Therapy Cat Tales from 4/16/14

Tabby writes:

You know that black cat that we met at the NW Pet and Companion Fair?  The one I mentioned in my last post?  Well, today she came to H. to see what I do!  Mommy invited her and her person, Chris, to come along with us and see how we work.  The kitty's name is Blackbird!

We got to H. before Blackbird and Chris did, so Mommy told the receptionists that they would be coming.  Chris had to get a sticker nametag instead of the pin nametag that Mommy has, because it was their first time there.  Actually, it was Blackbird's first time visiting at an assisted-living facility at all!  She got down off Chris' shoulder (where she likes to ride) and checked out my carrier bag, but she didn't come over to sniff me.  Strange!  I want to be friends with her, but I'm not sure if she likes me.  We hung out on the floor while our people talked and friends stopped by to say hi and pet us.  Mommy let Chris know what the routine was and what to expect.

Then, we started off!  I really showed off for the new people!  I walked over and showed them where the door to the office was, then walked in and showed them where S.'s office was.  They got introduced to S., who is our supervisor, and she told them a little about H. and asked Chris some questions about Blackbird (who was riding on his shoulder again).

S. walked with us most of the time when we were visiting.  Blackbird's eyes got very wide when we stepped off the elevator onto our visiting floor!  I didn't flinch a bit, of course.  I know my routine very well.  I was surprised that Blackbird was nervous, but I guess I was nervous the first few times I went visiting, too.  It was so long ago (about 5 years), that I really don't remember the specifics.  Mommy and S. say I was nervous for about the first three times, though, so I guess it makes sense that Blackbird would be.  She's about the same age I was when I started actually visiting.  She's 3 1/2 years old.

There were a group of ladies talking by the couch in the hallway, so we stopped there and visited with them.  They got introduced to Blackbird, who wanted to stay on Chris' shoulder and arm but let them pet her.  After a few minutes, the ladies had to go, so we went to visit more friends.  When we went into the individual rooms, I showed Blackbird the proper way to behave.  I hopped up on laps, beds, and walked in on my own (with Mommy holding the leash, of course).  Blackbird stayed on her perch and got petted, but a couple times she got to sit with people and once she got to lie on a table.  She liked the table!

She didn't like sharing the spotlight, however.  She was counting how many pets I got and how many she got, and she started getting jealous.  She hissed at me!  At one point, she was too much of a distraction, with her hissing and Chris telling her "NO", so Mommy had them go out in the hallway to wait and watch from there until Blackbird calmed down.  After that, she went back to observing me and learning how to visit.  When she hissed, I gave her the stink-eye, because she wasn't behaving properly.  I know if I tried that, I would get taken home right away!  Blackbird will learn, but it will take her a while.

S. and Mommy agreed that it would be better if Chris and Blackbird visit separately from Mommy and me for a while.  If we do visit on the same day, we'll start at opposite ends of the hallway and each visit with the same people at different times.  That way, she'll learn how to interact with people without worrying what I'm doing.  Chris and Mommy can try to socialize us away from H., so that the residents won't get worried about Blackbird hissing at me.  They won't try to socialize us to each other at H., though, because that's not good for the residents.

All in all, Blackbird passed the test to start training for therapy cat work, but she just needs to get over her hissing.  Great job, Blackbird and Chris!

After we got done visiting, Mommy took me to Columbia Sportswear in downtown Portland.  They were having a promotion for the Doggie Dash, which is coming up next month!  Mommy got some socks for 20% off, and I got to meet some people from the Oregon Humane Society.  Oh, and I got to ride in another elevator and lots of pets from the people who work there!

Therapy Cat Tales from Yesterday

Tabby writes:

Hi everyone!  I'm back to visiting again!  We took a break for a couple months, because Mommy wasn't feeling well and we had Grandma moving in, but now we're back.  I'm sooooo happy!

We love overhearing conversations on the bus and MAX train when we ride.  It's fun how my presence on public transportation gets people talking about their own cats, even if it's not directly to us.  We heard one person who had always wanted an ocelot as a pet, but couldn't get a permit to own one because they are wild animals.  He got a Savannah instead, which is a domestic cat but has been bred from an African serval (wild animal) and a domestic cat.  We also heard about a long-haired black polydactyl cat that a homeless couple has.  They are trying to find a place to live and may have to give their cat up to be able to live in low-income housing.  Most low-income housing doesn't allow pets (other than emotional service animals, which need a doctor's note).  That would be sad if they had to give up their kitty!  I made them very happy by purring for them while they petted me.

We got on one MAX, but the driver told everyone that it wasn't in service, so everyone got off again.  Why did it even let us on if it wasn't going to take us anywhere?  We had to wait another half hour for the next one, because they weren't running on time.  That made us late, and I don't like to be off-schedule!  Kitties love schedules and patterns, and I'm no exception.

When we got to H., the people there were off-schedule, too!  They'd gone on a field trip for lunch to a restaurant and were just getting back, so we waited a few minutes before going up to visit them to let them settle.  I saw them going up, and said hi to one of my friends before she got in the elevator, but we waited until they were in their rooms before "officially" visiting them.  That confused me, because I could see they were going back home and wanted to follow them, but Mommy said we needed to wait.  I kept asking her with my paw when we were waiting, to let her know that I wanted to get going.

Finally, we went upstairs!  We went to see my friend A.M. the first thing, and she had the picture of her and me in a frame on her shelves!  I love her so much and always snuggle with her.  One of her friends was there, and asked her if I was the kitty she loves so much.  She just smiled and hugged me.  Purrs!

We went to see more of our regulars, and it was so great to see them again!  They missed me as much as I had missed them, and were glad to see me again.  Mommy's friend L. from her former church held me and hugged me, saying how nice a kitty I was.  I purred hard for her, too, because she's one of my favorites as well.  We met a new friend, C., who told us about her kitty.  She and her husband have a kitty they took in, but then the kitty showed up one day with a collar and tag.  It turned out to belong to their neighbors, who are backyard neighbors!  The cat doesn't like to be alone, so when its people aren't there it visits C. and her husband!  We also heard about a cat who didn't want to move when its people moved.  It was hand-raised from a kitten, but became an outside cat with the backyard and surrounding area as its territory.  When its people moved, they took it with them but didn't move far, so the kitty kept going back to its territory.  Its people made arrangements with the family who had bought the property, who agreed to adopt the cat and care for it.  It's so wonderful when that happens so the kitty can stay in its territory!  We had that happen with our feral Shadow at our old house.  We weren't able to take her with us when we moved, but we arranged with Spongebob's person that he would take care of Shadow since Sponge was best friends with her.  I also visited with someone who is going to go home in the next week but was so glad that I came to visit her.  I could tell that she wasn't feeling well in her stomach so I snuggled up really close to her on her lap right away.  She, Mommy, and R. (who takes us around to everyone) visited while I snuggled, and talked all about how we cats just know when we're needed and where.  Well, of course we do!  That's why I visit!

After we were done visiting at H., we went to C.  We don't really have a set schedule at C. yet, so the person we usually visit wasn't available to visit.  I was disappointed, but then we went to another floor and I got to visit with three ladies who work there!  That was fun, because I got to settle on the rug while Mommy talked with one of the ladies.  She was quite impressed with me, especially when I asked her to pet me, and took our contact information so that we could get a set schedule there.  Someone called the next day, but Mommy missed the call.  She'll call back and then we'll set up a definite time to go visit more people there!

If that weren't exciting enough, we came home to a big surprise!  Go to the Oregon Humane Society's Doggie Dash page at this link, scroll down to where it says "Doggie Dash Poster" and click on either size.  Tell me what you see!  We got it in postcard-flyer form in the mail, and were so surprised!  Yes, we are definitely planning on going this year.

PhotoHunt: Lazy (and Tabby's Doggie Dash Report)

Tabby writes:

Do I look lazy in this picture?  If so, I deserved my rest!  Mommy and I had just gotten done walking the 2.5-mile Doggie Dash!  Well, Mommy walked it and I rode in the stroller, so I guess I was lazy for that part, but it was hot out today and I got a lot of attention because I was the only kitty there.

Because of river traffic holding the bridge up just before we got there, we arrived later than expected and were unable to meet Auntie Diana, who helped make the balloon arches.  She works at the Oregon Humane Society.  Isn't it great that all these people (and more) turned out to help the animals at OHS?

K103, a local radio station, is the main sponsor of the event every year.  The man on the right is from there, the lady on the left is the director of OHS, and the others are also event sponsors.  The man was talking about all the different dog breeds he could see from the truck/stage, then said that he hadn't seen a cat yet but there usually are one or two who come.  Mommy rolled me over to the truck/stage and waited until the awards had been given, then held me up and pointed to me.  The man announced me and Mommy held me up high so that everyone could see the "intrepid cat" who had come!  He was laughing that it was like the beginning scene from The Lion King!

Mommy loves huskies, so she was very happy to see these four!  She tried to get a picture of them posing on some rocks, but it was washed-out because the sun was so bright on the river.  I stayed in my stroller most of the time, but thought that all the doggies were very interesting to sniff.  I touched noses with a few, got licked by some, but put my ears back at a couple who thought they might be able to jump into my stroller with me.  As one lady put it, I didn't want them to burst my personal-space bubble inside which I was invisible (or so I thought)!

Two of Mommy's students saw her and waved us over before the walk started, so we ended up walking most of the time with the "Bad to the Bone" team.  Kelley (in the middle with the little dog) and Julie (at the end in the vest) are in Mommy's Norwegian language class.  It was fun walking with them!  Of course, we had to stop a few times to let other people take pictures of me, since I was a novelty among the dogs, but that kind of goes with the territory.  I had doggies sniffing me out before their people knew I was there, then would hear, "Oh, there's the cat!"  Mommy just smiled and said how I am such a good girl and such a special kitty to be able to do this.  I agree, of course!

Mommy had someone take this picture of us at the finish line.  I look like I'm unhappy, but it's just because I was looking into the bright sun.  I really was sleepy and wanted to be in the shade napping, so that's when Mommy let me lie down on the park bench and rest.  When we were about to cross the finish line, a couple dog walkers were joking with Mommy:  "We'd better hurry up and cross the finish line before the cat does!"  But then those same people pointed me out to the announcer at the finish line, who announced me again!  Wow, and whew!  Glad I'm home now!

Are you a PhotoHunter?

Doggie Dash 2013: Tabby's Fundraising Challenge

Tabby is asking all her friends to purrrlease support her and the PDX pride mommy as they walk the Oregon Humane Society's Doggie Dash on May 11th.  She is challenging her fellow pet-bloggers, and the winner gets a free copy of her e-book for children!

There are two ways to win:

1.  Donate on our personal fundraising page below and leave a comment here afterward saying you donated (with the name used on the donation) so we can match it up.

OR

2.  Donate as above and leave a comment, then get your friends to do the same and comment, noting who sent them in their comment.

So, if Carbon donates x amount and that amount is the highest donated, he would get the prize.  If Starla donates y amount and gets five friends to donate z each and they all comment on this page that Starla sent them, she would get the prize even though she personally donated less than Carbon. If one of Starla's friends donates, gets others to donate, and those others credit the friend in their comments, the friend would win the prize if the amount adds up to the highest amount.

Here is the link to our fundraising page:

Doggie Dash 2013: Tabby and Karen Thompson - Doggie Dash 2013

Good news for Tabby!

Tabby writes:

I'm back to normal!!!!  Well, I'm still not feeling well, but I'm back to wanting lots of pets and attention, asking for pets, talking, and drinking water!  Mommy's still force-feeding me some, but I'm eating bites of dry food throughout the day, too.  Not much, but some.  Mommy says that I may even get to go to the Doggie Dash with her tomorrow!

Go Team Tabby!!!

Tabby writes:

Yep, I've got my fundraising shirt on again, and you know what that means: it's time for the annual Cat Adoption Team Care-A-Thon!

We support the Cat Adoption Team because it does such great work with the homeless kitties in our area. CAT helps stray cats and kittens get the medical care they need, then find their original owners or get adopted into new, loving homes. They also train foster families, educate the community, and provide a cat food bank.

CAT's 12th anniversary is this spring. We are challenging our supporters to donate in increments of $12 and challenge 12 (or more) friends to do the same.

$12 will pay to test one cat for feline leukemia and feline aids

$24 will help stock a “kitten baby bag” for a foster family

$48 will neuter five male cats through the subsidized program for families in financial need

$120 will vaccinate and spay two female cats to keep them healthy and prevent the birth of unwanted kittens

If you can donate even $1 it helps so much! Last year, thanks in large part to the cats and humans of the CB, we raised $97 for the CAT! Let's see if we can beat that this year! The widget below will take you to my fundraising page, where you can donate and share the page with others through widgets, Facebook, Twitter, and/or e-mail.

Even if you cannot donate, we would appreciate if you could spread the word about this fundraiser and help these homeless kittens and cats. As you know, kitten season is just starting, so let's do what we can to help support this wonderful organization of caring humans!

Fundraising Update

I was busy with everything else last week and didn't post a fundraising update, but..............

We are over halfway to our goal!!!!!

Thanks to the Creek Cats and to Gypsy & Tasha, we now have raised $66 for Cat Adoption Team! Way to go, Team Tabby! You rock!!!

If you still want to donate, the challenge goes until the end of May. All the money raised goes to medical and housing services for strays and ferals at the CAT shelter, and to providing foster care for the baby kittens and the adult cats who need more socialization. For more information, see the widget on our sidebar.

Thanks for helping us support this great organization!

Fundraising Update

Tabby writes:

We have three new members of Team Tabby's fundraising team! Thank you to Kazuko Neko and to Pinky & Ash for donating! We are now up to $44, which is a quarter of the way to our goal. :)

If you would like to donate to Cat Adoption Team, see the widget in our sidebar. It all goes to help stray and feral cats in Portland, Oregon, and to get the socialized ones into foster homes and adopted.

Thank you!

Fundraising Update

We've raised $30 so far for the Cat Adoption Team. Some of it doesn't show up on the widget in the sidebar because it was given by Mommy's mom as a check to them. So far, all the teams together have raised $1,049. There's still a month and a half to go for this! If you can donate, or want to know more about the Cat Adoption Team, you can click on the widget in our sidebar. Even $11 will help, because that amount pays for FELV/FIV testing for one cat. $22 pays for a "kitten fostering bag" to be sent along with babies who need socializing.

Thank you!

-- Tabby and the other members of "Team Tabby"

Fundraising Update

Tabby writes:

Thank you to Parker for donating to the Cat Adoption Team! Whoo-hoo, now there's $22 dollars raised, and Mommy heard that two of her friends around home are going to send in checks as well, so it's really even more than that. :) :) :)

If you would like to donate, the link is in our sidebar under my "Go Team Tabby" picture. Every dollar goes to fund spay/neuter programs, medical programs, shelter kitties through a private nonprofit, and foster homes through the CAT shelter. It is a no-kill shelter in Portland, Oregon, and they have a good rate of adoption.

Thanks,

Tabby.

Fundraising Update

Tabby writes:

Phooey! There have been no new donations for Team Tabby this week! Even if you can't donate a lot, every penny goes to a good cause: The Cat Adoption Team. They provide medical care to strays and abandoned cats, ferals too! They also find foster homes for the adoptable ones, outside homes for the ones too wild to be pets, and then forever homes for those who are ready for a human family.

If you can donate $11, that is all it takes for them to test one cat for FELV/FIV.
If you can donate $22, that pays for a "baby bag" for a kitten to take to its foster home.

To donate, click the button on my sidebar under "Care-A-Thon to support Cat Adoption Team".

Thank you! Go Team Tabby!

Fundraising Update

We have a donation! $11 was donated to the CAT on our fundraising website. That's enough to pay for testing one cat for FIV/FELV. If you would like to donate, please see the widget on our sidebar. You can click "menu" to find out more about Cat Adoption Team (CAT), or click the whole thing (or the donate button) to see our fundraising page, which has more information as well.

We will post updates every Friday to let you know how much "Team Tabby" is raising.

Thank you!