the next one Sept 7) of every month at the Gere Library at 56th & Normal at 2 pm.

You can get more info at their yahoo group if you go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lincolnanimalambassadors/

I intend to keep posting daily if at all possible, so check back when you can.

Thanks again and have a great weekend!

Sorry for the lapse in posts

My Visual Literacy class starts today and I got kind of busy getting things together.

I did set the trap yesterday, but apparently cats don't show up if it rains and thunders.

I've also learned recently that with cats, neutered males will avoid whole ones, so that might be a possible reason Spook and Silver are not around. With Chills remaining at large, they may be steering clear.

I miss Spook, but it's possible he's found some nice people to hang out with. I know there were others feeding him too.